Lagos Shuts 24 Churches, Mosques for Noise Pollution

Lagos Shuts 24 Churches, Mosques for Noise Pollution

Lagos StatemGovernment has said that it shut down a total of 24 churches and mosques in the last one year for noise pollution. It
also shut down 38 companies for issues relating to environmental
degradation.

General Manager, Lagos State
Environmental Protection Agency
(LASEPA), Mr. Adebola Shabi made the
revelation at the annual ministerial
press briefing in Lagos.
He said the churches and mosques
sanctioned were those who refused to
abate noise after repeated warning
adding that affected organisations are
usually given up to 10 days to abate
noise before being visited with
sanctions.
He said that religious organisations are
the major culprit of noise pollution in
Lagos State.
Significantly, he said there has been
some level of compliance among them.
According to him, out of the 67 cases
reported, nine percent of reported
cases abated while 91 percent refused
to abate nuisance.
He said that 51cases involving
residential buildings were reported, 14
percent abated while 86 percent were
adamant.
For night clubs, he said the agency
received complaints about some of the
night clubs but that most of them
have abated nuisance.
He said that LASEPA initiative has
resulted in most companies complying
with standards dictated by the agency.
He said that before 2007, almost all
the oil and gas facilities had oil water
separator(OWS) but that the
intervention of the agency has forced
some to upgrade their OWS to include
a chlorination tank to disinfect waste
water before it is passed into the
environment.

FG okays Edwin Clark’s varsity, one other

FG okays Edwin Clark’s varsity, one other

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved two new private universities for
the country at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by
President Goodluck Jonathan.
One of the new universities is Edwin Clark University, located in Kiagbodo, Delta
State.
The university belongs to the Ijaw leader and former Federal Commissioner of
Information, Chief Edwin Clark.
The second university is Hezekiah University located in Umudi, Imo State.

Report from Punch

Our government will not witch-hunt anyone – Buhari

Our government will not witch-hunt anyone – Buhari

President Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a 19-member transition
committee with a charge to members not to engage in a witch hunt or fault
finding.
He also announced that his administration would not witch-hunt anybody because
he was aware that government is a continuum.
Buhari said this while inaugurating the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee in
Abuja, on Wednesday.
While expressing gratitude to members of the committee for accepting to serve at
very short notice, he explained that the change from one government to another
always involves complicated operational challenges.
According to him, the incoming government needs to know where the previous
government stopped so that it can know where to continue.
He noted that Nigeria was blessed with outstanding men and women of
competence and experience in different fields out of which his team has picked
the nineteen to ensure a smooth process.
Buhari told committee members, “this assignment though onerous, it is well within
your ability to accomplish, you are required to assess the information provided to
you and advise me on its quality and accuracy.”He also said, “It is a simple
matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate
policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government
are not to witch-hunt or engage in fault finding.
“We want the facts and nothing but the facts, what has been done cannot be
undone, our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid
similar errors.“The time given for you to complete your assignment, two weeks, is
short but because of the postponement of the election for six weeks from
February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged
therefore to fast track steps to May 29.”The President elect also charged the
committee to ensure that it does not overlook “essentials.”Buhari who spoke
glowingly about Mallam Ahmed Joda the committee chairman, described him as
one of the few surviving links of the first republic civil service to the present day.
He enjoined members of the committee to be prepared to work hard because
Joda is an exerting task master adding that very few young men of his age can
keep up with him.
Chairman of the Committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda who spoke on behalf of other
members expressed appreciation to the President elect for considering them to be
worthy to help prepare the ground for the incoming administration to take over
smoothly on May 29, 2015.He said, “We as a committee are determined to do the
best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to
make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish for our
country.“When I met you and you briefed me about this assignment, about the
composition of the committee, I did observe that I’ve never served on a
committee so weighty like this.
“I have people who are distinguished in their professions, who have their own
enterprises and have their own businesses to look after and even serving
governors and people in active service to the service of your incoming
government and to the service of our motherland.”He explained to the gathering
that members of the committee met for the first time on Wednesday to get to
meet and know one another and plan the committee’s schedule of activities over
the next two weeks.
Joda also noted that members of the committee were committed and willing to
work long hours even on weekends to deliver on their tasks.“I promise you that
we’ll do our best because we are not only serving you, we are serving our people.
We are going to try to begin to lay the foundation for a strong country where
justice and peace prevail.” He said.
The chairman expressed the opinion that Nigerians entrusted general Buhari with
the task of healing their wounds and wiping away their tears and leading our
nation to greatness because of the confidence they have in his ability.Joda also
said, “I pledge every one of us will give you the best and most earnest advice
from the bottom of our hearts in order that our country, together in peace and
unity can realize our goals and aspirations.“I thank you once again on behalf of
my members and I wish you every success, your success is our success and the
success of our children and grandchildren and the citizens of Nigeria.”
Members of the committee are: Ahmed Joda, Dr. Doyin Salami, Adamu
Adamu,Wale Edun, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Dr. Festus Odumegu and Mrs. Nike
Aboderin and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John
Oyegun.
Others are: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Boss
Mustapha, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Alh. Abubakar Malami, Gen.
Lawal Jafar Isa, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Prof. Tam David West
and the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed.

Privatisation: NATCOM takes over NITEL/Mtel

Privatisation: NATCOM takes over NITEL/Mtel

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) yesterday handed over the assets of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (Nitel)
and its mobile arm, the Mobile Telecommunications Mtel to the core
investor, NATCOM.

After receiving the certificate for the ownership for national carrier and Gateway License of Nitel and the Mtel Spectrum, the NATCOM Consortium Chairman, Dr. John Olatunde Ayeni promised that the firm “will bring a brand that will delight the Nigerian customers and market.”

The CEO, who spoke in Abuja said: “A new player and a new entity is
entering the telecom industry today and a new brand and a strong
brand has come.”

He said the firm is of the belief that there is a vacuum in the
telecommunications market and the vacuum is the space that
NATCOM’s unique brand would fill.

Filling the vacuum entails “listening to the customers and delighting
them with what they need,”he said, promising that his group has
resolved to make the customer the king.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is also the NCP chairman, told the
chequred history of Nitel and Mtel before its final privatisation to
NATCOM.

He recalled that in 2001, the strategic core investor sale of 51 per cent
shareholding of Nitel to International London Limited (IILL) was
unsuccessful.

He noted that in 2005, there was also a failed management contract
by Pentascope with and aborted Orascom Telecoms bid in the same
year.

Sambo said there was the strategic core investor sale, through
negotiated sale strategy, to Transcorp which was cancelled in 2009.

In 2011, according to him, there was the strategic core investor sale,
where New Generation Communications Limited and Omen
International Limited emerged as preferred bidders.

On NATCOM, the Vice President explained that NCP approved the
privatisation through a Guided Liquidation Strategy through a
competitive bid process.

He stressed that two bidders submitted their technical and financial
proposals after which NATCOM met met the technical requirement.

Sambo said that “Its financial proposal was publicly opened on
October 24, 2014. The first bid was $221million which was below the
reserved price. After a second round of bidding, the revised bid of
$252,221,000 was above the reserve price. NATCOM was therefore
declared the preferred bidder.”

He urged stakeholders to see the privatisation as a necessary tool for
the deregulation and opening up of hitherto government dominated
sectors of the economy to the private sector as well as divestures of
government’s interest in such sectors.

Fuel Scarcity Grounds Governance, Business Activities in Abuja

Fuel Scarcity Grounds Governance, Business Activities in Abuja

The scarcity of premium motor spirit or petrol, otherwise called fuel in several petrol stations, grounded governance, social and  business activities in Abuja on Tuesday.

