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  • What (not) to do on a first date

    What (not) to do on a first date

    The first date is usually a memorable one. It is most likely the one that tends to be reminisced about. This explains why you should get it right. Below are some tips or dos and don’ts on a first date for people between the ages of 18-25.

    FOR THE WOMEN

    Be on time. Most people like to operate on the Nigerian Time factor but if you want to create a good first impression you must keep to time.

    Don’t go with a friend. The ladies like to do this and there’s a time and place for it. The first date is definitely not it. This usually happens when you don’t like the guy and you want to make him over spend his budget, but this should not be your thinking. Some also go with a friend because they need a buffer or don’t completely trust the guy. Then make sure the date is happening in a public place so you will have even more buffers but not on the date with you.

    Be sure it’s in a public place. For the reason mentioned above. First dates are tricky, especially the early stage of getting to know each other. Be sure you are in a public and safe place.

    Make sure you don’t end up in his house. No matter his reasoning, he needs to check if his lights are off, whatever trick he pulls DO NOT go there. This does not speak well of you. Don’t assume nothing will happen, even if nothing does, the first date should not end up in his house. Now, if you don’t care about what this says about you then disregard this tip.

     

    DO NOT HAVE SEX

    This is one of the reasons you shouldn’t go back to his place but we know these days it can happen anywhere. Please reject this impulse. This creates the impression that you are too easy. Again, if you don’t mind being seen that way, do as you please.
    Do be moderate in making your choice wherever he takes you to. Some girls like to test a guy’s limits and order the most expensive thing on the menu. Please don’t do it. That’s just plain greedy.
    Do drop your phone for the duration of the date. The phone is not part of your date. This does not mean you shouldn’t take important calls but we all know not all calls are important. You can return some after your date. This has to do with going thru your social media feeds DURING a date. That is rude and annoying. Even if you claim to be a master at multi-tasking, the first date is not the day to showcase that skill.
    Make sure you have ‘vex’ money. This is money that should cover your meal as well as your taxi fare home. All the more reason you should order what’s affordable. You never can tell when a date will go sour.

    Do respect his opinions. The first date is not the date to raise the hard hitting political or religious topics. Keep the conversation light. And if he is strongly opinionated about something, try not to argue. Simply finish your date and decline a repeat if what he is opinionated about is a deal breaker for you.

     

    READ ALSO: 9 Signs you are in love with the wrong person

     

    DO BE YOURSELF

    Do not appear desperate or bring up that ex that broke your heart. There’s a time to bare open your heart if you wish to and the first date is not it. Talking about things like your dream wedding, your dream house, etc is hint dropping and desperate and he doesn’t need all that. Also, please don’t ask how much he makes, leave that for the third or fourth date. And even then be subtle.

     

    FOR THE MEN

    Do be on time. As a man, this applies to you even more. Being on time says I can be there for you, you can trust me and so on. Make being punctual at a first date a priority. The sloppiness can start at a later date.

    Don’t expect anything from her, no matter how the date turns out. Please do not think that because you took her out and paid a certain amount for something, you’re entitled to “something.” Bear in mind you set this up. You called, she could have declined.

    Do take her to where you know you can afford the highest priced meal. In as much as we are expecting her to be reasonable, be sure you have perused the menu and you can afford the highest thing just in case. This is to avoid any embarrassment of not having enough cash to back your claims.

    Do treat her with respect. The same way you would want your sister or daughter to be treated, accord her that same respect. Open doors for her, walk her to her cab, pull out her chair, and drive her home if you have a car, no matter how the date ends. If you drive her home, do not go inside even if she asks you in. Wait for her to go in then you drive away.

    Don’t host her in your house. There will be a date to show off your cooking skills or your ordering in skills but not on a first date. Yes, we know you have self control but hosting her at home is just bad taste on your part. Don’t forget emotions could run high!

    Do respect her opinions. Keep the conversation light. Do not order for her, no matter how much you know the menu. You can suggest but don’t press it on her or be too demanding.

