Ivy League schools scramble for yet another Nigerian

We’ve heard and seen reports of African student’s exceling academically in American schools. Out of Atlanta comes yet another intriguing Nigerian youngster who is on track to set academic records. Olubunmi Fariyike, 17, of Cobb, County Georgia in Atlanta is the son of Nigerian immigrants Emmanuel and Fadeke Fariyike. Olubunmi attends Hillgrove High School in GA with a GPA of 4.672 aggregate and 2,230-out-of-2,400 SAT.

 He has received admission into 5 Ivy League schools and 11 other prestigious schools. His Ivy League schools include; Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.

Other schools include; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, Harvey Mudd College, Washington University, Rice University, Northwestern, University of Georgia (foundation fellow) and Georgia Tech.

Olubunmi wants to study biomedical engineering for his first degree and then head to medical school with the intention of becoming a Neurosurgeon — and was exhilarated when he learned he now had an opportunity to study at the country’s top schools. Olubunmi is a self-motivated tenacious young man who puts his all in whatever he sets his mind on.

His parents, entire family, his community, former students of FGGC Sagamu are very proud of this young man and we all wish him the very best. Mrs. Fadeke Fariyike is an Alumni of FGGC Sagamu.

Tosan Aduayi is the founder of Trendy Africa Magazine and has been an active journalist since 1994

JPS recognizes Margaret Abu for 30 years of service

Fort Worth, Texas - Downtown Fort Worth was the choice destination for a select worthy group of employees of the JPS Health Network as their institution celebrated their long years of service at a banquet held in the high profile City Club. 

Margaret with CEO of JPS Robert Early

Those recognized had served for 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. Among them was our own dear Margaret Abu who had served 30 years. We congratulate her for her dedication to duty and her natural will to serve.

VIP’s in attendance included the President and CEO of JPS Robert Early, Chair JPS Board of Managers Reverend Ralf W. Emerson Jr., Senior VP Human Resources and Learning Nikki Sumpter among others. 

by Tosan Aduayi in Fort Worth

Does Nigeria Have an Economic Agenda?

There has been growing concerns about the President Muhammadu Buhari led Nigerian Governments handling of the economy. At the moment, there seems to be no clear cut economic blueprint for which government policies are framed. It appears to me that every minister is working by intuition without any economic guiding principle. The President is yet to appoint his Chief Economic adviser, have an economic management team or a think tank that meets regularly to discuss what is on ground, what measures needed to be put in place to address them quickly. It is like the focus is all about looking for thieves, catching them, and recovering what they have stolen. This is good and fair enough. After the President has finished the recovery of the looted funds, what next and how will the looted funds be channeled into the economy to benefit the ordinary Nigerian? 

What the ordinary Nigerian is interested in is food on his table, good school for his children, good medical care and shelter and security of life and property. In any economy, the goal of macro economic policy is to achieve full employment of resources, balance growth, stable prices of goods and services; and a stable currency through a healthy balance of payment. As it is today, all four macro economic indices are pointing south. This government seems not to understand or know what to do to address the situation. The government does not need to go too far to know what to do. 

Nigeria has several development research documents that speak of ways to better manage the economy. But the problem has always been that leaders are often not focused enough to implement them faithfully. In most countries today, the economics of the middle class has taken the center stage. This is because if the middle class is doing well, the purchasing power in the hand of this class will make the economy to grow. When in 1986, General Babangida introduced the famous Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), it was with good intention. But half way down the line of implementation, the programme was derailed by Nigerians who kept crying of the hardship the programme was putting the nation through. 

