Nigeria To Borrow From World Bank, China, Japan

The presidency on Thursday said it had approved an external borrowing plan after the cash-strapped African economy plunged into official recession.
“Low cost, long-term loans (1.25% interest, 20yr tenor)” would be sought from the World Bank, African Development Bank, China’s Exim Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, it announced.

A Eurobond would also be offered “in due course” and parliament has still to sign off on the plan, President Muhammadu Buhari’s office added in a series of tweets.
Recession in Nigeria was confirmed last month, when official data showed output in the three months to the end of June fell 2.1 percent — the second successive quarter of negative growth.

That followed months of turmoil including a failing currency, rising double-digit inflation, and foreign exchange shortages that have hit business, especially imports and investment.
The decline has laid bare OPEC-member Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil revenue and the lack of economic diversity, after global oil prices began free falling from mid-2014.
Nigeria’s government is dependent on oil export sales for 70 percent of its revenue. Militant attacks on facilities in the Niger delta have compounded the effects of the worldwide slump in crude prices.
Buhari has also blamed the economic troubles on his predecessors, saying he inherited a treasury that was “virtually empty” and that “mind-boggling” sums of public cash had been looted.
He has vowed to recover the money, prosecute corrupt officials and streamline government, cutting waste and improving efficiency, as well as diversify the economy, particularly agriculture.
The government said the external loans would be used mainly in the agriculture, power, mining development and healthcare sectors.
A record 6.1-trillion-naira ($19.4-billion) spending plan was announced in this year’s federal budget to try to stimulate growth.
International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde visited Nigeria in January but said at the time that no programme was needed.
Source: Punch

NAF deploys Special Forces in Airports

A special counter terrorism exercise code-named ‘Exercise Steel Dome’ has been launched by the Nigerian Air force (NAF) for all the airports in the country.

Military commandos from the Nigerian Air Force Regiment, the Nigerian Army, the Navy and other security agencies held the first simulation exercise for ‘Operation Steel Dome’ at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, told journalists shortly after exercise at the Abuja Airport that Steel Dome was designed to put in place a force that would be effective in the event of any attack in the nation’s airports.

Abubakar said that the simulation exercise was put in place to ensure that there were no gaps in operational plans in the event that such rescue operations became necessary in the nation’s airports.
The Air Chief said that the counter terrorism simulation exercise which involved a mock rescue operation for passengers held hostage by terrorists would be repeated in all the airports in the country
According to him, the NAF would carry out the next round of counter terrorism simulation exercise at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, the Port Harcourt International International Airport, the Aminu Kano International Airport and others.
He said that the NAF had enough trained special forces to carry out the exercise in the airports.

Army tests Officers on Weapon Handling

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in a bid to ascertain the proficiency of its men in weapons handling, drills, map reading, combat swimming and obstacle crossing, especially in the war front started a competition on Wednesday.

The competition is to test the proficiency of its officers during effective military operations, and is between warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers in 9 Brigade, Lagos.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Division, Major General Isidore Edet, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the competition, said it will hold till Friday, September 9, 2016.

Edet, who said the competition among the officers was also to improve their leadership traits, added, “Leadership at the lowest level is critical to success of the Nigerian Army and the military in any operation.

“If the commanders at the junior level are physically fit, good in the use of their weapons at that level and if the leadership traits are well developed, it means we are on our way to victory in any battle.

”This is because the leadership trait they have will be brought to the table of the troops they command which is part of the importance of this competition.

“This competition is aimed at achieving physically fit officers and enhanced leadership qualities. This is what they will go through while competing among each other.”

Edet said that the competition would impact positively on the various military operations they were currently undertaking, adding that the units to partake in this competition includes the 9 Brigade, 35 Artillery Brigade, 45 Division Engineers and 81 Division Garrison.

Also, the 9 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Sanni Mohammed,  in his welcome address, said the brigade was tasked to host and participate in the competition.

President Obama and Michelle Obama Cover Essence Magazine

US President, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle cover the latest issue of Essence magazine and they brought some presidential swag along with them.
They talked about their life in the White House and looking forward to life afterwards. “…I can unequivocally say that America is better off now than we were when we came into office. By almost every economic measure, we’re better off,” President Obama said. “But having said that, we still have a lot of work to do.”

Edo Guber Polls To Hold On Saturday As Scheduled, Says INEC

The Edo State governorship election slated for Saturday, September 10, would go ahead as planned, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said Thursday.
The State Security Services and Nigeria Police had on Wednesday advised the electoral commission to postpone the polls in view of what they said was “credible intelligence” indicating the likelihood of attacks in the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had in its reaction, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the security agencies to order while the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, declared his party, the All Progressives Congress’ readiness to perform “final burial” rites for the PDP during the polls.

