How I Attracted 70 Companies From My Country To Nigeria – Outgoing Norwegian Ambassador

August 28, 2020

Out-going Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, has said that his sojourn had attracted more than 70 Norwegian companies to Nigeria.

He also recalled step taken by the Norwegian Sovereign Welfare Fund to invest in the Nigerian Stock Exchange

The out-going Ambassador, who paid farewell visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja today, August 28, said on the whole, his four-year tenure had grown substantial economic relations between his country and Nigeria.

He cited as a very important achievement, the organisation of two donor conferences driven by Norway that raised more than USD 1 billion for the development and humanitarian assistance to the Northeast.

Responding, President Buhari expressed delight at the progress made in Nigeria-Norwegian relations in the last four years.

Buhari commended the Ambassador for the bilateral accomplishment in the area of oil and gas, fishing, humanitarian assistance in the Northeast and other benefits that his efforts have brought to Nigeria.

“I congratulate you on your performance and hard work and for the help in the promotion of welfare of people in the Northeast where we have problem of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and in infrastructural deficit. We are very grateful. Thank you.”

How Military Dislodged “Darul Salam” Terrorists From Toto, Nasarawa State – Council Boss

Editorial staff

August 28, 2020

File photo of Nigerian military in operation

Chairman of Toto local government area of Nasarawa State, Nuhu Adamu Dauda has said that it took the military five days to dislodge “Darul Salam” terrorists from his local government.

The chairman who confirmed the latest developments to journalists in Toto, said that after intelligence gathering, it was discovered that the criminals were not mere bandits but an emerging terrorists group known as “Darul Salam.”

The five-day battle which ended in victory for the military led to the surrender of 410 persons, including women and children.

“Their cell at Uttu forest in Toto local government was bombarded where bomb making factory was discovered, leaving their wives and children at the mercy of the military.”

Adamu Dauda commended operation WHIRL STROKE for the successful operation, adding that, destroying the terrorist camp would not only tackle kidnapping and banditry in the area but would also bring peace to the area and the state at large.

“We are happy that the military discovered bomb factory and destroyed terrorist camp in my local government.

“The destruction of their camp by the military would not only tackle the activities of kidnappers and bandits but would also bring peace to the area and the state at large.

“As the activities of these kidnappers and bandits have affected our lives negatively, ” he said.

The council boss further revealed that a security summit will be called to determine if farming and other activities could resume fully in Toto after the operation.

At the camp where the women and children are being camped by the military awaiting further directives, it was crystal clear that they were subjected to hardship by the terrorist.

Most of the women were either pregnant or breastfeeding a child, looking very pale and malnourished.

One of the women found in the camp, Kadijat Abdullahi, who shared her ordeal with newsmen said that her husband was kidnapped and killed in Gombe by members of the sect, before she was brought down to Toto forest in Nasarawa state.

“After killing my husband, they took me to the bush and we have been there for nine months where they impregnated me.

“We only woke up and saw military shooting and killing them. The one I’m under him I wouldn’t know whether he was killed” she said.

Another is Aisha who put to bed barely 24 hours after her husband was killed in an exchange of fire with the military.”

How FCT Minister Is Sidelined By “Powerful Forces” Over Coronavirus Allowances, Others

Editorial staff

August 28, 2020

Those who are regarded as powerful forces in the service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are said to have continued to sideline the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello over special alliance he approved for the frontline medical personnel on coronavirus pandemic and other staff in various categories.

Investigations by our reporters showed that the minister had since approved the money, running into billions, but that the powerful forces are sitting on it because the minister insisted seeing evidences of hundreds of “ghost names” they earlier submitted as those entitled to the special allowance.

It was gathered that while the powerful forces are defiantly sitting on the money which is saved in individual deposit accounts, the frontline workers on Covid-19 are threatening to embark on strike over lack of payment of their alliances, which of course, the minister had long approved and the money duly released.

Some staff close to the powerful forces, who spoke to our reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the minister meant well for the staff regarding their welfare but that those powerful ones are thwarting his efforts “in a way that the minister would not know what is actually happening around him.”

The anonymous staff said that the powerful forces have perfected their acts of sabotage in their desperate desire to amass workers’ entitlements that they corner even the promotional and other benefits of the workers, including course allowances and disturbance allowances.

“They are so wicked and dangerous that anyone who stands on their way would die (mysteriously) within a month. In fact, we know what is happening and we are sure the minister does not know because of the clever way they do it, but we dare not talk or expose them.”

