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Comptroller Shoboiki’s magic wand at MMA Customs Command

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Jayne T. Shoboiki(Mrs)Phd., the present Controller in charge of Murtala Muhammed Airport Customs Command, Lagos fits into the mold where scholars conclude that great men and women achieve success through hardwork and resilience. She remains the luckiest in terms of favourable circumstances. She is one of the few officers that have served round trip the most successful commands in Nigeria. Compt. Shoboiki is not disposed to unnecessary talks and frivolities; a no nonsense woman who had all through her leadership role in the service proved herself to be a leader that matches words with actions.There has never been any empty promises in her role as she ensures that she carries out her words to the letter.

Since she was redeployed as the Customs Area Controller of Murtala Muhammed(MMA)Customs Command , she has magically turned around the operations of the command revenue wise with unprecedented revenue generated since she took over. She has hitherto raised the performance bar of the unit to an exampled level in the history of the command. This is due to the fact that the refined officer is adjudged according to industry watchers to be a revenue oriented officer as well as her encomiums emanated from commands with performance based on revenue. Many senior customs officers hailed the Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) led management’s decision of redeploying Comptroller Jayne T.Shoboiki(Mrs)Phd.to the MMA Customs Command to pilot the affairs of the unit knowing fully well she is a great performer and a goal getter; bearing in mind that the command is one of the nerve centres of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Compt.Shoboiki aggressive approach to work and the proactiveness of the Command officers have resulted to increase in revenue generation and a remarkable seizures of Military hard wares, elephant tusks, wild life parts (pangolin scales) and other contraband items intercepted by this Command and trade facilitation with much efforts and emphasis on blockage of revenue leakages through 100 percent examination of cargoes.

Compt.Shoboiki having served in several other commands,she has vigorously pursued an aggresive approach through resilience, and discipline towards 100 percent examination of cargoes to sustain continuous increase in revenue generation at the command. This is evident in the recent records on revenue generated at the command and seizures.

On Inter-Agency collaboration, the CAC had visited and had meetings with other government agencies for a good working relationship. Since she assumed office,Murtala Muhammed Customs Command handed over 99 sacks of unprocessed Donkey skin to Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, 30 sacks of Pangolin scales and eight bags of elephant tusks to National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, for further investigation to unravel the syndicates behind smuggling these items.Murtala Muhammed Customs Area Command,led by Compt.Shoboiki cannot stop the unending onslaught against dubious Clearing agents with their Importers as her proactive officers will continue to frustrate their illegal activities.

Comptroller Jayne T.Shoboiki,the Controller of Murtala Muhammed Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service,who by any matrix can be called an anti-smuggling czar,has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of blocking revenue leakage and ridding the country of contraband items, as smugglers are economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.

By: Grassroots Publishers

CBN revokes operating licence of Skye Bank Plc

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN on Friday said it has revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank Plc with immediate effect.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos.

Emefiele stated that Skye Bank would now be taken over by Polaris Bank, which would take over all the assets and liabilities of the defunct entity.

The CBN Governor said the decision had been reached following the inability of the owners of the bank to shore up the capital of the distressed bank which had earlier recieved a N350 billion intervention in July 2016.
“Skye Bank requires urgent recapitalization as it can no longer continue to live on borrowed times with indefinite liquidity support from the CBN.

“We have decided to establish a bridge bank, Polaris Bank, to asuume the assets and liabilities of Skye Bank.
“The strategy is for AMCON to capitalise the bridge bank and begin the process of sourcing investors to buy out AMCON.

“By this decision the licence of Skye Bank is hereby revoked,” he said. Also the management of the distressed Skye Bank would be retained to continue to manage the newly licenced Polaris Bank.

According to the CBN governor, given the good performance of the board and management, the CBN shall retain them.

Also, Emefiele said based on discussion with the Nigerian stock Exchnage, the shares of the distressed Skye Bank would be suspended from trading on the capital market until discussions are concluded.

The CBN Governor said, the bank took a regulatory action on Skye Bank Nigeria Plc on July 4, 2016,
Emefiele said specifically, the action led to the resignation of the Chairman, all Non-Executive Directors on the Board as well as the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director, and the two longest-serving Executive Directors on the Management Team.

