NSCDC arrests civil servant for stealing transformer parts

The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended a senior civil servant with the Osun State Ministry of Works, Mr. Julius Adetokunbo, for allegedly stealing some components of a transformer.

The Commandant of the NSCDC in Osun State, Mr. Olusola Ayodele, said this on Friday during the parade of Adetokunbo and an accomplice, Muideen Agunbiade, at the command in Osogbo.

 

The transformer, from where the duo allegedly stole 12 coils, was installed inside the Osun State Civil Service Secretariat in Abere.

Adetokunbo, 55, is the Higher Electrical Officer in charge of the power house that supplies electricity to the secretariat.

Ayodele said, “The NSCDC officers attached to the secretariat, who were on stop-and-search operation, discovered the transformer’s components inside a Nissan Sunny car where the suspects hid them while transporting them to where they would be sold.”

The NSCDC boss said the command would not tolerate vandalism and any unlawful act in the state.

Ayodele said the suspect would be charged to court soon.

The civil servant told journalists that he was caught the first time he would be engaging in the act and blamed his involvement on lack of money to pay his children’s fees.

Agunbiade said the civil servant wanted to borrow some money from him, but he told him that he did not have money to give out. The contractor added that Adetokunbo persuaded him to come to the secretariat to remove the coils.

Pipeline bombings: FG deploys team to unmask N’Delta Avengers

The Federal Government has set machinery in motion to uncover those behind the recent bombings of oil installations in the Niger Delta apart from the express directive to the military to halt the return of militancy in the region.

As part of the efforts in security and government circles to identify the masterminds of the attacks on the oil facilities, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), has dispatched a team of investigators to the Niger Delta.


A new militant group in the oil-rich region, the Niger Delta Avengers, has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on the SPDC platform at Forcados, the Chevron Okan platform at Abiteye in Escravos, and the pipelines transporting crude oil to the Warri and the Kaduna refineries.

The Chief Security Officer to the Amnesty Office, Lt. Col. Olusegun Okungbure, told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that the office was working with security agencies in the area of sharing information and intelligence on how to curb the sabotage of oil platforms in the region.

Okungbure stated that a meeting had also been scheduled between officials of the Delta State Government and stakeholders in the area on how to bring the attacks to an end.

He stated, “The Special Adviser has sent people to the region to see if we can identify the perpetrators of this act.

“Secondly, he has also condemned the attacks on all these oil platforms.  He has also interfaced with the security agencies for the protection of the pipelines and security in the general area.

“Even as we speak now, we just finished a form of telephone conversation with the JTF Commander, who just returned from Delta State.  These are some of the things we are doing.”

Okungbure added that the office had asked the ex-militants, captured under the Amnesty Programne, to assist in fishing out those behind the current attacks on the oil facilities.

He said the current attacks constituted a threat to the reputation of the 30,000 youths captured in the programme.

“We have even tasked the ex-agitators, the ones captured in the programme, that they should be able to fish out these people because their own reputation of embracing peace and accepting amnesty is being threatened by this kind of attacks.

‘‘I think everyone is well aware of the implications,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has warned that the military would not tolerate acts that constitute a threat to the nation’s existence.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement on Sunday that the military would not condone acts that could cause a breakdown of law and order in the society.

He urged individuals or groups “seeking relevance” to embrace the stipulations of the law and to avoid brigandage.

Abubukar added, “The Defence Headquarters hereby warns that it will not condone any unwholesome acts by persons or group seeking to engage in acts that are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in any part of the country.

“Citizens are advised to refrain from taking the laws into their hands and avoid actions that may cause a breach to harmonious co-existence.

“The DHQ also wishes to advise the general public to ignore inciting pictures, videos and statements posted on some social media platforms which are now confirmed to be the creation of Photoshop, with the intention of causing disharmony and divisions among different nationalities.”

He assured the citizenry of the determination of the military and the security agencies to sustain the tempo of operations against terrorists, oil thieves, cattle rustlers and other acts of criminality in the society.

The Defence spokesman advised law-abiding citizens to report  suspicious persons and objects to the security operatives for immediate action.Senate.

Islamic jihadists kill police officers, civilians in Mogadishu attacks

Islamic jihadists killed three police officers in a bomb and gun attack on a police station in the Somali capital on Monday, city authorities said.

A suicide car bomber and a gunman also died, as did two civilians, apparently shot by police responding to the attack claimed by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-aligned Shebab. Other civilians were also wounded.

“The attack involved two Shebab members, one of them driving a car loaded with explosives, and another tried to storm the police headquarters but was shot dead. We have lost three policemen,” said Abdifatah Omar Halane, spokesman for the Mogadishu city administration.


He added that two civilians were also shot dead.

“Two other civilians were shot dead separately at a nearby street,” Halane said, adding that the police believed to be responsible had been arrested.

The Shebab militants are fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, and launch regular attacks in the city.

Mikel pained by loss, Kelechi, Iwobi play draw

Mikel Obi believes Chelsea paid the price for not taking their opportunities in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Sunderland.

After leading 2-1 at the break courtesy of goals by Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic, the Blues headed home with nothing after Sam Allardyce’s side scored twice in a three-minute second-half spell. A win may have put some pressure on the teams ahead of them.


 

A pained Mikel told Chelsea website, “We started the game well and for the first 30 to 35 minutes we had control and we were playing well. We were creating chances, moving the ball quickly and players wanted to get involved.

“In the second half we came out and we wanted to carry on where left off but we didn’t kill the game when we had the chances to do it.

“Then Ivanovic went down, the referee didn’t blow the whistle, we stopped a little and they scored the second goal. From then, they had some momentum, they built on that and got the third goal.”

The Super Eagles captain believes Sunderland were helped by a sell-out crowd at the Stadium of Light, but remains convinced Chelsea should have won the game.

“Their fans were on top of them and supporting them, and rightly so because they have to save their Premier League status,” he said

“They came out to fight and play. But if we killed the game when we had the chances and opportunities I don’t think they would have come back into the game.”

On Sunday, Arsenal practically guaranteed a Champions League spot after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Eagles pair of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi made the starting line-up for City and Arsenal respectively.

Iwobi was substituted in 59th minute while Iheanacho was asked out in the 71st minute. Odion Ighalo continued on a dry goals spell but was in the starting line up for Watford who lost 2-0 against Liverpool at Anfield.

Ighalo featured for the entire duration of the match. The attacker could be hoping to score in their next game following a poor run of 12 matches without a goal in the Premier League. He has also failed to score for the Eagles this year.