President Babangida before coming up with SAP had a retinue of very bright minds as his advisers. Babangida had a team then that was called the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. This body was busy preparing documents and seeking informed opinion from operators in the private sector. He went to the point of instituting what was then known as Corporate Nigeria — a yearly gathering of captains of industry to tap their knowledge of the economy before any policy initiative. When 

President Olusegun Obasanjo became the President, the economy was near its knees. He realised that he could not manage the economy all by himself. He appointed Professor Chukwuma Soludo as his Chief Economic Adviser and set up an economic management team. The team went to work and prepared a document called the NEEDS. It was the second of its kind to SAP. The document was the basis on which the nation was able to secure a debt relief from the Paris and London clubs of creditors. In fact it became the Policy Support Instrument for which the International Monetary Fund IMF, based its monitoring and evaluation of the economy on. Nigerians’ expectation was that the next government after Obasanjo would take the economy to the next level. 

President Umaru Yar ‘Adua came up with 7-Point Agenda and Jonathan the Transformation Agenda. They were mere slogans without content or direction.  President Umaru Yar’Adua followed with the appointment of Tanimu as his Economic Adviser. He again had his economic team. All his appointees followed the seven point agenda. The immediate past President had his team and his economic slogan was Transformation. Buhari and his team must realise that they do not yet have a coherent, credible agenda that is consistent with the fundamentals of the economy as it stands today. 

What the government has been saying contains some good principles and wish-lists, but as a blue print for Nigeria’s security and prosperity, it is largely ineffective. The President should for the sake of Nigerians who voted him to power present a credible development agenda to Nigerians. What the President must know is that the fundamental challenge of his government on the economy is how to set economic objective of creating ten to twelve million jobs over the next four years to have a dent on the ever growing unemployment and poverty in the country. 

The real challenge is to craft a development agenda to deliver dividends of democracy within the context of broken public finance, and an economy in which painful structural adjustments will be inevitable if current trends in oil prices continue. Mr. President must come to terms with the fact that programmes such as war on corruption, security, power, infrastructure, etc, are  instruments to achieving the macro economic objective of full employment. As it appears, this government seems to be disoriented and unorganised in the economic front. 

What is the economic slogan of this administration? What is the economic direction of government ministries, departments and agencies? All we hear is war against corruption, I will not devalue the naira, we will invest in agriculture, and we will invest in solid minerals. So far, there is no policy direction toward these sectors. This government campaigned on the basis of stimulating the economy. Buhari’s stimulus strategy as of now is not focusing on cherry-picking projects that can create jobs almost instantaneously, as well as on programs that can deliver immediate returns to Nigerians. It is now all out war on corruption. 

The projects and programs this administration should get into include infrastructure, education, health, and energy. It is a shame that nine months into the life of this administration, these sectors are yet to feel the presence of this administration. The budget is riddled with confusion and yet to be passed. Almost one year is gone with little to show for it on the economy. The President has already reneged on his unemployment benefits he promised during his campaign to pay N5, 000 unemployment benefits to Nigerians and other social welfare provisions. The informal sector in 

Nigeria is very vibrant, with millions of underemployed youths. This ought to be one sector this government of change should concentrate on to unleash its potential on the economy. This sector ultimately will generate employment opportunities. This government should wake up and face the task of reconstructing the Nigerian economy; period.

Source: Omoh Gabriel/Vanguard

Ex-Army Chief Badeh sent to Prison

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, in Kuje Prison. Badeh was arraigned before the court today on 10 counts of money laundering. He is accused of fraudulently removing N3.97bn from the account of the Nigerian Air Force in 2013. He used the money to purchase a mansion at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which the defendants were said to have purchased with N1.1bn.

The accused also allegedly bought a commercial plot of land at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, for N650m. They were said to have paid N878m for the construction of a shopping mall at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, and another sum of N304m to complete the construction. $1M cash is reported to have been discovered in one of his properties. The anti-graft agency also accused them of paying N260m to purchase a duplex at No. 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, for Badeh’s son. The sum of N60m was said to have been paid for the renovation of the property and another N90m to furnish the property. The retired Air Force officer also allegedly paid N330m to one Honourable Bature to purchase a duplex at No. 14 Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

Nigerian Police Rescue Kidnapped School Girls

The three female students of the Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS), Agunfoye-Lugbusi, Ikorodu, Lagos State, who were abducted last Monday in their hostels have been rescued by the Police. The Police rescued the Barbington school girls around Igbokuta Area of Ikorodu. No ransom was paid for their release. 