At Area 11, which houses several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), several offices visited were virtually desolate with few workers seen at their duty posts. Private businesses were also not left out as many business owners were out on endless search to get the motor spirit.

Investigation also showed that many of those who live outside the city centre could not report to work because of the biting fuel scarcity which has remained persistent in the last three weeks.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Utako and the  NNPC mega station along the Kubwa-Kaduna road where fuel was being dispensed at the time of filing this report, were characterized by unending queues by motorists.

A journalist with one of the  national dailies, who craved for anonymity, who could not make it to Abuja, attributed his dilemma to the biting fuel scarcity at the territory coupled with the underhand intrigues which resulted in the price of the product hitting roof top.

However, at the suburb of Abuja, the product is said to be found in several stations with pump price per litre selling for between N115 to N120. A 10 litre keg sold for N1500 was selling for N2500 at several road sides and junctions in Abuja.

Indonesia executes eight drug convicts, spares Filipina

Indonesia executes eight drug convicts, spares Filipina

Indonesia early Wednesday (1.00GMT) executed eight drug convicts including two Australians but a Filipina was spared at the 11th hour, local media reported.

The convicts, who also included a Brazilian, four Africans and one Indonesian,
were put to death by firing squad on the prison island of Nusakambangan,
MetroTV and the Jakarta Post newspaper reported.

G7 invites Buhari to economic summit

G7 invites Buhari to economic summit

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and her French counterpart, Fracois Hollande,
have extended invitations to President-Elect, Mohammadu Buhari, to visit their
countries.
Merkel currently heads the G7 economic block of industrialised countries,
comprising Germany, Canada, France, Japan, United States of America, Britain
and Italy.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zenner; his Canadian and French
counterparts, Perry John Calderwood and Denys Gauer respectively, paid separate
courtesy calls and held closed-door meetings with Buhari at the Defence House,
Abuja, on Tuesday.
Zenner, who spoke to journalists after his meeting with Buhari, said his visit was
to congratulate the President-elect and Nigerians on the successful conduct of
the last general elections.
He explained that he was also here to extend the invitation of the German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Buhari, requesting him to visit Germany.
Zener said, “I am here to congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Buhari, on his
election and handed over to him the letter from the German Chancellor, inviting
him to Germany.
“We have a very deep and intense relationship with Nigeria and there are lots of
areas where we can deepen our relation and develop them further, such as in the
areas of economy and energy among others.
“We have a bi-national commission with Nigeria and we are one of the countries
with which Nigeria has this Bi-National Commission and it covers the whole range
of political, economic and security areas. There are many areas in which we can
move further and deepen our very close cooperation.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Ambassador
Denys Gauer, said, “As the French Ambassador, I came to congratulate the
President-elect on his brilliant achievement.
“His election is an enormous achievement for Nigeria and the democratic
development of Nigeria. The people of Nigeria has expressed its confidence in the
President-elect.
“The challenges of Nigeria are enormous and I have come to wish him success.
“We also held a small talk about our bilateral relations. As you know, our
relationship has developed quite well in recent years. In the economic field,
Nigeria is already the first commercial partners of France in Africa.”
He also noted that the presence of several French companies in Nigeria was a
testimony to the level of confidence his home government had in Nigeria.
According to him, France was encouraging more of its companies to come into
Nigeria and invest as well as establish partnerships with Nigerian companies.
On his part, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Perry John Calderwood,
said Canada considers Nigeria an important partner, especially in the area of
trade and investments.
He said, “We believe that it is possible to increase these ties to include areas
such as agriculture, mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, where Canadian
companies have great expertise.
“We are very pleased to see that more and more Canadian companies are looking
into new opportunities in Nigeria. I am also delighted that we have a significant
development programme in Nigeria, focussing on health and economic
development.”

Troops storm Sambisa, rescue 300 females as Boko Haram kills 22 in fresh Borno Village attacks

Troops storm Sambisa, rescue 300 females as Boko Haram kills 22 in fresh Borno Village attacks

… Identities yet to be confirmed

In a daring and precise operation the Nigerian troops have stormed the Sambisa
Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls.
Also at least 21 people were killed by suspected members of dreaded Boko
Haram in Marguba community and other surrounding villages of Beneshiekh, the
headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno state.
It was gathered that at least three major terrorists camps have been destroyed in
the well-cordinated attacks that include the destruction of the notorious
Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest.
While confirming the operation the Director Defence Information, Major General
Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and
their origins and he could not state if any of them was from Chibok until after
thorough screening and proper investigations.
He said: “I can only confirm the rescued this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women
in different camps in the forest. We are yet to determine their origin as all the
freed persons are now being screened and profiled. Please don’t misquote me on
their origin. We will provide more details later.”
Also at least twenty one people were killedby suspected members of dreaded
Boko Haram in Marguba community and other surrounding villages of Beneshiekh,
the headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno state.
The insurgents according to sources also injured many residents after setting
ablaze several houses mostly thatched roofs before looting foodstuff and
livestock.
Beneshiekh is north west and about 76 kilometers drive from Maiduguri, the state
capital. It is located on the fringes of Sambisa forest along Maiduguri- Damaturu-
Kano road which have witnessed series of deadly attacks by insurgents.
This development is coming barely 24 hours after some group of insurgents laid
ambush on some returning residents, killing 21 in Bultaram village of Gujba
council area of Tone state while attempting to return to their sacked village to
evacuate their abandoned foodstuff and livestock.
Our Correspondent reliably gathered from fleeing residents now taking refuge in
Beneshiekh town that “the insurgents came from Sambisa forest axis and
stormed the villages on Monday evening, wrecked havoc as they had a filed day
without confrontation”.

Jonathan appoints ex-Gov. Peter Obi SEC chairman

Jonathan appoints ex-Gov. Peter Obi SEC chairman

In what appears a pay back time, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This was confirmed on Monday by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement.

Obi became one of the core loyalists of Jonathan after his tenure as the governor of Anambra State.

This started with Obi’s decamping from the party that provided him the platform for the governance of Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, to Jonathan’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

Obi then went ahead to serve as the Deputy Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

APC warns against last-minute looting, hurried recruitment

APC warns against last-minute looting, hurried recruitment

The All Progressives Congress has decried the reported allegations of last-minute
looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and
rushed privatisation of key financial institutions by the Goodluck Jonathan
administration.
It warned on Sunday that such “egregious actions” would have serious
repercussions.
In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
the party said apart from the instances of such cases that had been reported by
the local media, it had been inundated with calls and messages by concerned
Nigerians, alerting it to the unscrupulous actions of some Jonathan’s
administration officials.
APC said while the Jonathan administration remains in office till midnight of May
28, and governance in the country would not stop because a new President had
been elected, it was incumbent upon the outgoing administration not to create
more problems for the incoming government, or to “tie the new government’s
hands” through suspicious actions.
The party explained that while it is true that the incoming Muhammadu Buhari
administration would not get itself bogged down by an endless probe of the
activities of the Jonathan administration, all actions taken since the result of the
March 28 presidential election was announced, might come under the searchlight.
It added, ”For example, the National Council on Privatisation, which is headed by
the Vice President, has just approved the financial bid opening for transaction
advisers for the privatisation of the three Development Finance Institutions in the
country – the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nigeria Commodity
Exchange.
“The question is: What is the rationale for rushing this exercise with just weeks
left for this administration?
”Also, there have been reports, yet to be refuted, of a planned, hurried recruitment
into the Nigeria Immigration Service, after a previous attempt ended in a national
tragedy and the fleecing of innocent job seekers by the mindless Federal
Government officials. Apart from the fact that this last-minute recruitment is
suspect, it is irregular.
”The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board is only
empowered to recruit, promote and discipline only senior officers (Levels 8 and
above). The power to recruit, promote and discipline junior officers is vested in
the different services, in this case, the Nigeria Immigration Service.
”Therefore, the recruitment exercise now being conducted by the Federal Civil
Service, under the auspices of the Presidential Committee to Assist on
Immigration Recruitment, usurps the functions of the Board as it relates to
recruitment of Senior Officers (Level 08) and that of the Immigration Service as it
relates to Junior Officers (levels 07 and below).”
It also called attention to a published report that the Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, plans to use the Federal Capital
Development Authority to carry out a secret employment of no fewer than 500
workers before the end of April 2015.
It stated, ”We do not know if this report, as well as others, is true. But if indeed
these rushed privatisations and hurried recruitment exercises – in the twilight of
the Jonathan administration – are true, they raise serious questions concerning
the reasons behind such actions. We are therefore compelled to call on President
Jonathan to caution his administration officials, lest they engage in actions that
can later embarrass his administration”