    Don’t go out of your way to impress her. Telling her about your father’s wealth or big family name will only tell her you can be Mr. Money bags and not for something serious. Now, if this is your goal, then by all means, go for it.

     

    BE YOURSELF

    Girls can always smell a phony deal from a mile away so please be yourself. Now if being yourself is an unpleasant character then it’s left for her to decide if that’s what she wants.

    These are just a few tips to get you successfully through the first date and create a good memory.. Who knows, this is the one that sticks! You would want to have a good memory to reflect on in future. Good luck!

  • There is no alternative to one Nigeria –Emmanuel

    There is no alternative to one Nigeria –Emmanuel

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has announced to all separatist agitators in parts of the country that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.

    The governor stated this on Sunday while inspecting a guard of honour by officers and men of the Nigerian military at the Uyo township stadium to mark 57 years of nationhood.

    Emmanuel advised all agitators pressing for division and disunity to have a rethink as “there is no alternative to one Nigeria.”

    He stressed the need for harmonisation of religious, ethnic, political, and cultural differences for a better Nigeria.

    “Let us celebrate our beauty in diversity and use this as a unifying force as opposed to using same as a tool to exclude others from national aspirations.

    “Let us use our religious, tribal and cultural differences as galvanising ingredients to forge a stronger bond of friendship and unity.

    “Let us respect each others’ sacred boundaries of belief and thoughts. Other societies have used these rich tapestries to enhance and deepen their bond of nationhood.

    “The United States for instance, has Jews, who practise Judaism, the Mormons, who practise another variant of Christianity and other shades of religions, and they all co-mingle without causing social fissures,” Udom said.

    Emmanuel commended the federal government for steering the country out of recession and assured that the positive effects of such efforts would soon be felt.

    “Though we may have experienced economic downturn lately, there is a silver lining in the sky; our recession will soon be over,” he added.

    The governor urged Nigerian leaders to explore the rich natural endowment to create an economically viable system for the people.

    He lauded the Nigerian military for combating Boko Haram and other sectarian violence threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

    According to him such military exploits against the dreaded Boko Haram would instill fear and discourage separatist agitations in parts of the country.

    Emmanuel, who reeled out his administration’s achievements in the last two years, assured that the state would have a lot to offer the youths in the areas of jobs and other forms of empowerment when the industrialisation drive is fully entrenched in the state.

    “Our industrialization drive is on course. I want to pledge here that as long as I remain your servant-leader I will do all I can to move the state forward by pursuing and implementing policies and programmes that will put food on the table, ensure quality and affordable education for our kids, a healthy and vibrant populace and a youth population that earns a living through the works of their hands,” he assured.

  • Private Letter To Kenyatta

    Private Letter To Kenyatta

    Mr. President,

    I can imagine your disappointment last week after the ruling of the Supreme Court declaring your election null and void.

    Four out of six justices nullified an election in which 10.6 million or 54 percent voted for you as their choice, each Justice assuming the equivalent or more of 2.6 million Kenyan votes. This can only make sense in the maths of jurisprudence.

    But all hope is not lost.

    I was moved to write after watching an excerpt of your first press conference in which you lamented the “unfair” outcome of the ruling, but indicated that you were constrained to abide by the decision of the court.

    As I watched the clip, I wondered what was going on in your mind; the prior discussions you must have had with your family and close aides, especially the Justice Minister, before you faced the press that day.

    When Kenyatta was Kenyatta, it was inconceivable that any man born of a woman would nullify an election in which 10.6 million Kenyans had elected him.

    You will recall, Mr. President, that until he died of a heart attack 39 years ago, your father, Jomo Kenyatta, was the sun in the Harambee firmament. The grand old man ruled Kenya for 15 years with an iron fist and only permitted opposition to exist, very briefly, as decoration.

    It’s not the fault of the court, you see. Your main rival and fifth-time contender for the presidency, Raila Odinga, knows that Kenyatta senior would not have accepted from his father, Oginga Odinga, what you have had to endure at his hands.

