#Buharimetre! Millions of Nigerians Became Jobless Under Buhari - Bureau of Statistics

In a new quarter report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has confirmed that Nigeria is in its worst economic recession in 29 years which also revealed the amount of unemployment witnesses in the Buhari era.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the total number of Nigerians who became unemployed within the first and second quarter of 2016 now stands at 2.6 million.

 

According to the bureau, about 1.46 million Nigerians became unemployed in the third quarter of 2015, while another 518,102 became unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

This brings the total freshly unemployed persons in the economy to a record high of 4,580,602, since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May 2015.

 

In its second quarter unemployment and underemployment report released on Wednesday, NBS said the country’s unemployment rate grew from 12.1 percent in the first quarter of 2016 to a record high of 13.3 percent in the second.

 

 

“During the reference period, the number of unemployed in the labour force increased by 1,158,700 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 13.3% in Q2 2016 from 12.1 in Q1 2016, 10.4% in Q4 2015 from 9.9% in Q3 2015 and from 8.2% in Q2 2015,” NBS said.

“In view of this, there were a total of 26.06 million persons in the Nigerian labour force in Q2 2016, that were either unemployed or underemployed compared to compared to 24.5 million in Q1 2016 and 22.6 million in Q4 2015.”

 

The economically active population or working age population (persons within ages 15- 64) increased from 106million in Q1 2016 to 106.69 million in Q2 2016, the report added.

 

 

Underemployment in the economy was also on the rise, with 15.4 million Nigerians said to be underemployed.

 

“The number of underemployed in the labour force (those working but doing menial jobs not commensurate with their qualifications or those not engaged in full-time work and merely working for few hours) increased by 392,390 or 2.61%, resulting in an increase in the underemployment rate to 19.3 % (15.4million persons) in Q2 2016 from 19.1% (15,02 million persons) in Q1 2016, 18.7% (14.42 million persons) in Q4 2015, from 17.4% (13.2 million persons) in Q3 2015 and 18.3% (13.5 million persons) in Q2 2015.”

 

There were a total of 26.06 million persons in the Nigerian labour force in Q2 2016, that were either unemployed or underemployed compared to compared to 24.5 million in Q1 2016 and 22.6 million in Q4 2015.

 

Sources: TheCable News / Nigerian Bureau of Statistics

Tori News

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg Visits Lagos (with photos)

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg has arrived in Nigeria and is currently visiting a technology and cyber hub in Lagos. 

Multi-billionaire enterprenuer and the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has arrived in Nigeria for a business research trip. 

 

According to a press release from his company: "Zuckerberg is in Nigeria to listen and learn and take ideas back to California on how Facebook can better support tech development and entrepreneurship across Africa."

 

Upon his arrival in the country, the tech boss first visited a technology hub in Lagos called CC Hub as Facebook says it's the technology entrepreneur's first visit to the African continent.

 

 

 

BBC reported that he flew in from Italy where, among other things, he met Pope Francis and spoke about the"importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access", according to Zuckerberg's Facebook page.

 

See more photos below;

 

Tori News

3INVEST PRESENTS AFRICA'S BIGGEST REAL ESTATE EVENT

Returning to the city of Lagos with its Fifth edition, 3 Invest Limited has announced the commencement of Real Estate Unite 2016, the real estate event that unites leading stakeholders and Global investors in Africa's property market.


Themed 'filling the G.A.P.S', the two day event which is scheduled to hold on the 6th and 7th of October 2016 at the prestigious Eko Convention Center Lagos, will host some of world's biggest brands in the property market across Africa. The annual conference, exhibition and recognition dinner, aims to create a viable platform to harness potentials in the real estate sector.


The event will offer attendees networking opportunities with over 40 global Investors and full participation in its world conference where the future of real estate in Nigeria, Africa and the world will be viewed from a localized perspective. Participants can also showcase on-going or developed projects and capitalize on global industry innovation, technologies and trends.


Some of the highlights of the event this year is the Exhibition set to attract representatives from real estate related vendors and resources; Education sessions and panel discussions with industry thought leaders and key influencers; Special programs for Women in Real Estate; Networking Events and for the first time ever a Recognition Awards for outstanding talent in the industry. Real Estate Unite has a strong reputation for bringing together top experts from leadership and management thinkers to industry specialist in various sectors such as development, banking, marketing, manufacturing, law, interior design, hospitality, Foreign and Institutional Investors and more. To satisfy the investment market and Real Estate appetite, some Key note speakers expected at the event are Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Planning, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Dr Chii Akporji, Minister, Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) Prof. Charles Inyangete and more.