My City best yet to come —Iheanacho

Manchester City can expect more from Kelechi Iheanacho next season as 19-year-old seeks to build on an impressive debut campaign.

The Nigeria striker has vindicated Manuel Pellegrini’s decision not to buy another striker this season with his dynamic performances – often from the substitutes’ bench – scoring 13 goals.

A tally of seven in the Premier League has helped keep City on track for a top-four finish and eased the pressure on leading marksman Sergio Aguero.

 

Iheanacho has vowed to have even more of an impact going forward, though, and hopes to establish himself as a first-team regular in 2016-17.

“My record isn’t bad. This season has been great for me and for the team as well,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’ve been getting goals in the team and helping them.

“It’s not bad this season, but I’ve got to keep working hard. This is not going to be the best season ever, I’m just starting and there will (be) more good to come.

“I’ll just keep working hard and working on everything in training and in games and I’ll get there.

“I was hoping to play a first-team game and be among them one day, I had ideas about that so I was hoping I would join them some day. It was a surprise for me when they said I was part of the team so I was happy and I’m pleased to join them.

“Now I’m convinced I’m part of the squad, but it will not get into my head. I will just keep working hard and keep believing in myself. I will help the team anyway I can.”

Trump calls for end to federal minimum wage as views shift

Donald Trump has called for the elimination of the federal minimum wage, as he retreated from primary promises and once again refused to release his tax returns because of “a link” to an audit.


 

The presumptive Republican nominee for president repeatedly said he would support a higher minimum wage, a reversal from his position when he had conservative opponents. But he insisted on Sunday that states should decide such wages.

“I like the idea of ‘let the states decide’,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press. “But I think people should get more. I think they’re out there. They’re working. It is a very low number.”

Asked “should the federal government set a floor” – a national minimum wage – Trump replied: “No, I’d rather have the states go out and do what they have to do.

“And the states compete with each other, not only other countries, but they compete with each other.”

In a November debate, the businessman, who claims his net worth is worth more than $10bn, said: “Taxes too high, wages too high, we’re not going to be able to compete against the world.”

He then told Fox News: “We were talking about the minimum wage, and they said ‘Should we increase the minimum wage?’ And I’m saying that if we’re going to compete with other countries we can’t do that because the wages would be too high.”

But on Sunday he expressed sympathy for people who struggle to survive on the current federal minimum wage.

“I don’t know how you live on $7.25 an hour,” he said. “But I would say: let the states decide.”

Similarly, he told ABC’s This Week: “I haven’t decided in terms of numbers. But I think people have to get more.”

Trump readily admitted that he had given up his previous position.

“Sure, it’s a change,” he said, framing his willingness to abandon one position as a negotiation tactic. “I’m allowed to change. You need flexibility. But my real minimum wage is going to be I’m going to bring companies back into this country, and [people are] going to make a lot more than the $15, even.”

Looking toward a general election against Hillary Clinton, the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic nominee, Trump similarly retreated from tax proposals that would benefit the most wealthy Americans and heavily tax the poor. On Sunday, he said he intended to tax the wealthy.

For the wealthy, I think, frankly, it’s going to go up,” he said, saying he would likely pay more taxes himself. “When it comes time to negotiate, I feel less concerned with the rich than I do with the middle class.”

But Trump was unwilling to discuss taxes he has already paid. He again refused to release his tax returns, citing an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit into some of them and “a link” between audited returns and returns not being investigated.

No law exists that forbids the release of tax returns under audit. The IRS has stated: “Nothing prevents individuals from sharing their own tax information.”

“I have very big tax returns,” Trump said on Sunday. “They’re extremely complex.”

He said he hoped to release the returns before the general election, but would not pledge to do so.

“I’ll do it as fast as the auditors finish,” he said.

The former reality TV star insisted that “you don’t learn much from tax returns” and that his “financials” show a value of more than $10bn. His financial filings with federal officials, however, do not always correspond with other declarations of his worth.

For instance, in a financial disclosure made when he announced his run for the White House last year, Trump listed a New York state golf club at $50m. But in a lawsuit, as part of his argument that he should pay 90% less tax on the property, he told a judge the same club was worth only $1.4m.

Trump also shares an address with Hillary Clinton and more than 285,000 companies in Delaware, at a building that has become famous for helping businesses avoid taxes through the so-called “Delaware loophole”.

Presidential candidates have traditionally released tax returns to the public, though sometimes with great reluctance. The 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, worth an estimated $250m, eventually released two years of returns. He has since become one of Trump’s most prominent adversaries, suggesting in February that Trump is hiding “a bombshell” in his returns.

“Either he’s not anywhere near as wealthy as he says he is or he hasn’t been paying the kind of taxes we would expect him to pay,” Romney said.

“Or perhaps he hasn’t been giving money to the vets or to the disabled like he’s been telling us he’s doing.”

Zenith Bank WBL: Dolphins, First Bank begin well

Zenith women basketball league defending champions, Dolphins Basketball club of Lagos were off to a fine start at the weekend when they defeated hard fighting Delta force of Asaba 83-65 in defence of the title they won last year thereby opening a good campaign for the 2016 Zenith bank woman basketball league final 8 play off.

The Ochuko Okworogun, tutored girls also went ahead to inflict the first defeat to IGP queens yesterday to set up today’s match-up against Plateau Rocks of Jos.

Ochuko Okworogun said their mission is to defend the title they won last year, without actually focusing on any particular team.

In other matches played so far, Nigeria Customs team out dunked Ahip Queens of Kano 68-44, while former champions First Bank defeated Benue Princess. Plateau Rocks lost 37-45 to IGP Queens. Captain of  Plateau Rocks, Gloria Umeh blamed their loss to fatigue having travelled by road to Lagos for the games “

We travelled long way from Jos and arrived late. We did not have enough rest before facing the Police ladies. We hope to make it up in the remaining matches.”  But her opposite number Hannah Makanju,  captain of the Police team dismissed her opponents excuses while insisting that they actually worked hard for their victory.

Rangers draw, top NPFL

Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria league despite dropping their first points at home this season on the back of a 1-1 draw with Shooting Stars on Sunday.

Rangers now have 28 points from 15 matches, a   point ahead of second-placed Kano Pillars with Abia Warriors a close third.

Chisom Egbuchulam put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot after 80 minutes after he was upended inside the box.

However, Tope Orelope, who came close to signing for Rangers in the close season, drew Shooting Stars level in stoppage time also from the penalty spot after Matthew Etim handled the ball inside his own box.

