When I dropped my pen last week, I did not envisage that two major events would answer the questions raised in the article better than the Nigerian and foreign technocrats had done. I never thought a close evidence of the “no one in control” stance of some critical officers close to the centre of power in Nigeria could manifest so soon, at a time loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari are at their wit’s end, trying to justify why an albino can, conveniently, be called a white man by Nigerian standards.

Many of the respected apolitical professionals that sought to explain why the cleverly crafted Change slogan, which pooh-poohed even some statistically verifiable achievement claims of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, must give way for a “Change the Change” position, struggled to convince me that in 2018, we are still technically 10 years behind in socio-economic matters.

Read ful article here>> Part 1: http://www.thepointng.com/2019-are-nigerians-really-stuck-with-buhari/

Part2: http://www.thepointng.com/2019-are-nigerians-really-stuck-with-buhari-2/

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said that the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), which is a major reform of his administration to revolutionize the solid waste management sector in line with international best practices will commence in the first week of September.

The governor, who spoke at a media workshop in Lagos to sensitise journalists ahead of the take-off, said the initiative would not only change the solid waste management system in the state, but would also engender a sustainable, cleaner and healthier environment for Lagosians, just as he assured that the people would be better for it.

Governor Ambode who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said all was now set for the eventual take off, with the passage of the Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, the concession of residential waste collection and procession to a reputable and competent multinational Waste Services Company as well as the transformation of the erstwhile Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade to a more civil Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).

http://www.thepointng.com/cleaner-lagos-initiative-takes-off-next-month-ambode/

A High Court sitting in Rivers has found three persons guilty of the murder of four students who were killed in Aluu community in 2012.

Justice Nyordee of the High Court also discharged and acquitted four others, who have been standing trial for the 2012 murder.

According to the Judge, the prosecution failed to prove its case of murder against the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th accused persons beyond every reasonable doubt.

He, however, found the 1st to 3rd defendants guilty of murder.
http://www.thepointng.com/aluu-4-court-finds-three-persons-guilty/

Inspector Idris Musa, attacked by Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday, has died.
He finally gave up the ghost on Tuesday from injuries he sustained when he, along with two other police officers, came under attack of remnants of Boko Haram insurgents who were moving to attack public centres, places of worship and other locations in the Kano metropolis in the early hours of Sunday, July 23, 2017.
The Boko Haram insurgents attacked the Special Police Team with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and firearms, reports said.
The Team had repelled the attack and in the process, three insurgents sustained serious bullet wounds and three police officers were equally wounded. The Special Police Team successfully prevented the Boko Haram insurgents from carrying out their planned attacks on selected targets in Kano metropolis on the fateful date.
Checks revealed that the late Inspector of Police was a member of the Joint Police Special Team set up by the Inspector General of Police to trail, arrest and prevent the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents from regrouping to attack innocent Nigerians in Kano and other northern states.

http://www.thepointng.com/police-inspector-attacked-by-boko-haram-dies/

The German Government has donated six trained sniffer dogs and a Mercedes bus to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to boost the country’s capacity to detect concealed drugs.
German Deputy Consul General, Alexandra Herr, made the presentation in Lagos to the director of Operations and General Investigation of the Agency, Mr Olugbenga Mabo.

Herr in her remarks said that Germany was making the presentation because it is important to have the right tools to work.
“It is important to have the right tools to work and I commend the cooperation between Germany and Nigeria in combating drug trafficking through the aid of sniffer dogs. I am eager to see positive results in the canine operations of the Agency,” she said.

In his response, Mabo thanked the German Government for the support and assured that the investment would soon lead to the dismantling of more drug trafficking syndicates in the country.
“Twenty major arrests and seizures of narcotic drugs comprising cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ephedrine, and cannabis with a combined weight of 17,432kg were made with the assistance of the sniffer dogs since 2009. The contribution of Germany government has made a tremendous impact on the operations of the Agency at the airport, seaport and land borders. This additional support will ensure that more drug trafficking syndicates are dislodged” Mabo stated.

Under the German canine support project to Nigeria, three officers recently completed a 16-week basic course at the Police Dog School Neustadt, Saxony Germany. This current batch brings the total number of donated dogs since 2009 to fourteen and trained officers in dog handling proficiency to nine.
Two Toyota Hiace buses currently being used to convey the dogs to operations’ areas as well as training materials were also donated by the German Government.
http://www.thepointng.com/germany-donates-six-sniffer-dogs-bus-to-ndlea/

Popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, Charles Oputa’s distinct personality, lifestyle, and often weird views raise eyebrows any day. But he is never bordered about what people say about him or his actions. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he speaks about his lifestyle, things he learnt from his late Justice father, joy of being a grandfather and his marriage.

Why do you always call yourself a street boy despite being from a privileged background?

I have a rich heritage and thank God that I am from a privileged background. But you cannot compare that with the self-training that I have received from the streets. For me, that’s where it counts most. My upbringing didn’t prepare me for the Nigeria of today, but my street mistakes taught me important lessons.

There is no doubt in my mind that street smart kids kick book smart ones any day. And to God’s glory, I have both. To be street smart means you have situational awareness. You can assess the environment you are in, who is in it, and what the available angles are.

On the street, there is no time for being sluggish; you learn to trust your own judgment about people and what matters. This skill, regardless of where you develop it, is of great value everywhere in life. I wasn’t born in the streets, but that was where I was moulded.

Being street smart comes from experience. I see myself as a native chicken. It means I’ve learnt how to take what has happened to me, good or bad, think about it, and learn to improve from it. On the street, you are on your own. Street smart means you’ve put yourself at risk and survived or thrived or have scars. For me, Charly Boy, I have so many scars I can show you. I may have been called wild and crazy, but it’s all part of our curriculum on the streets. How much can you know of yourself well if you have not weathered the storm?