    Who knows, you may have even been in the same party with Odinga today had certain events not occurred in the mid-1960s that eventually led to the expulsion of Odinga senior from your father’s party. In hindsight, you probably thought that your father’s decision to expel Odinga, who was then his deputy from the party in 1969, was harsh.

    Perhaps now, you will begin to understand why your father, a Moscow-trained revolutionary, did what he did. It was not just about the overstated differences between the Luo and the Kikuyu or any economic or ideological differences. The Odinga clan has it for you; they can’t bear being governed.

    It’s been said that you’re bitter – very bitter – at the ruling of the court. You have also been quoted as describing the Chief Justice and other Justices of the Supreme Court as ‘wakora’ (crooks and scoundrels), vowing that you will “fix” the court once the election is over.

    That statement has led to many unflattering interpretations, including a rebuke from the Law Society of Kenya. It didn’t help matters that not long after your statement, the dormitory where the daughter of Chief Justice David Maraga was staying at Moi Girls High School, was burnt down. She escaped by sheer instinct. For some inexplicable reason, she had decided to stay elsewhere that day.

    Mr. President, I imagine that in the face of the unexpected setback following the Supreme Court ruling, the true Kenyatta blood in you might be stirred up. But hold your peace. You don’t have to force your opponents to walk the plank. In spite of the setback, you will win again on October 17.

    How? That’s what this private letter is about. Your party, the Jubilee party, has done what Napoleon could not do – providing free maternal care; cleaning up the slums; digitizing public records and opening them up to public access and scrutiny; adding over 325 MW of power to the national grid in two years; and constructing a standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, among others.

    Of course, the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) has been sniping at your government for allegedly over-borrowing and failing to transparently account for a Ksh 280 billion (about $2.7billion) Eurobond loan, thereby raising the spectre that this could be another Anglo-Leasing scandal, one of the worst scandals in Kenya’s history.

    But, surely, you can understand the mentality of the opposition, Mr. President. These people are poor upstairs. They are posing as friends of the poor for votes, while trying to frame you as the out-of-touch heir of a rich father, whose mother, Ngina, was also one of Kenya’s richest women. It’s jealousy, Mr. President, pure jealousy.

    As for the matter at hand, that is, the repeat election of October 17, I repeat that there’s no reason why you should not win again. And the good news is that you can even win without contesting the election.

    Don’t be surprised, Mr. President. If you lost by contesting, why do you suppose you cannot win without contesting? I’m not speaking of a political contest, of course. I’m speaking, instead, of a legal contest, taking the fight to the opponent on the same turf where you lost: the court.

    I’m aware of the limitations of Kenya’s Constitution; that election petitions have to be dispensed with within 14 days at the Supreme Court and that pre-election matters are decided in Kenya before elections. I’m also aware that you have agreed to abide by the decision of the court.

    Yet in what might be your last chance to clinch victory from the jaws of a setback, you must act before the Court publishes its full judgment; you must aim to sterilise the judgment of the Supreme Court and arrest it before it becomes public. If you can do that, Justice Maraga and his brother Justices will have no choice but to review their judgment, eat the humble pie and award your hard-earned victory.

    All you need, Mr. President, are the services of a few bright Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Since we have the same Common law heritage, it shouldn’t be difficult for them to adapt.

    You can get the SANs in trailer loads, if you want. Our politicians line them up all the time for all sorts of cases. And if you excuse my quoting President Donald Trump here, these folks know how to win.

    If I may hint at it, Mr. President, for a matter as important as yours, our SANs will bring a forensic focus to bear on the Kenyan Constitution that will reveal the hidden technicalities. Their Lordships will be surprised to find there’s quite a handful, enough at least, to deliver preemptive victory before October 17.

    By the time our SANs have finished with the legal technicalities and prayers for adjournment upon adjournment, Mr. President would have nearly completed his four-year second term; and who knows where the 72-year-old Odinga would be by then?

