There is a swift security movement around Idemilii Local government area (LGA) of Anambra state, as the alleged plan of Ngige supporters to tamper with the election process and results. This is why Dr Chris Ngige is angry with the INEC and the security Officials who are ensuring that the electoral process is not manipulated in any form.
The APC supporters were accused of blocking the INEC officials from starting the accreditation and voting process. Some locals are worried about the presence of 'strange' voters in their polling Units.
They claimed that they are the imported political mechineries from APC states.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that it will not accept the results of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra state if voting does not take place in all local governments, especially in the party’s strongholds of Idemili North and South as well as Akwa South.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also condemned INEC for its apparently-contrived logistic nightmare that has left thousands of voters unable to exercise their franchise, and demanded the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu.
APC said it was totally astonished to learn that INEC has confirmed that materials meant for Idemili North Local Government, which has 180,000 voters, have been hijacked, without saying who hijacked the ballot papers and why, and without explaining why the materials meant for APGA and PDP strongholds were not hijacked.
The party said equally astonishing is the fact that the voter’s registers for Idemili South, the direct council of the APC candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige, did not contain the names of voters in the local government, despite the assurances
”Before the election, political parties were given voters registers that largely contained the names of most voters. However, about four days to the election, Prof Jega said at an interactive stakeholders forum that there were problems with the registers, which would be rectified before the election.
”However, when the supposedly-corrected registers were brought back, most of the authentic names in them have disappeared, without explanation,” it said.
APC said it also complained about the fact that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, Prof Onukogu, was very partial and unprofessional when he conducted the 2011 election,
”In 2011, when Prof. Onukogu conducted the general elections in the state, he was very partial. During the Onitsha South 2 House of Assembly constituency and Idemili South House of Assembly polls, he declared the results of both inconclusive, only for him to announce the results at 12 midnight. After we challenged the results in court and a rerun was ordered, we won both constituencies.
”We subsequently petitioned INEC and the Commission assured us that the same person will not be allowed to conduct subsequent election. Alas, he was left in place to do another damage to INEC as an institution through his glaring incompetence and partiality, which have seriously affected the credibility of this governorship election,” the party said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nigeria will be playing in next summer's World Cup in Brazil after defeating Ethiopia 2-0 on Saturday to seal a 4-1 aggregate play-off triumph.
After winning the first leg 2-1 in Addis Ababa last month, Victor Moses' 20th-minute penalty and substitute Victor Obinna's late free-kick secured Stephen Keshi's side their place at the finals for a fifth time in six attempts.
The hosts were strong favourites coming into the game, with the added benefit of two away goals from the first leg, and when Aynalem Hailu was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area, Moses dispatched the penalty leaving the visitors needing two goals just to force extra time.
In truth, Sewnet Bishaw's side created little, and when Obinna thumped home a 25-yard free-kick with eight minutes remaining it sealed a comfortable passage for Nigeria.
The hosts made two changes from the first leg with Brown Ideye and Kenneth Omeruo returning to the starting XI, while coach Bishaw made four alterations for Ethiopia, with first-leg goalscorer Behailu Assefa among those to miss out.
Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike, who netted a double in the first leg, was the first to threaten, the striker seeing his close-range volley acrobatically parried away by Sisay Bancha in the sixth minute.
But it was a controversial incident that saw the home side take the lead 14 minutes later when defender Hailu was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
The defender attempted to block a cross from the left, with the ball striking his thigh and bouncing up onto his right arm.
The referee, Bakary Gassama from Gambia, pointed to the spot despite strong protests from the visiting players, before Moses stepped up to send Bancha the wrong way from 12 yards.
Ideye twice wasted opportunities to extend Nigeria's lead before the break, heading narrowly wide from Ogenyi Onazi's right-wing cross on the half-hour mark before blazing over after Bancha had parried Onazi's effort two minutes before the interval.
