One tweet from Atiku Abubakar, and the tribal bigots behind @lagospedia got scared and deleted their account. This is why he is called "The Unifier." When people, particularly the political class are afraid to speak out, Atiku stood with the Igbos that are being intimidated by the so called "Owners of the land." We don't have Second Citizens in Nigeria, we all have equal constitutional right to live anywhere in Nigeria without being threatened, nor intimidated.
Thank you Atiku, you're a true nationalist and our bridge to national unity 🇳��
PRESIDENT TINUBU AT 2024 AFRICAN CAUCUS MEETING:
Nigeria Executing Bold Reforms To Tackle Multiple Global Economic Shocks
* Seeks global tax cooperation to combat illicit financial flows
President @officialABAT has said his administration is currently undertaking bold economic policies to propel Nigeria's economy out of the downturns occasioned by multiple shocks in the global economy.
He also called for global cooperation among African countries to tackle their shared economic challenges and take advantage of opportunities.
The President who spoke on Friday when he declared open the 2024 African Caucus Meeting held at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, noted that although Africa is grappling with “numerous challenges across economic, humanitarian and social spheres," countries on the continent must take necessary measures to translate opportunities in natural resources and human capital into growth, innovation and collaboration.
#AfricanCaucus2024 #Abuja2024
@GIGMobility. It's unfortunate that there was no clear information about the cancellation on the trip not until after 2 hours at your Utako terminal. I have called your customer care several times and it's clear they don't care. You can send me DM. as I couldn't send any DM to u
EXCLUSIVE: According to a Source, “The EFCC investigation is currently ongoing into the alleged diversion of N7.5 billion by contractors working with commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, over a period of 5 days the entire amount that’s was shared to contractors account has been identified and linked to BDCs, who were invited and have been questioned. The contractors involved in the case are being called for questioning as the investigation progresses.
“The investigators discovered that payments were made to a total of 20 contractors, with a significant sum of N2 billion allocated to three major contractors who each own five companies. Each contractor received a retention fee of 5%. Letters of invitation have been sent to these contractors.
“All the contractors have been interviewed except for one woman who has been working tirelessly to avoid it. Who received over 1 billion, and all the funds were discovered to have been converted to USD.
“The contractors made a useful statement that led to the recovery of approximately N1 billion, which the Audi had given to them to avoid being invited.
“The contractors have been under pressure from the EFCC as they have stated that the operatives are so professional that there is nothing to hide, given that they have records at their fingertips.
“One of the contractors informs us that they are planning to start a protest at the NSA office to seek assistance, as they feel that he is the only senior official who can help them reach the CG. They applied for jobs as contractors, only to learn that the job was already executed on their behalf by the Director of Procurement, Victor Fayemi, and Anthony Akpan, depending on the contractor they are in touch with. They sent account numbers with individual names, which the investigators informed them are BDC.
“The contractor that is yet to come is the MD of Absolute Solutions, Cerise ltd, BNT arm who have been getting paid since the CG assume office in 2021 and have been using same BDC to exchange funds which she's always informed that the jobs have been executed on her behalf. The BDC investigated so far include. Main one global and Double Spec Agro.
“Another contractor that received over 1 billion is Sotitrech Computers, Jikol Multipurpose, and have exchanged funds through One Al-Hikma communications and made some refunds.
“It was observed at NSCDC that these payments were meant for jobs that had already been executed, but the contractors had not been paid. If the investigators request the goods, they will be found in the stores, but the main contractors who supplied them were not paid.”
Additionally, payments for the elections were meant for the staff, but sources at the NSCDC claim that the staff were underpaid compared to staff at other sister agencies.
The EFCC wrote a letter inviting officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for questioning.
