Entertainment: Stop Arguing, SEE NIGERIA’S TOP LIST OF THE 20 RICHEST MUSICIANS AND THEIR NET WORTH

SEE NIGERIA’S TOP 20 RICHEST MUSICIANS AND THEIR NET WORTH

Music has been paying heavily in Nigeria for the past ten years. No wonder average Nigerian youths sees music as the quick means to wealth and fame. Why not! When a good number of artistes have risen from nothing to something over the years, enjoying wealth that can only be imagined by average people. The question is Who is the richest among these musicians and how much are they worth?

In music, your popularity determines your worth, you don’t make poo if you are not popular. How do we determine the popularity of an artiste? Do not let their noises or that of their fans deafen your ears, some aren’t worth that much, while some worth so much.
The number one means of knowing how popular a musician or music is, is by checking out it’s YouTube stat. If you are popular, it will show on your YouTube views, no manipulation. And if you have a great stat on YouTube, you are a great artiste, making good money.
Another means is through awards but since most music awards are heavily manipulated, we are going to skip awards and use other means such as endorsement and ability to pull crowed and command good appearance fee. Self promotion isn’t gonna count in this rating.
Here I present to you the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria and their estimated net worth. This list is the most detailed and most accurate you can find anywhere on the internet. Enjoy!

20. Patoranking – This guy is making name for himself in the music industry in Nigeria and it’s not surprising that he made the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria despite that it’s not been quite long since he breaks into the limelight.
His hit song (Girlie O) featuring Tiwa Savage has grossed over 4 million views on YouTube as the time this article was being written. Patoranking’s net worth is estimated to be – N350,000,000

19. Olamide – One of the craziest rapper in Nigeria and Africa. So crazy he called himself Badoo. Olamide has built name and fortune for himself in the music industry in Nigeria. Right from the first day I heard him first song, I knew he was gonna make it in the music industry.
His song with the highest YouTube views is “Eleda Mi” with 1.2 million views. He was able to over take Patoranking due to the fact he has multiple single with collective views of more than 5million. He is believed be to be the mastermind behind the rise of Shoki. Olamide’s current net worth is put at – N560,000,000

18. Chidinma Ekile – Chidinma has one thing going for her – she is extremely likeable. That alone has skyrocketed her take home performance fees and worth to an enviable position. From a mere contestant in MTN Project Fame to a household name in Nigeria, Chidinma has created wealth that her peers could only dream about.
Her biggest video to date is “Kedike” with 1.2 million YouTube hit, followed by “Oh Baby” featuring Falvour with 600,000 views. And collective views of about 5 million. Chidinma’s net worth is put at – N572,000,000

17. Duncan Mighty – He has refused to step an inch away from the Niger Delta oil. With unique beats, superior voice quality, and dance step to match, Duncan Mighty is considered one of the most successful artistes ever come out of the Niger Delta.
He most popular song on YouTube.com is “Obianuju” and “Port Harcourt Boy” which has collective views of 3.1 million. With strong affiliation to the Niger Delta politicians, Duncan mighty is estimated to worth – N700,000,000.

16. Yemi Alade – How she made it? I don’t know, but she is currently the biggest female musician in Nigeria after Tiwa Savage and may overtake Tiwa in a couple of years if not months. The first day I heard “Jonny” played in my car by one of the Nigerian F.M Station, I knew something serious was about to hit us.
Yemi currently has the most successful and most popular music video by any African female artiste on YouTube. The total views for “JONNY” as at this time is 13,435,171. Yemi Alade’s current net worth is N820 million.

15. Ice Prince – He broke into the limelight with “Oleku” featuring Brymo which currently has 3.1 million views on YouTube. Ice Prince Zamani is one of the finest rapper in Nigeria. To me, he is better than M.I in terms of flow.
Few days ago, the picture of when he was younger and hustling hit the internet and you can see how far she has been transformed from a naive young boy to a world class superstar! Ice prince net worth is – N870,000,000.

14. Phyno – The only hardcore rapper I’ve ever seen in Africa. He does it like no other, providing new dimension to rap music in Nigeria. Phyno is to the Igbos what Olamide is for Yorubas but he does it in a completely different fashion. So good that rap haters like me is forced to like rap music.
Phyno is a genius. Everyone wants to collaborate with Phyno for good reasons. He is hot in the market. Phyno’s net worth is put at – N900,000,000.

13. Tiwa Savage – Welcome the queen of music in Nigeria, the sexy mama, the first lady of Mavins Record! Tiwa Savage is among the very few Nigerian artistes whose average video is grossing over 1 million on YouTube. She currently has about five videos with more than a million views each. Eminado is currently doing 7+ million.
Her net worth is – N970,000,000 and may soon crossover to billion in this rating within the next couple of months.

12. KCee – Currently making serious wave in the Nigerian music scene, KCee, formerly a member of the KCPresh is one of the most fortunate guys in the industry. He picked the right beat at the right time, and the rest has become history.
His hit songs “Limpopo” and “Pull Over” are currently on 14.5 million views collectively on YouTube. KCee net worth is – N983,000,000

11. M.I – Regarded as the most successful rap artiste ever in Africa, M.I has built a reputation that will be too difficult for anyone to surmount. He is among the major stakeholders in Chocolate City Records and is credited with the rise to fame of Ice Prince Zamani.
For the sake of the record label and the stars that came through it, we are placing MI at number 11 on this list. His current net worth is – N988,000,000.

10. Timaya – Timaya’s vocal power is unmatched in the industry. He is one one the best and probably the most successful music star ever come out of the Niger Delta area. Far more successful than Daniel Wilson and others. He is truly the “Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa”.
One of his hit track “Sanko” is about to hit 2 million views while his biggest hit “Bum Bum” featuring Sean Paul has already grossed over 16 million on YouTube. Timaya net worth is – N1.1billion

09. Banky W – Two best music videos ever done in Nigeria to his credit (Lagos Party and Wizkid’s Holla at ur Boy) and a serious record label of his own, Banky W is surely a force to reckon with in the Music business in Nigeria.
From Etisalat to Samsung, he has the knack to land juicy endorsement deals anytime. Started with a copycat of Rihanna’s song, he graduated to international superstar, doing original songs and winning awards. Banky W net worth is – N1.8 billion.

08. Wizkid – From a backup [like] artiste to Banky W, Wizkid was transformed into international mega star by just one music video – Holla at ur Boi! That video created the defining moment in his career and today, he is the Wizkid you and I know.
Widely regarded as the Austine Bieber of Nigeria, Wizkid one of the stars in the industry that many upcoming artistes look up to, to be just like him. What he lacks in vocal talent, he makes up in personality appeal. Wizkid net worth is – N2.3 billion.

07. Iyanya – From a hungry project fame ex-winner to international famous superstar within the space of three years. Iyanya has shown that if you want to be successful in Nigeria, give them what they want and you will be blessed with wealth.
Iyanya’s hit song (“Kukere” complete with it’s one unique dance step) currently has more than 15 million views on YouTube. His net worth is – N2.5 billion.

06. Davido – What he lacks in physical appeal, he makes up with great vocal talent – the twisted version of Wizkid. Davido is one musician in Nigeria that I so much like his vocal talent, he is a singer and song maker extraordinaire.
His two songs “Aye” and “Gobe” are currently having 15 million and 11 million respectively on YouTube. Son of a politician and business man, Davido’ net worth is – N2.9 billion.

05. Tu Face – The one everyone respects in the industry. Tu Face has become the present day legend in African pop culture. By the time he hangs his trumpet, he will be studied in universities across Africa. African Queen remains his biggest hit ever, meaning that this legend lives largely in the past glory
He has not been able to do another song more popular than the famous African Queen or even close to it’s popularity. But what he lacks in hit songs, he makes up in reproduction, building future generation of Idibias. Tu Face net worth is – N4.5 billion.

