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Showing posts from September 4, 2019

South Africa: Keys to Country's Future Are Growth, Distribution and Race

[ISS] In mid-2019 South Africa finds itself in a situation reminiscent of 13 years ago when, in largely similar conditions, the Nelson Mandela/Thabo Mbeki administration was forced to abandon the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). The RDP was the basis for the 1994 election partnership between the African National Congress and labour. via LATEST NEWS

Ex-Ondo Commissioner Accuses Akeredolu Of Mismanagement

  A former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Banji Ayiloge, has attacked the government of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, accusing him of mismanaging the state. Ayiloge, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, noted that Akeredolu had ruined all resources of the state within three years in government. According to him, assignments that should have been carried out by commissioners were now being hijacked by the governor's immediate family members. He further alleged that various projects across the state under Akeredolu's government are soaked in secrecy. Ayiloge said, “It is an open secret that the first family (Akeredolu) in Ondo State have their hook on every resources of the state. “We have commissioners who are there as figure heads while cronies of the governor from Ibadan report directly to the first family. “Also, it is an open secret in the state that roads projects are serious sources of capital flight out of the state.” But debunking the al

Digital Technology Will Improve Agriculture In Africa –Osinbajo

  Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that digital technology and its application will change the face of agriculture in Africa. Osinbajo made this submission on Wednesday while featuring at the panel discussion session of the African Green Revolution held at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana. Osinbajo participated in the panel alongside President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente, and African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Josefa Sacko. The panel was moderated by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Osinbajo said that there were many companies interested in agriculture as a lot of them had already keyed into the sector. He said, “What we found is that there is far more collaboration than before and there is far more transparency; you can see practically everything and anyone who is connected one way or the other and people learn faster because of a lot of collaboration. “People can get

FIBA World Cup: Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire Clash On Friday

  Nigeria’s D’Tigers will meet Cote D’Ivoire on Friday at the City Arena in Guangzhou, China, in their opening match of the classification round at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The match is the first game for the Nigerian male senior team in the classification 17-32 of the competition, and will come up at 9:00am. D’Tigers will also take on China at the same venue on Sunday. Nigeria had finished third from the competition’s Group B on Wednesday, dropping to the classification round, which can at the end give them a ticket to the 2020 Olympic Games.   Sports News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  via

Ten Companies Have Applied For 50 Per cent Tax Cuts To Build Infrastructures, Fowler Reveals

  Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler, told Reuters on Wednesday that over 10 indigenous firms have applied to have their taxes halfed in order to help the country bridge its infrastructure deficit.  Fowler said this would initially cause cuts in revenue collection but the tax collector’s improved biometric database will sure-up its coffers. He noted that one other unnamed firm besides Dangote group, has so far successfully registered for the tax credit scheme. He said, “It may reduce the amount of my collections initially, but as I expand my tax net, I would make up for that reduction. “We believe we would generate more revenues from the additional infrastructure that would be created.”  President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25 2019, signed Executive order 007, paving the path for Dangote’s 30 per cent tax rebate for building sections of the abandoned Apapa port road, to become law. FIRS said it raised N5.32tn in revenues in 2018,

US Judge Saves Nigeria From Paying Another Hefty Fine

  A District Judge in New York, United States, has decided against enforcing a $1.8bn 2011 arbitration against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Nigeria is faced with a $9bn arbitration award, which accumulates $1m in interests daily, on a breached gas sales purchasing agreement with a controversial British Virgin Island registered company, Process and Industrial Development. William Pauley of the district court, said enforcing the October 2011 ruling will be ‘a bridge too far,’ Reuters reports. “While this court may have inherent authority to fashion appropriate relief in certain circumstances, exercising that authority to create a $1.8bn judgment is a bridge too far,” the judge said. The award, which was set aside by courts in Nigeria, has risen to $2.67bn in interests. Court papers revealed that Exxon and Shell affiliates in Nigeria signed a contract with NNPC in 1993 to explore for oil in the Erha field, 97km off the Nigerian coast. Under the agreement, ES

Ex-Ondo Commissioner Accuses Akeredolu Of Mismanagement

  A former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Banji Ayiloge, has attacked the government of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, accusing him of mismanaging the state. Ayiloge, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, noted that Akeredolu had ruined all resources of the state within three years in government. According to him, assignments that should have been carried out by commissioners were now being hijacked by the governor's immediate family members. He further alleged that various projects across the state under Akeredolu's government are soaked in secrecy. Ayiloge said, “It is an open secret that the first family (Akeredolu) in Ondo State have their hook on every resources of the state. “We have commissioners who are there as figure heads while cronies of the governor from Ibadan report directly to the first family. “Also, it is an open secret in the state that roads projects are serious sources of capital flight out of the state.” But debunking the al

