TRANSNATIONAL Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) has released its half-year unaudited financials showing a robust growth in revenue and even juicier increase in net profit, despite the growth in cost of sales, administrative expenses and finance cost, even as tax expenses rose three-fold.

Revenue rose N19.916bn or 58.27% from N34.173bn in 2017 half year to N54.089bn, while cost of sales rose by N10.216bn or 52.93% to N29.516bn, compared with the previous N19.3bn; resulting in gross profit of N24.572bn, as against N14.873bn in prior half-year.

Administrative expenses rose to N7.617bn from N5.663bn; other income increased to N404.569m from N305.965m; while other loss- net stood at N13.314m from a gain of N4.66bn. This left operating profit at N17.346bn, an increase of N7.826bn or 82.2%, over previous half-year’s N9.52bn.

Finance income crawled from N436.643m to N472.587m, just as the N311.975m or 6.63% containment in finance cost from N4.701bn to N5.013bn; and the N861.792m in foreign exchange loss on financing activities for the period, from N721.707m in prior Q2. Net finance cost therefore stood at N5.402bn, up from N4.988bn, or N414.296m, or 8.3%.

Profit before tax stood at N11.944bn, an increase by about N7.411bn or 163.52% from N4.532bn; while the N700.214m or 190% increase in tax expenses from N368.526m in the corresponding period of 2017, to N1.068bn, left net profit for the period at N10.875bn. This represents a N6.711bn growth from N4.163bn, besides translating to Earnings Per Share of 11.6 kobo, compared to 3.87 kobo in the 2017Q2.

A breakdown of the profit and loss account into segments, shows that the power business remained the group’s honey pot, which was also responsible for the biggest revenue growth over the period.

The power segment accounted for N46.081bn of revenue, up by N18.107bn or 64.72% from N27.974bn in 2017; followed by hospitality with N8.007bn, up from N6.199bn; while corporate centre earned N4.278bn. Also, the power segment contributed a total of N11.862bn to PBT, ahead of the N2.4bn from the corporate centre and N2.024bn from hospitality segment; compared to N4.882bn; N1.1067bn and N1.004bn respectively.

The hospitality business also accounted for N640.933m tax, up from N205.546m; followed by N427.807m by the corporate centre, as against N162.98m by the hospitality segment.

A further breakdown of the revenue for the period showed that energy sent out yielded N29.79bn, up from N18.025bn; ahead of the N16.243bn from capacity charge, compared to N9.859bn. Also, income from room occupancy increased to N5.039bn from N3.817bn; followed by N2.295bn from shop rental, as against N1.723bn, among others. Natural gas and fuel costs was equally the biggest contributor to cost of sales, as against N15.189bn; while staff costs accounted for N1.873bn from N1.108bn; while depreciation rose marginally from N1.14bn to N1.348bn

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President of Ijaw Youth Council IYC, Barrister Pereotubo Oweilaemi, has warned that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot stop Nigerians from agitating for restructuring which is the only panacea to end the mindless bloodbaths across the Country.

Oweilaemi, in a press release issued on Wednesday and obtained by Nigerian Pilot, condemned vehemently the Federal government for deliberate deprivation of prominent Southern leaders the use of Makurdi Airport, who had gone to Benue State to attend a meeting on restructuring.

“We observed with utter dismay the shenanigans associated with the Government of President Mohammadu Buhari. We fear that Mr. President is gradually turning the Country into a police state where the will of the citizens will be subjected to his whims and caprices”.

The IYC boss noted that Nigeria is sliding into a full blown fascist state where dictatorship is the order of the day.

“The news that prominent southern leaders who were going to Benue State to attend a meeting on restructuring were denied from landing at Makurdi Airport by the presidency on a flimsy reason of security issue is to say the least the height of insensitivity of the Government towards its citizenry. This is a dictatorship in a civilian garb taking too far”.

According to him “Indeed, it’s now glaring to all and sundry that our democracy is under serious threat. For Buhari to allow his appointees to display such disdain towards our leaders in a Country we are supposed to be free citizens means Nigerians are not safe in his Government. The action of the presidency in preventing the citizens of this Country from moving freely only portends danger. It means every discerning voice will be emasculated by the Government just to have its way. IYC foresee democratic doom in Nigeria”.

The Ijaw leader continued “President Buhari who confessed in 2015 that he was a repented Democratic should rule the Country in accordance with the democratic norms. There cannot be any government if the will of the citizens is no longer tolerated. The power of the government resides in the people. Buhari should therefore allow Nigerians to exercise their fundamental rights. The clamour for restructuring predated his Government. No citizen was ever prevented by his predecessors from holding meetings or conferences on restructuring”.

Oweilaemi recalled that when pressure mounted on previous governments about the demands for true federalism, they organised people’s conferences to chat the way forward and whether Buhari likes it or not Nigerians will continue to agitate for restructuring which is the only panacea to end these mindless bloodbaths across the Country and without restructuring, Nigeria’s continuous survival in the midst of her challenges cannot be guaranteed.