MY FATHER WAS A VERY SPECIAL MAN. ON THE BENCH, HE WAS THE SOCRATES; HIS JUDGMENTS WERE SO PROFOUND. I WAS SOMEWHAT A BIT JEALOUS OF HIM BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING OF BUILDING THE BRAND CHARLY BOY, EVERYONE JUST DISTURBED ME WITH HOW SPECIAL MY FATHER WAS. IT WAS AS IF I WASN’T SPECIAL MYSELF

Your father is widely known as a man of integrity. How did he impact on you personally?

My father was a very special man. On the bench, he was the Socrates; his judgments were so profound. I was somewhat a bit jealous of him because in the beginning of building the brand Charly Boy, everyone just disturbed me with how special my father was. It was as if I wasn’t special myself.

As a father, I learnt from him how to keep the family together and how to stay committed to your wife. Since childhood, my father was always demonstrating love with our mum. When he wasn’t kissing her, he was holding her hand. Seeing both of them challenged me to always work on my marriage. Hence, I have lived together with my wife for 38 years. He was a loving husband and father. I thank God; we shared so much together before he passed on.

Our fathers carry half of our genetic makeup. Our relationship with our father plays a huge part in who we become. People grow up without ever knowing their fathers and this is unfortunate because fathers should play important role raising their children like mothers. A father is the model of a man for his daughter and she would choose a man who is like him. A father is the model for his son as well. Fortunately, my father was very active in my life. It’s not all about what parents give to the children; it’s also about what they teach. I was brought up with an overdose of morals, value and life principles.

Initially, we were not that close, especially when I set out on my own to build the brand we all know as Charly Boy. Things fell apart. But with my tenacity, consistency, doggedness, ruggedness and tremendous focus, I won his respect. I learnt from him how to say what I mean and mean what I say. I learnt from him how to be a good friend to my children too. I learnt from him how to take care and remain loyal to my wife. I also learnt from my father that being a good person or Christian doesn’t depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin colour and political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

How have you managed to keep your marriage together in spite of the obvious distractions?

I always have my reservations about ‘happily ever after,’ especially after three previous failed marriages. I always wondered how two strangers can be together for a long time. I just woke up to discover that I have been with the same woman, the same smell, the same loving, the same routine, the same quarrel and the same lips for almost four decades.

When you are not yet married, people give you reasons why you should get married as if one could just go to the shop and pick a spouse on the shelf. Even if that was the case, how do you know what you are buying until you take it home? They tell you everything good about marriage and how interesting it can be, but they never promote the down side. ‘Just marry the right person’ is what they always say, but ‘right’ itself is relative. Who is the right person? In my village, they will always say, ‘if one wants to marry someone like yourself, you will probably wait forever.’ Sometimes, I think my wife is too good for me and some other times, I feel I should have done better.



Get it straight, marriage is no fairytale. Marriage isn’t supposed to make you happy and satisfied. It’s your job to make your marriage happy and satisfying. Same goes for sex. It isn’t supposed to make you passionate and ‘hot’. It’s up to you to make it passionate, ‘hot’ and intimate. Marriage is somewhat putting up with lots of craps and bullshit, and we must have a strong stomach for that. The word ‘marry’ is fusing two imperfect things together; so how is it possible that two imperfect things are merged? I guess it just means two people willing to be in a mess together, constantly finding a way out. Diane and I are happily incompatible and I have learnt to live with that. She is an extrovert and believe it or not, I’m an introvert.

Recently you celebrated your first grand-daughter on Instagram after she bagged a First Class degree with honours. What was the feeling like?

My own father celebrated me before he died even though it took him time to figure out how special I am. He started to introduce himself as Charly Boy’s father, not Justice Oputa.

I have 9 exceptional children and 14 grand-children. I celebrate them all the time because they are all unique in very special ways. My children are my friends; they taught me how to be a good father, as nobody really prepares you for that role. I celebrate my family all the time because family is everything for me.

I thank God daily because I know he has blessed me in so many ways people can’t even imagine. However, I have a sneaky feeling that my blessings are deserved because I have worked so hard to be a good son, a good husband and a good father.

Why did you say that prayers can’t save Nigeria?

I said that prayers alone can’t save Nigeria, for those who live in the church every day. Also, I did say that most pastors or your so-called men of God are scammers, frauds and you can’t find God in 95 per cent of the churches in Nigeria. Most Nigerian Christians are fake people as well because they are not godly.

Has prayers reduced our poverty? Has our prayers killed most of our evil leaders who have caused us great hardship? Has our prayers stopped the everyday increment in our cost of living? Why are so many young people committing suicide these days?

How can it be well when you sit in your corner and never contribute to making things well? All you do is dry fasting and the internet. And all you have to offer as a solution to your problem is, ‘God Dey.’

These days our youths are living on their phones and laptops, wasting data as if their lives depend on it. Take it from me; Jesus is not coming any time soon. God is not sending down Angels to come fix Nigeria for us. We must do it ourselves.

So you don’t believe we have credible men of God?

I am not suggesting that all men of God are tainted; but out of a hundred, you may not find more than four that live what they preach. The rest are just taking advantage of our religious ignorance, having carnal knowledge of people’s wives, defrauding the congregation and frolicking in their private jets. Some of them can’t even hold down a marriage. They are making fake promises and laugh their heads off to the banks.

Would it surprise you to know that I have read all the chapters in the Bible over 20 times? I know that true men of God do not misquote the Bible. It’s only demons who misquote or misapply the Bible. I know that God cannot punish us if we don’t pay tithe to our church because it is the goodness of our hearts that interest God than physical and financial disposition. I know that true men of God cannot promise us happiness and prosperity, all of that is a fortune-teller’s lie. There is nothing in the Bible about any “medium” that God uses to deliver such blessing.

http://www.thepointng.com/my-wife-and-i-are-incompatible-but-ive-learnt-to-live-with-that-for-38-years

‘Some cabinet members are not fit for office’

Former Petroleum Minister and one-time Education Commissioner in the old Rivers State, Professor Tam David-West, in this interview with ZAINAB ONI, comes in his elements. David-West, 81, still retains an unflinching support for President Muhammadu Buhari, blaming shortcomings in his administration on corrupt aides and incompetent managers. He also chides those bandying a rumour that Buhari is dead, cursing that they will all die before the President. Excerpts:

Some people have been calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign in view of his poor health; what is your take on this?