04. D’Banj – From life in the streets of The United Kingdom to MoHit and one of the biggest superstar Nigeria has ever seen. D’Banj has proved that what you need to become successful is in you. You don’t need to look for it elsewhere, it’s within you.
His biggest song ever is the last song produced by Don Jazzy, Oliver Twist. It dethroned P-Square’s songs temporally in 2013 as the highest viewed Nigerian song on YouTube before Personally from P-Square reclaimed the number one spot. D’Banj net worth is – N5 billion.
03. Flavour – Virtually every artistes in the industry has featured Flavour in the songs. His vocal ability is unrivaled. He is one of the very best the industry has ever seen. From the moment he picked up the guitar, you now he is destined to the top. Flavour Nabalia is one like no other and no one could mimic him successfully no matter how hard you try. He is the one and only Flavour, and after him there may be no other Flavour.
He has everything going for him. His physical appeal, pure vocal talent, and mastery of the music instruments, Flavour is everything others desires to be. His current net worth is – N5.7 billion

02. Don Jazzy – The only musician in this list with no song to call his own. Yet, he command so much respect and money that even the best in the industry dare not ask who is he. Don Jazzy is builder, a producer extraordinaire and industry pacesetter. Whatever thing he lays his hands on becomes gold. He produced D’Banj to international superstar, and when D’Banj left, he produced other superstars.
Dorobucci, Eminado, Sulurere, Banana – these are are some of the major hits he produced after the MoHit saga. Don Jazzy net worth is – N7 billion.

01. P-Square – No one does it like P-Square in the music industry in Nigeria! When you think they’ve done their best, they come up with something completely different. They have no competition, they only compete with themselves. Outside Akon, P-Square is the biggest music stars ever come out of Africa – dead or alive!
You may ask, how about Fela, Ndiaye, Lucky Dube, Blenda Fassie, and Awilo Logomba? Well, they are all legends of music in Africa but when it comes to earning and popularity allover Africa, they are no match to P-Square with all due respect. This is based on facts and figures.
Pick up the all times African top 10 music video on YouTube, P-Square alone has 5, leaving the other 5 for the entire artistes in Africa to share!
Chop my money = 24 million+.
Do me = 14 million+.
Personally = 35 million+.
Beautiful Onyinye = 21 million+.
Alingo = 7 million+.
The only celebrities in the Nigerian entertainment industry that has mansion in Banana Island. They are the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of African music. The only artistes in Africa you can not book with less than $100,000. P-Square net worth is – N25.6 billion.

DO YOU HAVE A SPOT ON YOUR IRIS? THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS!

DO YOU HAVE A SPOT ON YOUR IRIS? THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS!

Have you ever looked at an iris really close up? If you have, you’ve probably seen hills and valleys and dark colors and white lines and many more details.

Spot on the Iris

Iridology is an ancient science that uses all of those variations to determine the fitness of every section of the body.
According to Bio Nordic , the iris is like a map of the body – changes in certain organs are reflected in specific parts of the iris.
The exact relationship between iris and body parts can be seen from the iris chart below.
DO YOU HAVE A SPOT ON YOUR IRIS? THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS!
Known as psora spots, those little red, brown or green dots are an indicator of toxins located in body tissues. These toxins often make their way into the body via prescription medications taken over a long period of time, or through the environment. These spots can be inherited.
We are pleased to offer this beautiful updated Iridology Chart. Ellen Tart-Jensen, Ph.D., D.Sc. has added 25 years of research to the original Iridology Chart developed by Dr. Bernard Jensen.
After spending thousands of hours studying with Dr. Bernard Jensen, working in private practice, and teaching iridology world wide, Dr. Ellen Jensen has color coded the chart to make it easy to read each organ area and iris zone.
Based on this chart, the psora spot in our featured image is an indicator of toxins in the bladder.

The good news is that with time, medical supervision and appropriate detox measures, spots on the iris will decrease in size and prevalence until they disappear completely, signifying that the affected body part has been detoxed.
Supplements like acidophilus can help your body more quickly flush out toxins and harmful bacteria.
See your doctor! An expert will be able to rule out any other condition such as eye melanoma.

Source: www.davidwolfe.com

NYSC Releases 2016 Batch B Mobilisation Timetable

NYSC Releases 2016 Batch B Mobilisation Timetable.

The management of the National Service Youth Corps (NYSC) has officially released the time table for the 2016 batch “B” mobilization exercise.

The time-table published on the official website of NYSC reads:
NYSC MOBILIZATION TIME TABLE FOR 2016 BATCH B.
S/NO Event Date
1 Display of list of all approved programmes for institutions on NYSC portal for cross checking and feedback 14th – 21st September 2016
2 Collation of Prospective Corps Members’ Data by Corps Producing Institutions CPIs 12th – 30th September 2016
3 Submission/Uploading of Senate/Academic Board Approved Results for Full/Part-Time Graduates and Revalidation Lists by CPIs 3rd – 8th October 2016
4 Uploading of Corrected Lists by Corps Producing Institutions 8th – 14th October 2016
5 On-line Registration by Foreign and locally Trained Nigerian Graduates 17th October – 12th November 2016
6 Entertainment of complaints from Prospective Corps Members by the state Deployment and Relocation officers and NYSC Help Lines/Desks officers. 17th October – 12th November, 2016
7 Forwarding of Complaints to Mobilisation Dept by State Deployment and Relocation officers 17th October – 12th November, 2016
8 Deployment and Printing of Call-up Letters by ICT Department 14th – 19th November, 2016
9 Notification/On-line Printing of Call-up Letters/Delivery of Call-up letters to Institutions 21st – 25th November, 2016
10 On-line Printing of Deployment Disposition by Corps Producing Institutions CPIs 21st – 25th November, 2016
All prospective corps members are to start preparation for their service year immediately as their call-up letters will be printed online using the NYSC Mobile App.The National Youth Service Corps Year comprises of four (4) main segments in which every Corps Members must satisfactorily participate before he/she is qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service. The service year therefore comprises of:
1) Orientation Courses
2) Primary Assignment
3) Community Development Service

Nigeria to partner Facebook to improve ICT in Africa

The federal government said on Friday the 2nd of September, 2016 that it was considering a partnership with Facebook towards improved ICT connectivity in Africa.

Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo,​said government was determined to ensure the country was built on the energy, innovation and creativity of its young people.
He was speaking at the grand finale of the Aso Villa Demo Day, an entrepreneurship development event sponsored by Sahara Group in collaboration with government, to celebrate creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship with focus on economic diversification, inclusive enterprise by young Nigerians.
“We are looking forward to cooperating with Facebook. In a couple of month, we would be working out ways we would cooperate, especially with connectivity and some of the great ideas Mark has to improve connectivity in Africa,” he said.
Mr. Osinbajo was responding to comments by Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who was special guest at the event to present three of the 30 winners who emerged from the event to pitch the most innovative ideas.
Mr. Zuckerberg, who said he was inspired by the ideas by the young Nigerians, expressed believe in them, saying he was looking forward to seeing how they would impact Nigeria and the world.
“This has really blown me away by the talent of the entrepreneurs and young developers in this country, particularly by the focus to build something that’s going to make a difference and bring change,” Mr. Zuckerberg said.
He said the ideas reminded him of when Facebook began, saying he did not set out to establish a company, but to build a something he wanted to see impact the world.
“That’s what I see people here doing; pushing through challenges, building things you want to see impact the world; things that would make a country great,” Mr. Zukerberg said.
“This is not going to be better for Nigeria and Africa alone, but the whole world. I am blown away by what you are doing. I believe in you. I’m looking forward to see what you do
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The Vice President said what the Facebook Founder demonstrated was to show “it’s possible not only to make one’s dream come true, but live it so fabulously to not only influence his environment, but the whole world.”
“One of the things you have done is to create connectivity across the world, for people to really be able to interact across tribes, races and countries, and feel as one family,” he told Mr. Zuckerberg.
He said Mr. Zuckerberg’s visit to Nigeria was energizing not just the young people, but everyone else, saying Nigeria would rely on its young people to build the country.
“Today, technology has created a level playing field. Technology has made it possible for everyone to sit somewhere in their little office or room to create wealth, create connectivity and all manner of things across the world,” he noted.
“It’s a new day. There’s so much hope. And so much the young generation are going to do. I am looking forward to be a part of that. I am looking forward to working with you as part of the government of Nigeria to ensure that all our plans, talents and abilities are put to the best possible use. We will support you all the way,” the Vice President said
Sahara Group Chief Executive, Tonye Cole, said the decision to sponsor the event was informed by the passion to invest in Nigeria’s future, through the youth of today.
“The future is digital and about technology. If we are going to become sustainable, and move from this generation to the next, we must understand what the next generation is all about. A lot of Nigeria’s problems today can be solved through technical solutions sourced locally from the young talents.
He said if the young generations were empowered to think about those solutions now, they could achieve those objectives using technology.
Mr. Cole said the three winners, whose ideas were showcased at the event, would be guaranteed funding support by Sahara Group for their development.
He also assured the others to enjoy mentorship and guidance counselling through the Sahara Group’s extrapreneurship platform, which would match them with other people interested in their ideas and expertise.
Each of the winners, namely Tracology, a patented smart payment systems for utility companies; RecyclePoints, a waste recycling and social benefit venture for sustainable development, and Shuttlers, a multi-staff bus service to assist commuters resolve daily challenges around big cities, was given N3 million grant to develop their ideas.

