Americans rate Trump a Racist and Below Average or FAILURE as President

A stunning new poll finds that significant majorities believe President as racist, and rate him as “below average” or a “failure” as President.

Trump has gotten a lot of bad polling news recently, as his approval ratings have cratered and his general election opponent Joe Biden has widened his lead over the incumbent. A new Yahoo! News/YouGov poll is arguably worse news for Trump, as the results cut at his character and place in American history.

When directly asked “Do you think that President Trump is a racist?”, 52 percent said yes, while only 34 percent said no — an 18 point spread. Even a hefty plurality of white voters agreed Trump is a racist, 46-39, while only 14 percent of Republicans said yes to the question. Crucially, among independent voters, the spread was even wider than the overall number, with 53 percent saying Trump is a racist and only 31 percent saying he is not.

Respondents were also asked “How would you rate the following Presidents?”, and given choices ranging from “Great” to “failure” in assessing Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, and Franklin Roosevelt.

It did not go well for Trump. A whopping 54 percent rated Trump either a “failure” or “below average,” with the results overwhelmingly tilted to “failure” at 43 percent. That’s more than double the number who said the same of President Obama, whose polarizing presidency scored 21 percent in that metric. That’s versus 45 percent who said Obama was “great” or “near great.”

In fact, Trump was seen as a failure by more than triple the number of people who said the same of President Bush (13%) and President Carter (12%). As for President Lincoln, to whom Trump has frequently compared himself, only 2 percent of Americans rated him a failure.

Overall, Biden led Trump by nine points in the poll, 49 percent to 40 percent.

Significant pluralities in the poll also said that former Vice President Joe Biden would do a better job handling a raft of issues: Protests, Coronavirus pandemic, Race relations, Immigration, and Foreign policy.

Trump did retain a 3-point advantage over Biden on the economy, 37 percent to 34 percent, but with 29 percent saying they didn’t know or that Biden and Trump would handle it “about the same.”

On the bright side of things, at least Trump doesn’t have to worry about running against Abe Lincoln.

@Mediaite

FAAN PREPARES FOR GRADUAL REOPENING OF AIRPORTS

COMPARES NOTES WITH MUNICH AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL.

In an effort to begin the reopening of some of the airports in the nation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria held a skype meeting with Munich Airport International to share experiences and compare notes on the effects of the COVID19 lockdown on the airports

According to the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Authority, Henrietta Yakubu, the meeting which was at the instance of the Managing Director of FAAN Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu had in attendance the Munich Airport Expert Team, Herbert Keffel, Georgios Elkolids and Julian Duerdoth and was coordinated by Mr Fortune Idu, Managing Director of FCI International Ltd with Mrs Nike Aboderin, the Director of Finance as the team lead on the Nigerian side of 30 FAAN participants.

The aim was to assess the readiness of FAAN to gradually begin operations, following the Federal Government’s directive for reopening of the four regional airports.

In initiating the meeting, Captain Yadudu had commented that ‘while FAAN is responding to the guidelines set by NCAA for gradual airport reopening and POST COVID 19 operations, it is important also to compare notes with other airports in the world to make sure we are on the right track and join the global industry in building back travel confidence.

Munich airport has successfully reopened its airport and has recommenced domestic and international flights, so it is worth sharing their experience with them according to the MD of FAAN. Furthermore, FAAN intends to begin involving itself in route development and therefore, collaborative efforts between Munich and FAAN can help in that direction.

The presentation via skype simulated from Germany and England was tagged Rapid Aviation Plan by Mr Georgios Elkolids. Herbert Keffel highlighted the steps and considerations which Munich Airport International adopted towards the successful reopening of the airport.

Though there are guidelines issued by ICAO and ACI for the purpose of the reopening, the guidelines become more successful if they are adapted based on the peculiarities of the airport environment which Munich has successfully done.  

In response  to a question  raised by Mrs Aboderin, FAAN Director of Finance on the issue of orderly management of human traffic in a relatively small airport space, the Munich airport team not only compared notes on how they have carried out flow management and social distancing orders with the FAAN team but also showed a willingness to continue the backend co-operation and information sharing to help build traffic, passenger confidence and also   improve  operational efficiency, non-aeronautical services and route development.

 

In concluding the meeting, Mr Fortune Idu the coordinator of the meeting between Munich Airport and FAAN said he wants to see the formation of a development partnership between the two organisations for the betterment of the industry and to enable FAAN's airports learn and aspire to operate high standards of airport services like Munich Airport. This will put some of Nigeria’s airports at the top of the region.

 

 

Dukia Gold Precious Metal Refining Conglomerate berths in Nigeria

Posted by Lateef Lawal

Nigeria’s first Gold and Precious Metals Refining conglomerate has opened for business its Managing Director, Mrs Bosede Owolabi has said.

Plans have been concluded for the launch of its raw materials purchasing programme in response to Nigeria’s enormous deposits of gold and precious metals.

Disclosing this in a statement on yesterday, Mrs Owolabi said Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo ; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite ; Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum and Ekiti Governor - Dr Kayode Fayemi join players in the solid minerals and financial sectors and multi lateral organizations (today) Tuesday, June 9, 2020 to officially launch the commencement of the Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Raw Materials Buying Programme of Nigeria’s first gold and precious metals refining company.

