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Tight security as Osinbajo visit Oyo to distribute Tradermoni

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Tight security as Osinbajo visit Oyo to distribute Tradermoni

Security has been beefed up in Saki town, Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State ahead of the visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the town.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo is scheduled to visit the ancient town on Friday in continuation of the distribution of the “tradermoni”, an initiative of the Federal government.

NAN correspondent who went round the town and its environs reports that security men were seen in different vehicles patrolling the town.

Some of the vehicles that were completely tinted carried the number plate of the State House.

Some regular policemen, anti-explosives unit, and mobile policemen were also seen at strategic places like Ogboro road, Sango road, Poly road, among others.

Some residents, who spoke with NAN in separate interviews, said they were ready to receive the vice president.

Alhaji Mutiu Omototo, a car dealer, said “We are delighted on hearing the news that our Oga is coming here tomorrow, it has strengthened our trust in this administration.’’

Alhaji Akeem Olabisi, a civil servant, expressed appreciation over the proposed visit, adding that Osinbajo would find a home in Saki.

“Saki is naturally a progressive town and we are always proud of that, the VP will feel so much at home here tomorrow I can assure you.

“I see heavy security and it is not because we are troublesome but it is just statutory for them to put it in place for the number two man’s visit.

“So many states are already enjoying their own share of the tradermoni which is one of the best initiatives of this administration, now it is our turn and we can’t wait,” he said.

Pro-democracy group condemns action to stop ‘Operation Python Dance’

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Pro-democracy group condemns action to stop ‘Operation Python Dance’

The National Democratic Front (NDF) a civil society organization, has condemned several moves to stop the proposed nationwide Operation Python Dance III exercise by the Nigerian Army.

The group said it is important to separate politics from real issue that would better the nation.

NDF through its Secretary General, Dr. Bolaji Abdulkadir said the action is aimed at truncating democratic process.

He said at a press conference in Jos that “While we cannot question his right and freedom of expression, we are however at a loss as to how putting measures to ensure smooth and peaceful elections has constituted into an infringement of rights and privileges as canvassed by Malcolm Omirhobo.

“It is our considered opinion that since the Nigerian Army is constitutionally mandated to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, the introduction of Operation Python Dance 3 is not only in line with its constitutional mandate, but also a welcome development given the intended outcome of ensuring peaceful general elections.

” This much the Nigerian Army has stated for the introduction of Operation Python Dance 3 which is to tackle “challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, and banditry.” and also, criminal groups and elements planning violence before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.

“The NDF as an organisation is not in the habit of joining issues with individuals whose known antecedent is to cause a distraction on critical government business such as this, and in times past when he sued the federal government for stopping the sale of petroleum products in Jerry Cans.

“The NDF has stated in many forays that mixing politics with National Security is and has never been in the best interest of the country, and consequently wonders why such an act should be on the front burner as we approach the elections.

“It is, therefore, our opinion that those that went to court are nothing but agents of darkness who want to truncate our democracy at any given opportunity as exemplified by Malcolm Omirhobo.

“The NDF as an advocate for democracy in Nigeria wishes to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to view with suspicion, actions such as what Malcolm Omirhobo exhibited because it is not only questionable, it is an affront to the sensibilities of over 180 million Nigerians who have entrusted their security and safety to the government.

“The NDF consequently calls on the Court to rise in defence of the teeming Nigerians by shaming those agents of distraction and darkness hell-bent on truncating our democracy.”

No ‘Python Dance’, no elections in Niger-Delta

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No ‘Python Dance’, no elections in Niger-Delta

A faith based group in the Niger-Delta, the Niger Delta Young Christian Forum (NDYCF), has warned that failure to conduct the Operation Python Dance in the area would imply that elections will not hold there.

Spokesperson of NDYCF, Evangelist Celestine Paul Akokari, gave the warning in Warri on Wednesday and further explained that the operation will also address the issue of voter apathy since the electorate will feel safer to come out and vote.