The takeover of the bank by the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) the bridge bank, Polaris Bank will be getting a single digit interest long term facility of N786 billion from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

“At that time the proactive action was informed by unacceptable corporate governance lapses as well as the persistent failure of Skye Bank PLC to meet minimum thresholds in critical prudential and adequacy ratios, which culminated in the banks permanent presence at the CBN Lending Window.

“The focus of the action then was to save depositors funds and to ensure that the bank continued as a going concern, being a systemically important bank.

“Part of our intention was also to stem the imminent job losses to staff if a liquidation option had been adopted.
“These objectives have been fully achieved and the bank has been able to meet customer obligations, having curtailed the liquidity haemorrhage and restored depositor confidence.

“Indeed, the banks performance has improved considerably compared to the pre-July 2016 era.

“The result of our examinations and forensic audit of the bank has, however, have revealed that the Skye bank requires urgent recapitalisation as it can no longer continue to live on borrowed times with indefinite liquidity support from the CBN.

“The shareholders of the bank have been unable to recapitalize it.

He added that as a responsible and responsive regulator and in consultation with the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation(NDIC), the apex bank decided to establish a bridge bank, Polaris Bank, to assume the assets and liabilities of Skye bank.

According to him, the strategy is for the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to capitalize the Bridge Bank and begin the process of sourcing investors to buy out AMCON.

“By this decision, the licence of the defunct Skye Bank is hereby revoked.

“We wish to assure all depositors that under this arrangement, their deposits shall remain safe and that normal banking services shall continue in the new bank on Monday, 24th September, 2018, to enable customers to transact their businesses seamlessly.

Also, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim said the option of a bridge bank was to ensure that the depositors of the bank are taken care of and deposits are not lost.

Ibrahim said that the bridge bank would also ensure that there would be no job losses as Polaris Bank would retain all staff of the distressed bank under a new contract.

 

PDP Primary: Ugbomah Appeals to Ndokwa East Delegates to Think Development as They Cast Their Votes

Engr. Philip Ugbomah Chukwumah

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s 2019 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries draw near , delegates who had been selected to vote during the primary for the Ndokwa East State Constituency seat, have been called to think of the future development of the area before casting their votes.

Making this call, after he was successfully screened and certified by the party’s screening committee in Asaba on Friday, September 8, 2018, an assembly hopeful, Engr. Philip Ugbomah, said that the development of the area, which had been neglected over the years should be the reason to select who will bear the party’s ticket, and finally represent the people of Ndokwa east in the Delta State House of Assembly, in 2019.

Engr Ugbomah who was happy, and gave thanks to God for the achievements so far on the race to the House of Assembly, said the race is not for the swift, or for the mighty, but for those God shows mercy, as he reminded the delegates that everything from now is based on their judgement, and believed they will do the right thing to position Ndokwa east for the future.

“To my delegates, we believe in your judgement, we believe in your disposition, and we believe you know the best for Ndokwa East, we equally believe also that together as a team, you are among those who want to make an indelible mark, those that want to change the old narrative, that we all together, will come together to win for Ndokwa east, the do the work agenda.”

“This has identified the actual issues, the reality on ground, which had defined our place, as the oil city of our dream.”

Engr. Ugbomah further affirmed his commitment, and promise to the people of Ndokwa east never to disappoint their trust, as it’s possible to jointly bring development to the area, and for those who are seeking for job to get job, and for continuous human capital development of the area through training, to be independent, and for the girl child to be mentally, physically and economically prepared before going into her husband’s home.

He also promised the need for peoples representatives, to allow the leaders of the party to talk the politics, while those voted will do more to attract development to the people.

Speaking on the flood menace that had affected large area of the LGA, he sympathised with the victims, and said that the perennial flooding of the area will be one of his key agenda when he eventually wins.

Adenipekun has magically turned around WAEC Operations to technology-driven – Iweha-Onukwu

Mrs Frances Iweha-Onukwu
HOD, Test & Development Division

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]rs Frances Iweha-Onukwu needs no introduction as a Nigerian. She is not a stranger to West African Examination Council Nigeria. Her bonding with West African Examination Council Nigeria is akin to the umbilical relationship between a child and the mother right from the womb and last all through a lifetime. Her antecedents and achievements in West African Examination Council Nigeria  speaks volumes. She is a perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, and a perfect woman.

