FG bans vehicles importation through land borders

The Federal Government took importers of vehicles by surprise yesterday when it banned the importation of vehicles through the land borders with effect from January 1, 2017.
However, the announcement has since elicited reactions from Nigerians. While some condemned the policy, others hailed the move.

However, stakeholders in the maritime industry yesterday  hailed the ban, but they pleaded with the government to go a step further to reduce the tariff on those imported through the seaports.

A freight forwarder and the National Co-ordinator of Save Nigerian Freight Forwarders,  Chief Osita Patrick Chukwu, commended the decision of the government to ban the importation of all types of new and used vehicles through the  land border.

According to him, the ban will create jobs for Nigerians and revive some ports that are redundant. He said that those who bring vehicles from the land borders are   saboteurs,
“But the government should go further to reduce the tariff  and make the importation competitive among the West African countries. 

It will create employment and revive some ports already rendered redundant due to inactivity. The companies which import vehicles through the sea have been  rendered redundant because of the importation through the land border. We welcome the announcement whole-heartedly.

Government has been losing revenue via land borders because they don’t pay full duties and most are smuggled. But with this, it’ll help a great deal. You’ll declare the vehicles and pay right charges. If the attraction to neighbouring ports is the lower tariffs, then Nigeria can lower the tariffs here as well’, he said.

But the Chairman of Toiletry and Cosmetics section of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),  Akpan Umeh, differed from them, arguing that  the ban would add more pains to Nigerians  because there are not enough plants in the country to produce vehicles to cater for the needs of the masses.

He stated that it is only a few plants that  are working now to  serve Nigerians’ need.
He said with this ban, it is expected that very soon, there will be hike in transportation fare across the country.

“This is not the right time to ban such items,”  he added.
But the former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr Kingsley Usoh, while commending the government, suggested that the government should crush vehicles that are older than seven years—-whether they were brought in from the land or sea.

Also, a  car importer, Uche Muoka urged the government to tighten security at land borders to ensure smuggling is reduced.

“It’s good to know vehicles now come into the country only via the seaports. It is good. Government can track and capture its full revenue. No more land borders. Standards can be enforced”, he noted.

The Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said that the ban of new and fairly used vehicles is a welcome development, but that the government should be serious in  implementing the policy as this would generate more revenue if well implemented.

Yusuf noted that for the ban to be effective, government must create environment for manufacturers of these vehicles to produce locally made vehicles. He called on the manufacturers of vehicles in the country to take advantage of this ban to begin to look inward in producing locally-made vehicles for Nigerians.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday said the prohibition order was sequel to a presidential directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigerian seaports only.

“The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice, whose imports have been banned through the land borders since April 2016. Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilize the grace period up till  December 31, 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighbouring ports”, Adeniyi stated.
Source:The Sun

Passengers grumble over rising luggage theft at airports

Despite efforts to increase security at the country’s airports, cases of passengers losing items in their baggage to unknown persons is on the increase.

Although official figures obtained from the Consumer Protection Department of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority showed a little difference in recorded cases in the first three quarters of this year on domestic routes, it was learnt that many cases remained unreported.

Between January and September this year, 2,131 cases of pilferage were reported by passengers on international flights, while 53 cases were officially recorded on domestic routes.

Our correspondent found that most of the cases were not reported by the victims because they often discovered the theft after they had arrived at their final destinations.

One of such victims, Mr. Michael Adegbola, said his baggage was opened and some items taken out of it when he boarded a Virgin Atlantic aircraft from London to Lagos on October 29.

“I left London on the 29th of October on Virgin Atlantic and arrived on the 30th. As usual, I took my two luggage and went home. But on getting home, I discovered that one had been tampered with. I later found out that some of the items I bought for my children had been taken,” he said.

Another victim, Mr. Victor Ani, said he lost a Hewlett Packard mini laptop, which he had in his luggage on his way from Dubai in July, adding that he did not discover the theft until the day after his arrival.