    Mr. President does not have to worry about what Kenyans may say about the novelty of seeking legal help abroad. Even if a few Kenyans are unhappy about it, foreign observers including John Kerry and Thabo Mbeki would be too pleased for this saving grace. They know that in a globalized world, help is where you find it. What is new anyway? Is the jury not out on whether or not the Russians helped Trump win?

    I must resist the temptation to say more, publicly. Mr. President should rest assured that as he weighs this exceptional approach, his father’s benign spirit is smiling over him, urging him not to throw away the ancient victory over the archrivals.

    Delay may be dangerous.

    Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editors Network
  • What Senate has done to boost MSMEs –Saraki

    What Senate has done to boost MSMEs –Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said some of its newly approved legislations will support the growth of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) through increased bank lending.

    They will also reduce bank exposure to loan defaults through pre-examination of credit worthiness for would be borrowers.

    The legislations are Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act and the Credit Reporting Act.

    They were passed by the National Assembly last June and immediately signed into law by then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Under the law, potential borrowers can now register assets other than land and property as collateral to secure a loan.

    Now, one can register his/her automobile or other worthy assets.

    Securing financing through loans has long been a problem for Nigerian entrepreneurs.

    Most MSME owners must rely on personal savings or loans from family and friends to launch their business ventures.

    The new law, also known as the Collateral Registry Act, allows banks to increase lending to MSMEs, while not negatively impacting their balance sheets.

    Saraki who hailed the passage and the opportunity for economic and MSME growth the new laws afford Nigerians stated that “this is a win-win situation for our economy and society”.

    “The private sector, the Federal Government and the National Assembly worked together to create the enabling environment for MSMEs to grow, diversify the economy and increase employment. We should all be proud of delivering a law that will allow many people to provide for their families and community,” he said.

    The Credit Reporting Act, allows credit information sharing between credit bureaux and those companies that lend money or extend credit for goods and services.

    Under the Credit Reporting Act, companies will have access to the credit history to review whether there is a history of loan defaults or other financial blemishes.

    This extra layer of protection will serve to reduce lending risks, while preserving credit services to borrowers with good credit histories.

    “Combined, the new laws make good economic and business sense,” stated Saraki.

    “Already, bank lending to MSMEs has increased and is expected to grow considerably for the remainder of the year and in 2018.”

    Saraki further noted that “in both developed and developing economies small business growth is the engine of the economy and employment growth.  With a high unemployment in Nigeria, the growth and support for MSMEs is critical.”

    “The National Assembly will also be looking to see what existing support programmes are working and can be created to help MSMEs’ owners to better understand the use of credit, management skills training, mentor relationships, marketing and how to pursue government procurement contracts,”  Saraki added.

  • AMCON denies ceding Arik to Ethiopian Airlines

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has denied reports that it was negotiating with Ethiopian Airlines to manage Arik Airline.

    The corporation debunked the report in a statement signed by Mr Jude Nwauzor, Head of Corporate Communications, in Lagos.

    Nwauzor said AMCON was not aware of any current discussion or negotiation with the management of Ethiopian Airlines regarding Arik Air Ltd.

    “It is on record that the Receivership Team has within the period stabilised the operations of the airline, marked by stability of schedules; improved On-Time-Performance (OTP) and revamped customer service among others.

    “Today, the Airline has regained its dominance as the most reliable carrier in the country with growing passenger patronage and confidence.

    “The general public and all stakeholders will be kept duly informed on issues relating to the airline’s divestment,” Nwauzor said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Arik was placed under receivership in February, following the airline’s inability to repay debts in excess of N300 billion to AMCON and other creditors within and outside the country.

    Nwauzor had earlier said Arik would be managed by Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, an aviation expert under the receivership of Mr Oluseye Opasanya (SAN).

    He said the government decided to intervene because Arik Air was immersed in heavy debt burden that was threatening to ground its operations.

