10 PDP Bigwigs Who Collected Illegal Funds from Jonathan - THE NATION

According to a report from The Nation, some former and serving members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have to refund the money shared to them under the last dispensation for the purpose of seeking re-election.

Such PDP stalwarts include:

Bode George, (N100m /$30,000)
Yerima Abdullahi; (N100m /$30,000)
Peter Odili; (N100m /$30,000)
Attahiru Bafarawa; (N100m /$30,000)
Jim Nwobodo; (N100m /$30,000)
Ahmadu Ali, (N100m /$30,000)
Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi (N100m /$30,000)
Bello Sarkin Yaki (N200m); 
Tony Anenih (N260m); 
Iyorchia Ayu’s company ( N345m)

Others are: 
BAM Properties(N300m); 
Dalhatu Investment Limited(N1.5billion);

Gani Adams, OPC Leader Reacts to the Clamour For Biafra State

The National President of the Oodua People’s Congress, Chief Gani Adams, has reacted that the Federal Government must hold talks with the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra and others agitating for Biafra for peace to reign.

According to Adams, it is only through dialogue that the agitators can be made to drop the idea of a Biafra state; as the use of force is incapable of guaranteeing the unity of the country.

The OPC leader spoke about the agitation and the clash between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Osogbo after he was honoured as a culture ambassador by the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondents Chapel, Osun State.

He said, “I will just say that they (Biafra agitators) are entitled to their own self-determination. Look, there is a law in Africa that recognises right to self-determination. Also, there is a law in United Nations that recognises right to self-determination. There is a country in the United Nations that has a population of not up to 50,000 and their flag is at the United Nations.

Adams condemned the killing of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria by soldiers in Zaria.


- PUNCH

APC Is Engaging In Political Terrorism In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom - PDP

National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of engaging in political terrorism in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, just as it stressed that the action portends great danger to the nation’s democracy as well as capable of threatening the peace and stability in these states and the South-South.

In a statement by the Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP noted that what was going on in the two states and others controlled by the PDP was a script acted in line with the statement of the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that the ruling party would capture all the states in the South-South.

 Secondus said, “The recent comments credited to Chief John Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), conveying the desperation of his party and the Presidency to forcefully take over PDP states in the South-South is, to say the least, unfortunate and disappointing.

“Chief Oyegun’s boast, while reacting to the bizarre ruling of the Court of Appeal judgment on Rivers State governorship petition wherein he stated: “I am more confident of winning Akwa-Ibom than any other state in the South-South…we are going to win; that is almost a certainty”, is not only careless but also smacks of impunity and arrogance that have characterized the APC.
http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/

How to Link Your BVN With Your Bank Accounts Online

Nigeria - The Central Bank of Nigeria has mandated all bank customers to get a Bank Verification Number (BVN) for smoother banking experience in the country. Failing to get a BVN has grave consequences. Here's a compilation of how to link your BVN number to your bank accounts. GTBank Option 1: Visit any GTBank ATM and follow these steps: – Insert your GTBank card in ATM and input your four digit PIN – Select “BVN Linking” option – Enter your 11-digit BVN number and select “Proceed” – The ATM will display the BVN number and request you to validate – Once the BVN number is validated as correct, select “Proceed” – Insert your PIN to validate and submit Option 2: If you have internet access GTBank BVN portal would enable customers provide their BVN for linking to their existing GTBank account.To link your BVN, kindly do the following:- Go to http://www.gtbank.com/bvnlinking – Input your GTBank NUBAN – Select a Bank where your BVN was issued – Input the BVN number obtained from another Bank, then click on submit First Bank Option 1: If you have internet access Go to https://bvn.firstbanknigeria.com/form/ Fill the form and submit Option 2: Text BVN#account number#BVNCode to 08076664444 e.g BVN#1010101010#22147733260 Wait for few minutes, you would receive a text message stating your BVN has been successfully submitted for processing. NOTE: The text message isn’t free, text message charges implies with your network Access Bank Simply text BVN, leave a space your account number and BVN number to 20121 For example BVN 0170216788 22193486908 to 20121. Or you can link your BVN on their website here . Diamond Bank Simply link your diamond bank account with your BVN number below: Send your BVN details via email to enquiries@diamondbank.com Or send your BVN number and account no as SMS to 30811 Call our 24hour contact center on 07003000000 Zenith Bank Simply update your BVN via your iBank profile Or call ZenithDirect on +23412787000, 2927000, 4647000 Or mail your BVN number and account no to zenithdirect@zenithbank.com Ecobank Simply dial *326*9# on your ecobank phone number you registered to receive alert and follow the instruction prompts to input your BVN number. United Bank for Africa (UBA) Simply dial *919*6# on the mobile number linked to your account and follow the prompts Fidelity Bank Simply send your account details, BVN, Mobile number, date/bank of enrolment and date of birth via mail to true.serve@fidelitybank.ng Or call 080034335489 for update. Or login to the internet banking portal and click on the “no BVN” link. First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Simply send your BVN number and account no to customerservice@fcmb.com Skye Bank Simply send your BVN and account details to yescenter@skyebankng.com Sterling Bank: Simply send your BVN and account details to customercare@sterlingbankng.com Standard Chartered Bank Simply send Name, Account Number, Local Government Area (LGA), Sate of Origin and BVN, via any of the following options: 24-Hour Contact Center: call +234 1 270 4611-4 Online Banking: log on to your Online Banking and send a mail by clicking on the “Contact us” button Send a mail to Callcentre.Nigeria@sc.com Union Bank Simply link your Union Bank account with your BVN number via union bank website using account linkage tool here Stanbic IBTC Visit stanbicibtc bank website and fill the BVN update form Here or Text “BVN’’ then your BVN Number (e.g. BVN 12345678901) to 30909 by SMS Keystone Bank You can easily link your keystone bank account with your BVN number, Click here to go to Keystone Bank’s BVN linker Heritage Bank Simply link your heritage bank account with your BVN number, Click here to go to Heritage Bank’s BVN linker.

