FG okays N10.7bn for 10 rice mills

—-N68.6 bn for roads projects

 —-N840.817m for trauma center in Owerri

 —-Establishes traditional medicine dept to tackle malaria

 —-Says no agreement with JOHESU

– THE Federal Government yesterday approved the establishment of ten rice mills in the six geopolitical zones at the cost of N10.7 billion. Government also approved the establishment of department for traditional medicine in the Federal Ministry of Health with the sole aim of finding ways to use traditional medicine to tackle the scourge of malaria in the country. 

This is as the government has also said that there was no previous agreement between the Federal Government and striking health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Workers Union, JOHESU but that efforts were on top gear to settle all the demands of the workers. 

Breaking: $496 withdrawal for Tucano Aircraft: Senate probes Buhari over withdrawal

                                                              SUPER TUCANO
                            
                                           ......As Saraki Saves Buhari from Impeachment Move 

 THE Senate has begun moves to probe President Muhammadu Buhari for paying a whopping sum of $496 million to the United State Government for the purchase of Tucano Aircraft without approval by the National Assembly. 

The Senate described the action as a total breach of the Constitution especially section 80 where the procedure for that was not followed by the Executive arm of government, just as some Senators described the action of the President as an impeachable one. 

The Billionaires, the world's richest 2018

        Jeff Bezos of Amazon, ranks #1 on the list as the richest person on planet earth.

Capitalism’s global conquest continues as entrepreneurs around the globe mint fortunes in everything from cryptocurrencies to telecom to bridal dresses. Forbes has pinned down a record 2,208 billionaires from 72 countries and territories including the first ever from Hungary and Zimbabwe. 

This elite group is worth $9.1 trillion, up 18% since last year. Their average net worth is a record $4.1 billion. Americans lead the way with a record 585 billionaires, followed by mainland China with 373. Centi-billionaire Jeff Bezos secures the list’s top spot for the first time, becoming the only person to appear in the Forbes ranks with a 12-figure fortune. Bezos’s fortune leapt more than $39 billion, the list’s biggest one-year gain ever. 

Day 2 of Mark Zuckerberg confessional testimony = watch video

Video: https://www.facebook.com/camanpour/videos/10160340329835370/

Watching members of Congress question Mark Zuckerberg is "sort of like watching your grand-dad try to fix a VCR," Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie tells me.

Mark Zuckerberg testified on Facebook use of consumer data = watch video

 Video: https://www.facebook.com/camanpour/videos/10160340483925370/

"Mark Zuckerberg was asked, for example, does your product track people when they're logged out? He said no. The answer is yes," says Zeynep Tufekci, professor at the University of North Carolina.

Verdi strike: Lufthansa makes alternative arrangement for Nigerian passengers

German carrier, Lufthansa Airline, says it has made alternative plans to airlift its Nigerian passengers out of the Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja international airports as the industrial action called by Verdi Union in Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne and Bremen airports commences from the early hours of yesterday.

The Verdi trade union strike would see the shut- down of ground handling services, the support services and also part of the airport fire brigade staff embarking on an industrial action for improved salaries and other remuneration. On Monday night, scores of passengers who were not duly informed on the status of their flights were left stranded at the Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports as the airline had gone ahead to cancel flights emanating from Nigeria at about 8.30pm.

Richest people in Nigeria and their worth

Richest people in Nigeria emerged from Forbes list of Africa’s richest people and with no surprise our very own Aliko Dangote is at the top of the list. Nigeria also beats South Africa for the first time since the inception of Forbes Richest people in Africa by claiming 13 spots on the list while South Africa has claims to 11 spots.

Richest people in Nigeria – Nigeria produced two new comers to the list of Africa’s richest Orji Uzor Kalu and Tony Elumelu and three new billionaires: Theophilus Danjuma, Uzor Kalu and Tony Elumelu.