In a largely uneventful second half, Bancha rushed from his line to deny Emenike on the hour, before Obinna – on as a 79th-minute replacement for Moses – sent a vicious dipping free-kick beyond Bancha.
The goalkeeper really should have done better, wafting an arm at the ball as it flew past him, but it was of no concern to Nigeria, sparking scenes of celebration at the final whistle.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to issue N99.93 billion worth of treasury bills with maturities ranging between three months and one year at its regular debt auction next week Wednesday.
The central bank would sell N20.64 billion in 91-day paper, N25 billion in 182-day debt and N54.29 billion in one year paper next week, using the Dutch Auction System, it said in a notice.
The CBN sells treasury bills to control inflation and the volume of liquidity in the system. Inflation fell to 7.8 per cent in October. The CBN’s objective is to maintain a single-digit inflation rate.
“In the last three years, we have had stability. From January till date, for the first time since 2008, we have had consistent stretch of inflation at single digit. We expect that by the end of this year, inflation will be under eight per cent and we will keep inflation in single-digit throughout 2014.
“The naira has been stable, between January and August, it lost 2.3 per cent of it value and everyone has been complaining that the naira lost 2.3 per cent,” the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said in a recent interview.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
DANA GROUP OF COMPANIES, SOLE MARKETERS OF KIA RANGE OF VEHICLES, JOINS THE LEAGUE OF MULTI-FRANCHISE AUTO COMPANIES AS IT ADDS THE RENAULT BRAND OF VEHICLES TO ITS GROWING PORTFOLIO
The Nigerian auto market is becoming more dynamic and competitive in spite of the current challenges with hope of a bright future. Dana Group of companies, sole marketers of KIA range of vehicles, is already tapping into the immense opportunities that abound in the market as it has joined the league of multi-franchise auto companies with the recent addition of the Renault brand of vehicles to its growing portfolio.
The company said the development followed a memorandum of understanding it signed with Renault Motors which makes it the new sole distributors of the Renault brand of vehicles in Nigeria.
The company noted that though Renault has been in Africa, building quality cars made with European technology for the past 40 years and aims to increase its market share in the region as the global trend of foreign direct investments shifts focus from Europe to Africa, the auto maker had sought after a reliable partnership with the technical knowhow and experience to “Drive the Change”.
Chief Commercial Officer for Dana Motors, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra, who unveiled the new deal with Renault at a media briefing in Lagos, said “Dana Cars and Service is proud to announce this new partnership with Renault Motors and aims to surpass expectations by providing quality cars made in Europe that are built to last.”
He disclosed that Dana Motors will open a 3S facility specifically dedicated to Renault in Lagos before the end of the year, saying the the company will commence after sales services to current Renault owners very soon.
Malhotra added: ’’ Dana cars will aim to position Renault as a European brand, providing driving pleasure and very reliable cars, with high quality service, tropicalised to suit Nigerian weather and road conditions. Renault new concept is to provide new products adapted to Nigerian market with high safety levels of European standards.
’’ Renault vision in Nigeria is to be a people centric and innovative company offering sustainable mobility for all. Nigerians need a car that is affordable, easy to repair, value for money, with low co2 emission, that improves the quality of life and enable people to move around freely, without stress and in safety. ’’
Head of Marketing for Dana Motors, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, also said at the event that new models of Renault will be available in the Nigerian market. “Renault Nigeria will be kicking off with New generation Logan, Fluence and the Sandero Step way without leaving out the ever reliable Duster,’’ he said, stressing that the new models will be unveiled soon during the inauguration of the new facility with more models in the range to follow.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Young Shall Grow Motors Limited said it is partnering with a Chinese bus manufacturing company, Zhongtong Bus Holding Co. Ltd, to introduce and market Zhongtong range of luxury buses in Nigeria.
Disclosing this at the recent Lagos International Trade Fair, the company said everything was in place to bring the first set of buses into the country before the end of the year to enable Nigerians experience the unique features of the models during the yuletide.