Akokari said the Niger-Delta region has been tensed on account of those that have been threatening voters with violence if they failed to support certain candidates. The group expressed the opinion that the military exercise will go a long way to build voters’ confidence to take part in the election without fear of intimidation from miscreant hired by politicians.

According to him, “Parts of the Niger-Delta are included in the jurisdiction where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) is threatening there would be no elections if there is no referendum for self-determination. IPoB has threatened violence against prospective voters so it is important that there is military presence to reassure the people that they will not be attacked when they exercise their civic rights.

“Militant groups in our region that had earlier observed a ceasefire have suddenly called off the same, which is a credible threat to the conduct of the elections in the event that they resume hostilities. We recognize the need to address the needs of our region but it is also glaring that some of the demands tabled by the militants cannot be met in the weeks before the elections.

“The presence of troops on a military exercise would be greatly welcome by the larger population that does not support violence as a means of extracting the needed government actions to meet the demands of the region.

“Many of our people have equally received all manners of text messages that threatened them. Groups have threatened each other that they cannot vote candidate of their choices without harm coming their way. An operation that will put all trouble makers on notice in this regard will do much or peace in our land,” the statement explained.

The group urged the Nigerian Army not to be deterred by the seeming opposition to the exercise noting that previous military operations in the region were similarly demonized until it became evident that the exercises were conducted with the least infractions on the rights of civilians.

It said these series of operations, even though limited to the riverine areas in most cases, were able to yield results like drastically reducing attacks on oil installations in the area while incidents of kidnapping were also reduced.

Akokari pointed out that “When military operations were announced for the Niger-Delta in the past the natural reaction was for leaders in the region to be apprehensive about the likelihood of clashes between soldiers and troops. But the way the Nigerian Army has conducted these exercises in recent times has built a level of trust.

“Our people even benefited from the free healthcare that is usually bundled with the operation. That of course was in spite of the disinformation campaign that lied about people being injected with infections. Traditional leaders in the region have hailed the conduct of the exercises.

“Unlike when the previous military operations were restricted to the Niger-Delta, this Operation Python Dance is all over the country, which means we shall consider it a form of marginalization should the Federal Government side with those opposing it and refuse to allow it hold in the Niger-Delta. Not only shall it be considered marginalization if shall be further considered as a ploy to disenfranchise our people who might be too scared to come out to vote if they do not feel secured.

“This is going to make us resort to No Operation Python Dance, No Election in Niger-Delta since we cannot allow the elections to hold under conditions in which we cannot fully and freely participate. If the Niger-Delta does not get its share of Python Dance by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies there will be voter apathy in the region so it will not be acceptable,” Akokari declared.

PDP sponsored fictitious ISSA report to mock Badeh, Alkali’s deaths -CDN

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PDP sponsored fictitious ISSA report to mock Badeh, Alkali’s deaths -CDN

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been accused of sponsoring a fictitious report through International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) to mock the families of late Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh and General Idris Alkali.

The Convention for Democracy in Nigeria, popularly known as CDN made this claim on Thursday, urged the relevant authorities to call the PDP to order over its “lust for the blood of innocent Nigerians.”

CDN said one ISSA is being used by the PDP to churn out mischievous stories just to heat up the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria .

Abraham Uke, the National President while addressing a press confer on the development, described as insensitive the politicization of the murder of Badeh and Alkali by the opposition party as a tool for propaganda.

Uke said, “Unfortunately, what the PDP has succeeded in doing is to mock Nigerians with the death of some patriots in recent times. This habit is consistent with the party’s history of insensitivity to the pain it has inflicted on citizens, which has continued to echo as the insecurity that the country continues to deal with till date. It is this same insecurity that is responsible for the deaths of the various gallant commanders that the report now attempted to read meanings into.