According to Babatunde Fashola (SAN) - "3invest and its leadership requires good commendation for uniting the real estate industry".


Speaking on its fifth edition, Spokesperson for the summit Ruth Obih has stated that the summit is geared towards offering direct access to the most active local and international Africa-focused real estate and infrastructure development participants in the world. 


In 2016, Real Estate Unite seeks to explore how the Government and Private sector could each play vital roles in further boosting Africa's real estate sector, thus offering affordable and competitive housing to citizens and enterprises at all levels. This event will provide a rare opportunity to meet the who's who of the industry.


ABOUT REAL ESTATE UNITE 
Real estate unite is an annual real estate summit whose primary objective to unite players in the real estate sectors whilst opening up the immeasurable potentials in Sub-Sahara's real estate sector for
sustainable growth. The Real Estate Unite advisory board is an independent body made up of professionals from different sectors chaired by Peter Bankole, Jumoke Akinwunmi, Akin Olawore, Sonnie Ayere, Kunle Omotola and Ruth Obih. 

For more information on Real Estate Unite please visit 
www.realestateunite.com

Join the conversations on our social media handles by following
Twitter: @3Invest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3investGroup/
Instagram: @3Invest

For all Press Related Matters please contact Mrs. Precious Idaewor at precious.idaewor@invicta-africa.com
For Sponsorship or Speaking Opportunities please contact Kelechi on 08099991803 

Links: 
------
www.realestateunite.com 

Former PDP Chair, Ogbulafor hails Appeal Court's judgment on Gov Ikpeazu reinstatement

Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has hailed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which reversed the sack Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Ogbulafor told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) in Umuahia on Saturday that the Appeal judgment, ``to me, is great, simply and fantastic’’.

He said that the judgment, which set aside the June 27 judgment of Justice Okon Abang sacking Ikpeazu from office ``has restored the integrity of the judiciary’’.

``It reaffirmed the common adage that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man," he said.

He said that many Nigerians and PDP members were alarmed by the verdict of Abang.

Ogbulafor, who is an advocate of power shift to Abia south senatorial district in the 2015 polls, faulted Abang's judgment.

According to him, ``a sound judgment should have many tripods’’ upon which it could stand, such as ``fairness, unity of the people, equity and justice’’.

He argued that the judgment that sacked Ikpeazu, who was elected in the spirit of ``equity, fairness, justice and continued unity among the people’’, did not consider the tripods.

Ogbulafor also decried the speed with which the Independent National Electoral Commission issued the Certificate of Return to Dr Uche Ogah.

He said, ``and to worsen the case, INEC gave a certificate of return to somebody who did not contest the primary, without waiting for the mandatory 21days for Ikpeazu to appeal the judgment’’.

He said that the series of suits challenging the election of the governor since his assumption of office had distracted him from providing the dividend of democracy to the people.

Ogbulafor said that the PDP committee set up to reconcile aggrieved aspirants back to the party after the primaries made entreaties to all the aspirants, including Ogah.

As the chairman of the reconciliation committee, he regretted that the advice to some of the aggrieved persons did not yield the desired result.

``I even used myself as an example, when I told them how I contested the governorship election twice and lost.

``And when my bishop and other prominent Abia indigenes came to me to withdraw my suit challenging the election of Chief Orji Kalu, I did so without collecting a dime.

``I remained calm and God later elevated me to become a minister and national chairman of PDP," he said, pointing out that ``power comes from God’’.

Ogbulafor, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, expressed the confidence that the party would get over the current leadership crisis at the national level before 2019.

He appealed to the warring factions to sheath their sword in the interest of the party and vision of its founding fathers.

Tori NEWS

8 fishermen kidnapped by sea pirates in Akwa Ibom

Eight fishermen in Akwa Ibom have been allegedly kidnapped by Sea Pirates on Friday, August 19, 2016.

Chief Williams Mkpah, the Transitional Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area has said that sea pirates kidnapped eight fishermen fishing in Akwa Ibom.

Mkpah confirmed the kidnap in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.

According to him, Ibeno is prone to sea piracy activities.