In other matches,  Plateau United were held to a goalless draw by Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars pipped MFM FC 1-0 at home.

ICIJ To Release Panama Papers Online

The Panama Papers scandal promises to deepen around the world on Monday when a journalists’ group with access to the digital cache of documents is to put many of them online.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is to release the documents in a searchable database at 1800 GMT on Monday accessible to the public at offshoreleaks.icij.org.

The US-based organization said the release “will not be a ‘data dump'” of the sort the Wikileaks group became known for.

But it will reveal names and information on 200,000 offshore entities set up by wealthy individuals around the world.

The documents are from 2.6 terabytes of data given to a German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, over a year ago by an anonymous source using the name “John Doe.”

– Data from ‘John Doe’ –

The data came from nearly four decades of digital archives of one Panamanian law firm specialized in creating and running offshore entities, Mossack Fonseca, which says its computer records were hacked from abroad.

The German newspaper gave access to the trove to the ICIJ, and through it to hundreds of journalists in different countries.

Reports thus far have focused on scores of high-profile individuals: political leaders, celebrities and a few criminals.

– Iceland’s prime minister was forced to resign when his name was linked to an offshore company.

– British Prime Minister David Cameron ended up admitting he profited from an offshore firm started by his father.

– Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest circle was named in the revelations, prompting Putin to claim the Panama Papers was a US plot against him.

– Argentine President Mauricio Macri was also linked to offshore companies.

– China censored media and online social networks from mentioning links between the families of Chinese leaders with offshore entities.

– Other notable people made uncomfortable by the documents include Argentine football star Lionel Messi, Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan and Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar.

Mossack Fonseca on Thursday issued a “cease and desist” lawyer to the US-based ICIJ, saying putting up the information publicly would violate attorney-client privilege.

– ‘Should be public’ –

But there is no sign of the ICIJ calling off the online database. The organization says it is important the public be able to look at information on any offshore company in the Panama Papers.


We think that information about who owns the company should be public and transparent,” Marina Walker Guevara, deputy director of the ICIJ, told CNN.

She stressed, however, that “this is not disclosing private information en masse.”

Since reporting on the Panama Papers started at the beginning of April, Panama’s government has been struggling to persuade the world that it is not a haven for tax-dodgers and money launderers.

France has already put the Central American nation on its blacklist of tax havens, and other Western countries are considering following suit.

The online release of more Panama Papers could deepen the damage to Panama’s image.

“We’re very concerned that the country’s reputation will be affected by this situation,” the minister for government, Milton Henriquez, told TVN-2 television.

Panama’s pushback against being singled out as a facilitator of offshore business was further complicated just days ago when the United States declared members of one of country’s most prominent business families, the Wakeds, among the top global money launderers for ruthless drug cartels.

The US blacklisted many of the Waked’s 68 companies in Panama, whose interests span a bank, an upmarket shopping center, duty free outlets and media. One of the suspects, Nidal Ahmed Waked Hatum, was arrested in Colombia and is awaiting extradition to the United States to face charges.

On Sunday, Panama’s Chamber of Commerce for Industry and Agriculture acknowledged that the scandals were “rocking the country.”

Nigeria bans unauthorised use of drones

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has banned the launching of Remotely Piloted Aircraft, RPA, in the Nigerian airspace without its permit and that of the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA.

 

This is contained in a statement issued by the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, in Lagos, yesterday.

The statement said the move was part of the safety guidelines issued by the regulatory agency to drone operators, following the proliferation of the technology in the country.

According to the statement, “in recent times, RPA/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance.

“Therefore, with the preponderance of these operations, particularly in a non-segregated airspace, there has to be proactive safety guidelines.

“The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats.”

According to the statement, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.

The statement said the NCAA had put in place Regulations/Advisory Circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace.

It said this was contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs 2015 Part 8.8.1.33) and the Implementing Standards (Nig.CARs 2015 Part IS.8.8.1.33).

It said: “Therefore, no government agency, organisation or an individual will launch an RPA/UAV in the Nigerian airspace for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining requisite permit from the NCAA and ONSA.

“The NCAA wishes to reiterate that all applicants and holders of permits to operate RPA/Drones must strictly be guided by safety guidelines.

“In addition, operators must ensure strict compliance with the conditions stipulated in their permits and the requirements of the Nig. CARs.”

Ten banks pay 143 directors N7.6bn in 2015

The directors of ten banks collected N7.6 billion as fees and allowances in 2015, representing 1.58 percent of the banks’ profitability during the year. The ten banks are Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith bank, Access Bank, FirstBank, UBA, Union Bank, Diamond Bank, Sterling Bank, Fidelity and Wema Bank.

 

Analysis of financial statements of the banks for the 2015 financial year, reveal that the ten banks increased total money paid to 143 directors by 11 percent or N742 million, from N6.84 billion in 2014 to N7.58 billion in 2015.

The amount paid to the directors represents 1.58 percent of the profit before tax of the ten banks, which stood at N480 billion in 2015. The amount paid to the directors also represented 2.0 percent of total staff salaries (personnel cost) in the ten banks.

Further analysis reveals inadequate disclosures relating to directors compensation, fees and allowances to board chairmen, and salaries of chief executive officers. For example, Wema Bank did not specify amount paid as compensation to executive directors, while Access Bank and Sterling Bank failed to disclose money paid to their chairmen and chief executive officers.

Total board expenses

GTBank led the ten banks, with N1.25 billion paid to its 14 directors in 2015, up from N1.2 billion in 2014. Zenith Bank came second, with N1.145 billion paid to 10 directors in 2015, up from N630 million in 2014. Acess Bank and FirstBank came third and fourth respectively, with N1.08 billion and N1.05 billion paid to 14 and 17 directors respectively.

The fifth highest board expenses was incurred by UBA, which paid N603 million to its 16 directors in 2015, up from N600 million in 2014. Others are Union Bank-N983 million, Diamond Bank-N195 million, Sterling Bank-N265 million, Fidelity Bank-N766 million and Wema Bank-N235 million

Executive Compensation

The ten banks, with the exception of Wema Bank, paid N4.63 billion to 52 executive directors. This represented two percent decline from N4.72 billion in 2014.  On the average, each executive directors got N89 million in 2015, down from N91 million in 2014.  FirstBank came first as its six executive directors (E.Ds) were paid N784 million, up from N694 million in 2014. GTbank came second, with N718 million paid to six E.Ds, up from N691 million.