Those saying that, will die before Buhari. Why should they wish another person dead? Some news media are already saying that Buhari has died and I made a phone call to Abuja and London and they said nothing had happened to him. It is a bad character among Nigerians, that when a popular person falls sick, instead of wishing for his speedy recovery, they go about purporting evil rumours about that person. It is not good. I can remember TOS Benson, a great man who was proclaimed to have died in a certain year and the person that did that proclamation eventually died many years before TOS died.

The other person was the great Zik (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe). They thought he was going to die in a particular year, that some Igbo even formed a burial committee for him and the leader of the committee died the same year he died. It is a very bad attribute of the Nigerian character. They just want Buhari to die for no good reason other than that he is fighting corruption. By the grace of God, Buhari will come back to the country, very healthy, to continue his work.

OUR PROBLEM IS NOT MODULAR REFINERIES, BUT MAKING OUR REFINERIES WORK AND I TELL YOU IT CAN WORK. DURING MY TIME AS MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM, WE WERE EXPORTING FUEL BECAUSE THREE REFINERIES WERE WORKING, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BEST (OF SUCH) IN AFRICA

Do you still have faith in Buhari’s administration, especially when you consider the state of the economy presently?

Of course, I do have strong faith in the Buhari administration and talking about the state of the economy at the moment, I can tell you that Buhari is not the cause of it. I will only say that Buhari is the cause if he has changed from the person and ideals that make me like him. He has never disappointed me; he is a man of integrity – clean, straight and not corrupt, not opinionated. He once challenged Babangida on the war on corruption. When I was launching his book in Port Harcourt, he said the love for our country brought us together, that is, ‘the love for our country Nigeria brought Tam and I together.’ He said he had zero tolerance for corruption and that all was about integrity.

Buhari cannot do everything alone; this is not a military regime. People working with him should help him. Governance is a collective effort. There are lots of things going on in the country that I don’t like. With Buhari around or not, things must be done well. So long as we have a leader that is not corrupt, I have that confidence that we will pull through in Nigeria. Besides, followership also has a lot to do with good governance.

THOSE PEOPLE SAYING BUHARI IS DEAD WILL DIE BEFORE HIM. WHY SHOULD THEY WISH ANOTHER PERSON DEAD?…IT IS A BAD CHARACTER AMONG NIGERIANS, THAT WHEN A POPULAR PERSON FALLS SICK, INSTEAD OF WISHING FOR HIS SPEEDY RECOVERY, THEY GO ABOUT PURPORTING EVIL RUMOURS ABOUT THAT PERSON

Is it true you told a newspaper that some people around Buhari are corrupt?

Yes, I said so.

Who were you referring to?

I cannot tell you names. He (Buhari) should realise that too, and I told him to call some corrupt people out and tell them what they have done. Many people around him are fighting for their personal interest and the unfortunate thing is that they don’t share the same ideals with him or have the same character with him; so, that is why Nigeria is having problems.

Do you support the call that former president Goodluck Jonathan be probed?



Why not? Not because I don’t like Jonathan or his government but because any president or government that has a query for integrity should be probed. If you are doing well, I will be very happy for you. Even if you are my father and you are not doing well, I will tell you that you are not doing well.

Anybody can be probed. So far as your hands are clean, then you have no problem. Even if it is my father that wants to be probed being an ex-banker, I will let him be probed. Babangida jailed me in Kirikiri for two weeks before I was taken to the Appeal Court and found not corrupt. If you are not corrupt, probing is good for you because if you are not proven guilty, it strengthens your credential. If you are afraid of probe, then it means you have something to hide. Every leader must be probed. Every governor or minister before leaving office must be probed. You should be accountable for what you have done.

What is your view on corruption cases against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ayodele Oke, among others?

Look, I know B.D. Lawal very well. We had worked together; in fact, he had come to Ibadan to see me before. I know him but I will not say Babachir is corrupt or not corrupt. If he is confident that he is not corrupt, then they should go ahead and probe him? And it is good for him to declare his case and let the world judge whether he is corrupt or not. Nobody is above probe.

What is your view on the call for the removal of the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, after he was not confirmed by the Senate?

On Magu’s issue, I think they have this feeling that they don’t like him because he is fighting corruption. Even if you have anything against Magu, allow him to do his job. The Vice President is one of the greatest legal minds in Nigeria, being a SAN. He was the attorney general of Lagos State, a time during which he dealt with a lot of judges that were corrupt. Even if Magu is not confirmed, they will apply a legal process because it is a legal matter. If they (the senators) had looked at the constitution very well, they would have found that there are some appointments that the Senate must clear and approve or confirm, and there are others that they cannot confirm because they don’t have the powers. The Vice President had quoted the constitution for them; so if they have a problem with Magu, let them go and challenge him in the Supreme Court, rather than try to stop him from
doing his job.

Why, in your opinion, are our refineries not working yet?

The reason is due to sabotage, thereby making us to import fuel. Our refineries can work but owing to some bad people’s activities, they have been rendered inefficient. They don’t want it to work. If they had wanted it to work, it would have worked. How can someone be buying fuel when that person has a petrol station. There are 14 items that they have added on the petrol price and if they remove those items, the petrol price will crash. Why can’t the government give the NNPC the amount of petrol needed to refine for consumption, not for trade? The only thing NNPC has is just the mega stations and NNPC is buying petrol at dollar price. Let them pay for consumption cost which is very small. It does not make sense at all for NNPC to buy fuel that they produce and also buy at dollar price, not naira. It’s just like a fisherman going to catch fish and telling his wife that, ‘I will buy the fish before you cook it for me’; a very stupid idea.
http://www.thepointng.com/david-west-blows-hot-those-who-want-buhari-deadll-die-before-him/


The Federal Government said it would consider modular refineries, especially in the Niger Delta region. How workable is the idea?