Our reporters made several efforts to speak to the Director of Human Resources in the FCTA to react to the story but he rebuffed all such moves, giving one excuse or the other. On an occasion, he invited one of our reporters to his office, but ended up not attending to him after the reporters had spent six hours, from 9.00am to 3.00pm waiting for him in the visitors’ room.

Dr. Akinwunmi Re-Elected As President Of AfDB

Editorial staff

August 27, 2020

Dr.Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected as the President of the African Development Bank today Thursday.

He was re-elected for another five years by the Bank Board of Governors in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

The election took place electronically at the virtual annual general meeting of the bank

More soon…

BREAKING: Attah Igala, Michael Ameh Oboni II Is Dead

Editorial staff

August 27, 2020

Late Attah Igala, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni

Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters from Kogi state indicates that the paramount ruler of Igala kingdom, HRM Michael Ameh Oboni II is dead.

According to the source, the monarch died on Thursday morning in an undisclosed private hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.

The cause of his death is still unknown as at the time of filing this report.

Before his death, he was the chairman, Kogi State Traditional Council.

Though, Kogi State government and the traditional council in Igala kingdom are yet to issue any official statement on the demise of the Paramount ruler.

Detail later.

When Fani-Kayode, Mr. Short Fuse, Emited Smokes In Calabar, By Fredrick Nwabufo

Editorial staff

August 25, 2020

Femi Fani-Kayode makes conceit solemn. He is the sui generis of narcissism. His arrogance dovetails with his foul temper and cutting tongue. There is no shade of modesty, temperance and grace in the son of Remilekun Fani-Kayode (Fani Power). The mealy-mouthed politician takes the “H” in hubris. He is the undisputed crown prince of double-speak.

I watched the video where Fani-Kayode gave a dressing-down to a journalist who asked him an innocuous question which “the Almighty” found irritating and pesky, “Who is bankrolling your tour?” That was it! Femi emptied the content of his pugnacious buccal cavity on the journalist. He called him stupid and expended minutes chopping the reporter to insignificant bits.

Femi said he had a ‘’short fuse’’ and asked the reporter to size him up because – ‘’…I am a former minister, lawyer…. Who do you think you are talking to?’’

Femi’s diatribe: “Do you know who you are talking to? What type of insulting question is that? Which bankroll, to do what? Who can give me money for anything? Who do you think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your publisher. I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that. Who do you think you’re talking to? Bankroll who? You think I am one of those ones you… from who, when, how? You have a small mind, very small mind.”

“Who is bankrolling your tour?’’ The non-toxic question that bled Femi’s poison. Femi is not a disguisable character for integrity. He is notorious in political circles as a mercenary who can serve anyone and any purpose as long as his belly gets filled. His former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he turned against after Goodluck Jonathan picked him up to wait at the table, put a stamp of affirmation on Femi’s devious constitution.

Obasanjo once said: “Femi is my boy. If you give him food, he will sing for you?’’

Femi was vicious on former president Jonathan – not until he was appointed to be the spokesman of the re-election campaign of the former president. But he spoke Jonathan to defeat in 2015.

Recently, Femi embarked on a PR tour of PDP states. He travelled to Zamfara where the governor treated him to the niceties of princes. The former minister who is a known adversary of the north – as his writings and public statements show – geared into duplicity afterwards untamed by his pursuit of pleasures.

He once put the trouble with Nigeria on the pouch of the Igbo. In his article of August 2013, ‘’The bitter truth about the Igbo’’, Femi wrote of his intimate congress with the wife of the late Odumegwu Ojukwu — an extraneous piece of information that he divulged to spite the Igbo.

He did not camouflage his bigotry and hate for the Igbo. But he started cantillating different when the Buhari administration came to power. He needed alliances from the south-east to confront the ‘’northern government’’ which pulled him to court on allegations of corruption. He became an abetting voice, albeit hypocritical, against the perceived grievances of the region. Not that he really cared about Ndi Igbo, but in President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi and a few Igbo politicians displaced from the dining table, found a common enemy.

Femi lives only for himself. He is vacant of character and principles. He stands for nothing and falls for everything as long as he gets fed. It is in this context that the question (who is bankrolling your tour?) of the journalist to Femi, should be situated. Why was he so incensed by the question? He could have simply torpedoed whatever the insinuations on the tour are with an intelligent and polite answer. Perhaps, he felt he was being ratted out? His outburst busts his pretensions.

