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http://ift.tt/2r4dH2s Officials of the agency were alleged to have destroyed the distribution ground at Area 1 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) without prior notice. Properties, running into millions of naira, were reportedly destroyed. Newspaper circulation in Abuja and indeed their survival suffered a major setback on Monday as distribution centres came under a heavy attack by authorities of the Abuja Development Control (ADC). Officials of the agency were alleged to have destroyed the distribution ground at Area 1 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) without prior notice. Properties, running into millions of naira, were reportedly destroyed. Addressing newsmen after assessing the level of loss, the president of Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA), Joshua Orogun, bemoaned the action. Orogun told The Guardian that the association had a meeting with the Director of ADC, Muktar Galadima, two weeks ago where an agreement was reached that the distribution centre...

http://ift.tt/2rzmEEi Handout picture released by the Brazilian Presidency showing Brazil's President Michel Temer speaking during a ceremony in commemoration of the World Environment Day, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on June 5, 2017. President Michel Temer and Brazil's chief prosecutor were in open warfare Monday on the eve of a court verdict that could lead to the scandal-plagued president's removal from office.<br />MARCOS CORREA / BRAZILIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP Brazil’s electoral court started hearings Tuesday that could topple scandal-tainted President Michel Temer, plunging Latin America’s biggest country into its second leadership crisis in a year. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) held the first of four scheduled sessions to decide whether the 2014 reelection of president Dilma Rousseff and her then-vice president Temer should be invalidated because of corrupt campaign funding. There was no immediate indication of which way the seven-judge ...

http://ift.tt/2r4pApj Managing Director, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Bola Onadele (left); Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; Moderator/ former Chairman, KPMG Africa, Seyi Bickersteth; Chairperson, Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Aishah Ahmad; Chairman, Lafarge, Bolaji Balogun; Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Head, Tax and Regulatory Services, PwC, Taiwo Oyedele at the chief executive Officer/policy maker interactive breakfast series titled “Easy of doing Business! A policy dialogue on regulations” organised by WIMBIZ in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI Corruption, insecurity and dilapidated infrastructure still constitute major obstacles daily to entrepreneurs in Nigeria. This was this submission of a panel of experts at the annual CEO/Policy Maker Interactive Breakfast Series tagged, Ease of Doing Business: A Policy Dialogue on Regulations organised by the Women in...

http://ift.tt/2rzwKoN Minister of Solid Mineral Resources Dr. Kayode Fayemi Some youths in Ekiti State yesterday staged a peaceful protest against what they described as politically-motivated probe panel raised by Governor Ayo Fayose to probe former governor of the state and current Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. This came barely 24 hours after some students had staged a protest calling on Fayemi to come before the panel and defend himself against allegations of diversion of funds levelled against him. The youths, under the aegis of Ekiti Youth Vanguard, condemned the setting up of the panel and described it as a “desperate move to nail Fayemi by all means and persecute him for political reasons.” They youths advised Fayose to respect the rule of law as Fayemi had filed two separate cases in court over the plan to probe him. They said that the panel raised by Fayose could not be trusted to do justice to Fayemi, describing the members as acolytes...

http://ift.tt/2rzu9vc Co-Founder and Lead Partner, BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde (left); President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Dr. Olateju Somorin; and Partner, PWC and Dean of Direct Tax Faculty, CITN, Taiwo Oyedele, at the seminar on the new National Tax Policy 2017 FGN Budget in Lagos. Experts have said that the new national tax policy is capable of reducing the number of taxes to less than 20, and the number of agencies reduced or merged to only one per level of government. The policy is also capable of growing tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio from 15 to 20 per cent by 2020, curbing non-compliance with existing tax laws and discouraging the use of tax havens. Besides, it can also help create low tax rates for small and medium enterprises with exemption to the poor providing robust information, proper utilisation and transparent reporting for the citizenry. This was disclosed by Partner, West Africa Tax Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Taiwo ...