The seven E.Ds of Access bank were paid N705 million in 2015, down from N1,12 billion in 2014. Union Bank paid its six E.Ds N625 million in 2015, up from N542 million in 2014, while Zenith Bank paid its four E.Ds N595 million in 2015, up from N414 million in 2014. UBA paid its six E.Ds N547 million, down from N555 million in 2014.  Others were Diamond Bank with five EDs – 149 million, Sterling Bank with six EDs – N156 million, and Fidelity with six EDs – N346 million.

Union Bank CEO tops pay

Analysis of amount paid to the highest director, the Chief Executive Officer (CEOs), by eight banks reveal the CEOs of eight banks were paid N903 million as salaries and compensations. This was 13 percent higher than the N798 million paid to the CEOs in 2014.  The CEO of Union Bank received the highest pay with N208 million, representing 36 percent or N55 million increase from the N153 million earned in 2014.

GTBank CEO came second earning receiving N204.9 million, up by 12 percent or N22 million from N183 million in 2014. The CEOs of UBA and Fidelity Bank came third and fourth earning N125 million and N102 million respectively in 2015, up from N116 million and N94 million in 2014. Others are FirstBank-N90 million, Zenith Bank-N78 million, Wema Bank-N70 million, and Diamond Bank-N25 million.

Shareholders call for review

Shareholders however were of the view that the amount paid to banks directors though huge and not in sync with economic realities, is necessary to prevent them from stealing depositors money, and also in view of the amount of work they have to do to generate earnings for their banks. “If the banks’ executives are well paid, the temptation of stealing depositors’ money will not arise,” stated Mr. Boniface Okezie, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN.

“However, considering the economic downturn, I think the banks can equally cut the package they take home to reflect the present economic realities. If States Governors and Ministers are cutting their salaries, I think the banks should equally follow suit. There are some allowances for banks’ executives that need to be cut down or completely be removed. It is time for companies to tighten their belts given the global oil fall which had affected the country’s income.

So, if the economy picks up, banks can review the packages paid to their executive directors. But under normal circumstances, the banks’ executive should be well remunerated given the nature of the risk they undertake. If they are under paid, then you be begin to see all kinds of stealing and rubbery in the banks through insider collaboration”, he said.

Mr. Taiwo Oderinde, Chairman, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PROSAN, on his part said the huge money paid to directors was unfair to shareholders. He said, “

“The banks’ executive compensations  is really on the high side when you compare it to other countries.   The executive directors of banks are given all kinds of allowances at the expense of depositors and shareholders. We do react on this issue when we attend Annual General Meetings, AGMs.   In some cases, we refused to approve their remunerations and ask them to go back and review it.

“The problem we are having as shareholders is that in some cases we don’t have shareholders’ representation on the board.   By the time they set up committee to review the remuneration you will only see executive directors taking decisions. The executive directors are really feeding on shareholder’ fund and this has to be checked by the regulators in the industry.

The executive directors have access to our funds and make use of it the way they like. I think there should be regulation in this aspect of emolument to stop these mouth watering packages.”

According to the Chairman, Renaissance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Ambassador Olufemi Timothy, “The banks’ executive emolument is not too much considering the earnings they make for the bank. These are people who toil all day and night to see that depositors’ money is kept safely.   So the high risk element should also be another great reason why they should be paid well.   Even the so called Foreign Exchange, (forex ) are kept by these banks.

Furthermore, if banks’ executives are well paid the issue of stealing or fraudulent practices would be drastically reduced or even eliminated. I believe the packages for executive directors are not too much given the volume of work they do and the income they make for the institutions.”

“My position on this issue is that it should be looked at on the contribution they bring to the organisation”, stated, Mr. Nonah Awoh, a shareholder activist. “   It is not how big or how small the packages are, the concern should be on the equity remuneration of employees.   What is the disparity between the Chief Executive Director and other senior management?   If the differential is too high, then it is not good for the organisation.   Banks should be careful if fixing remuneration so that it does not affect what they are giving to shareholders   in form of returns   on investment”, he said.

Soldiers, policemen take over communities over killing of 12 people by Fulani herdsmen

Armed soldiers and riot policemen have now taken over Coromo, Dan- Anacha and Mutum Biyu communities in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State where herdsmen reportedly killed 12 people including seven men, two women and children, and seriously wounded about 18 others seriously.

Altogether, 13 houses were burnt.

 

Information about the attack was sketchy, but it was said that the Fulani herdsmen reportedly launched the attack Friday night, following a long standing land dispute over farm lands.

The Fulani herdsmen reportedly stormed the three communities in the night and started attacking Tivs who had come back to farm on their lands.

It was said that hundreds of the natives of the area had fled to other neighbouring villages while others ran to the Gassol B Police Divisional headquarters for their safety.

As at the time of this report, Tiv people were fleeing the local government for fear of further attacks, despite the presence of armed security men.

This is just as there was tension in the Fulani herdsmen settlements over fear of reprisal attack by the Tivs who live in both Benue and Taraba States.

Efforts to reach the leader of the Tiv Community in the area, Joel Adaji was not successful as his mobile phone did not go through after several trials.

Reliable sources at the police headquarters in Jalingo confirmed the incident, saying that armed soldiers and policemen were patrolling the affected communities to ensure orderliness.

 

Abacha never stole

Nigeria is awaiting receipt from Swiss Govt. of $320 million, identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under Abacha” – Buhari @NGR President, 5:09 PM – 27 APR 2016

WHEN Twitter-addicted Nigerians stumbled on this posting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Twitter handle last week, the whole Internet went abuzz, with most people expressing their dismay at Buhari’s refusal to call a spade by its correct name.

Before we go on, let us try to reason out the meaning of this statement, especially against the backdrop of its nexus to our history where Abacha and Buhari’s paths crossed.


   
 

It is obvious why the President or the operator of his Twitter handle chose to describe this amount (which is over N100 billion, a third of what the Federal, State Local governments shared in February 2016) as money “identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under Abacha”, rather than the usual “Abacha loot”. The answer is simple.

Buhari, long before he was elected president, stubbornly insisted that Abacha “never stole”, and that he was not corrupt. “Illegally taken from Nigeria” is a ploy to sidestep the word: “stolen”. “Under Abacha” portrays it as if other people, not Abacha himself, committed the “illegality” without Abacha’s knowledge.