Like Adegbola and Ani, many of the affected people who spoke with our correspondent, said they never had the opportunity to complain officially because they only got to know of the loss of their items when they arrived home or after a few days.

The Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Mr. Hassan Yahaya, said passengers were expected to report any discrepancy at the point of collection of baggage at the airports.

“A passenger is expected to report any discrepancy at the point of collection of bag(s), wait for appropriate documentation; collect his or her copy of document as evidence, and follow up with the handler and airline as advised by the customer agent,” he said.

He added that plans were in place for remote monitoring of baggage storage facilities and that maximum penalty would imposed on established culprits.
“There has also been provision of communication gadgets to reach out to passengers who missed their luggage for collection,” he said.

Although efforts to reach the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, operators of airports across the country failed, the General Manager, the Public Relations, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said passengers needed to be educated on how to handle their baggage at airports.

He said, “Pilfering is not limited to Nigerian airports or airlines coming in and going out of the country alone; it is a worldwide problem but as a passenger, if you fly an airplane, you check your luggage as soon as you get hold of it on arrival.

“Check before leaving the terminal and if you discover any pilfering, you report to the airline immediately. But if you wait till you get home, nobody will take responsibility for that. Passengers need to know that nobody is responsible for them anymore when they leave the airport.”
Source:Punch

MMM Social Funding: Forget it is risky, we make millions every two weeks —Defiant Nigerians

•‘Why going after promoters of MMM, others may be difficult for FG’

Majestically he stepped into the banking hall exuding the youthful confidence of a new employee, who had just received his first salary. Hardly had this young man joined the queue at a new generation bank he had gone to make a transaction, his phone rang. 

With his mobile phone held closely to left ear, the young man exclaimed in Pidgin English: ‘’ You say wetin? MMM don crash! How?’’ Surprisingly, this fleeting exclamation sounded like a thunderbolt at the crowded banking hall, as it birthed commotion that saw virtually everyone running to nowhere.

Emotionally followed

Not even the bank tellers, security men and other members of staff, were left out in the ensuing commotion which spontaneously occurred. Make no mistake about it, this, only occurred in the imaginary world where many wonder what becomes of Nigerians should the latest money box, Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox,MMM crashes. 

The above scenario, however, depicts how deeply involved most Nigerians are in the scheme. From Daura to Emekuku, Yola to Abak, MMM is admired, accepted well-liked, sought-after and emotionally followed by not a few. So desired and popular it is that it has become a movement competing with any animate and inanimate brand in Nigeria. Simply put, MMM now stands as a way of life and path to go by in this part of the globe. 

With a reach that is as wide as its ambivalent configuration, the system, which it’s founders termed a community, is the trendiest topic at the moment. Its popularity is such that even those, who don’t participate, have a conventional idea of what it stands for. Notwithstanding, there are mixed feelings regarding MMM in Nigeria that even its most ardent followers can attest to. 

Nonparticipants and even participants, who assume to understand the scheme are certainly on the same page in this respect. The game which had been likened to a Ponzi scheme didn’t emanate from the moon nor Mars. It was conceived and birthed on planet earth. The origin of MMM as learnt by Sunday Vanguard could be traced to Russia where it was founded in 1989 by Sergei Mavrodi, Vyacheslav Mavrodi, and Olga Melnikova. 

Though the company was found to have had the most successful Ponzi schemes in the 90s, it was learnt that it was shut down by the Russian government in 1994 over tax evasion allegations after which it was declared bankrupt in 1997. Basically, everything about the scheme which is believed to be a pyramid revolves around investing a certain amount of money and getting a higher percentage of the deposited fund. 

Writing in a piece entitled: Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me: Russians Fall Once Again for Notorious Ponzi Scheme, Igor Ogorodnev noted that the founders relaunched a similar scheme in 2011, enticing investors with interest rates of 40 percent a month. 

