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ABIA GOVERNORSHIP: NGWA RENAISSANCE SEEKS BALANCE OF POWER

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Against the clamour for the governorship seat to remain within the precinct of old Aba province in Abia State, the leader of Ngwa Renaissance Group, a socio-political movement in Abia South senatorial district, Chief Charles Nwanga, has called on all stakeholders in the state to allow reason to prevail by ensuring the emergence of an indigene of the district as the next governor. Giving a breakdown analysis on the structural framework in the Ukwa -Ngwa council constituting both the Abia South and Abia Central districts, Nwangwa pointed out that it would be wise for stakeholders in the state to stick to Abia South.
According to him, even though the zone is the most dominant among Ukwa-Ngwa extraction, it is the only senatorial district that has not produced the governor. To this end, he noted with dismay, the exclusion of the people in the political calculation of the state and described the continual neglect of his people since the creation of the state as against the principle of fairness and equity.
“It is sad that nobody from our zone has governed the state despite our huge contribution to the socio -economic growth of both the state and Nigeria as a whole. In fact, a greater percentage of the population and revenue accruing to the state is largely accounted for by Ukwa-Ngwa council,” he said.
He nonetheless emphasised on equitable rotation of power among the three senatorial zones to avoid rancour, pointing out that it is now the turn of Abia South to occupy the exalted seat. “Ukwa-Ngwa constitutes the largest sub-clan in Nigeria. The largest percentage of the state revenue comes from this zone. Sixty per cent of the population is from there. But funny enough, they have never been reckoned with in the sharing of power. All appointments were given to Old Bendel division except the recent appointment of Emeka Wogu as Minister of Labour and Productivity,” he added. “Now, if we are to look at Ukwa-Ngwa on the strength of Local Governments’ allotment, Abia South has six Local Government Areas while Abia Central has three Local Governments. Based on this, Abia South stands on a vantage position. Apart from that, it would be wrong for aspirants within Abia Central to capitalise on a purported agreement reached to cede power to Ukwa Ngwa bloc having failed to secure the slot during the last election, ” he said. According to Nwangwa, the view of these set of people amounts to absolute greed. “I see this as selfish, and being myopic on the part of these leaders. It smacks of lack of vision to have considered themselves worthy. I see these set of people as collaborators, conspirators against Ukwa-Ngwa people which has always been the bane of the Ngwa man,” he enthused. He however urged stakeholders to rise above partisan interest by allowing equity, justice, fair play to prevail in the distribution of power in the state particularly among the senatorial districts. “Equity, fairness, common sense, and justice dictate that Abia South automatically gets the gubernatorial slot. We have been largely short-changed in the past, so it would be unjust to deny them of that opportunity,” he said. Commenting on the number of qualified aspirants in the zone, Nwangwa identified a long list of suitable candidates that are prepared to take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent governor. “There are enough competent hands that can handle the affairs of the state in the zone. We have distinguished personalities which include the former deputy governor of the State who is now a senator, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, a philanthropist, the present Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, Chris Nkanta, among others. While paying tributes to the impressive work done by the present governor since assumption of office, Nwangwa commended the effort of the administration in bringing the state back on the path of peace as opposed to what was witnessed in the inglorious era of the former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.

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FCTA uncovers illegal oil refining warehouse in Abuja

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In continuation of the city cleaning exercise, Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with operatives of security personnel have uncovered an illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello way in Abuja.

 

The Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima after the operation on Thursday, said the illegal refining site was discovered during the continuation of the city cleaning exercise.

 

According to him, about three to four plot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.

 

Galadima explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.

 

He said there was no arrest but the items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.

 

Galadima said, “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated, we have done the needful by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

 

“From what we have seen so far, about three or four pilot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware, there will be consequences.

 

“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration”

 

He said the administration will continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval,  especially revocation of the titles.

 

Collaborating, Head, operations FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho said the city management team during the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the Nation’s capital have been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.

 

She disclosed that fifteen vehicles have so far been impounded since the operation commenced about two days.

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Central Bank To Freeze Accounts Without BVN, NIN From April 2024

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Friday that it will freeze accounts without a Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identification Number (NIN) from April 2024.

This is according to a Friday circular by the apex bank which said a BVN or NIN verification will be “conducted shortly”.

It also said all BVN or NIN attached to accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024, according to the circular by the CBN Director of Payments System Management Department Chibuzo Efobi, and the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department Haruna Mustapha.

More details later….

 

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Adebayo Alli: Guinness Nigeria gets new Managing Director, Its first Nigerian CEO since 2015 …..

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Guinness Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr Adebayo Alli as its new Managing Director, its first Nigerian MD since 2015.

The appointment comes after John Musunga, the now erstwhile MD of Guinness Nigeria moved to become Diageo Africa’s Managing Director for Southern, West, and Central Africa.

The announcement was given after the company’s board meeting held on Monday, November 27, 2023.

According to the corporate filing on NGX’s website signed by the Company Secretary, Abidemi Ademola, Adebayo Alli would resume his new role within the company on January 1, 2024.

Profile of Adebayo Alli …..

Adebayo Alli, a mechanical engineer by training, holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MSc in Advanced Process Engineering from Loughborough University, UK.

He joined Diageo, owner of Guinness Nigeria in 2005 as a Packaging Operations Support Manager. Since then, he has gone on to work as project lead for a business transformation project in Meta Abo Brewery Limited, Ethiopia, another of Diageo Africa’s businesses. In 2014, he became a plant manager at the Meta Abo Brewery, and in 2015, Supply Chain Director.

Upon his return to Nigeria in 2017, he assumed the role of Operations Director at Guinness Nigeria before shifting his focus towards general management, venturing into multiple senior commercial sales positions within Guinness Nigeria PLC.

His trajectory saw a brief tenure between 2019 and 2020 as the Director for IPS, Reserve & Modern Trade. Subsequently, in 2020, Bayo ascended to the role of Commercial Director at Guinness Nigeria.

What you should know….

Guinness Nigeria’s last Nigerian MD was Seni Adetu who served between 2012 and 2015. Since him, John O’Kefee an Irish man became the MD, followed by Peter Ndegwa, a Kenyan, Baker Magunda, another Kenyan, then John Musunga, also another Kenyan.

Guinness Nigeria Plc is majorly owned by Diageo Plc with a 58% stake. In the past, Diageo’s only footprint in Nigeria was through Guinness Nigeria and the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria also doubled as the head of the Diageo brand in the country.

However, after Diageo announced a discontinuation of its import deal with Guinness Nigeria, which meant Guinness Nigeria would no longer import Johnnie Walker and Baileys into Nigeria, it was also announced that Diageo was creating a new “wholly owned spirits-focused business” to manage the importation and distribution of those premium spirits brand in West and Central Africa. Presumably, John Musunga is resuming to head this new business.

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