Some unknown individuals were taking money from Nigeria and lodging it in Abacha’s Swiss bank accounts? For what purpose? Perhaps, they knew that our economy would be in trouble in the future and decided to “save” for this rainy day for us? If that is what President Buhari wants to say, let him say so openly, so that we all will join him in congratulating the Abacha family for the sacrifices their patriarch made for Nigeria.

In the past sixteen years, series of sums of money in foreign currency have been brought back from Western countries, especially Switzerland, where former military Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha stashed funds which he looted from the Nigerian treasury. These monies have always been called “Abacha loot”. Abacha is the only former ruler boldly ascribed, even in official circles, to have “stolen” or “looted” our public funds. He certainly was not the only one who did so. And most of us believe that he was probably not the biggest looter. Then, how come it is only his loots that are being “identified” and repatriated? Is it because he is dead?

If he were still alive like most of his fellow former rulers, would there be any such thing as “Abacha loot”? I doubt it, since his predecessors and successors who probably took more have never even been officially accused or made to return their own “loots”. In fact, one of them majestically struts over the landscape calling other people corrupt without justifying his own obvious affluence after his long stint in the Presidency. Are we a nation of cowards and dastards, mobbing Abacha and his estate simply because he is dead?

More questions: if Abacha had not arrested, tried and jailed General Olusegun Obasanjo for his part in the 1995 coup attempt to unseat him, would Obasanjo have launched the campaign to recover Abacha loot? If Abacha had not died and he played a role in the election of Obasanjo as President in 1999 as Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Theophilus Danjuma and their civilian Northern cohorts had done, would Obasanjo have started the campaign to retrieve the Abacha loot?

Still more questions: if Buhari had been the one elected as the civilian president of Nigeria in 1999, would he even be talking about receiving money from Swiss Government “illegally taken away” under his regime since he maintains, against all concrete evidence, that Abacha never stole our money? So, is it only when a person deals with us and dies that he becomes corrupt, but when he treats us nicely (as Abacha did to Buhari) he becomes a “saint”? If Abacha had not rehabilitated Buhari after being jailed by Babangida; If Abacha had not appointed him as the Executive Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where he was given unlimited powers to spend billions of Naira between 1996 and 1998, would Buhari have stuck out his neck for him and say he was not corrupt?

Is this the mentality we take with us in fighting corruption, making sure that those who helped us are regarded as clean, while those who wronged us are pursued with a single-minded quest to retrieve their loot and sent to jail? Is this our national standard for integrity? How are we sure that retired Col. Ja’afaru Isa, a close Buhari acolyte who was reluctantly arrested, briefly detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, and released after a couple of days for allegedly returning part of his share of Col. Sambo Dasuki’s bonanza, actually returned anything?

Everybody calls President Buhari a “man of integrity”, in spite of certain things we read and hear which do not add up to conclusively justify that branding. Buhari made his declared assets public. But he never disclosed their financial worth, nor did he let us know where they could be found as late President Umaru Yar’Adua voluntarily did. He never followed Yar’ Adua’s exemplary footsteps of including the assets of his wife. And from the look of things, ever-smiling Madam Aisha Buhari is very well-to-do, what with her reported donation of N135 million to displaced persons in Adamawa during the campaigns last year, which has not been denied.

I still cannot reconcile the fact that Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had to borrow N25 million from banks to pay for his form in October, 2014 when his wife could so easily have given it to him from her own resources. There were even some reports that Buhari was once ejected from his “rented” mansion, No 11, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Asokoro, Abuja in 2012. That report was never debunked. Elaborate efforts have always been made to brand Buhari as a retired general who lived on his military pension before he became elected President.

Yet, when he became President and the foreign exchange crunch set in, he told parents who have their children in foreign schools that they should look for forex wherever they could find it as the Federal Government could no longer afford to provide it. When reminded that he had his own children in foreign schools, he simply retorted:

“I can afford it”.

These conflicting signals about our President and his true mindset on corruption as well as his real standing financially, is being noticed, and nobody is a dummy. Even the younger generation of Nigerians are watching, reading and taking note of this confusion and wondering what “integrity” actually means here in Nigeria.

It is not only the youth that are confused. I am certainly no longer a youth, but I am confused!

Niger Delta Avengers: Shell evacuates staff from major facilities

***More oil facilities to be bombed in N-Delta, other places —Avengers
WARRI—The activities of Niger Delta Avengers, the new militant group in the oil-rich region, have forced Royal Dutch Shell to evacuate most of its staff from its production facility, Eja OML 79.

This came as different security agencies and militants held separate undisclosed meetings to re-appraise their tactics, following a fresh directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the group, which claimed responsibility for the recent bombing of oil/gas installations in Warri, Delta State, be overpowered.

 

Shell evacuation was carried out by three helicopters weekend. The  evacuation saw 98 key personnel airlifted by  helicopters from Eja OML 79, run by Royal Dutch Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, SPDC, where production of 90,000 barrels of oil per day has been halted.

Sources said that a small group of staff was left on the platform to carry out skeletal operations. The staff and facility are offered protection by two gunboats belonging to the Military Joint Taskforce.

Close to Eja 79 is the Bonga Field, which has a larger production capacity and is operated by another Shell subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO.

Sources said some staff had been evacuated from Bonga, while the wider security implication is being reviewed by the company.

Last week, Niger Delta Avengers, blew up  Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.  They had earlier in the year, blown up pipelines in the state.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who spoke at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South governors meeting in Asaba, condemned the recent attack on Chevron facility, adding that “gas pipeline vandalism is very unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, yesterday, said he had no apology to offer to the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which, last Tuesday, issued him a three-day ultimatum to  withdraw his alleged denunciation of the group and its violent activities.

Also, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, apex Ijaw youth organisation, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, threw its weight behind Tompolo, maintaining that the militant group should not force him to support their destructive mission, just as the Centre for the Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, and Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, condemned the resort to violence by Niger Delta Avengers.

However, Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders, Chief Ayiri Emami and Johnny Michael, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, fingered an ex-militant leader for the bombings, saying the militant group was acting his script.

Tension in Niger Delta

Also, fresh tension mounted, weekend, in Delta State, as different security agencies met over President Buhari ‘s order to them to crush the new militant group.

It was gathered that riverine dwellers in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of the state, wary of the danger activities of militants posed to their lives, were relocating to Warri and other parts of the state, yesterday, to avoid being trapped in a cross fire.

On its part, the militant group seemed not ready to backtrack from its vow to devastate oil installations in the region and other parts of the country.