A member of the gang who took part in the abduction was said to have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, lead by CSP Abba Kyari, when he left the gang’s camp in Adamama Forest in Arepo, Ogun State, off Ikorodu. Sources disclosed that the school girls who are currently with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, was rescued following intense pressure mounted on the gang following the arrest of their colleague by a combine team of the IRT operatives and their counterpart at the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja.

source: vanguard

Billionaire Trump avalanche super Tuesday wins

Donald Trump romped through the second biggest day in American politics – only November presidential elections are grander – etching his name on seven trophies in the Republican party's Super Tuesday display case, and hoping for more. Two prizes, Texas and Oklahoma, have eluded his grasp and went to Ted Cruz, a senator from the Lone Star State. But the rest of the night so far belongs to The Donald.

And Marco Rubio claimed Minnesota's caucuses late into the night. But the rest of the night so far belongs to The Donald. The billionaire real estate tycoon has been declared the GOP primary winner in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia. He's leading in one undecided race and two more will end later.

Cruz held on to claim Texas on the strength of an almost single-minded campaign strategy that ceded other southern territories to Trump. Partly as a result, the GOP front-runner's early victories set a blowout pace.

The tea party senator later added Oklahoma to his column in an unexpected development: Trump had out-polled him there a week ago by a dozen percentage points. 

source: dailymail

Nigeria had over 20000 ghost workers on its payroll

Nigeria's finance ministry has saved millions of dollars for the cash-strapped government by removing more than 20,000 "ghost workers" from the state payroll. The eliminated ghost workers represented just a "percentage" of "non-existent" staff who had been receiving monthly wages, highlighting the brazen corruption in Africa's biggest economy.

Nigeria finance minister Kemi Adeosun

"The salary bill for February 2016 has reduced by 2.293 billion naira ($11.53 million)," finance ministry advisor Festus Akanbi said in a statement. Akanbi said that stricter payroll regulation would boost the budget at a time when Nigeria's state coffers are depleted as a result of the collapse in global oil prices.

Trimming personnel costs "is key to funding the deficit in the 2016 budget, as savings made will ultimately reduce the amount to be borrowed," Akanbi said. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced a record budget in December promising to stimulate growth and build infrastructure in the oil-rich but import-dependant nation. He has vowed to infuse the budget with money recovered in his quest to stamp out endemic corruption in Nigeria.

Exclusive Interview with President Muhammadu Buhari by UK Telegraph

Are you willing to talk to Boko Haram about the missing Chibok schoolgirls?

"As long as we can establish the bona fides of the leadership of Boko Haram, we are prepared as a government to discuss with them how to get the girls back. But we have not established any evidence of a credible leadership."

Is Abubakr Shekau still the leader of Boko Haram?

"I receive conflicting information about the status of Shekau. Some say he has been removed and replaced by a less charismatic terrorist leader.

"I think he must be on the run, because out of the 14 local government districts that Boko Haram used to call their caliphate, they now do not control any now. They are scattered around the Sambisa forest and they have resorted to attacking soft targets, people in churches, mosques and market places, and using improvised explosive devices."

Are you seeking any further help from the West in the fight against Boko Haram?

"I was invited by the G7 during my visit to Europe to brief them on the issue of security Boko Haram, and I did so. I subsequently sent Nigeria's 'shopping list' in terms of the infrastructure destroyed. That is schools, medical facilities and other institutions, bridges blown up, and the estimates of repair."

Did you also ask for Western military help?

"Yes, I did, but I don't want to give any details of that in public at present. As you know, we already have foreign military help in terms of training missions."

And are you asking for additional military help beyond training missions?

"I am not asking for any of that yet. I want to be briefed first on the situation from the Nigerian military and also the police."

The previous government used mercenaries from South Africa in the fight against Boko Haram, with some success. Would you consider doing the same?

