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I will privatise parts of NNPC says Waziri Atiku Abubakar

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Nigeria’s former vice president Atiku Abubakar will privatize parts of the country’s state oil company and allow the naira currency to float to attract foreign investment if elected as head of state, he told Reuters.

Abubakar said he would go further if elected president.
“I am also going to expand it to include the oil and gas sector which have not been touched at all and other major sectors of the economy like mining, solid minerals,” he said.

Abubakar said he would privatize parts of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which has been beset by decades of mismanagement and is crucial to the OPEC member’s economic fortunes. He did not specify the parts that would be privatized.
“I am a strong believer in very, very small government and also the private sector,” he said.

A drop in crude oil prices from late 2014 pushed Nigeria into its first recession in 25 years in 2016, spawning chronic dollar shortages because oil receipts make up two-thirds of government revenue and most of the country’s foreign exchange.
The economy moved out of recession last year but growth remains weak and multiple exchange rates remain in place, imposed by the central bank to support Buhari’s insistence that the naira should not be allowed to float.

“I will allow the naira to float because I believe that is one of the ways foreign direct investment can be encouraged to come in,” said Abubakar, who hopes to replicate Buhari’s 2015 feat of winning a presidential election at the fourth attempt.

NORTH POLL

Buhari, who took office in 2015, and whoever becomes president next will face challenges ranging from weak economic growth to communal violence between semi-nomadic herdsmen and farmers, as well as the Boko Haram insurgency.
Abubakar – who, like Buhari, is a Muslim from the north – said voters would welcome someone who could revive their fortunes, adding that of his three previous presidential campaigns he was only once rejected by the electorate. He was not selected as a party candidate on the other two occasions.

Parties must select their candidate by Oct. 7. The next president should be a northerner, under an unofficial power-sharing agreement under which the presidency alternates between the north and south after every two four-year terms.
Bismarck Rewane, chief executive of Lagos-based consultancy Financial Derivatives, said the former vice president’s familiarity and age could be a disadvantage.
“To upset the Buhari candidature, you need something different: someone young, energetic and charismatic. You need something distinct from the current leadership,” he said.
Abubakar lacked Buhari’s popularity in northern states and at 71, just four years younger than the president, would struggle to generate “inter-generational appeal”, Rewane said.
The UN estimates that the median age in Nigeria is 18.

Culled from (Reuters)

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Odumodublvck reveals how Don Jazzy gave him $10k the day he met him for collabo

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Odumodublvck, the Nigerian rapper, has recalled how Don Jazzy, the music producer, gave him $10,000 during one of their meetings.

In a recent interview on Beat 97.9FM, the rapper, whose real name is Tochukwu Ojogwu, said he had reached out to Don Jazzy to collaborate on his song ‘Asampete’.

The 31-year-old said he felt that the music producer’s vocals were needed to complete the track.

Odumodublvck said during his visit to Don Jazzy’s residence, he was given the money and told that he could keep all the royalties from the song.

He added that Don Jazzy even offered to be featured as an artiste on the track.

“Don Jazzy is the king of Afrobeats. But ask anybody there is nobody who is more original than Don Jazzy. Don Jazzy is an OG. Respect to my brothers Burna, Wiz, Olamide, Dave all of us used to look up to him. Like the way we used to look up to them — Wizkid and David, they used to look up to him,” he said.

“…I just hit him up. The first day we did ‘Asampere’, I recorded a vocal that sounded like Don Jazzy’s vocal and I was like Don Jazzy should do it.

“When I went to meet him, he gave me a lot of money. I have to put it out there. I tell them everywhere I go. He gave me $10,000 cash. Don no be for mouth. He still gave me vocals.

“He now told me that I can keep all the royalties and I can keep him as a featured artiste. That day, they still cooked food for me to eat. They gave me turkey. The line for ‘turkey’ was already put in the song and that was God.”

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Lil Smart files petition against Naira Marley, Zinoleesky over threat to life

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Lil Smart, the Nigerian dancer, has filed a petition against Naira Marley and Zinoleesky over the alleged threat to his life.

On December 9, Smart shared disturbing photos and videos on social media, claiming his life was in danger.

He warned that Naira Marley and Zinoleesky should be held responsible if anything happened to him.

Zinoleesky, however, denied the allegations, accusing Smart of “chasing clout”. He also threatened legal action against the dancer.

In a recent Instagram post, Smart alleged he had previously endured bullying from the singers but lacked the evidence needed to take legal action.

He said he has officially submitted his petition with the necessary evidence to the authorities and is hopeful that the legal system will grant him justice.

“This has not been the first or third time I have been experiencing this bullying. But I did not have enough evidence to face the law. Now, I thank God that I have very good evidence, and I will put everything I have in line to make sure this bullying and threat to life is stopped,” he said.

“With my evidence, I really hope that they are not too big to be apprehended and face the law. I have submitted my petition, and I have provided my evidence to the authorities. By God’s grace, the law that binds us as citizens of Nigeria will make sure I get the justice I deserve.”

Naira Marley is yet to comment on the allegations.

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Burna Boy gifts Seun Kuti custom-made diamond chain of Fela

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Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning singer, has gifted colleague Seun Kuti a custom-made diamond chain designed in the image of Fela Kuti, his legendary father.

Seun shared a photo of the intricately designed chain via Instagram on Wednesday.

In the caption, the Afrobeat star revealed that Burna Boy presented him with the gift during their first meeting

Seun also expressed his appreciation to the singer.

“From @burnaboygram with love. We actually met properly for the first time and ODOGWU send gift. Thanks bro. Big love,” he wrote.

Burna Boy has often spoken about the profound influence Fela has had on his music and career.

He once described Fela as his “inspiration and childhood hero”.

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