ABN TV Boss Congratulates Dr. Agbazuere On His Birthday

By

-

May 15, 2020

The Director ABN TV, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali has felicitated with the Chief of Staff to Abia State governor, Dr. (Barr.) ACB Agbazuere as he marks his birthday today.

Mr. Okali in a birthday message on Friday described Dr. Agbazuere as an astute administrator and seasoned lawyer who has written his name on the golden slab with his outstanding performance as a former Isialangwa South local government chairman and a human right solicitor.

Also Read: Ikpeazu To Commission Aba Automated Shoe Factory, Perform Abia Airport Groundbreaking Soon

He also extolled Dr. Agbazuere’s contribution in coordinating the affairs of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in line with moving Abia to greater heights as his Chief of Staff.

He prayed God to bless Dr. Agbazuere with abundant health, riches in wisdom, and long life.

Also Read: ABN TV Boss Salutes Sen. Kalu At 60

Sexual Purity: “I Don’t Have Sex With My Partner Even Though I’m Not A Virgin” – Actress Juliana Olayode

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

Nollywood actress, Juliana Olayode, popularly known as Toyo Baby has reiterated her stance on sexual purity years after she ignited a row of controversy with her “virginity movement”.

ABN TV reports that the actress who shared her view in an Instalive chat recalled losing her virginity to her music teacher. She, however, stated that the action never stopped her from joining the sexual purity movement.

She also disclosed that she is currently in a relationship where she doesn’t have sex with her partner. Juliana Olayode insisted that she believes that sex is meant for marriage and not meant to be given away before that.

The actress further stated that she will hold on to her view and will not allow anything to sway her off.

₦5.548 Trillion Available To Fund 2020 Budget – Finance Minister

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, revealed that the amount available for funding the 2020 Budget is now estimated at N5.548 trillion while briefing the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday.

ABN TV reports that the minister also spoke on the plan by the federal government to amend the N10.59 trillion 2020 budget passed by the National Assembly in December last year.

She said the budget is down from N8.419 trillion, a revised revenue estimate which is 34 per cent (N2.87 trillion) lower than what was initially approved, adding that the crude oil benchmark price is reduced from US$57 per barrel to US$25 per barrel.

The Minister said;
“The federal government also adjusted the budget exchange rate to N360/US$1; and reduced the upfront fiscal deductions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for mandated Oil and Gas sector expenditures by 65 per cent from N1.223 trillion to N424 billion.

“The US$57 crude oil price benchmark approved in the 2020 budget is no longer sustainable.

“It is necessary to reallocate resources in the 2020 budget, to ensure the effective implementation of required emergency measures, and mitigate the negative socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In line with the global economic outlook and relevant domestic considerations, the assumptions underpinning the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2020 Budget was revised to slash crude oil benchmark price from US$57 per barrel to US$25 per barrel; reduce crude oil production benchmark from 2.18 million barrels per day to 1.9 Mbpd.

Federal Government’s aggregate expenditure budget was slashed by N88.412 billion; Statutory Transfer from N560.47 billion to N397.87 billion; and Overhead costs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government from N302.43 billion to N240.91 billion.

Debt Service provision was, however, increased from N2.453 trillion to N2.678 trillion.

The sum of N186.37 billion will be applied toward COVID-19 interventions across the federation, while an additional N213.60 billion was provided in the Service Wide Votes for COVID-19 Crisis Intervention recurrent expenditures.

Lady Mocks Her Friend Who Is Childless After 2 Years Of Marriage

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

A Twitter user with the username @harbeeola08 took to the platform to express her gratitude after her friend who has been married for 2 years is barren.

My friend was against me having a child when I was in 400L, she gossiped about me several times but I didn’t get mad. She has been married for 2 years and I heard she’s praying to God for the fruit of the womb.

“Na For Social Media Igbo People Dey Show Each Other Love, But In Real Life? Except You Are Rich, They Rather Buy You Drinks — Twitter User

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

A Nigerian Twitter user identified with the username @TheVolqx has sparked off tribal controversy on Twitter following a tweet he shared insinuating that Igbo speaking people from the Southeastern part of Nigeria only love themselves on social media but not in real life.

ABN TV reports that the twitter user, @TheVolqx who took to the micro-blogging platform on Thursday, May 14, 2020, also said that no Igbo man has ever done anything for him in his entire lifetime.

Sharing the tweet, Volqx immediately came under fire as most Twitter users from the region he attacked flooded his thread dragging him on the streets of Twitter.

Read More: Okpanam Killings: Ohanaeze Assures Igbos Living In North Of Their Safety

But unperturbed Volqx stood his ground maintaining that he would only take his tweet down if any Igbo family relative or friend of his can prove they’ve once helped him financially.

“Na social media Igbo people dey show each other love, but in real life? Except you are rich, They rather buy you drinks, spray your money at your wedding than set you up with an opportunity that brings you to the same level as them. One sing Igbo person hasn’t done nada for me.”

