[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network (GNPN) has dissolved its executives, following the expiration of their three-years tenure of office. Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network also setup a six-man caretaker committee to run the affairs of this great body till November 2018 when new executive members will be duly elected.
Comrade Leo Agodi, made this known in a communiqué, on Sunday, in Benin. Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network held its 2018 first quarter meeting in Benin,where important national issues were deliberated upon.
The Caretaker Committee has Comrade( Chief) D.O.D.Okirika,as National President,while Comrade Maduike Ifeoma is the National Vice President. Other members of the Committee are: Abiagom Ike, who is the Treasurer and Comrade Jude Chukwuah as Secretary. The remaining members of the Committee are: Comrade Oleyelogun Oki and Comrade Bassey A. Bassey.
According to the communiqué, the Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network commended their Former National President, Dr Dan Dike Awana,the Publisher of Frontline News and other former executives for exhibiting a great spirit of patriotism during their tenure and for taking this great body to a greater height.
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igeria’s most capitalised financial institution and leading tier one commercial bank- Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc recorded a pre-tax profit of N200 billion in 2017, inciting the leading group of the bank to prescribe appropriation of N79.5 billion as cash dividend to shareholders. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of GTB for the year ended December 31, 2017 released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that profit before tax rose by 21 per cent from N165.1 billion in 2016 to N200.2 billion in 2017. Profit after tax also increased from N132.28 billion in 2016 to N170.47 billion in 2017. Earnings per share improved to N6.03 in 2017 compared with N4.67 in 2016. Gross earnings had increased marginally from N414.6 billion in 2016 to N419.2 billion.
The balance sheet showed that the bank’s loan book dipped by 8.9 per cent from N1.59 trillion in 2016 to N1.449 trillion in 2017 while customer deposits increased by 3.8 per cent to N2.062 trillion in 2017 as against N1.986 trillion in 2016. Total assets and contingents grew by 3.9 per cent to N3.845 trillion in 2017 while shareholders’ funds increased to N625.2 billion.
The board of directors of the bank has recommended payment of a final dividend of N2.40 per share to shareholders, in addition to interim dividend of 30 kobo per share, bringing total dividend per share for 2017 N2.70 per share.
Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said the immediate past year was a pivotal year for the bank as it was able to deliver a strong result in a challenging environment.
According to him, the bank achieved record growth in earnings, carefully managed cost margins and leveraged its digital-first customer-centric strategy to deliver world-class services that are simple, cheap and easily accessible.
“The result demonstrates the fundamental strength of our franchise as well as the progress we are making in transforming our organization into a platform on which our customers could build their businesses, connect with their consumers and access all the resources that they need to make their lives better,” Agbaje said.
[dropcap] M[/dropcap]argaret Olivia Chaba,17-year-old girl from Edo has broken the record of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), scoring 330 points in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Olivia from Ogute, a community in parts of Edo north, is said to be leading in ongoing UTME with 19points, beating the record of one Aliyu Muhammad Sani Kaugama from Jigawa state who it was learnt scored 311 in the UTME.
In the post made by one Alexander Ajanaku on Edo Political Forum group on facebook, the poster expressed happiness that an indigene of Edo state has broken records, setting the internet and facebook ablaze with her grade in the ongoing UTME. Ajanaju wrote: “Olivia has made Edo proud. She just broke the record. Have you heard? One of our daughters, I mean our very own daughter from Ogute, Margaret Olivia Chaba, currently leads in the ongoing UTME exercise with 19 points, scored 330.
“She has broken the 311 record of one Aliyu Muhammad Sani Kaugama of Jigawa state.
“Aliu, as we learnt, has been given scholarship both by his state government and erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan to study overseas.“Olivia who is from Edo state wants to study medicine and should be encouraged by the Edo state government and other stakeholders in Okpella to help her fulfill her dream. All hail little Olivia.”
According to Ajanaku, born on July 1, 2001,Margaret Olivia Chaba hails from Okpella in Etsako east local government area of Edo state. She attended Adeolu nursery and primary school, Isonyin near Ijebu-Ode in Ogun state.
