"Buhari Is Working From Home Only For Today" - Lai Mohammed Clarifies

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has released a statement clarifying his earlier statement on President Buhari working from home. According to Mohammed, President Buhari will be working from home only for today.

In the statement issued in Abuja, the Minister said the President only decided to work from home today, not that he has decided to work from home henceforth.

He said the headlines in a section of the media,

''Buhari to now work from home - Lai Mohammed,'' is a misrepresentation of his statement at the briefing. Quoting verbatim the relevant section of his briefing, Mohammed said: ''He (the President) wanted to rest TODAY and he asked the VP to preside over TODAY'S meeting. In addition, he also asked that all his files be taken home to him and he will be working from home TODAY.''

CBN Pumps $186m As Forex Reserves Beat $30bn

Following Tuesday’s assurances by Godwin Emefiele, the CBN says it will continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market, as it injected $185.86 million into the retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS).

Isaac Okorafor, the bank’s acting director in charge of corporate communications, while confirming the auction sale, disclosed that out of the auctioned amount, only $3.14million was sold as spots, while the sum of $182.72million was sold as forwards.

Okorafor further explained that the overall picture of the inter-bank forex market was that of optimism, going by the level of access now being enjoyed by different categories of customers in both the wholesale and retail segments of the market.

Emefiele, while assuring Nigerians of the imminent end of the current recession in 2017, at the end of his meeting with the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, declared that the Bank will continue its relentless intervention in the forex market.

Emefiele hinged the optimism of the CBN on the accretion to the country’s foreign reserve, which he said currently hovered above the $31billion mark.

According to him, “our reserves stand at above $31bn and that provides us enough of firepower or ammunition to be able to defend the currency, and we will do so with all intensity to ensure that foreign exchange is procured by everybody”.

He further reiterated the Bank’s assurance to all shades of genuine customers that the CBN would provide them the needed foreign exchange to meet their legitimate needs, stressing that the new forex window opened by the apex bank last week aimed at encouraging foreign investors in the country’s forex market.

PDP Asks Presidency To Stop Hiding Buhari From Nigerians

The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the presidency not to unnecessarily shield President Muhammadu Buhari from his country men on account of his poor health.

The opposition party which felt irked by the last Monday’s expulsion of the Punch Newspaper reporter in the State House by the president’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Abubakar Bashir, described such move as dictatorial.

In a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the PDP caretaker committee, Dayo Adeyeye, the party said no one has the right to deny Nigerians access to President Buhari while dishing out orders on his behalf.

“For the upteenth time, we want to re-iterate that Nigerians deserve to know the health condition of their president. No one has the right or power to hide the president behind the curtain while dishing out instructions to Nigerians in the name of the president,” the party said.

However, the party said: “It wishes the president a speedy recovery and pray that the Lord Almighty will grant all that is required for him to fulfill his responsibilities to our dear country.”

On the expulsion of a journalist working with The Punch Newspaper, Lekan Adetayo, by Buhari’s CSO, the PDP said the action did not come to it as a surprise given that the nation is gradually tilting towards full blown dictatorship.

It said the media as the fourth estate of the realm is an important pillar of any democracy, adding that any attempt to gag the press in whatever guise is an abridgment of the rights of the people and a direct assault on our hard earned democracy.

‘Yesterday, April 24, 2017, we received the news of the expulsion of Olalekan Adetayo, the Punch Newspaper reporter and Chairman of Press Corps at the Presidential Villa, by Bashir, the CSO to President Buhari ,but it did not come to us, as a surprise given that the Nation is gradually tilting towards full blown dictatorship. Adetayo’s offence we heard, was his report by the weekend titled: ‘Fresh anxiety at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa over Buhari’s health.’”

According to the party, “The PDP acknowledges Mr. President’s health challenges; and as a human being and an elder statesman, we quite understand the need for him to have adequate rest and continuous medical attention. We are therefore not too surprised that the President has not in recent times been able to fully face the rigours of government and has to make very rare public appearances.

“This is pretty obvious to all Nigerians. The Punch story is therefore nothing extraordinary. It merely reflects what Nigerians already know with perhaps a little bit of speculative licence. It therefore should not have elicited the extreme reaction from the president’s CSO.

“The media as the fourth estate of the realm is an important pillar of any democracy. Any attempt to gag the press in whatever guise is an abridgment of the rights of the people and a direct assault on our hard earned democracy. We therefore totally condemn the action of the President’s CSO.

