How to ‘defeat’ EFCC or die trying! – By Japheth Omojuwa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “carry” you? What’s there? It simply means you have arrived! Whatever you do, never plead guilty! The EFCC’s budget is not even up to N15bn, yet as a bonafide big thief worth N25bn, you already know you can match the EFCC naira for naira. Remember that its budget will not even be used to fight you alone, it has to fight other big thieves like you. When broken down per capita thief per thief, the EFCC probably has just about N100m to fight you. Before the battle gets started, your advantage over the EFCC cannot be over-emphasised but you must do more.

This is the time to remember you are a Christian and do not forget that the President is a Muslim. Every political battle is a battle of narratives before anything else, so you must make sure to sponsor analysts to critique the President’s inclination towards only going after thieves who are Christians. Some “oversabi” people will try to point out to you that he is also going after Muslims but that is not your business; your business is to focus on your agenda and spend and spend until you believe your narrative is actually the truth. In this game, the truth takes the shape of the glass you want it, the truth is not absolute here. Remember to let people know that the EFCC is coming after you because you are not from Daura. Have you not noticed that nobody from Daura has been charged by the EFCC? So, scream until Nigerians believe you. Let me tell you something about an average crowd, they do not exactly care for the truth, they care for who is able to dress their own truth best.

'It's a disgrace to Nigeria that 27 out of 36 states can’t pay salaries' - President Buhari says

President Buhari yesterday said it was disgraceful that 27 out of the 36 states in the Federation are grappling with inability to pay their workers salary. President Buhari said this during his interactive meeting with workers at the state house Abuja.

"27 out of the 36 states cannot pay salaries. This is a disgrace to Nigeria. It is a disgrace up till now that most of the states cannot pay salaries. 

What happened to all we have gotten over the years? We look up and down, left, right and centre, what have we saved? There was nothing because we developed a consumption culture that we were not supposed to develop. Most of your colleagues that have left service, I doubt if they are getting benefits. That is the situation we find ourselves in”he said

WHY MUST WE WAIT FOR OUR HEROES TO DIE BEFORE WE CELEBRATE THEM IN NIGERIA?

I woke up about 5:30am on 7^th of June, 2016, had my morning devotion and went about getting ready for the day’s work. I was really not expecting any surprises like the one I got when I took a quick glance at my phone on my way out for any messages and news updates. The first news that popped up at me was a rude shock, Stephen Keshi is dead! At first, I thought it was one of those fake news so I decided to confirm the authenticity of the news from Channels news website, and loo and behold the news was there confirming Stephen Keshi’s death. Sudden sadness welled up within me as I decided to right there on the spot observe my one minute silence in honour of the departed hero.

Buhari begins first phase of homegrown school feeding across the country

• No counter-part funding required to start, but state govts welcome to complement
• N70 per meal estimated
• Caterers to be paid directly by the federal government
• Programme expected to spur Agric, and create jobs 
• Will also foster children's nutrition and learning 

To ensure the effective implementation of the National Home-grown School Feeding, HGSF, Programme, the Muhammadu Buhari presidency has already provided enough funds in the 2016 budget that will ensure that in the first instance 5.5 million primary school pupils would be served one free hot meal a day.

Making this explanation Tuesday afternoon in Abuja was the Senior Special Assistant, Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, who added that while states are an active participant in the school feeding plan, their counterpart funding is not required to start the programmer's implementation.

Willing states are however being encouraged to complement the programme so it can reach more pupils, but state governments cannot and will not be compelled to do this. However the support of the states is vital whether they are able to fund in addition to what the FG will do or not, according to the SSA, saying "we want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, it's a win-win for everyone."

Nigerian Govt opts for ranching

The Federal Government may have jettisoned the idea of developing grazing reserves across the country, preferring instead to pursue the development of ranches.

No fewer than 14 states have provided 5,000 hectares of land each amounting to 70,000 hectares for grazing reserves.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who disclosed government’s new direction in Abuja yesterday while declaring open stakeholders’ meeting on ranch development, said Nigeria must embrace modern ways of livestock development.