Army detains 10 policemen over refusal to join B’Haram war

Army detains 10 policemen over refusal to join B’Haram war

Ten policemen who were trained in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism in
Belarus, are being detained in a military facility at Gwagwalada, Abuja.
A detainee, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the condition of
anonymity on Thursday, said that the 10 policemen were detained on April 20,
2015 for demanding explanation from the Army authorities on the procedure for
their conscription into the Army.
The policemen were expected to be drafted to Borno State for the ongoing
campaign against Boko Haram.
Investigations revealed that the affected policemen were among 96 policemen,
who were taken for training in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of
rocket propelled grenades, and machine guns among others in the eastern
European country.
In all, the 96 policemen, who were mostly rank and file, were trained in three
batches in Belarus in response to a memo from the office of the National Security
Adviser for the selection of policemen for the three-month special security
training.
It was learnt that the last batch of 32 police trainees, who departed the country
for Belarus in September arrived Nigeria in December and were kept at the
Nigerian Army Forward Operational Base for four months.
The source said that the police delegation became worried because the Force
headquarters did not send any officer to debrief them while the SSS contingent
who were trained alongside the cops, were dispatched to their various offices
across the country.
It was gathered that the fears of the policemen were confirmed on April 20, when
soldiers drove six luxury buses and a military truck loaded with Army kits to the
base and ordered the policemen to enter the buses for a journey to Jaji for
further training.
An Army colonel, who briefed the policemen, reportedly told them that they were
going to be converted into the Army and then trained for additional three week in
Jaji for onward movement to Borno State to participate in the ongoing onslaught
against the Boko Haram.
It was further gathered that some of the policemen demanded to be briefed by
senior police officers on the seeming conversion as they had not been briefed
since they arrived the country from the foreign training exercise.
The source said that the policemen were also not hinted on the plan while they
were in Belarus.
Investigation further revealed that the Army Officer, who was assigned the duty
to move the policemen to Jaji then asked those unwilling to go to Jaji to step
aside and ten of the policemen did.
The colonel, it was learnt, directed that the ten policemen be taken to the Force
headquarters Abuja in a military bus but were diverted by a Captain to Kuje. They
were later taken to Gwagwalada where they are being detained.
The source said, “Sometimes around September, last year, the NSA released a
signal to the Force Headquarters to release policemen for training in Belarus. The
training involved the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the SSS and the Police.
“We went for training on counter training, body guards, snipers, RPG, Machine gun
operations and others.
“Immediately we returned from the course, the SSS were asked to go but the
three batches of policemen totalling 96 were asked to remain at the Forward
Operation Base. We completed the programme in December. We as policemen
were given passes to meet our family for a week or two weeks and to return to
the base.
“When we returned, nobody from the police came to address us; the NSA did not
come to address us. Instead, two colonels from the Army came to tell us that
they were still waiting for instructions and that they did not know what they
wanted to use us for.
“We were there till April 20, when six Marcopolo luxury came into the premises
with an Army truck loaded with Army kits. A colonel said that we were to go to
jaji for three weeks training for movement to Maiduguri. All the 96 policemen are
affected. The highest ranking policemen among us are inspectors.
“When he requested for questions, some of the policemen now called his
attention to the fact that they are not soldiers but policemen and they insisted
that the police authorities must know where they are taking them to.”
“We were kitted in Belarus military uniform. The officer then asked us to dress
with the Army uniform and some of us said no, we are not soldiers, we are
policemen.
“We did that because we needed to be sure and thoroughly briefed by our
superiors from Force headquarters of the new development which nobody did. We
also did not want the police authorities to deny us and deprive our families in
case anything goes wrong. “Out of the 96, some people did not return before the
movement occurred, the rest went to jaji. The colonel directed that we should be
taken to force headquarters but along the way, the captain took us to Kuje
Military Barracks and from there they took us to Gwagwalada Military Barracks.
We have been there for three days.”

I won’t die because Jonathan lost election –Clark

I won’t die because Jonathan lost election –Clark

A former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has
said it is wrong for anyone to think that he would die because
President Goodluck Jonathan lost the March 28 presidential election.
Clark, who was one of the supporters of the President, spoke with
journalists on Friday in Abuja.
He said some people had been going round with rumours that he
collapsed when he heard about the outcome of the presidential
election.
It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress presidential
candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), defeated Jonathan, the
Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the election.
Clark, who said he was travelling to London on Friday night, said he
decided to speak with journalists before the rumour mongers would go
to the market again and say that he had been flown abroad in air
ambulance.
The Ijaw National leader wondered why some people could be thinking
he would die when he was not the one that contested election.
He said even the President that stood for the election had conceded
defeat and congratulated Buhari.
He said, “I am here today to tell you that I am not dead. Or am I
dead? In every election, there would be winners and losers. The same
thing happened during the last presidential election.
“I am alive. Today, I won’t talk about what happened before, during
and after the election. That will come another day.
“I am talking to you now because I am travelling tomorrow and some
people will go into the streets and say I was carried into air
ambulance.
“President Jonathan that contested election had congratulated the
winner and the whole world acclaimed him for conceding defeat.
“Jonathan was the one who contested election, I didn’t. So, why
should I die.”

Unpaid N256bn subsidy: Oil marketers threaten to stop importation

Unpaid N256bn subsidy: Oil marketers threaten to stop importation

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) on Friday threatened to stop the importation of petroleum products over yet-to-be-paid N256 billion subsidy claim by the Federal Government.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr Obafemi
Olawore, made the disclosure at a news conference
in Lagos.
Olawore said that the last time the government paid
marketers N100 billion subsidy claim was in
February and it was paid in Sovereign Debt Note
(SDN).
He said that the post-dated note would mature at the
end of April.
The secretary-general said that before the N100
billion SDN was issued, the government was
indebted to the tune of N315.8 billion. But if you
deduct the N100 billion from the N315.8 billion, you
will have 215.8 billion.
“Besides, the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory
Agency (PPPRA) had earlier approved Batches T and
U for last quarter of 2014 for payment which
amounted to N30.5billion.
“In 2015, we also have Batches A and B for the
products imported by MOMAN which has been
approved by PPPRA but had not been paid. This also
amounted to N9.7 billion. So, the money put together
is N256 billion,” he said.
The secretary-general said that the unpaid subsidy
had really affected the marketers from expanding
their businesses.
Olawore said that the association’s fear was that the
2015 budget as passed by the House of
Representatives did not capture subsidy payment.
“If government is saying we should stop importation
of petroleum or no more subsidies, they should
please pay for what the association members had
supplied.
“Right now, it is getting to a halt because we are
bleeding; our suppliers are on us to pay for products
supplied.
“As at April 22, what we have in our depots at Apapa
will only last for three and half days, which shows
that our members are finding it hard to bring in
products.
“Our banks here are not even helping the situation
because it has not been easy to access loan from
them,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to pay the claim
so that marketers could continue with the
importation and avoid scarcity of the products.
He added that NNPC could not import the products
alone because presently MOMAN imports about 40
per cent of the nation’s consumption.