“He must realise that we are in a democracy and not military dictatorship. It is also revealing and shows the lack of synergy in the Villa that a reporter will be expelled without the knowledge or concurrence of the president’s adviser on media relations.”

Wike & His Wife Buying Things At A Market In Port Harcourt

Governor Wike and wife make purchases at Popular Port Harcourt Market

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  accompanied  by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike on Wednesday visited the Creek Road Market  in Port Harcourt where they made purchases amid cheers by traders and market women.

The Governor  and his wife arrived the market in a bus and walked through different parts of the market where they negotiated and paid for wares of interest.

The governor and his wife bought cooking oil, beads, wrappers and household  cooking items.

As the governor and his wife  paid for items purchased , they joked with the traders , assuring  them that his administration  will  always  work to promote  their  welfare and interest.

From the Creek Road Market, Governor Wike and his wife proceeded on project inspection in Port Harcourt and Obio/AkporLocal Government Areas.

They inspected ongoing completion work at the Woji- Akpajo Bridge  where the contractors  are putting  finishing touches to the rails and walkways  of the bridge.

After inspecting  the Woji Akpajo Bridge, they proceeded to the Second Nkpogu Bridge  where the contractors  have completed  work and are currently  engaged in piling work by the bridge side .

Governor Wike expressed satisfaction  with the quality of work done by the contractors in the two project sites visited.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.
26th April, 2017.

Buhari Seeks To Borrow $5.851bn For Railway Projects

Pres. Buhari writes National Assembly, seeks approval to borrow $5.851bn for railway projects


President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to the National Assembly, requesting for approval to borrow $5.851 billion for the upgrade of various sections of the Nigerian railway.

In the letter written separately to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the house of representatives Yakubu Dogara, President Buhari asked for speedy consideration of his request so that his administration can access the China-African fund provided in the 2016-2018 external borrowing plan.
According to President Buhari, the loan which is limited, is made open for all countries in the continent and it is award to any country on first come, first service basis. The letter in part reads

“I wish to refer to my earlier letter with respect to the above subject and to inform the distinguished senate that the China Exim bank has approved our request for a loan to execute the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Lagos-Ibadan segment for a sum of $1.231 billion. The China government has also informed us that the approval of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Kano-Kaduna segment and coastal railway project, the Lagos-Calabar segment are imminent.

China Exim supported projects; Lagos-Kano modernisation projects, Lagos-Ibadan segment $1.231 billion; Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Kano-Kaduna segment $1.146 billion and coastal railway project, the Lagos-Calabar segment 3.474 billion, making a total of 5.851 billion. As you are aware the funds available under the China-African fund are limited and loan applications from all over Africa countries are funded based on first come, first serve and therefore there is an urgent need to sign these loans as soon as they are approved or we may loose out in the event that we delayed in signing the loan agreement.

These loans form part of the overall money for the rail strategy. We are in the process of completing the concession of the port Harcourt Maiduguri line to immediately link the eastern part of the nation. We fully intend to source further concessioning funding to ultimately upgrade this critical line to high speed standard gauge. These projects form the overall plan to resuscitate the rail transport across the nation and thereby drive inclusive growth”.

Fayose And Nnamdi Kanu Hug In Court Abuja

Governor Fayose of Ekiti State has joined Nnamdi Kanu in celebrating the bail granted to him. This now begs the question, is Fayose supporting Biafra?

See the photos below,



Earlier, Nnamdi was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyarko on health grounds. The IPOB leader is expected to provide three sureties one of who must be a serving senator, a jewish religious leader and highly respected person and must own a land in anywhere in Abuja.

Osinbajo Panel Quizzes Suspended SGF, Lawal

The suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, was on Tuesday quizzed by committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate him and the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke.

Lawal appeared before the committee at a session that started at about 1pm.

The committee chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo meets inside one of the conference rooms in the Vice-President’s office.

The panel was set up to investigate allegations of violations of law and due process made against Lawal in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East.

It is also Oke on the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, for which NIA is laying claim.

Lawal was still with the committee members at press time.

Oke had taken his turn before the committee on Monday.

Buhari Gave Three Key Positions To Hausa-Fulani’s In Just One Day – Femi Fani-Kayode

In a Facebook post, Fani-Kayode said that Buhari decided to appoint northerners as Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Acting Director General of National Intelligent Agency as well as MD of NEXIM Bank.