Personal Assistant to the chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors, Mr. Cyril Udoye, and the Public Relations Manager, Mr. Bethran Anedu, said the company was already working with Zhongtong Bus Holding Co. Ltd to ensure that buyers of the luxury models enjoy seamless after-sales back-up adequate supply of spare parts at all times. They disclosed that 40 units of the buses had already been ordered and paid for by interested operators, with 34 arriving next week and the remaining six coming in before Christmas.
The luxury models displayed at the trade fair included the Zhongtong Navigator, a 59-seater double-axle bus designed for tourists and long distance passenger transportation; the Zhongtong Cruise, a single axle 51- seater bus; and Sparkling, a 33-seater bus which is expected to attract a lot of patronage from transporters who want something in between the typical, big luxury coach and a midi bus.
Sales Manager (West Africa), Zhongtong Bus Holding Co. Ltd, Kevin Zhao Guohua, was also at the trade fair ground in Lagos to introduce the buses reputed to combine top quality with competitive pricing to members of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), who are mainly inter-city and intra-city transporters as well as other interested corporate organisations.
”We are partnering Young Shall Grow Motors. We are ready to support the company because it is a strong motor company in Nigeria. Our buses are strong and designed for the African market and we have exported to 24 African countries.
” We are ready to back our partner up with adequate spare parts and we are ready to transfer knowledge about maintenance. Chinese vehicles adopt international standards. We have a long history of dedication to quality and excellence. We look forward to a sustainable partnership with Young Shall Grow Motors. In our relationship, service will make the difference as well as cost. Our buses are of good quality and very affordable, ” he said.
A statement from Zhongtong Bus obtained by THISDAY in Lagos, said : “These products enjoy high market reputation and highly competitive advantages. Thus, they have been bestsellers at home (China) or abroad, and are sold to more than 30 countries, and regions overseas. In the past five years, the production and sales indicators of Zhongtong Bus have grown in excess of 25 percent annually. So, the company maintains a continuous, fast and healthy trend.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
How many times have you found yourself wishing you can upgrade to a business class seat, gain priority boarding or spend a day at the spa or other luxury locations. OMOLOLA ITAYEMI writes about airline loyalty programmes and what opportunities avail their members
With the constant hike in airline fares from cost of aviation fuel to multiple taxes resulting from aviation logistics, passengers are leaning more towards cost-efficient ways of travelling. And one of such is airline loyalty programme, which offer frequent flyers an opportunity to redeem their frequency of travel for perks from the airline. These perks range from discounted flights to upgrades and with some airlines the possibilities of what your accrued air miles can earn for you is endless. The catch however is you can only benefit from most loyalty programmes if you travel frequently.
Airline loyalty schemes reward frequent flyers with a range of benefits, the most valuable of which are free flights, others include services with airlines partners, upgrades and priority check-in. Members who buy flights with the airline are rewarded with points; these points can be collected and redeemed for free flights, companion tickets or seating class upgrades.
Loyalty programmes usually have different levels, membership of which may be awarded based on achieving certain mileage thresholds or other customer value-related targets. The higher your level is, the more perks you stand to enjoy
Partners
The airlines are not resting on their oars with the increasing number of partners acquired with each passing day because your choice of partners can make or break your loyalty programme, remember your passenger will view your partners through your eyes. Many passengers who have had a bad experience with partners automatically transfer it to the airline and will be wary of flying such airline in the future.
These partners range from hotels to rental cars to entertainment outlets. The list is exhaustive and no area of life is spared, a climb up the highest mountain or a day at an exotic spa, these days there is nothing a loyalty programme cannot offer. With each airline, the possibility a frequent flyer enjoys depends on what the airline has to offer.
Bliss or Nightmare
But as exotic as some of these offers are, travellers are complaining about redeeming their miles. While some travellers are very ignorant about these loyalty programs, some others are just plain wary about them seeing them as just another dubious schemes dangled by business organisations in a bid to keep clients committed to their business.