As at present, she is an SS3 student of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode. She sat for 2017/2018 WAEC/GCE (private). In the GCE, she scored English B3, Mathematics B3, Chemistry B2, Biology A1, Physics A1 and Further Mathematics A1.
So much congratulation have been poured on her with one Oviosu Elvis promising to assist her financially if she chose University of Benin to study her medicine.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he controversial sale of Delta Line, the flagship of Delta State in the transportation sector was one shrouded in political abracadabra. Delta Line with a massive goodwill and reputation built over the years, with over 100 terminals across the country and well over 1200 units of modern buses was sold for N160 million to God is Good Motors as against the sum of N2 billion offered by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
The concession agreement between the Delta State government, and God is Good Motors, on the state transport company, Delta Line Transport Company, has continued to generate controversy seven months after the deal.“Congress however implores the Delta State Government to explain the current situation of Delta Line Transport Company since it was concessioned to God Is Good Motors with a view to highlighting how much value has been added to the company.”The government had last year divested 60% equity to the private transport company in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that saw the government retaining 40 per cent.
Rising from the State Congress of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, a communique signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Secretary, Churchill Oyowe, dated 15th March, 2018 was issued urging the Okowa-led administration to explain the state of the Delta Line/God is Good concessioning to Deltans whose common patrimony has been allegedly bargained out to settle friends and political associates.
Gov. Okowa with the Chairman, God is Good Motors Limited, Mr Chidi Ajaere Tours Delta State Officials on controversial future Delta Line Bus in September 2017.
Chairman, God is Good Motors Limited, Mr Chidi Ajaere Tours Delta State Officials on controversial future Delta Line Bus in September 2017.The sooner the Okowa administration comes clean on the truth of the concessioning of Delta State, the better. Truth, like a live coal of fire cannot for long be hid in the pocket.
NUJ however commended the state government for taking re-awarding failed projects at the Asaba International Airport and the deplorable Maryam Babangida Way in Asaba (where the union’s secretariat under construction is located), to another contractor.
It also lauded the government “for its effort at finding lasting solution to the perennial flood in Asaba through the construction of deep drains and giving priority attention to construction/rehabilitation of major roads in Asaba capital territory.”
The union condemned in strong terms, alleged killings by herdsmen in parts of the state, and urged the state government “to synergize with relevant security agencies in the to urgently address” the ugly trend and forestall the situation from degenerating to full blown crisis.
It further condemned “the attitude of some security agents who willfully molest members of the NUJ in the course of performing their legitimate duty,” explaining that “just as the security agents are constitutionally empowered to do their job that is how journalists are also backed to carry out their assigned roles. Hence, both parties should see themselves as partners in progress and urged journalists practicing in the state to rededicate themselves to the ideals of the profession.
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has revealed that the state government is owing pensioners back log of arrears of over N50bn to N60bn.
The Governor who made the revelation on Friday during the ongoing town hall meeting at Bomadi and Ughelli said, “the problem we are having with the pension scheme is called past services. It is a huge amount of money. It runs into over N50 to N60 billion.”
He stated that in order to find solution to the payment of pension is to make money available on monthly basis, adding that they every month his government spend about N1.1 billion on pensions.
“ I don’t know of any state that is paying as much apart from one state,” he said
The Governor who was commended by leaders and stakeholders for the even spread of infrastructural developmental projects in the state reeled out projects executed by his administration in the areas, emphasising that apart from the provision of infrastructure, the wealth creation programmes of his administration have received national and international recognition because of its success stories.
According to him, a lot of youths who were unemployed prior to his emergence as Governor have become entrepreneurs through the wealth creation programmes that are currently receiving partnership with the United Nations.
He also, urged Deltans to key into the compulsory health insurance scheme of his administration, disclosing that it will save those who are in need of funds when they are ill the trauma of sourcing for funds.
Reacting to agitations for new kings in Bomadi, Governor Okowa urged communities seeking to have kings to follow due process and avoid heating up the polity with their agitations. asserting that “It is a long process to have a King, you must follow due process, it is not achievable through violence,”
The governor affirmed that the town hall meetings has afforded him the opportunity to see first hand the level of development in the state and the challenges facing the various areas, promising to utilise the 2018 and 2019 budgets to tackling the developmental needs facing the people.