Femi is critical of anyone who does not favour him, and his approach to opposition is both savage and irrational. He once called Buhari “an evil tyrant”. But it is clear; the politician would have been a more ruthless tyrant if was sitting on the throne. He pleasures himself insulting other people, but he brooks no opposition. He can throw blows, but cannot take them. That is the making of an aboriginal tyrant.

However, Nigerian journalists must redeem themselves from the curse of “brown envelopes”. Journalism is a noble profession, deserving of respect. Some journalists act like peasants before politicians for crumbs. So, naturally, they cannot stand up to them. But what is journalism when journalists are afraid of asking critical questions? We have to redeem ourselves. The profession is fast losing dignity and appeal.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo

Bankers’ Committee, CBN Move To Support Airlines, Media To Face Challenges Of Coronavirus

Editorial staff

August 25, 2020

The Bankers’ Committee has unanimously agreed to extend special facilities to Nigerian-registered airlines and the media industry in Nigeria, to enable them adequately address the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the Bank Chief Executives at the Bi-monthly virtual meeting of the Bankers’ Committee today, August 25, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele called on the banks to do all within their powers to support airlines in the country, noting that such support is critical to help the industry recover from the economic crisis triggered by coronavirus pandemic.

Emefiele also advised the banks to support the efforts of the media industry in Nigeria to enable it to cope with the lingering pandemic, in order to avoid massive job losses in the industry.

It will be recalled that the CBN, in the advent of the coronavirus in Nigeria, announced a N1.2 trillion intervention funds to support critical sectors of the economy, N1 trillion of which was to support local manufacturing sector and to boost import substitution.

The remaining N100 billion of the intervention fund was to support the health sector in equipping laboratories and enhancing research to produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria.

The apex Bank, also in March 2020, unveiled guidelines for the implementation of a N100 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, today’s move by the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee might just be an answer to the optimism expressed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who said the ministry was hopeful that businesses in Nigeria’s aviation sector would be given opportunity to access palliatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

With support expected for the media in Nigeria, many media houses will be able to weather the storm generated by the corona virus pandemic.

CBN Goes Tough On Exporters Over Forex Non-Repatriation

Editorial staff

August 25, 2020

As part of its effort to increase foreign exchange liquidity in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all banks in the country to submit the names, addresses and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) of exporters that have defaulted in repatriating their exports proceeds, for further action.

The directive issued by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, today, August 25, during the Bi-monthly virtual meeting of the Bankers’ Committee, came barely 24 hours after the Bank announced the abolition of third-party “Form M” payment.

The move by the CBN followed the adoption of the strategy to discourage over-invoicing, which some businesses have allegedly used to divert foreign exchange from the country, through the opening of “Forms M” for which payment are routed through a buying company, agent, or other third parties.

The statement by the Bank’s Director of Trade and Exchange, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, had also explained that the directive was aimed at ensuring prudent use of Nigeria’s foreign exchange resources and the elimination of incidences of over-invoicing, transfer pricing, double handling charges and avoidable costs that are ultimately passed to the average Nigerian consumer.

It will be recalled that the CBN, in the past, had also warned exporters conducting export activity against diverting foreign exchange from the export proceeds, instead of repatriating same home.

The Bank, in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, had threatened heavy sanctions against exporters who failed to repatriate foreign exchange proceeds from their international business. The CBN stressed that its Foreign Exchange Manual provided that all exporters should repatriate export proceeds back to the country to support the local currency and boost the economy.

Meanwhile, analysts say that a number of punitive options are open to the CBN, including, but not limited to, barring the exporters from the foreign exchange market and other banking services.

President Buhari Refocuses Development Strategy On 9 Areas

Editorial staff

August 25, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the refocussing of his government development strategy on nine areas, apart from the determination to improve access to quality education, health care and enhance productivity.

The President, who received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors/High Commissioners of eight countries at the presidential villa, Abuja today, August 25, said that efforts are being made to sustain Nigeria’s position as profitable investment destination with unequalled incentives in all sectors, especially large market and flexible tax system which investors from various countries can take advantage of.

The President said: “in our efforts to achieve a realistic domestic and foreign policy, as well as national development, we have identified the following nine priority areas to guide our policy directions over the next few years.

“Build a thriving and sustainable economy; Enhance social inclusion and reduce poverty; Enlarge agricultural output for food security and export; Attain energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products and expand transport and other infrastructural development.

“Expand business growth, entrepreneurship and industrialization; Expand access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians; Build a system to fight corruption, improve governance and create social cohesion; and improve security for all.’’