He wrote, “Three major appointments were announced yesterday. Acting SGF, Acting DG NIA and MD NEXIM Bank. All three went to Hausa-Fulanis. Meanwhile a few days ago Buhari rewarded the Fulani militants and herdsmen for butchering Nigerians by appointing their official spokesman as the Secretary of the Federal Character Commission.”

Buhari Appoints Habibat Lawal As SGF & Arab Yadam As DG NIA In Acting Capacities

President Muhammadu Buhari already selected down some candidates to replace the suspended Secretary to the Government of The Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawan and the Director General Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke.

As for NIA, the suspended DG will soon be 60 and his tenure will end in November. Technically, he is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave from August.

Meanwhile, Dr. Habibat Lawal from Bauchi State and Amb. Arab Yadam from Plateau State have assumed the positions of the acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the acting Director General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA respectively in accordance with President Buhari’s directive.

Nigeria’s Revenue Can’t Sustain Interest Payment On Debt – World Bank

Although Nigeria’s total current debt is relatively low compared to the Gross Domestic Product, the interest rate payment is not sustainable by current revenues, the World Bank has said.

Senior Economist at World Bank office in Nigeria, Yue Man Lee, said this in Abuja on Wednesday on the sideline of the release of the 15th edition of Africa’s Pulse, an analysis of issues shaping the continent’s economic future.

For the interest payment to be sustainable, according to Lee, the country either has to increase its revenues or work towards balancing the debt profile to make way for more foreign debt rather than allow the continued dominance of local debt with high interest rates.

She said, “Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio is relatively low. What is of concern is the ratio of interest payment to revenue. That is what is concerning. This reflects the fact that there has been a massive drop in revenues because of the drop in oil revenues.

“There are two main strategies to reduce this debt burden. One is to increase the revenues. Here, in order not to be vulnerable to the volatility of the oil sector, the critical thing is to increase the non-oil revenues like the VAT, the income taxes and the excises outside of oil. This is something we have been discussing with the government about.”

Lee added, “The other area in terms of interest payment is to look at the debt profile. Right now, most of the debt is domestic debt – short term domestic debt – and so, the government has already expressed the strategy to move towards external longer-term debt. You have seen them issuing Eurobonds successfully as part of that strategy.

“The key thing for us in terms of sustainability of the debt profile is raising revenues. That is just the key thing.”

Lee also spoke on the nation’s continuing foreign exchange crisis, saying that further liberalisation could lead to depreciation of the naira, but predicted recovery after a short while.

She stated, “Once it is liberalised, the market will determine the exchange rate. We don’t know exactly what the exchange rate will be. Possibly, it will depreciate further; but then, it may adjust back. These are the forces of demand and supply.

“If the exchange rate depreciates further than what it is at the interbank, there could be some inflationary impact. I think we should bear in mind that right now, a lot more of large scale transactions are possibly done outside of the official interbank exchange rate.”

The World Bank official added, “If a number of transactions are being carried out using the parallel exchange rate, the prices have already been incorporated into the current selling prices. So, it’s a question of how much of inflation impact.

“The second thing to note is that the government has chosen to manage the inflation impact, namely monetary policy. So, that is why the IMF recommended further flexibility in the exchange rate regime with tightening of the monetary policy.”

Senator Dino Melaye Mocks SGF Babachir Lawal Over His Suspension

Yesterday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr David Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence agency, Ayodele Oke were suspended by President Buhari.

Recall that the president also ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

Now the controversial Senator representing Kogi west (APC), Dino Melaye has mocked SGF Babachir Lawal in a tweet with a written version of his hit single "Aje kun iya ni o je".

See the tweet and reactions from Nigerians below;

Senator Dino Melaye Dressed In Full Arab Regalia

Lol... this man is something else

Photos Of Babachir Lawal And Ayodele Oke Leaving Aso Rock After Suspension

SGF Lawal leaving the presidential villa after his Suspension Today

Credit: NAN

Suspension of SGF, NIA DG, a cover-up plot by Buhari — Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal; and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, as well as setting up of a three-man Committee to investigate the discovery of over N13 billion cash by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos as diversionary, afterthought and a prelude to the official cover-up of the original owners of the money.
 
The governor, who said the Buhari-led government was becoming an embarrassment to Nigerians with its macabre dance of shame, asked; “Would the President have set up a probe panel if these scams were linked to anyone in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those members of his party that are not in his good books?

“Most importantly, what business does Presidential Committee have with investigation of crime? Are they telling Nigerians that they have lost confidence in all the intelligence and investigative agencies of the government, including the EFCC and DSS?”