The launch ceremony scheduled online via the 'Zoom - Meet and Chat ' Platform will coincide with the launch of Precious Metals Buying Centre and the proprietary Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Trading Platform

Dukia Gold , Mrs Owolabi said is financed by a blend of equity and loans from financial institutions led by Heritage Bank Plc with support by PAC Capital as Financial Advisers and Fund Arrangers with assistance in view from Afrexim Bank.

The virtual launch Mrs Owolabi said will take place after state governors , ministers , heads of parastatals, private sector participants , mining stakeholders local and international partners will meet in a seminar session to examine the theme : " The Future of Gold and Precious Metals in Africa ".Listing Director & Global Head, Advisory and Capital Markets , Afreixim Bank, Ibrahim Sagna ; Managing Director, Heritage Bank , Mr Ifie Sekibo ; Managing Director, Lagos Commodities & Future Exchange (LCFE) ,Mr Akin Akeredolu - Ale ; Managing Director, PAC Capital , Humphrey Oriakhi and Managing Director , NewWaves Ecosystems Limited , Mr Femi Williams as speakers, Mrs Owolabi said opportunities in the mining sector remains largely untapped because of scale of capital investment required to activate required infrastructure, in attention to required policy framework , distractions of fossil fuels’ dependencies and other reasons.

Towards this end, the conglomerate, Mrs Owolabi said has entered into agreement with Heritage Bank to power the Dukia–Heritage Bank Buying Centres pre~installed with the multi~integrated Dukia Trading Platform.

The partnership with Heritage Bank Plc , she said will cover sourcing and aggregation of Gold and other precious metals in line with OECD guidelines.

She said : " We set out to be foremost indigenous gold and other precious metals refining and trading company

"As we commence operations nationwide we are focussing on adding value to the gold and precious metals industry in Nigeria and West Africa in delivering a major source of alternative foreign exchange revenues.

"When our refinery becomes fully operational it will be the first of its kind in West Africa, and it will open opportunities for artisanal miners, gold and precious metals owners and allied enterprise to obtain appropriate financial value for their products amongst other benefits.

"The company will also work with miners who register on its platform to ensure that they get access to appropriate plant , machinery , equipment , tools, kits and support required by them so as to improve their productivity and ensure better health , safety and environmental conditions."

Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited , she continued sets out to be Nigeria’s first London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) accredited gold bullion bar refiner , goods delivery list precious bar bar and precious metals clearing house, smelters and assayers of goods delivery golds bar and ISO 9001 certified gold and precious metals refinery

Besides deepening participation in the mining sector, the company's mission is to fulfill government's objective of ensuring that a gold refinery is established in the country as part of the solid minerals road map and beyond oil diversification Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Policy.

She went on :" Dukia Gold will therefore market off-taker opportunities for gold mined in Africa and minted in Nigeria to the Central Bank, the Lagos Commodities & Futures Exchange (“LCFE”), thus-providing private individuals and corporate entities with access to bullion gold bars, coins and medallions and other products as a stabilized safe harbour investment asset class.

Confirming the commencement of the good buying programme, Mrs Owolabi said accredited centre will be open to the public on August 1,2020 affirming that the phased refinery has begun with essential equipment on order from pre- qualified world leading manufacturers set to achieve full implementation within 24 months.

She said :" Deploying a unique Integrated information communication technology driven solutions provided by international and local partners, the statutorily~regulated Buying Centres will operate as outlets operated by Dukia Gold out of designated Heritage Bank Plc branches in Nigeria .

" At these outlets intending purveyors and sellers of recyclable gold and precious metals including jewelry and gold extracts , native gold and gold dores , gold bars and other precious metals can walk in and have their products assessed, assayed, valued, sold and paid for instantly on a transparent basis, subject to know your customer procedure

Owolabi said the conglomerate is a timely response to the search by theFederal Ministry of Mines & Steel Development over the years to make the sector attractive to Investors.

The conglomerate- Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited , she said is at the heart of delivery of the Dukia Gold Project primed to fulfill a substantial gap in infrastructure required to achieve the full value chain of operations from mines and recyclable gold to mint as well as from mint to market.

Describing Dukia Gold as conceptually wholly Nigerian initiative, Mrs Owolabi said it was driven by informed commitment and competence, leveraging on sterling local and global partnering across the spectrum of expertise required to bring it to life sustainably and successfully.

She said :" It comprises solutions geared towards facilitating and stimulating necessary developments in the Gold & Precious Metals’ subsector of the Solid Minerals sector of the Nigerian economy

"The Dukia Gold Project addresses and delivers critical solutions by which to ensure full Beneficiation of Precious Metals, including the refining of Precious Metals in Nigeria to the highest international standards in such a way that Nigerians and Nigeria can begin to trade and receive fair pricing and value for Precious Metals originating and produced in Nigeria.

"Through a process of Juridification, the Dukia Gold Project will help to curtail exploitation of local miners by illegal traders who smuggle precious metals out of Nigeria with negligible gain to these local miners and with no returns to the national economy."