APC Governorship Primaries: Tambuwal, El-Rufai, Ambode, Amosun, others win APC governorship ticket

The All Progressives Congress, APC on Thursday conducted primary elections with state chapters electing their governorship candidates.
The APC governorship candidates for the 2015 polls, as they emerged on Thursday, include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and public administrator, Akinwunmi Abode(Lagos); a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); and second-term-seeking governors, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

Others are, a member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dakuku Peterside (Rivers); Olorogun O’tega Emerhor (Delta); Chief Okey Ezea (Enugu); a former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Umana Umana (Akwa Ibom), Ibrahi Gaidam (Yobe), Umaru Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

Army destroys IED laden vehicle in Konduga

The Nigerian military on Wednesday morning destroyed a vehicle laden with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs in Konduga community Borno State.

The bombs meant for suicide operations by the terrorists were destroyed by some Nigerian troops who have continued to lay onslaughts on the group’s hideouts and escape routes, PRNigeria, a public relations organisation for Nigeria security agencies said.

It added that while no military personnel or civilian were affected during the raids, terrorists were killed.

PRNigeria did not say how many terrorists were killed.

It also said a top military source who cannot be named because he is not authorized to speak urged residents to report suspicious movements and new or strange people to appropriate authority for investigation and appropriate actions.

“What we need from Nigerians is their supports, their encouragements and prayers to enable us overcome this insanity from unrepentant terrorists!,” PRNigeria quoted the source to have said.

NPS Recaptures 193 Inmates of Ado-Ekiti Prison

The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has recaptured 193 inmates since the attack on Ado-Ekiti prison on Sunday, December 3, 2014 out of total of 435 inmates.

Over 300 inmates of the Ado Ekiti Prison escaped on Sunday night after an attack on the facility by unknown gunmen.

The spokesperson of the Prison Service, Ope Fatinikun, appealed to Nigerians, especially nearest communities and neighbouring states of Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Kwara states to be vigilant and watch out for suspicious individuals and report them to the nearest Prisons or Police stations.

Heritage Bank Introduces Portable PoS Machines

Heritage Banking Company Limited has introduced a smaller form of point of sale (PoS) solution christened ‘PortaPOS’ to ride on the POS revolution, which is fast gaining acceptance worldwide.
The device is aimed at providing seamless payment channel for the bank’s merchants. It is also expected to address payment challenges within the retail payments space and also in support of the cashless policy spearheaded by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The PortaPOS is a payment channel that performs the functions of an electronic PoS terminal.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Executive Director, Manila Banking, Heritage Bank, Mr. Niyi Adeseun explained that its implementation would allow services and sales industries to conduct financial transactions, receive payments and provide value added services via a specialised app on their mobile phones. This, according to him, would in turn help to improve customer experience and free up valuable real estate that would otherwise be dedicated to the regular PoS countertop.

Adeseun added: “Today, small businesses and large retailers are turning to mobile point of sale (or mPOS) to increase sales and broaden their customer base.

“Existing large retailers are also adopting mobile POS solutions and integrating them into their current point of sales environment to enhance payment methods.

“The Nigerian retail and corporate market is undergoing a massive transformation in a battle for digital consumers who shop through a variety of channels, and as such expect a more integrated payment experience that is quick, seamless, convenient, and most importantly secure.”

According to him, any smartphone or tablet is compatible with the Heritage PortaPOS, via a free downloadable app.

“It is also cost effective, allowing a small business owner to conduct transactions and receive payments without having to invest in an electronic register or pay support licenses for software.

“Additionally, the solution is also extendable to cater for inventory management requirements of the merchant, so our customers can truly have a mobile business,” Adeseun further revealed.

Its benefits include being able to work with all networks; direct credit of payments into business accounts; triple receipt option (paper print, email, and SMS) and assured transaction security.

Heritage Bank was established on a commitment to support its customers in wealth creation, preservation and transfer, and the bank said the latest innovation is one of the numerous ways through which it hopes to empower Nigerian merchants to truly maintain a timeless rhythm to their business payment needs.

FG, GE Sign $1bn Investment Plan

The federal government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with General Electric (GE) for the implementation of a $1 billion investment plan in Nigeria.

The MoU follows a January 2013, $1 billion investment plan for Nigeria that was announced by GE’s Global Chairman, Mr. Jeff Immelt, out of which $250 million will be earmarked for capital expenditure of the construction of a multi modal manufacturing and assembly facility in Calabar, Cross River State.

The planned facility, which will have an improved ability to support a broader range of product lines in power generation as well as oil and gas exploration and production, is expected to make Calabar a regional hub for manufacturing, service and innovation, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said during the MoU signing ceremony in Abuja.

She further said that the MoU covers an additional $800 million which GE has pledged to spend over five years in local sourcing of goods and services, labour, staff welfare and training.

The project will also cover the reconstruction, upgrade and training for lecturers of the Government Technical College, Ikot Iffanga, a project whose contract has already been awarded by GE.

Alison-Madueke also said the Nigeria content philosophy is now a key part of all projects in the oil and gas sector, adding that the event validates government’s “long held view that local content and localisation of the oil and gas industry is indeed achievable within the right regulatory framework”.
The minister, who noted that the project when completed would create at least 2,300 direct and indirect jobs, stated that the foreign direct investment is not an end in itself.