“President Buhari who declared that he is for everybody and for nobody should not constitute himself as a clog in the wheel of progress. No amount of intimidation will cow Nigerians from agitating for the structural balancing of the country. We will resist any attempt to emasculate the people from agitating for their rights”.

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Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has assured Nigerians it would improve on the quality of elections in the country, having learnt lessons from past elections.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this during the regular meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs at the INEC headquarters, yesterday.

Prof. Yakubu confirmed that the commission had received official declaration from the National Assembly vacancies in respect of Bauchi South Senatorial District, Katsina North Senatorial District and Lokoja/ Koton Karfi Federal Constituency in Kogi State, as well as, a similar declaration in Cross River State House of Assembly in respect of Obudu 1state constituency.

He said INEC is set to conduct these bye-elections to fill the vacancies in the 4 constituencies which have a total of 2 million registered voters spread across 3,355 polling units in 234 wards and 22 Local Government Areas.

In his words; “these bye-election will offer the commission yet another opportunity to fine-tune processes and procedures in preparation for the Osun State Governorship election and the 2019 general elections.

“We wish to once again reassure Nigerians that the commission will continue to improve the quality of our elections drawing from the lessons learnt from the collective experiences of having conducted elections into 181 constituencies since the 2015 general elections made up of 6 governorship elections, 11 senatorial districts, 23 federal Constituencies and 68 Area Council Constituencies in the Federal capital Territory.”

Based on the provisions of the law, Prof. Yakubu said the commission will conduct these bye-elections within 30 days following the declaration of vacancy and the elections will be held the same date, while the timetable and schedule of activities will be released on Friday.

Giving the breakdown on the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration, CVR which is expected to end on 17th August, he said a total of 10,292,647 Nigerians have been registered as at Friday 13th July 2018, while reassuring all registered voters that their Permanent Voters cards, PVCs will be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

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Nkporo political stakeholders in Ohafia local government area of Abia state have urged their son, former Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Hon Arua Arunsi to run for Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency election in 2019 because of his passion and capacity to attract federal government presence to their community.

This consensus endorsement followed the five point communique issued and signed by seven critical stakeholders on behalf of Nkporo clan made available to Nigerian Pilot lauded their illustrious Son for having the passion and capacity to attract the required Road and other infrastructure in Nkporo, and to complete the Nguzu Nkporo Osso Eda road worth N2.7 Billion.

In the communiqué signed by Chairman, Nkporo political stakeholders, Engr Henry Ndukwe Agu, Secretary,Barr Ukasoanya Onwuka Okocha, Hon Otuwe Kalu Orji, for Nkporo Youth, Ezeogo Ogbu Kalu Obasi, for Nkporo council of Ndi-Ezeogo-( kings) and three others respectively, noted that the deputy governor who happens to come from Nkporo has not use his position to attract meaningful projects to the clan.

The group further lamented that despite supports and sacrifices given to shore up the political elevation their son who is the second in command in Abia state, but said it is highly disappointing and discouraging that Nkporo has nothing to show for these supports to the deputy governor, hence the adoption of Hon Arua Arunsi as her change agent.

“We will not hesitate to sacrifice every other position no matter highly placed in order to ensure that he gets the mandate to represent the people of Arochukwu /Ohafia federal constituency.”

Nkporo stakeholders comprising political, youth, community leaders and the Ndi-Ezeogo-Nkporo-in-council after a crucial meeting held on Saturday 7th July also noticed the state of infrastructural neglect in Nkporo where there is virtually no access road, dearth of political unity, dwindling political/electoral fortune, divisive and nepotic tendencies in Nkporo community in recent times where the present Deputy Governor and four years speaker of Abia House of Assembly hail from, noting that it is regretable that there is no single presence of infrastructural development projects evocative of where a number two citizen of the state lives.

Nkporo stakeholders therefore reiterates that Nkporo, Abriba and Ohafia are age long friendly sister communities that shares a lot of interests commonly and cannot for any reason whatsoever, politically and otherwise go contrary to those things that binds them together.

Meanwhile when the deputy governor, Hon Ude Oko Chukwu was contacted for his comment on his rejection by a segment of his community through his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Onwuka said the so called stakeholders criticising his boss are insignificant disgruntled few of the community and that their antics will fail them because the deputy governor is loved by Majority of their people.

He told our Correspondent that the deputy governor has delivered dividends of democracy to his people in addition to playing his complimentary role effectively to his boss Governor calling on the public to discountenance such position.

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Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has reinstated his administration’s commitment to community development in order to improve the lives and economy of the people.

Ugwuanyi made this promise during a solidarity and endorsement visit to the government house by Akpawfu town in Nkanu East local government area.

Gov. Ugwuanyi pointed out that the welfare of the people is the greatest project of every government and promised to tackle the road challenges in the rural communities in the state.

He regretted that some politicians make false promises to the electorate which they will not keep, saying that with the cooperation of all with his government that his administration would provide them with the needed democracy dividends.