A source close to the group said:  “The boys are not afraid of the security agencies, they will cripple oil and gas supply to the country as long as government remains recalcitrant to their demands.”

Last month, spokesperson of the group, Col. Madoch Agbinibo, said: “The Presidency can set up a permanent security force as stated by the Vice President when he visited the SPDC, Forcados Terminal. We are not deterred by such threats  and shall continue blowing up pipelines until the Niger Delta people are no longer marginalized by the Nigerian actors.”

Vanguard gathered that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, penultimate weekend, paid an operational visit to Bayelsa State as part of on-going efforts to rid the Niger Delta of pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves.

Efforts to reach the Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF code named, Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Alani Okunlola and Commanding Officer of NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed on the latest directive, proved fruitless.

Tompolo

Tompolo, who also spoke to Vanguard through his Media Adviser and Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo said: “He (Tompolo) will not apologize to them (Niger Delta Avengers).  If not for his current issues with the Federal Government, he (Tompolo) would have gone after them and exposed them because they seem to make things difficult for him, as the government is pointing fingers at him, but he cannot do anything in his current situation.”

He listed two prominent Itsekiri and Ijaw activists, both stalwarts of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, who he said, “are only looking for attention from the government, so they use the development to seek relevance from the government, they may be behind these guys.”

The militant group in a statement by its spokesperson, Col. Mudoch Agbinibo, May 3, was angered by Tompolo’s advice to servicing companies to go about their normal operations, particularly repair of the Forcados Terminal 48-inch pipeline.

The group alleged Tompolo had “taken side with the Federal government to fight Niger Delta people.”

Two days after the ultimatum, the militant group on Thursday, May 5, bombed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC crude and gas lines and Well D25 in Abiteye, a key gas well operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL.

Tompolo did the right thing — IYC

IYC spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, however, told Vanguard: “We do not see the justification in the Niger Delta Avengers embarking on destruction of oil facilities because Tompolo denounced the group. I think Tompolo did the proper thing by coming out to inform the entire world that he was not part of the Niger Delta Avengers when there were insinuations to the effect that he was behind them.

“As with other cases of attack on oil facilities, the Niger Delta environment and people are the ultimate victim and would suffer from these latest attacks. The IYC believe that irrespective of the grievances, there are better ways of expressing them rather than contributing to the further destruction of the already massively degraded Niger Delta environment.

On fresh directive by President Buhari to security agencies to crush the militants, he said: “While the IYC does not support the attacks on oil facilities, we hasten to add that it should not be used as a justification to attack innocent Niger Delta communities.”

You’re causing more harm than good —CEPEJ

National Coordinator of CEPEJ,  Sheriff Mulade, in a statement, condemning the bombings by Niger Delta Avengers, said: “The deadly attacks have cut oil and gas production and caused attendant devastation of the environment.”

It asked the militants to “lay down their arms as their activities were antithetical to the genuine agitation of the people and the overall development of the oil rich region.”

Stop bombing oil installations—IPDI

Speaking through its national president, Austin Ozobo, the IPDI, yesterday, warned the Niger Delta Avengers to stop bombing of oil facilities to avoid further harm to the nation’s economy.

Faulting the recent attacks on major oil pipelines in the country, he warned: “Those threatening former agitator, Tompolo and the nation’s economy should desist from that.”

He advised those complaining of marginalization of Niger Delta, particularly the Niger Delta to lay down their arms.

N-Delta Avengers is non-existent — Ayiri

Itsekiri leader and activist, Chief Ayiri Emami, however, took a different position. While he condemned the attacks by the so-called Niger-Delta Avengers, which he said does not exist, he said: “The attacks are just to create a platform for negotiation with President Buhari.

“I know that Mr. President is intelligent enough not to fall for just gimmick. Some of us volunteered to cooperate with the security agencies free of charge to fish out the perpetrators of these bombings, but the Delta State Government did not see reason with us. They held a state security meeting asking why security agencies were working with us.

“They know the person directing his boys to do these things and should bring them out.”

Stop jeopardizing Gbaramatu indigenes — Michael

Ijaw leader, Chief Johnny Michael, who spoke in a similar vein, said: “There is nothing strange or new in what is happening. It is what we are already used to, but my worry is that these people should stop endangering the life of Gbaramatu people.

“The people causing this havoc are known, the security agencies should not compromise, they should have good intelligence information to identify them and bring them to book. I also want to say that they should stop calling the name of APC in this matter. APC is a progressive party, anybody who wants to join the party should do so, but they should stop blackmailing us.”

He said that many Gbaramatu leaders know those carrying out the bombings, but because of fear, they would not be able to speak out and urged the security agencies to do their work.

He noted that a “well known ex-militants, who fed fat on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, cannot be ruled out in  the renewed attacks on oil facilities, imploring youths in the Niger Delta region not to allow themselves to be used to cause havoc again.

According to him, no wise Niger Delta youth was ready to go back to   the creeks, considering the pains they passed through during the dark days of militancy.

Saying that the Ijaws were not ready to be at loggerhead with the Federal Government, Chief Michael, added that Ijaws were still licking their wounds since the Nigerian Army destroyed their communities.

He expressed displeasure over the unabated bombimgs of oil facilities in the region, adding that with the performance of the present government, he does not expect Niger Deltans to go back to the creeks again.

He said he was worried about the insinuation in some quarters linking him to attacks on oil facilities and made it clear that he was not and was never part of pipeline bombings in the Niger Delta region, warning politicians, any person or group of persons not to associate him with criminality.

Chief Michael,  said he had no case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, just as he asked those who have problems with the EFCC to go and solve their problems with the commission without involving innocent people of the region.

He expressed confidence in the administration of President  Buhari, urging Niger Deltans to support his government as he is poised to develop the region to the delight of the people.

Also reacting to the attacks, the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, said: “The ongoing oil war being perpetrated by some groups in the creeks of Niger Delta is not the best option for the region.”

Its National President, Alaowei Cleric, said in a statement, “We have passed the stage of destroying oil facilities to press home our demands especially now that the main actors of the emancipation struggle have accepted Presidential Amnesty. If anyone is not satisfied with the activities of the present government, he should register his grouse within the ambit of the law.”

PDP S-South govs meet in Delta, warn against violence

GOVERNORS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South South, yesterday, warned party faithful against any form of violence during the party’s national convention slated for May 21 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The PDP governors are also mapping out strategy to clinch the Edo State governorship seat in the September election. Those in attendance were Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State), Mr Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Mr  Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Prof Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers) and Mr Udom Emmanuel  (Akwa Ibom).