http://ift.tt/2q5lwrB The joint military task force in the Niger Delta named ‘Operation Delta Safe’ (OPDS) yesterday said it killed two kidnappers who engaged its men in a gun battle while trying to rescue a kidnap victim. The joint military task force in the Niger Delta named ‘Operation Delta Safe’ (OPDS) yesterday said it killed two kidnappers who engaged its men in a gun battle while trying to rescue a kidnap victim. The incident happened at the weekend around Omuku Forest in Rivers State as the troops, who acted on a tip-off engaged the suspected armed kidnappers in a gun duel. Commander of OPDS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman said: “Two of the armed kidnappers were killed in the ensuing battle while the rescued victim is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.” He told journalists at the OPDS headquarters that it also arrested five suspected pipeline vandals during an operation in the area. The suspected vandals had detonated dynamites, ...

http://ift.tt/2oCGWIj A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello (SAN), is said to have actually directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged $20million bribery scandal uncovered in Switzerland. A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello (SAN), is said to have actually directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged $20million bribery scandal uncovered in Switzerland. But the anti-graft commission allegedly said the funds may have been consultancy fees. The Swiss authorities, through the Office of the Attorney-General, Department of International Affairs on May 2, 2012 had implicated some Nigerians in the $20million scandal alongside Dredging International Services (Cyprus) Ltd. Findings however confirmed that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan referred the allegations to the EFCC. It also s...

http://ift.tt/2p2Npjl After four years of reforms, the stakeholders stated that the power situation is worse today before the modification, as operators have to contend with higher energy costs. Members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) yesterday called for overhaul of power sector reforms, describing the reforms as failing to meet the expectations of the business community, thereby affecting sustainability. After four years of reforms, the stakeholders stated that the power situation is worse today before the modification, as operators have to contend with higher energy costs. Members of the OPS, which include manufacturers and operators in the services sector, said the business environment remains difficult despite government’s efforts. They added that challenges bordering on logistics and transportation, harmonisation of taxes and regulations as well as inconsistency in policies continue to overshadow government’s efforts However, the Federal Government while acknowl...

http://ift.tt/2rIktM1 According to the lawmakers, the violation of this Act is responsible for the high rate of child labour, cultism and illiteracy that is prevalent among a sizeable population of the children. The Senate yesterday moved to domesticate the Child Rights Act in 13 states, where the law had not been implemented. This was consequent upon the adoption of a motion on “2017 Children’s Day Celebration” sponsored by nine senators, who included the Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi. According to the lawmakers, the violation of this Act is responsible for the high rate of child labour, cultism and illiteracy that is prevalent among a sizeable population of the children. The Senate mandated the committee on Women Affairs to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure that there is total compliance with the unnamed defaulting states. In the lead debate, Olujimi stated the significant role that the Nigerian child is playing ...

http://ift.tt/2rnhMTR CAMBRIDGE, MA – MAY 25: Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the commencement address at the Alumni Exercises at Harvard's 366th commencement exercises on May 25, 2017 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Zuckerberg studied computer science at Harvard before leaving to move Facebook to Paolo Alto, CA. He returned to the campus this week to his former dorm room and live streamed his visit. Paul Marotta/Getty Images/AFP Paul Marotta / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP Thirteen years after dropping out of Harvard University to work on Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday finally got his degree — well, sort of. Zuckerberg returned to the university where he launched what would become the world’s biggest social network, and basked in the spotlight by receiving an honorary doctor of laws degree and addressing the 2017 commencement. His speech capped a nostalgic visit for the 33-year-old billionaire, which included a visit to his old dorm room. “Mom,...

http://ift.tt/2rWroSR The protesting students had left the Osun State government secretariat in Abere, Osogbo on Wednesday after they had waited for hours without being attended to by any government official. • Seek Aregbesola’s intervention Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State yesterday barricaded the gate of Osun State Government House, Okefia, Osogbo in continuation of their protest over prolonged closure of their school. The protesting students had left the Osun State government secretariat in Abere, Osogbo on Wednesday after they had waited for hours without being attended to by any government official. They later converged at the popular Olaiya junction, and barricaded the road. The students disrupted vehicular movements for some minutes before taking their protest to the Government House. Their spokesman, Lawal Musbau, who said they staged the peaceful protest to show their displeasure with the current strike in their ...