Reps pass N4.4trn Budget

Reps pass N4.4trn Budget

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed
the 2015 budget of N4.4 trillion with an appeal to
the incoming administration to submit
supplementary appropriation to boost capital
allocation for development and job creation.

Rep. John Enoh (PDP- Cross River), Chairman, House
Committee on Appropriation, said the supplementary
appropriation became necessary due to the near zero
vote for capital expenditure caused by the fall in oil
revenue.

He said that almost all the Ministries, Departments
and Agencies (MDAs), had zero allocation for capital
projects in the 2015 appropriation.

According to him, the development was “a perfect
recipe for abandonment of ongoing projects and
non-commencement of new ones.

“Having adjusted the benchmark to $53 and adopted
same by the conference Committee of both the
House and the Senate, we found that the proportion
between recurrent and capital was so bad.

“So, we plead with the Federal Government and by
extension, the incoming one, to reduce the gap
between recurrent and capital by increasing capital
votes using supplementary appropriation.

“However, the adjustment made does not make any
significant difference as the gap still remains highly
visible.

“It is our suggestion that Federal Government, as a
matter of urgency, proposes a supplementary
appropriation that aimes at boosting the capital
expenditure.

“This will be the basis for achieving projected
development drive and job creation.

“So, I urge my colleagues to support and help to pass
this budget,” Enoh said.

The budget, unanimously passed by members, has
N375.62 billion as statutory transfers, N953.62 billion
as debts service and N2.61 trillion for non-recurrent
expenditure.

More than N2trillion was allocated to MDAs. Federal
executive bodies under the Presidency were
allocated N13.96 billion for their recurrent
expenditure with little or nothing as capital
allocation.

The sum of N231 billion was allocated to Service-
Wide Votes among others.

The budget will be forwarded to the Senate for
harmonisation before presidential assent.

Constitution Review: House Replies Jonathan

Constitution Review: House Replies Jonathan

The House of Representatives on Thursday insisted that it did not flout any constitutional requirement in the process of amending the constitution, which President Goodluck Jonathan rejected via a letter to the parliament on April 13, 2015 and further sued the House to court.

The Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Eric Osagie (APC, Edo) gave explanations on aspects of the constitution review contended by the president.

On Clause 4 (alteration of Section 9), Osagie said: "the National Assembly met the requirement of the said Section 9 (3) for four-fifths of votes of members of each House.

"A reference to the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday 24, July 2013, No. 15 at page 117 shows that the alteration of Section 9, attendance of members as registered was 338. Ayes votes were 317, Nays votes were 6, Abstain 15, totalling 338. The Senate also voted accordingly."

Clause 4. seeks to alter Section 9 of the constitution regarding the assent of the president in the process of constitution amendment.

Further on the mandate given to the president to assent to bills sent to him within 30 days, the lower chamber. Said it is not strange. "The only new thing is that the National Assembly introduced an amendment to the effect that if the President fails to assent to the bill or indicate his withholding of assent, the bill shall become law after the 30 days interval.

Another clause which the president contested is Clause 12, where new sections 45 A and 45 B were inserted seeking to guarantee right to free education.

On this portion, the House explained that it was silent on some salient points because the constitution is self -xplanatory on "institutions and organs against whom constitutionally guaranteed rights are usually sought to be obtained from are known by the citizenry.

"Besides, in the event of a dispute on this, the interpretative role of the courts come into play."

On the amendment seeking to reduce the period when expenditure can be authorised in default of appropriation from 6 months to 3 months, Osagie, who also co-chairman of the ad-hoc committee on the constitution review, said: "The constitution envisages that the president shall communicate his withholding of assent before the National Assembly could invoke the powers to override the veto, or sustain it."

"But where this is not communicated, the National Assembly becomes hamstrung. Thirty days is certainly long enough for the President to do his solemn constitutional duty," the House observed.

Turning to the reservation of the President on the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice, the lower chamber argued that the separation "is to guarantee the impartiality of the  Attorney-General over public prosecutions while the minister of justice serves as Chief Legal Adviser to government

FAAN disrupts Arik Air operations at Abuja airport’ Print Email

FAAN disrupts Arik Air operations at Abuja airport’ Print Email

Arik Air has said officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday disrupted Arik Air’s operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Arik Air spokesman Adebanji Ola said FAAN denied its staff access to their duty post making it impossible to process passengers for departures out of Abuja.
The latest action, according to Arik may not be unconnected with allegation of debt FAAN claimed Arik Air owed.
The airline has described the debt figure by the agency as fictitious and malicious.
Arik Air insists that it does not owe FAAN any money since the agency’s charges are paid in advance (pay-as-you-go basis). “This has been the practice for over two years when all the aviation agencies introduced pay-as-you-go for their services. The bogus debt claim by FAAN is therefore unacceptable to Arik Air,” Ola said. 
Arik Air said the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka had earlier stepped into the lingering debt issue between FAAN and Arik Air and had directed that a firm of auditors be engaged to reconcile the books. This process has not been concluded before the latest action by FAAN this Thursday morning.
“Since about 10:50 am when the Honourable Minister of Aviation directed the FAAN Managing Director to allow Arik Air access into the terminal, the directive was yet to be complied with by FAAN” he said.
The FAAN spokesman Yakubu Dati was not immediately available for comments.

Buhari meets Mark in Abuja, agenda not disclosed

Buhari meets Mark in Abuja, agenda not disclosed

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Thursday, met with the
President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.).
The meeting, which held at the instance of the President-elect, lasted for about
30 minutes at the residence of Buhari in Abuja.
Sources close to the President of the Senate said the duo discussed national
issues.
The meeting followed a series of others the President-elect had had with heads of
foreign missions, top government officials and other visitors.

Boko Haram chase Nigerian troops from Sambisa

Boko Haram chase Nigerian troops from Sambisa

Nigerian troops were forced to retreat from Boko Haram’s Sambisa Forest
stronghold in the restive northeast after a landmine blast killed one soldier and
three vigilantes, security sources said Thursday.
Military top brass said on Wednesday that soldiers were conducting offensives “in
some forest locations” in the area after it was announced last week that
operations were imminent.
The Sambisa Forest is located in the state of Borno, some 80 kilometres (50
miles) from the town of Chibok, from where more than 200 schoolgirls were
kidnapped in April last year.
It has been claimed the 219 schoolgirls still being held were initially kept in the
former game reserve, although others have said they may have been split up and
moved to Chad or Cameroon.
Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement that a senior Boko Haram
commander was killed, as well as a number of militants who attacked a patrol.
“The operations especially in forest locations are progressing in defiance of
obstacles and landmines emplaced by the terrorists,” he added.
But progress has been severely hindered because of improvised explosive devices,
a civilian vigilante involved in the operation told AFP in an account backed by a
security source.
“Boko Haram have buried landmines all over the routes leading to their camps in
the forest, which is no doubt a huge obstacle retarding the military offensive
against them,” he told AFP.
Troops withdrew just five kilometres from Boko Haram’s main camp in the
densely forested area because of landmines.
“We decided to turn back since the route was unsafe. As we were driving back,
one of the vehicles carrying CJTF (Civilian Joint Task Force) hit a mine,” he
added.
“A soldier and three CJTF were killed while another soldier was injured. We
trudged along and made it back to Bama yesterday (Wednesday).”
The vigilante added: “There are no soldiers in Sambisa right now. We all returned
to Bama after the horrifying experience of manoeuvring through minefields.”
– Persistent threat –
There was no immediate response from the military, which with its military
coalition partners Chad, Niger and Cameroon has driven out Boko Haram from
captured towns in recent weeks.
“Boko Haram are in large numbers in Sambisa,” said the vigilante, who requested
anonymity for security reasons.
“All their fighters who were pushed out of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa (in
Borno state) all moved to Boko Haram camps in Sambisa,” he added.
Details of the offensive came as a series of photographs circulated on social
media accounts linked to the Islamic State group of heavily armed fighters,
purportedly from Boko Haram.
No independent verification was possible but some of the accounts said the
images were released under the name “The Islamic State in West Africa”.
Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to IS group leader Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi in March. The Middle Eastern militants responded by urging
Muslims to support the rebels in Nigeria.
Experts have seen the formal tie-up as a sign of weakness by the Nigerian
Islamists but warned not to write off the group, which continues to mount
smaller-scale attacks in the region.
According to residents of Kalabalge, who fled to the Cameroon town of Fotokol,
Boko Haram fighters have taken over the Borno state town, which is near
Nigeria’s border with Chad.
Thousands of Shuwa Arabs — who are from the same ethnic group as many
Chadian soldiers — have been pushed out of villages in the area since the
Nigerian army seized the group’s headquarters in Gwoza last month.
Resident Grema Gana said there were “light-skinned fighters of north African
extraction” in the militant ranks, adding that Chadian forces operating in the area
had detained some of them.
Another resident, who asked not to be named for his own safety, said Chadian
troops conducted an operation in the Kalabalge area on Monday as Boko Haram
had returned after being driven out.
He also said “some foreign fighters from north Africa” were detained.