Nigeria.Chibok girls in U.S. ‘used by NGOs for money’ – Minister, Parents

The federal government and parents of some Chibok schoolgirls that escaped from Boko Haram, have accused non-governmental organisations of using the girls to get donations in the United States.

After the April 14, 2014 abduction of Chibok girls, some individuals and NGOs had offered to help the girls who escaped overcome their trauma. Some 15 girls were given offers to go to the United States for their education.
But the parents of the girls and the Ministry of Women Affairs said most of the girls were used by the NGOs to get money from donors.
On Thursday, the minister of Women Affairs, Aishatu Alhassan, was in Maiduguri the Borno state capital, where she met with the parents and later addressed the media.
According to the minister, of the 15 girls currently in the U.S., only five are in schools as promised.
Mrs. Alhassan, who spoke in the presence of some parents of the abducted girls, said the education of another five girls had to be taken over by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation after the intervention of the federal government.
“We have heard reports that some of the Chibok schoolgirls that escaped abduction were taken to the U.S. by some persons under a private arrangement of which the government was not involved,” she said.
“We wanted to talk to the parents about these girls in the U.S. because every Nigerian is the business of the government. The welfare of every Nigerian is the responsibility of government whether in Nigeria or abroad.
“Therefore when we got the information that the girls were being used as tools for making money – not prostitution – but in the sense that they will be taken here and there where they go and relay their experiences during the insurgency, especially the invasion of Chibok town by Boko Haram and how they were abducted.
“After that, people used them to ask for donations; by so doing they make money out of it. So the girls became fed up; and started complaining that they were taken to U.S. on an arrangement that they were going to send them to school and that they were going to pay for their school. But unfortunately they said they were not allowed to remain in school.
“The Nigerian government of course has business in the welfare of every Nigerian at home or overseas; so officials now went in and did some investigation and found that the case was true. So through the ministry of foreign affairs, my ministry was contacted; and there was a meeting held with the parents who we invited to discuss the matter.
“Now we had gotten a letter from one of the people that took the girls now making some demands pertaining to the girls and that necessitated my coming to meet with the children’s parents so that we talk now that I am in Maiduguri. We have discussed and understood each other and charted the way forward. And I am going back to report to Mr. President who encouraged me to meet with the ministry of foreign affairs and the parents.
“I have briefed them that the government is still doing its best to make sure that the ones in captivity are brought back home safe and sound. And they all appreciated our efforts and today they also dissociated themselves with any group including bring back our girls group that tries to use their name in order to insult the government or to undermine the authority of Mr. President.
“Most importantly, I conveyed Mr. President’s regards and how he feels for them as well as the concerns he has over the plight of their girls in captivity,” Mrs. Ahlhassan said.
Responding on behalf of the parents of the missing girls, Yakubu Nkeki Maiva, who identified himself as the chairman of the parents of abducted Chibok girls said “on the issue of our daughters that managed to escape from Boko Haram during the abduction who are now schooling in the US, we want the federal government to take over from those organizations and individuals, we want them to now study under the care of the federal government.
“When they were taken abroad we were told that they were going there to study and not going on tourism. We want them to return home with certificates and not tourists’ experiences. We want government to come in and take over their education there,” he said.
Another parent, Paul Ali Maiva, said the idea of the girls going abroad for free scholarship came through him when he was contacted by Paul Gadzama.
“I am one of the parents of the girls that were taken to the USA,” he said.
“Our daughters were taken abroad through Mr. Paul Gadzama whom we thanked for his kindness. But I never knew him but I just saw a call on my phone and he introduced himself, then informed me that he wanted my daughter to be taken the US in order to get her education. He said I should discuss with my wife and get back to him. I thanked him and then had a thought over it with my wife.
“So I allowed my daughter and the orphan daughter of my younger brother to be taken away by Mr. Paul alongside other girls from different parents who had also escaped the abduction.
“We are happy that they are there studying. But from the information we are hearing of late, it seemed they are not really studying in schools as we assumed. We understand that they are being used for show business where they would be taken to places for them to narrate how they escaped Boko Haram captivity; and then afterwards they will be given money. That was not want we wanted for our children.
“It is in that respect that we are pleading with the federal government to help us retrieve our daughters and let them if possible be under the federal government while they are schooling. We don’t want our daughters to be used for trading abroad; all we wanted for them is education that will enable them have useful certificates that can be beneficial to the country, our state and Chibok community. We plead with government to help us rescue our other girls. We need your help”.
But the minster said the government could not take over the girls’ education directly since it was not part of the earlier arrangement.
She however said the government would do all it could to get some other NGOs that could be magnanimous to take over the sponsorship of the girls education as it did with the five currently under the care of Murtala Foundation.

Entertainment: Genevieve Nnaji Dumped 2 Weeks to Secret Wedding

Genevieve Nnaji Dumped 2 Weeks to Secret Wedding

Nollywood Actress and Producer,Genevieve Nnaji was allegeddly dumped few weeks to her wedding by her alleged fiance, Ugo Udeze.
See story as written by Instablog9ja :
Genevieve Nnaji’s fiancé allegedly cancels their secret wedding, actress disgraced in Milan - Hprtv
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The inkling of the crash was given last week by blogger Stella Dimokokorkus, in her popular "Rumor has it" post, but no name was mentioned. Hprtv is now giving more details and the two narrative are shockingly the same. In a post, the outlet said: .
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"Genevieve Nnaji has lost her only chance of marrying this year because her secret lover has called off their wedding. Unknown to many, the pretty Nollywood single mother sparked off a secret romance with Ugochukwu Udezue, a wealthy NBA basketball agent based in Denver Colorado last year. .
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He reportedly proposed to her around the time she was seen flaunting a huge engagement ring on her IG page. They're supposed to get married in Milan, Italy about two weeks ago but the groom cancelled the wedding at the last minute and returned to Amsterdam, dumping the actress and her guests. .
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Udezue reportedly told his friends that he doesn’t trust Nnaji after she chose to make the wedding private. Secondly, his father has refused to give his blessing nor attend the event because of Nnaji’s suspicious demand of not wanting close family members at the wedding. .
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Months before the wedding, Nnaji reportedly begged Udezue to keep the wedding ceremony a low-key one. She even went as far as not telling any member of her family nor her colleagues. She only left Nigeria with her best friend Oluchi Orlandi and few other friends. .
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Udezue thought Nnaji has something to hide that was why she didn’t bother to invite her parents to the wedding ceremony scheduled for Milan. This and his father’s refusal forced Udezue to call off the wedding. The source said Nnaji was put to shame on her wedding day and was forced to return to Nigeria without the wedding ring she’s been dreaming of. .
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Udezue is the founder of African Basketball League. He is one of the most popular Nigerian NBA agents in the U.S. He has four kids from his previous marriages. It is still unsure if Nnaji and Udezue have called off their relationship. Meanwhile, she is currently in Canada."

