TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigeria

  • 58 Nigerian companies among fastest growing in Africa – LSEG

    58 Nigerian companies among fastest growing in Africa – LSEG

    The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) on Friday launched a report that listed 58 Nigerian companies among the fastest growing private businesses in Africa.

    The report published on the LSEG website-www.lseg.com in London identified 343 companies in 42 African countries.

    It described the Nigerian companies, including small business concerns that made the list, as the most exciting and promising.

    According to the report, the 58 companies demonstrated the success of Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy.

    The report declared: ‘Industry is the biggest sector to be represented in Nigeria, with 17 companies featuring on the list.

    “This is closely followed by consumer services, where 11 providers have been selected, demonstrating the success of Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy.’’

    Prominent among the companies listed by the report are Beloxxi Industries Limited, biscuit producers of popular brand Beloxxi Cream Crackers.

    Also on the list are Interswitch, an electronic payment processer, Channels Television, Arik Air, FAN Milk International and CHAMS

    Others are Mouka Limited, mattress manufacturers, and Sigma Pensions.

    The report also listed online marketing concerns such as JUMIA, KONGA and St Nicholas Hospital in the health sector.

    It quoted LSE International Development Secretary, Priti Patel as saying: “LSE’s first-ever ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ report is proof of the dynamism and vision of the City of London in supporting Africa’s growing economies.

    “Now is the time for UK businesses to seize the opportunities offered by Africa, and the UK Government is supporting the City of London to become the global financial centre for the developing world.

    “This will help Africa industrialise faster, trade more and create millions of jobs, driving the continent forward to a future of prosperity and helping some of the world’s poorest countries stand on their own two feet.”

    Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive, LSEG said: “… For the first time ever, we have identified hundreds of Africa’s most inspirational and dynamic private companies.

    “The report demonstrates the huge role that small and medium size enterprises are playing as the driving force behind African economies: developing skills, creating high quality jobs and delivering growth.

    “London Stock Exchange has made it a mission for over 300 years to support access to growth capital for small and large companies in all parts of the world.”

    LSEG, according to Rolet, is proud to play its part in this great economic journey by shining a light on Africa’s success stories.

     

    NAN

     

  • Nigeria hosts Africa as AAMA beckons

    -Association of Africa Maritime Administrations meet in Abuja.

    -IMO Secretary General, Kitack Lim to lead International Stakeholders

    In a bid to continue to improve on its role as a global player in the comity of maritime nations, Nigeria would be hosting the third Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA Conference) in Abuja, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, from 19th -21st of April,2017.

    The meeting which will be hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in conjunction with International Maritime Organization (IMO) according to the Director General NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, will bring together all the major Maritime Administrators and leading stakeholders in Africa to discuss various issues and ways of improving the maritime sector in the continent.

    Thirty two countries from all parts of Africa are expected to participate at the continental conference and a number of maritime stakeholder organizations around the world. The IMO delegation of five will be led by Mr. Kitack Lim the Secretary General of IMO which is a United Nations specialized agency that regulates shipping globally.

    The Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) was formed following the signing of the African Transport and Maritime Charter in 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the aim of the association is to promote the Development of Africa’s maritime regulatory and maritime environment.

    Dr. Peterside disclosed that “the hosting of this conference in Nigeria is in line with the economic diversification agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, and the repositioning agenda of the present Management to make Nigerian maritime industry a leading light in Africa and the global maritime sector”.

    He noted that it will open a new vista of opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths, as well as unlock the potentials inherent in the maritime sector. This is just as the conference could serve as a platform towards Nigeria’s re-election into the IMO Council seat later in November this year.

    AAMA, which brings together all players in the African maritime sector, is also an umbrella body of five African Maritime Stakeholders’ groups namely: Association of Maritime Administrations of Africa, Africa’s Ship Registry Forum, African Ship Owners Association as well as Africa Shippers’ Council and Seafarers’ Forum.