He said that ``two nights ago six fishermen were kidnapped on Thursday night, Aug. 18 and two on Friday morning, Aug. 19 in the creeks of Ibeno and its environs.

``As I am speaking sea pirates is intensifying in the Ibeno community and they want to ensure that that they stop fishermen from going to sea for fishing,’’ he said.

Mkpah said that the sea pirates were demanding for millions of naira as ransom from the fishermen before releasing them.

He explained that the fishermen were made to pay levies by the sea pirates before they go for fishing in the area.

He alleged that ``they have informant in our communities, who will inform them of the take off of a particular fisherman and possible routes where they are going for fishing.

``One of them was caught in Eket in the process of coming to collect ransom for somebody, one of the Ibeno boys made us to track him.

``And he has made useful statement to the police but as I speak now I don’t know what the Police Command in Uyo is doing about it.

``Since the suspect was caught, the issue of sea pirates increased seriously and they are now demanding for their man.

``Since we don’t want to release their man, they have now resorted to kidnapping of every fishermen,’’ Mkpah said.

Mkpah called on the security operatives to be more proactive in combating sea piracy in the state.

``In a very short while we will declare hunger strike in this community because when we can no longer go to sea, we will all be starving.

``If the security in this state cannot rise to the challenge of the people of Ibeno and salvage us from this menace, Ibeno people will die of hunger,’’ he said.

He said that he has officially written to security operatives in the state but no response.

``I have reporter the matter to DSS, Police, Navy and state government and they are all aware and I have sent reports but no response yet,’’ Mkpah said.

Reacting, the Public Relation Officer of the Police Command in Akwa Ibom, ASP. Cordelia Nwawe, said that they were not aware of the kidnap of the eight fishermen in Ibeno.

``They should make an official reports to the Akwa Ibom Command for proper investigations. They should official tell the police, so I don’t have the reports and I can’t comment on it,’’ Nwawe said.

Pulse Ng

APC is truncating democracy – Prof. Gana

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC of truncating the‎ growth of Democracy in the country.

Those who spoke with newsmen decried the blockade of Sharks stadium, the initial venue of the national Convention.

Chairman of the PDP reconciliation committee, Professor Jerry Gana, said it is unfortunate that the incumbent Federal government is meddling into the affairs of the opposition party.

Professor Gana said the PDP will not be deterred by the role of the Police in today’s activity, adding that the party will come out stronger.

“It is unfortunate that the government of the day is so afraid of the PDP that they connived with law enforcement agencies to stop our convention but we are very determined politicians. We are moving on. The PDP will certainly mobilize and ‎make sure we win the election in Edo next month and also in Ondo and then move on to take over the government in 2019.


“What happened in terms of stopping us is not a good sign for democracy and we want to plead with the government of the day ‎that nobody should do anything to truncate this democracy,” Gana said.

On their part, some candidates at the convention including a former Governorship candidate, PDP, in Lagos state, Jimi Agbaje, George Turner among others said Nigeria’s nascent democracy was heading for destruction.

According to Agbaje, “When PDP was in power, we did everything to sustain democracy, but it is obvious that today, those people in power do not want democracy to thrive. But we shall overcome.”

 

 

Daily Post 

 

 

Dream Team Bans Sports Minister, Dalung from Rio Camp

The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung is in trouble again as the U-23 team has asked him not to come near their camp again. 

Controversial Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung has been given a stern warning by the U-23 football team to the Olympics not to come near their camp.

 

According to ThisDay, some key players of the team aiming to go pass Germany Wednesday in one of the semi finals of the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 have begged not to be distracted by officials of Team Nigeria.

 

Specifically, they insisted that they don’t want the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, and his delegation anywhere near their dressing room before and during the match to avoid unnecessary distractions.

 

“We are set for the semi final clash with Germany. We have perfected our game plan to qualify for the final and win the gold medal for Nigeria like our 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games colleagues,” hinted one of the top players on Monday night.

 

This is coming after the Minister apologized over the shameful manner his ministry treated the team during their training tour of Atlanta, USA.

 

The player insisted that it was difficult for them to forget the scandalous scenario before achieving the feat of reaching the semi final.

 

Nigerian will play Germany in one of the semi finals of the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 after defeating Denmark in the quarterfinals match.

