Mr. Mugabe Sleeping On Duty



President Robert Mugabe

Once again the country has been awash with rumors of serious health problems affecting the President while he is away on holiday in the Far East – or Dubai or wherever he has been for the past month. Unusually a picture of him on holiday with a few family members and with the Vice President and his wife appeared in the social media. Almost immediately rumors began to circulate that he had had a heart attack and was in intensive care. To buttress these reports Emmerson Mnangagwa returned from his hurried trip to the holiday destination of the President and was promptly appointed “Acting President”. Everyone put two and two together and came up with a six – “Zanu PF was preparing for the 90 day period before the Party has to convene a Congress to elect a candidate to complete the remaining period of the current term of office of Mr. Mugabe”. Logical and plausible – essential elements for a really good rumor!

SENATE RESUMES PASSES RESOLUTION ON LASSA FEVER OUTBREAK

 

Senate Resumes for 2016

 

The Senate on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 resumed plenary session, approved votes and proceedings of December 22, 2015 and went into a closed door session. On resumption, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced that the Chamber deliberated upon issues on the 2016 Budget and other National issues. Sen. Saraki urged Nigerians to be vigilant for peace, tranquility and development to thrive in the country. He asserted that the National Assembly would work together with the Executive in rebuilding the North-East ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency, stressing that 2016 must be a year of tranquility, peace and progress as well as equip the economy towards national development.

Opposition Party PDP Raises Dust In Nigeria



President Muhmmandu Buhari of Nigeria

Nigeria’s opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of applying selective justice in the latter’s anti-corruption crusade. This is following the release from detention of a Chieftain of the President’s party, Brig. General Jaafaru Isa (rtd) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

While the PDP’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh is still behind bars a week after his arrest. Both men were accused of receiving monies running into millions of dollars from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dauski under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

In a statement released today, January 10 and signed by Barr. Victor Kwon, the National legal adviser of the party, said Isah’s release was a clear indication that the APC-led administration is on a man-hunt against PDP leaders.

Nigerian Banks Serves Only 12.8% of Population -BVN

Abuja, Nigeria's Capital city.

 The big question in 2016 is on the health of the twenty-one licensed commercial banks operating in the country? Can the banks provide the enabling environment for the Nigerian economy to achieve growth in sectors other than oil and gas, which have been the mainstay for decades? The United Nation Population agency current estimate of the Nigerian population for 2014 is 177 million people; but shockingly the banks are only serving 12.8% of the population, which is a far cry from an adult population of 100.5 million people. The reality of the state of Nigeria banks have now been revealed, following the compulsory customer audit known as Bank Verification Number (BVN) ordered by the apex bank. The exercise which was concluded in November, 2015, showed the country’s banks have been under-performing in mobilizing customers across the thirty-six states of the country and Abuja, the federal capital.