Shoprite Will Suffer From Xenophobic Attacks, Says Analyst

  An analyst at Mergence Investment Managers in Cape Town, South Africa, Nolwandle Mthombeni, has said that consumer retail chain, Shoprite, will be hard hit by recent reprisal attacks on South African businesses across several countries on the continent. The multinational has seen its shops attacked in Nigeria and also fell on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, along with telecoms firm, MTN. He told Bloomberg South Africa that, “From footage I’ve seen, it most definitely will hit Shoprite hard because it goes beyond lost sales, but also cost of repairs and restoring the damage.” Leaders of Congo DR, Rwanda, Zambia, Nigeria and a few others boycotted the World Economic Forum summit holding in South Africa. The Nigerian Government has also asked the South African Government to pay compensation for damages done to Nigerian businesses in the country. Over 50 shops owned by nationals of other African countries including Nigerians were broken into and looted by South Africans in

Digital Technology Will Improve Agriculture In Africa –Osinbajo

  Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that digital technology and its application will change the face of agriculture in Africa. Osinbajo made this submission on Wednesday while featuring at the panel discussion session of the African Green Revolution held at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana. Osinbajo participated in the panel alongside President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente, and African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Josefa Sacko. The panel was moderated by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Osinbajo said that there were many companies interested in agriculture as a lot of them had already keyed into the sector. He said, “What we found is that there is far more collaboration than before and there is far more transparency; you can see practically everything and anyone who is connected one way or the other and people learn faster because of a lot of collaboration. “People can get

Xenophobia: Nigerian Police Ordered To Tighten Security Around Embassies, Others

Frank Mbah, Police PRO. Frank Mbah, Police PRO.   The Nigeria Police Force has been ordered to provide water-tight security around embassies, foreign missions, foreigners and their businesses across the country. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, gave the order on Wednesday in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba. The order follows angry protests by Nigerians on Tuesday and Wednesday targeting South African businesses in retaliation to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in the former apartheid nation. The statement reads, “Some miscreants attacked and looted the malls under the pretext of protesting against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. “To this end, all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police across the Federation have been placed on red alert to ensure no similar violence is replicated within the country. “Miscreants and criminally-minded people who masquerade as

Ondo Government To Send Relief Materials To Communities Hit By Flood

  The Ondo State Government has said that it would send relief materials to communities affected by a recent flood in the state. Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Idanre during an inspection of the damage caused by heavy rainfall in many parts of Ondo. Ajayi revealed that the state government would soon demolish structures built on water channels and affecting the free flow of water. He said, “We have inspected all the houses (buildings) in the area and advised our people to evacuate the areas in order to prevent another disaster. “The state government would try its best in terms of bringing relief to the affected victims soon. “I noticed that some persons built houses along the river course and water ways but we shall ensure that no matter highly placed they are, we will demolish those buildings. “This would make us have free flow of water and we shall be deploying the amphibious excavator to help channel these waterways.”

Right Investment In Nutrition Could Save 3.7 Million Lives By 2025 –WHO

  A new report by the World Health Organisation has showed that improvement in nutrition could save the lives of 3.7 million people by 2025. WHO posited that health services must integrate a stronger focus on ensuring optimum nutrition at each stage of a person’s life. According to the report, healthier populations are achieved through multi-sectoral actions that are not limited to health systems alone, though often using the stewardship, advocacy and regulatory functions of health ministries. Assistant Director-General at WHO, Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, noted that nutrition must be positioned as one of the cornerstones of essential health packages in order to provide quality health services and achieve Universal Health Coverage. She said, “Essential health packages in all settings need to contain robust nutrition components but countries will need to decide which interventions best support their national health policies, strategies and plans. “Investment in nutrition actions wi

Xenophobia: Bring Perpetrators Of Violence To Book, Reps Tell Buhari

  The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all perpetrators of violence against Nigerians in South Africa are brought to book. In a statement on Wednesday, Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Yakub, said the lower legislative arm of government was working to ensure that Nigerians get justice. The statement reads, “The growing xenophobic attacks on innocent and law-abiding Nigerians in some parts of South Africa is not acceptable to us as legislators in Nigeria. “These barbaric attacks have become one too many in recent years and, therefore stand condemnable by all men and countries of goodwill. “We reiterate our call on other nations of the world to join us and raise their voices against this senseless action of humans against their kind.”   Politics South Africa News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  from All Content via

Xenophobia: UN Chief Condemns ‘Acts Of Violence’ Against Foreigners

  United Nations Secretary-General, António  Guterres, has “strongly condemned” the renewed wave of “acts of violence” against foreigners and their property in parts of South Africa. Guterres’ message was conveyed by his spokesperson, Mr Stéphane Dujarric, at a news briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, United States, on Wednesday. He was responding to a News Agency of Nigeria’s question that sought his reaction to the situation. He said, “We strongly condemn the acts of violence that have been reported in different provinces in South Africa, including attacks against foreigners and the destruction of their property. “The Secretary-General has also very much noted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s unequivocal condemnation of that violence. “He has also noted Ramaphosa’s call for strengthening accountability in line with democratic values enshrined in South Africa’s constitution. “The Secretary-General urges all political leaders to clearly and openly reject the use of v

