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Business

How Goodluck Jonathan, Wike, Dokpesi, others allegedly formed Niger Delta Avengers

Published

8 years ago

August 11, 2016

Sahara Weekly

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THE Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, yesterday, released more details of how sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, formed the militant group in Bayelsa State and shared US dollars to ex-militants at one of the meetings. It will be recalled that RNDA had, last week, released a 22-member list, made up of top Niger Delta indigenes, which it said were sponsors, members or sympathizers of the Avengers.

Prominent names on the list, although all of them have denied the allegation, were former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo; his media consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo; former Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi; Niger Delta activist Annkio Briggs, among others. Spokesperson of RNDA, Cynthia Whyte, in a statement, yesterday, said: “To cut a long story short, NDA was formed to counter Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, but it failed. “It, therefore, did not come to us as a surprise that the grand patron of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, has distanced himself from the NDA. “Like every sponsor, sympathizer and operative earlier mentioned, who has equally denied links with the Avengers, we can understand the wisdom behind their decision, as their participation was always meant to be covert. “After a clandestine meeting in 2014 between the grand patron and several unidentified persons, ahead of the Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah brothers should be contacted to reach out to MEND to endorse former President Jonathan and work with the group of persons to ensure victory for the PDP and President Jonathan. “At the time, because MEND was the suggested tool, the NDA as a body was not yet formed,” the group alleged. RNDA said the meeting of some select top government officials was convened to visit Charles Okah and they “reported back that they had visited Okah in Kuje prison at night with the promise of his release, along with others should he cooperate to get MEND to endorse Jonathan. “It therefore, came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed Buhari. Dr. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okahs would rot in prison.” Cynthia Whyte added that following the failure to get MEND’s endorsement, they agreed that ex-militant leaders should put up a show of force in Yenagoa and “threaten war should the electorate vote in Buhari’s favour.”

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According to RNDA, NDA was conceived around that time and the name ‘Avengers’ was chosen by one of the leaders. Cynthia White said further: “As election day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilised to form a force to ensure total anarchy in the South-South and South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable to Jonathan. “It took everyone by surprise to learn that Jonathan had conceded defeat, even before the results were released. The standby force, which was to attack specific targets were told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars, cash. “The Niger Delta Avengers was born from the failure at the polls and would now be used as an organ to make the Buhari government inactive, bring economic hardship and cause hatred for the administration towards failure at the 2019 general election. “MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that would not be identified, and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and the Biafra agitators to this day. “MEND has been a thorn in the flesh because MEND’s successful propaganda has caused the split in our ranks today.” He said if the sponsors and operatives of NDA provoked the group further with denials of this revelation, more sordid details would be revealed. Former President Jonathan could not be reached, last night, as his Media Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said the former President was not in the country and could not react. “We’re not in the country at the moment. Therefore, we cannot respond now,” he told Vanguard.

It was learned that the former President is currently in Zambia, monitoring the elections there on behalf of the African Union. New militant group blows up NPDC/Shorelines trunk line in Delta Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after it threatened to bomb oil installations in the Niger Delta region, if the Federal Government did not stop its alleged one-sided talks with the Ijaw ethnic nationality, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, NDJM, yesterday, blew up a major trunk delivery line in Delta State. The trunk line conveying crude from Isoko to the Eriemu manifold in Urhobo belongs to the National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Shoreline Resources. NDJM in a statement by its spokesperson, self-styled ‘General’ Aldo Agbalaja, said the “Central Operational Command of the group had approved the commencement of demolition and evacuation of uplands tagged ‘Operation Zero’ to correct the wrongs that have afflicted our people for years.” The group had, Tuesday, warned the Federal Government to stop parleying with the Ijaw ethnic nationality alone, as it was not the only tribe in the region that its militants could blow pipelines. Vanguard could not confirm the authenticity of the claim from industry sources. The group said: “As a mark of our seriousness and to prove we are people of our words, at 2 hours of Wednesday, our operatives brought down a major trunk delivery line from Isoko to the Eriemu Manifold in Urhobo, belonging to the NPDC/Shoreline Resources. “We would also want to use this medium to give a very strong warning to the operatives of the asset NPDC/Shorelines not to commence repairs pending when they get signals from us, otherwise the inevitable may occur to their personnel, as we have earlier warned them to begin evacuating the uplands. “This is just a glimpse of what is to come. There are several assets already penned down for destruction. This line of action has been made inevitable by an unjust system, which only responds to violence to the detriment of the peaceful and law abiding.”