Police: Drama as Abba stalls handover, 3 DIGs protest Arase’s appointment

Police: Drama as Abba stalls handover, 3 DIGs protest Arase’s appointment

There was confusion and drama at the Force Headquarters in Abuja,
yesterday, as the sacked Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman
Abba, stalled the formal handover to his successor, Mr Solomon Arase, until he was compelled to do so by the Presidency.

This came as some former Inspectors-General of Police expressed
reservations over the manner Abba was removed while other leaders
were divided over the sack.

The handover ceremony which was earlier slated for 8 a.m. with
invitations sent to journalists for coverage from the office of the Force
Public Relations Officer, did not take place until almost 4pm following
the absence of the ex-Police boss at the headquarters.

Abba was said to have removed all his personal belongings before
leaving the office around 11.20 p.m. after the announcement, Tuesday.

According to his aides, when they visited his official residence at
Maitama early yesterday, Abba said he was yet to receive any official
letter informing him to hand over as he heard the news of his sack on
radio and television like other Nigerians.

Vanguard learnt that reporters who converged in their numbers early in
the morning for the handover, were disappointed as they were not
allowed access to Force Headquarters. No reasons, according to
sources, were given for the delay in the handing over ceremony.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continued to pervade Force Headquarters after
it was reliably gathered that three of the serving Deputy Inspectors-
General of Police were holding an emergency secret meeting in one of
the offices on the 6th floor of the headquarters building.

Feelers from the meeting indicated that they resolved to strongly
protest the appointment of their contemporary, Arase, DIG Intelligence,
as acting Police boss on the grounds that they were all promoted
same day on February 20, 2014.

The three DIGs were also said to have sworn to contest the
appointment of Arase to the highest level because they were not well
treated by his appointment. While palpable tension generated by the
ugly development threw Force Headquarters into confusion, other top
officers and the rank and file were seen in different moods.

Many of them stood in groups discussing the development in hushed
tones. Some officers were also seen in jubilant mood, praising
President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the decisive action.

They alleged that they were not well treated by the former IGP during
the elections as they were not paid their due allowances. Many of the
officers, however, commended the appointment of Arase, noting that
he is well suited for the job.

While the situation continued to generate tension, relief came at last
after the Presidency reportedly directed that the ceremony must be
completed without fail before end of the working day.

This, according to sources, forced Abba to quickly rush to Force
Headquarters after directing Force Public Relations Officer to issue
fresh releases inviting reporters for the ceremony at 2.30pm. The
handover later took place around 4.30pm.

After the dust had settled, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr.
Solomon Ehigiator Arase, yesterday took over command of the Nigeria
Police Force from his predecessor, Abba, with a declaration that he
will provide the highest possible level of professional leadership while
trusting that officers and men shall march hand-in-hand with him to
advance the fortunes of the Force.

Arase made the declaration even as he warned unrepentant felons
who may want to put to test the common will of the Force by
disrupting the re-run elections in Imo, Abia and Taraba states to think
again as the Force will not hesitate to deploy its potent assets to deal
firmly and decisively with deviants.

His words: “My dear officers, the task of blending our acclaimed
quality human assets with quality leadership is the main challenge
ahead of us but it is one I am convinced we can surmount.
“In so doing, we must resolve, both individually and collectively, to hold

our duties sacred, perform our functions with pride and exhibit the
highest level of professional excellence in all our engagements.
“Let me use this opportunity to quickly remind you that aside our
routine operations, we have within the short term, two major national
assignments where our professional expertise and commitment will
once again be subjected to national and international scrutiny. First, is
the conduct of the governorship elections in areas where they were
declared inconclusive by INEC— Imo, Abia and Taraba states.
“The second is the delivery of hitch-free presidential, governorship,
National/state Assembly inauguration at federal and state levels. While
with your support, I am confident that we have the operational
capacity to ensure the success of both exercises, I am not unmindful
of the possible security threats that some lawless individuals may
attempt to pose during the make-up elections.
“Consequently, while the unique intelligence assets of the force will be
deployed to proactively support our operational plans, there shall also
be massive deployment of men and materials to the affected areas in
order to assure a secure environment for the qualified electorate to
exercise their franchise.
“I must, however, re-emphasize that as a nation, we have had enough
of electoral violence. Therefore, under my leadership, we shall work
closely with INEC and other strategic stakeholders to ensure that such
acts will not only be defined as intolerable; perpetrators will be
identified, isolated and brought to deserved justice to act as
deterrence.
“To the unrepentant felons that may want to put our common will to
test, the message is being relayed here loud and clear, that in securing
the law-abiding, we shall also not hesitate to deploy our potent assets
to deal firmly and decisively with deviants. In addition, I will ensure
that the AIGs and CPs that will be deployed for the election duties are
empowered enough to ensure the success of their operations.
“In line with the principle of ‘to whom much is given, much more is
expected’, such senior officers should be prepared to be accountable
for their actions while the exercise lasts.”
While calling on political actors to assist the Police and other law
enforcement agents in sustaining the gains recorded in our democracy
journey, the Acting IG said:
“They should remember that politics is a game guided by rules and it
behoves them to play the game by the rules.”
On Abba, he said: “Aside being a vastly experienced police
administrator, IGP Suleiman Abba is known to be gifted with
exceptional leadership qualities which have manifested in his trade
mark comportment, humility and respect and courtesy with which he
treated members of his management team throughout his tenure. Even
more elating is that he is a unique motivational leader that
demonstrated genuine passion for the welfare of officers and men of
the force.”
On his part, former IGP, Abba said: “Let me first congratulate the
acting IGP for the elevation. With every sense of sincerity of purpose,
let me say it is a well-deserved appointment, not only for the
management of the force but for the society of Nigeria. That is to say
I wish him well and know he will do well.
“I want to thank the Almighty God for my appointment and like He
(God) said, He alone gives and He takes; particularly now that I am
leaving in good health. I want to also thank President Jonathan for
appointing me as IGP and seeing me up to this time because I believe
God knows the best.
“Now I want to move on with my life and in doing that, I want to use
this opportunity to appeal to those who we might have offended to
know that the nature of policing in a country like Nigeria is fraught
with its challenges. We have different people, different values. Even at
that, I want to appeal to those who feel deeply offended to have a
place in their heart to forgive and lend support to my colleagues.
“My happiness is that we have gone through the elections and after all
the hard work, the elections are almost over. I want to thank those
who helped in making sure that we have peace today. Leading in this
line is President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigeria Police Force, other
security agencies, the Peace committee, civil society groups. But it is
not yet over because elections are yet to be concluded in three
states.”