Ask the government; what is the meaning of modular refineries? Is modular refinery a magic refinery? It is easier to say and not implement. See, our problem is not modular refineries, but making our refineries work and I tell you it can work. During my time as minister for petroleum, we were exporting fuel because three refineries were working, which was one of the best (of such) in Africa. I am not a superman but even if we build modular refineries, it does not stop the petrol problem we have in the country. The fundamental problem with NNPC is the management. They just believe that modular refineries are easy to build and operate, that’s all. It is not magic.

If you were to be the petroleum minister again, what would you do better?

I would not have done anything better but I know I would do my best. If I say I would do better it is as if I am positioning myself against (Dr. Ibe) Kachikwu. Kachikwu is a minister of state and I was a full minister and I had my appointment by Buhari. Then I was on Shell board of directors. There are a lot of things I will do if I can authorise them. I know that things can be done much better in the petroleum sector. For instance, I will not import fuel. I will tell Buhari to set the refineries right and bring in the right set of competent people. A renowned person in the country told me then that when crude oil had been allocated to be refined; you go and sell it. I would rather make our refineries work so that we will export it. During my time, $1.5 was equivalent to N1, now it is almost N400. That shows how badly we are doing. Remember, that was in 1984.

http://www.thepointng.com/david-west-blows-hot-those-who-want-buhari-deadll-die-before-him/

http://www.thepointng.com/gay-prostitutes-take-over-abuja-nightlife/

-Some bear female names like Amina, Asabe, Bola -Big-time politicians patronise us, gay prostitute reveals

Nightfall is an anxious moment for a group of men in Abuja, lurking around Okonjo Iweala, Ajose Adeogun and other streets in Utako. Some are usually with tiny handkerchiefs tied round their heads as scarves.

They wait by the roadside, displaying their hairy muscular legs for would-be patrons. A well powdered face with black lead eyelids and red or pink lipsticks to match give them complete female looks but with flat chests.

Some even go the extra miles of wearing ladies’ bra with artificial breast just to attract fellow men. Sometimes, they clad themselves in ladies’ gown or skirt but mostly in ladies trousers. They mimic the ladies’ gait and talk so expertly and even change their names to female names like Hassanna, Asabe, Rakia, Ngozi, Bola and Baby Love. Sometimes, these gay coin nicknames for themselves like ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Honey’ and when they see their partner, they walk hand-in-hand or with one hand on the buttock of the other partner, standing by the roadside.

They are gay prostitutes living in Utako village, located in the heart of Utako District; a high brow area of the Federal Capital Territory. Utako village is in a world of its own and many still wonder why the village still exists right in the heart of the highbrow area even though it has suffered several demolitions from the FCT Environmental Protection Agency. But often, the village resurfaces again with much vigour for businesses. Market is at its peak here mostly in the night when night crawlers retire at the numerous drinking joints in the village to relax with plates of pepper soup and beer.

Utako village is also a place of many robbery incidents. A number of patrons of the village who lost their cars to car thieves told The Point that, because of the lack of parking space, most motorists were compelled to park by the road side and this made the vehicles easily accessible to thieves.

HIGHLY PLACED MEN PARONISE US -AMINA, MALE PROSTITUTE ‘Amina’, one of the male prostitutes, in an exclusive chat with The Point, said he had been in the business for many years but refused to disclose the number of years. He said there was nothing strange in what they were doing, adding that it was only in Nigeria that gay people could not operate in the open like in other countries of the world. He noted that, even though the society seemed not to accept them, they were still being patronised by notable men in the society.

He said, “If I tell you the caliber of men patronising us here, I am sure you will not believe; but that is the truth, they come to us. They have our cell numbers, some of them even marry us and lodge us in hotels. “We are not outcasts; we are normal human beings, only that some of us are females, who found ourselves in the male body. So, our attraction to other men is nothing strange at all.”

RISKS
However, Amina lamented that, like every other business, the gay prostitute business also had its own risks. “Some of us suffer hemorrhoid, which sometimes leads to cancer of the anus and some just develop swollen stomachs and they die,” he said. He added that, in many instances, they had also fallen victim to strange men, who kidnapped them and took them to unknown places. “Some of us just disappeared; we don’t know what happened to them and we also suffered regular raid by the police. So, it’s a risky life for us, like every other person,” he revealed.

Read full story http://www.thepointng.com/gay-prostitutes-take-over-abuja-nightlife/

http://www.thepointng.com/ndlea-not-harassing-patience-jonathan/
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has described allegations of harassment by the wife of former president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, as spurious and misleading, stating that it has no case against the former First Lady.
The anti-narcotic body noted that though everybody is equal before the law, it was rather surprising that the Agency was mentioned in her petition when she was not being investigated.

Mrs. Jonathan in a petition presented before the House of representative by a lawmaker from Rivers State, Mr. Gogo Bright-Tamuno, on behalf of her lawyer, Granville Abibo, alleged that NDLEA and other agencies were constantly harassing her.
The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the session admitted the petition and referred it to the Committee on Public Petitions for hearing.

Speaking with The Point’s Correspondent was Ofoyeju Mitchell,Head, Public Affairs of the NDLEA, explained that, “NDLEA as a reputable agency of government does not harass, rather, it takes appropriate action against anyone or group of persons who contravene the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2001. This is done through painstaking investigation, arrest and prosecution of suspected drug traffickers. All operations are conducted in compliance with the rule of law and global best practices.