"I personally was very disappointed that the previous government resorted to mercenaries. I was also disappointed by the recent revelations of how military allocations were also misappropriated. How is it that Nigeria's military, which has a good record across west Africa, cannot claim back to 14 out of 774 local governorates from Boko Haram? They have to ask for mercenaries from South Africa? How the mighty has fallen!"

What is your feeling on the wider terror threats across west and north Africa at the moment, with terrorism attacks taking place in Mali and Burkina Faso?

"I think we should be very worried because with technology, Boko Haram and other terrorists have become very mobile in all continents, not only in Africa but also in Europe, America and Asia.

"For Africa and the Sahel, the demise of Gaddafi's regime led to a lot of armed and trained people, especially those from the Sahel, being dispersed. Fighting is the only thing they know, and they are available at a fee. The danger is there, and I am pleased that Europe has realised it too."

There have been reports that Nigerians have been fighting for Isil in the Libyan city of Sirte. Is that true?

"I haven't seen confirmed reports about that, but I know that it is not only in Sirte - there are also Nigerians finding their way to Syria too. I don't know which side, but they may be fighing for Isil. How many, I have no idea."

Have you ever had reports of people from the Nigerian diaspora in the UK being involved in Boko Haram in any way?

"No, but if I do, I will immediately raise the issue."

A number of Nigerians use the migrant routes to come to the UK to claim asylum, saying their lives are at risk from Boko Haram. Is is legitimate for them to do so?

"Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but then again some Nigerians have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in different prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking. I don't think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home. Their services are required to rebuild the country. If their countrymen misbehaved, the best thing for them is to stay at home and encourage the credibility of the nation."

Do you think that Nigerians have an image problem abroad?

"Certainly. But we are on our way to salvage that. We will encourage our countrymen to stay at home, work hard and make a respectable living at home."

Your government has launched a major corruption probe over claims that billions of dollars of oil cash went missing during the previous administration. Some suspects have been arrested in the UK. Are you satisfied with the co-operation you are getting from the UK authorities?

"One of the biggest suspects is in Britain now, although I am not going to name that person. But Britain has earned our respect in the way it deals with these matters. Our only problem is that it seems to be too thorough and it takes too much time. If there are obvious cases, like bank accounts, infrastructure houses and hotels, I would hope they could do it quicker, so that we can claim these things back promptly."

By Collin Freeman

AMCON owed N1.1 trillion

Nigerian financial services, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has listed Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Seawolf, the defunct Bellview Airlines, Resort International Limited, Timbuktu Media (owner of the defunct Next Newspaper), former Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus Odimegwu, and 214 other firms, their respective directors, and individuals with outstanding debts of N1.146 trillion that have failed to visit the corporation for the resolution of their debts. 

Ubah Ifeanyi - Capital Oil and Gas

While AMCON put the outstanding debt of Seawolf at N160.09 billion, it listed Uwamu Adolor, Okunlola Remi, Rasheed Mahey Rafindadi, Wessels Alwyn, Odulami Remi, Waziri Ibrahim Dahiru and Oduntan Adetunji, as  directors of the company. Also, the list showed that Capital Oil, which is indebted to the corporation to the tune of N104.8 billion, has Mr. Ubah Ifeanyi Patrick, Ubah Uchenna, Ubah Chidera Graciuos, Orji Joseph Anayo, Chigbogu Fidelia Ezinwanne, Awodein Ayodeji Tolulope, Usoro Nsikan Anthony, and Akerele Oyinlade Mercy, as its directors. Directors of Resort International include Mr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), who has a N132 billion judgment debt against the federal government, and a court ruling ordering AMCON to offset his indebtedness to it against the judgment debt. Other directors of Resort International are Akinsanya Olayinka, Layonu Abiodun, Akibambi Temitayo Kola, Spectra Limited and Adewunmi Abiola. AMCON listed Resort as being indebted to the tune of N36.30 billion.