    “For some time now, the airline, which carries about 55 per cent of the load in the country, has been going through difficult times that are attributable to its bad corporate governance and erratic operational challenges.

    “Others are inability to pay staff salaries and heavy debt burden among other issues, which led to the call for authorities in the country to intervene before the airline goes under like many before it,’’ he said.

    Nwauzor said the move underscored government’s decision to instill sanity in the nation’s aviation sector.

    According to him, the development would afford the airline to go back to regular and undisrupted operations, avoid job losses, protect investors and stakeholder funds as well as ensure safety and stability in the already challenged aviation sector.

  • Royal Succession: How Kate Middleton’s Pregnancy Will Affect the Heirs to the British Throne

    Royal Succession: How Kate Middleton’s Pregnancy Will Affect the Heirs to the British Throne

    Move aside, Prince Harry. A new royal heir has just edged ahead of the popular royal in the line of succession to the British throne.

    Prince William and Kate Middleton’s announcement Monday that they are expecting their third child means a reshuffle of royal family members who stand in line to inherit Queen Elizabeth II’s crown.

    The queen, who turned 91 in April, is officially the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She has ruled the United Kingdom for more than 65 years.

    In the event of the queen’s death, here is how the line of succession for the U.K. monarchy will now look, in light of the new royal baby:

    First in line: Prince Charles

    As Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son, the Prince of Wales will ascend to the throne when the queen passes away. He is currently 68.

    Second in line: Prince William

    The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s eldest child, is the heir apparent to be king when his father passes away. He is 35.

    Third in line: Prince George

    William and Kate Middleton’s eldest son, Prince George, age four, overtook Prince Harry as third in line to the throne when he was born in 2013.

    Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade in London, June 17, 2017. James Devaney/WireImage

    Fourth in line: Princess Charlotte

    Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, is fourth in line to be queen. Charlotte would only ascend to the throne in the sad event that her brother George dies without any children to survive him. If George does not have any children, she would be the first queen to rule Britain after her grandmother.

    The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 solidifies Charlotte’s place as fourth in line to the throne. Before the act was passed, a male heir could surpass a female heir in ascendancy; if the act hadn’t come into effect, the new royal baby could have taken her place in the line of succession if it is a boy.

    Fifth in line: Prince or Princess X of Cambridge

    The unborn royal baby, Prince William and Kate’s third child, is now fifth in line to the throne after his or her siblings. That now means that the child is ahead of Prince Harry, his or her uncle. Of course, this new prince or princess would only ascend to the throne in the tragic—and unlikely—event that both their siblings die without bearing children.

    Sixth in line: Prince Harry

    Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s second son, Prince Harry, was once third in line to the throne. Since his brother William and sister-in-law Kate got married and started a family, he has slipped further down the succession ladder. Harry, 32, would only be king in the event that Prince William and all his children died without bearing new heirs.

    Seventh in line: Prince Andrew

    After Prince Charles’ immediate family, the seventh in line to the throne is Queen Elizabeth’s third child and second oldest son, Prince Andrew. The 57-year-old is highly unlikely to ascend to the throne given the robust line of heirs produced by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

    Unlike Princess Charlotte, the queen’s second oldest child and eldest daughter, Princess Anne, will not benefit from the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. Though she is older than Andrew by 10 years, the act precludes changes to the line of succession to royals born before October 28, 2011.

     

     

     

    Source Yahoo News

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Okowa greets Muslims, urges Nigerians to shun hate speech

    Eid-el-Kabir: Okowa greets Muslims, urges Nigerians to shun hate speech

    Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has charged Nigerians to shun hate speech and collaborate with the government to surmount the plethora of problems bedeviling the nation.

    The governor who stated this in a goodwill message issued in Asaba on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, stressed the need for Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers.

    “I call on all Muslims and indeed Nigerians to use the period to reflect on the various challenges facing the nation. It takes the concerted efforts of all to achieve meaningful development in any nation especially in a period of economic recession”.