“Politicising the deaths using the report is insensitive and the PDP’s attempt to malign the Nigerian government with the killing of Badeh and Alkali is irresponsible even for a group of people that were long ago described as a nest of vipers. This desecration of memory of the departed is purely a prop for the purpose of elections. The intention is to instigate crisis in the polity and cause ethnic and religious strife that are all geared towards destabilizing the 2019 General Elections.

“Proof has started emerging that the whole report is one huge scam especially when PDP’s arrowhead, Senator Bukola Saraki (Senate President) and Mr. Uche Secondus (PDP National Chairman) could not resist the temptation of being in a selfie with one of the talking heads they had financed to go on a television network to defend the lies in the report. Evidence have equally emerged that it paid premium rates to promote the report so that it has an extended play in media circles. It is no coincidence that someone that has been on television justifying the tales by moonlight document also met the men that have been making political capital out of the lies told in the report.

“Our worry is that as the elections draw nearer there would be more lies that could cost the life of Nigerians. The party that has been responsible for the killing of innocent Nigerians under various guises like herdsmen/farmers crisis, Boko Haram insurgent, bandits and other crises will strike again and find a way to blame it on the incumbent government. The PDP is addicted to the strategy of packaging crises and gifting them to “Nigerians so that they can turn around to claim they alone should be entrusted with solving the problems they created in the first place.
As a non-partisan platform, Convention for Democracy will not sit down and watch any Nigerian or group of persons destroy the peace of the country. No one’s ambition is worth destroying Nigeria for and PDP should know this better with the benefit of experience.

“We therefore warn the PDP in the strongest terms to desist from using the misfortune of some Nigerians to promote disunity and hatred against the federal government, the military or any other agency. The accusation against the federal government may make the PDP feel like it is gaining political millage but the reality is that the suspects arrested for the killing of these former military chiefs and other Nigerians will simply plead innocence in court and point to the PDP report as indicting different people for the crimes.”

Boko Haram: How Borno, Yobe Governors promote insurgency – Elizebeth Robertson

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Boko Haram: How Borno, Yobe Governors promote insurgency – Elizebeth Robertson

Elizebeth Robertson, a renowned expert in Counter-Insurgency and Confliction Resolution based in Geneva has made a shocking revelation on the involvement of Yobe and Borno State governments in promotion of insurgency in north east Nigeria.

Robertson lamented that in spite of the efforts made by the Nigerian government and a multi-national military operation, Boko Haram has remained a major security concern.

According to Reobertson in an electronic statement, the Borno and Yobe States governors have failed to empower their youths as the governments of some other northern states have been doing like giving meaningful work tools, hence the rising cases of extremism amongst the youths.

She wrote, “There is a perplexing situation around Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād better known as Boko Haram or other terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin comprising north-east Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. In spite of the efforts made by the Nigerian government and a multinational military operation, Boko Haram has remained a security concern that has in recent weeks worsened as terrorists launch daring attacks that should not be possible given the scale of decimation that the Nigerian military had unleashed on the group.

“It is glaring that certain key factors make it possible for Boko Haram to remain a threat. The group continues to have access to a limitless pool of uneducated, unemployed, impoverished and easy to radicalize youths. The clerics in the area have not been brought on board to tailor preaching that insulate youths against being easily recruited, brainwashed and radicalized. The Borno state government, which is the epicentre of the insurgency, and Yobe state have failed to invest in social intervention programmes that will lessen the allure of the empty promises Boko Haram uses to lure youths into its ranks.

“The Borno and Yobe States Governors have failed to empower their youths as the governments of some other northern states have been doing like giving meaningful work tools, access to financing and skill acquisition to their youths to make them realise that a life of gainful existence is possible. Interventions like these are needed as follow-up programmes that would have make the achievements of the military enduring anywhere they have flushed out Boko Haram.

“Not only has the political class in Borno and Yobe states failed to take preventive measures itemized above they have also failed to properly rehabilitate Boko Haram fighters that had initially surrendered. They are instead left to experience a disenchantment that is worse than the one that made them renounce Boko Haram, which makes recidivism a guaranteed outcome. This poor approach to managing surrendered and repentant terrorists and reintegrating them into the society and the continuous failure to address the joblessness of youths supports the view that they are deliberately kept in this state so that they are available to be recruited for the use of the terrorists groups that reportedly answer to some politicians.