BE INSPIRED: EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT BY KENNETH COPELAND

Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional September 9, 2016 - Exercise Your Rights

Topic: Exercise Your Rights [September 9, 2016]

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5

Jesus came to earth and gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin in order to buy back for you everything that Adam lost. He came to destroy all the works of the devil...sickness and disease included. Once you receive Him as Lord of your life, all the rights and privileges God originally intended you to have (the right to things like fellowship with God, health and prosperity) are restored.

But you are the one who has to exercise those rights!

You see, the devil is an outlaw and even though Jesus has taken away his authority in the earth, even though he has no legal right to kill or steal from the children of God, he’ll do it anyway...as long as you’ll let him get away with it.

You must enforce his defeat by speaking the Word of God in faith. Act on His Word now. Demand that sickness and disease leave you in the Name of Jesus. Then refuse to back off that demand. Resist the devil with all you’ve got. He might fight you for a while, but sooner or later, he will have to flee from you!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:1-17

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith - prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Access Bank Wins 2016 Best Bank Academy Award

Access Bank Wins 2016 Best Bank Academy AwardAccess Bank Plc’s School of Banking Excellence has been awarded the 2016 Best Bank Academy by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The award was in recognition of the quality of the school’s curriculum and graduates as well as the consistency in their production of fresh graduates.

Former Registrar of the CIBN, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, who presented the award praised Access Bank for training its workforce and by extension building capacity for the banking and finance industry in Nigeria.

The bank’s School of Banking Excellence “which takes fresh graduates through an intensive five-month pre-career course was the first of such institutions to be accredited by the CIBN in March 2015. Founded in 2002, the school was conceptualized to groom the youth, educate them and prepare future leaders for the banking industry,” CIBN stated in a statement.

During the programme students of the School are mentored by high level resource persons both internal and external including the Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the Bank.

Chief Conduct and Compliance Officer of Access Bank, Pattison Boleigha,  who received the award explained that the five months entry level training at the Banking School of Excellence, has acquired an enviable reputation as a learning centre of excellence.

“Our approach to employee development is a mix of different learning methods ranging from self-study, on-the-job training to e-learning programmes.

“Employees on a continuous basis are exposed to various capacity building programmes both locally and internationally,” he noted.

Speed limiting device: No going back on October 1 deadline, says FRSC

Speed limiting device: No going back on October 1 deadline, says FRSC

There is no going back on the October 1 date for the implementation of speed limiting device nationwide as approved by President Mohammadu Buhari, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

The Commission’s Corps Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, stated this yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, at a public enlightenment forum for stakeholders in the transportaion sector, at old AKTC Park, on Ikot-Ekpene Road, Uyo.

Oyeyemi, who was represented by his assistant in charge of Policy, Research and Statistics, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, expressed dismay over the alarming statistics of road crashes on Nigeria highways.

He disclosed that last year, over 12,077 road crashes were recorded out of which 5,400 people (68 per cent) were said to have died as a result of over speeding.

The FRSC chief regretted that most of the crashes would have been avoided if appropriate safety measures had been adopted by those plying the highways.

According to him, the speed limiting device which would take effect next month, willsave Nigerians the embarrassment on the highways.

“Most of the road crashes are preventable,if we are able to bring down the speed. We’ll be saving a lot of lives on our highways’’ he said, noting that “accidents are caused not made.”

In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Transport, Mr Godwin Ntukude, expressed satisfaction with the introduction of the speed limiting device. He, however, called for a technical session with all stakeholders to enlighten them on the nitty-gritty of the policy.

Utukude said: “There is no policy introduced by the government that will not have a positive effect on lives of the people, but let us have technical session with experts to ascertain whether it can be installed on an expired used (Tokumbo) vehicles or not. It is important for us to know this so that the good policy could not be rendered in another way.”

The command’s spokesman, Mr. Godgive Uwem, who spoke on the importance of speed limiting device, said Nigerian will be joining countries like Japan, Australia Sweden and the United States (U.S.), with the introduction and implementation of the policy.

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WORD HOUR: How to Command Money in Spite of the Economy- Rev. Sam Adeyemi

Reverend Sam Adeyemi was sharing some deep truths recently, and I felt I could share my note with you on some deep things he shared about his personal life. Please read on:
“You may have been born into a poor family like I was and you are wondering if you can ever be successful or wealthy. Probably you are thinking the environment is somehow getting tougher, the cost of living is on the increase and your income is not catching up with your expenses at all. Maybe you’re bleeding.
“You see, it was not easy for me too until I started digging deep. I went on a research to find out how to become wealthy. So, I started reading wide and listening to teachings of successful people all over the world.
“Till date, I am still bombarding my mind with information that will help me make progress in every area of my life and I urge you to do the same. I will never forget my first visit to the city of Lagos, Nigeria many years ago. Oh my goodness! Lagosians can hurry so much, they could knock you down, honestly! At that time, I was residing in Kwara State which is relatively a quiet city compared to Lagos, the commercial nerve of the country. Most striking was the fact that despite the wealth in this city, there were still poor people as at that time.
“You see, back then I couldn’t comprehend how people could suffer lack in the midst of plenty. I marvelled at this a lot. But over the years, I have come to understand the economics of money. There will always be money in circulation but the choices you make determine how much of it you possess. Don’t get things twisted, money is never scarce; it only changes hands from one person to another and it is our choice which side of the divide we really belong.
It is no longer news that our naira has crashed, the price of fuel too is dipping low by the day and as it is, there is even scarcity of fuel within the country. People are losing their jobs, disposable income is also shrinking and many are still unemployed.
However, do not allow the current economic crisis make you think there is no money anywhere; nothing could be farther from the truth than that. It is everywhere! Like I said earlier, money only changes hands. Those who can see beyond the crisis and can position themselves strategically will handle the money.
“Money is a convertible resource that is offered in exchange for value, once you have value, and you offer your quality value to people, you will get the money no matter the economic downturn. How do you add value? From the richness of the information that you acquire and consume. What you learn determines what you earn! Please note that!
As someone who has crossed from struggling into financial stability, I can assure you of that. Go ahead and add value, even as we journey through this fresh month, God bless!”

Reality of Divine guidance: Rosemary Narrates How God Asked Her to Ditch Paid Employment for Music Minister