    He added that “we must shun hate speech because when these type of speeches are heard outside the shores of the country, it will discourage foreign direct investments and make local investors to be cautious which will further endanger our fragile economy.”

    “This season calls for forgiveness and love for one another. There is need for Nigerians to be united and be their brothers’ keeper in spite of all odds,” he stressed.

    He said further:  “The faithful should use the opportunity of this Eid-el-Kabir to deepen their faith in Allah and renew the spirit of obeisance to the will of the Almighty in accordance with the inimitable faith of Prophet Ibrahim.

    “We should never forget that even in trials and temptations, our love for our neighbour must never diminish and our obedience to the will of Allah must be unwavering.

    “As we celebrate, I urge you to spare a moment for our country and pray for her to surmount her present challenges. We should unite in our collective resolve to forge ahead despite our seemingly intractable problems and we should remember that all Nations of the world have their peculiar challenges.”

    He urged the Muslim brothers and sisters to imbibe the spirit of peace, sacrifice, love, piety, tolerance and mutual co-existence to underscore the significance of the festival which he noted was obedience and willingness to sacrifice to Almighty Allah, as exemplified in the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son.

    Governor Okowa commended Muslims in the state for their peaceful disposition and industry, which has contributed to the development of the state.

    He assured them of adequate security of lives and property at all times.

  • Hate speech injurious to nation’s economy – Okowa

    Hate speech injurious to nation’s economy – Okowa

    Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has called for the use of appropriate legal channels for Nigerians to address their grievances, instead of resorting to hate speeches.

    Governor Okowa made the call on Wednesday when Mathias Eto, Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, led members of the commission to pay a courtesy call on the him in Asaba.

    According to the governor, “there is no doubt that because of the recession, people are easily getting angry but, it is time for us as a people to realise that there are several constitutional avenues for us to lay our complaints.”

    “People should try to have more reasonable means to engage the Nigerian state peacefully, rather than engage in hate speeches that generate tension,” he said, adding, “when these types of speeches are heard outside the shores of the country, it will discourage foreign direct investments and make local investors to be cautious and this will further endanger our fragile economy.”

    The governor reiterated that to achieve law and order in the society, there must be equity and fairness.

    He argued that any society that cannot ensure law and order would be in anarchy.

    He commended the Public Complaints Commission for the roles it is playing to stabilise the polity.

    He gave the assurance that “anything that will help us achieve peace in the state will be welcomed; as a government, we have a lot of avenues for peace building and to cement the existing peace and unity in our state.”

    Earlier in his statement, observed that with Governor Okowa’s antecedents in governance, Delta State was in a safe and capable hand.

    He stated that the Commission was committed to peace building and reduction of crime in the society.

    He added if the vision, mission and spirit of the founding fathers of the Commission was upheld and the Commission was given the proper attention and cooperation it deserved, the massive agitation and criminality prevalent in the country today might have been at the barest minimum.

  • Dangote To Invest $50 Billion in US, Europe

    Dangote To Invest $50 Billion in US, Europe

    By 2015, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said he will be investing a whopping $50 billion in the United States and Europe.

    The Nigerian billionaire, who spoke to Bloomberg Markets, also said his investment interests in Europe and US will include energy and petrochemicals, among others.

    Mr. Dangote said he will make inroads into European and American markets by the year 2020 when his $11 billion oil refinery and $5 Billion investments in agricultural projects in Nigeria are completed.

    During an interview with the foreign media, he spoke extensively about his future business plans and his interests in English Football, particularly his darling club, Arsenal.

    “From 2020, over 60 percent of our investments will be outside Africa. This is to ensure that we have a balance,” said Mr. Dangote.

    As part of measures to capture other markets, Mr. Dangote said he will consider investments in Asia and Central America.

    Read also: Chibok girls: Don’t open their wounds as they integrate, FG begs public

    In 2015, Mr. Dangote began building a 650,000 barrel per day oil refinery in Lagos.

    Apart from the ongoing oil refinery project, the richest man in Africa last month indicated he will invest up to $4 billion in sugar, rice and dairy production in Nigeria within the next three years.