“The end of these terror groups does not appear in sight as the political class in the region has become fixated on only military solutions, an attitude that is the driver for the resurgence of the terrorists even when they have been decimated. There can be no room left for vacuum whenever the military pushes Boko Haram out of an area. The state governments should have been implementing programmes that ensure Boko Haram has no pool of youths to recruit from while also making gainful engagement more rewarding than joining the terrorists.

“The Borno and Yobe state governments must also address the complicity that has been repeatedly established against them in the series of high profile abductions that had rocked the north east of Nigeria. The kidnap of school girls in Chibok and Dapchi have been linked to aides of the governors of both states, who seem to use the negotiation following these abductions as legitimate cover to have contacts with these terrorists without being indicted.

“The responsibility is for the Federal Government of Nigeria to pressure the governors of Borno and Yobe state to ensure they stop supporting the terrorists by way of inaction. The Federal Government must in turn come under pressure from its international partners and countries with which it has collaboration to fight terrorism. The governors of these states must learn that they cannot continue to promote conditions that strengthens Boko Haram while expecting the Nigerians military to sort of the problems they engendered.”

Perry Brimah’s new low: GoFundMe fraud

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Perry Brimah’s new low: GoFundMe fraud

By Kolawole Anthony

Perry Brimah is raising funds on GoFundMe with the claim that the money is meant for feeding Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast of the country. As of the time of writing this, the page has raised $25 of the targeted $45,000 with some interesting things about the campaign started on December 31, 2018.

Brimah donated $20 of the $25 so far received while only one other donor has given $5 to the campaign, “Food For Nigerian Soldiers”. The poor response does not mean the mischief that is afoot should be ignored.

Three things come to mind here. One, Brimah’s fundraising is the product of mischief, a political statement – a parody, another of his antics to irritate the military leadership.

Secondly, the brain behind ‘Every Nigerian Do Something (ENDS) is broke and is stylishly extorting good natured international donors so that he can raise some money to cover his personal expenses and possibly make up for his inability to effectively join the looting class in Nigeria.

Thirdly, Brimah could be frontally attempting to raise funds that he will make available to extremists, pocket the balance for his personal use, and get under the skin of the military leadership while at it.

In the first scenario, for some unexplained pervert reason, Perry Brimah had made it his life goal to oppose everything that stands for order and peace in Nigeria. The Nigerian military, as with other nation, is symbolic of the country’s ability to deal with threats and keep citizens safe from security threats.

Brimah has consistently stood against this so he always finds a way to attempt irritating the military. The GoFundMe campaign is therefore possibly a continuation of his earlier misinformation and lies about starving troops.

Some accounts had it that the brain behind ENDS went as far as getting actors in military costumes to depict starving soldiers scrambling for food. His social media associates then tried their best to make these videos trend until their lie was found out and the tale of starving troops fizzled out, even though these associates of Brimah’s continue to refer to their fake news as basis to accuse authorities of not caring for troops.

The second possibility of a financially broke Brimah is equally plausible. After all, the campaign he ran for the Islamic Republic of Iran to deliver propaganda content in favour of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has largely failed. If a disappointed Iran is not willing to fund Brimah in 2019 owing to the gross failure from the preceding year, it is only logical that he finds another revenue stream to accommodate his lifestyle of opulence.

In this regard, one must credit him for being a savvy investor who trended the faked video of starving Nigerian soldiers ahead of time knowing that it will one day come in handy for defrauding unsuspecting donors. This possibility becomes even credible knowing that Brimah will not be so magnanimous to finance the same troops that subdued his IMN clients.