Okpanam Killings: Ohanaeze Assures Igbos Living In North Of Their Safety

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

2

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has assured Ndigbo living in the 19 Northern States of their safety following the burning of Fulani settlements in Obodogba in Okpanam Community in Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State by irate youths who were protesting the killings of the Okpanam Vigilante group Chairman and the Secretary, ABN TV reports.

OYC said it has reached out to the Northern youths, especially the President of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, ACYF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, and the spokesman of Coalition of Northern groups, Mallam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, and had a fruitful deliberation and agreements on the matter.

Ohanaeze said the Northern youth leaders have promised to halt any attempt to instigate reprisal attacks against Igbos.

The Igbo youth organisation, in a statement signed by its President-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said, “Igbo youths are in strong synergy with Northern youths, especially the Arewa Youths and Coalition of Northern Groups.

“We have passed the stage where anyone will sow seeds of discord amongst the Ethnic Nationality Youth Groups.

“We discovered that no person was killed during the burning of Fulani settlements, but we condemned vehemently the killings and murder of Emeka Chosen as popularly known, the Okpanam Vigilante Chairman and His Secretary and call for forensic investigations to unravel and subsequently arrest the perpetrators.

“We had Confirmed from Anioma Youth Council President Enurdi Marcus that Normalcy has been restored.

“With the collaborative efforts of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum and Coalition of Northern Groups, OYC had foiled an attempt to destroy Igbo lives and properties in the North in retaliation of Okpanam episode, irrespective of our political differences with the North, we are ready to sacrifice our differences with regards to the protection of lives and properties of all Nigerians whether in the North or South.

The Igbo youth group further called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to ensure that Security agents are fortified in Okpanam and Ibusa (Ibuzor) communities.

Buhari Planning To Steal ₦13.5Bn Through School Feeding Programme — PDP

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP has accused the Nigerian Government of planning to steal ₦13.5bn while disguising the plan as feeding school children during COVID-19 pandemic.

Kola Olognondiyan, PDP spokesperson, in a statement, questioned the rationale behind feeding school children with ₦13.5bn while schools were indefinitely shut due to Coronavirus outbreak.

The statement reads in part, “While it is clear that the APC-led administration’s school feeding programme had always been a scam, they claim to feed school children even when schools are closed is colossal racketeering taken too far.

“This goes to further expose that stealing and corruption are deeply engrained in the DNA of the APC and its administration.

“While the PDP has nothing against any transparent effort to provide succour to Nigerians, particularly our children, at this critical time, our party rejects the on-going fraud in which school children, who are in their respective homes, bearing the brunt of the failures of the APC administration, are being used as metaphors to divert public funds to a few corrupt individuals in the Buhari Presidency.

“Nigerians are witnesses to how the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Umar Farouq, had always stammered, makes conflicting pronouncements and points to Mr President’s speech as a cover each time Nigerians demand details of her humongous spending.

“The minister had failed to provide details of how she intends to reach the 9.7 million school children, who are now in their homes in different locations since the closure of schools, even as officials continue to muddle up required documentation in a bid to cover their tracks.

“Nigerians are invited to note how the minister contradicted herself in claiming that the food would be shared door-to-door and in the same breath, averred that vouchers would be allocated at specific collection times to avoid overcrowding.

“Such contradiction only betrays an unwholesome tendency, as Nigerians wonder how there would be overcrowding on the door-to-door distribution of food to children who are claimed to have been individually designated in various locations.

“If these officials indeed mean well for the school children, they should hand over the funds to the ministry of education in the respective states for appropriate dispensation to properly identified and documented vulnerable children.”

Nigeria Did Not Beg Madagascar For Cure, They Gave Us – FG

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

Federal Government, FG said yesterday it did not beg Madagascar to supply its COVID-19 syrup to Nigeria, explaining that the country donated the elixir which was accepted in the spirit of African brotherhood.

ABN TV reports that the FG also announced that it has put in place measures to rethink its National Response to COVID-19, saying emerging developments indicated there was a need for a change in tactics.

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, dismissed speculations that Nigeria might have asked Madagascar for the supply of its COVID-19 organic, instead of promoting local researchers for a cure.

He said: “The issue of Madagascar. Let me explain that Nigeria did not beg Madagascar for any solution. That has to be very clear because I have seen some narratives out there giving credence to a line of the story.

”That, for me, is only distractive. Nigeria did not ask.

The Madagascan government decided to airlift quantities meant for African countries and so that of West Africa was airlifted to Guinea-Bissau.

So, all the members of ECOWAS have their commodities off-loaded in Guinea-Bissau and that was the one I referred to, that we were making arrangements to evacuate.

”But the impression out there was as if we abandoned homegrown solutions and we’re looking for Madagascan solution.