Rosemary

This time 12years ago while in my final year at Benson Idahosa University, I made a prayer to God for Him to show me, speak to me or something if indeed He wanted me doing this for Him, because I could not understand why everyone around me harassed and told me they believed I could and that I was meant to do this, meanwhile I never even saw myself going that way(for some of you that don’t know, I danced more in school cos I joined a Christian dance group…
I was a hot stepper you know…wink, lol).
Did I love to sing? Yeah, but I had gotten to a point that I was giving up on singing, I just wanted to focus on writing my final exams, get my degree in Economics, serve my country, get me a great job (bank or oil company preferably), get myself a masters degree, get married to my prince charming, have children and then watch myself climb the career ladder… lol.
But unknown to me, God had it all figured out, He sometimes will wait for us to get to that point we will sincerely seek His face. And so on the night of 8th April, 2004 I made that simple and sincere prayer and said “Lord if indeed You want me to do this, pls reveal it to me” then I went to bed. And then something happened…
Then I saw myself in a dream having a conversation with GOD, He was standing right next to me but I didn’t see His face (…for there shall no man see me and live… Exo 33:20b). And then He showed me a large crowd of great and talented music ministers both local and international (I remember seeing prominent Nigerian gospel ministers as well as some in America), when I mean a large crowd, I mean really large.
The amazing thing was that they were all on a train but it was a massive train without a covering so I could see the the number of people all on that train all heading towards the same direction, kind of all were going to the same final stop.
I was supposed to be in the midst of this crowd, remember God and I were standing together and talking cos He was the one showing me that I belonged there, but I was kind of lost in this great crowd. Then I said to God “I can’t see myself in the midst of this people” and He said to me pointing towards the crowd “Look again”.
Then God opened my eyes and I saw myself in the midst of this large crowd of music ministers but I looked different from everyone there. From where I stood talking with God, I saw myself with a white spot on the right side of my face, and then He said to me “I have marked you out, you’ve been spotted out” His voice kept re-echoing as He left me standing there and then I woke up.
I checked my time this was about past 5am early hours of 9th April, 2004. I ask God questions a lot, I was trying to figure out what He had just shown me and then while I was praying and asking Him for a clearer understanding, this was what He said to me “I have called you into the worship ministry, and that even in the midst of other anointed music ministers, when you stand before my people, my presence will back you up because you are distinct and different”. If you notice in the words He spoke to me He was precise about the ministry He was preparing me for(so now you all know why I just love to worship).
Was I supposed to be excited after this dream? I really can’t remember what my reaction was and sincerely speaking I had to continue singing, in fact that day I had a ministration in the church I attended in Benin.
It was Easter Friday, and I had reluctantly accepted to solo the song the choir was singing the night before during our last rehearsal because that was what pushed me to making that sincere prayer I had earlier talked about. The presence of God was overwhelming during that service that I remember clearly.
But we know ourselves, sometimes when God speaks to us like that, we always think it will happen immediately, I guess it was after the move of the Holy Spirit that day during service, I got a bit excited about THE CALL, I never knew God had other plans for this life.
Prophesies came to confirm what God had shown and told me so I got really excited. The first year passed(youth service), nothing, second year(had started working) , nothing, now like Peter after the crucifixion, I went back fishing, I just faced my work and yeah got my masters degree in Public and International Affairs from Unilag, got married to one of God’s choicest sons and then two handsome dudes.
But for every other encounter I had with God during these years, It didn’t dawn on me that He was preparing me for such a time as this. David was anointed king at a young age- yes, but that anointing did not take him away from still going back to tend his father’s sheep. Joseph had his dreams too but it did not prevent his brothers from selling him into slavery, then thrown into prison for an offense he didn’t commit.
It was all part of God’s plan to fully equip them for the task ahead and that He also did with me. He taught me some things, allowed me face some challenges just to equip me for this ministry.
Years passed and He was still preparing me and waiting for me, Rosemary on another hand proved stubborn too and in fact gave God conditions if I had to do this work. But God is a very patient God and knows how to bring us back on track where we seek Him and encounter Him in such a way that your life will never remain the same again.
While still struggling despite all the things He had shown and spoken to me, sent people at various times to tell me about it, I was still busy doing my own things even after an out of body experience. I was ill and on the day I was discharged from the hospital, I passed on but He gave me a second chance to live.
I knew it was another opportunity for me to just accept to do HIS work, but for where? this naughty little child of God still had her own hidden agenda
And so God for the umpteenth time had asked me to resign, I gave him some conditions which He fulfilled (always faithful even when we are unfaithful). I remember one Sunday in September 2014 just after service, one of our Ministers in church walked up to me and said God asked him to tell me “Amongst many you have been chosen”.
At this point I was not particularly excited at all because I was beginning to see that God was really serious about this, (reminds me of the story of the rich young man, when Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor and come follow Him) but unlike the rich man that walked away sorrowful and we never heard anything about him again in the bible, Rosemary with a depressed but sincere heart, went back to God and asked, “I said Lord how will this be or happen” and then He led me to Luke 1:35… The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee… hmmmmm. I begged for more time and in fact was specific as regards the month in 2015 I was going to quit, my ever loving heavenly Father allowed me.
Now the time for me to quit was fast approaching and I could see it was almost here, but this child still had her own plans.
Then the last straw that broke the Carmel’s back. In the month of May, the pressure from God was becoming too much, I was practically haunted (we watch movies right? and we see the way a spirit will haunt the person that killed it). I became super depressed, I was really uncomfortable going to work but still managed, I was struggling and almost losing my mind, I would cry at any little chance I was all alone.
There was a day I was alone in my room and the pressure was so much that I shouted loud “God I have heard, I will but please give me more time”. The firm I worked with on another hand just helped God hasten His plans in the month of May, meanwhile I still had some months to go.
A few people had just been handpicked for salary increase and I happened to be one of them, I got excited about the extra box then I thought to myself ” let me just work till the end of the year and then quit”. At this point, I literally heard God tell me ” See yourself “, He was done waiting for me, quit that job now”.
He seized my peace, I wasn’t myself, I was almost going crazy, I even feared I had high blood pressure because I was so depressed and was always thinking, I was not taking care of myself anymore because it looked like there was nothing to live for but for each time I had any opportunity to sing while alone or in church, I found fulfillment doing it.

It was then I knew God was really serious about this. I had just received my first salary increase at the end of May, 2015, on the 4th of June, I could not take the pressure anymore, I begged my husband to please let me quit (for the singles reading this, allow God choose your spouse, you can never go wrong with God).
My hubby had also noticed how moody and depressed I had been lately, the moment he gave me the go ahead to drop my letter, I felt a burden leave me, I became as light as a feather, oh my God I felt like a bird that had just been set free from a cage. I spoke to my boss and few days later dropped my resignation letter (I could not even work till the month I planned to).
My inner peace and joy was restored and for the very first time that line “in YOU I find my peace” in my first single ‘Dwelling Place’ made complete sense to me… Psm 51:12- restore unto me the joy of thy salvation… Everyone in the office noticed the glow on my face, I was so graceful in my steps, and shakara resumed again oh as I was counting down to leave…lol.
It didn’t end there, like every human I had my questions (why me?), fears (what if I fail and never succeed) , doubts (Rosemary are you sure God called you to do this?) etc. Trust me now as usual, I went back to God and gave some fresh conditions and I said “okay I have accepted to do this but on three conditions (am sure God would have been like…Smh(shaking my head)…lol.
1. Like Moses in Exo 33:15-16, YOUR PRESENCE must never leave me, yes I have the tendency to stray away from your presence, but please bring me back to the place I belong. I love a particular hyme where d writer wrote “prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love, but here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above”.
2. There isn’t any point doing this and lives are not blessed, as you promised on the 9th April, 2004, please keep your promise and back every ministration up with your presence, but first EMPTY ME OF ME, help me pay THE PRICE, (staying power in HIS presence, let go of distractions and stay with HIM.
3. Keep me FOCUSED- Heb 12:2 – looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… I don’t want to be anyone else, but I want to do exactly what You want me to do(if you recall God was specific about the call). Like Peter that took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking, I didn’t want that at all.
On the day I resigned, 15th July 2015, two amazing things happened, early hours of that morning, God cut a covenant with me and later that day too Jesus showed Himself to me(first encounter with God the Father at the very beginning and now God the Son), and I will say that from that moment, the passion to do this for God came alive.
Then the journey to finding and knowing the person of the Holy Spirit in a deeper level started. And as we both started this journey, for every question, fears and doubts I had, the Holy Spirit gave me comforting and soothing responses to them all.
A few days later after my resignation while I was in His presence and sincerely asking to know Him better, born out of a heart that is still learning to die daily to the flesh, and that just wants to LOVE HIM He inspired this song “YOU” -Phil 3:10- That I may know HIM (YOU)…

INTERVIEW: Only Indigenous Firms Can Deliver Domestic Energy Security -Avuru, CEO SEPLAT

Austin Avuru, CEO SEPLAT and VP, Prof. Osibanjo

I think we must evolve an operating culture that de-emphasizes giving handouts to communities. We must develop an operating culture that will make the communities happy to host us and volunteer to work with us because they have some stake. And I don’t think we can drill deep to the bottom of it but on the whole we can take the NLNG example. There must be something they are doing well if they have been delivering cargoes upon cargoes without disturbances from their communities for 16 years.