Earlier, the people of Akpawfu autonomous community in Nkanu East local government area, under the aegis of Akpawfu Consultative Assembly, ACA, who converged at Government House, Enugu for the endorsement yesterday, said Gov. Ugwuanyi has achieved a lot since he assumed office and deserved a second coming.

“We, the good people of Akpawfu Town in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, humbly felicitate with His Excellency as the litany of your achievements stand tall in the political history of Enugu State and Nigeria at large.

“Word cannot be enough to elucidate your ebullient leadership in our state. Your administration has brought hope to the hopeless, justice to the downtrodden and restored people’s confidence in governance,” they poured encomiums on the governor,” the people praised the governor.

The people who were led to the endorsement/solidarity to the Government House by Igwe Dume Nnamoko, from Obodo Uvuru Autonomous Community, Akpawfu, continued added that “Our visit to you today is borne out of your undiluted services to the good people of Enugu State, Nigeria and humanity at large. You have shown that when the righteous is in power, the masses rejoice. Your style of leadership is unique in facets for the good of humanity.”

They expressed profound joy that in spite of the sorry economic situation in the country, Gov. Ugwuanyi was able to provide the people of the state with qualitative governance by bringing infrastructural development such as roads, hospitals across the three senatorial zones of the state as well prompt payment of workers’ salaries among others.

They, however, pleaded with the governor to tar Akpawfu- Amagunze Road to get to Akpawfu.

Speaking briefly after the endorsement, a community leader, Hon. Chukwudi Nwobodo lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for his good leadership and said that Akpawfu people are solidly behind his government and second term bid.

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The criminal arrogance of the APC Federal Government was displayed in full swing during the ill-fated Ekiti State Governorship Election.

Make no mistake about it, the horrible and senseless rigging of the Ekiti Gubernatorial Election has sent the country to the dark days of INEC’s inefficiency and blatant fraud.

Since that fraudulent display of electoral theft by INEC, Police  and the APC Federal Government, officials of the APC Federal Government have been dancing naked in the public, making  spurious claims while struggling to justify the rigging.

Of course, as highest bidders, they have snatched the airtime on radio and television, whilst hijacking the opinion pages of traditional newspapers.  The traditional media, as has become the norm, these days, insist that we should accept the criminal outcome. Of course, we no longer have civil society organisations.  The likes of Femi Falana and others are neck deep in the APC feast.  Remember, you don’t talk while eating.

So many reasons will be adduced why the failed APC Federal Government sent 60,000 security personnel to manipulate the electoral process in Ekiti, re-write results and snatch ballot boxes in favour of the APC.  They have continued to defend the indefensible, placing the right to free choice in jeopardy.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu gave very ridiculous reasons for the manipulation.  The long and short of his funny essay was that Fayose had to be sent out irrespective of the voting pattern by Ekiti people.

But the worst of this senseless justification is that of the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed on Television Continental (TVC) on Tuesday morning.

According to Lai , the battle was between President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Fayose. He told TVC that Fayose had to be defeated by all means possible because it was important for the image of the President.

The Information Minister stressed that had the PDP been declared winners, Nigerians would have thought that President Muhammadu Buhari is no longer popular.

Whatever the manipulation, Buhari is not popular. Popularity in governance comes with performance.  It can never be attained through rigging.

From the declaration of Lai on TVC, it is safe to infer that the President gave an express directive  to the Military, Police and INEC to deliver APC, inspite  of the votes of Ekiti people.

Lai  has confirmed what we already  know. He has confirmed the position of the coalition of election observers and has confirmed the position of protesters all across the country.  The Ekiti Governorship Election was rigged to protect the battered image of a failed APC Federal Government.

Neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor Governor Ayo Fayose appeared on the ballot last Saturday. Why then would  the failed APC Federal Government imagine that the election was about the two of them?

If you ask me, my response would be  that the Failed APC Federal Government is of the opinion that governance starts and ends with lies and propaganda.  This is the reason why they have refused to use Nigerian resources to improve the lives of the people.

As we discuss the Ekiti shame, the security architecture of Nigeria is in tatters.  Foreign media agencies have reported that hundreds of Nigerian Soldiers and several  military hardware were hijacked by Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State. Though the Military offered a watery denial, the truth is that the North East  zone is now in a mess. However, the APC Federal Government  wants us to believe that a Pyrrhic victory in Ekiti State  is tantamount to good governance.

To Lai, destroying  the very foundation of the electoral process, discrediting INEC  and belittling the security architecture before right thinking Nigerians remain the best, as long as Buhari is happy  after rigging out the PDP.

But very importantly, the Ekiti Governorship Robbery is an eye-opener. It is a revelation of the plot by the APC Federal Government to rig the 2019 elections using the Security Agencies and INEC as executing agencies.

Having failed to deliver quality projects and good governance, the only option open to the APC Federal Government is to rig. With their disastrous display in Ekiti State, the APC Federal Government shows that this option has been embraced.