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Business

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Published

22 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

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Mubi, May 3rd, 2024

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) commences the construction of a 500-capacity lecture theatre and wash facilities for the Adamawa State University, Mubi. This project is coming after the nomination of the institution as a recipient of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGS), by the Board of Directors of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen A. Lagu, expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of BUA group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for the rare philanthropy gesture towards the university. He stated that the intervention of the Chairman would reduce the physical infrastructure deficit at their new campus and promote sanitation and hygiene in the university. He added that the choice of the 500-seat lecture theatre with the four boreholes at different locations within the campus was identified and agreed to by the relevant organs of the institution with the ASR Africa team.

Dr Ubon Udoh (MD / CEO, ASR Africa), in his remarks, congratulated the institution for qualifying for the nomination by the Board of Directors of ASR Africa. He stated that the rigorous selection process which includes stringent criteria such as the quality of service delivered by the university and the pedigree of graduands from the institution at the national and international levels, proves that the university is keeping up with its vision as a leading institution of learning in the region. He encouraged the management and students to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities as a show of appreciation for the grant given to them.

The Tertiary Education Grant Scheme of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is part of the efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu to give back to the African continent and make a lasting impact in education as a means of uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

About ASR Africa

ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

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Business

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

Published

24 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

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Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 120 filling stations across Nigeria.

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Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.

Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

Today, Rano owns AA Rano oil & Gas industry in Nigeria with 56 ML Tank farm in Lagos, with 120 retail outlet/ fillng stations across Nigeria and over 600 trucks & LPG terminals as well as acquired vessel (M.T LAUSAU).

His ventures include RanoGaz, a state-of-the-art Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal, a rice milling company, Rano Lubricant, Rano Air, Lausu Marine and Logistics, AA Rano Terminal, and AA Rano Road Haulage.

@PUNCHNG

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Bank

Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

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Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

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In line with its upward growth trajectory, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has posted an impressive 120.1% growth in Profit Before Tax from N17.9bn at the end of Q1 2023 to N39.5bn for Q1 2024. This was made known in the Bank’s unaudited financial statements released on the issuer portal of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

According to the statement, Gross Earnings increased by 89.9% yoy to N192.1bn from N101.1bn in Q1 2023. The increase was led by a combination of interest income (90.7% yoy) and non-interest income (84.0% yoy). Growth in interest income was primarily spurred by a higher yield environment and strong earning assets base, while the increase in non-interest income was led by double-digit growth in account maintenance charges, FX-related income, trade, banking services, and remittances, supported by increased customer transactions.

Commenting on the results, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc stated, “We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial performance driven by our strategic focus on customer-centricity, digital innovation and operational excellence. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, we remained resilient and agile, delivering double-digit growth on key income lines while advancing our business sustainability agenda.”

In the period under review, the bank grew Net interest income grew by 89.5% yoy to N99.6bn from N52.6bn in Q1 2023, driven by interest and similar income as the yield on financial instruments improved to 14.7% from 10.1% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 11.6%). In line with the steady rise in interest rates through the year, average funding cost increased by 80bps ytd to 5.2%. However, NIM came in at 8.8%

compared to 8.1% in 2023FY, as increafeatsed yield on earning assets surpassed funding cost to 15.1% from 13.3% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 13.5%).

Similarly, Total Deposits increased by 17.2% ytd to N4.7tn from N4.0tn in 2023FY, driven by double-digit growth across all deposit types (demand, savings and term). Net Loans and Advances increased by 21.2% to N3.7tn from N3.1tn in 2023FY.

“Beginning the year on this inspiring note reaffirms our strategy of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive and empowering economies to prosper. We are committed to our guidance as we build a more resilient business franchise with a well-diversified earnings base in 2024,” explained Onyeali-Ikpe.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.5 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

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