SEE ALSO: We’re Yet To Receive Formal Report To Postpone Edo Guber Polls – INEC

Speaking Thursday after a stakeholders meeting and consideration of the security report, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education, Mr Solomon Soyebi, said that “the governorship election will go ahead on Saturday, Sept. 10 as scheduled”.
Soyebi, who addressed a press conference held at INEC’s office in Benin, the Edo State capital, said as the body statutorily set up to conduct elections in the country, the commission would not take orders from any institution with regard to the performance of its constitutional duties.
“We have therefore weighed all the consequences of a postponement in the election and have resolved to go ahead with the conduct of the election on Saturday as scheduled”, he said

Ambode Spent Over N7bn On Obaseki’s Governorship Campaign In Edo – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has accused the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode of “squandering” over N7billion of the state’s funds on the governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
The party made the allegation ahead of this Saturday’s governorship election in Edo.

The Lagos PDP, which also accused the governor of prodigality and neglect, and of exhibiting what it called “busy-body” in his style of governance, vowed to demand for his probe at the appropriate time.
The opposition party specifically carpeted Ambode for “sacrificing the welfare, security and concerns of Lagosians for the interest of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

SEE ALSO: Obaseki Can Make Edo Be Like Lagos – Ambode

“Gov. Ambode accepted the needless burden to be the national coordinator of the APC Edo governorship campaign committee and has literally moved Lagos governance to Edo State, squandering an amount believed to be over N7 billion and also pledging further human, logistic and financial support to the APC candidate for the election day”, the PDP said yesterday in a statement by its publicity secretary, Taofiq Gani.
Mr. Gani lamented the “inexpedient commitment of Lagos funds into partisan activities that are not beneficial to the state”, adding that “We are keeping tabs on him and we shall demand his probe at the appropriate time”.
He also described the governor’s recent visit to Osun State as nonchalance to the plight of Lagos people, who were affected by flood.
“At the expense of Lagosians, he took the government, executive and legislature to Osun State to commission just a school building constructed by the Osun State governor, Aregbesola”, the PDP said.

LG Chairman Nominee Fails To Recite National Anthem, Pledge 7 Times

A mild drama played out in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly on Thursday when a caretaker committee chairman-designate, Mr. Henry Eze, failed to recite the National Anthem and Pledge, seven times.
The incident occurred during the screening of Eze and other nominees by members of the House.

The caretaker committee chairman-designate had appeared before the House for the screening when he was asked to recite National pledge, which he could not do.
He was also asked to recite the National Anthem which he also failed.
The chairmanship nominee for Ishielu Local Government Area was also asked by the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Ogbonna Nwifuru, to repeat the National pledge and anthem which he failed.

SEE ALSO: Shame As Ambassadorial Nominees Fail To Recite National Anthem, Pledge Correctly

The failure prompted Nwifuru to present a copy of the written anthem and pledge to enable him recite it properly.
But, there was a mild-drama when he could not recite the anthem and pledge, despite been handed a written copy of the Nigerian national anthem and pledge, respectively.
Visibly enraged by the incident, the Speaker asked Eze to go back and study the National Anthem and pledge, describing the failure as an embarrassment.
“How can a council chairman not recite National Anthem and National pledge?
“This house is surprised that as a council chairman, you cannot recite the anthem and pledge when you should be the one to teach your subordinates.
“So, go back and study them”, Nwifuru said.
Eze, however, was screened and confirmed by the house despite his inability to recite the National Anthem and pledge.
Meanwhile, the house screened and confirmed 11 chairmanship nominees in the state.
Their screening and confirmation followed the expiration of their tenure in office and their reappointment by Gov. Dave Umahi.
Twelve out of the 13 chairmen were reappointed, while Mr Joseph Orogwu, of Ikwo Local Government was dropped. (NAN)

Ize-Iyamu To Supporters: We’re On The Threshold Of History

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has told his supporters that he would be waiting for them to return from their villages with victory songs on Sunday.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the official results of the election would be announced on Sunday by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The PDP candidate spoke shortly after the electoral commission announced its decision to go ahead with the polls as scheduled, in spite of security advice to postpone same.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu said all arrangements have been made to ensure the PDP emerges victorious on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Ensure Victory For PDP’s Ize-Iyamu, Fayose Urges Edo Voters

He said God has given victory to the PDP and it was time to work for the victory.
He said: “We are on the threshold of history. The day we are waiting for is now. They tried to postpone the election using flimsy excuses but President Buhari said he was not aware of any security threat.
“The postponement was arranged by the state government with some cabals to postpone the day of reckoning.
“They have procured duplicate result sheets. They are reaching out to members of NYSC and are attempting to bribe our party agents with any amount of money but we are not for sale.
“Everybody should make arrangement to go to their local government to work out logistics for the election. We need to tell our people that election will take place”.