Why Fuel Scarcity Will Not Go Away Soon In Nigeria

Why Fuel Scarcity Will Not Go Away Soon In Nigeria Nigerians are unlikely to see any respite from fuel scarcity, despite the National Assembly’s approval more than N590 billion for fuel subsidy payments and the release last week of the initial N408 billion by the Ministry of Finance and Debt Management Office. ========∞=================∞========== Nigerians are unlikely to see any respite from fuel scarcity, despite the National Assembly’s approval more than N590 billion for fuel subsidy payments and the release last week of the initial N408 billion by the Ministry of Finance and Debt Management Office. The Debt Management Office issued sovereign debt notes to fuel marketers, and the Central Bank of Nigeria redeemed the notes, with all marketers’ accounts credited. Even so, most marketers are reportedly unable to increase fuel imports or even import at all due to non-availability of US dollars to pay for such purchases. Part of the problem is the convoluted process for fuel imports. First, thePetroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) issues allocation letters to various marketers to import fuel. Thereafter, marketers apply to the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to issue import permits based on the pricing agency’s approval. This step often takes as much as two weeks. Fuel marketers then contact foreign oil traders and refineries for fuel supplies. Once suppliers and the marketers agree on prices, the supplier issues pro forma invoices. The marketers open Form “M” which they submit to their various local banks. The local banks then seek the CBN’s approval to open letters of credit, a process that takes about seven days. Once the approval is obtained, the local bank opens a letter of credit and seeks a foreign bank to add confirmation to the letter of credit. The foreign/ confirming bank in effect grants a loan to the Nigerian bank. Usually, the expectation is that the loan would be repaid within a period of 60 to 90 days after shipment and presentation of documents showing shipment and delivery. SaharaReporters learnt that many fuel marketers had opened letters of credit and even provided naira to local banks, but many of the local banks have been unable to access dollars from the CBN to enable them to clear past due obligations under letters of credit already granted. Owing to a series of defaults, many foreign banks have been reluctant to handle Nigerian banks’ letters of credit. An executive at one of Nigeria’s major commercial banks disclosed that some of the bank’s letters of credit issued in March have yet to be paid till date. He added that, with rapidly falling oil prices, Nigerian banks would not have sufficient dollars to meet past and present obligations. Nigeria’s external reserves currently stand around $30 billion, with total forex requirement by the fuel marketers around $1billion. To worsen matters, fuel marketers have been compelled to pay the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in dollars, even though the Federal Government has barred the spending of dollars within Nigeria. CBN officials disclosed say the bank was not offering dollars indiscriminately because some fuel marketers were reselling dollars obtained at official rates in the parallel market at huge profits. The CBN sells dollars to banks at N199. One fuel importer alleged that, instead of offering the foreign currency to them, banks were selling dollars in the black market for N270-280.

ECOWAS BUILDING ECOWAS Presents Biometric IDs, Awards Founding Fathers

 By Chikelu Chinelo
Marking the achievements of the Economic Community of West African States since its inception 40 years ago, Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, presented to the Authority of the Heads of State and Government, specimens of the new ECOWAS Biometric ID Cards scheduled for launch on January 1, 2016. Ouedraogosaid the region recorded another significant political integration with the biometric cards. While announcing that the distribution of the card will commence on the 1st of January, 2016, he emphasized that “It is the responsibility of each member state to issue the ECOWAS Biometric ID Cards to it citizens”. He said that the single biometric identity card replaces residential permit, and abolishes the use of visas to encourage free movement of people in the region. “With the single identity card you can travel all throughout the region”, Ouedraogo enthused.

Alongside other landmark achievements to enhance regional integration, Ouedraogo listed the commission’s success with the Customs Union through the establishment of Common External Tariff, the adoption of ECOWAS passport, and the establishment of the Community Parliament and Court of Justice. As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, ECOWAS conferred honorary awards and plaques to four founding fathers of the organization. Receiving plaques were Former Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, His Eminence, The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the sole civilian awardee Koffi G.G. Djondo. President of the Republic of Togo, Faure EssozimnaGnassingbe received the honorary award plaque in place of his father, the late former President of Togo, General Gnassingbe Eyadema.

ECOWAS BUILDING ECOWAS Presents Biometric IDs, Awards Founding Fathers

 By Chikelu Chinelo
Marking the achievements of the Economic Community of West African States since its inception 40 years ago, Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, presented to the Authority of the Heads of State and Government, specimens of the new ECOWAS Biometric ID Cards scheduled for launch on January 1, 2016. Ouedraogosaid the region recorded another significant political integration with the biometric cards. While announcing that the distribution of the card will commence on the 1st of January, 2016, he emphasized that “It is the responsibility of each member state to issue the ECOWAS Biometric ID Cards to it citizens”. He said that the single biometric identity card replaces residential permit, and abolishes the use of visas to encourage free movement of people in the region. “With the single identity card you can travel all throughout the region”, Ouedraogo enthused.

Alongside other landmark achievements to enhance regional integration, Ouedraogo listed the commission’s success with the Customs Union through the establishment of Common External Tariff, the adoption of ECOWAS passport, and the establishment of the Community Parliament and Court of Justice. As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, ECOWAS conferred honorary awards and plaques to four founding fathers of the organization. Receiving plaques were Former Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, His Eminence, The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the sole civilian awardee Koffi G.G. Djondo. President of the Republic of Togo, Faure EssozimnaGnassingbe received the honorary award plaque in place of his father, the late former President of Togo, General Gnassingbe Eyadema.