“We did not ask for it, but it was taken in the spirit of brotherly love, or African brotherly love.

”We have asked our ambassador there to establish the location, the quantity etc. He has done that. We have to make an arrangement for its freighting out of Guinea-Bissau.

“There are no flights, so there are so many things we have to consider.

Sell Presidential Jets, Cancel N27bn National Assembly Renovation Fund – Atiku

By

Alex Enemanna

-

May 15, 2020

1

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the latest review of the 2020 budget by the Federal Government, saying it shows that the regime has lost touch with current global economic realities.

Rather than reviewing the budget, Atiku advised the FG to sell eight or nine of the presidential jets and cancel the N27bn earmarked for the renovation of the National Assembly complex, ABN TV reports.

Atiku said this in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday. He expressed disappointment that despite the crash of oil prices in the international market and the nation’s inability to expand its revenue base, the regime only slashed the budget by a “mere 0.6 per cent.”

The former Vice President explained that significant cuts in funds budgeted for presidential feeding and transport as well as non-essential subheads will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians get a better deal.

Atiku said, “It is to my consternation that despite the crash in the price of oil, and the inability of Nigeria to expand our revenue base through the non-oil sector, the Federal “Government of Nigeria has only seen fit to slash our budget by a mere 0.6 per cent, from N10.594trn to N10.523trn. This represents a reduction of only N71bn.

According to him, as at the time, the budget was first presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, it was predicated on crude oil production of 2.18 million barrels a day, at an expected oil price of $57 per barrel. He said this situation has since changed.

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia, a nation with a much stronger production capacity than ours and with a larger global market share, as well as foreign reserves that are 12 times ours, has slashed her budget by almost 30%. Ditto for other oil economies.

He said, “My counsel to the Federal Government of Nigeria is this: put Nigerians first and cut your coat, not according to your size, but according to your cloth.

“Realistically slash the budget. Every pork barrel has to go.

“The billions budgeted for the travels and feeding of the President and Vice President has to be reduced.

“The N27bn budget for the renovation of the National Assembly has to go.

“The massive budgets to run both the Presidency and the Legislature has to be downsized.

“The budget for purchasing luxury cars for the President, his vice, and other political office holders must be jettisoned.

“Leave the salaries of civil servants alone, but reduce the salaries of political appointees. Sell 8 or 9 of the jets in the Presidential Air Fleet.

“Any budget slash that is less than 25% will not be in the interest of Nigeria.

“And beyond a budget slash, Nigeria needs a budget realignment, to redirect expenditure away from running a massive bureaucracy, into social development sectors like education infrastructure, and above all, healthcare.

“We must invest in the goose that lays the golden egg – the Nigerian people.”

COVID-19: Advise Your Kinsmen, Abia Gov’t Tells Northern Community Leaders

By

ABN TV EDITOR

-

May 15, 2020

1

Abia State Government has called on the leadership of northern communities in the state to strongly advise their members against inviting or receiving their kinsmen from other parts of the country into the state until the ongoing war against COVID-19 is won.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Barr Chris Ezem, made the call at the State Government House, Umuahia, during a meeting of members of the committee with the leadership of the northern communities resident in the state.

Also Read: Dangote Truck Carrying About 30 Travellers To North Intercepted In Abia [Photos, Video]

Barr Ezem pointed out that allowing their kinsmen to sneak into the state now that inter-state borders are closed on the orders of the Federal Government would likely lead to endangering and exposing not only their lives but also that of others to the deadly virus. He warned that the government might be compelled to close all the livestock markets operated by members of the northern community in the state if further reports are received on northern youths being stowed away in trucks carrying livestock and cement from the north into the state.

“We are worried that despite repeated warnings we continue to receive reports of northern youths stowed away in cattle and Dangote cement trucks bound for our state and other neighboring states. That is unacceptable to us and must stop forthwith. We strongly view these acts as sabotage against the war on COVID-19 which we have invested a lot of state resources on. If things don’t change quickly we will start with a 2 weeks ban on trucks bringing cows into our state.

“There are also reports that your members are not abiding by our COVID-19 regulations on compulsory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision of materials for hand washing as well as directives on operation time for markets in the state. That must stop now or we will take drastic measures, within the law, to protect all citizens and residents of the state”, he said.

Also Read: Ikpeazu Bans Street Trading At Opobo Junction Aba

COVID-19: Advise Your Kinsmen, Abia Gov't Tells Northern Community Leaders — Alhaji Yaro Danladi

Responding, the Sarkin Hausawa of the State, Alhaji Yaro Danladi, and Chief Imam of Aba, Alhaji Idris Bashir, expressed appreciation to the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for his focused efforts to protect the state from COVID-19 and assured that their members would work with the government to ensure that the desired results were achieved.

They also promised to take necessary measures to stem the tide of migration from the north into the state during this period as well as ensure that members of their community in the state abide by all the guidelines issued by the committee.