Oil cabal behind my ordeal, says Alison-Madueke

Oil cabal behind my ordeal, says Alison-Madueke

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday, declared that ‘corrupt elements’ in the oil sector were behind all the allegations levelled against her.
She said because the reforms she put in place were against the selfish interest of the ‘oil cabal’, members of the powerful group were determined to tarnish her image by spreading the rumour that she was seeking asylum abroad to avoid being probed by the incoming administration of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in Aso Rock, Abuja, she also denied that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was not ready to remit to the federation account the $1.48 billion uncovered by a recent forensic audit conducted by Price Water House Cooper, a reputable international accounting firm.
She said: “For everything that has a beginning, there is an end. What is the surprise is the sort of malevolence bordering on personal malicious libel to my person. I do believe that I have done the best for Nigeria in this job and I have attained many firsts in the history of oil and gas, especially in the reforms that we have done. In this period of time, I have stepped on many big toes, particularly the feet of the cabals that were in the industry when we came in. Because I have said severally that we will open up the industry to all Nigerians and we did, that is not to the pleasure of certain cabals. I have been continuously maligned because of this and we have taken millions and, in fact, billions of dollars out of the hands of multinationals and their subcontractors and put them in the hands of Nigerians. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have come into the oil and gas industry because of our reforms.
“Quite frankly, I think as unprecedented as it is, it does not please everybody and that cannot be helped but let us remember the unprecedented reforms that have happened in the oil industry during our time, such as major gas reforms, the Petroleum Industry Bill, which has been completely revised, reformed and put into the hands of members of the National Assembly where it has languished for two years.
“In that bill are all the reforms needed to tear NNPC apart, make it a National Oil Company, an equity share company through transparency, accountability and responsibility and reduce corruption in the industry. We did all these and we put them in place to reduce corruption. So, for me to be tagged with various appellations of corruption, this is coming from the cabal. $10 million jet purchases, who buys jet for $10 million dollars for goodness sake? And $20 billion missing money, missing where?
“I have said during our time that there are gaps in the NNPC and I said that openly. But I can also say that there is no time in Nigerian history in the oil and gas that the NNPC has been as open and audited as it is today.
“It has been positioned to go forward in the industry. It is true that the revenue profile is not sustainable. But we have done our best and the Nigerian oil and gas sector is today in a better shape than it has ever been in terms of achievements that we recorded.
“So, let me state it clearly for the records that Nigeria is my country and I am not going anywhere. I love my country and I do think that I have done the best for my country. I would also like to point out that these malicious, malevolence, vindictive stories coming out of places like Osun Defender and other faceless online and other entities need to stop. We have done enough for this industry, we cannot please everybody. Yes, we have stepped on toes but we did that in the best interest of Nigeria and we have opened up the oil and gas industry to all Nigerians. Thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from our reforms in the system”.
She declared that there was nothing unusual in her recent meeting with former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

1999 Constitutional Amendment: FG drags NASS to Supreme Court

1999 Constitutional Amendment: FG drags NASS to Supreme Court

As the controversies over the amendment of the 1999 Constitution continue to linger the Federal Government  has drags National Assembly before th3 Supreme Court.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who filed the suit before the Supreme Court, through Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), insisted that due process was not followed by the lawmakers during the amendment process.

The government asked the court to determine: Whether the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) by the Defendant through Sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 (hereinafter referred to as The Fourth Alteration Act 2015), which purportedly altered Sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the Constitution without compliance with the requirements of Section 9 (3) of the Constitution, is not unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null and void
The government also asked for a declaration that the proposed amendment to the Constitution, through Sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 which purportedly altered Sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the Constitution and passed by the Defendant without complying with the mandatory requirement of Section 9(3) and (4) of the said Constitution stipulating passage by, at least, four-fifths majority of all members of each House specified in Sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution, is unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
In the affidavit in support of the case deposed to by Theophilus Okwute, the plaintiff said that the purported Fourth Alteration Act 2015 was not passed with the mandatory requirement of four-fifths majority of members of the Defendant and the mandatory due processes provided for under relevant sections of the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).
He said the Defendant is making moves, with the tacit consent of all State Houses of Assembly to employ certain provisions of the Constitution to now pass the purported Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 into Law.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Plaintiffs, seeking to stop Buhari, withdraw eligibility suit

Plaintiffs, seeking to stop Buhari, withdraw eligibility suit

Plaintiffs in the two of the three pending suits challenging the eligibility of the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to contest in the March 28, 2015,
presidential election have been withdrawn.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding over the matters at the Federal High
Court in Abuja subsequently struck out the matter after the plaintiffs indicated
their intention to withdraw the suits on Wednesday.
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is representing one of the plaintiffs, told the
judge on Wednesday that his client decided to withdraw his suit to afford the
incoming government time to focus on the “enormous task” of governance.
When the second case which was filed by Max Ozoaka was called, his lawyer, Dr.
Chike Amobi, also adduced similar grounds for withdrawing the suit.
With the Wednesday’s development, the remaining pending eligibility suit against
Buhari is the one filed by Ayakeme Whiskey (FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15).
As of the time of filing this story, no date has been fixed for the hearing in the
pending suit.
Buhari, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was on
April 1 declared winner of the election, defeating the incumbent President
Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The plaintiffs had filed the suits challenging Buhari’s eligibility, asking the court to
declare him ineligible to contest in the election on the basis of his alleged failure
to submit his certificate of academic qualifications along with his Form CF001 to
the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The plaintiffs claim that Buhari’s failure to submit his certificate of academic
qualifications contravened provisions of sections 131 and 318 of the 1999
Constitution and section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Jonathan will handover on May 29, says FG

Jonathan will handover on May 29, says FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday changed its mind on the earlier plan for
President Goodluck Jonathan to formally handover power to the President-elect,
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on May 28 as against the May 29 Democracy
Day.
Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, had last week said Jonathan
intended to have the formal handing over done at a dinner on May 28 so that the
administration can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.
That announcement generated controversy with some prominent lawyers arguing
that the plan would lead to a vacuum in the leadership of the country till when
Buhari is inaugurated 24 hours after the handing over.
But while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal
Executive Council meeting presided over by Jonathan on Wednesday, Akwashiki
recanted.
The minister, who said the meeting again centered on the transition programme,
denied ever telling reporters that the President would handover to the President-
elect on May 28.
She claimed that what she said was that the process of preparing handover notes
would be completed by May 28.
She explained that Jonathan will not hand over power until May 29.
She said, “In the council today, the discussion was still centered on transition.
“I have to make a little clarification because some people thought I said May 28
will be handover date. I never said that.
“I said May 28 will be the last day that we will have our handing over briefs by
ministries and parastatals. I said from the 28th of this month to that date has
been given to departments and ministries to submit their hand over notes.
“I remember somebody asked if there will be no vacuum if there is handover on
May 28 and I replied that there will be no handing over on May 28.
“Handing over and inauguration will hold on May 29. The President is not handing
over power on May 28, he is handing over power on May 29.
“We have started the transition and it is ongoing. We are submitting our handover
notes to the Office of the SGF.
“The President is still the President until May 29 when Gen. Buhari takes his oath
of office and resumes as the President of the Federal Republic.”
When asked to disclose the reason behind the Tuesday sacking of Mr. Suleiman
Abba as the Inspector-General of Police, Akwashiki said she had no explanation to
make because the President had the right to appoint and fire his appointees.
“I think it is within the President’s power to appoint and sack and he did what he
had to do,” she said.