As for the likelihood of running the GoFundMe campaign to covertly finance terrorists and extremists, that too is not far from the truth whether the money eventually goes to IMN, Boko Haram, IPoB or any other extremist and terrorist group that Brimah is sure can help destabilize Nigeria. Like the fundraiser, IMN is by now enjoying limited goodwill from Iran after it is unable to show appreciable returns for the years of financing other than the shambolic violent protests in Abuja in the latter half of 2018; Brimah’s efforts could help deliver the needed financial lifeline that will buy IMN time before staging spectacular attacks that will revive Iran’s interest in their affairs.

Boko Haram has possibly not earned much from kidnap for ransom and robberies in recent months so this overnight philanthropist may in reality be trying to collect money from the trusting public to ensure the terrorists do not run out of steam given the recent escalation in their attacks.

There is the catch-22 of how Brimah will get the raised fund to the troops. Is he going to hand over the money to the same military leadership he as severally accused of corruption without basis? Even if he were going to hand the cash over the military top brasses there are no precedents for such.

He cannot buy the food and distribute to the troops since this is fraught with risk to the soldiers – Brimah could be out to poison them en-masse with such food item so that he can achieve in one fell swoop what his terrorists-clients have not achieved in ten years. The mere fact that he is raising a fund that cannot be delivered to the intended beneficiaries is a red flag that all is not right with his latest venture.

Whichever of the foregoing is true, all of them may be true, there is need for concern and certainly action to shut down the GoFundMe account with the prospect of prosecuting Brimah in any court that has jurisdiction. The first concern has to do with abusing the trust of the donating public.

The Nigerian Army has denounced the campaign with proof that its troops have the logistics and welfare they need. GoFundMe should take note of this and that a fraud have been committed. A random vagrant cannot be raising funds to finance the troops of a sovereign country that has budgetary provision for the same purpose. The fundraising therefore violates GoFundMe’s provision that prohibits the use of the platform for perpetrating fraud.

Where the fundraising is proven to be actually meant as an irritant to the leadership of the Nigerian Army, to the extent that the funds are raised offshore from nationals of other countries, it will constitute an act of aggression against Nigeria. This has implications for international relations among countries so those contributing to the fund should truly understand the implications of what they are doing. They must be exceptionally cautious because of what the antic is meant to achieve, which is distract the Nigerian military from effectively tackling terrorists.

The other possibility of raising funds for extremists and terrorists goes beyond immoral into the criminal territory. It places donors at risks of violating international anti-terror conventions, violates the anti-terror legislation of the donors’ home countries and clearly runs contrary to Nigeria’s anti-terrorism legislation. It is trite to assume that GoFundMe will not be proud to be used for financing terrorism and extremism anywhere on the face of the earth. The campaign must thus be shut down before further damage is done.

It is reassuring that the Nigerian Army says it is working with Interpol to declare Brimah wanted for this global fundraising. But it should go more than declaring him wanted. Additional steps include using the tools available on GoFundMe site to report Brimah’s campaign as a fraud, following up with a detailed petition to GoFundMe and sensitizing the world as to the dangers of given their money to this individual.
The fundraiser is a reminder that one aspect being overlooked by Nigerian authorities in the fight against terrorism is the sources of financing of the terrorists. It is a really bad situation if a character like Brimah can openly source for funds to give terrorists and not much can be done about. This should be a test case in how the country stops illicit financial flow to terrorists.

Kolawole PhD, a University teacher wrote from the Keffi, Nasarawa State.

2019: Ribadu unveils Black Cap Movement for Buhari

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2019: Ribadu unveils Black Cap Movement for Buhari

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ex-Chairman of EFCC, has unveiled the “Black Cap Revolution Movement’’ and donated 40 vehicles to mobilise the people for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in Adamawa.

Ribadu black cap movement was set up to campaign for President Buhari and his running mate, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Expressing his commitment to deliver Adamawa to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ribadu said that the state is “100 per cent in support of Buhari’’.

Ribadu announced that 40 vehicles were donated by his support group.