2.7m EU users affected by data privacy scandal, Facebook says

Facebook says up to 2.7 million Facebook users in the European Union have been affected by the data privacy scandal, a spokesman for the European Commission said on Friday. 

“Facebook confirmed to us that the data of overall up to 2.7 million … people in the EU may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica,” said Christian Wigand, a commission spokesman. 

On Wednesday, Facebook admitted that it had “improperly shared” the personal data of 87 million Facebook users, an increase of more than 30 million from previous estimates, with the British data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica. 

The firm used the information, without users’ consent, to support the campaign for Britain’s exit from the European Union, as well as the 2016 election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Read more from source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/2-7m-eu-users-affected-data-privacy-scandal-facebook-says/ 

Naira depreciates to 360.45/$, I&E turnover surges by 236%

The naira yesterday depreciated by 30 kobo to N360.45 per dollar, in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window, even as the window recorded 236 percent upsurge in its turnover. 

 Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) showed that the indicative exchange rate for the I&E window rose to N360.45 per dollar yesterday, from N360.15 per dollar on Wednesday, translating to a 30 kobo loss in the value of naira.

 This depreciation was in spite of the 236 percent increase in the volume of dollars traded in the I&E window yesterday. The window recorded turnover recorded of $572.1 million, an upsurge from $170.21 million on Wednesday.

Read more at source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/naira-depreciates-360-45-ie-turnover-surges-236/ 

ICT has overtaken oil and gas in job creation – Atiku

Mr Samuel Atiku, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to adequately exploit the potential of ICT to develop the youth and create more employment. 

Atiku, Head of Research, BudgiT, said in Lagos that the government could include youth-driven, ICT-based programmes in its economic diversification agenda. BudgiT is a civic startup that liberates budgets and public data from an inactive state into a more engaging format, mostly through infographics and interactive application with the aim of improving civic discussions and institutional reform. Atiku said: “In Nigeria, about 75 per cent of the population is below the age of 40. 

“It is not out of place for the government to have agenda to train about 10 million youths to become software developers within two years. “We are yet to take full advantage of the possibilities of an ICT-driven education in Nigeria. “In the U.S., for instance, there is a labour plan to train about three million people to become software developers.’’ Atiku noted that ICT sector cut into education, publishing, broadcasting, newspapering and others. “Information communication and technology is bigger than it looks. “According to research, the universality of ICT has made it an indispensable media for transacting every aspect of human and material resources in the world. 

APC Governors Close Ranks with Buhari, Ditch Oyegun, Exco

R-L: Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) after the meeting of five APC governors with the President at the State House on Wednesday

• Party prepares for congresses, convention, NEC to meet Monday

Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

After a flurry of meetings spanning over 24 hours, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Wednesday finally caved in to President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the tenure elongation approved for the elected and appointed executives of the party at all levels, and resolved to go ahead with congresses and a convention for the election of new party executives

Following the resolution reached by various stakeholders of the party on the tenure elongation, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as well as executives at the state and local government levels will be expected to step down on June 13.

Buhari approves release of $1bn for security equipment

…Fund meant for President’s re-election –Fayose

President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the release of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.

This is even as he has ordered efforts to be intensified to secure the safe release of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl still being held by Boko Haram because she refused to renounce Christianity.

Governors from Nigeria’s 36 states had in December 2017 approved the withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) by the Federal Government to be used in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east.

But the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, had distanced himself from the request and subsequently dragged the Federal Government to court over the matter.

Kalu establishes N100m endowment chair in UI

…Visits Olubadan, rallies support for Buhari

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu,  has established N100 million endowment chair in the University of Ibadan, to help brilliant students of the institution settle down to businesses of their choice; after graduation.

Kalu made this known when he visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka,  in his office, as part of his Peace Advocacy Visit to the South West, which kicked off last weekend, in Lagos, which saw him and his entourage in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Tuesday.

The former governor, who established the chair through his foundation, Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation (OUKF), explained that four best graduating students from the institution would be endowed with N250,000 each, beginning from the next convocation in November.