“The Agency reiterated its commitment to ridding the country of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. “The NDLEA remains committed to the fight against drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse. It will not harass but those who violate the provisions of the Act, no matter their status shall not go unpunished”.

http://www.thepointng.com/ndlea-not-harassing-patience-jonathan/

There was a palpable buzz in the air at the revelation by Chairman of Enyimba Football Club, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, that materials for the renovation for the Enyimba Stadium in Aba have arrived the country.
The two-time African champions have been estranged from their formidable fortress in Aba for nearly two seasons due to crucial rehabilitation work and regrassing of the pitch by the Abia State Government. Consequently, the People’s Elephants have played home games on various grounds, including Umuahia, Port Harcourt and, this season, the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
However, thanks to the commitment and tireless effort of the Abia State Government and the management, concrete plans are afoot for the return of Nigeria’s most successful club. There is now a timeline as well: it is expected that Enyimba will kick off the 2017/2018 campaign playing once more in Aba.
“The materials for the stadium have come in,” the Chairman revealed in an address to the team Friday, “and it would be good for us to return to Aba with the title. The people of Aba would then welcome us with joy.”
He elaborated, while speaking to the press, following the impressive 3-0 defeat of Niger Tornadoes at the weekend, praising the tenacity of the State Government in a harsh economic climate
“I keep commending the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for his commitment,” said Anyansi-Agwu. “It is not easy. The reconstruction came at a very difficult moment: when the contract was awarded, the dollar was at a particular level; subsequently, it has shot up, but he is still committed to it.
“It might also interest you to know that the materials for final laying of the grass have arrived. So, the contractor has given the signal: as soon as the container is cleared, the job will be completed. We are very hopeful that the team will start the new season in Aba, come next season.”
He also seized the opportunity to reiterate his belief and confidence in the coaching crew, led by Technical Adviser Gbenga Ogunbote, to deliver on the mandate laid down by the club. A quest for an eighth league title hit a bump with last weekend’s defeat to Akwa United in Uyo, but there remains an assurance in the resolve of the team to peak at the right time going into the final stretch.
“I love coach [Ogunbote], and we are working together to ensure that he succeeds. His success is mine as well.
“We have given him more leeway than any other coach who has worked here in my time as Chairman, because we believe in his abilities,” the Chairman concluded.
http://www.thepointng.com/enyimba-stadium-ll-be-ready-soon-says-anyansi-agwu/

http://www.thepointng.com/sars-operative-dies-four-others-seriously-injured-in-ogun-auto-crash/

A policeman attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Rafiu Olaoye, has been killed in an auto crash at Showo village along the Abeokuta/Sagamu Expressway of Ogun State.
Four of his colleagues also sustained various degrees of injuries in the accident.
The Public Relations Officer, Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the occurrence of the auto crash to our correspondent.
Akinbiyi said that the accident, which occurred at about 1:25pm on Tuesday, involved a Honda CRV with registration number LSD 191 ET, which collided with a truck.
The TRACE spokesman stated that the driver of the Honda car, which rammed into the truck when it was trying to make an illegal U-turn back to Sagamu, died immediately.
He said, "The Honda CRV has five occupants, all SARS officers, four male and one female, but unfortunately, the driver of the Honda CRV died.
" The truck was trying to make an illegal U-turn back to Sagamu without trafficating before the Honda car rammed into it from the back, " Akinbiyi said.
The TRACE PRO noted that the victims had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, where they were receiving treatment.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi also confirmed the occurrence of the crash.
Oyeyemi, an assistant superintendent of police, said that the SARS officers were involved in the auto crash while on their way back from Sagamu, where they had gone for a court proceedings.
He, however, identified the deceased SARS officer as Olaoye.

http://www.thepointng.com/sars-operative-dies-four-others-seriously-injured-in-ogun-auto-crash/

Following his arrest, kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, aka Evans, was on Sunday paraded in Lagos by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

Evans was arrested on Saturday in his mansion in Magodo Estate, Lagos, after a shootout with operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and men of the Lagos State Police Command.

Before the arrest, he was said to have made several moves to escape but for the bravery of the IRT operatives, led by ACP Abba Kyari, that tamed him.

Owoseni, who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Moshood Jimoh, paraded Evans alongside six members of his gang namely, Nwosu Chukwuma, aka Sudo, 42; Suoyo Paul aka Nwana, 42; Felix Chinemerem, 36; Ikenna Emeka, 28; Uchechukwu Amadi and Ogechi Amadi.

Evans had been on police wanted list over series of kidnapping cases in the last seven years.

While being paraded before newsmen, Evans confessed to having masterminded 10 kidnappings. The 36-year-old, who dropped out in Junior Secondary School 2, also confessed to have got $1m ransom from his last operation.

http://www.thepointng.com/i-acquired-choice-properties-in-magodo-accra-with-kidnap-ransom-evans/

All is now set for elections into the 42 National Sports Federations.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Nigeria Olympic Committee were given the all clear by the House of Representatives Committee on Sports at the National Assembly.
In his submission, the Technical Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Danburam Abubakar Nuhu argued that the Ministry had not erred in the dissolution of the federations in May this year.
“As chairman of the technical committee, I do have information that I wish to share with the House. The Ministry is trying to correct the mistakes of the past. According to the Olympic Charter, elections are supposed to be held after every Olympic Games. Elections were due to be held in 2012 immediately after the Olympics but it was held in 2013 and likewise in 2016. The federations were supposed to be dissolved immediately after the Olympic Games but elections are now taking place in 2017. Now, the Ministry has seen what needs to be done to correct an abnormality.
“We heard that a batch was inaugurated around May while another batch was inaugurated in November or thereabout. The tenure of every federation is supposed to be 4 years but they must also respect the rules of the law which states that there must be elections after every Olympics. The elections were due since last year. What the Ministry is trying to do shouldn’t be seen as an illegality but seen as trying to correct an abnormality in line with the Olympic Charter. If this is so, then the matter should be put to rest,” Danburam stated.
The Secretary General of the NOC, Tunde Popoola also told the committee that the NOC, the umbrella body of all federations is compelled to have a good working relationship with the government as stated in the IOC code of Ethics and Charter Principle 7.
“Harmonious relationship with government; Governments, constituents of the Olympic movement, other sports organizations and stakeholders have a complimentary mission and should work together towards the same goals.”
Popoola said that the greatest partners of the NOC and the Federations is the government.
He explained that elections were held for the 24 Olympic sports and another for those known as ‘concession’ sports.

http://www.thepointng.com/house-of-reps-cleared-sports-ministry-noc-on-nsf-elections/

http://www.thepointng.com/police-arrest-man-with-fresh-human-parts-in-osun/


It was a gory sight at the headquarters of the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo, when the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, paraded a suspect, Ajibade Rasheed, allegedly caught with fresh human parts.
Adeoye told journalists on Wednesday that the suspect, aged 38, was apprehended by policemen at Olu-Ode area of Osogbo, the state capital.
The police commissioner said, "A fresh head of a woman, intestine, lung, vagina, liver and a bottle containing blood were recovered from the suspect in his car with registration number LSD 987 DJ."
The victim, who was mute throughout the parade, had in his possession some bottles filled with some substances suspected to the charms.
Adeoye, therefore, said that investigation had commenced to identify the victim.
He also assured that the matter would be properly investigated and that the suspect would be prosecuted accordingly.



http://www.thepointng.com/police-arrest-man-with-fresh-human-parts-in-osun/

For Chief Olabode George, assessing the mid-term performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was an occasion to take a swipe at fellow politicians who got on the wrong side of his person. Assuredly, former Lagos State governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, got his doses of George’s scathing remarks.