Chairmen of Bomadi and Ughelli North local government areas, Hon. William Angadi and Hon. Godwin Adode respectively, including traditional rulers and representatives of different groups thanked Governor Okowa’s administration for the spread of projects across the state.
[dropcap] F[/dropcap]ormer governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, hinted yesterday that governors earn more than Senators,Obi, who was guest speaker at a dialogue organised by Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism in Lagos dropped the hint in his speech. He told the audience that if he revealed how much a Nigerian governor earns, the surprise would be far more than what trailed reports of the N13.5 million ‘running cost’ of senators.
“None of you knows what a governor or even a local government chairman earns. Quote me anywhere, if you know you won’t be here. It is something you can’t imagine. You just know the one of senators and you are shouting, but, what if you know that of the governors?
“America’s GDP is way above Nigeria’s but an American senator earns $174,000 (about N50 million) a year and you can imagine what his Nigerian counterpart earns in a month. “In America, governors earn according to their state. The governor of California is the highest paid in America and he earns $192, 000.
“The smallest state earns $70, 000. But, in Nigeria, I can tell you, because I’ve been there, the cost of just keeping convoys alone is in millions.
“And, when people ask me ‘why am I saying these things?’ I tell them that even if we made mistakes yesterday, can’t we correct it today?”
Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, on Saturday assured Nigerians that the era of fuel scarcity is gone for good. Receiving the Man of the Year Award from Nigeria NewsDirect newspaper, the NNPC GMD said that the corporation had learnt a great lesson during the recent fuel scarcity in the country.
“We have actualized the lessons learnt, part of which is to ensure that at any point in time, there should be sufficient products available for distribution across the country.
“Most of our PPMC depots in Ejigbo, Mosinmi, Ibadan and other parts of the nation have sufficient product for distribution now.
‘NNPC is discussing with security operatives to stop smuggling of petrol products across our borders.
“We are working along side with them to ensure safety of our pipelines because we still have some areas in which vandals still disrupt our pipelines,” he said.
Baru said he dedicated the Man of the Year award to all staff of the corporation.
Also speaking, Dr Diran Fawibe, Chairman, International Energy Services, urged NNPC to ensure that the nation’s refineries worked to its full capacity.
According to Fawibe, the oil and gas sector is a major sustainer of the nation’s economy.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, Publisher, Nigeria NewsDirect, said that the award was in recognition of the good work of distinguished Nigerians to the country’s growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other Nigerians that received awards include the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has told the Governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha that no man can stop him from becoming Governor of the state come 2019.He reassured Imo people that only God can stop him from becoming the next governor of the state.
Madumere who is aiming for Imo number one seat under the All Progressives Congress, APC, is facing a stiff challenge from Okorocha’s son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu.He spoke while addressing a section of leaders from the Local Government Areas in the state yesterday.He said, “I will pursue my gubernatorial ambition to a logical conclusion. I am in the race to serve Imo people of Imo State.“I have the requisite leadership qualities and vision to take the State to a greater height.”
Madumere said he is “a seasoned administrator with many years of experience in private and public sector”, adding that Imo people are highly enlightened and must be carried along in policy formulation and implementation.The Deputy Governor said his betrayal from those he managed and nurtured to lime light in politics was like that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He, however, vowed that no man born of a woman can stop his ambition.“I rely not in any man no matter how highly placed. I have taken my destiny in my hands. I have God and the people of Imo State.“God has always granted me the grace to carry on.
“I have no regret because it has made me even stronger in my bid to make the difference in changing the tide for the people.“Any development that does not trickle down to the masses is a misplaced priority,” he added
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd right); Secretary to State Government, Rt. Hon. Ovie Agas (left); newly posted AIG Zone 5, Rasheed Akintunde (2nd left) and Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, during a courtesy call on the Governor in Government House Asaba.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Executive Government of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called on security agencies to curb activities of herdsmen in parts of the state before it snowballs into crisis.The Governor made the call Friday, March 16, 2018 when the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, Mr Rasheed Akintunde paid him a courtesy visit at Asaba.