However, with questionable successes in South Africa, India, and Zimbabwe, MMM Nigeria was launched in early 2016 describing itself as a community of ordinary people, selflessly helping each other. On its website: MMM-Nigeria.net, Sunday Vanguard observed that it also prides itself as a Global Fund of mutual aid which promises 30 percent on every amount committed but with a caveat that the scheme is not an investment programme. mmm

Unverifiable claim

With the unverifiable claim of being in 118 countries and having over 200 million participants of which Nigeria accounts for more than two million people, the goal of the scheme as found on its Nigerian website read thus: “The goal here is not the money. The goal is to destroy the world’s unjust financial system. 

Financial Apocalypse!” Scary, many would say, but that is the typical tone of the messages on the site. If the aforesaid left you surprised, consider this: ‘’ There is no formal organization, no legal person in MMM. And of course, there is no central bank account, no other activity in any form. Neither close nor open. There is nothing! There are only millions and millions of simple participants, simple private persons. And their bank accounts. And nothing more.”

11th most visited website in Nigeria

These, notwithstanding, findings by Sunday Vanguard revealed that the scheme has grown so popular in Nigeria that it has more than two million subscribers in the country with participants cutting across different social strata. A check on the website of California-based company that provides commercial web traffic data and analytics, Alexa, showed that it was rated the 11 most visited website in Nigeria and 3,921 globally. 

Accordingly, it was discovered that the number of people, who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page is 51.80 percent while about 2.26 million people were noted to visit the site daily from Nigeria. Alexa further observed that daily time spent on MMM Nigeria by a visitor is 4:31 seconds, indicating that Nigerians, spend appreciable time daily from a web analytics standpoint. 

Demographically, Alexa noted that a larger percentage of the audience which is 94.9 percent male Nigerians with college degrees. Those, who visit the Nigerian site from the United States were found to constitute 1.6 percent while those from the United Kingdom are 0.9 percent. This data as obtained by Sunday Vanguard is a confirmation of how Nigerians have become so engrossed with MMM simply because of the 30 percent bonus that comes from participating.

How MMM works

For those, who hardly know how it works, a further check on MMM site revealed thus: ‘’How does it work technically? You declare the willingness to give help (click in your Personal Office, Provide Help, after which your account will be rewarded with Mavro (internal “currency”/scores of the System. Mavros will start growing from the moment of offering the contribution at the rate of 30 percent per month. 

Calculation of reward occurs twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 00:00 GMT. This sum in Mavro shows how much you can request for yourself. ‘’Say you have announced willingness to assist with $ 100. You will be rewarded in your PO with 100 Mavro. And they will immediately start growing. A month later, these 100 will become 130 Mavro. 

Accordingly, you will be able to request assistance for $ 130. ‘’However, it is not necessary at all to wait for a month. Help can be requested at any time. But only after confirmation of your Mavro. What does “after confirmation” mean? It means only after you actually transfer money, by giving assistance to another participant. 

Request for providing help comes to you in your personal office. If you do not do it within 48 hours, you will be removed from the system for eternity. In cases of any matter regarding the topic our online consultants are ready to help and answer all your questions.”

Contact address of promoters

Indeed, Sunday Vanguard can testify that so many Nigerians, who engage in the scheme through this process, receive bonuses but there are concerns over what becomes of the committed funds should anything happen to the website which is the only platform with which to interface. The fear is real even among participants, who are aware of the fact that there is no one to hold responsible should the site crash the way it reportedly happened in Zimbabwe where thousands of investors were left distraught. 

For instance, further check by Sunday Vanguard on its website showed that the scheme has no contact address, as the contact column only provided where subscribers could write feedbacks or complaints in specified columns. A functional addressee like email and phone numbers of the promoters were not found on the site. 

This further corroborates the concern of investors and noninvestors about what happens in the event of eventuality, given that Ponzi schemes lack longevity. mmm1 Ponzi schemes lack longevity Certainly, it is the realisation of the inherent disadvantages that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the House of Representatives, cautioned Nigerians against continuing with MMM. 

“At times like this when the economy has suffered some decline, Nigerians should be very careful with those they deal with. Any institution that is not licensed by the CBN to accept deposits should not be given money to keep under any guise,” the CBN said through its acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor. 