Ondo Government To Send Relief Materials To Communities Hit By Flood

  The Ondo State Government has said that it would send relief materials to communities affected by a recent flood in the state. Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Idanre during an inspection of the damage caused by heavy rainfall in many parts of Ondo. Ajayi revealed that the state government would soon demolish structures built on water channels and affecting the free flow of water. He said, “We have inspected all the houses (buildings) in the area and advised our people to evacuate the areas in order to prevent another disaster. “The state government would try its best in terms of bringing relief to the affected victims soon. “I noticed that some persons built houses along the river course and water ways but we shall ensure that no matter highly placed they are, we will demolish those buildings. “This would make us have free flow of water and we shall be deploying the amphibious excavator to help channel these waterways.”

Xenophobia: Bring Perpetrators Of Violence To Book, Reps Tell Buhari

  The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all perpetrators of violence against Nigerians in South Africa are brought to book. In a statement on Wednesday, Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Yakub, said the lower legislative arm of government was working to ensure that Nigerians get justice. The statement reads, “The growing xenophobic attacks on innocent and law-abiding Nigerians in some parts of South Africa is not acceptable to us as legislators in Nigeria. “These barbaric attacks have become one too many in recent years and, therefore stand condemnable by all men and countries of goodwill. “We reiterate our call on other nations of the world to join us and raise their voices against this senseless action of humans against their kind.”   Politics South Africa News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  via IFTTT

Former Imo Governor, Okorocha, Wife To Forfeit Assets To EFCC

  Immediate-past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his wife Nneoma and daughter, are set to forfeit assets to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Head of the Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Usman Imam, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Enugu while speaking with journalists. According to Imam, the EFCC had also obtained a court order on a property traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter. He said that the commission had established prima facie cases against the suspects, which they would answer to. Imam said that the commission would like to know how the Rochas Foundation and “other accomplices” acquired and or converted some of the property for personal use. He listed some of the property to include a 16-block 96-flat structure and an eight-bungalow multimillion naira estate, hotel, two schools, shopping plaza, supermarket, hospital and four vehicles. He said, “We hope to get permanent forfeiture orders

Dino Melaye Wounded As Gunmen Disrupt Kogi PDP Primary

  A picture of Senator Dino Melaye has surfaced on the social media showing him being attended to by a nurse in an unidentified hospital with bruises on his knees. SaharaReporters gathered Dino sustained the injury while scampering for safety during the disruption of the Kogi PDP Governorship primary by gunmen on Wednesday morning. Recall that the collation process was brought to an abrupt end following the invasion of Lokoja Confluence Stadium, venue of the exercise, by some hoodlums. Melaye is vying for the PDP’s Governorship ticket to challenge incumbent governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, during the November 21, 2019 election.   Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  via IFTTT

1950 United States Senate election in California

1950 United States Senate election in California . In the 1950 United States Senate election in California, Republican Richard Nixon (pictured) defeated Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas in a campaign characterized by accusations and name-calling. Democratic incumbent Sheridan Downey withdrew during the primary election campaign, after which publisher Manchester Boddy joined the race; both attacked Douglas as a leftist. Nixon and Douglas won the primaries, and at the time of the Red Scare, tried to paint each other as sympathetic to communism; Nixon had more success doing so. Democrats were slow to rally to Douglas, and some even endorsed Nixon, who defeated Douglas by almost 20 percentage points in the November 7 election. Though Nixon was later criticized for his tactics in the campaign, he defended his actions and stated that Douglas was too far to the left for California's voters. The campaign gave rise to two lasting political nicknames, "the Pink Lady" for Douglas and

1950 United States Senate election in California

1950 United States Senate election in California . In the 1950 United States Senate election in California, Republican Richard Nixon (pictured) defeated Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas in a campaign characterized by accusations and name-calling. Democratic incumbent Sheridan Downey withdrew during the primary election campaign, after which publisher Manchester Boddy joined the race; both attacked Douglas as a leftist. Nixon and Douglas won the primaries, and at the time of the Red Scare, tried to paint each other as sympathetic to communism; Nixon had more success doing so. Democrats were slow to rally to Douglas, and some even endorsed Nixon, who defeated Douglas by almost 20 percentage points in the November 7 election. Though Nixon was later criticized for his tactics in the campaign, he defended his actions and stated that Douglas was too far to the left for California's voters. The campaign gave rise to two lasting political nicknames, "the Pink Lady" for Douglas and