    The NIMASA Director General stated further that “the benefits of hosting the conference cannot be over emphasized, it will equally avail stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry an opportunity to rub minds with their counterparts across Africa and the globe, and further chart a way forward for the African maritime sector. It will effectively signal the arrival of the country in the global maritime arena as a respectable global voice”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that this would be the third AAMA Conference as the inaugural and the second conferences were held in Mombasa, Kenya in 2012 and South-Africa in 2013 respectively. It should be noted that the 3rd edition which Nigeria is now hosting was earlier scheduled to hold in the country in 2014 but was called off.

  • Amnesty International taking sides with terrorists in Nigeria – Army

    The Nigerian Army has said Amnesty International (AI) is taking sides with terrorists and other belligerent groups to cause internal disorder in the country.

    The army therefore warned the AI from meddling into security issues henceforth in the country.

    The military body gave the warning in a press statement signed by the acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Amnesty International had few days ago accused the Nigerian Military of killing 150 pro Biafra agitators in the South-East.

    AI claimed the Military and other security agencies embarked on arbitrary arrest and extra-judicial execution of people in the South East.

    The statement reads in part: “Activities of the AI in our nation have shown that it never meant well for Nigeria and the situation is getting clearer to national and international communities what AI is up to. This could be corroborated by inherent lopsidedness in the AI’s portrayal of Nigeria, its involvement in local politics and taking sides with terrorists and other belligerent groups to cause internal disorder, which no country can tolerate,” the statement read.

    “The military has maintained open door policy and has been cooperating with all stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerian Armed Forces remains one of the best and a proud institution for all Nigerians.

    “For AI to be making spurious allegations, especially without substantiated and cogent reason, apart from those adduced by the organisation for the reason best known to it and its collaborators, is disturbing and unethical of an international organisation that is supposed to steer clear of local politics and to be seen as maintaining neutrality in its reportage of the countries where it operates,” it further read.

    Speaking further, Abubakar claimed that the AI had only succeeded in giving an insight “to the possibility of the organisation sponsoring various criminal gangs in our country with a view to achieving the sponsor’s intent.”

    It described AI as an agent of destabilisation, masquerading as a reputable international NGO and urged Nigerians “to rise up to this daunting challenge of not giving AI the chance to truncate our hard earned democracy and unity.”

  • OPEC Sec-Gen, Barkindo arrives Nigeria on 4-day visit

     

    The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Mohammad Barkindo has arrived in Nigeria on Sunday to begin a four-day working visit.

    Barkindo, who is also in the country for the 16th Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOG), will be meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of State Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu, among other stakeholders, to discuss market dynamics in the sector.

    In an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said the fallout of Barkindo’s visit will be felt in the sector for a long time.

    “Yes, it is a big event that will affect our markets positively. He is leading an eight-man delegation and his advance team arrived earlier and will talk on the oil and gas market outlook.

    “”I believe whatever policies put in place here will be strictly adhered to and give our economy the needed boost. I’m excited. It’s a big event,” Ughamadu said.

    At an earlier news briefing, Ughamadu said Kachikwu would give a keynote address on Repositioning the Oil and Gas Sector’ while the NNPC’s Group Manaiging Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru would speak on “`Commercialising the NNPC”.

    The conference, which is organised by the CWC Consulting, begins on Feb. 27 and ends on March 2.

    More than 6,000 delegates, 250 exhibitors, from over 20 countries, many oil and gas experts and hundreds of government representatives from different countries are expected at the conference.

     

    NAN

  • When will people learn?

    Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Failed followership begets failed leadership. Certainly Nigeria’s present socio-economic and political calamities have their root cause in failed followership.

    And the evidence of political followership failure in Nigeria is the inability of the people to learn from their political history. Democracy, we are told, is a learning process. But it appears that we are not even interested in learning the lessons of democracy in Nigeria.

    Agreed, Nigerian democracy is comparatively a young democracy. Democracy has not really been tested in Nigeria. In any case, it is not rosy anywhere. The so-called advanced democracies are still battling for survival.