Despite these warnings, Sunday Vanguard findings showed that the number of Nigerians participating in it is increasing daily making the scheme the most talked about issue among most sections of the society. At the moment, out of every 10 Nigerian youths, six participate in the scheme, confirming that many have refused to heed warnings from the authorities.

Ignorant of inherent risks

Most participants, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard did not claim ignorance of the inherent risks but they simply said it was the only viable way of surviving the economic crisis in Nigeria. To them, MMM is assisting in cushioning the effects of the high cost of living in the country and the high rate of inflation which had negatively affected the purchasing power of Nigerians. 

As far as many are concerned, the scheme should be enjoyed while it lasts, even as they told Vanguard that they had prepared themselves for the worst which could happen anytime. A Lagos-based participant, who became an MMM investor in March 2016, Mrs. Agnes Malobi told Sunday Vanguard that so long as there has not been any case of disappointment recorded in MMM Nigeria, she would remain a participant until the worst happens. 

“This is real. Forget about what the government is saying, MMM is even more preferred now than the government. The APC government is confused and has unleashed hunger on Nigerians, so, they should not be talking because Nigerians have found a way to survive. I was introduced to MMM in March and I started with N50, 000 because I was not too sure of it. After 30 days, I was given N74,000. My second attempt with N50, 000 yielded the same amount. 

It was from that moment that I started investing big money and I am reaping big results. I make thousands but I understand that people now make millions on the scheme,”. Malobi, who works with a para- military agency said. 

A member of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Miss Chinelo Umeh, told Sunday Vanguard, that she regretted not starting early, adding that her peers, who daringly got involved early have made good money. Umeh, however, noted that since she became a participant in July, she has become financially independent.

Leave MMM alone

“Oga journalist, please I want you people to tell the government to leave MMM alone and concentrate on governance. Nigerians are suffering, there is hunger even in Ogun State here where I am serving, hard times are evident. I regret not getting involved in MMM early when the promoters were organising seminars. 

My fellow corps members, who were not scared, started then and they are very okay now. As I am talking to you now, I no longer spend my monthly allowance which is the only thing we get here because the state government does not pay an allowance to corps members,” she stated. 

Asked if she was not scared of losing her money, the graduate of Economics from one of the universities in the South East geopolitical zone, said: “I did research on MMM, even though it has a bad public image globally, I elected to participate because I saw evidence that it was giving people the pledged 30 percent bonus.”

Questionable practices by some investors

Further interaction with some investors, revealed that the interest of the government and some questionable practices by some Nigerian investors are beginning to make some consider quitting the scheme. Mrs. Charity Adamu, who works with a traveling agency, told Sunday Vanguard thus: ‘’I did not start early, but I have made a reasonable amount of money within a short time. 

My younger sister, who introduced the scheme to me started early and is now financially stable to the extent that she longer asks me for money. She even provides financial assistance to our extended family members. When I receive my money next week, I will stop being a participant because of the warnings by the government and the attitude of some Nigerians.” Explaining further, she said: “Some people have become insincere. 

They no longer follow the rules because one is required upload a bank teller confirming that payment had been done. It is that teller that would show that the person had done his obligation, but some people no longer do that. Rather, they upload a written note stating that they would pay later. In that process, the other person’s money would be delayed for up to two weeks or more. 

I am done with it because I am sure that the end is not far in sight.” Asked if there are MMM officials, who entertain complaints from customers, she said: ‘’There are people who are called guardians. Each participant is provided a guardian, who would assist should there be any challenge. 

Those guardians are also participants.’’ Apart from these, respondents to a question posed by Vanguard online seeking to know the impression of Nigerians about the scheme revealed that Nigerians are divided on whether the government should ignore the scheme.