Other firms on the debtor list include Tanzila Petroluem Limited - N49.2 billion; Home Trust Savings - N25.749 billion; Suru Worldwide Ventures - N24.41 billion; Roygate Properties - N23.261 billion; Ziklagsis Network Limited - N20.334 billion; Lexcap Partners - N18 billion. Similarly, AMCON also listed Anyiam Osigwe Limited - N17.247 billion; Iorna Global Resources Limited - N15.873 billion; Hosanna Properties Limited - N14.983 billion; Unudike Enterprises Limited - N14.16 billion; Bulk Pack Services Limited - N13.493 billion; Global Haulage Resources Limited - N11.472 billion; Taka Continental Limited -N11.378 billion; JAG Global Resources Limited - N11.108 billion; Felshade International Nigeria - N10.979 billion; AFRIJET Airlines Limited - N10.886 billion; Hotel De Island (belonging to Sentor Buruji Kashamu and family) - N10.797 billion; and Petroleum Brokers Limited - N10.681 billion, on the long list of debtors.

source: thisday

Crude oil drops below $28 per barrel

Oil sank to a 12-year low of less than $28 a barrel in London on Monday as the removal of international sanctions over the weekend freed Iran to revive crude exports, threatening to swell a glut created by fellow OPEC members and U.S. shale drillers. 

Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil exporter, signaled again on Sunday it won’t relent in its strategy to preserve market share even as prices crash. Global oil markets could “drown in oversupply,” sending prices even lower as demand growth slows and Iran revives exports with the end of sanctions, according to the International Energy Agency.

The IEA trimmed 2016 estimates for global oil demand as China’s economic expansion weakens and raised forecasts for supplies outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. While non-OPEC supply is set to drop 600,000 barrels a day in 2016, Iran’s comeback could fill that gap by the middle of the year. As a result, world markets may be left with a surplus of 1.5 million barrels a day in the first half.

Source: bloomberg

Nigerian couple jailed for forced slavery in the UK

A Nigerian couple who kept a man as a slave for 24 years after illegally bringing him to Britain have both been jailed for six years. Former NHS obstetrician Emmanuel Edet, 61, and midwife Antan Edet, 58, kept fellow Nigerian Ofonime Sunday Inuk as a 'houseboy' after smuggling him into the UK aged 14.

Over the next quarter of a century, he worked unpaid up to 17 hours a day looking after the couple's two sons, cooking, cleaning and gardening.  He was also forced to sleep on a piece of foam on a hall floor under the stairs. Sentencing the couple at Harrow Crown Court today Judge Graham said their treatment of Mr Inuk, now 40, left him 'conditioned' to his plight.

Judge Arran told them: 'The most serious aspect of your behaviour towards him was that it went on for an exceptionally long period of time, robbing him of the opportunity of leading a normal life. He suffered as a result of that treatment and has found it difficult to adjust (to) a normal life.'

He was hired by the Edets as a 'houseboy' and taken first to Israel before the family moved to the UK when Dr Edet landed a post as a gynaecologist in Chatham, Kent. The Edets changed Mr Inuk's name and added him to their family passport as their son when they first brought him to Britain. Mr Inuk believed they would pay him for his work. But he was forced to keep their family home in an immaculate condition, polishing the floors every fortnight, and was prohibited from speaking to anyone else.

The Edets confiscated his passport and stopped him from finding a job or receiving an education, forcing him to complete menial household chores for little or no money. Mr Inuk continued to be refused an education when the couple moved to Scarborough in North Yorkshire, and was subjected to taunts including 'riff raff' and 'gutter trash'.

To the outside world, they claimed he was their adopted son, but while their other sons went on to successful careers a City analyst and a supply teacher, Mr Inuk had to stay at home. The court was told how there were almost 1,000 pictures of the couple's two sons - but only had four of Mr Inuk, including one where he was peddling the boat in Flamingo Land, in north Yorkshire. When the family moved to Walsall in the West Midlands, Dr Edet lost his General Medical Council certificate and was told to leave the UK. But the family then moved to London in 1994, where Mr Inuk was still treated as a 'houseboy' despite entering adulthood.