Since her assumption of office, the Test & Development Division has witnessed tremendous positive changes , She is someone who appreciates her purpose in life and still understand the components of that purpose. She is one woman who has stood out among the few who had more than a fleeting nation of her sojourn on earth. She is a rare breed who viewed life solely from the perspective of his God, and knew that life’s purpose can only be fulfilled when self-will is surrounded to Almighty. A very supportive, encouraging and inspiring fellow who always sets her mind on whatever she does passionately and quietly. She is a loving, kind-hearted woman and this shows in her dealings with all that come across her, including her fellow officers. One peculiarity of Frances Iweha-Onukwu is that she operates with synergy in her relationship with not only her staff but also people who comes around her. This amiable fellow is a woman who has been identified as being effective and efficient in carrying out her official duties. She is a crusader of integrity and peace who believes in efficiency and team work as well as zero tolerance for corruption. A due process woman who believes in discipline in order to achieve productivity,reads thus:

Can we meet you ?

My name is Frances Iweha-Onukwu from Imo State , but husband is from Asaba in Delta State. I am the Head of Test & Development Division, West African Examination Council, Nigeria. I have been working with this body for the past 29years.

How can you compare the WAEC of 29years ago and that of today?

Oh! A lot has been transformed; in terms of how well the job has been done, technology, capacity building, and so many others. Most operations of WAEC those days were manually done but now, a lot of technological advancement has been made. We have moved many steps ahead of how we were 29years ago.

Highlight some of your achievements in the Test & Development unit of WAEC, Nigeria?

Sincerely, the achievements we have made here have been collective, no doubt. I wouldn’t ascribe so much to myself as an individual but I want to tell you that we have done quite a lot in the area of capacity building; we have tried to encourage our staff, train them and get them exposed to best practices in Test Development. We have been able to send them outside and within the country to interact with their counterparts (knowledge sharing), build a lot of strength, courage and abilities in them. In terms of Test Development, we have imbibed a lot of technology in what we are doing. The generation of items and compilation of Test papers are still manually done because it is a very technical area; we are skeptical about how we jump into technology in those areas so that we don’t embarrass ourselves in the cause of doing that. But relatively, we have been able to achieve much including the printing of our Test papers. Again, we have developed software for our item banking even though it is still in progress. We are also working on electronic archiving of our documents, and so many other achievements done by the Olu Adenipekun led WAEC, Nigeria. Infact, we are trying to input technology in Test Development.

Briefly tell us how technology has assisted WAEC in curbing exam malpractices.

We wouldn’t say we have curbed exam malpractices but technology has helped us in many ways to put them on the spot. First, we have customized our question paper and answer booklets in such a way that there are features on it that are so peculiar to us. If there is a form of malpractice, those features would be a guide to identify where the papers are coming from; either from Nigeria or any of the member countries. We have also included some features that will enable us to identify the owners of those answer booklets if they are smuggled out of the exam hall, we have put some features that will tell us the exact state where that paper was smuggled out from, the candidate’s name, the centre and every other information we want to get about that candidate. We have some devices like Candidates Identity Verification, Attendance, Malpractice and Post Examinations Management System (CIVAMPEMS) for examination conduct to capture on the spot any forms of malpractices in centres, book them and they are transmitted to our server online. This is so because we have had many cases of where our Supervisors are being attacked, and Appendix 27 (where we record malpractice cases) destroyed. In so doing, we lose all information about candidates who are involved in exam malpractices. So that is the essence of going into technology because even though they have access to the CIVAMPEM device, the information has already been transmitted to our head office here. Also during marking, we try to capture the marks online. We scan and the marks recorded directly into our server. We also have a device to monitor and find out when a centre colluded in objective questions. So, those days of carrying OMR around are gone. We are recently working on marking our papers electronically; we are still on the pilot study because it is a major project and we can’t just dabble into it easily. We are trying to work on the texture of the answer booklet, scanner and its features to ensure we get everything right because on the long run, we are looking at marking our papers electronically. Yes, we may still be testing manually because of the nature of the country.  Nigerians don’t have so much awareness on electronic usage to be able to conduct such tests in the rural areas. One may say JAMB does CBT so why can’t WAEC conduct its exams electronically. But you should also remember that JAMB is urban-based unlike WAEC which conducts exams even in the remotest area in Nigeria. So you see that conducting electronic exams in such areas will be very difficult; even in the cities and urban areas power is a major challenge. We will still be conducting manually for now especially the essays and for the objectives maybe we will start with the private candidates’ exam which is mostly urban-based and then take it up from there.