Subsidy: NNPC dares marketers over import freeze

Subsidy: NNPC dares marketers over import freeze

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said it will not be
distracted by the threat of major petroleum products’ marketers to
stop importing Premium Motor Spirit this week if the subsidy arrears
owed them by the Federal Government are not paid.

The NNPC said it had enough products to service the entire country
and was not moved by the marketers’ threat.

The position of the corporation was made known by the Group General
Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a
telephone interview with our correspondent.

Alegbe said the corporation was committed to ensuring that there was
a smooth handover of power from the incumbent government of
President Goodluck Jonathan to the President-elect, Maj.-Gen.

Muhammadu Buhari, and judging by the stock of product currently
controlled by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, a
subsidiary of the NNPC, there was enough PMS to last beyond May
29.

He said the corporation would not allow product supply issues to mar
the handover as it remained committed to importing adequate quantity of PMS to ease movement and economic activities nationwide.

Last week, some marketers had decried the government’s inability to
disburse the outstanding payments due to them for the importation of
PMS under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund Scheme, warning that the
continuous delay in the payment could lead to another round of fuel
scarcity if not promptly resolved.

The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria,
Mr. Thomas Olawore, in a document made available to our
correspondent, warned that the marketers, whom he said were
currently experiencing “commercial hardship” as a result of cash flow
constraints caused by the delayed payment and compounded by the
devaluation of the naira, higher inflation and increase in lending rates,
might withdraw their services if the impasse was not resolved.

The consequences of their action, he explained, would include a
significant scale down in petroleum products’ supply, adding that
MOMAN members were being left with no other option but to
streamline overhead costs and workforce in the very immediate future.

MOMAN pleaded with the Minister of Finance to quickly intervene as
the “next five working days are crucial to members’ capacity to
continue to operate.”

But Alegbe told our correspondent that the corporation was importing
more products, and in order to gain penetration into all the nooks and
crannies of the country, was allocating products to independent
petroleum products’ marketers.

Commenting on the possibility of some independent marketers
hoarding and/or diverting products, he said that could only happen in
the past as the NNPC had put machineries in place, including
personnel and facilities, to monitor the movement and distribution of
petroleum products.

The NNPC had also threatened to sanction marketers who were
hoarding and diverting petrol, noting that a special monitoring team had been deployed to check incidents of product diversion by “some
unscrupulous marketers and ensure that appropriate sanctions are
brought to bear on perpetrators of such unpatriotic acts.”

Similarly, the management of the Petroleum Products Pricing
Regulatory Agency had also assured the citizens of steady supply of
petroleum products across the country.

As of March 1 this year, the Federal Government was said to be
spending over N1.380bn as subsidy on petrol daily.

The PPPRA had put the product cost and freight elements of imported
PMS at N94.46; with other cost items like traders’ margin, lightering
expenses, NPA, financing, jetty depot through put charge, and storage
charge put at N1.48, N4.16, N0.78, N1.34, N0.80 and N3.00,
respectively.

Boko Haram: Ground Troops Enter Sambisa in Search of Chibok Girls

Boko Haram: Ground Troops Enter Sambisa in Search of Chibok Girls

The Nigerian Army on Saturday landed in the dreaded and expansive Sambisa forest with the possibility of finding and rescuing the abducted Chibok girls from the Boko Haram terrorists.

THISDAY was reliably informed on Saturday that the operation to liberate the terrorist enclave may not last more than one week as most of the strikes and special operations have knocked out the enemy defence systems.

According to a military source the sustained aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for weeks now have now made it possible for the Army to move in today for ground operation. “The operation is nearing its conclusion and the Army will be moving in tomorrow (today) and I am sure in a matter of days, if plans goes accordingly the operations will be over.

The Air Force have been bombarding the area for weeks now and with the right kind of weapon, the Army is ready for the final onslaught”, the source said. The source further confirmed that even though there is no concrete evidence that the Chibok girls were in the forest, it will however be the top priority of the military to find and rescue them if that should be the reality.

According to the source, “the fear is that some of the girls might be amongst the women killed in Bama and other parts of the liberated towns, and Sambisa offers  the more viable hope of all the remaining options to rescue the girls”.

It could be recalled that the Nigerian Military in the last eight weeks of sustained offensive have recaptured over 90 per cent of the territories that were once under Boko Haram occupation with the exception of Sambisa forest.
However, several towns leading to the forest including Allagano have been confirmed liberated last two weeks by the Nigerian Army Director of Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, thereby clearing the way for the final onslaught.

In the same vein, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah in a recent special interview with select journalists in Abuja, confirmed that the battle with Boko Haram terrorists is almost over.

Minimah even assured that with the way Nigerians react to issues, within a space of six months Boko Haram atrocities might have been forgotten.

“I will tell you that militarily, they (Boko Haram) have been defeated, but as armed groups, thieves, armed robbers, or people who go about to steal, burn markets and loot to go back to the forests that will continue for a while”, he stated.

However, he added, the other programmes of government will take care of those ones. Bomb explosion also happens in civilised worlds where there are no terrorists.

He also said with the expected recapture of the Sambisa forest the Chibok girls, which he admitted not knowing their whereabouts might be rescued.

“Yes, by the time we capture Sambisa forest completely, we will be able to find out where the Chibok girls are. Because as it is now, anybody you ask, they will say they did not see them, they are not here, they are not there. But when we capture Sambisa forest we will be able to know where they are and government will take it up from there”, he assured.

Finally, APC Zones Speaker to Southwest, SGF to S'East

Finally, APC Zones Speaker to Southwest, SGF to S'East

After a series of preparatory meetings ahead of its assumption of control on May 29, the incoming ruling party, All Progressives Congress, has drawn up a zoning arrangement for key federal legislative and executive positions. Barring any last minute changes, a document ratified by the APC national leadership and national caucus members Thursday night may form the basis for the allocation of executive positions and emergence of principal officers of the National Assembly from across the six geopolitical zones. The document, which was obtained by THISDAY, shows that the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation is zoned to the South-east. The incumbent SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, a former senate president, is from Ebonyi State in the South-east.

The zoning to South-east puts paid to speculations that the director-general of the APC presidential campaign organisation and Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, may become the next SGF. It also ends the alleged spirited effort by some APC governors from the North-east to produce the new SGF, with the current Secretary to the State Government of Borno, Ambassador Ahmed Baba Jida, widely suspected to be the choice of the governors.

In other positions, the post of Senate President is zoned to North-central, the same zone of the outgoing holder of the position, David Mark, who is from Benue State. Speaker of the House of Representatives is given to South-west, where the vice president-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, hails from. Osinbajo is from Ogun State.

APC zoned the office of Deputy Senate President to North-east and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-south. Chief Whip of the Senate is zoned to North-west, where the Katsina State-born president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, comes from, while North-central gets the office of Chief Whip of the House of Representatives.

The post of Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives is zoned to South-east. There are only two members of the House elected on the platform of  APC from the zone in the March 28 election. They are Hon. Austin Chukwukere from Ideato North and South Federal Constituency and Chike Okafor from Ehime Mbano, Ihite Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State.

The position of Majority Leader of the Senate is zoned to South-west, while Majority Leader of the House of Representatives goes to North-east. Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate is zoned to North-west, and Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives goes to North-central.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of APC is zoned to North-east, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar widely expected to clinch the post. South-east is given secretary of the BoT.
The posts of national chairman and national secretary of APC remain in the South-south and North-east, respectively. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun from Edo State is national chairman and Alhaji Maimala Buni from Yobe State is the national secretary.