‘Federal Government should study MMM’

While many want MMM ignored, others urged participants to quit participating in the scheme noting that its eventual end would leave investors stranded. Consider the positions of two online respondents, who spoke for and against the scheme in Nigeria. Ezeilo Chibuike argued thus:”Can we look at MMM as a Cooperative Society which is guided by a bye-law created by the people for the people. And if the cooperative still works in Nigeria then MMM is not a scam. 

I can defend this with the cooperative law. If our financial Institutions are being threatened by the MMM scheme, what they simply need is to create an innovative idea around the MMM system. To me, I think this is the time for financial institutions like banks to make high profit. The government should use this opportunity to build our great nation. 

The federal government should study the system and understand how it works. I was forced to study the system by my clients and friend because they needed my advice and I think is a good one.” Another person, who identified himself as Trumpet, said: “Flee, flee, flee and report anyone that tries to bring you into this business. 

Don’t mind some of the people online using different handles to deceive people and thwart government’s effort to bring the evil people to book. They should be arrested now before they destroy you and your honest fellows.” While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had said it was investigating the scheme, Sunday Vanguard can authoritatively state that the faceless nature of the promoters, may not allow for proper investigation into the scheme.

People embracing new schemes

A corroboration of this paper’s position could be found in a statement issued by the EFCC regarding the order given to it by the House of Representatives. “We can only arrest people based on the evidence that we have. 

The House made a resolution but the resolution is a public announcement. We have always been advising people not to patronize wonder banks because experience over time has shown that their activities are not sustainable. If you get involved in it, you will eventually get hurt. What we are currently doing is to sensitize people. 

We know people want to make quick money as a result of recession through this MMM.The unfortunate thing about this MMM is that it is not a Nigerian firm but we are looking at and we will still tell the media whatever we find out,” EFCC’s Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said. 

While the beat goes on for the participants of MMM, Sunday Vanguard further discovered that Nigerians have also embraced other Ponzi schemes that promised higher percentages of any amount of money invested. 

Those found to be trending include Get Help World Wide, Me to You, Givers Forum, Ultimate Cycler, Help to Get and Icharity.com. They were found to have the same modus operandi like MMM but have less patronage like the later.
Source:Vanguard

Life inside a strange Lagos church

…Where members live in commune
Worship founder, with alleged 100 wives

Vulcaniser bus-stop is very popular on Akowonjo-Egbeda road in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Not far from this bus-stop, on both sides of the road, are some church buildings. Boldly written on the sprawling signboards at the entrance of the two front church buildings are “Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.”

Members are decked in all white attires, giving a first time visitor the impression of a white garment church in the mold of Cherubim and Seraphim, and Celestial Church of Christ – but that’s where the similarity ends as this church differs greatly with these two in terms of doctrine and beliefs.

The SATURDAY SUN team had set out initially that evening for an interview with the founder of the church, a man highly revered and almost worshipped as a deity by members. Popularly called King Olutanmole of the Universe, the man said to be in his 60s is always regal in appearance.

Investigations by SATURDAY SUN revealed that King Olutanmole’s original name is Christopher Yomi Jacobs and he hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.

He started his ministry at Ilupeju area of Lagos in 1972 from a modest bungalow. Few years later when his ministry started growing, he moved to Akowonjo his present site where he was reported to have acquired large expanse of land through a female member of the church who was related to landowners in Akowonjo.

The old woman now deceased was elevated to the position of Mother-In-Israel as a result of her activities in the ministry. Her house is not far from the church.

Although several attempts made to book an appointment for interview with King Olutanmole were futile, Saturday Sun’s team observations while on visits to the place to book appointment with Olutanmole was revealing.

Although it was learnt that members of the church have been barred from speaking to the media about anything concerning the church, some observations that were made during the visits were confirmed by some members who pleaded anonymity.

While on one of the trips, it was noticed that members live together like in a commune. If you were outside or inside the church you may not know this, but a close observation one evening revealed that after their service, members rather than trooping outside to take commercial buses home or drive outside the premises were seen moving towards the back of the church.

But here it is a no-go area for non-members. It is here you have apartments where members live. Even on a particular day after a group of children had just finished playing football and other games on an open field located very close to the church, about 100 of them were moving into the commune. Boldly inscribed at the back of their Tee-shirts is ‘Olutanmole kids.’