The National Assembly accused WAEC of candidates’ failure in WAEC exam sometime ago. What is your take on that?

Of course it was obvious they didn’t have enough information about the nature of WAEC exams to ascribe that to us and it was good because other examining bodies were at that meeting too. So they actually spoke for WAEC that definitely the fact that the candidates are not doing well in exams generally is not something one would ascribe to WAEC. And again, statistics which we produced did not even show any woeful performance on the part of candidates because we brought the statistics on state basis for all the states of the federation and it was obvious that in all the states, he candidates were improving but there are some particular states which their candidates did not perform well but that cuts across all examining bodies in Nigeria and not WAEC alone. So, I think they were better information after we provided our statistics.

How do you describe the Head of National Office, Mr Olu Adenipekun?

My HNO like I have believed was God sent in the sense that we joined council the same day. We have always moved together but from the moment he indicated interest in becoming the HNO, I was convinced he will live up to expectation. Within a short stay in office, he has proved he was very well prepared for the job and from inception. He has been outstanding. He shows interest in every Division, Department, and Section. Sometimes I wonder if he sleeps because he is aware everything that happens in this council. He delegates sometimes but even as he delegates, he supervises, monitors and he is virtually always proactive. He has come with a lot of innovations and very encouraging too. I am very happy associating with his success because he is a father indeed. I must tell you I am so proud of his achievements.

There have been rumors on social media that WAEC examination questions are leaked. What can you say about this?

I like the question because there are a lot of misinformation ongoing even with all the awareness and sensitizations campaigns we have organized to educate the public, many of them seems to be impatient with the truth. WAEC papers have not been leaking. What we experience is a situation where exams commences; apparently in some centres with the connivers of some Supervisors or Invigilators they try to either bring in or send out answers to the candidates because the candidates are already with the question papers. So they have access to the papers, try to answer the questions and send them online. Why we don’t take that serious is because exams are already in progress, candidates are in the examination hall; they are not expected to come into the exam hall with phones and so are supposed to be searched properly. So if all these rules are kept, then there is no way they can send out the question papers. But again, it is those Supervisors out of greed would try to compromise. This does not worry us because majority of the candidates are already in the exam hall writing. Just recently, there was a situation whereby a subject Cost Accounting) written in a member country last year was published online on the day of Financial Accounting in Nigeria. So we still have a way of catching and punishing them accordingly.

Your legacy

I would like to be remembered as Head of Division who always ensured there was no compromise on excellence and perfection; that encourages and believes in team work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osinbajo, Okowa Visit IDP Camps In Delta

Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (2nd left); Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (3rd left); Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro (2nd right); Dr Chris Ngige (left) and Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, during the Vice President visit to Delta State, Over the Flooding incidents in the State.

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo  on Thursday visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps set up by the Delta State Government for flood victims. The Vice President was received to the state by Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who had earlier inspected the flood ravaged communities in the state.

Speaking during the visit, Osinbajo expressed satisfaction with the proactive measures taken by Governor Okowa’s administration to reduce the effect of the flood on the people who were at the impacted communities.

At one of the holding camps set up for the displaced persons in Asaba, Oshimili South local government area of the state, Prof. Osinbajo said, “I am very touched seeing these persons who are affected by flood, I know how disruptive it is for those who are affected.”

“I thank the Governor of Delta State for setting up this holding camp, the facilities are adequate, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the next 24 hours, will send relief materials to the state”.

Prof. Osimbanjo disclosed that following the effect of the flood, the Federal Government has designated Delta State as National Disaster Zone with three other states of the country.

The Vice President assured that the Federal Government will not only contribute to ensure the welfare of the flood victims while they are at the holding camps but, will work to properly resettle them in their communities after the flood must have receded.