Finally, One Of The Missing Chibok Girls Has Been Reported Found In Nigeria

Finally, one of the missing Chibok girls Amina Ali has been reported found in Nigeria, according to Oby Ezekwesili @obyezeks.

If the report is true, this will be the first success story since the Chibok Girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants two years ago.

A total number of 276 girls were kidnapped from their secondary school in north-east Nigeria by the Islamist fighters in April 2014.

Teebillz Suicide Mission Was Aborted by Peter Okoye, Banky W and Mr Chukwuma Ani on Lekki-Ikoyi Toll Bridge

When Teebillz shared his suicide note this morning on IG while pouring his heart out about the demise of his marriage to Tiwa Savage, many of us thought/hoped he was just talking, but he wasn't. Tunji 'Teebillz' Balogun tried to commit suicide this morning by jumping off the Lekki- Ikoyi toll bridge and this is fact!

According to an eye-witness named Chukwuma Ani, who witnessed the incident and was one of the men who pulled Teebillz off the bridge, he told LIB exclusively that around past 9 this morning while driving on the Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge, a car hit his own from behind, damaging his car. He said he came out of the car and approached the driver of the vehicle that hit his. He didn't know who the man was (it was Teebillz) but he said he berated him for hitting his car and asked the man to come out and assess the damage caused to his car. The man looked at him and told him to leave...that he was there for a reason. That he was planning to commit suicide and Chukwuma Ani would hear about it later...

Mike Adenuga @ 63: The Power Of Silence

Adenuga @ 63: The power of silence

By Louis Odion, FNGE

One of the enduring puzzles of Nigeria's political narrative of the past seventeen years is undoubtedly the Third Term saga. It is perhaps a fitting tribute to the pervasive culture of amnesia today and a shame on the nation's indolent intelligentsia that, ten years after that attempted political heist, no documentation of note - official or independent - yet exists to preserve its grotesque memory. Nor are there any signs today that a symbolic rite - like a colloquium - will hold tomorrow in remembrance. 

Yet, TTA (Third Term Agenda) sign-posts a defining moment in the evolution of current democratic experience. By the depth of perfidy and the breadth of chicanery, its historical parallel would only be Ibrahim Babangida's convoluted transition programme which literally dragged the nation up-hill and down the valley for years, eventuating tragically in the June 12 annulment of 1993.

GEJ denies making statement on the state of the nation

As shared by the former President. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

The Sons Of Futa Jalon (Part 1) By Femi Fani-Kayode

“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”- Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto Caliphate and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, 12th October, 1960, recalled by Tribune, 13th November, 2002.

These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana's world-view, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis. 

To add to the Saurdana's contribution and to butress his point,  in August 2001 President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria said the following: "God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation". 

$20 Billion (N3.94tn) idle in Nigerians’ domiciliary accounts – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday raised the alarm that about $20bn (N3.94tn) was lying idle in different domiciliary accounts of the citizens.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, CBN, Dr. Joseph Nnana, stated this during a meeting of the Joint Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly with government officials on the 2016 budget.

Nnana said, “Distinguished chairman sir, we have $20bn lying idle in various domiciliary accounts of many customers at the various banks across the country.

“This is part of the reasons why the naira has continued to slide against the US dollar.”

He alleged that some privileged Nigerians were behind the consistent slide in the value of the naira by embarking on dollar speculation to the detriment of the local currency.

The Made In Nigeria Campaign by Reuben Abati

There has been renewed talk lately about the need for Nigerians to patronize locally made goods, (someone should have added… and services!). Championed by Senator Ben Murray Bruce, and supported by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar and a large crowd of online campaigners, so much ink, saliva, and emotions have been invested in this old, and perhaps boring story.

Senator Bruce, who goes by the moniker “the Commonsense Senator” even introduced a hashtag #BuyNaijaToGrowtheNaira. He hasn’t quite explained the connection, but with the exchange rate melting down and the Naira yo-yoing, everyone including our neighbourhood electrician, and his friend, the battery charger, have both become experts on the fortunes of the national currency. Senator Saraki has promised that the Public Procurement Act will be amended by the 8th National Assembly to make it mandatory for the government to patronize locally made goods. Minister Aisha Abubakar has proposed a “Patronise Naija Products Campaign.”