Dictatorship can only blossom when right-thinking members of the society  refuse to defend their rights. In Nigeria, that is not the case. The people have the courage and presence of mind to defend their interest.

Ahead of the 2019 General Election, protection of votes by the citizens is key to electoral credibility.  The Security Agencies as an interested political group cannot do this.

In addition, other political parties (APC Excluded) and credible civil society organisations (not the Femi Falana type) must monitor all the processes leading to 2019. They must pay specific attention to the serial numbers of relevant electoral  forms , ballot papers and documents which will be handed over to APC by INEC.

This conspiracy by the Police, INEC and APC Federal Government  against the electoral process started in Rivers State.  INEC handed over result sheet serial numbers to the Rivers APC Official Printer ahead of the Rivers Legislative Rerun Elections.  Even when intelligence led to the arrest of the Rivers APC Official Printer, Atonyesia Peterside (Cousin of Defeated 2015 Rivers APC Governorship Candidate), the Police High Command on the orders of the Presidency swept the matter under the carpet.

The Police transferred the matter to Calabar and thereafter buried it. INEC refused to demand the prosecution of the APC criminals.

During the legislative rerun, Rivers people voted and defended their votes in majority of the constituencies.  At the Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre, an attempt by the Rivers SARS Commander to hijack collated results was checked by the people. The result was declared at the PDP candidate, Senator George Sekibo won.

Wait for it. The Police went to the tribunal and produced a different result with same serial number with that declared by INEC Returning Officer at the Collation Centre. INEC offered no resistance and the Court admitted the Police result. Today, a SENATOR nobody voted is representing Rivers East. INEC is yet to launch any inquiry on the matter.

The truth is that Police/INEC and the APC Federal Government have already experimented the Ekiti model in Rivers State and failed. Their threat that they will use it again in 2019 is expected. Governor Wike has told Nigerians of this expectation severally.

But the case of Rivers State is different.  Here, nobody allows an armed robber  to rob unchallenged.  If you doubt, ask Akin Fakorede.  If you doubt, ask the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.  They tried during the legislative  rerun, but failed woefully.

It was Governor Wike that stopped the reckless abduction of Judges. The DSS had free days unleashing  that illegality until they strayed into Rivers State.  Here, criminals are tracked down and disgraced.

Permit me to say that whatever has a disadvantage, equally has an advantage.  We are sad that they robbed Ekiti. But as residents of same apartment, we are now under higher obligation  to strengthen our security platforms.  We have a responsibility to heighten the criminal response mechanisms  on all fronts.

This is an unpopular APC Federal Government desperate to retain power. It will do anything, irrespective of the depth of its illegality.

There is no begging the bully. The bully understands just one language. Confrontation.  All across Nigeria, we must rise to confront the political monster. We must take BACK our country.  Even as we lament Ekiti, let’s see the brighter side.  The sunny side.

Things have to go bad before they get better. As the Bible says: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comet in the morning.”-Psalm 30:5.

This is Nigeria’s darkest night. Tyranny and bloodbath have seized the country, but we must take it back. A Government that justifies banditry and herdsmen genocide on countless communities, will see nothing wrong in using the security forces to rob the mandate of the people.  First it was EDO, then ONDO, now EKITI. We must work for our own MORNING.

BUHARI must go. We reject him and all his devilish cheerleaders. This country is bigger than anybody’s ambition. Thank God for Wike at a time like this. He will lead God’s people to victory.

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National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus on Thursday said the party may be compelled to boycott the 2019 general election unless the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies is guaranteed by relevant authorities.

Prince Secondus gave the hint when a joint delegation of the International Republican Institute, IRI, and National Democratic Institute, NDI, paid a courtesy call on members of PDP National Working Committee, NWC, at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

The PDP chairman said the party has lost confidence in INEC and security operatives following the “glaring” partisan role they played during last Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State.

Details later…

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Contrary to the claims of Governor Samuel Ortom that the All Progressives Congress, APC, gave him a red card, the Benue chapter on Thursday said it endorsed the governor for a second term.

Governor Ortom had on Monday declared that he is searching for a new platform to pursue his future political ambition as the APC has issued him a red card and pushed him out of the party.

Reacting to the claims Governor Ortom, the Director of Publicity of APC in the state, Mr Peterhot Apeh said in a statement that the governor and Senator George Akume were practically given automatic tickets to contest in 2019 after an endorsement at the last State Congress.

“We wish to state categorically that the Benue State chapter of the APC has not at any point given a red card to Gov. Samuel Ortom or any other member of the party.

“Rather, the party at its last state Congress in Makurdi endorsed the governor, and leader of the party in the state, Sen. George Akume for another term in office.

“The endorsement of the governor and leader of the party was meant to further unite the party in the state.

“And provide a stable political atmosphere for the governor as well as the leader of the party to deliver better dividends of democracy to the people of the state.’’

“In return for the endorsement by the state chapter of the party, we demand from the governor improved welfare for the people of the state,’’ Apeh said.