Governor Okowa who accompanied the Vice President on visits, in a brief speech at the holding camp, thanked the Federal Government for their speedy response to the flood situation.

He observed that the state was bracing up for more impact of the flood as water in the affected states would pass through Delta State to empty into the Atlantic Ocean.

The governor thanked the displaced persons for embracing government programmes aimed at evacuating them to safety, stating, “though, we are aware that property, farm produce have been destroyed, our major concern is to save life.

We are aware that the coming days may be more challenging as the flood is expected to rise, but, our people are prepared to ensure that Deltans are not left at the impacted communities; we are praying that the flood recedes fast for our people to return to their normal life.”

Rotimi Amaechi Named As Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 Campaign Director General

Rotimi Amaechi
Minister of Transportation

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a campaign organization for his re-election in 2019 with Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Secretary/Director General. Reports have made the rounds that governor Okorocha of Imo state was in the front running to lead President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to victory in 2019. He made this known in an event attended by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, who had expressed his desire to work with the Imo governor rather than the former Rivers governor.

This was officially announced by Senior Special Assistant To President Buhari on Media, Garbage Shehu who wrote on his official twitter handle @GarShehu.

According to the report, Hon. Amaechi was the Director General of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Committee in 2014-2015 that won the elections and brought the current administration into office.

The new Director General will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by President Buhari.

Why I Dumped APC – Speaker Yakubu Dogara

Speaker Yakubu Dogara

[dropcap] H[/dropcap]on. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives  has finally explained why he dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (APC).

Dogara laid to rest speculations surrounding his defection to the PDP when he arrived at the opposition party’s headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, to submit his expression of interest and nominations forms alongside hundreds of his supporters who also defected from the APC to the PDP.

The speaker, while officially announcing his defection from the APC at the PDP headquarters, said “APC’s initial agenda of bringing positive change to Nigeria had been thwarted by the rebelliously wayward sense of entitlement of some people.

“For some of us who are here who are wondering, because it has been said that I cannot move from where I was to, perhaps, any other political party, that discussion has been ongoing, so today’s event marks the end of all speculations .

“To begin with, I was a founding member of this party, which is what a lot of people do not know. I worked with Professor Yohanna Madaki of blessed memory, as a junior counsel, and we helped to put together the first PDP Constitution. For anybody who doubts that, I have the rough working sheets with me today, I can produce it.

“Well, I do not want to be a prophet of lamentation. I am not known to be lamenting too much but everybody know where we are, particularly in Bauchi State, all the stakeholders are here. It will take someone who has lost his conscience to still support the order that is in the state. I was part of the people that built the APC in the state, I went round the state campaigning for the APC and I can tell you that we have not fulfilled a single promise that we made.

“Nationally, we all know what is happening. I will speak to that, maybe, in another occasion I will tell my story in a way devoid of sentiments, so that the people can clearly understand the reason why I am taking this decision that leads me to the PDP today, and I will certainly do that. But permit me to say that in the APC that we are leaving, they are not all devils, there are wonderful people in APC but they are equally some people who have what I will call a rebelliously wayward sense of entitlement and these really are the problems with the APC.

“When it serves their interests, they say the party is supreme, when it doesn’t serve their interest, they castigate the party, including the leadership of the party. These are people who are the lords of the family; they do what they will while others are required to do what they must and in such environment, really, I am disabled. We have a lot of bouncers in the party, these are the bouncers. For me, I knew that I was in a situation where I had a very seared conscience. Even when a lot of people were happy with me, but I can tell you that I would rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not. So, I have decided to come back to my original roots because the truth is that we went back to the APC, after the general elections, there was never an occasion in which we were not reminded that we do not belong. When there are discussions, you will hear reference to the fact that those who joined us from the PDP are our problems. So, that discussion will end as from today.

“So I have decided to join the brothers and sisters of this great party, the PDP, so that we can chart a new frontier in our state, Bauchi, and chart a new frontier for our dear nation, Nigeria. This, we will do, with courage, with commitment, with passion to build a Nigeria that works for all of us, all of us.