He was rarely allowed out of the house, and only to complete tasks like shopping. He was also told not to speak to anyone. The Edets monitored Mr Inuk's post, and he eventually lost touch with his mother and family back in Nigeria.They also kept his name off the electoral roll, and he was not allowed to enter the lounge in the family home.  

source: dailymail

The passing of a political giant: Abubakar Audu (1947-2015)

Prince Abubakar Audu bestrode the political landscape of Kogi State from its creation in 1991 till his death yesterday when he was about to make it a triple as governor of the Confluence state. Born 68 years ago into a royal family in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, the late politician showed signs of greatness at a tender age. His late father, HRH Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Attah of Igalaland was the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma.

Prince Abubakar Audu was the first elected governor of Kogi State in 1992 on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention. He was responsible for the laying of the infrastructural foundation of the state. He was responsible for the establishment of the Kogi State University, Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation and many other institutions in the state. His first spell as governor ended with General Sani Abacha’s dismantling of the structures of the Third Republic on November 17, 1993.

In 1999, Audu contested and won the governorship election for the second time on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP having defeated the late Arc. Stephen Olorunfemi of the People’s Democratic Party. He was a politician cherished by the Igala people of Kogi State.

His bid for re-election was truncated in 2003 when he lost to PDP’s Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. The 2003 loss heralded a chain of loses in 2007, 2008 and 2011. He was cruising to victory in his sixth governorship contest conducted on Saturday, against the incumbent governor, Capt. Idris Wada. Audu was believed to have died yesterday morning before the election was declared inconclusive yesterday evening.

Prince Audu was a charismatic and flamboyant leader who was never afraid of confronting authorities in his lifetime. For many years, he was the leader of opposition politics in Kogi State, sinking his resources into nurturing parties such as the National Republican Convention, the defunct APP, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and lately, the All Progressives Congress. He will be sorely missed by the political community in the confluence state.

His socio-economic contribution in the state is to date a point of reference to the generality of the people and many aspiring leaders. Some of his major achievements during his first two stints in office include the establishment of three different housing schemes for public officers consisting of over 1,500 housing units in Lokoja, the transformation of Lokoja township with asphalt roads, street lights, aesthetic roundabouts, the construction of inter-township and rural roads, over 75 electrification schemes and 50 water projects.

Others include the founding of Kogi State Polytechnic, the establishment of a television station, radio station (both AM and FM), a state newspaper, the transformation of the colonial residence of Lord Lugard into an Ultra-Modern Government House Complex, the construction of office blocks for ministries as the new state had no office accommodation, the construction of shopping arcade complex to enhance commercial activities, among others. He was regarded as the father of development in Kogi State.

source: Vanguard

Covenant Voices of South Africa win international accolades

Covenant Voices, a South African mass gospel choir, have become an International multi award winning group after they won the Akademia Music Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Video for ‘Children’ in the November 2015 Akademia Music Awards, adding to their previous success three months ago when they won, 'Best Gospel Song' at the August 2015 edition of Akademia awards in Los Angeles, United States of America.

Covenant Voices was founded and named in 2007 by Rev. Tim Omotoso, after he hosted gospel music auditions, a first for the organization in Durban. 

This became the first initiative of the Youth Empowerment Project (Y.E.P.) of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach. They are based in Durban, South Africa, and their music has Traditional Zulu, Jazz, R&B and Contemporary influences.

Images of Veterans day

America honored its greatest heroes today as Veterans Day parades and commemorations took place across the country, paying homage to the sacrifices made by those in uniform. President Barack Obama led tributes in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns - a poignant tribute to all those killed in conflicts whose remains could not be identified - as New York held its annual Veterans Parade, the largest to take place in the country.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Virgin Atlantic ditches Nigerian based Cabin Crew

Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced that it will be discontinuing with the services of Nigerian based cabin crew in its operations. Reacting to unconfirmed reports that the airline was withdrawing its services from Nigeria, its Nigerian Sales Agent, Chief John Adebanjo; "We have decided that we will no longer have crew based in Lagos.  This is by no means a reflection on our Lagos-based cabin crew. 