But the worst hit is the current minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who is a former governor of the state.

George, looking at the performance of Fashola, simply sneered, saying, “even when he was the governor of Lagos State, he was at best the Governor of Surulere, as he concentrated development on Surulere, where he comes from!”



Response, is due from Fashola.

http://www.thepointng.com/george-to-fashola-you-were-a-surulere-governor/

When I look around and listen to stories of how men turn their wives to punching bags all in the name of insecurity and inferiority complex, I always remember my own story. I have shared it with some friends and made them laugh throughout the day. But, to me, it is not a funny story, but something I had to do to end a trend that could have led to my untimely death.

There are so many women out there, who have become handicapped as a result of constant beating. Some have even lost their lives. Yet, many of those stories have not been told because those involved are not celebrities. While some celebrities come out bold to expose this anomaly even when it would splash some mud on them, others still keep quiet to avoid scandal. I was also like the latter group during my first few years in marriage.

We were a group of three friends, who got married to three friends. We all attended the same university and were known almost everywhere as one family. The men and two of us (ladies) graduated at the same time, while I graduated a year after them. Despite the fact that they served in different parts of the country, they maintained their relationships, and I maintained mine too.

However, out of the three male friends, my husband was the one that treated his partner (me) anyhow. I was also the most gentle among the three ladies. After my university education, I aborted two pregnancies for him. When the third one came, and he said I should abort again, his friends, who had settled down with my two other friends, stood up against it, saying they would go and tell his family members about me and the pregnancy.

They were very angry with him and accused him of being wicked. One of them actually told him that he would have allowed me to go since if he knew that he was not ready for marriage with me. Truly, they went to his mother and she called for me. Somehow, the wedding plans started and we got marriage in a quiet ceremony.

I was five months gone when we got married, but I was happy that I would have the baby as a legally married wife. My two friends, who had two children each for their husbands, never left my side. But they were always not happy the way my husband treated me. The first day he would beat me mercilessly was in my eighth month.

Our pumping machine had a fault, so I usually fetched water directly from the well very early in the morning for the two of us to use. He had taken a bath that morning, so I went to fetch my own water, so that I could also take a bath and go to work.

Continue reading
http://www.thepointng.com/i-dont-regret-beating-my-husband/

http://www.thepointng.com/twelve-fake-tax-collectors-arrested-in-oyo/


Twelve suspected fake tax collectors operating within the Ibadan metropolis were on Tuesday arrested by a combined team of policemen from the Oyo State command and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The suspected illegal tax collectors were rounded up at the revenue office at the Onireke area of Ibadan and were moved from there to the office of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, where they were paraded before newsmen.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue Generation, Mr. Biyi Oloko, said that the action of those arrested contravened the policy of the present administration in the state, adding that a Special Task Force set up by the government made the arrest possible.
He, therefore, charged residents of the state to be wary, when accosted by any person or groups demanding payment of revenue from them.
One of the arrested suspects, who identified himself as Kola Ali, declared that they were on contract agreement for the job with the Oke Ibadan North Local Council Development Area.
He insisted that they were not illegal officials as they were operating with the full knowledge and permission of the newly created LCDA.
When contacted on the telephone, the Caretaker Chairman of Oke Ibadan North Local Council Development Area, Samuel Ajadi, admitted that those arrested were engaged by the council for tax collection, but the council had yet to inform the state board of internal revenue. Read full story below


http://www.thepointng.com/twelve-fake-tax-collectors-arrested-in-oyo/

http://www.thepointng.com/boy-16-alleges-rape-by-inmates-at-kirikiri-prisons/


A teenager has revealed how he was allegedly raped several times by inmates while being remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos.

The victim, simply identified as Bashua (surname withheld), said that the incident occurred in 2014, when he was just 16 years old.

He accused policemen of doctoring his age to ensure that he was arraigned and sent to prison.

Bashua had recently regained his freedom through the intervention of a nongovernmental organization, the Stephen and Solomon Foundation, under the leadership of a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Giwa Amu. Bashua, a secondary school student, said he was returning home from a coaching class, when he was arrested by a team of policemen.

According to him, he was later charged to court for an offence he did not commit. He said, “I was remanded at the Kirikiri Prison and experienced being locked with over 100 inmates, who were older than me. I was molested sexually. I was defiled several times in a day.

“They would tell me not to cry. I was in remand for one month and those days were hell for me.

“I was going home from Epe after a coaching class, when a team of policemen on patrol, arrested me at Obalende and took me to Bar Beach Police Station, Victoria Island.

“The police kept me in a cell with other boys and suspects for one week. I was arrested on November 20, 2014.

Read full story here>>

http://www.thepointng.com/boy-16-alleges-rape-by-inmates-at-kirikiri-prisons/

http://www.thepointng.com/4-years-after-completion-abandoned-multi-million-naira-nff-building-stirs-hot-controversy/

Federation shops for N175.9m to renovate unused structure
Stakeholders call for probe; say it’s monumental corruption
We’re in no hurry to occupy building – NFF
Almost four years after it was completed and commissioned, the Sunday Dankaro House, a N350 million edifice built for the Nigerian Football Federation at the Abuja National Stadium, stands abandoned.

The facility, which is located at the Goal Project centre of the stadium and was built with funds raised from the private sector by a presidential task force, has now become “home to reptiles and bats,” according to findings by our correspondents.