Austin Avuru

Mr. Austin Avuru is a geoscientist, petroleum economist, investor and operator in the Nigerian petroleum industry. As Managing Director of Nigeria’s biggest indigenous oil company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Mr. Avuru also takes the challenge of industry leadership and regularly advances policy options that would leverage the country hydrocarbon capital in delivering desired socio-economic results. In this chat with journalists at the recent Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), in Houston, he adumbrates success strategies to include prudent investments, sound project economics, creative JV funding, inclusive host community relations and many more, which he testifies, had worked for Seplat.
SOPURUCHI ONWUKA presents the excerpt.
What are operators view of challenges that induce downturn in the domestic oil industry environment?
I think there are three key issues which have direct bearing on cost competitiveness, the gas business and joint venture (JV) funding.  And I think if you summarize the message we are trying to pass, you will notice our concerns.
The first one is the discussions on the PIB. If you recall, we have spent over 10 years talking about the PIB and eventually it was not passed. Essentially the emphasis of issues around the PIB was on sharing: who gets what portion of the revenue. The intractive differences between the operators and government negotiators had to do with who gets the bigger chunk of the revenue. I have always thought that in the processes we actually missed the mark. Our common enemy is not sharing formula; not whether government take is 76 percent or 82 percent. That is not as relevant as that fact that cost has gone from 1985 level of $2 per barrel to $30 barrels per barrel today.
What we are saying is that the industry, in collaboration with government, should spend more time and energy to look at channels of reducing cost so that the country can be a lot more competitive. We saw it when prices dropped within a certain threshold and the Arab nations had a lot more headroom than we had. They were a lot more competitive. We were struggling against shale producers and deepwater producers in terms of cost whereas the bulk of our production comes from onshore.
Our overall average cost, if you add both the onshore and deepwater, should not be more than $12 per barrel. We shouldn’t be talking about $30 per barrel. So the focus should shift from quarrels over sharing formula to combined and concerted approach to addressing the cost issue.
What are the factors that build cost in the local environment?
There are some of the things that I have severally talked about; things that I have mentioned. I think if you take those headline areas you would probably reduce cost by about 40 percent. The Niger Delta has to be friendlier. The unfriendly nature of the Niger Delta adds probably more than 30 percent of the cost today.
People talk of the cost of security. It is not entirely cost security. The cost of security on per barrels’ basis is something else on its own. When you look at the multiplier effect, you realize the fact that the contractor mobilizing to do work in the Niger Delta will spend three times more than the cost in a more peaceful environment. And the point we are trying to make is that we can’t continue to think that the problem is with the Niger Delta itself because that has been the mindset for the entire industry, thinking that all you need to do is contain the nuisance value of the Niger Delta. And that hasn’t worked!
I have always used the NLNG example. There must be something NLNG is doing, if, for 16 years, they have been operating without disturbances from their host community. There must be something they are doing well. We must come with a structure that will enable communities that host us the feel sufficient sense of ownership of the business we do such that they will rather support us than disturb us. There must be something we must do better than we are doing now, and I think that is what NLNG has done. I don’t think the Bonny community will watch you disturb NLNG. They have too much at stake to allow that.
What cost builders challenge operators playing in the Niger Delta?
That is part of the cost reduction strategies. And I think we must evolve an operating culture that deemphasizes giving handouts to communities. We must develop an operating culture that will make the communities happy to host us and volunteer to work with us because they have some stake. And I don’t think we can drill deep to the bottom of it but on the whole we can take the NLNG example. There must be something they are doing well if they have been delivering cargoes upon cargoes without disturbances from their communities for 16 years.
The second element is the contracting cycle. Fortunately, government has come out on its own to demand a contracting cycle that is not more than six months because the cycle kept worsening until, at a point, it got to over 24 months. In some cases, it gets to some point where everybody forgets about the contracting process and the job never gets done. That has a way of adding to the cost: the uncertainty, so if you are the one bidding you will certainly build that into the premium. If you borrowed money to do that work and you keep waiting from the time you submitted your bid to the time you get the job, all of that add to the cost. And these are just two elements that could be addressed. And if you address these two elements you probably reduce cost by over 40 percent over the next five years.
About funding, I think we can evolve a structure that gives each joint venture sufficient operational and financial independence to be self-funding as a JV. And I am saying that luckily each Joint Venture today is a producing joint venture.
You have to ask yourself: if a minority party is able to fund itself from its revenue, why wouldn’t the majority party be able to? So it is just about evolving that structure that doesn’t require us to repeatedly go round the same issue. We talk of alternative funding; we talk about the SCAA; we talk about MCA. All of these have to do with one party submitting part of his revenue to the other party to fund him. And what that simply means is that the JV, as a unit, can be self-funding.
The structure of the JV and the Joint Operating Agreements (JOA), the way they exist today, allows that self-funding mechanism once you approve your budget for the year. It requires no new legislation; it requires nothing else to be done except that of the minister and the GMD having the courage to allow the JVs have that self-funding autonomy.

