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These funds typically originate from three main sources. Firstly, commercial tax evasion, trade mis-invoicing and abusive transfer pricing, that involves mostly multinational enterprises. These account for 65% of Illicit Financial Flows. The second aspect involves criminal activities, including the drug trade, human trafficking, illegal arms dealing, and the smuggling of contraband etc., which account for 30 per cent of Illicit Financial Flows. The third component comprises corruption, bribery and theft by corrupt government officials, which account for 5 per cent of IFFs, according to the Report of the AU/ECA High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows of 2014.

Those who would have wished him dead are quite amazed and embarrassed at his renewed vigour and stamina. Indeed the Buhari I see is stronger than when he was contesting the 2015 elections and health grounds may not be used successfully to dissuade him from contesting the elections in 2019, although there is the whole issue of lack of full disclosure on his state of health to the Nigerian public, perhaps with the fear that political opponents could use the information to their advantage. Left to me, Buhari’s health may not stand a strong barrier against a possible 2019 wish.

The Minister disclosed that since the law establishing the Peace Corps in Nigeria had been passed into law by the National Assembly, he anticipated a healthy collaboration and supervisory oversight of Ministry of youth on its activities. He said peace corps scheme is fashioned around a volunteer corps in some countries where young people serve their country by acquiring experiences to be able to fit into the system.

The international community must not allow Zimbabwe to continue to drift. The uncertainty that lingers in that country, if allowed to continue, could result in greater chaos and instability

An immediate plus is the renewed consciousness that it is possible for the mentions of Nigeria need not be all bad. Nigeria’s commitment to tackling Boko Haram head-on contributed to the plummeting of terrorism related deaths as reported. This confirms that in spite of the limited international support – what the country gets sometimes is sabotage – the Nigerian military, notably the army, have delivered on a core mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, with results to show for it. 

Buhari is awesomely an intriguing leader and to me. He is not just a cerebral force, but someone in the region of an impenetrable being, who has overpowered all human debilitations, like some gods. Elsewhere in the world, leaders derive their sacredness and veneration from the effervescent of unassailability. And candidly, a leader is not just a piece of cake on a street shop to instantly decode in shape, colour and countenance.  So, President Buhari has a big and matured heart. He rarely speaks, but believes more in action.

There is a lot to say on the significance of each gift item, but that is not the purpose of the writing today. Maybe, another day, as the need arises. What we need from that nativity story is that the wise men came all the way from the East, following a star that led them to Bethlehem. In our country Nigeria, we have the geo-political zone called the South-east, and wise men still come from there. In plenty numbers. This week, it was brought out in bold relief.

While more people are beginning to embrace the opportunities that the digital transition offers for personal growth and professional development, it has not been so easy for schools to make the move. Some are doubtful about the capacity of digital devices to serve as strategic learning tools while others lack the know-how and support structure needed to drive the change.

It is almost a recurring decimal and it comes in a pattern that is very predictable: anytime the government seems to have a disagreement with any of the leaders of the region, these youth – a few of them actually – turn themselves in as a cannon fodder. This trend is clearly a betrayal of the noble intentions of the original agitators who stood firm to point fingers directly at the neglect and abandonment of the Niger Delta areas over the years that government explored wealth from the ground and waters of the region.

Here is a man who not a few Igbo believe, hates them with a passion. Here is a President who, a few weeks ago, some people claimed would never return to Nigeria let alone undertake a tour. To watch PMB traverse the zone with incredible zest and excitement is not only disarming but doubly reassuring. It is indeed remarkable that Ebonyi State stood up for the President; at least, this convinces him that the country as a whole is his constituency and that the Igbo don’t really hate him

The growth in Sukuks’ popularity can be traced back to the global financial crisis in 2008. A Sukuk is a Shariah-compliant bond. Whereas Western bonds offer to pay bondholders a rate of interest over a set period of time, Sukuks offer a fixed rate of profit. Islamic finance’s emphasis on equity and investment in the real economy provides “a stable and productive banking sector” as noted in World Economic Forum report of May 2017. “Rather than providing a lucrative financial alternative to investing in the real economy, Islamic banking complements and strengthens the latter. It ensures that financial capital does not lead to artificially bloated asset prices. Instead, it is made to work in the real economy, on real projects.” 

Yes this is in fact possible. By installing the Blare app on your Android device, you can ask your phone to find itself as long as it is on and within earshot. Once your phone hears whatever command you have set it to respond to when looking for your phone, a loud alarm will sound to help find the phone. For iOS, the app called Marco Polo can be used.