Around 7 pm, some members of the church working in other parts of Lagos were also observed coming in through the main gate as they headed for the narrow path that led to the commune.

Curious about this, our team sought to find out where those trooping towards the back of the church were going. “They are going home – they are going to their residences. Their homes are inside the church but at the back. Although a visitor or non-member will just think that it is the only church we have here,” a member who pleaded not to be named declared.

Continuing he said: “We have rules for them. You have several families living here. Many even want to leave their house and join others that are living here because those that are living here enjoy Olutanmole’s special grace and favour.”

At another section of the church you have what looks like a mini supermarket but what is mostly on sale here are spiritual items like holy water, oil, rosary, books, all bearing the photos and the inscription, ‘King Olutanmole of the Universe.’

The holy water is put in kegs of various sizes, and with price range with the lowest being N250. Speaking on the holy water, another member who also spoke on condition of anonymity said there is no ailment that the water can’t cure.

Thinking we are visitors that had come for spiritual counseling, he implored us to buy any of the items, insisting that buying them and using is like having personal encounter with Olutanmole himself.

“It is not easy to see Baba Olutanmole. Some people have been on the waiting list for more than six months. Some even for one year, they have not been able to see Baba. Buy those spiritual items, they will work wonders for you, they will solve all your problems at least until you are able to see Baba Olutanmole,” he pleaded.

On another Sunday when the SATURDAY SUN team was asked to try and see whether Olutanmole would be able to see them, it was another shocker. Inside the sprawling well-decorated church that looks like a cathedral, you see this giant seat facing you. The seat has all the marks of royalty.

You will think that it is a specially designed seat for a royal father. That is where King Olutanmole sits and conducts service whenever he is around.

In a section, you see testaments written inside a glass enclosure and they are referred to as their seven commandments. This provoked another curiosity, and further investigations revealed that members of the church had long time ago jettisoned the 10 biblical commandments generally believed by many churches.

Confirming the development, another member speaking on anonymity said:
“We no longer have anything to do with the 10 commandments again. We no longer believe in the Laws of Moses. Some years ago, around 1989 God revealed certain things to Baba while he was on the prayer mountain.

When he came back, he told us that God told him to jettison the old 10 commandments and in its place have our new set of laws which are seven. If you even wake a five year old member of our ministry, he will recite the seven commandments without stress.”

And these are the seven commandments in Olutanmole’s church namely: Be Obedient, Worship God at all Times, Be Faithful in your Deeds, Be Obedient to God the Father, Be Obedient to God the Son, Be Obedient to the Holy Spirit, and Be Obedient to Olutanmole.

One interesting aspect of the Sunday Service at Olutanmole’s church is that there is no limit to the number of hours members can stay.

On this, another source in the church explains, “We complete or round off service as Olutanmole wishes. If Baba wishes that it should be two hours, so be it or if he says it is 24 hours, so also be  it.”

While not describing Olutanmole as God, members fervently believe that he is Jesus Christ personified on earth. In fact, their major belief which they also professed during the Sunday worship was that they pity other Christians that still believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. To them, Jesus Christ is not coming back again.

“Baba, King Olutanmole is Jesus Christ and he is the one that will take us to heaven to meet God and Jesus Christ his beloved son. This is why this ministry is called Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”.

Taken up on this, he fired back: “Have you not read anything about Baba? Although Baba hardly talks to the media, he rarely does, on such occasions, which are few he had declared that he is the one that is being expected, that he is the messiah who will take us to heaven. Forget about Jesus coming back again.”

It was also gathered that members that work in the church’s schools (Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School), hospital, and bookshop earn salaries but the take home is not what can be considered as living wages.

A non-member of the church who works in the hospital but who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We are working like slaves. It is nothing to write home about. Our own condition is even a bit better compared to what members experience.