    But it is expected that by now the people of Nigeria should have been able to differentiate sense from nonsense. Outsiders are unhappy that Nigerians are now accustomed to tolerating all sorts of nonsense from their political leaders.

    Last month, a young friend of mine, a First Class Degree holder in Civil Engineering for that matter, attended a job interview in Toronto, Canada.

    When he sat down for the interview, the interviewer took a studied look at him, perused through his curriculum vitae and said to him: “with all these qualifications, why can’t you go back and fix Nigeria”.

    Thereafter the job interviewer told him that foreigners are scandalized that amid Nigeria’s abundant human resources a few Nigerian political leaders are destroying Nigeria and getting away with it.

    Interview over but before my friend could get up and leave, the interviewer asked him; “How is your President?” Is he now fit enough to rule the country, or, is his case like the case of your former President Yar…remind me of his name ? “Umaru Yar’ Adua?”. “Yes, Yar Adua”.’’.

    Realizing that the Canadian was conversant with t Nigerian political history, my friend opened up and said to him: “I am tired of Nigeria. For example, you mentioned former President Umaru Yar’ Adua.

    Do you know that during his political campaign it was disclosed that he was suffering from a fatal illness?. But the disclosure was dismissed as a non-issue. But just a few months after he was sworn in as President the man’s illness could no longer allow him to perform his duties as President.

    Consequently he was flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Throughout the man’s one month stay in Saudi Arabia some Nigerian politicians and government officials claimed that they went to Saudi Arabia and saw him hale and hearty. Others used his name to tell lies.

    On many occasions they lied to Nigerians at home that the man was performing his presidential functions from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia.

    They alleged that he signed the Supplementary budget; that he spoke to the BBC and so forth. The rest is history. Similarly President Mohammadu Buhari’s ailment came to light during the last presidential campaign.

    But it was dismissed as a non-issue. Now the ailment is not allowing him to perform his duties as President. Presently he is receiving medical treatment in London. Before now, he had been frequenting many hospitals abroad.

    In the last three and half weeks or so, his ailment has been the subject matter of public discussion in Nigeria. Some politicians claim that they went to London and saw him hale and hearty. Meanwhile there is high unemployment rate in Nigeria.

    There is constant electricity failure. The Nigerian currency keeps taking a plunge and losing value. There is hunger and frustration in Nigeria”

    The above conversation between the Nigeria job seeker and the Canadian elicits serious thoughts and serious questions. The Nigerian political tragedy is that the same people with the same outdated thoughts and ideas are being re-cycled in political power in Nigeria.

    I gather that a new mega political party that will replace the APC is due for launch in March this year with Abubakar Atiku standing by as its Presidential candidate and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as its power broker and godfather.

    Which means that we are still turning round and round. No progress. Serves us right. A time was when political candidate late Gani Fawehinmi presented himself for an election in Nigeria but the Nigerian people rejected him saying “Gani cannot be a good President”.

    Prof Pat Utomi has equally presented himself several times for election but most Nigerian voters said that he did not have the “political platform” to be elected President. You may ask, what is this much-vaunted “political platform”?

    Look at President Donald Trump, a first-time comer to American politics. Yet the Americans massively voted for him at the last American Presidential election. He won. He is now the President of America.

    When will the Nigerian people learn? You will recall that prior to the last Presidential election, immediate former President of Nigeria Good luck Ebele Jonathan warned Nigerians to refrain from voting for a presidential candidate who would make life unbearable for them. Unfortunately that Jonathan warning died down unheeded.

    Today we are paying the price of our lack of discernment. We are suffering. The living condition of the average Nigerian especially his or her health condition has worsened in the last two years.

    Nigeria occupies the unenviable position of 187 out of the 190 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Ranking Systems. Only Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Myanmar are trailing behind Nigeria. We are full of regrets now. We wish we had listened to Jonathan.

    But we must be optimistic. All is not lost. We can still win. But before we can win, the people must first and foremost affirm their identity as the sovereigns in our constitutional democracy. Representative democracy simply means government with consent derived from the governed.