The former EFCC boss said he will make sure Buhari was re-elected because he (Buhari) deserved another term to continue the work he has started for Nigeria.

He said his appointment as Director General Field operations is to campaign for Buhari, adding that his support group promised the president a hundred perbcent support in Adamawa state.

“We have decided to convert everything we had for Buhari’s campaign, the meeting here is a dedication and a donation of everything – officers, vehicles and good committees for the campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ribadu said.

The former anti-graft chief said the presidential election in 2019, is a referendum between a past “that should forever be forgotten and a new chapter of probity and accountability”.

The Nuhu Ribadu Organization has said it would campaign for all candidates of the APC, not President Buhari alone.

In a tweet, Ribadu further explained he converted their governorship campaign machinery for Buhari’s campaign.

“CLARIFICATION: What we did yesterday was to convert our governorship campaign machinery (offices & 10 vehicles) for the @MBuhari campaign. Most of those items were donated to my campaign last year. Reports in @TheNationNews and @PremiumTimesng have more accurate accounts.

Keep supporting Buhari, Fr. Mbaka urges Nigerians

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Keep supporting Buhari, Fr. Mbaka urges Nigerians

Controversial Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu has again called on Nigerians to support President Muhammad Buhari.

Mbaka, who has ignored critics over his support for Buhari, urged Nigerians to pray hard so that the country would overcome what he tagged ‘impending unimaginable difficulty’ in 2019.

Mbaka said on Tuesday during his New Year prophetic message and crossover service, Punch reported.

Mbaka said that the type of difficulty the country was going to face was such that has not been “witnessed in its 58 years history.”

The Catholic priest also urged Nigerians to pray for the country and its leaders.

He said Nigerians should support President Muhammad Buhari to continue his fight against corruption.

The clergyman said that at the Catholic Church supports the fight against corruption and that was why she created “prayers against bribery and corruption.”

“A President that is fighting corruption needs to be supported,” he said.

Mbaka’s latest call for support to Buhari has hit the social media.

2019 elections: Stock market indicators depreciate by 19.77%

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2019 elections: Stock market indicators depreciate by 19.77%

The year 2018 was not so rosy for the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as its crucial indicators depreciated by 19.77 per cent due to uncertainties surrounding the forthcoming general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exchange which was named the third best performing stock exchange in the world in 2017 with over 43 per cent return-on-investment performed dismally in 2018.

Experts said the market, which started the first quarter on a positive note, nosedived due to the withdrawal of funds by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) who were worried over the forthcoming elections.

A breakdown of the foreign investment outflow from the exchange between January and September 2018 showed that a total of N513.49 billion left the country during the period.

This amounted to 63 per cent increase in total outflow compared with N315.04 billion withdrawn in the same period in 2017.

Although both total foreign investment inflow and outflow increased month-on-month in September relative to the previous month, outflow grew at a higher speed, rising 27.6 per cent to N43.78 billion from N34.31 billion in August.

Foreign investment inflow, on the other hand, rose by 10.6 per cent to N40.54 billion from N36.7 billion in the previous month.

Investment experts, who attributed the sell-offs and the attendant foreign investment outflows to political risks, said the trend would be sustained throughout the election period.

Specifically, the All-Share Index ,which opened trading in 2018 at 38, 243.19, shed 6, 812.69 points or 17.81 per cent to close at 31, 430.50, eroding over 43 per cent growth posted in 2017.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N13.609 trillion, dipped by N1.89 trillion to close on Dec. 31, 2018 at N11.720 trillion.

Commenting on the performance of the market, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, head of Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University Keffi, described 2018 as a very disappointing year for the equities’ market.

“With positive returns of over 40 per cent in 2017, Nigeria was ranked the third best performing stock market in the world after Argentina and Turkey.

“On the other hand, between January and December 2018, the market has plunged into a bear territory having lost over 20 per cent from its peak in January when it posted 16 per cent return.

“The dismal performance of the market has been in spite of improved corporate results announced by listed companies as well as stronger macroeconomic performance,” Uwaleke said.