Avuru and VP, Osibanjo

Could it be that the government is not aware of this over the years?
If you want me to give you a 30-year history of JV operations -I worked in what was called ventures department which is now NAPIMS back in 1985. And at that time, once the General Manager signed the cash call it went straight to Central Bank for payment. I am not saying anything that is new. That is how it used to be.
It was when the system gradually got elastic and everybody got involved in the JV operations to the point now that cost of operations has to be legislated for. Now you put in your budget and about 75 percent of it is approved after six months.
JV production has gone from 2.2 million barrels to 1.2 million barrels. The only reason we are still doing 2.2 million barrels is that deep water production made up for it. And deep water production is going be in decline in the next five years. The real impact of poor funding of JVs will start showing up in the next five years when as a nation, we will probably not be able to do more than 1.6 million barrels per day. So we must address it today by starting to do things right. It is almost too late to even just arrest the decline.
How would migrating from current cash call model of funding to PSC model address the existing NNPC debt overhang in the industry? What level of engagement do you currently have with government to halt the debt relay in the industry?
Everybody is taking individual approach in getting paid by NNPC. Individual companies are working on their own to the address cash call arrears with NPPC because it is a business thing. Eventually, for example, Chevron negotiated a $1.2 billion revolving facility. So you can see that right now activity is beginning to pick up for Chevron. So each operator is engaging with government and coming up with its own solutions.
But what I am offering is a universal solution that will apply to every JV in a simple manner. I don’t have to borrow on behalf of NNPC with interest, negotiate and all that. I am saying that the JOA between every operator and government has enough production revenue to fund the cost.
If you think that revenues are low, as it is now, it is within the ambit of the operating companies to reduce capital expenditure (capex) for the year. So it is a budgeting issue. So you draw up a budget that is in consonance with your expected revenue so that after funding the operations there is enough to pay royalty and taxes to government. You don’t draw up a budget that is a deficit budget. You draw up a deficit budget and borrow to make up the deficit. If it is a high impact project that is going to yield a lot of revenue, then you borrow to execute it. So the same way you run your operations you draw your budget in a prudent manner. There revenues coming out of your operations you apply funding that cost. It is very simple and I am not saying anything that is new. It is just that over the past 30 years we have drifted away such that every imaginable person is now involved in the process of appropriating money for the cost of operations. We lost it all.
Right now government is paying a lot more per dollar for their own money, far more than what they would have done if they had done what I am talking about. Whether you are talking about SSA of alternative funding, your partner is borrowing money to fund your equity at an interest rate. That is what it is.
How do you balance the challenge of government debt and expectations of your shareholders?
What we have up to this time is a problem that piled up. We are looking forward to what will provide the solution not just funding of future projects, but also to clear the backlogs. What it means is that if my partner gives a little bit more of his own equity crude towards meeting the cost, then he has just little more to clear the backlog over time.
To tell you the truth, from what we are owed today, if I know for certain that there is a certain monthly or quarterly payment, it will be defrayed over the next three or four years. It wouldn’t matter to me. I can book it as future revenue. It is the uncertainty that makes it an issue. So what I am proposing can clear the backlog over a period of time.
With the planned Zero JV funding by next year, what will be the role of government in the JVs?
NNPC is a son of somebody. It is an investing entity. It is classified under the MDAs. So NNPC as a partner in several JVs should be able to fund government’s equity in the JVs. So when there is zero funding, it doesn’t mean that NNPC will not meet its funding obligations to JVs. It means that you should not expect any annual appropriation from government to go and run your business. You should figure out how you are going to provide funding for your business and government will wait for you to pay what is due to them which are royalty and profit. And today, it is the same thing. Government doesn’t get more that that today.
If government gets $45 billion from NNPC as gross revenue, and gives NNPC $10 billion to go and run its business even after delaying us for 10 months before that is approved, its net revenue is $35 billion. That same $35 billion is what NNPC will pay government as tax, royalty and profit without going through all these intricacies of legislative interference. So, financial independence does not reduce government’s revenue by one dollar. In fact, it will enhance revenue to government because you will remove the cost of money that is appearing today.
Let me say this. We try not to beat our chest on our gas business at Seplat. You know that the entire gas gathering project that is funded by the Chinese in Ghana carry a cost profile of about $1.6 billion. What is the volume of gas they deliver from that project? Only 120 million standard cubic feet a day (120 Mscf/d). We are doing 300 Mscf/d. We only spent half a billion dollars to go from 50 Mscf/d to 300 Mscf/d.
You were once quoted as proposing meters for all oil wells in the country. What makes that necessary?
I don’t want to be accused of proposing a scheme that would be far too expensive. Providing meters for all the oil well heads in the country will be far too expensive. What I have always said is that every producer delivering crude oil into an export pipeline must meter what he is delivering. Wherever you meet an export pipeline, you must install a mechanism that measures the gross volume you produced and the net crude oil you produced after removing water.
That way, when you sum up the total input from all producers in any particular pipeline and you match that against the meter at the end at the export terminal, if there is any difference, then you can begin to say where the difference is coming from: whether it is theft, shrinkage or other factors. Until that is done, all theft factors we have been quoting in this country are arbitrary.
That is the proper thing to do. You won’t pay your electricity bill unless you meter what you are consuming. You can’t have a situation where different flow stations are delivering crude with different BS&W values. If you produce 10,000 barrels and you BS&W is 40 percent, this really 6000 barrels that is oil, 4000 barrels is water. If that BS&W goes up from 40 to 45 percent, your crude oil is no longer 6000 barrels, it comes down to 5,500 barrels. So you can’t have different fields and different flow stations delivering into the export pipeline and you will be assuming different BS&W and different volumes. You only fiscalize at the terminal; physically see what is there. And you tell me that you apply the difference to everybody as theft. It cannot be the case.
You must measure accurately what is water and what is crude that is entering the pipeline and what is entering the terminal.
On what we are doing to whether the storm, it has to do with your planning and execution capability. When you run an operation and face headwinds, you are going to take a step back and rearrange your operations to face the headwind. That is just the way.
So we came in at the end of 2014 and suddenly saw the crash. It took us two months to reverse our 2015 work programme that had already been approved and cut capex by 39 percent. We didn’t, and up till now, we did not let any staff go. We checked and when we looked at the cost saving by letting even 20 percent of the staff go that is not where the big headache is. So we didn’t cut staff. We went and looked at other areas where we could cut cost. We are not a 100-year-old company like Shell that has a large team of staff across the world. And if activity picks up they can always redeploy staff.
We are still in the growth mode. If you start throwing your staff away when you encounter a headwind, when you will need them most you may find that they are not there to be picked up. So we didn’t take that risk. We didn’t touch any staff. We looked at all the areas where we could cut cost to match the current realities and we realised that our gas production was a good hedge. That also helped.
Going forward, I am saying that the company we are building is the one that would be able to whether what storm will come next.
How are you balancing the local content requirement in the industry and cost effectiveness? How also are coping with the new foreign exchange realities in the Nigerian economy?
Really, exchange rate has very little effect in what we do in upstream oil and gas industry because our primary revenue is in dollars, except for those of us who produce gas and earn Naira. Even though the pricing of gas is in dollars’ customers physically pay Naira. So we are the only ones that have to worry about foreign exchange. Every other person in upstream business, no matter how small or big, the primary revenue is in dollars. So really, foreign exchange shouldn’t be an issue. A typical upstream oil and gas company typically goes to market to buy Naira to run its business in Naira. So exchange rate is not an issue in the upstream petroleum industry operations.
Again, if you borrowed in dollars it also shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you borrowed in dollars and earn Naira, as in the gas business, then you might start having some problems with the exchange rate. You have to get dollars at the official exchange rate if you borrowed in dollars and that is where you will encounter issues.
On the second point, my attitude to Nigerian Content has always been that, even among Nigerian companies, is that we give jobs to those who demonstrate competence to deliver on the job, and there is quite a bunch of them. So, we are not in that regime of pretense because I know how it happens in the industry where some big companies, to obey the local content bill, will give a job to a local company and still award the job somewhere else to get the real result.
For us, we work with a lot of Nigerian companies, we love to patronize them. We are not forced to do so. We give them a chance to tender and prove their worth; and they get the jobs and do the jobs. And if they can’t do it then next time they won’t get a job from us. So, that has always been our attitude. It is not just patronage for the sake of it. We find out those who can do the job and give them the job.
How do you cope with political risks of doing business in Nigeria, especially with unstable fiscal regimes that weigh on borrowing rates?
Political risks cut across Africa. And for us in Nigeria, it depends on the regime and the country rating and all that. When the business was booming it wasn’t that bad. But generally, dollar rates are 9-11 percent. It is 18-22 percent if you borrow Naira. Even these figures are far too high; but that is the reality. That is what we have here in Nigeria.
Even if you are borrowing from an international bank into Nigeria, it is probably one or two points lower than what Nigerian banks can give the same dollars, again, because of the political risks you talk about. For Naira it is a lot worse. Unless it is a short term loan, if you are taking a long term loan with that kind of interest rate you can’t survive.
Your company has put a lot of funds and emphasis on gas. How is the outlook in terms of returns and growth opportunities from that end?
Let me say this. We try not to beat our chest on our gas business at Seplat. You know that the entire gas gathering project that is funded by the Chinese in Ghana carry a cost profile of about $1.6 billion. What is the volume of gas they deliver from that project? Only 120 million standard cubic feet a day (120 Mscf/d). We are doing 300 Mscf/d. We only spent half a billion dollars to go from 50 Mscf/d to 300 Mscf/d.
What was the magic?
We are prudent. We don’t beat our chest about it. So we are doing 300 Mscf/d today and we are not making any noise about it. We built a 150 Mscf/d and commissioned it in 18 months. That same plant is going to go up to 275 Mscf/d at the end of this year. No other company can show you a newly built processing facility in the past three years.
We achieved all these at cost we can afford. I have always told people that until Dangote started manufacturing cement, we thought only a few multinationals can manufacture cement. You will soon find out that until a couple of more serious minded Nigerian companies come to the business, you will see a lot of cost efficiency and delivering projects in time and budget.
Every time I had the opportunity in the past three years to talk about domestic energy security; I have emphasized that only indigenous companies can deliver it. It is not just about shipping out LNG and remitting $4.0 billion a year when there is no electricity. It won’t take us anywhere. We must deliver the energy that will fire our economy. That is our job. It won’t be done for you by any foreign company.
modular refinery should ordinarily mean that you design a refinery in such a way that you can put in a unit, and if the need arises you can increase capacity by adding further units. So, you can design a 150, 000 barrels per day refinery in three modules of 50,000 barrels. What it means is that the ground, the tanks, power supply and all the support facilities are designed to take three modules. But you can start with one, then the additional cost of infrastructure and other two modules will be a lot smaller. It happens only on need basis. The way everybody keeps talking about modular refinery makes it look like modular refining makes it easier to building more refineries.
Any update in your partnership with Vitol for a private refinery? Also what strategies have you adopted in your community relations to achieve smooth operations?
First, I think that the industry now recognizes that the Seplat model of community engagement is working and people should ask us what we are doing.
Again, we are not doing anything supernatural. We simply believe that there must be a way to operate where you recognize the dignity of the members of the community that host you. Too many times people go into the communities thinking. ‘What do we do to pay them off? How do we buy their nuisance provided we can operate?’
So if you go to a community and you are doing business and you are making money; if you open your mind you will find out what those ordinary people in the community can do for you: what services they can render you, services that are valuable to you. It is not tokenism. And just by taking those services and paying them, you are expanding the economy of these communities. You are not doing them a favour. If they realize that a good part of their livelihood depends on the business you do, they are unlikely to destroy your facilities. So in our own small way, that has been our model from day one.
Everyone in Seplat knows that we are not going to the communities to give them tokens. We are going in there believing that there are things they can do for us. There are staff who can work for you. When we hire staff from the communities, it is not just because you are from the communities; it goes through the same process of recruitment for those who are qualified. So when they come in they see themselves not as community staff but staff of Seplat.
There are contractors from there who work for us. We give them a chance and they perfrom. So if you put all of that together you will find out that we are very close in communication and relationship with them. We nip whatever that would have been a problem in the bud, and it works! However, I try not to advertise it too much because it is still work in progress. We keep improving on it. We keep making sure that people don’t get lethargic. We need to make sure that the communities themselves don’t take these little things for granted and make unreasonable requests.
Overall, I believe that human beings ordinarily, when given an opportunity, have something to offer. And if you believe that in your relationship with your host community I think it will help.
On the refinery question, what has happened is that NNPC asked for expression of interest for anybody who wants to co-locate a refinery. The refinery business is not our core business but internally we considered that if there is an opportunity in a manner that we think aligns with our operating principles to run a refinery in the Western Niger Delta we will be interested. We have a production in the west; there a refinery that will be located in the west can fit in. You all know that we have a pipeline to the refinery.
If the Warri Refinery belonged to us, we would not even export our crude. We can deliver all our production to Warri Refinery if we wanted. To that extent we took an interest in possibly being considered for that co-location and teamed up with Vitol to put in an application. We are just waiting for the result. If we are pre-qualified, we move forward; if we are not we continue with our core business of production of oil and gas. We are going into refinery to the extent that it complements our upstream business.
What is your take on the modular refinery model?
When you people talk about modular refinery what do you think is the meaning? See, we built our gas plant in a modular