    This consent flows from the radical equality and equal rights of all men. If we are all equal it means that no power thirsty politician has a right to rule without the consent of the governed. The American founding fathers put it aptly when they stated that “Governments are instituted among men deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed”.

    By voluntarily entrusting to a few elected people with the responsibility of governing their affairs, the people have not relinquished their power. Power belongs to God but the people are the repository of that power.

  • Xenophobia: Attacks on Nigerians in South-Africa is saddening – diplomat

    Amb. Bukun-Olu Onemola, Nigeria’s former Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has condemned the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    He described the attacks as “unfortunate and uncalled for.’’

    Onemola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, that he was glad that the South African government had intervened and was investigating the matter.

    “The renewed attacks on Nigerians are most unfortunate especially as their host South African communities have accused them of being illegal immigrants and responsible for the rise in crime.

    “Not all Nigerians there are undocumented, and there are many Nigerians and other foreign nationals there who have legitimate businesses and have contributed to the South African economy.

    “It is wrong to assume that they are all illegal immigrants; I am happy that the South African government is intervening and promise to investigate the matter.

    “The South African government has promised to take actions by investigating this case and arresting the perpetrators in this incident.

    “However, when this investigation is concluded, I think it will be right to have the Nigerians who were unfairly attacked to ask for compensation from the South African government,’’he said.

    Onemola stressed the need for the Nigerian and South African governments to develop the habit of contacting each other and exchange visits to volatile areas that host their nationals.

    “I don’t know the level of development in these communities that the attacks occurred, but the government should take measures to protect the lives and property of foreigners in these communities.

    “Just like in Nigeria and various countries, any community where there is low level of development, enlightenment and engagement, such crisis have the potential of occurring,”he added.

    The former envoy noted that such disputes within and between African countries had negative effects on the development and reputation of the African continent as a whole.

    He said: “My immediate appeal is that South Africa should do all within its reach to stop the unfortunate incidents as it doesn’t portray a good image of South Africa within and beyond Africa.

    “I see this as distraction between the two countries because this could hinder the two countries from pursuing collaborative endeavours that will promote both socio-economic and political developments in Africa.

    “The issue of attacking, deceiving, undermining or blackmailing each other and destroying property will not be beneficial to the citizens of both countries and for Africa.

    “The government should discourage such actions that can put both parties in such sad situations because such acts prevent growth and development.

    “Africa still remains in a very poor state so Nigeria and South Africa should be the arrow heads to lift the continent out of the situation we find ourselves in.

    “Both counties have to develop their regions using the abundant natural resources available in both countries and respect each other so that we can trust each other and integrate our regions which will develop Africa.

    “We have to bear in mind that these domestic and internal crises and attacks would affect our reputation and how we are treated by nationals of other countries because the international community would be watching.

    “As Nigerians we can’t allow ourselves to be called corrupt and disorderly through our actions and expect to get respect in the international community.

    “We have to develop ourselves and ensure that we abide by laws wherever we find ourselves because if we stick by this, nobody will disrespect us and call us corrupt.

    “We can’t keep saying to ourselves that Nigeria is a corrupt country and expect those words not to have a role in how we are viewed and treated by foreign nationals and international bodies.

    “Although, I don’t think that we need any international body to get involved as a third party in settling this matter at this stage and hopefully it won’t come to that.

    “I believe this can be resolved between the two parties by the foreign ministers of both countries or even the permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs of both countries.

    “I am sure a good discussion between them would go a long way in solving whatever the underlining problem is.

    “The last attacks were in 2015 and it has happened again two years after so a dialogue and a constant reminder of these actions is needed.

    “This doesn’t just apply to Nigeria and South Africa, but between various African countries in order to promote peace, unity and development in Africa.”

     

    NAN

  • Chris Rock to storm Nigeria in June?