    Mr. Dangote insisted that investments in agriculture and food security in West Africa are the way to go for him and his conglomerate.

    “When you look at it, especially in Africa, a majority of countries depend on food importation,” he said.

    “There is no way you have a population of over 320 million people in the West African sub-region and have no self-sufficiency in food.”

    “So, for me, the< first thing to do is food security. I believe Dangote Group is doing the right thing to drive this trajectory.”

    Asked whether he has plans to enter Nigeria mainstream politics, Mr. Dangote simply replied, “I am not interested.”

  • Bayelsa to commission new projects

    Bayelsa to commission new projects

    The Bayelsa State Government has announced plans to commission another round of completed state of the arts projects spread across the state.

    The latest commissioning is coming few weeks after former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, visited the state to inaugurate some key projects including the new iconic Governo‎r’s Office and the Ijaw National Academy.

    A statement by the Secretary to the Government, David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, obtained by journalists in Yenagoa, enjoined the public and all well-meaning Bayelsans to get ready for the epoch events.

    ‎According to him, the commissioning would take effect as soon as the Governor returns from his annual vacation abroad.

    Read also: Osinbajo urges media to project nation’s image

    The SSG also stressed that‎ key personalities and very accomplished Nigerians will be called to perform the exercise. ‎

    ‎Spiff added that a number of the‎ laudable and ‎people-oriented ‎ projects completed by the Restoration Administration would be in the Health and Education sectors, while others in the area of general civil infrastructure.

    He said the event would also witness the flag-off of the new Yenagoa City Project, which will involve the allocation of over 500 plots in the first phase and many more in the second phase, for the< benefit of Bayelsans and other Nigerians.‎

  • States, FCT to contribute N23billion to HIV-AIDS response porgramme -NACA

    States, FCT to contribute N23billion to HIV-AIDS response porgramme -NACA

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says it has developed sustainable plan for the funding of comprehensive care for more people living with HIV-AIDS.

    Dr. Sani Aliyu, Director-General, NACA disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that in the new plan, state governments and the FCT were expected to contribute a total of N23 billion for the programme.

    According to him, NACA is to ensure the realisation of the contribution and the use of the money for the purpose intended.

    The Director-General said that the money would be generated through deduction of one per cent from the Federal Government‘s statutory allocation to the states and FCT.

    “We made a presentation to the National Economic Council and we discussed the possibility of contributing up to one per cent of the monthly federal allocation to states to boost HIV/AIDS response programme.

    “Through such contribution, we will be able to generate about N23 billion.

    “We are not saying the money should come to NACA but states should direct the money to the HIV-AIDS response programme.

    “In 2016, almost 99 per cent of the entire HIV/AIDS commodities were brought in by the international donor agencies, government contributed just one per cent.

    “Clearly, we cannot continue to have this huge dependency for a health problem that is a Nigeria’s problem,’’ Aliyu said.

    According to him, the initiative will allow 50 per cent of the people living with HIV/AIDS to be enrolled into treatment schemes.

    Aliyu said other options include integrating HIV-AIDS treatment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and community health insurance scheme.

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    He said the agency had been in discussions with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and some state governors making efforts to introduce state health insurance scheme on the issue.

    Aliyu expressed optimism the initiative would provide sustainability to HIV-AIDS response programmes.

    He lamented that out of pocket expenses for the people living with HIV-AIDS had been on a high side, adding that they were also made to pay for laboratory services and other charges.

    According to Aliyu, having a health insurance scheme that covers all the medical expenses of for people with HIV-AIDS would cushion the financial impact on their treatment.

    He said when he assumed office in January 2017, one of the things he noted was the huge donor dependency on the National HIV response programme.

    The director-general said there were little above one million people on treatment for HIV-AIDS across the country, adding that only 60, 000 were sponsored by the Federal Government through Taraba and Abia response programme.