“That is the challenge that is before us. So, I am here, not because as others have said, they have denied me ticket to contest in APC. That is what they will say, but it is not true and I am really not bothered at this moment about contesting elections. What bothers me is the state of my state, the situation in which our people are and the state of this country and so, even if you give me a ticket to work in a situation where my conscience is not totally in alignment with, to be candid, I cannot function effectively.

“So, I am here with the nomination form, which is for those who said they will retire me from politics, to show that boldly that this is where I am. Those who said they will retire me from politics, I am waiting for them at the constituency and in case they do not know, it is Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa,” said Speaker.

In the company of Dogara were former FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Adamu Gumba, 20 Bauchi PDP LG chairmen, and hundreds of his supporters.

Pinnick wins NFF Election for second term

[dropcap] M[/dropcap]elvin Amaju Pinnick on Thursday defied all odds to break a longstanding jinx, in becoming the first man to be re-elected as President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In yesterday’s NFF executive committee election, which was widely preceded by threats of annulment by court rulings and apathy from the sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, Pinnick won 34 votes to beat three other contestants.

Flooding: Osinbajo storms Delta, Anambra

Vice President Osinbajo visits flood-ravaged Otuocha, Anambra

[dropcap]V[/dropcap]ice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has visited Delta and Anambra, where he assured of the Federal Government’s intervention in the flooding crises in the states.

Osinbajo also disclosed that the federal government is impressed with the facilities provided by the Delta State Government, at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp for flood victims at Ogbe-Afor Primary School, Asaba.

Addressing the over 700 flood victims, whose houses have been submerged in communities along the shores of the River Niger, yesterday, Osinbajo said he was “very touched seeing all of you who have been evacuated from your homes to this temporary place. It is very disruptive.

“And, I commend the state government for moving swiftly to provide this place. The facilities here are adequate. The clinic and the bed spaces are adequate. According to Prof. Osinbajo, 12 states are currently affected by flood, and that four of the states.

The Vice President who had earlier undertaken an aerial inspection of some of the impacted communities in Asaba in company with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, admitted that what was more difficult was the post flood management period which including resettling the victims.

He said the Federal Government will be working with the state government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that victims whose farmlands and other properties are submerged are paid adequate compensation to cushion the impact of the devastation.

“The Federal Government will be working with the state government to resettle the victims and ensure that people resume normal life as soon as the flood recedes. We stand with you to make sure that we are able to bring comfort to the victims,” Osinbajo assured.

Fielding questions from newsmen on how to prevent the re-occurrence of flooding in the future, the Vice President described flooding as an ecological challenge which, in most cases, cannot be prevented.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo was also in Anambra state where he pledged the federal government’s continued support in supplying food and relief materials to the victims of flood disaster in the state. Osinbajo who was accompanied by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja, was in the state to assess the level of devastation caused by the ravaging flood across the riverine communities.

He was received on arrival by Governor Willie Obiano and Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, visited some of the flooding areas including Umueze Anam, Anambra West local government.

“I flew over those disaster areas and I witnessed the rise especially in Onitsha, Ogbaru, Awka North, Coscharis farm and other places. We have directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to continue deploying relief materials to various IDP camps and some home settlements that have refused to evacuate from their homes,” Osinbajo said.

He lauded Obiano’s prompt response to the situation and pledged that government will partner the state government to ensure proper management of the resources.

APC Lagos Governorship ‘Crisis’: Buhari, Ambode meet behind closed door

President Buhari and Gov Ambode

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met behind closed door with Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The governor would be updating the president on latest political development within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.

The governor’s political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC in Lagos State were alleged to have mounted pressure on Ambode, to drop his second term bid.

Tinubu, who is alleged to have endorsed Ambode’s opponent within the APC, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had refused to back Ambode’s second term ambition despite pleas by concerned individuals and several socio-political groups from within and outside Lagos state.

It was gathered that governors under the platform of APC, who met on Wednesday night in Abuja, had on behalf of Ambode, sought the intervention of President Buhari in the APC crisis in Lagos state.

The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha, delivered the governors’ message to the president few minutes before his meeting with Ambode.

A source in the presidency said that the president might end the tussle between Ambode and the Mandate Group, led by the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The president may also meet with other APC stakeholders in Lagos state within the week as part of efforts toward resolving the rift.