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Top 10 Stories of Monday, October 16, 2017

1. WHY NIGERIA HAS TO BORROW MORE – KEMI ADEOSUN

Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, has revealed that Nigeria needs to borrow more for it to deliver critical infrastructural projects like roads and power.
She predicated her claim on the fact that Nigeria currently has one of the lowest debt-to-Gross Domestic Product figures in the world.
Adeosun made this revelation at a press conference marking the conclusion of the 2017 World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington DC, United States, US.
We have no intention of bequeathing unserviceable debts to Nigerians. What we are simply trying to do is to ensure that we create enough headroom to invest in the capital projects that the country desperately needs.
2. AILING MINISTER RETURNS FROM US MEDICAL TRIP
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, who was flown to the United States for medical treatment, came back on Sunday after spending 27 days.
Anwuka, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6 pm, told journalists that he did not receive any funds from the Federal Government, but was sponsored by his son, a doctor in Dallas, USA.
Anwuka on Sunday said he was diagnosed with having high cholesterol level, and applied to the Federal Government for leave on September 18.
According to him, “There was no support from the Federal Government. I did not ask for it. I only applied for my leave and left. Maybe now that I am back, I could ask.”
3. BUHARI, CUSTOM BOSS, ALI, HEAD TO TURKEY OVER ARMS SMUGGLING
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) will accompany President Muhammadu to Turkey this week where a bilateral talk on illegal arms smuggling is expected to hold.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection, Aminu Dangaladima at the weekend in Abuja.
The service also displayed seized 27 Toyota vehicles valued at N432 million at the Customs headquarters.
Dangaladima said more arrests have been made on the 2,671 arms smuggled into the country from Turkey this year, adding that the Turkey visit should put an end to the many smuggling cases from the country.
4. I WON’T RESPOND TO WAILING WAILERS – ADESINA
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday said it was not his style to respond to those he described as “wailing wailers” in their private capacities.
Adesina said this in a telephone interview when asked for his reaction to a statement credited to a former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, in which she described his (Adesina’s) recent statement as a “terribly indecorous press release.”
He had said, “Ignorant and mischievous people” were making it seem that Buhari’s position was a calculated attempt to give the North an unfair advantage over other parts of Nigeria.
The former minister had urged Buhari to rein in members of his media team and re-train them for effectiveness.
5. LAWMAKERS ENJOY FREE TREATMENT AT ASO ROCK CLINIC – PRESIDENCY
The Presidency on Sunday said members of the National Assembly were among persons who enjoyed free medical services from the State House Medical Centre which the federal lawmakers are currently investigating.
It also said the centre received only N1.195bn as appropriation between 2015 and 2017 contrary to the reported N11.01bn.
The House of Representatives had last week resolved to investigate the “deplorable condition” of the clinic and its inability to deliver basic medical services.
The investigation is expected to cover how the facility utilised its budget for its operations since 2015.
But a statement by the Deputy Director (Information) of the State House, Mr. Attah Esa, quoted the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Jalal Arabi, as saying that federal lawmakers had also been enjoying free medical services in the facility.
6. OPC LEADER, GANI ADAMS BECOMES ARA ONAKAKANFO (GENERALISSIMO) OF YORUBA LAND
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on Sunday declared the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo (Generalissimo) of Yorubaland.
The acclaimed winner of the June 12,1993 Presidential election, Late Chief Masood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola who died on July 10, 1998 was the last holder of the prestigious Yoruba traditional title.
Personal Assistant to Adams, Segun Akanni confirmed the development on Sunday.
7. OKOROCHA UNVEILS HUGE STATUE OF S.A. PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA IN OWERRI
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has unveiled a statue in honour of South African President Jacob Zuma in the state capital, Owerri.
Governor Okorocha also named a road after the South African leader, in addition to the huge statue on Saturday.
Zuma had been conferred with the traditional title of Ochiagha Imo, by Eze Imo, Samuel Ohiri, a day before the unveiling.
The title certificate was issued by a former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking through a statement, Okorocha said the honour was conferred on Zuma due to his love for education.
8. NNPC $25BN SCANDAL: NO CONTRACTS WERE ACTUALLY PROCURED – PRESIDENCY
The office of the vice president of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has stated that claims reportedly made in a leaked memo from State Oil Minister Ibe Kachikwu that contracts worth $25bn were awarded without his knowledge by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, aren’t true.
Osinbajo’s Publicity Officer, Laolu Akande, made this known on Sunday.
“No contracts were procured by the NNPC based on the leaked memo of the Petroleum Resources Minister of State, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, even though such impressions have been maliciously created in the past few weeks”, he said.
9. FRESH MASSACRE IN PLATEAU, 6 KILLED, 5 INJURED, 10 HOUSES RAZED
There has been an onslaught on the residents of a community in Plateau state which has left 6 persons murdered, 5 injured, and over 10 houses set ablaze.
According to reports, the attacked on Taagbe village near Kent academy at Bassa LGA happened in the early hours of Sunday and lasted for about an hour.
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terna Tyopev, confirmed the incident.
He added that no arrest has yet been made, but that more policemen have been deployed to the area, and assured the public that perpetrators would be brought to book.
10. ABDUCTED BENIN ZOO MANAGER, ANDY EHANIRE, REGAINS FREEDOM
Executive Director of Ogba Zoo in Benin, Andy Ehanire, has regained his freedom after spending twenty days in captivity.
It is not clear if any ransom was paid for his release as Police authorities in Edo State are yet to make any comment on the situation.
Gunmen abducted Ehanire from the premises of the zoo last month. Three policemen posted to provide security for fun-seekers at the zoo were killed in the process.
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