    Nigerian comic act, Basketmouth hinted at bringing renowned American comedian, Chris Rock to perform in Lagos June 2017. The Lord of the Ribs convener took to his Instagram page to make the announcement.

    According to him:”If Chris Rock was coming to Lagos in June 2017… would you pay N10,000 for a regular ticket?”

    Fans and entertainment pundits are speculating that Basketmouth has plans to bring the revered comedian to Nigeria.

    Check out his post below

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ3t_PRgQPD/?taken-by=basketmouth

     

     

  • Stop calling Nigeria ‘Naija’ – NOA warns

     

    In an attempt to preserve the country’s name originally for generations unborn, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Garba Abari, has appealed to Nigerians to stop referring to Nigeria as ‘Naija.’

    The DG stated this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, stressing that making the country’s name funky, was not in its best interest.

    Abari warned the individuals, corporate organisation and the media especially not to follow the trend but to help correct it for the sake of the children and generations unborn who might think that ‘Naija’ is the original name instead of Nigeria.

    In Abari’s words: “We try in all our advocacy visits to insist that Nigeria must be referred to as Nigeria and not Naija.

    “So, our schools have a role to play in this; the media itself has also got a very fundamental role to play because it is the media that helps in the propagation of this kind of misnomer.

    “All of us, as individuals, as corporate organisations, as media, whether broadcast, print or online, must wake up to the reality.

    “That the more we use these misnomers referring to our country, the fallout of it is that, a significant percentage of our younger ones will not even remember that Nigeria is the original name of our country.

    “I want to appeal to all Nigerians, young and old to always refer to our country as Nigeria,” he said.

    Abari also urged parents to discourage their children and wards from using the name `Naija’.

     

  • I will be Vice, President of Nigeria soon – Fayose declares

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has said he will soon emerge as Vice President and subsequently as President of Nigeria.

    Fayose revealed this on Monday during a live interview on African Independent Television, AIT.

    In his words: “It is not by power. It is destiny. I did not believe it when I became Ekiti governor after eight years of leaving office.

    “I will be the vice president of Nigeria, even the President very soon.”

    The governor also took time out to criticize the recently installed chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff.

    Speaking further, the Governor criticized the embattled national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff.

    “He is a general without an army. If democracy is about people and party politics is about people, tell Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to bring out the people behind him.

    “You will see all the senators at our own meetings, who are those behind Sheriff?

    “When holding a press conference, they will use camera to control them like this, just about three of them,” Fayose said.

  • Corruption has gripped Nigeria too deep – Jerry Rawlings

    Former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings has said rather than blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the hardship currently faced in the country, Nigerians should blame the depth and extent to which corruption has gripped the country.

    Rawlings made this known over the weekend during a courtesy call on him by a group of actors from Nigeria.

    According to a report by Daily Post, the former Ghanaian president said politicians no longer have respect for religious institutions as they are made to swear by the Bible and Quran during inaugurations but still go ahead to massively loot their countries dry.

    In his words: “It is unfortunate that the cost of living in Nigeria appears to be suffocating the people.

    “So while some are praying for his health, unfortunately, some are praying he wouldn’t come back.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is currently on a medication vacation in London, United Kingdom.

    The former Ghanaian leader reiterated that it was necessary that citizens demonstrate high patriotic spirits by supporting their leaders whenever they confront challenges.

    He said: “Rather than blame Buhari, we should be blaming the extent and depth to which corruption had gripped Nigeria.

    “But I guess you need a creative team that would know how to resolve the economic situation of the country without possibly undermining the cost of living of the people.

    “People are getting away with massive corruption because they are not compelled to conform to traditional religious authority.

    “We swear by the Bible and the Koran and lie but dare not with our local traditional deities.

    “We are destroying the fabric of our society. This is not good enough. People are distorting historical truths all the time.

    “When you find yourselves at the centre of human endeavours like I have, truth must be sacrosanct,” Rawlings added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Rawlings became president of Ghana in 1982, and was twice re-elected. He has since served as African Union envoy to Somalia.