Kunle Dada, a frequent flyer on South African Airline (SAA) Voyager and Emirates Skywards believes these two airlines have got it right in this aspect. The business man who shuttles between South Africa, Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the past fifteen years speaks from experience as he enjoys the superior mile class on both. He says, ‘’they fantastic voyage miles scheme for frequent flyers. Apart from discounted and free ticket offers, they give benefits relating to hotel accommodation and car rentals which I enjoy.
But Fatue, an IT specialist and business man does not share similar sentiments as Mr Dada, a frequent flyer on the Lagos-London route, he has over time racked up quite a number of air miles as he shuttles both way and not been able to redeem any. He however agrees that his inability to go through the process of redeeming them could have been one of the problems.
He also mentioned the old and ambiguous process of having to include your ID number when buying your tickets as opposed to now when the ticketing system automatically picks it up. ‘’I have never used my Air miles. I accumulated a lot on Virgin Atlantic, didn’t use them and was taken away from me. I have started stacking them up again,’’ he said enthusiastically.
Mrs Kemi Salami, a frequent flyer on Air France Flying Blue sees it as a noble scheme, ‘’Ability to redeem miles smoothly and what I stand to benefit is key with me when I’m purchasing ticket for air travel except in times of emergencies. Partners are key in this regard because you can enjoy a whole range of perks from lifestyle to fashion to adventure. I have sampled gourmet food in the most exclusive restaurants, gone on fantasy trips and even gone on intellectual exploration from redeeming my miles. Its opens up a world of opportunities beyond upgrades or priority check-in which a lot of people think that’s what they are all about. If you redeem your miles constantly, you’ll realize what you’ve paid for that class of ticket actually reduces.’’
Myths associated with Air miles:
Air miles do expire. There is this myth associated with air miles that they last forever, however that is not the case. Most airlines offer three year period for miles and will expire if not used within that period.
Air miles automatically translate into a ticket. Depending on the amount of miles you have accrued traveling, your miles might not automatically give you a ticket. With some airlines, cash needs to be exchanged to get the full value of the ticket intended. For others, you might need to find a date or time for the ticket you intend to use.
Airlines work with seasons and redeeming miles for tickets to a great extent depends on what season you intend to travel. Trading miles for flight ticket is better during low season, where passengers have a better chance of getting seats.
Being on the flight automatically translates into miles being recorded; with some airlines your membership number has to be quoted when your ticket is being booked for miles to be recorded when travelling. With others, reverse is the case, once ticket has been paid for, system automatically adds membership number and miles accrued to passenger once flight has been completed.
They are not transferable – while miles accrued to you is in your air-account, your miles can be used to redeem tickets and other benefits to someone other than you.
Mastering it
Evan Konwiser, Co-founder of airfare-prediction site – FlightCaster who knows his way around the friendly skies and, by extension, their airline loyalty programs offer these helpful points.
1) Never ever fly without earning miles. Even if you’re on a new airline or you’ve n ever flown before, you may as well sign-up. You never know when those miles come in handy down the road if you fly them again (or not). It’s just too easy not to.
2) Only belong to one program per major alliance. This way you can consolidate miles. Since you can earn and redeem on any carrier within an alliance, there’s no need to have points across programs. However, it’s always best to keep your points in the carrier you fly the most. Then you can use those points for upgrades and some other perks that might only be available to members of that program.
3) Pick a “dominant” program for you to focus on. Usually that will be the program of the airline you fly the most. Sign-up for all the alerts for this program so you know when there are mile specials and bonus point opportunities. Get a credit card of this program also so you can get the quick hit of 25k or 30k miles when you make your first purchase, and use it for purchasing tickets on that airline when you usually get 3-5x miles per dollar.