The situation has generated heated controversy among stakeholders, who have called on the Federal Government to probe the refusal of the NFF to occupy the building, noting that it was important for Government to curb the antics of those who have perfected the art of wasting public resources in a bid to feather their own nests.

During a visit to the abandoned office, midweek, a stakeholder, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, corroborated The Point’s findings, as he bemoaned the present state of the facility.

He said, “You can see that the structure is now gradually losing some of its glass boards, which once gave the complex some uniquenessin outlook. As we speak, it has lost all the removables affixed before; they are gradually making a carcass of this edifice.

“Except that the gate is padlocked, there is nothing to show that NFF remembers that it has this building. It has now become a home for reptiles and bats.”

The NFF had, for long, been holed up in its Glass House office in Zone 7, Wuse, Abuja, while it keeps picking and postponing at will, several possible dates of relocation to the property.

This is besides allegations making the rounds that some NFF members are profiting from the continued occupation of the Glass House as against moving to the Federation’s permanent and more befitting office.

In the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Nigeria’s late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua had inaugurated a Presidential Task Force committee to raise funds for the country’s participation at the competition. Chaired by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, other members of the PTF committee were Alhaji Abba Yola, Dr. Patrick Ekeji; Segun Odegbami, John Masteroudes, former Presidential Spokeperson, Olusegun Adeniyi; Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Larry Izamoje, Col Abdulmumini Aminu (retd), John Fashanu and Ambassador Buba Ahmed, among others.

The then President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Mallam Sani Lulu, was also appointed to represent the body before he was replaced by Aminu Maigari, his successor.

The committee swung into action, courted the private sector and succeeded in raising funds to the tune of N1billion. With the committee’s support and funding, Nigeria qualified for the tournament.

Thereafter, it assisted the NFF in its preparations for and participation in the January 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola.

Our correspondent gathered that part of the funds were deployed in hiring a foreign technical manager to prosecute the World Cup as well as in increasing the match bonus for Super Eagles players by 100 per cent throughout the entire period. However, following the conclusion of the World Cup in South Africa in July 2010, the committee still had about N350 million remaining in its account.


Read more >> http://www.thepointng.com/4-years-after-completion-abandoned-multi-million-naira-nff-building-stirs-hot-controversy/

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http://www.thepointng.com/17736-2/

One artiste that cannot stop praising the ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Obot Akpabio, is MC Galaxy, who described him as supportive.

MC Galaxy, whose real name is Innocent Udeme Udofot, told The Point that Akpabio ‘blesses’ everyone that comes his way.

He says, “If you have chance to meet him and give him good reasons to do something for you, he would do it. And he does not care where you come from. When I did album launch last two years, which was my birthday too, he attended and gave me a car. He is the type who supports you. If he finds out you are into drugs, he would scold you. He could talk to you for hours, telling you reasons to stay away from drugs.”

While admitting that the senator has been supportive, he says he is not the source of his wealth as most people think.

“If I have people who are investing heavily on my music, I would be the Number One in Africa. I invest on my business myself. Most people do not know the private shows I do that fetch me money; you will hardly see me in all these free big shows.”

http://www.thepointng.com/17736-2/

http://www.thepointng.com/no-economy-grows-without-smes-gtbank-gmd/
Group Managing Director of GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, in this interview with ABIOLA ODUTOLA, explains the importance of having easy access to loans by operators in the Small and Medium Enterprise. He also talks about the real sector, its benefits to the economy, as well as concerted efforts with Etisalat, towards rescheduling the telecoms company’s indebtedness to GTB. Excerpts:

Last year, you promised that your bank would grow its retail and Small and Medium Enterprise businesses for that year. But at the end of 2016, your SME deposit was only about 10.6 per cent and your risk assets in the sector were below two per cent. What is responsible?

SME is a sector we believe strongly in because we understand that any economy cannot grow without supporting SMEs; but it is also an area you don’t just jump into without understanding the parameters.

We are driving our participation in the sector because last year, we recorded about 1.5 per cent in terms of loan. Our participation will continue to grow but it will never become a large percentage because of the way our loan book is.

How is your loan book designed?

It is 72 per cent corporate. Our strategy is to ensure we give 10 per cent of our loan book to SMEs. It is gradual but we are optimistic we will meet our target in the next five years.

It appears that it is the banking sector alone that is making profit across other sectors of the economy. Critics argue that banks are not responsive to other sectors. The banks, they say, are not lending, especially to the real sector. What is your take on this?

I am not sure it is true that it is only the banks that are making profits in the economy. The reason it appears that way is that the banks are quoted companies and they have to publish their results. Operators in the fast-moving consumer goods, telecoms, oil and gas are also making profits because they feed on a population that is large and consuming.

Do you believe banks give adequate loans to the real sector?

Real sector differs from country to country. The real sector is where you have a competitive advantage as a country. In some parts of the world, you might classify building airplanes and ships as the real sector. So it depends on the comparative advantage a country has over others that determines what its real sector is and we believe we are lending to the real sector. About 72 per cent of loan are given to the real sector, while 10 per cent goes to the retail.

What is the update on the Etisalat loan; have you restructured it. If not, why?

Both regulators, Nigeria Communication Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria are involved in the case. So as a bank, we are not saying too much about it. What I can say is that as at February 2017, Etisalat had met all its loan repayment requirements. Hopefully, with the guidance of the regulators, the bank and Etisalat will be able to conclude the restructure terms before the next loan repayment.

http://www.thepointng.com/no-economy-grows-without-smes-gtbank-gmd/

http://www.thepointng.com/fresh-crisis-hits-mfb-lose-168bn-in-6-months-investigation

Over 50% may lose operating licenses
Experts blame crisis on bad loans, insider dealings
Following the liquidity crisis that rocked the Microfinance Bank sub-sector of the Nigerian economy in 2009, leading to the closure of many of the banks, the sector may yet be thrown into fresh crisis owing to liquidity issues.

According to investigations by our correspondent, a reasonable percentage of the over 980 MFBs currently operating in the country are in bad shape due to a combination of factors.