“There is a particular community in Delta State, at a point in time, we discussed it at security council meeting and just yesterday (Thursday, 15/03/18) while I was in Ughelli North for my regular Town Hall meeting, the people raised a very serious issue about the Uwheru community, it is a very pathetic situation, because the President-General of the community spoke on the fact that out of their seven communities, three of them are actually occupied by the herdsmen and the farmers are told that they must pay the herdsmen before they can enter their farms and that is very disturbing because it is strange for indigenes to pay money before they can enter their farms and I believe something has to be done before it evolves into a crisis situation,” the Governor said.
He continued, “this has been going on for several years but it has gotten worse of recent, so, AIG, this situation has to be addressed immediately as security issue.” The Governor told his guest that his administration is concerned about the security of life and property of every Deltan and their communities, stressing the Police and other security agencies must strive to protect the different communities in
the state.
Governor Okowa lauded the synergy between security agencies in the state which has ensured a peaceful state that has become home for investors. “As a people, we know that the more peaceful we are, the more investors will come into the state and in the course of this year, we will witness a lot of ground breaking ceremony as investors are coming to the state in their large numbers,” the Governor disclosed, asserting, “we are doing a lot to provide infrastructure, we are doing a lot to engage our youths, the more youths we engage, the less idle minds we will have in the state.”
Governor Okowa assured the AIG that his administration will continue to support security agencies in state, saying, “Delta State is largely peaceful, we take matters of security serious, there is a lot of collaborations between different security agencies in Delta State and beyond the collaborations, we take the issue of information gathering serious as we nip security challenges in the bud, we also, have state advisory and peace building council which is made up of experienced men and women of impeccable character, they also, help to maintain peace in the state.”
The AIG had told the Governor that he was on a familiarisation tour of Police formations in the state, observing, “your administration has rendered uncountable support to the Police Command in different areas, your support has greatly, enhanced the performance of the Command and we want to thank you and assure you that the Police will ensure an all time peace in the state.”
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]uspected Fulani herdsmen have killed five persons including a first-year student of the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo in the state.The AAU student identified as Collins Ojierakhi, and four others were allegedly killed by herdsmen in Ugboha, Esan South East Local and Odiguete Ovia North East local government areas of the state respectively. Besides, twelve persons are presently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the Central Hospital Benin while other private hospitals as a result of the deadly attack by the herdsmen.
The incident at Ugboha happened on Friday night at about 7:30pm when the dead student in the company of his friends were on their way back to the village from Uromi. Narrating the sad incident to newsmen yesterday, father of the deceased, Mr Festus Ojierakhi, said: “I am just confused. I was actually in the house eating at about 8pm and I started asking about my son who was not there. I was told he went to Uromi with his friends on a motorcycle. “It was around 9pm that the mother of my son’s friend started shouting, crying that herdsmen have killed her son. I rushed out of the house and I asked about my own son. I was told he died too with his friend.
He explained that, “We immediately detailed boys and ran to the place. When we got there we were told that the police have come to take the corpses to Ubiaja mortuary. I was told my son and two others including the friend died. They said the other person that died is an Igbo person.”
“The information we heard was that as my son was driving home with his Okada, the herdsmen and their cattle blocked the road and they waited for them to leave the road. Immediately they passed, some of their people in the bush opened fire on my son and his friends and they died at the spot.”
“I have been to the Area Commander office and they said they are investigating the matter. I don’t know what to do. This is a young boy that just entered university, he stated. At Odiguete community in Ovia North East, it was learnt that the herdsmen invaded the community yesterday, shooting sporadically and in the process killed two persons. It was gathered that the community and the herdsmen have been having running battle in the area for sometime now.
However, some of the wounded persons were brought to the Benin Central hospital yesterday while the two dead persons were said to have been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary. When contacted, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Johnson Kokumo could not answer his phone. He was said to be in a meeting while the Public Relations officer of the Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was attending an event therefore cannot comment on the matter.
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