4) Go for Elite. That is the whole goal of airline loyalty. Yes, getting lots of miles is good also. But it’s true they are hard to use, and while you can make good use of them to get magazines, upgrades, and travel—loyalty programs can offer so much more. But they don’t offer anything until you have status. Elite status gives you the ultimate travel experience. Talk about taking so many of the hassle points out of the travel experience!”
Doubra Oluwatominiyi, CEO AntsHill Concierge, a Lagos-based concierge company which specialities include air-miles management believes most airlines can be hesitant to offer members ‘free flights’ using their air miles because it still costs the airline money to carry a ‘free’ passenger. A former Service Centre Administrator of eagleflier (defunct Air Nigeria’s frequent flier programme), Doubra says, ‘airlines reward points are usually offered in the form of frequent flyer miles – although the number of miles awarded doesn’t always relate accurately to physical miles flown. An ideal Loyalty programme should also involve partnerships between the airlines and other travel-related companies (eg car hire, hotels and lifestyle e,g Spas, Salons, High profile shops), with whom their miles can also be earned and redeemed and better yet if they are in outstation locations, members can use their miles without spending money.’’
Speaking on, ‘’the number of miles earned for a purchased flight usually depends upon the distance and class of travel. With some airlines, promotional classes of ticket may not qualify for any miles. Loyalty programmes usually have different levels, membership of which may be awarded based on achieving certain mileage thresholds or other customer value-related targets.’’
To make the scheme work for you as a customer, it’s always best to read through programme’s manual which come in a welcome pack upon registration. Most customers are always too busy, hence miss out on fantastic rewards offers and only remember their miles when they are short of cash, in tight situations and need a bailout. The customer gets upset when he is reminded of the terms and conditions he did not know about because he did not have core knowledge about his membership.
In all, it is important to know that a member can enjoy other exciting benefits aside from free tickets.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
One of the biggest names in Nigeria comedy, Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth was recently arrested in London for allegedly beating a teenager.
In this latest comedy skit for his upcoming show in London tagged, Basketmouth Uncensored Valentine 2014, he was knocked to the ground by two police officers after slapping one of the boys he was chatting with.
On spotting the police officers, Basketmouth changed his tone and starting calling Oga abeg….lol!. Quite hilarious.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Akwa Ibom is fast becoming the state of choice when it comes to high-powered events in the last months of the year. Asides its highly-anticipated Christmas Carol, now a yearly ritual, it is set to host the 1st Akwa Ibom Food Festival, a high selling tourism event poised to ignite high tourism activities within and outside Akwa Ibom state, this month.
This naiden event is slated for the 26th through the 30th day of November and would be held annually in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. With a government backing through the endorsement by Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board, the event will involve all Local Government Councils as competitive participants, all eateries and fast food in Akwa Ibom, major food companies in Nigeria, food processing factories and allied products in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Tourism, the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Ministry of Tourism from different States, Outfits affiliated to food and tourism, other organizations from diverse sectors, agencies and the general public. It cuts across all spheres of the society (rich, middleclass and low income earners). With an overall prospective participation of about 30, 000 participants, it promises to be a five (5) star events.
Endorsed by the Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board, it has the potential of affecting positively all facets of tourism development in the state and country at large, promising to showcase cuisines and cultural heritage of the state.
The 1st Akwa Ibom Food Festival, themed: Health, Taste, Tourism is to be organized in Uyo by De- Noahua Tourism in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Boards who is the first and prime partner of the project..
De- Noahua Tourism is proudly Nigerian tourism outfit with professionals and expertise in organizing tourism events and showcasing strong sellable tourism brands with high professional capacity, De- Noahua Tourism has successfully carved a niche for itself in the tourism sector of Nigeria. Our past events and activities include packaging of tourism based travel to the Ashante festival in Ghana, Zulu Kingdom festival in South Africa. Coordinating travels and tours for visitors for the Argungu festival and Calabar carnival, successful hosting of coastal boat regatta competitions, Akwa cross fishing festival in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State etc. with a track record of successful events and brands, we hope to continue to remain undaunted in achieving more feats.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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