Seven senators from three zones have signified their intentions to contest the senate president slot. They are Senators Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara State governor (Kwara Central); George Akume, Senate Minority Leader (Benue North-west); Olusola Adeyeye, a vocal senator and professor of Molecular Biology (Osun Central), Danjuma Goje, a former Gombe State governor (Gombe Central); Ahmad Lawan, a former university don (Yobe North); Ali Ndume, a former House of Representatives Minority Leader (Borno South); and a former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada (Gombe North).

With the zoning of the slot to North-central, the contest will now be between Saraki and Akume.
In the House of Representatives, there are currently eight contestant for the office of speaker. They are APC caucus leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos); Chairman House committee on House Services, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (Bauchi State); Chairman House Committee on Finance, Hon. AbdulMumin Jubril(Kano); Hon. Pally Iriase (Edo);  Hon Ajibola Famurewa(Osun);  Prof. Mojeed Alabi(Osun); Hon. Mohammed Monguno(Borno); and Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba(Kaduna).  Of the eight contestants, only Gbajabiamila and Adeyeye are from the South-west where the speakership has been zoned to.

Report from Thisday Newspaper 

NERC summons Abuja Disco for ‘over billing’ electricity customers

NERC summons Abuja Disco for ‘over billing’ electricity customers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) notice of enforcement  over what it described as ‘manifest and flagrant breaches’ of approved methodology for estimated billing of electricity consumers. 

In a statement issued by NERC Public Affairs Head, Dr Usman Arabi, it directed (AEDC) to explain within seven days why “enforcement action should not be taken against you and sanctions meted accordingly.

“For non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the license granted you, the Methodology for Estimated Billing 2012 and directives to submit a comprehensive data used for the billing of unmetered customers” for the period under review. 

NERC said the notice is a follow up action to previous investigations and forensic observations of electricity Distribution Companies’ (Discos) operations through which  unusual increases in estimated billings of consumers were observed within the last quarter of 2014 by the commission.

Abuja Disco and some others were subsequently invited for explanation for the unusual increase in estimated billings.

South Africans ignore appeal, continue attacks on foreigners

South Africans ignore appeal, continue attacks on foreigners

Despite appeals by South African President Jacob Zuma and
other political leaders for calm, violence against foreigners
continued in parts of South Africa on Thursday.

South Africans living and working in other African countries
braced for reprisals on Friday as protests were reported in
Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria.

At least five people have been killed, thousands displaced and
extensive property destroyed in the latest wave of xenophobic
violence in South Africa, after a March 20 speech in which tribal
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini said foreigners should leave the
country.

As the violence spread from the eastern port city of Durban to
Pietermaritzburg and the inland financial hub of Johannesburg,
Zuma announced the deployment of South African National
Defence Force troops.

He said the SANDF would transfer 350 soldiers to work as
immigration officers at border posts. “Furthermore, the SANDF
has deployed military personnel along the borderline in seven
provinces to prevent border crime activities and illegal border
crossings.”

Most of the targets in South Africa have been Mozambicans,
Malawians, Zimbabweans, Somalis, Congolese and Nigerians. An
April 16 march against xenophobia in Durban, attended by up to
20,000 people, did little to stop the simmering tensions. There
were scuffles when people opposed to foreigners tried to disrupt
the march.

In their speeches in the South African Parliament on April 16,
none of the main political leaders mentioned Zwelithini’s
inflammatory comments, as they fear his influence over the 11
million Zulus in the country could cost them votes at election
time.

However, Corne Mulder, leader of the minuscule Freedom Front
Plus party, criticised Zuma, who is himself a Zulu, for not taking
Zwelithini to task. In addition the South African National Defence
Union on April 16 lodged a complaint with the South African
Human Rights Commission over Zwelithini’s remarks.

In his March 20 address in Pongola in rural KwaZulu-Natal,
Zwelithini said: “We are requesting those who come from outside
to please go back to their countries.”

He said the fact that other African countries that played a role in
South Africa’s struggle for liberation “should not be used as an
excuse to create a situation where foreigners are allowed to
inconvenience locals.”

Zwelithini said that during South Africa’s liberation struggle,
South Africans did not set up businesses in these other
countries. Yet now nationals from these countries were setting
up businesses in South Africa.

This speech touched on a common grievance among poorer
South Africans, who claim foreigners are depriving them of jobs
and business opportunities. For example, on Friday, The Times
newspaper in Johannesburg reported that a man “hunting
foreigners” and stoning cars in Actonville, east of Johannesburg,
said: “These foreigners don’t pay taxes but they have jobs.”

The official South African unemployment rate hovers around 25
percent, rising to 36 percent when the definition is expanded to
include those who have given up looking for work.

However, the unemployment rate in some South African rural
areas can reach 80 percent, especially among the youth.

In his parliamentary speech on Thursday, Zuma said the attacks
on foreigners were “shocking and unacceptable.”

He said no amount of frustration or anger could ever justify the
attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops.

“We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. The
attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies,
especially the respect for human life, human rights, human
dignity and Ubuntu,” he said.

Ubuntu is a South African word for compassion and humanity.
“Our country stands firmly against all intolerances such as
racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism,” the president said.
Zuma extended condolences to the victims’ families and wished
the injured a speedy recovery.
“Any problems or issues of concern to South African citizens
must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue”, he said.
Zuma said South African police had been directed to work “round
the clock to protect both foreign nationals and South African
citizens and to arrest looters and those committing acts of
violence”.
However, while Zuma strongly condemned the attacks, he was
sympathetic to the concerns of South African citizens.
“We reiterate our view that South Africans are generally not
xenophobic. If they were, we would not have such a high number
of foreign nationals who have been successfully integrated into
communities all over our country, in towns, city and villages,” he
said.
Zuma said that while some foreign nationals had been arrested
for various crimes, it was misleading and wrong to label or
regard all foreigners as being involved in crime.
“In addition, not all foreign nationals who reside in our country
are here illegally,” he said.
This and other messages from South African politicians were
seen as contradictory by Ingrid Palmary, associate professor at
the Witwatersrand University African Center for Migration and
Society (ACMS) in Johannesburg.
She said the rhetoric from the South African state was
“unhelpful, overall”.
“What we’ve seen are contradictory messages from government
officials. Sometimes there has been condemnation, but there has
also been support for anti-foreigner sentiment, and sometimes
inaction. What is needed was a decisive message of
condemnation from all sectors of society,” she said.
According to her, the brutality of the attacks shows a failure in
South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
“This kind of violence has a long history in South Africa. It shows
the lack of faith that people have in official institutions”.
Lucien van der Walt, professor of sociology at Rhodes University
in Grahamstown in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, said
the language of nationalism and patriotism that often came from
the South African state was problematic.
Sanele Nene, political science lecturer at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal, said the state’s response has been badly co-
ordinated.
“It seems like the state didn’t think this would be a problem
while it has been brewing for some time,” Nene told the Mail &
Guardian newspaper in Johannesburg.
South African analysts have been debating whether the latest
attacks were “Afrophobic” or xenophobic. Nene said the attacks
were definitely xenophobic, as Pakistanis, Indians and other
foreign nationals were also targeted.
The South African government has consistently sought to
downplay animosity towards foreigners. The word xenophobia is
seldom used in official circles.
Nene said Zuma’s intervention was critical because Zuma is a
Zulu from KwaZulu-Natal province,
“He is probably the only person who can rein in King Goodwill
Zwelithini,” Nene said.
The worst flare-up of xenophobic violence in South Africa
occurred in May 2008, when more than 60 people were killed in
attacks across the country. Simmering hostilities boiled over on
several occasions since then, most recently in January 2015.
Since 2008 there has been no successful prosecution on anyone
for a crime directly linked to xenophobia in South Africa.