 

 

Tori News 

Nnamdi Kanu Disowns MEND and Avengers

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who has been languishing in Kuje prisons, has said that he has no ties with MEND and the Niger Delta Avengers. 

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who is one of Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has disclosed that he has no ties with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

 

Recall that the militant groups had given the release of Kanu, who has been in Kuje prison in Abuja since 2015, as one of the conditions for the return of peace in the Niger Delta region.

 

But the legal practitioner, Ejiofor, said his client has no relationship with any militant group, hence MEND could not have represented him in any negotiation with the government.

 

“In the past few days, the media was awash with news of negotiation going on between the federal government and members of MEND, where our client’s name (Nnamdi kanu) conspicuously featured.

“It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public that Nnamdi kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any form of relationship with the members of MEND.

“As such MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation, going on between MEND and the federal government. The general public is accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the falsehood being peddled by MEND.

“Nnamdi Kanu does not know them. However, Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to a political solution in resolving the present politically-orchestrated ordeal. Nnamdi Kanu welcomes genuine political solution to this case,” he said.

 

Reacting to the federal government’s decision on Thursday to release some members of the group who were arrested in February, Kanu’s lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the Amoebi Nzelu, said they were not opposed to talks with the government.

 

“Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal.

 

“He welcomes genuine political solution to this case. Nnamdi Kanu has people of proven integrity and impeccable character that will negotiate on his behalf, based on his demands when communication on this effect is established.”

 

While responding to a question on whether Kanu would abandon his campaign for an independent state of Biafra in exchange for freedom, Ameobi Nzelu, another lawyer, said that his client would not jettison the agitation even if he was released.

 

“It is not easy to drop an ideology. IPOB is bigger than Nnamdi Kanu. Self-determination is as a result of marginalisation,” he said.

Tori NEWS

Former President Jonathan, Others Linked to Niger Delta Militancy Sponsorship

A split faction of the Niger Delta Avengers has shockingly exposed names and identify of alleged sponsors of the militant group.

A group that recently split from Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militant organization that has claimed responsibility for bombing numerous oil facilities, has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan was the grand patron of the NDA, Sahara Reporters reports

In a statement issued today by Cynthia Whyte, an alias for a male spokesman, the splinter group also named several former and serving governors as sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. Those named as “sponsors” included Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa.

Mr. Whyte also identified Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, ex-militant turned contractor, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of African Independent Television (AIT), the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Kingsley Kuku, Kimi Angozi, and Patrick Akpobolokemi as other sponsors.

The splinter group, which renamed itself Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), had recently declared its opposition to NDA’s destruction of oil infrastructure in the region, warning that it would disclose the names of individuals and groups backing the militant group.

Mr. Whyte’s statement revealed that the NDA’s sympathizers included Edwin K. Clark, Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah, Ms. Annkio Briggs, and Olisa Metuh, a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers named Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua Macaiver, Paul Bebenimibo and others as the main operatives of the NDA, adding that Udengs Eradiri, the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), also known as Brigadier General Murdoch Agbinibo, serve as the NDA’s chief spokesman.

Following the release of the list, a source close to former President Jonathan told SaharaReporters that there was “no iota of truth to the claim that former President Goodluck Jonathan has a hand in the violence in the Niger Delta.”

The source, who asked not to be identified, said he was in touch with Mr. Jonathan, adding that the former president was considering issuing a formal statement to dismiss the claims made by Mr. Whyte.

“If former President Jonathan wanted chaos in Nigeria and the Niger Delta, he would have refused to concede the election to General Buhari and the APC,” the source said.

Tori NEWS

Travelling President: President Buhari Set to Jet Out for Chad on Monday

Nigeria's number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel out of the country to Chad soon. 

President Buhari will jet out of Abuja for N’Djamena in Chad on Monday.

 

He will be jetting out to attend the inauguration of the Chadian President, Idriss Deby.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

 

The statement said President Buhari would be joining other Heads of State and Government for the ceremony.

 

It added that the President would be accompanied on the one-day trip by Abdullahi Ganduje and Kashim Shettima, governors of Kano and Borno states respectively.

 

According to the statement, the President’s delegation will also include Senator Baba Kaka Garba; Tahir Monguno; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

 

“The President will return to Abuja after the inauguration,’’ the statement said.

 

It will be recalled that President Deby won the presidential election in his country in April.