http://ift.tt/2rneBvH Entrance to the Idumuje-Ugboko community Things seem no longer at ease at the small town of Idumuje Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Council of Delta State, following a sharp division among the royal Nwoko family over the rightful choice for the vacant stool of traditional ruler following the demise of the former occupant, Obi Albert Nwoko, aged 111, early this year. The Iyase (traditional Prime Minister) of Idumuje Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu, alleged yesterday that anarchy is now the order of the day in the agrarian community as opponents of one of the rival princes are now hounded by some village thugs. Ogwu told journalists in Asaba yesterday that his insistence on the truth earned him a severe beating on Wednesday while the windscreen of his vehicle was smashed and his house vandalized by some dark-goggled goons on the order of one of the feuding factions. While calling on the police to beef up their presence in the community, Ogwu said law enforcement ag...

http://ift.tt/2olJnlN They made the call in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Kaduna; a copy of which was e-mailed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday. Participants at the consultative meeting on 2018 agriculture budget have urged the Federal Government to allocate 10 per cent of the nation’s annual budgets to finance the agricultural sector. They made the call in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Kaduna; a copy of which was e-mailed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday. The stakeholders said that the budgetary allocation, which was in line with the Maputo and Malabo Declarations on agriculture and food security, would boost the realisation of the benchmarks for agricultural investment. They also said that buffer funds from sources such as Natural Resource Funds and Climate Resource Funds might also be considered, given the strategic importance of the agricultural sector. They called on federal and state min...

http://ift.tt/2r389ZO (FILES) This file photo taken on December 11, 2016 shows Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa celebrating after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge in London. The seeds for Chelsea's current run of wins were sown during a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in late September, when new manager Antonio Conte switched to his preferred 3-4-3 formation.<br />Justin TALLIS / AFP Never far from the headlines, Diego Costa will look to bring a turbulent season to a doubly triumphant conclusion when Chelsea tackle Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley. The quarrelsome Spain international looked to be on the brink of leaving Chelsea for the Chinese Super League in January, but stayed put and contributed 20 goals to their Premier League title success. Saturday’s game is nevertheless widely expected to be his last in Chelsea’s colours and knowing Costa, h...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Rotimi Fasan MANY of us thought that we have moved beyond this stage, that stage when the military imagined itself as the saviour of the commonwealth. We are talking here of that era when every civil disagreement among politicians was seen as an open invitation to the military to take over governance- whether by self-invitation or at the invitation of politicians directly or indirectly involved in the contest for power. But for some people, people whose minds are held in a time warp and locked in the past, the military still has a role to play in civil governance beyond their constitutionally assigned duty of the defense of the territorial integrity of the country.  For this category of Nigerians their personal interest approximates the interest of the nearly 200 million Nigerians that will bear the brunt of a return to military rule, a blighted epoch that some in exasperation wish for in an access of romantic delusion. The note of alarm was first raised...

http://ift.tt/2paCbY2 Pharmacy shop stocked with essential medicines The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has commended the recent Executive Order on support for local content in public procurement. Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had on May 18, 2017, signed the Executive Order, which mandated all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to give preference to local goods and services in their procurement activities. The order also directed that made-in-Nigeria products should be given preference in the procurement of relevant items as it stipulated that 40 percent of spending by the MDAs must be expended on locally manufactured goods and services. Section 4F as a key category covered by the Executive Order also specified locally made medicines as those to be patrinised. Chairman of the PMG, Mr. Okey Akpa yesterday said that industry analysis of the Executive Order indicated that the directive ...

http://ift.tt/2oANyHk Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan The supremacy crisis rocking the Yoruba Obas took a new twist yesterday as The Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee described the ultimatum given to Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan as empty and uncalled for. The committee therefore, called on all Nigerians to disregard the threat. The General Secretary of the Council of Yoruba Obas and Olojodu of Ido-Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo had last week given the Olugbo four days to tender an “unreserved apology” and retract his comments in which he claimed to be the leader of all Yoruba Obas or “face the consequences”. Adedapo said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was the leader of all Yoruba Obas since all of them trace their ancestral home to Ile-Ife. The ultimatum expired at the weekend and the Olugbo had not retracted his claim. He had claimed that Oduduwa, believed to the progenitor of Yoruba race met his forefathers at Ife...