Naira hits record low of 400 against the dollar

The fall in the value of the naira is yet to abate as the Nigerian currency exchanged for N400 to a dollar Thursday at the parallel market.

Fresh pressure on the naira since last week Thursday has seen the currency fall further from N318 to N400 to a dollar.

Financial experts linked the persistent fall of the naira to panic buying of the dollar and other major hard currencies by importers, individuals and businessmen.

President Buhari returns to Nigeria after 5-day break

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a 5-day break. Aboard a presidential jet, the president touched the ground of Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja at about 8: 45 pm on Wednesday.

Buhari returns It will be recalled that the president last week after attending the Syria conference in London, United Kingdom, announced his vacation and subsequently delegated the function of his office to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The president is expected to resume duties on Thursday.

$2.1bn arms fraud: I will testify against Dasuki and others at ICC- Senator Ndume

Senate Majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume says he is willing to testify against former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and all those indicted in the $2.1billion arms deal at the International Criminal Court, ICC. Ndume said this in an interview with Daily Trust, while applauding the efforts of human rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, who says he will be approaching ICC to try all those indicted in the fraud with charges of War crimes.

US tells Nigeria: You are hurting our business interests

Foreign-exchange controls implemented by Nigeria’s government over the past year are hindering the ability of US companies to do business in Africa’s largest economy, according to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

US companies have “been quite explicit it’s a barrier to trade,” Pritzker said in an interview in the Nigerian commercial capital, Lagos on Monday.

The policies also hurt Nigerian manufacturers because they import about 52% of their inputs and need dollars to pay for those, she said. Pritzker will raise the issue with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, the capital, on Tuesday.

Has anything really changed in Nigeria under President Buhari?

Shaibu Stephen Ojate 

By Shaibu Stephen Ojate

The Nigerian political atmosphere has been clouded with all manner of praises and commendations on President Buhari’s fight against corruption and also his resolves to bring corrupt public officials to book.

Many have adjudged President Buhari’s administration as one good thing that has happened in the history of Nigeria. These pundits posited that even if this is the only thing President Buhari could do in his four years term in office, they would be very grateful and applaud him. They have consistently maintained that President Buhari is the only President in the history of Nigeria who has taken anti-corruption fight to a higher level.

Also, the opposition on their part maintained that President Buhari’s fight against corruption is selective adding that he was just after his perceived enemies rather than make it encompassing.

GEJ to hold world press conference in Switzerland on January 27th

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will hold a world press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday January 27th as part of activities planned by a group of diplomats to host him in the country. According to a statement by the executive director of the Geneva Press Club, Guy Mettan, Jonathan will be hosted to a dinner at Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva, on the same day.

The statement adds that the two major issues that Jonathan will address are: security and civil peace in Nigeria and West Africa, in addition to improvement of health and education of children in the continent. Only accredited United Nations correspondents and Swiss journalists are expected to attend the conference.

PRAYER FOR STARTING YEAR 2016

Over the years, it has become a norm for many people to go to church for the watch night service in order to pray their way into the new year for protection and guidance by the lord Christ Jesus. 

Many that are once in a year church goers are not left out, all in the name that the New Year must meet me in the church, praying for breakthrough in the coming year.

In as much as it’s a good idea to go to church for the cross over service, it’s not good enough to leave the church and forget about praying personally on your own. 

Prayer is a personal communication between you and God, it’s asking for something with intense yearning. Prayer is a place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made.

So, as we pray this year, heaven will open upon us and make a way for us where it seems to be no way in Jesus name.

All you need to do is to pray, believe and then see it happing through Christ Jesus.

You will succeed in Jesus name.

BELOW ARE THE LISTS OF PRAYER POINTS FOR THIS YEAR.

Nigerians to pay for only the power they consume as NERC releases new electriity tariff

Nigerians will henceforth pay for only the power they consume as the new electricity tariff released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has removed fixed electricity charges that has constantly caused discrepancies in the billing system of meters in most Nigerian homes.

This recent development is contained in a statement released by Sam Amadi, chairman of NERC today December 21st.