He visited others and ignored me – Omotola disappointed after Mark Zuckerberg’s visit

He visited others, ignored me – Omotola disappointed after Mark Zuckerberg’s visit

Popular Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has expressed disappointment at the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, for not visiting her when he was in Nigeria.

Zuckerberg arrived Lagos on Tuesday for an official visit to Nigeria and during the visit, the philanthropist was seen with hosts of entertainers including movie director, Kunle Afolayan, among others.
But ‘Omo sexy’, as she is fondly called, wondered why the Facebook founder ignored users with highest number of followers on his social media platform.
On her Facebook page, the mother of four shared a photo of Zuckerberg, taking a selfie with President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Oshinbajo.

She wrote: “That weird moment Zuckerberg visits Nigeria and meets with Everyone but the ones with the highest Ff on his platform.

“WelcomeZuck or #goodbyezuck ? #jealousmuch #welovehimthough #controversialpost and #heworeasuit #facebook,” she wrote.

Culled: DailyPost

Could she be right with such a sentiment???

Man of his people: DON’T PRAISES ME- OSANEBI TO HIS CONSTITUENT

DON’T PRAISES ME- OSANEBI TO HIS CONSTITUENT

By Ovedhe Jerry.

Hon. Friday Osanebi, presenting his score card

The Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Member Representing Ndokwa East , Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi has yesterday charged his constituents never to sing praises of him in all his empowerment scheme aimed at alleviating poverty from the people of Ndokwa as well as developing Ndokwa nation.
Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi made this assertion while presenting his score card to the people of Ndokwa East at Ogbe – Ukwu, Hall, Aboh even as he empowered over 20 constituents in their various trades with cash ranging from 150 thousand to 90 thousand Naira respectively depending on their trade.
The Deputy Speaker in his account of Stewardship acknowledged Okowa as a Governor who have the pains of the masses at heart and had enumerated his achievements to include 6 classroom blocks completed in about six schools within the constituency, 10 million Naira Scholarship Scheme through Osanebi Foundation, engagement of 25 youths in Agip and other 50 youths in the oil sector adding that the State Government is poised with the task to giving the people quality representation.
“This is governance, not politics. There should be no party affiliation but you should know that PDP is the party, work for PDP never to encourage divide and we shall soar higher in all aspect. Together we can achieve our aim”.
“For the love you all have shown me by voting me into power, all I have to reciprocate you all is transparency and to give, that is why am here today to fulfill my promise. Please let the love that you all have showed to me is extended to Governor Okowa. To all those I have empowered, learn how to show appreciation and help others”. He stated.
Climax of the briefing was the cash reward to an 80years old Party faithful with 500 thousand (name withheld) and a day old baby with cleft – lips that needed surgery whom he gave 300 thousand with prayers stressing that, he will sponsor the thanksgiving of the baby and reception.
Meanwhile Hon Chika Ossai Commissioner Bureau for special duties urged all to be patient and embrace unity to be in the vanguard of peace and development, commending Osanebi as a man with a heart of gold just as he congratulated the Ndokwa people for having the Deputy Speaker as their own.

Dignitaries present at the occasion are Hon Nnamdi Ezechi, Member Representing Ndokwa Nation in DESOPADEC, Hon Oliseh Imegu, Hon Vincent Okonta, Prince Mike Okuta of the Delta State House of Assembly Commission, as well as Chief Mary Chinedu, PDP Women Leader among others.

Culled: reformeronline

SECURITY ALERT: Ritualists On The Prowl In Asaba

Ritualists On The Prowl In Asaba

It was reported yesterday Tuesday 6 September, 2016; The incessant cases of missing children especially in Asaba and Okpanam axis of Delta State is at alarming state.
Reports have it that a boy of 7-years was abducted from his parents’ home in Umuomake in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the State.
According to sources, the boy was allegedly abducted in front of his compound by unknown persons suspected to be ritualists while playing.
It was further alleged that after the abductors had gone, the parents began searching for him (the boy).
In spite of the alarm by the parents of the abducted boy, there was no trace of the boy’s whereabouts.
Another incidence of a 9-year old boy was reported, which took place in Inyanga Market, Okpanam where the mother has a shop where she sells consumable items.
Also gathered was that surprisingly for the mother as she was busy attending to the abductors who claimed to be patronizing her items, requested from the mother to permit them to send the son on an errand to buy biscuits.
There was panic by the mother after some minutes when she waited for the son but did not see him and she decided to raise alarm which attracted the attention of passers-by.
It was a Mystery on the part of the mother that she cannot explain the disappearance of the child.
Also gathered was that as soon as the alarm was raised, the abductors claimed to be patronizing the mother absconded into the tin air which led to their suspicious.
However, some persons were arrested, including the leader of the gang popularly known as madam cash who parades herself as a sand supplier in Okpanam and Asaba metropolis.
According to sources, Madam Cash who hails from the Eastern part of the country, years back was arrested for child trafficking where she allegedly gave the police N2.5 million to be exonerated from the matter.
Further sources closed to the family informed the press that they have left their faith in God.
Meanwhile, investigations are still on by the police to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.
But efforts made by journalists in the state to reach out to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Celestina Kalu, were abortive as her phone lines were switched off.