Budget 2016: ‘Why implementation of capital projects must be given priority’

A financial expert, Mr Lawson Ayaele, has advised the Federal Government to give priority to the implementation of capital projects that can grow the economy of the country in the 2016 budget.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of a 2-day National Economic Council Retreat at the Statehouse Conference Centre on 21st March 2016.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of a 2-day National Economic Council Retreat at the Statehouse Conference Centre on 21st March 2016.

He said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that if the government paid attention to such projects, the economy would recover rapidly.

“It took a long time for this budget to be signed, I thanked the president for insisting on thorough work but the focus should be on implementation of capital projects.

“ Our economy has been stagnant in the last couple of months, so i think the strength should be in revamping the sectors that can bring about turn around in the economy.

“If that is done, jobs will be created and Nigerians will be happy for it,’’ he said.

He advised that the government should focus on agriculture, power and transport, observing that the sectors were fundamental to bringing the desired change to the country.

He further advised the government to review the projects of the past administration and execute those that could enhance the economy.

“I am happy that this administration said it would continue with some ongoing projects that will make a lot of sense.

“ If you look very well, the inflation is moving up, go to the market, things are so expensive, so, there are many things to be done,’’ he insisted.

Ayaele said that although the N6.6 trillion-budget was huge, if the fight against corruption was sustained, revenues would be used appropriately.

He called on the Federal Government to support the efforts of the Federal Inland Revenue Service to achieve its target in revenue generation.

He advised that the government should monitor other revenue generating agencies to enable them contribute to economic growth and development of the country.

He said the N38 oil per barrel benchmark was logical as there are expectations that the price would soon come up in the global market.

“Although oil is about 46 dollar per barrel now, the diversification drive of the government is a better option for economic revival of the nation,’’ he said.

Fulani kills 12 again (so sad)

People suspected to be herdsmen, yesterday, attacked Coromo and two other villages in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing about 12 persons and wounding about 18 others seriously. Local sources said those killed included seven men, two women and children, while 13 houses were  burnt.

Information about the attack was sketchy, last night, but it was said that the herdsmen launched the attack following a long standing land dispute over farm lands.   The  herdsmen reportedly stormed the town in the night and started attacking Tivs who had come back to farm on their lands. It was said that hundreds of the natives fled to neighbouring villages while others ran to the Gassol B Police Divisional headquarters for their safety.

Efforts to speak with Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joseph Kwaji, were fruitless as he did not pick calls to his mobile telephone, but sources at the police headquarters confirmed the incident, saying that armed policemen had been dispatched to the affected communities to maintain peace. The Taraba incident came on the heels of the massacre by suspected herdsmen in an Enugu suburb which triggered outrage.

Before then, there had been reported attacks by suspected herdsmen across the country.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said herdsmen had lived with the people across the country for decades, hinting that those behind recent killings could have been foreigners.

Specifically, Arase said the killers could have been armed men displaced from their countries by the Libya and Mali crises.

No one knows Tee Billz where about!!!!

Since his Instagram rants last week, Tunji Balogun ‘Tee Billz’ has not been finding life easy. First he attempted suicide on the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge but fortunately for him, Banky W and Peter Okoye of P-Square saved him just at the nick of time. Depression from suffocating marriage to Tiwa Savage, was fingered as the major reason but the ex- artiste manager’s woes were soon compounded when his wife granted an interview to portray him as an irresponsible husband, father, drug addict, chronic debtor and a first rate womaniser.
With the enormity of the allegations, everyone expected Tee Billz to fight back and tell his own side of the story but what has come from him is dead silence. After his wife’s revelations Potpourri got on his trail hoping to extract from him some sort of comments but we met nothing but a cold track.

His whereabouts remain unknown

After being  rescued by Banky W and P-Square’s Peter, it was alleged that Teebillz had been taken to Banky W’s home.

However, there were unconfirmed reports that Banky W’s mom chased him out of the house after watching Tiwa’s video interview in which she stated her own side of the story. Meanwhile, Banky W is presently in Tanzania for a Ciroc event, and it is unlikely that he would leave Teebillz in his house during his absence.

Another unconfirmed report alleged that Teebillz has been moved to a new apartment at 1004 Estate in Victoria Island. Despite the claims however, no one has been able to confirm where Teebillz is at the moment. Many fans of the couple have been wondering where he could be, but none of his close friends and associates have volunteered an answer.

A close friend of his said he stays in an hotel in Lekki area of Lagos, saying “I don’t think N20,000 a night is something that should bother him even as broke as he is. Besides, he has friends who have just arrived from US to help him.”

Tee Billz set  to fight back

Although his whereabouts is still unclear but a source very close to him confided in Potpourri that the embittered  husband of Tiwa Savage is preparing to fight back, not with emotional outbursts,  the like his wife demonstrated in her video interview but with hard facts.

Our source disclosed that the first of such many steps to fight back was the drug abuse test which his friends made him take and Potpourri can authoritatively confirm he actually took the test and he was declared free  of drug use.

We never arrested or invited Tee Billz — NDLEA

Contrary to reports making the rounds that the former manager and husband of Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz was invited and arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the agency has squashed the reports, saying there was no substance in the report.

The spokesperson for the agency, Michelle Ofoyeju told Potpourri that it is not the business of the agency to arrest drug users. “ There is no substance in the story that NDLEA invited or arrested Tee Billz. The agency cannot be dragged into their marital crisis. We do not arrest drug abusers, what we do is to recommend them for counselling and rehabilitation. The drug user is also a victim of drug trafficking” she said.

Tee Billz seeks spiritual help

While the whole entertainment community of Nigeria is looking for Tee Billz, there are hints from some reliable sources that he has  been receiving spiritual guidance and counselling from Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, General Overseer of   Trinity House and Pastor Ayo Oluokun from City of David Church who was the first to reach out to him and pray with him, and for him daily since his breakdown.

He has also been receiving life coaching sessions and therapy by Lanre Olusola   also known as The Catalyst whom he first met over 2 years ago at the beginning of his struggles with depression.

Sources close to Tee billz say he acknowledges that he has made mistakes, and he is taking steps to mend and rebuild his life by getting the help he needs in order to be a renewed man for his family and loved ones.