NIGERIAN NOTCH

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, believed to be a multi-billionaire has declared a paltry yearly personal income of N20 million. The shocking revelation was contained in the credentials that Atiku filed with the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The PDP candidate, who prides himself as a businessman and job creator said he earned only N60.2 million in three years and paid a paltry N10.8 million tax between 2015 and 2017. Some reports have estimated Atiku’s wealth at about $1.4 billion. In 2014, Atiku boasted that he was the greatest employer of labour in Nigeria, with about 50,000 Nigerians on his payroll. “As an individual, I believe my record in employing young Nigerians is unrivalled by any single private investor in Nigeria,” the former vice president said. He has investments in media, shipping, education, and other sectors.  One of the companies, where he has substantial interest is Intels, which recently ran into

Protests hit Zamfara, Minna over APC primaries • Akeredolu, Sani, others fume, Ita-Giwa returns to PDP • Why national chair should stay, by Enugu chapter Criticism trailing the recent primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified yesterday as aggrieved party members held protests in Zamfara and Niger State. The demonstration in Zamfara began around 9:00 a.m., with hundreds of members gathering at the party’s headquarters. They marched through major streets, chanting songs denouncing National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and calling for his resignation. The protest was reportedly organised by chairmen of the 14 local government areas, led by Aminu Gamagiwa, chairman of Maru local government and the All Local Governments Forum of APC chairmen in the state.Addressing the crowd, the secretary of the forum, Babangida Mohammed, declared that the party in the state had lost confidence in Oshiomhole’s leadership. He accused the national chairman of allegedly sponsor

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Wednesday revealed that present trends in air transport suggest passenger numbers could double to about 8.2 billion by The latest update to IATA’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast, shows that an increasing shift Eastwards in the centre of gravity of the industry is behind the continued strong growth.Over the next two decades, the forecast anticipates a 3.5 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), leading to a doubling in passenger numbers from today’s levels.   Africa will grow by a CAGR of 4.6 per cent, while an extra of 199 million passengers will bring the total market available to Nigeria and other African airlines to 334 million passengers by 2037.   The association, however, warned that growth prospects for air transport, and the economic benefits driven by aviation, could be curtailed if protectionist measures are implemented by governments.   IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

FOR the fourth time yesterday, the Senate passed the 2018 Electoral bill, retaining N5bn as expected maximum expenses to be spent by Presidential candidates on the platform of registered political parties for the most exalted position in the land. It also retained the maximum expenses for governorship position at N1billion but made an upward review of maximum expenses to be incurred by candidates running for senatorial seats from N100m to N250m. Similarly, it raised the expenses of those running for the House of Representatives seats to N100m from N70 million as amendments in clause 25 of the bill. Other clauses of the bill totaling 38, were adopted by the Senate as recommended by its committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, headed by Senator Suleiman Nazif ( PDP Bauchi North). Nazif had in his lead debate on the bill last week, explained that clause 25 ,section 91 which stipulates limits of expenses to be incurred by candidates in the general elections,