Buhari described Nigerians as the “nation’s most prized assets,” adding that the nine priority mandates were already reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, a medium-term initiative, pioneered by the government to restore economic growth and development while leveraging the resourcefulness and resilience of the citizens.

The President urged the diplomats to use the opportunity of working in the country to improve relations with their governments and people.

“I have no doubt that you might have prior and in-depth knowledge of Nigeria’s huge potential which you will hopefully see for yourselves. I therefore, urge you to go around the country, see things for yourselves and report to your home governments. This is important as you all are representatives of both your sending and host states.’’

President Buhari said Nigeria will remain steadfast in pursuing deeper and valuable relations among nations, without discrimination.

“Nigeria strongly supports joint action to ensure a democratic and fair world order based on strict respect for the norms of international law, the United Nations Charter, recognition of the unquestionable value of cultural diversity, national sovereignty, and the right of all countries to decide their future freely, without external pressure.

“Nigeria does not divide its partners into big and small; we value and respect every country, and with every country we are ready to pursue dialogue, as well as build cooperation on the basis of equality and constructive mutual respect.

“These include our cooperation in strengthening regional, continental and global peace and security, resolving complex issues, settling conflicts, as well as addressing dangerous threats to mankind, among which include terrorism, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, cybercrimes, poverty, communicable diseases and epidemics.’’

The Ambassadors/High Commissioners who presented their Letters of Credence are: Hocine Latil of Algeria; Luong Quoc Thinh of Vietnam; Dr Benson Alfred Bana of Tanzania; Traore Kalilou of Cote d’Ivoire; Abakar Saleh Chahaimi of Chad; Jamal Mohammed Barrow of Somalia; Brahim Salem El Mami Buseif of Sahrawi Arab Republic and Mohammed Alibak of Iran.

Speaking on behalf of the Ambassadors/High Commissioners, the Ambassador of Algeria to Nigeria said each of the diplomats brings greetings and agenda from their home governments, but the bottom line remains to enhance cooperation and seek advancement in mutual areas of interest.

“On behalf of my colleagues, we thank you for receiving us. We know that your schedule is tight. As the giant of Africa, you are always focused on resolving conflicts in the continent, while taking care of your domestic issues as well.’’

The Algerian ambassador said the African ambassadors will leverage the opportunity to further enhance implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and learn from each other.

If Anything Happens To Our Reporter, Fani Kayode Should Be Held Responsible, Daily Trust Alerts Police

Editorial staff

August 25, 2020

The management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, has alerted the police over a threat by a former Nigerian aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode on its reporter in Cross River State, Eyo Charles, for asking a question Fani Kayode considered offensive.

In a statement today, August 25, signed by the company’s Executive Director, Editor-In-Chief, Naziru Mikailu Abubakar, the management asked the Nigeria Police to take note that if anything happens to Charles, “Daily Trust will hold Fani-Kayode responsible, especially due to the intensity of the verbal threats he issued during the shocking incident.”

The Daily Trust, which described actions of Fani-Kayode as reprehensible, constituting a setback to press freedom, in a most dire form, said that this kind of assault raises major concerns over the safety of journalists in Nigeria.

“Daily Trust is a completely independent media organisation that does not pander to the whims of any individual or group, no matter how powerful or well-placed in society. We will continue to serve Nigerians – and indeed the world – with quality, reliable reportage, no matter whose ox is gored.”

The statement recalled how Fani Kayode, in a video clip that had gone viral, verbally assaulted the reporter repeatedly for asking him who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria, “to which the ex-minister responded with a raised voice, insults, and eventually a threat to inflict bodily harm on our reporter.

“The barrage continued for some minutes, while bewildered journalists, including our reporter, looked on.”

The management insisted that the question asked by Charles was totally devoid of mischief, adding that it simply sought clarification and information, like good journalism should.

“Said editing paved the way for a social media lynch mob to rain expletives on our reporter, labelling him as ‘rude’. “This could not be further away from the truth, and we stand by Charles, and commend him for his calmness during the ordeal.

“Daily Trust reporters are responsible professionals, who uphold the tenets of journalism, as well as best practices.

“That Fani-Kayode attacks a reporter doing his job, is an indication of the chilling disregard he has towards the media, and its work in investigating and reporting on issues. As always, we stand in solidarity with our reporters, and will continue to fight for the rights of all journalists. After all, journalism is part of the bedrock of democracy; therefore practitioners must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work.

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