Fielding questions from newsmen after a closed-door meeting, Governor Okowa said the essence of the meeting, held at  Government House,  Asaba,  was to enable them put their house in order ahead of the convention.

2016 budget faces cash flow emergencies, may lose N1.4trn

The 2016 national budget just signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari may have started suffering a major cash flow set back from oil revenue as prices shed $5 per barrel as at last weekend while output dropped further due to Chevron facility bombing just before the budget was signed, Friday.

 

The Federal Government had based the budgeted revenue on oil production of 2.2 million barrel per day but oil industry reports, last weekend, after the second attack on oil installations, indicated that output would be around 1.6 mbpd or even less.

Also, the budgeted oil price benchmark of $38 per barrel came with expectation that in the event of production shortfall, which had been consistent since this year, a premium of at least 20 per cent on the price benchmark which gives about $45.6 per barrel, would make up for the losses arising from output shortfalls.

But oil price receded to $41 per barrel, or less than 10 per cent premium on budgeted price benchmark as against $46.1 per barrel peak recorded in the previous week.

With the twin developments in the oil sector, the Federal Government is now losing about $8 million per day on oil price reversal, while production slump has resulted in a revenue loss to the tune of about $22.8 million per day.

The total loss from date to year end on annualized budgetary provisions would be $7.16 billion or about N1.4 trillion, if the oil price fails to rebound sometime down the year and production level remains depressed.

Losses wipe out 80% of budgeted CAPEX

The N1.4 trillion revenue shortfall would wipe out about 80 per cent of the total N1.8 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure, CAPEX, in the budget, thereby rendering the reflationary thrust of the budget ineffective from the on-set.

On the possibility of oil price upwards swing, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, last week said the average price for the year would be $41, with occasional downward and upward swings, meaning that the losses to price reversal would likely remain.

Also on the future of production level recovery, various factors that have combined to depress output to less than the budgeted 2.2 million barrel per day, such as joint venture hitches as well as militancy, appear to be on the increase rather than being eliminated.

Latest data from April Monthly Oil Market Report, MOMR, of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, showed that Nigeria’s crude oil production fell by 67,000 bpd in March from 1.744mbpd to 1.677mbpd, with Nigerian industry experts saying that April did not do better, while last week’s attack on Chevron brought down output to about 1.637mbpd.

With the defiant posturing of the militants and threats of further attacks, it appears the output challenges may even get worse, especially as the Nigerian security agencies appeared too weak to arrest the situation.

Already, reports indicate that other major oil producers such as Shell and Mobil may have started plans to shut-in production locations in volatile areas, following the threats.

Apparently aware of the implications of these sudden developments last weekend while signing the budget, President Buhari said: “We are working night and day to diversify the economy so that we never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country.”

Murder of banker: Late wife feared hubby would kill her —Source

IndicationS emerged, yesterday, that the late Ronke Shonde, the banker that was allegedly killed, last week, by her husband during a domestic violence at their Egbeda residence in Lagos, confided in one of her friends about her husband’s sudden change of attitude. She expressed fear for her life.

But, preliminary investigations by the police revealed that there were marks of violence on the deceased face.

Vanguard was reliably informed that the late banker had complained of being beaten by her husband last month, during an argument, to her confidant (names undisclosed)

Although her confidant kept the major cause of the quarrel secret, she was reported to have attributed one of the causes to Lekan’s over-bearing attitude.

 

Late Ronke Shonde with her alleged killer husband during their ‘sweet’ days

Meanwhile,   members of Redeemed Christian Church of GOD, RCCG, where the deceased worshiped, have expressed shock over the incident, stating that there were never any marks of violence on her before her death, as this would have made them to intervene.

When Vanguard visited the RCCG, Destiny Sanctuary, members were seen in groups discussing the fate that had befallen one of their own.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, Pastor of the parish, Pastor Olu Davids, said “on behalf of the church, we are still in shock over her death. This is because she was a member of this great church. I knew Ronke very well. She and her husband attended our church.

“Though, she had never discussed her marital issues with me, I can tell you that she attended our church regularly. And before the incident of last Thursday, I never saw any injury on her that could have warranted me to ascertain the cause.

“Also, there was no sign on her face to portray that all was not well in the family or that she was ill. As I said earlier, we are in shock because we don’t know what must have led to her death,” Davids added.

On their parts, residents of 3 Tiemo Crescent, where the Shondes reside, disclosed that the couple moved into the building three years ago.

One of them, who gave his name simply as Abu, said: “I don’t know the church the husband attends, but I know that he often wore white garment. But I can confidently say that his wife attended RCCG.

“The circumstance surrounding this ugly situation is a mystery to everyone. This is because I never saw them engaged in a fight.

“Lekan usually leaves home during the week at about 5a.m. and returns at 8p.m. He was always seen with a polythene bag containing items for his wife and two kids.

“From my discussion with him, I don’t believe that Lekan would have perpetrated that act. This is because with my relationship with the family since they moved into this community, we have not had any reason to settle any differences between them.

Because of their tight schedules, they employed the service of a nanny who resumes by 6 am daily, to prepare their children for school and also attends to their needs after they return from school.

But the nanny told us that on the day in question, Lekan called her and instructed that she should not come as usual, that the children would not be going to school that day.

“It was the screaming of the children who saw their mother lying on the floor that alerted everyone. And we could not gain entrance into the apartment for hours because the burglary was locked. When a call was put through to her husband (Lekan) he instructed us to break the key. After several attempts we gained entrance, only to discover the lifeless body of his wife on the floor,” he said.

Their two children as gathered had been taken into custody by one of their relatives.

However, effort to reach Lekan has proved abortive as his phone was still switched off.

But Police sources assured that he would be apprehended. Already, the nanny as gathered had been interrogated by the Police.

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmus said “we are still on the lookout for him. Effort is ongoing to get him. Meanwhile the case has been transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department”, she said.

Fani-Kayode meets EFCC today over N840m campaign funds

After many weeks of verbal exchange, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will today confront the spokesman of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, over N840 million he reportedly received a few days to the presidential election.

Fani-Kayode, who narrowly escaped arrest last Friday when about 10 EFCC operatives stormed his Maitama home in Abuja, is scheduled to appear before the commission today to explain why he collected the cash and what it was used for.

The former minister immediately raised the alarm that the agents of the commission had invaded his home and condemned them for doing so after he had given assurance that he would turn in.

 

The commission is, however, said to be monitoring his movement to ensure that he kept the appointment.

