Connect with us

Celebrities

I will privatise parts of NNPC says Waziri Atiku Abubakar

Published

6 years ago

on

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)

Related Topics:

Celebrities

Nickie Dabarbie calls out Skiibii for attempting to use her for money rituals (Video)

Published

10 hours ago

on

April 19, 2024 10:35 am

By

Nickie dabarbie calls out Skiibii for attempting to use her for money rituals

Nigerians have been left in confusion as popular social media influencer Precious Kingsley, popularly known as Nicki dabarbie uploaded a concerning video on her Instagram page.

In the video she posted, Nickie dabarbie was clearly distraught, and she kept on saying that the men in the video wanted to use her for money rituals. The name she kept chanting throughout the video was Skiibii, and she said the whole ‘Mayana’ family was doing money rituals, and that is how they got money to buy cars.

If there was any doubt as to whether it was the singer Skiibii she was referring to, the name ‘Mayana’ is a clear indication that she was referring to him because it is a slogan that he uses a lot.

Although the video wasn’t very clear, if you look closely, you can see that the room she was making the video from was in complete disarray.

There were shards of broken glass all over the floor, and at some point in the video, you could hear one of the men asking her why she’s stepping on broken glass.

One of the men in the video kept on asking ‘which kain highness be this’, thereby insinuating that she was intoxicated. He also asked her to leave and go home, insinuating that she was not in her house in the first place.

Throughout the video, Nickie dabarbie kept on chanting names of girls that were allegedly used for rituals by a man named Skibbi. She said that her ‘head was too strong’, and that is why they were not able to use her for rituals.

One of the men approached Nicki dabarbie with a bottle of water in hand, and she immediately screamed hysterically that he shouldn’t pour the water on her.

The video ended with Nicki dabarbie praying furiously and screaming out her lungs.

Skiibii hasn’t responded to the allegations laid against him by the influencer, and it still isn’t clear whether he was in the video because it was a bit hazy.

This isn’t the first time Nickie dabarbie is being involved in drama, as not too long ago, she was involved in a fight with fellow influencer Cute Gemini.

Their fight got so serious that Nickie dabarbie was arrested and spent a few days in prison. When she got out, her fans hailed her for being strong, while they rained curses on Cute Gemini.

Continue Reading

Celebrities

Rihanna seeks Ayra Starr collaboration — after working with Tems

Published

1 day ago

on

April 18, 2024 4:25 pm

By

Rihanna, the award-winning Barbadian music star, says she wants to work with Ayra Starr, the Nigerian singer.

The music stars recently met at the Fenty X Puma party in London, where they both exchanged pleasantries.

During the chat, Starr told the ‘Umbrella’ hitmaker that Barbados, Rihanna’s home country, is her “favourite place in the world”.

Oh her part, Rihanna confessed she had only heard of Starr through her cousin’s obsession with her music.

“I have been hearing of Ayra Starr, I did not know who but my cousin she was like, ‘Oh my God I got this from Ayra Starr.’ She was obsessed with you,” she said.

She also inquired if the Nigerian songstress has a project with Tems, her colleague.

Starr confirmed that collaborations are in the works, but none have been released yet.

Rihanna responded by playfully expressing her interest in collaborating with the singer, saying, “You got an extra verse for me? Call me”.

In 2022, Rihanna collaborated with Tems, who contributed to the writing of ‘Lift Me Up’, the celestial ballad for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

Starr previously expressed her desire to collaborate with Rihanna, describing the US singer as her “queen”.

She added that she loves her music, stating it boosts her confidence.

Continue Reading

Celebrities

‘Not see you for 6 months, impossible’ — Davido reacts to Cubana Chief Priest’s bail

Published

2 days ago

on

April 17, 2024 3:37 pm

By

Davido, the Afrobeats star, has shown his support for Cubana Chief Priest after the nightlife promoter was granted bail by a Lagos court.

On Tuesday, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives filed a three-count charge against the social media celebrity over alleged naira abuse.

Cubana, born Pascal Okechukwu, is accused of spraying and tampering with the naira at a social event — contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

He was later arraigned at the federal high court in Lagos.

When the charges were read during court sitting, the social media celebrity pleaded not guilty to them.

Kehinde Ogundare, the judge, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The judge ruled that the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days.

Cubana was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. He will be remanded in a correctional facility if his lawyer fails to do so.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the nightlife promoter thanked his supporters for their show of love during the trial.

“Seeing all your messages and love, I am so humbled. Now it is confirmed CP no small. Money na water,” he wrote.

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...