Officers scheduled to be questioned by EFCC starting from 2 May 2024 are:
1. Victor Olanrewaju fayemi
2. Anthony Akpan Uwen
3. Patrick Babatunde
4. Comfort Danladi
5. Akibo Michael Olusola
6. Umaru Usman Karshi
7. Adewale Kukoyi
8. Joseph Ajayi Ibitulo
9. A.A Jonathan
10. Paul Ahepa
To those Nigerian citizens currently attacking the Nigerian government, and especially our immigration authorities, due to Mr. Larry Madowo's post complaining about his $215 alleged Nigerian visa payment, do note the following:
The Nigerian visa can be obtained at $25 on arrival for Kenyan citizens, of which Mr. Madowo is one. The $170 is for the biometric fee.
Also, Nigeria has reciprocal visa policies with Mr. Madowo's home country, Kenya. I have been to Kenya multiple times. For many years, Nigerian citizens enjoyed visa-free or visa-on-arrival privileges at Kenyan airports. This was recently revoked. And you do not expect Nigeria to be pleased about this, especially as more Nigerians visit Kenya than vice versa. If Mr. Madowo wants to take a dig at African nations frustrating a "borderless Africa", he should look closer to home.
Moreover, Larry Madowo, who is a CNN correspondent, and who should have known that he is very likely to visit Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest economy, more than once a year, should have applied for a multiple-entry Nigerian visa, which is available to him for five years at a more affordable cost of just $100, which is far cheaper than the Kenyan visa for Nigerians for the same period, and which would have eliminated the need for multiple biometric charges. He would have just needed to do ONE biometric payment.
Larry Madowo did not do his homework correctly. It is entirely the responsibility of a traveller to research the immigration requirements of the country he intends to visit. He was negligent in his responsibilities and is trying to blame Nigeria. For a journalist on a platform like CNN, he has demonstrated a surprising ignorance of non-proprietary information, which can be publicly sourced with a cursory Google search.
What he is complaining of is not even unique to Nigeria, as those Nigerians who are supporting him, due to their disappointment at the results of the last elections, seem not to be aware.
For example, whenever a Nigerian or Kenyan reapplies for a British visa, they MUST still pay for their biometrics and take them, even if they just had them recently. It is a standard practice. It is precisely the same process in Nigeria for which Mr. Madowo is complaining about.
Therefore, prudent individuals choose to apply for a long-term multiple visa, of which the British five-year multiple entry visa costs £771, which is almost ten times the five-year Nigerian visa. That £771 does not include the cost of Biometrics.
And I saw supposedly enlightened Nigerians, like Dr. Victor Oladokun, of the African Development Bank, commenting on Mr. Madowo's post as though Nigeria had erred and was not acting in line with international best practices.
Can Larry Madowo try the stunt he pulled with Nigeria against the United Kingdom or the United States?
I am proud of my country. I salute the reforms in our immigration system. And I, for one, will not sit idly while Mr. Madowo undermines Nigeria for an oversight he is entirely responsible for.
I visited Kenya with twenty of my friends and family, and I was asked to pay a bribe at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in the early hours of January 17, 2024. I have documentary and eyewitness evidence and can prove it in court. I am not known as a meticulous record keeper for nothing! However, for the sake of African brotherhood, I kept a lid on this, because "love covers over a multitude of sins."
Mr. Madowo, like a typical African dictator, is only abusing his privileged position in the media industry to bully the Nigerian Immigration Service unnecessarily, and again, I, for one, will not have it!
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Shaakaa Chira as the substantive Auditor-General of the Federation, as recommended by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
Four days ago, I said that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is "effectively the National Security Adviser". Some laughed. But today, there is no more ambiguity. Of all the appointments President Tinubu has made so far, this one is the most impactful. I have met leaders at various levels, yet, it is hard to say that I have encountered anyone as patriotic and morally upright as Mallam Ribadu.
His sense of purpose will help ground President Tinubu's administration and increase Nigeria's standing in the international community.
Mallam Ribadu is not a Northern Nigerian. He is a Nigerian who happens to come from the North. He is blind to tribe, region and religion in performing his duties. What he sees is character. And as long as you have it, you will pass the smell test with him.
Congratulations again, big brother. My family and I celebrate with you.
#TableShaker