    He also said the rest were sponsored by the foreign donors either through the United State Government Presidential Emergency Programme For AIDS Response (PEPFAR) or the Global Fund response.

    The director-general said available data showed that out of the number, over three million Nigerians affected by HIV/AIDS needed to stay on treatment for life.

  • NAF re-affirms commitment to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity

    NAF re-affirms commitment to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the Service would continue to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said this while briefing newsmen at the end of NAF’s Annual 10km walk/jogging exercise on Saturday in Abuja.

    Abubakar said physical fitness was pivotal to humans, especially members of the armed forces, adding that it was in view of this that NAF continued to conduct the exercise on quarterly basis.

    He quoted a Greek philosopher, Thucydides, as having once said, “the bravest are surely those who have the cleverest vision of what is before them, glory/danger yet go out to meet it.

    “It is, therefore, my desire to congratulate you all for putting up a brilliant performance in today’s exercise, ” he said.

    The CAS said all these efforts were geared toward effective and efficient protection of the nation’s territorial integrity, as fitness was the key to military performance.

    “Fitness is key to military performance, if you are not fit physically and mentally, then you cannot do military job.

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    “With fitness, you will be able to carry out any assignment given to you professionally, irrespective of the terrain as a military personnel.

    Abubakar implored the personnel to continue to exercise their body so as to keep fit for their daily activities, and to remain healthy, as well.

    He congratulated those who did exceptionally well in the exercise and urged them to keep it up as there was no substitute for excellence and there was great satisfaction derived from hard work.

    The CAS also urged those who did not perform very well to put in more efforts next time, as there was always a second chance, saying practice made perfect.

    He also congratulated the personnel for putting up a brilliant performance in the second Inter-Command Combat Games in Jos, Plateau , for coming out first for the second time.

    “I am very proud of you, and I will continue to organise more sporting activities that will continue to improve the performance of NAF sports men and women.

    “These I will continue to pursue until NAF achieves a greater height in all sporting activities it will participate in,” he said.

    The CAS also congratulated the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development for donating trophies for the first position among officers for the jogging category.

  • 2,000 ISIS fighters to die in Raqqa – Pentagon

    2,000 ISIS fighters to die in Raqqa – Pentagon

    The U.S. Department of Defense says no fewer than 2,000 fighters of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will die in the Syrian city of Raqqa in the ongoing efforts to liberate the city.

    Brett McGurk Special Envoy to President Donald Trump for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, said on Friday, according to Pentagon.

    McGurk said “we estimate there are about 2,000 ISIS fighters left in Raqqa, and they will most likely die in Raqqa,” he said.

    The presidential envoy said that the mission against ISIS was “a campaign of annihilation”.

    “We make sure that before we do a military operation, we actually surround the enemy so that foreign fighters in particular cannot escape.

    “Every foreign fighter that made his way into Syria and Iraq, we want to make sure that they can never make their way out of Syria and Iraq,” he said.

    McGurk said that the gains against the terrorist organisation in recent months were due to some changes the coalition of countries fighting to defeat ISIS had made in the campaign.

    “And we are going to continue to accelerate the pressure on ISIS until this entire organisation collapses and they cannot hold any physical territory from which they can threaten us,” he pledged.

    The counter-ISIS aide regretted that the ISIS fighters on the ground were using the civilians “as their own shields” and “as their own hostages”.

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    “They are using snipers to kill civilians who are trying to escape.

    “They’re trying to put suicide bombers in columns of displaced people as they try to get out – the similar tactics we’ve seen from this barbaric terrorist organisation in other cities.”

    According to him, an estimated 200 billion dollars is needed to rebuild the war-torn Syria.

    “By World Bank estimates, more than 200 billion dollars is needed to reconstruct Syria. It’s probably many multiples of that, and the international community is not going to come to the aid of Syria until there is a credible political horizon that can lead to a credible transition in Damascus.

    “That is the reality. So we are working through this two-phase structure and are very committed to that roadmap that is outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” he said.

     

    (NAN)