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said it was becoming obvious that President Buhari has lost control of his government, adding that; “The Buhari-led Federal Government is operating like many governments within one government. There appears to be many Presidencies within the Presidency and this is the reason for the confusion everywhere.”

“Why waiti for this messy OsborneGate to act on the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) grass-cutting scam? Could it have been a case of one Presidency (Buhari) writing the Senate on January 17, 2017 to clear the SGF and another Presidency suspending him today?

“Whichever way one looks at it, it gives no other impression than that of confusion in the government.”

Speaking further, the governor asked; “Is their presidential committee also going to tell Nigerians those who abandoned N49 million cash in an airport that has CCTV cameras? What the owner of the N448 million
the EFCC said it found in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos?

“In all these, what I see is a government trying frantically to cover-up corrupt acts of its functionaries but like I said before now, even though we know that the APC-led federal government has the capacity to sweep it under the carpet like many others before it, Nigerians will have it on record that they are being ruled by a government of the more you look, the less you see.”

Suspended NIA boss, Ayo Oke weeps in Aso Rock

The suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, this afternoon betrayed emotions, weeping profusely at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He was however denied access to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He had attempted to head for Buhari and Osinbajo's office before he later turned back and left the Villa.

According to a statement earlier today by Buhari's spokesman Femi Adesina, "the President has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

"The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

"The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation."

President Buhari suspends SGF, NIA boss

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

The President, according to a statement today by his spokesman Femi Adesina, has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.

He stated: "In a related development, the President has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

"The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

"The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

"A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations.

"The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF's office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation."

N15bn: EFCC Submits Report To Presidency

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has submitted a report to the Presidency on the N15bn it seized in an operation in Lagos, Daily Trust has learnt.

The report gave details of the discoveries made during the operation, as well as the origin of the money, credible sources said yesterday.

The money, seized from an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi on Wednesday, was made up of $43.4 million, £27,000 and N23m.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has claimed the money.

Those who speak for the agency anonymously said the apartment was being used as a safe.

However, EFCC sources point out that the apartment is being rented by a private company.

The EFCC is, therefore, working hard to unravel the identities of the owners, sources said.

Also, the EFCC is said to be interested in the role some tenants in other apartments in the building may have played in stashing the money.

Among those who took up apartments in the highbrow area is a former governor as well as former senior officers of government agencies already under the radar of the EFCC over financial crimes.

It was gathered that the Director General of the NIA visited the acting Chairman of the EFCC and requested the money be given back to his agency, but his appeals were turned down.

This according to sources, might be to enable the NIA inform the Presidency on the real purpose of the fund, and reclaim it from there.

NIA source told Daily Trust that the apartment where the EFCC recovered the fund was protected by NIA personnel adding that “even those protecting the place were not aware of what was inside. There were NIA officials there when the money was taken by the EFCC.”

The source also said the President was aware of all NIA operations. He was being briefed appropriately.

On why the fund was not returned to the Federation Account 2 years after it was approved, the NIA source said “normally moneys budgeted for security operations are not returned to the treasury.”

The agency insists that the recovered N15 billion belongs to it and that the fund was approved for a covert operation.

It was also gathered that flyers of the Goodluck Jonathan-Namadi Sambo, 2015 presidential campaign was found at the apartment.

However, a source familiar with the operations of the NIA said a lot of irregularities characterised the previous administration in the name of covert operations.

He noted that even partisan activities could be termed covert operations, adding that feelers indicate that, the money kept in a house, meant they did not want it traced to any agency of government.

The source alleged that the money was to be used for the 2015 election but was now being kept to be used for 2019.

He added that further investigation might implicate the current leadership of the agency and other opposition governors in financial crimes.

He explained that monies used for covert operations by the NIA are not usually in large amount.

The source said funds for top class operations which required up to ten undercover operatives in a foreign country did not exceed $100,000, usually withdrawn from a bank.

He also said it is abnormal that such money (N15 billion) was kept in what is being described as a safe house.

According to him while there are safe houses, they are only used strictly for operational purpose and not financial.

Checks on the website of the Budget Office indicated that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), is under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Its budget for 2014 was N36.923 billion with personnel cost accounting for N26.132bn.
The total overhead cost was N2.262bn, while the capital component was N8.5bn.

The N13bn uncovered at the Lagos safe house was far more than the NIA’s other recurrent and overhead costs as well as the entire capital allocation combined allocated for 2014.