The primary purpose of our locally based cabin crew has been to provide cultural expertise and customer feedback has shown us that this is no longer a requirement on the Lagos route”.

He further stated; ‘’The additional complexity required to operate an international crew base where there are no foreign language requirement means it is no longer sustainable going forward. 

This announcement has no impact on our flying programme and we plan to continue flights between Lagos and London. ‘’After 14 years of flying the route, we remain committed to servicing the Nigeria people, whether it be for business, family or education.’’

New anti-corruption czar named for Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has named a former operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu as the new Chairman after the sack of Ibrahim Lamorde. During his time at the EFCC, he led investigations into the affairs of officials including former Delta Governor James Ibori and current Senate President, Bukola Saraki.  Magu is a recipient of USG and London Metropolitan Police institute training.

He reportedly worked with Ribadu to jail his brother-in-law and former Bank of the North chief, Shettima Bulama. Bulama was later pardoned by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He is a member of the investigative committee convened by National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the procurement of arms in the Armed Forces from 2007 till now. He is a Chief Superintendent of Police.

5 things Buhari must do to define ‘CHANGE’

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was inaugurated May 29, is the antithesis of the stereotypical Nigerian politician: incorruptible, soft-spoken, self-effacing and deliberate.  He embraces the nickname “Baba Go-Slow and Steady.” Buhari’s unhurried style has its downsides, however: It took him an unprecedented four months to name a solid but un-extraordinary cabinet.  His reform agenda appears to be sauntering out of the gates, according to the civil society-run Buharimeter.

In the meantime, the challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy continue to grow: Oil revenues are down, currency value has slipped and Boko Haram has killed more than 1,700 since June.  Nigerians nevertheless expect their new president’s reform agenda to show tangible results, and soon. Given these imperatives, here are five things Buhari can do to get the ball rolling:

1. Carefully clean house. Buhari’s reform agenda probably faces its greatest threat from corrupt, old-school politicians within his own All Progressives Congress (APC) party.  Buhari should neutralize some of the APC’s shadiest figures, who could emerge as “veto players,” as described in Carl LeVan’s recent book. 

Examples of these kleptocrats are not hard to find.  The U.S. Department of Justice has accused one sitting APC governor of helping former dictator Sani Abacha steal at least $458 million from state coffers.  Likewise, both APC candidates in the upcoming Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections have been indicted by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency.

Admittedly, housecleaning carries political risks for Buhari. After all, his victorious electoral coalition included powerful defectors from former president Goodluck Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  If he unduly antagonizes these establishment figures, they could derail his party’s newfound dominance by joining their former comrades in the opposition PDP.

2. Pare down the parastatals.  Buhari has an opportunity to realize immediate savings by eliminating or merging some of Nigeria’s more than 500 federal parastatals and boards. Parastatals are government-operated companies or commercial agencies.  Pundits allege that past presidents used parastatal appointments to cultivate national political allies and provincial cronies.  These institutions, which range from the lucrative to the modest to the moribund, have long been a cornerstone of corruption in Nigeria — a complicated topic expertly explained by Daniel Jordan Smith.

Buhari may also want to disband some nice-to-have but non-essential parastatals in light of competing priorities and current fiscal constraints.  Does Nigeria need to spend more than $4 million annually on a Center for Space Transport and Propulsion? Is there an effort underway to rescue the supposedly stranded Nigerian astronaut featured in this legendary scam letter?

President Muhammadu Buhari

3. Tame the white elephants.  Buhari’s apparent determination to revive two “white elephant” economic sectors — domestic oil refineries and steel mills — worry industry experts.  Nigeria is replete with these kinds of investment projects where state-owned enterprises are funded for long periods even if they incur huge losses.  For decades, Nigerian leaders have thrown good money after bad at these projects because, as Robinson and Torvik argue, white elephant projects yield short-term political gains.