According to him, these demands have become necessary due to several interventions by the Federal Government in form of bailouts, Paris Club Refunds, budgetary supports.

He said that in spite these and the huge borrowings by Ortom, the state was still clouded with huge salary arrears.

“This includes unpaid pensions of retired civil servants, huge deficits of basic infrastructure and porous security situation bedeviling the state.

“We demand explanations on the handling of affairs, especially issues bothering on security in the state.

“We are grossly embarrassed that these issues raised with the governor in confidence for the purpose of repositioning governance to improve the lot of Benue people has been juxtaposed and treated unclad without regard to the code of secrecy.’’

Apeh said that it was disheartening that the governor was apparently trying to shy away from accountability and to portray the party in bad light.

Meanwhile, Governor Ortom is expected to announce his return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following negotiations with the national leadership of the party.

Also expected to defect to PDP are Senator Barnabas Gemade and his supporters. Gemade was a former national chairman of PDP before he dumped the party for the then opposition ACN.

End

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Senate in Rowdy Session over Buhari’s appointment of kinsman as Civil Service Chairman

Senate, Thursday had a rowdy session over the appointment of Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa from Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman of Federal Civil Service Commission FCSC

Dr. Bello Tukur Bello’s new appointment alongside 12 others created heavy pandemonium immediately, the motion was presented by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan for consideration.

The nomination which was sent by President Buhari for consideration by the Senate are:
1. Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa from Katsina as Chairman
2. Moses Musa Ngbale – Adamawa – Commissioner
3. Waziri Umara Nguno – Borno – Commissioner
4. All. Bello Mahmoud – Jigawa – Commissioner
5. Arch. Ahmed Sarna – Kebbi – Commissioner
6. Iyabode Odulate-Yusuf – Ogun – Commissioner
7. Shehu Umar Danyaya – Niger – Commissioner
8. Fatai Newton Adebayo – Oyo – Commissioner
9. Ejoh Michael Chukwuemeka – Anambra – Comm
10. Joe Philip Poroma – Rivers – Commissioner
11. Ibrahim Mohammed – Kaduna – Commissioner
12. Aminu Dio Sheidu – Kogi – Commissioner
13. Simon Etim – Akwa Ibom – Commissioner

Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North Senatorial district opposed the nomination, alleging that President Buhari has been biased in appointment of heads of boards for parastatals and agencies of government.

Senator Obinna Ogba from Ebonyi Central said, there is fairness in the appointment He insisted that the Senate rejects the list while waiting for the outcome of reports from the Senate Committee on Federal Character.

“Mr, President, distinguished Colleagues, we cannot continue on this nomination. If you look at this, Ebony state slot is completely missing. ”

After intervention by the Senate President, Dr.Bukola Saraki who pleaded that the list be sent for screening pending the outcome of similar allegations which was already being investigated by the Senate Committee, it was adopted.

“We are saying the same thing. This is just for screening and you know we have no time. Let’s refer the list for screening as we will be going on holiday next week”, Saraki explained.

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Proceedings were yesterday stalled on the floor of the House of Representatives intermittently when power in the green chambers went off.

First, it was shortly after the day’s session commenced during debate on a motion of urgent national importance. Proceedings held up for ten minutes. It was the same challenge of power outage Wednesday.

At Thursday’s plenary chaired by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, there was absolute blackout when the lawmakers were to begin consideration of a report of the conference committee on a Bill for an Act to provide for Establishment of the National Transport Commission as an Independent Multi- Modal Regulator for the Regulated Transport Industry sectors sponsored by Honorable Sarkin Musa Adar.

No sooner had the title of the Bill was read and the Speaker requested the chairman House committee on Rules and Business, Orkey Jev to move that relevant rules of the House be suspended to enable him chair the “Committee of the Whole”, than electricity in the green chambers went off.

There was grave yard silence and total darkness on the floor of the House due to the black out which lasted about 15minutes.

When power returned, speaker Dogara said, “Honourables, we take our seats: We are finally back”

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Paris, In topless photos, shows off her many tattoos (she has over 50 of them!), displaying the colorful chakra tattoo down her chest, the spoon tattoos she got with her godfather Macaulay Culkin and many more.

Paris Jackson teamed with RE/DONE for its latest collaboration with the brand, G.H. Bass & Co. The company known for repurposing vintage Levi’s jeans into revamped, sustainable new pieces, is not putting its cool twist on the iconic Weejuns penny loafers.

Paris Jackson Poses Topless
Credit: Juergen Teller

Weejuns is a shoe company owned by G.H. Bass & Co and launched in 1936 that is known for their penny loafers.

Paris Jackson certainly knows how to draw attention to the product. Paris models the two new loafer styles, one a flat shoe the other with a three-inch heel, but they’re not on her feet! In the photos (shot by Juergen Teller), she covers herself up in the shoes.

Paris Jackson Poses Topless
Credit: Juergen Teller

This isn’t the first time the model has posed topless. In October she shared a snap of herself to make a statement on body positivity. “Comfortable in my rolls. f— wit me,” she captioned a photo of herself bent over on a chair with her face cut out of frame.