Tori NEWS

Bad Economy: 1,005 Pensioners Die in Kwara State

Several pensioners have been confirmed dead in what will come across as really tragic situation.

Stakeholder in the Kwara State Local Government Pensioners Association have decried the death of pensioners due to unpaid salaries, describing the trend as sad and unacceptable.

 

According to Daily Post, the stakeholders who spoke through the Chairman of the association, Mr. lsiaka Akanbi, said no fewer than 1,005 of its members had died since April 2015.

 

Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital on Saturday, the chairman urged relevant authorities to urgently effect the payment of pension arrears to senior citizens.

 

Akanbi said the victims, who cut across the 16 Local Government Councils of the state, died as a result of their inability to get adequate health care attention.

 

“Among them were the state factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Sunday Fagbemi; a former PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Sunday Babalola; and the President, Afonja Descendants Union, Mr. Olola Kasum. No fewer than 3,000 of the pensioners were unable to buy drugs for their ailments.

“We have suffered unprecedented discrimination since Ahmed came to power in the state. We are senior citizens and deserve fair treatment. The number of our members who have died is the greatest in comparison with any other sector in the state,” the Chairman said, pleading with the state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, to come to their aid by ensuring the payment of their pension arrears.

 

On his part, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, said the governor was saddened by the plight of the local government pensioners.

 

While calling on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to intervene and assist the local governments to pay the arrears in order to curtail the spate of untimely deaths in the state, Akorede blamed the drop in Federation Account allocations for the non-payment of pensions.

 

He added that the state government was considering strategies to assist them within its available resources.

Tori NEWS

700 APC Members Defect to PDP in Edo State

The ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State has suffered a huge setback as the September gubernatorial election draws closer. 

No fewer than 700 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state on Wednesday, August 3.

Friday Ighodaro, an APC leader in Ovia, led the defectors who were from various communities in Ovia North East, The Nation reports.

Other leaders of the APC who defected with their supporters were Stephen Osagie, Ifeanyi Okolie, Iredia Samuel and Peter Igbinedion.

They announced their defection at a campaign rally of the PDP which held at Okada, hometown of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

According to Ighodaro, they defected because the APC “is a one-party”. Also speaking, Osagie said the defectors from Ulakpa community decided to quit the APC because the road leading to their community was graded by the lawmaker representing Ovia federal constituency, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion.

Addressing the people, Omosede said her father, Chief Igbinedion turned Okada village into a town and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the PDP, will turn it into a city.

She urged the people to show the ‘short man’ (referring to Governor Adams Oshiomhole) that he failed them through the ballot papers.

Son his part, the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, accused Governor Oshiomhole of spending N90m monthly to maintain water fountain at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square in Benin City at a time residence lacked water to drink.

At the campaign rally to show support for Pastor Ize-Iyamu, were seven PDP members in the House of Representatives.

They were minority leader, Leo Ogor, Hon Uzoma Abumka, Hon Ladi Adekoto, Hon Sambo Garuba, Hon Oghene Ego and Hon Tunji Soyinka.


Tori NEWS

Wahala as Naira Exchanges for N400 Against Dollar for First Time

The Nigerian Naira has continued on its shambolic run as it depreciates to an all time low plunging many into more difficulty. 

The naira has broken a 43-year record as it tumbles woefully exchanging at N400 to a dollar on Thursday at the parallel market.

 

Earlier today, the naira exchanged at N390 to a dollar after it had exchanged N382 to a dollar on Wednesday. The naira has continued to depreciate over 91 percent at the parallel market in the past one year.

 

Over the period of one year, the naira has seen a number of policy changes and plunge in oil prices, the mainstay of the economy, causing a summersault for the 42-year-old currency.

 

The naira, which was introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on January 1,1973, fell to a 42-year low on December 11, 2015, trading at 260 to the greenback on the parallel market.

 

Since then, the local currency has been on a free fall, sinking to 400 against the dollar on Thursday.

 

In an interview with TheCable, Baba Ibrahim, a bureau de change (BDC) operator, said the local currency has been taking a downward swing on the black market, in the nation’s capital.

 

Ibrahim disclosed that the naira was selling at 505 to the British pound, while the Euro went for N415. In Lagos, a single dollar was trading as high as 400, while the British pound is going for 510.

 

The CBN quote for the official side of the market stood at N310, N414 and N347 to the dollar, pound and Euro respectively.

Tori NEWS