“Clearly investments of this nature will translate into job creation. There are technology transfers, skill transfers, transfers of capabilities that were never there before as well as SME growth. So the multiplier effect of this sort of project is quite numerous,” the minister said.

She further disclosed that the project would be commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan himself, and urged the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure that the laws of the land are closely followed to the letter as regards local content upon completion of the project.

Alison-Madueke also pledged government’s continuous commitment to creating enabling environment to companies like GE to progressively create value for the Nigerian economy and for themselves as investors.
Also speaking at the event, Vice-Chairman, GE Global, John Rice, pledged the company’s commitment to the Calabar project for which Julius Berger has emerged the preferred bidder for the construction.

He also stressed that GE was committed to the project and that such commitment has not wavered in the face of falling oil price.

“We are aware that government is taking necessary action to deal with the situation. We are still investors; we are a long term investors and our commitment to follow through on this doesn’t change one bit,” Rice said.

According to the parties, significant construction of the project is expected to commence in January 2015, while first production of the factory is planned to take place in July 2016 with the entire project expected to be fully completed by the end of second quarter (Q2) of 2017.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians and foreign investors that the Nigerian economy would remain stable despite the drop in global oil prices.
According to Jonathan, His administration would strive hard to maintain domestic economic stability.
In this wise, he  urged the company to maintain its confidence in the country.
“We promise our people that even with the drop in oil prices, the economy will be stable.

“I urge you to maintain the confidence you have in this country before the oil price drop, and even expect better management from us.

“Sometimes, it is when you are challenged that you do better than when everything looks good.
“So, I assure you, other investors in this country and all Nigerians that the government will do everything necessary to stabilise the economy and that the drop in the price of crude oil will not create so much distortion in our economy” Jonathan said.

He thanked GE for its commitment to increase its investment in Nigeria with the attendant benefit of job creation for many more Nigerians.

Islamic group accuses FG of fuelling Boko Haram crisis

He spoke at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, where he briefed newsmen about the movement’s forthcoming mass trek from Fagge Mosque in Kano to Zaria in Kaduna State, saying the trek was an homage to Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), who alongside his family, was martyred by the forces of Umayyad Caliph Yazid.

He said the trek would start on Sunday and last for six days, adding that “In between the six days, our members would break the trip six times and would finally arrive Zaria on Saturday.”

The police, he said, were aware of the planned trek but stressed that they don’t need to seek permission from the security outfit, as the 1999 Constitution guaranteed freedom of assembly and movement.
On the allegation against the Federal Government, he said: “Categorically, I will say that I do not agree with the presentation of the Vice President Namadi Sambo, or any other such presentation suggesting that the government can be exonerated from the activities of Boko Haram.

“Anywhere in the country, except if the person is afraid or a beneficiary of the government, you cannot exonerate or differentiate between the government and Boko Haram.”

2015: 5 PDP govs, Obasanjo in closed-door meeting

No fewer than five state governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday met with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State over the 2015 general elections and the state of the nation.

The five PDP governors, Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Issa Yuguda (Bauchi), met behind closed-doors with Obasanjo inside his Presidential Hilltop mansion.

Obasanjo has, however, said despite the myriad of problems confronting the country, the situation was still redeemable.

The former president has also cleared the air on his recent comments on the state of the nation, saying his outbursts were not aimed at rubbishing or pulling down the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
The PDP governors arrived at Obasanjo’s Abeokuta mansion at about 12.22 p.m and left at about 2.50 p.m.

Our correspondent gathered that the discussions between the five PDP governors centred on the situation within the PDP and the 2015 general elections.

The governors were also said to have impressed it upon the former president why it had become imperative for him to throw his weight behind the party and President Jonathan in the 2015 elections.
Briefing newsmen at the end of their over two-hour meeting, Obasanjo told newsmen that the PDP governors visited him to discuss the state of the nation.

He stressed that the current situation in the country was not “irretrievably bad,” adding that what was required to tackle it was the will and courage of those holding the reins of governance.
Obasanjo, however, stated that his recent comments on the situation in the country were not targeted at running down the government of the day. He said his outbursts were out of “genuine concern” for the country.

He also stressed that solving the nation’s problems required the efforts and contributions of all citizens.
He said: “They (governors) have decided to pay me a special visit. They were concerned about what you may call the situation of the nation, security, economy and we discussed these issues. In fact, most of them, I have raised in my own public pronouncements in recent times; not to castigate anybody, not to bad-mouth anybody, not to run anybody down, but out of genuine concern for the situation of the country and that is the same thing that has brought them. And we looked at these issues very closely, very objectively and we came to the conclusion that yes, we have a bad situation but it is not irretrievably bad. Something can still be done and now what it required is the will and the courage to do something when and how it needs to be done. We agreed on that and we also agreed that yes, I appreciate their coming to me because of the respect and the honour they have for me. But this task is not a task for one man; it is not even a task for one group. It is a task which requires all hands on deck.”

Also speaking, Governor Akpabio said he and his colleagues deemed it fit to consult with Obasanjo as a former president on the nation’s problems.

He said Nigerians were determined to reposition the country, adding that in spite of the challenges, the people must work together to redeem the situation.

Governor Aliyu, however, said the governors benefitted “tremendously” from their consultation with Obasanjo.

He said the problems of the country were beyond partisan politics, urging Nigerians to come together to put the country on the right footing.