The collection unveiling comes just days after she revealed that she isn’t a fan of ‘labels’ when it comes to her sexuality.  

The actress, who has been romantically linked with Cara Delevingne in recent months, has openly claimed to be attracted to both men and women.

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Dr Ngozi Okonji- Iweala, former Minister of Finance, has revealed the reason why Goodluck Johnathan government didn’t save despite massive oil boom.

The Former Minister, linked the failure of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to save for the rainy day, despite oil boom, to the insistence of state governors that funds in the Excess Crude Account must be shared.

According to Okonjo-Iweala, as the then finance minister, with the backing of Jonathan and ex-Vice-President Namadi Sambo, she had a running battle with state governors, who insisted that there was no need to save despite that crude oil was selling at $86 per barrel.

She said this in her book, “Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines,” published recently.

President Muhammadu Buhari who succeeded Jonathan has been blaming his inability to deliver on his critical campaign promises on the shortage of funds.

Buhari had lamented that the government was broke due to the failure of the previous administration to save when oil price was high.

The country went into an economic recession in 2016.

But Okonjo-Iweala, who doubled as Coordinating Minister for the Economy under Jonathan, identified the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who was then Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, then Edo State Governor; and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, as the most strident voices against the proposition to retain funds in the ECA for the rainy day.

According to Okonjo-Iweala, the National Economic Council meetings used to turn stormy whenever the debate about sharing what was in the ECA came up, noting that only a few governors, such as then Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, supported the argument for saving but their voices were drowned by the majority who insisted that the country was already experiencing the rainy day and the money should be shared.

Okonjo-Iweala, who had her first stint as finance minister between 2003 and 2006 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noted that Obasanjo’s administration created the ECA to solve the problem of Nigeria’s volatile revenue.

“The idea was that during good times, when the price of oil was high in the international markets, Nigeria could budget domestically at a lower price, save the difference and then have these resources available during bad times when international oil prices were low. In this way, the budget could help smooth out government expenditures and consumption,” she said.

The Former Minister, noted that between 2004 and 2007, Obasanjo’s administration was able to save $22bn, which the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration fell back on, to prevent the country from slipping into an economic recession during the global financial and economic crisis that occurred between 2008 and 2009.

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Kim Kardashian reportedly made a massive $5 million (£3.8 million) in just five minutes when she released her new fragrance earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Kardashian dropped a new range of perfume with three different fragrances, Kimoji Cherry, Kimoji Peach and Kimoji Vibes. 

And, according to TMZ, the reality star made around a million dollars a minute without spending anything at all on advertising. 

Kim Kardashian posing with her new fragrance

Social media was the only platform used to spread the word about the new releases, which sell for $45 apiece.  

The publication also reports that the amount of bottles available on launch day this time was increased because of the expected high demand. 

Kim Kardashian post

The newest perfumes had a somewhat toned down exterior, taking the shape of fruits or a speech bubble instead of Kardashian’s body. 

6 days ago, Kim Kardashian was slammed for ‘unrealistic’ body in new kimoji campaign when she posted a string of pictures of herself as an avatar holding bottles of her perfumes.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of three Directors-General/Chief Executive Officers of three agencies under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The appointments were approved on Thursday.

They appointees are: Umar Albarka Hassan (DG/CEO, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna); Prof. Linus Okon Asuquo (DG/CEO, National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos); and Prof. Suleiman Bolaji Hassan (DG/CEO, Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geo-sciences, Jos).

The information was contained on the verified Twitter handle of Bashir Ahmad, the Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media.

See the tweets:

President @MBuhari approves the appointment of three Directors-General/Chief Executive Officers of three Agencies under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The appointments are: 

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) July 19, 2018

1. Engr. Umar Albarka Hassan, DG/CEO, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna

2. Prof. Linus Okon Asuquo, DG/CEO, National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos

3. Prof. Suleiman Bolaji Hassan, DG/CEO, Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos.

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President Muhamamdu Buhari; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday met behind closed doors inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Some state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress also joined the meeting held inside the President’s office.

The governors included Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari; Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, also attended.

The agenda of the meeting was not made public.

Saraki decline to comment when State House correspondents approached him after the meeting that lasted about 30 minutes.

The Presidency however, is yet to issue a press statement on the meeting as of the time of filing this report.

Fayemi, gave an indication that those who attended the meeting were in the Presidential Villa to rejoice with the President on the party’s victory at the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election.

Meanwhile, the highly elated governor-elect boasted that the ruling party will repeat the Ekiti feat in Osun State.

The governorship election in Osun State will hold in September.

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Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi west senatorial district of the state, allegedly escaped another assassination attempt on his life, as unidentified gunmen in police uniform allegedly open fire on his bullet proofed car, on his way to commission his projects at Insalu area in Yagba East local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the whereabouts of the Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, is unknown as at the time of this report because of the incident, as the said “policemen” shot at his bullet proof Mercedes Jeep on sighting him.