It was not clear at press time if he would be allowed to go home after reporting at the commission for questioning over the money he reportedly received from the former finance minister, Sen. Esther Nenadi Usman, who served as the Director of Finance of the Jonathan’s campaign team.

Usman, who had been detained for some days, only got some reprieve some days ago when she surrendered to the commission two Abuja homes and N140 million out of the N2.5 billion she is said to have received.

It was, however, learned last night that as part of the effort by EFCC to recover $115 million (N24 billion) that was made available for sharing by top government officials in the last administration, the EFCC would, this week, make more arrests of suspects for questioning.

However, a source, who spoke in confidence, declined to give the names of the key suspects likely to be taken in this week by the operatives, saying the agency was interested in recovering public funds from the suspects, no matter how highly placed they might be.

Why I won’t contest 2019 Presidency —Okorocha

Governor of Imo State and the chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said he will not contest the 2019 presidential election because of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the President had so far displayed leadership and should be encouraged.

Governor Okorocha spoke, weekend, while answering questions from newsmen during a tour of some of his administration’s key projects.

 

Okorocha said: “I have been running for the presidency until God said I should settle for the Imo governorship. And that passion to become the President of the country is not just borne out of the thirst for the position, but had arisen out of the eagerness to offer the nation and her people a strong leadership; the essence would be to build a nation of our collective dreams and aspirations.

“President Buhari came in and, within one year, Nigeria has once again got the doors of the rest of the world opened for her.

“He has shown courage, confidence, maturity and strong leadership. There is now high feelings of leadership in the country. What he, therefore, needs is to be supported and encouraged.”

2016 budget: Presidency mulls monitoring team to halt looting, enforce implementation

In a deliberate move to ensure effective implementation of this year’s budget and prevent looting of funds, the Presidency plans to engage the services of experts in the area of monitoring and evaluation, M&E, to track the implementation.

 

  A top Presidency official told us, last night, that President Muhammadu Buhari did not want the current budget to be messed up like previous ones and was, therefore, determined to take whatever measure was necessary to make it work in the interest of Nigerians.

The official said the Presidency had learned bitter lessons from recent events which had plagued national budgets and retarded national development and was determined to adopt stringent measures to block such leakages.

The official said the M&E team might be domiciled in the Budget and National Planning Ministry which falls under the purview of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who heads the National Economic Team under the Presidency.

“The aim is to make the M&E to have a robust check on the way the budget is implemented so as to deliver the change which the present administration promised Nigerians,” the official said.

 learned that given the importance which the Presidency attaches to the full implementation of the budget, the team might be put in place as soon as Buhari returns to Abuja from his official trip to the United Kingdom this week.

Giving an idea of how the change agenda would be driven, the Presidency official explained that the government planned to give priority attention to the provision of critical infrastructure to diversify the economy and take care of the needs of Nigerians.

The top official disclosed that as result of the drive, all the key national projects in the budget that were removed by the National Assembly, causing a spat with the Presidency, had been fully restored in the budget signed into law by President Buhari last Friday.

Top on the list of the restored projects are the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Railway with a vote of N60 billion counterpart funding. The project is to be funded by huge cash from the Chinese government.

 we also learned that the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene-Aba highway, which vote was reduced from N6 billion to N1.8 billion, had been restored and that the the project would take off this year.

Wizkid listed 12th most downloaded artiste on Global iTune/Spotify

Wizkid has been listed as the 12th most downloaded artiste on Global iTune/Spotify‘. In a chart released on Wednesday, the Pakurumo crooner was the only Nigerian artiste listed among 200 artistes from around the world.

 

The singer comes in after an American DJ duo, The Chainsmokers who occupy the number 10 spot. Drake, Beyonce, and Rihanna take up the number one, two and three top spots respectively.

Other artistes that make up the top 10 global iTunes/Spotify ranking include Adele, Justin Bieber, Sia, Coldplay, Mike Posner, Calvin Harris and the late Prince.

More foreign collaborations are in the works for the 25-year old music star as Super Producer Sarz confirmed that Wizkid would be working with R&B artist Chris Brown and Nigerian-American rapper Jidenna.

Senate C’tee backs FG’s plan to import grazing grasses from Brazil

SENATE Committee on Agriculture said yesterday that it was supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to import grasses for grazing from Brazil.

According to the Senate, the move to support the action of the Federal Government has become imperative as the importation of grazing pastures for cattle at designated places across the country will proffer permanent solution to the protracted crisis between farmers and herdsmen.

The committee also hailed President Buhari’s directive for the release of 10,000 tonnes of grains.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who dismissed criticism of the move by some professors of agriculture who had opposed the move, stressed that they had technology to grow grasses, if they received government support.

He criticised the inability of the professors to proffer solutions to the problem of grazing over the years, adding that  they lacked any moral right to criticise the government’s move.

Senator Adamu, who noted that importing grazing grasses and making them available to cattle rearers would stop the movement of cattle from one place to another, stressed  that the move would also put paid to the growing spate of killings by herdsmen.

According to him, the government will provide pasture to curtail the continuous movement of cattle by herdsmen.

He noted that in the United States, pastures and water were provided to grow nutritious grasses for cattle’s sustenance, adding that the government must face the reality of the moment by taking some painful decisions to end the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes.

“There are no easy fixes to the problem,” Senator Abdullahi said.

‎He also blamed the mindless killings by herdsmen on growing indiscipline among the herdsmen.

Speaking further, Senator Adamu disclosed that President Buhari had ordered the injection of 10,000 tonnes of grains into the system to ease the pains caused by r‎ising cost of grains in the country,

He also said that his committee had discovered that the administration of Buhari met many silos in the country empty, adding that his committee was impressed that the federal government ‎had prioritised agriculture.

He said ‎the Senate would provide the necessary legislative support for the presidency to restore the lost glory of agricultural sector in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the  Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had in March this year, disclosed that government had plans to begin the importation of grasses for cows to reduce the movement of herdsmen across the country.

Ogbeh, had disclosed that Buhari was setting up grazing areas in various states of the federation as a response to the clashes.

Addressing his Idoma people in Abuja who protested the massacre of Agatu people in Benue State by herdsmen, Ogbeh said: “We are producing massive hectares of grass for the consumption of cattle; we have received these grasses from Brazil and we are growing them in massive quantities.

“Cattle herdsmen want grasses for their cattle; such grass is what we are growing in large quantities and, within the next three months, some of these will be ready.”