We have a situation whereby father, mother and the children either work in the hospital, bookshop, bakery or in one of the schools but their collective take home pay is not up to N20,000. What do you call that? Although, they dare not raise their voice or complain because they revere or do I say fear Olutanmole.”

Another issue that is shrouded in mystery is the number of wives and children Olutanmole has. A source told Saturday Sun that King Olutanmole is married to almost 100 women, and has numerous children,  but another source countered that he has only one wife who has seven children for him.

It was gathered that Olutanmole also made it a rule that anybody getting married to any of his daughters must quit secular work and join his ministry. Not only that he must leave his house and move to the commune inside the church.

It was further learnt that one of the two men married to one of his daughters had to resign from his lucrative job as a banker to take up residence in the commune.

Always a beehive of activities, the church’s headquarters at Akowonjo is always besieged by visitors from different parts of the country and even from outside.

One of the strict rules in the church is the one that forbids members from eating anything containing palm oil every Friday.
Members are also required to pay obeisance to King Olutanmole like other earthly royals.

While greeting him, you must not stand but prostrate or roll on the ground before him, while he also reportedly have the right to change name of members to whatever pleases or suits him.

Members are also required to pay spiritual visits to the ministry’s prayer mountain located at a spot between Ogun and Ondo States at least twice in a year.

“You can’t claim to be our member without going to Baba’s prayer mountain at least twice in a year. And you don’t go there to eat, but to meditate and fast in order to enjoy numerous spiritual benefits,” another member declared.

To his neighbours at Akowonjo, King Olutanmole of the Universe remains an enigma but to numerous followers, he remains a hero, a savior and the long-awaited messiah.
Some of them that also spoke with Saturday Sun expressed fear about being seen or quoted on Olutanmole.

“We see a lot of people going inside that place including big men who drive in big cars, but honestly what goes on in there, I don’t know. There is something mysterious about the man called Olutanmole. His members hardly venture outside the commune inside the church, and not only that they hardly interact with neighbours”, one of the neighbours stated.

Continuing the man said: “Although, neither Baba Olutanmole nor his followers have been violent since the church started several years ago at Akowonjo, but when you mention that place, some people are uncomfortable. I don’t know why.”
Source:The Sun

FG cuts workers’ Nov salary

Over tax, pension, national housing fund

Workers at the Federal Ministry of Information and a few other ministries last month experienced a pay cut over tax, pension, and National Housing Fund (NHF), which are now applied on gross salary. Some of the workers had about 50 per cent pay cut, while others had only 10 per cent cut.

Some workers in the information ministry, who declined to be named, told Daily Sun that they had no fore knowledge of the salary cut until the memo came.

In a November 30, 2016 memo, entitled: “Reduction in November 2016”
And signed by head of finance of one of the affected agencies in the Ministry of Information, informed the staff thus: “Advisory from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) revealed a drastic reduction in the net pay of the staff for the month of November 2016.

“We discovered that the reasons for the reduction are stated below: Tax, pension, National Housing Fund (NHF), formerly based on consolidated, is now applied on gross salary.

“All members of staff should please take note as the net pay, to be removed for the month of November 2016, has been grossly affected by the factors stated above.”

Workers, however, kicked over what they described as huge deductions on their salaries “without any warning.”
The workers have appealed to the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, to urgently step in and address the issue.

Contacted last night, Assistant Director of Press, in the Office of the Head of Service, Mohammed Manga, told Daily Sun: “I don’t work in the Federal Ministry of Information.

“Please, ask the head of media in that office or in the Ministry of Finance. I don’t deal with salary issues; that’s not my jurisdiction.”
Source:The Sun

Stowaway found dead on Arik Air plane in Johannesburg

The lifeless body of a stowaway was on Wednesday found in the main wheel well of one of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.

The airline confirmed the incident in a statement by its Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to the airline, the aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:55pm on Tuesday and arrived in Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.

It said engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check, discovered the body of the stowaway during the inspection phase.

The airline said investigations were ongoing to determine how the stowaway found his way into the aircraft’s main wheel well.
Source:Tribune