Buhari, like any of the rest of us, could stumble into a sunk cost dilemma where his efforts to maximize future returns of Nigeria’s white elephants only increase their cumulative losses. Instead, he should address the graft, inconsistent policies and opaque privatization deals that experts say turned these industries into white elephants in the first place.

4. Rein in subnational debt.  As Buhari tries to put Nigeria’s public finances back in order, the balance sheets of the country’s 36 states are sinking deeper into the red.  In a decentralized federal system like Nigeria’s, state budgets typically affect the lives of ordinary citizens more than federal spending does. Since taking office, Buhari has already bailed out 27 cash-strapped states to the tune of $2.1 billion.  States’ borrowing trends are risky and need to be addressed, according to a recent report by the African Development Bank.

All but a few states generate minimal revenue outside of their monthly allocation of Nigeria’s anemic oil income.  While Nigeria’s national debt is still relatively low by global standards, fiscal federalism means that if states default on their debts, the federal government foots the bill.  Buhari’s reasons for watching state borrowing should also be personal: One of the stated reasons for the 1983 military coup that first brought him to power was runaway borrowing by state governors.

5. Legislate for the long run.  Nigeria will need to feel the “Buhari Effect” (the sense, evident in a recent New York Times article, that there is a new sheriff in town) long after the president’s tenure is over.  The best way for him to protect his legacy is to partner with the National Assembly to enact legislation enshrining key reforms.  With few other politicians like him on the horizon, Buhari should put his legacy in writing.

A good place to start would be an act prohibiting the use of “security votes.” Both a definitive article by Uche et al. and a 2007 Human Rights Watch report illustrate how these secretive budgetary line items are used by officials at all levels of government as slush funds. Even Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency had a $1,000,000 security vote included in its 2014 budget. Buhari has his work cut out for him.

Matthew Page is an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. You can follow him on Twitter at @MatthewTPage.

NCC MTN fine will impact the Nigerian Economy

Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator-NCC recently fined MTN $5.2 billion, wiping almost 20 percent off its market value over the space of four days. The incident has brought to light the high level of risk when doing business in Nigeria. Many observers wonder how NCC arrived at the staggering fine which is the total National budget for most African countries. Some media commentaries also speculate that it may be a calculated attempt to halt the Nation’s largest GSM operators operation in Nigeria. 

MTN Nigeria is currently the largest employer of Labour in the communications sector and is also the single source of income for hundreds of telecom service start-ups across Nigeria. It has millions of dollars in infrastructure and has also invested largely in the booming Nigerian entertainment industry. Such a fine will definitely have a trickledown effect on thousands of Nigerians.

MTN Nigeria MD, Mike Ikpoki

While Johannesburg-based MTN is in talks with Nigerian authorities over the penalty, imposed for failing to disconnect customers with unregistered SIM cards and having incomplete data, failure to negotiate a lower sanction means the company will be paying away more than double the group’s estimated net income for 2015. It also exceeds sales of almost 54 billion rand ($3.9 billion) that the operator made in Nigeria in 2014, about 37 percent of total revenue.

After buying one of four Nigerian mobile-phone licenses for $285 million, MTN went from handling its first call in the West African country in 2001 to being the market leader with more than 62.5 million customers. Over the same period, its share price on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange soared more than sixfold as the company expanded from its home base into more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and in Cyprus.

A full payment would exceed the revenue the Nigerian government made from oil in the second-quarter, and be more than double the state’s non-crude proceeds, according to central bank data.

Trading in MTN’s shares was halted more than three hours after rebounding from a decline of as much as 9.7 percent.  The dispute with MTN also comes as the economy struggles to cope with sliding oil prices, currency restrictions and no finance minister, with growth at its slowest pace this decade. The dispute couldn’t come at a worse time for MTN, with the company’s 15-year license up for renewal.

Source: Bloomberg