He noted that the economy expanded faster in 2018, in terms of GDP by 1.95 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 1.8 per cent in the first,second and third quarters respectively, when compared with 0.8 per cent averaged in 2017.

“Again, the inflation rate is lower and the exchange rate has been stable on the back of stronger external reserves helped by higher oil prices and output relative to 2017.

“In the light of these, two major factors explain the weak performance of the market in 2018.

“The first is exogenous, the increasing yield environment in the US following the normalisation of interest rate by the US Federal Reserve. The second is the political tension ahead of next year’s general elections,” Uwaleke stated.

He highlighted the factors that would shape the performance of the stock market in 2019 to include the monetary policy stance of the US Federal Reserve, the extent to which the US-China trade tension and Brexit impacted global economic growth.

Others are: the ability of OPEC and its allies to keep oil prices high, political tension/outcome of the country’s elections, the fate of the 2019 budget and the direction of monetary policy in Nigeria.

On the way forward, he urged the Federal Government to defuse political tension and ensure free, fair and credible elections to boost investors’ confidence.

Uwaleke added that effective budget implementation would help create the right environment for both domestic and foreign investors.

Mr Sola Oni, a chartered stockbroker and Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications, attributed the lacklustre performance of the capital market to illiquidity.

Oni said massive share dumping by nervous portfolio investors and their Nigerian counterparts who were apprehensive over the 2019 general election led to the trend.

He said the development was reinforced by unguarded utterances of the political class.

Oni said the factors that would shape the market in 2019 generally revolved around the weak global economy of which the exchange could not be insulated.

He explained that the outcome of the next elections and the ability to tackle the ongoing economic challenges, especially investment in infrastructure, management of fiscal and monetary policies, would shape stock market activities this year.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., described 2018 as a volatile and bearish year due to the interest rate hike, mixed corporate earnings and political uncertainties.

Omordion said peaceful conduct of the general elections, good economic reforms and diversification would drive economic activities in 2019.

Air Peace expands to MMA2 with inaugural flight to Kaduna

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Air Peace expands to MMA2 with inaugural flight to Kaduna

A Nigerian Airline, Air Peace, on Wednesday said it had expanded its operations to the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos with an inaugural flight to Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline’s Embracer 145 jet took off at 7:20 a.m. from the MMA2 enroute Kaduna Airport.

Speaking on the development, Mr Chris Iwarah, the Corporate Communications Manager, Air Peace, said the airline was delighted to have been able to move some part of its operations to the MMA2.

Iwarah noted that although Air Peace had its main hub at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the expansion aimed at positioning the Airline for better services.

He said Air Peace would henceforth operate its Lagos-Akure, Lagos-Asaba, Lagos-Kaduna and Lagos-Port Harcourt as well as NAF Base flights from MMA2.

Iwarah said other new domestic routes to be will be launched soon would also be done from the terminal which would in future accommodate all flights under the airline’s subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper.

“ We are quite hopeful that the expansion of our Lagos base to MMA2 will afford us the space and convenience to deliver first-class flight experience to our loyal customers.

“As a customer-oriented carrier, it is only strategic that we seek a better operational atmosphere for seamless passenger facilitation and exceptional customer service experience.

“This exactly is what MMA2 offers with its state-of-the-art facilities and we are indeed proud of our decision to annex it to our Lagos hub,” he said.

Mr Rodger Whittle, Executive Director, MMA2 described the action of the Airlime as  a fantastic thing for the operator and same for the MMA2.

He said: “I think it is very exciting for us that Air Peace has come to MMA2 and we can now happily say that all the airlines in Nigeria operate from the MMA2.

“It brings the destinations of MMA2 to 24. Air Peace is bringing Akure as well as Port Harcourt NAF Base.

Mrs Eniola Ade-Solanke, Head, Corporate Communications, MMA2 said the airport terminal had the capacity for regional operations and attracting major airlines through the provision of excellent passenger experience.

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