Prime among the factors are high exposure to non-performing loans and lack of corporate governance, which had heavily impaired their capital base.

Others included insider dealings, incompetent boards, poor asset-liability management owing to portfolio mismatch, and failure to meet matured obligations to customers.

According to figures obtained from an impeccable source at the Central Bank of Nigeria, specifically, the MFBs have collectively lost about N168 billion over the last six months in 2016 due to their exposure to nonperforming loans.

The figures, which the source said were extracted from a CBN report on MFBs, also showed that from a total asset of N455.96 billion recorded by the end of June 2016, the worth of the assets of the 980 MFBs collectively dropped to N341.68 billion, as at close of business in December 2016.

In addition to this, their shareholders’ funds decreased by about 60 per cent, falling from N135.09 billion to N67.12 billion within the period under review, just as the total deposit liabilities dropped from N191.25bn as of June 2016 to N156.29bn as of December 31, 2016.

The discoveries come in spite of the CBN directive that shareholders’ fund should not be depleted beyond 40 per cent and that the financial institutions must ensure they lay less emphasis on collaterals in granting credits as against the application of stringent maintenance of capital funds.

Checks by our correspondent, however, revealed that the apex bank’s directive and threat to sanction or withdraw the licenses of erring institutions have had little or no impact in discouraging some members of management of the MFBs from flouting corporate governance principles over the years.

This, according to our source, is because the management of some of the MFBs have continued to beat the CBN and in some cases, offered gifts to officials of the apex bank, especially the ones that are in charge of auditing their accounts, to cover up their nefarious acts.

Read full story here > http://www.thepointng.com/fresh-crisis-hits-mfb-lose-168bn-in-6-months-investigation/

http://www.thepointng.com/police-shoot-student-union-leader-15-others-during-protest-in-kogi/
The Student Union Government of the Kogi State University, Ayingba, has alleged that the Speaker of Joint Campus Committee, Mr. Usman Attaja, and 15 other students, were shot by some armed policemen during a peaceful protest by the students early on Wednesday over the closure of all state-owned higher institutions.

“The protest was meant to be a peaceful campaign but it was dispersed when policemen started shooting and firing tear gas at us. We had to run for our lives. The injured students have been taken to a nearby hospital,” an eye witness who pleaded anonymity, said.

Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, has warned the Governor of the state, Mr. Yahaya Bello, not to test the will or the resolve of Nigerian workers to see through the task of preserving democracy in the state.

“We find it necessary to state that tertiary institutions owned by the Kogi State have been on strike for over six months over unpaid salaries. In the said period, the students took it upon themselves to mediate between the workers and the government.

“Whereas the workers were ready to make concessions, the government refused to shift ground. The impact of the strike on all the parties has been great, with the students worse hit. We find it saddening that instead of commending the students for their initiative and patriotism, the state government elected to criminalise the peaceful protest.

http://www.thepointng.com/police-shoot-student-union-leader-15-others-during-protest-in-kogi/

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http://www.thepointng.com/serena-takes-maternity-leave

Tennis superstar, Serena Williams, has been confirmed pregnant and she will be taking maternity leave through the rest of 2017.
Her spokeswoman said Serena is expected to give birth this fall, in an announcement that upended a sport the 35-year-old athlete has dominated for the past decade.
The confirmation came hours after Williams, due to regain to the No. 1 world ranking next week, set off a day of frenzied speculation with a short-lived selfie posted on social media – posing for a photo in a yellow one-piece swimsuit on Snapchat with the caption: “20 weeks.”
Williams deleted the photo shortly after it appeared and waited more than six hours to make any public comment, stoking debate among tennis fans about whether or not she was joking.
“I’m happy to confirm Serena is expecting a baby this fall,” Los Angeles-based publicist Kelly Bush Novak said.
Bush Novak told Reuters that Williams intended to sit out the remainder of the 2017 season and return next year.
Williams, the world’s highest paid female athlete, announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian last December.
Days ago she seemed to stir and quell speculation about impending motherhood with an Instagram post praising a newly published guidebook for new mothers by former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, adding in the caption: “One of these days I hope to apply this (but for now I’ll stick to my dog Chip).”
If Williams is indeed 20 weeks into her term, that would mean she was approximately two months pregnant when she captured her record 23rd Grand Slam tournament singles title at the Australian Open in January.
Her victory over older sister Venus Williams broke a tie with Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam singles championships in the sport’s modern era. Serena Williams has not played since then, citing a knee injury.
Fans and celebrities reacted with a mixture of awe and glee to Williams’ Snapchat post.
“Serena Williams was pregnant when she won her 23rd grand slam tournament at the Australian Open. And did not drop ONE SET. Let that sink in,” wrote Twitter user @noelleharmony.
“So Serena cheated,” Trevor Noah, the host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, wrote on his Twitter account. “Because that’s technically a doubles match.”
http://www.thepointng.com/serena-takes-maternity-leave/

http://www.thepointng.com/rio-games-organisers-still-in-debt/

Rio’s Olympic and Paralympic organisers still owe at least R$87 million (£21.9 million/$28 million/€26.2 million) in outstanding payments to suppliers and third parties contracted for last year’s Games.
Rio 2016 organisers are due to drastically reduce in size and vacate their headquarters in June, but will not be able to cease operating as a legal entity until all outstanding payments are made and ongoing legal cases are resolved.
Communications director Mario Andrada admitted to Bloomberg earlier this month that they are attempting to negotiate with individual suppliers.
They are also offering payment in materials such as air conditioners, portable energy units and electrical cables instead of or in addition to cash.
“Some of the suppliers, especially those connected to overlay, have been offered payment in materials,” Andrada added to insidethegames today.
“They are very keen to have brand new air conditioning units, for instance.”
Andrada has admitted that Rio are still attempting to negotiate discounts as well as payments in installments.
“We can only shut down after we pay everybody,” he said.
“Our goal is still to reach agreements with everybody.
“We want to honour all commitments.

http://www.thepointng.com/rio-games-organisers-still-in-debt/