Further reports, learnt that Senator Dino who left his country home at Ayetoro-gbede on Thursday morning, met the road blocked with heavy duty trucks  shortly before Isanlu town,  the headquarters of Yagba East council, as the alleged armed policemen, in addition set up borne fire with tires, blocking any one moving into the town.

Sensing danger,  Senator Dino was said to have made a quick u-turn back to  his home town with his entourage, to avoid open confrontation with the suspected assailants, -on arriving his country home, some armed men alleged to be SARS operatives allegedly attacked his convoy,and opened fire on his bullet proof Mecedez Benz Jeep, making people to run for their dare lives.

It was equally gathered that the “armed security men”, numbering over thirty took over his house shooting, scaring people away as people in community have to  desert the town to avoid the wrath of the alleged security agents.

Reports stated, that before his arrival to the state on Wednesday,  to commission his projects, some people suspected to be thugs had threatened to kill him, if he step his foot in the State to observe his programmes.

To make good their threat,  some of his projects located in Lokoja which were to be commissioned by the senator was razed down by some thugs on Tuesday night.

The spoke person of Kogi State Police Command,  Mr.  William Ayah (ASP) when contacted about the incident  said his office was not aware of the incident.
More details shortly……

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Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance, was on Thursday announced as one of the new board members of social media platform, Twitter.

The announcement was first made by Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey on his handle.

We’re adding Ngozi (@NOIweala) and Bob (@authorzoellick) to the Twitter board. Welcome! Sadly we’re also saying farewell to our friend Marjorie (@marjscar). She’s been an amazing advocate for journalists everywhere, and pushed us constantly to better inform people. Thank you M.

— jack (@jack) July 19, 2018

However, the Former Minister On her Twitter handle, expressed her excitement to work with the board of Twitter.

See her tweet below:

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Atiku Abubakar, Former vice president, on Friday reacted to the announcement of Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as new twitter board member.

Atiku described her as “a national treasure”.

Nigerian Pilot reports, that the Former Minister was announced as the new board member of twitter, a large social media platform.

The Vice President reacted in a tweet:

“I am delighted at the news of Dr. @NOIweala’s appointment to the Board of @Twitter. She is a national treasure and her exploits on the world finance and business stage is further proof that when you empower a woman, you empower a community, a nation and a continent,” he tweeted.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has served as a Senior Advisor to Lazard, Ltd., a global financial advisory and asset management firm, since September 2015. Prior to joining Lazard.

She also served as the Minister of Finance of Nigeria from July 2003 until June 2006 and as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy of Nigeria from August 2011 until May 2015.

From 1982 until 2003 and then from December 2007 until August 2011, she held several positions at the World Bank.

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House of Representatives members, have revealed the discussion, outcome of the Thursday closed door meeting they had with President Mohammadu Buhari.

Led by two colleagues, Musa Sarkin-Adar and Abdulmumini Jibrin, members of the Parliamentary Support Group met with the president inside the conference room in the office of the first lady of Nigeria.

Mr Sarkin-Adar, speaking with State House Correspondents, said the meeting “looked at the concerns within the country and the various political parties because election is approaching.”

He said as members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly, they felt it is necessary to go and have an interface with Mr Buhari and the national chairman of the party “to address issues and concerns raised by members across the federation.”

The lawmaker said they had “certain concerns and misgivings” in each state of the federation, where congresses were held from wards, to local government and state level recently.

“There were so many discrepancies and issues that came up and people made a lot of complaints and they were not listened to. As a result of that, some people thought that they will move out of the party and join another party.

“Others, even before that have made up their minds they are going somewhere and we feel it is necessary to come and inform the president that we are committed to remain party members, but issues should be looked into and addressed properly, so that all aggrieved members can be persuaded to remain.”

Mr Sarkin-Adar, who represents Goronyo/Gada Federal constituency Sokoto State, said they were also at the Villa to help improve the relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly.

“We know who caused all those frictions and we are trying as much as possible to make sure that such things do not happen again for the betterment of this country.

He said their decision to remain committed members of the APC and offer advice on how best to resolve the crisis that arose from the congresses was based on their experience as members of the House of Representatives.

“So it is now a clarion call for us to rally behind the president and the need for us to also be listened to so that the issues of development of this country can be addressed,” he said.

On how Mr Buhari responded to their submissions, Mr Sarkin-Adar said the president’s response was “very well and very fantastic”.

He said they took time to explain to the president the idea of zonal interventions or what is called constituency projects which has always been a subject of controversy.

He said they told him that contrary to widespread belief, “it is not money given to us, but projects worth millions of Naira that we should only site where it should be sited in our various constituencies and it is one of the most unifying factors of this country.”

The constituency projects, usually marred in fraud, have been condemned by many Nigerians. President Buhari also condemned the insertion of thousands of such projects in the 2018 budget.

Mr Sarkin-Adar, however, said constituency projects is “one of the ways in which you can have a reflective performance of the government in certain areas.”