Similarly, the N13bn was higher than the entire overhead costs and capital expenditures for each of the agency’s budget for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

As for 2015, NIA’s budget was N33.470bn. The personnel cost for that year was N25.381bn; overhead, N1.789bn, with a total recurrent of N27.170bn, while capital expenditure was N6.299bn.

In 2016, NIA’s budget was N31.349bn, out of which personnel cost was N23.731bn; overhead was N1.375bn and the capital expenditure was N6.243bn.

The NIA’s proposed budget for 2017, which is currently before the National Assembly is N33.876bn. The personnel cost is N25.381bn; overhead is N1.864bn, while capital proposal is N6.631bn.

Dino Melaye And Family In Church For Thanksgiving, After Assassination Attempt

Following the assassination attempt by gunmen who stormed his house in Kogi State, in the early hours of Saturday, Dino Melaye and his cousins, his parents, siblings yesterday all stormed The Apostlic church at Aiyetoro Gbede, Kogi State, to thank God for sparing his life.

The Senator even rolled on the floor to thank God, for saving him on Saturday, when about 10 men stormed his Kogi home and rained bullets into
the house, destroying cars and other things.

The Senator who has also been active on Instagram, has also got an Instagram crush, who felt bad immediately news of the assassination attempt was made public.

More photos after the cut;

IGP Orders Immediate Removal Of Roadblocks

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim K. Idris, has ordered the immediate dismantling of all illegal roadblocks erected by revenue collection agents, transport and trade union members as well as unapproved task forces around the country.

The order, which takes effect on Monday, was announced in a statement (Ref. No.CZ:5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/) issued on Sunday by Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer.

To give teeth to the order, said the statement, the IGP has deployed Special X-Squad Teams of the Police Force across the country to commence the removal of all forms of illegal inhibitors to vehicular movement across the country.

"The Special X-Squad Teams deployed are under strict instructions to also arrest, investigate and prosecute any person or group of persons found committing this illegal act. It is unlawful and contrary to the laws for any individual, or group under any name to take laws into their hands and block any road or highway in full or any part of it under the guise of the collection of revenue/tax or enforcement of the interests of such organizations," the statement said.

The Force also drew attention to Section 2(2) of the Taxes and Levies Act 2004, which bars any person, including a tax authority from mounting a roadblock for the purpose of collecting tax or levy in any part of the country. It added that it has been receiving numerous complaints at police stations across the country that the illegal roadblocks are usually taken over and used by armed robbers and kidnappers.

Thus, the Police advised state and local government councils, state internal revenue boards, transport, and trade unions to desist from mounting roadblocks, as such constitutes a breach of the law.

Corruption And recession will soon become history – CAN President

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has assured Nigerians that the power of resurrection of Jesus Christ would not only end corruption but would also bring the economic downturn to a standstill.

 Ayokunke said this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, on Sunday in Abuja. The CAN president, who gave this assurance in his Easter Message to the nation, prayed God to bring to end the economic hardship facing the country.

“I wish all Nigerians a happy Easter in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is a season of hope, joy and restoration. “The Lord that rolled away the stone from the mouth of the tomb to put the enemy to shame will roll away all causes of economic hardship from our nation. “Corruption will be a thing of the past as earthquake came to help in removing all hindrances to the resurrection of Christ for a glorious dawn to emerge. “The God of heaven will divinely intervene to bail our nation out of economic downturn in the name of Jesus.”

Ayokunle expressed optimism that the future of the country would be characterised by abundance, joy and celebrations. “As the resurrection morning brought a day of joy and laughter back to the disciples, the future years shall be full of abundance in Nigeria. “It will bring back our joy and celebration in our streets in the name of Jesus. “Our challenges of today will become the ladder to our testimonies tomorrow in the name of Jesus. “It is well with you, our leaders at all levels of government and our nation in the name of Jesus Christ,’’ he said.

He therefore admonished Nigerians to sustain praying for the country and her leaders as they confront the challenges facing the populace. Mr Daniel Kadzai, the National President, Youth Wing of CAN, also urged youths to be drivers of peace and nation building instead of being accomplice of massive looting and corruption.

He also called on the church to be agents of change so as to help transform the nation from its present predicament to a better living condition for all. “Nigeria cannot arise until the church decides to arise and take her original responsibility of soul winning, than too much emphasis on money, questionable miracles and dirty fight over positions. “We all need to think of bringing a positive change in our various capacities because we can change the nation,’’ he said.