Operation Crocodile Smile: Military Covered Up Death Of 20 Soldiers In N/Delta – Avengers Tell Buhari

The militant group known as Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has accused the Nigerian military of cover-up in the death of soldiers it claimed were murdered during the ongoing military operation exercise code named “Operation Crocodile Smile” in the Niger Delta.
The military had earlier this week confirmed that four soldiers drowned on Monday in what it said was a “tragic incident”, following a boat mishap along the Brass waterfront in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State.

While the bodies of three of the soldiers have been recovered by local divers and military personnel, the body of the fourth soldier and their rifles, are yet to be recovered.
The Avengers, however, claimed in a statement on its website Thursday that aside the four soldiers officially declared as dead, 16 others also died in the first four days of the operation.

SEE ALSO: Drowned Soldiers: 3 Bodies Recovered

Spokesperson for the group, “Brigadier General” Mudoch Agbinibo, blamed negligence, administrative greed and corruption within the military for the soldiers’ death.
Agbinibo, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order a probe into ongoing military operation in the Niger Delta, which it claimed was a conduit pipe to siphon public funds.
“Mr. President from available facts, the untimely deaths of these four (4) fine soldiers in the creeks of Bayelsa and another sixteen (16) that was recorded during the first four days of the exercise along the River Ethiope, in Delta state but was earlier covered up is nothing more than act of murder. Their death is due to negligence, administrative greed and a corruption within the military”, the statement said.
It would be recalled that Chairman of the National Maritime Union in the state, Lloyd Sese, blamed the incident on poor logistics and use of low-powered engine boats to convey military personnel partaking in “Operation Crocodile Smile”.
The statement further queried the wisdom behind the deployment of military hardware to the Niger Delta suddenly when there was cessation of hostilities for peace talks to commence.
The NDA, which has accepted responsibility for a series of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the last few months, about two weeks ago said it was ready for a ceasefire and talks with the federal government.
“Finally, Mr. President, we want you to commission a high powered panel to investigate all processes that led to the ongoing military operation and exercise in the Niger Delta tagged ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ and all the ongoing cover-ups of military mishaps that have led to more than twenty (20) deaths so far”, it said.
“The mission ongoing in the Niger Delta is a brainchild of orchestrated military corruption at your face Mr. President. Operation Crocodile Smile is nothing but a conduit pipe for military contracts, political profiteerism and patronages designed for the stress of your administration’s scarce resources”, the group claimed.

Senator Sanusi Daggash’s Daughter Habiba Awarded Highest Prize At Oxford University

Habiba, daughter of former minister of National Planning Senator Sanusi Daggash’, has been awarded the 2016 Institution of Chemical Engineers Prize for best performance at Oxford University.

She won the prize after graduating with a first class honors from the prestigious university in July.

The excited lady announced the good news on her twitter page yesterday.

Congrats to her.

Nigerian Arrested For Forging Ghana Chief Of Staff’s Signature

The police in Osu have arrested a 38-year-old Nigerian who used the name of a top government officials to defraud a foreign investor to the tune of 150,000 dollars.

Dennis Ndukwu, is alleged to have forged signatures of Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper and other high profile personalities.
The operations of Dennis and his gang, was uncovered in June this year following suspicion of the victim’s bankers.
The police said Dennis Ndukwu and his gang, through internet hacking, got to know about challenges being faced by the victim, a Vietnamese investor who had invested over 8.5 million dollars in Ghana.
Dennis Ndukwu, allegedly introduced himself to the investor, Le Van Khiem, as the secretary to the chief of staff, Julius Debrah, and can use the high office to assist him.
The police said Dennis later produced various documents purportedly signed by the chief of staff and the finance minister Seth Terkper.
These convinced the victim to give his personal items including his visa card and code to Dennis and his gang to enable them withdraw 100,000 dollars from his account to aid the process.
But the unusual withdrawal attracted his bankers’ suspicion to raise query on the account.
Yet the gang managed to get the victim to part with several thousands of dollars after noticing that the bank had blocked the account.
It was during the withdrawal of the last tranche of the money transfer that Dennis was arrested at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
According to the police, Dennis Ndukwu admitted the offence and mentioned one Robert Amuzu as an accomplice.