He said most rural areas in the country would not have had any government presence if not because of constituency projects.

He said projects are allocated to their constituencies and it is often “what your people will benefit from and as such, there is equitable distribution of infrastructure across the nation”.

Mr Jibrin said Mr Buhari took time to share his experiences with them and also explained his “vision and a lot of the things he is doing for the country.”

He said members of the support group are happy with the outcome of the meeting.

He said the president suggested that such meetings should be held every quarter, adding “in any case that is what we always wanted. We can meet, exchange information, rub minds and find a way to continue to work together.”

On reports that the APC may lose its majority strength in the National Assembly owing to reports of mass defection to the opposition party, Mr Jibrin simply said “every party in the world, not only in Nigeria has its challenges and the APC is not an exception”.

He however, expressed the belief that the leadership of the party is doing all that it can do to ensure it does not lose more members.

Another member of the group, Mohammed Gololo (Gamawa Federal Constituency) chipped in: “with the interaction we are having with the national chairman of the party, with the synergy that is ongoing, most likely, the defection may not take place as it used to be amplified.”

Positive Outcome – Executive

Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, described the meeting as an “encouraging interface between the legislature and the executive.”

Mr Mustapha said the National Assembly just had an “Open Week” programme and that the meeting is a continuation of that engagement.

“I believe that after this kind of interaction with different arms of government, we will be able to build synergy, build consensus on issues and find resolutions to it,” he said.

“Politics is a game of negotiations, it’s a game of dialogue, and understanding and it is for the betterment of our country.

On his part, Mr Buhari’s aide on National Assembly matters, Ita Enang, commended
members of the parliamentary support group.

He said members took advantage of the meeting to express their concerns to Mr Buhari.

He also said the president “has responded in a manner that is very satisfactory to them.”

Mr Enang said the meeting is one of the back channels “that is being arranged and is granted by Mr President and officers of the executive from time to time to enable the legislators interact personally, with personal questions and personal concerns on the state, the party, projects and programmes of government”.

He said most of what was raised was “fully addressed” and that Mr Buhari decided to invite APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to address the gathering.

He said Mr Oshiomhole assured the members that the matters raised will be addressed and that no one should have fears because the party is for all.

“He told them how the nominations will go and has given them confidence and this confidence will be transmitted to all other members of the House and Senate who are not here.

“We are going to arrange for senators in the next few days as part of confidence building and bridging the gap between the executive and legislature,” Mr Enang said.

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President Mohammed Buhari, has revealed the real reasons why he announced his bid to re-run for the 2019 Presidential election in april.

Buhari who said this while receiving members of the Buhari Support Group Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, said he did that early enough in order to cool tempers, while he thanked members of the group for consistently standing by him over the years “without getting anything.”

He said, “I had to announce before the National Executive Committee about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election, so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers.

“A lot of people are trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and to Nigerians.

“So, when I announced my intention, ‘I said okay, let those who are serious come out;’ and I try to make sure that the party is re-organised and consolidated.

“This is so that we start from bottom to top, so that Nigerians will be involved and that each constituency will pick those they want to represent them at various levels, whether local government chairmen, counselors, state houses of assemblies, House of Representatives, Senate and finally, the Presidency.

“With this participation, some of the people who are educated and sophisticated, they say for those who have got the money, bring the money but we will still do what we want to do.”

Buhari said having contested presidential election for a record of four times before winning, he was familiar with happenings in different constituencies.

He reiterated that his failure in the previous three attempts was a result of people sitting down somewhere and writing election results and asking those aggrieved to go to court.

He wondered how a politician who is still looking for the next meal will he get money to pay lawyers.

Lauding the introduction of technology which he said assisted in his victory at the last election, call on the group to encourage Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards.

The President added, “Thank God that technology has come in. With PVCs, with Card Reader, wherever you register it will show whether you voted or not. That is why voters education is very important.

“Tell people that the PVC is their nationality and they are entitled to it. They can use across party, religion, ethnicity.

“So, let them take pride in their PVC, let them keep it and use it. This is an additional assignment for your group.

“I have been talking to the governors, urging them to carry out voters education. It may not favour them, but people will eventually understand whether they tell the truth or not, people will do what they feel right.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the BSGC, Umaru Dembo, said members of the group view Buhari as a leader who has sacrificed his entire life for the well being of the common man in Nigeria.

Dembo said they were in the Presidential Villa to assure the President that they have been working hard to explain the new life that his government has ushered in for the good of Nigerians.

“All of us and various groups attached to us will convey in various forms the successes of your government in the last three years.

“Boko Haram has been disbanded, Single Treasury Account implemented, farming to feed the nation in progress, petrol available, second Niger bridge in progress, roads, railways, Ajaokuta reclaimed, Mambilla hydroelectric power and dam being built, dredging the Niger, new prisons and so many other developmental programmes and activities changing the face of Nigeria,” he said.

He assured Buhari of their commitment to his re-election in 2019.

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