Nigerian goalkeeper Enyeama extends Lille deal

Lille’s Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has extended his contract with the northern French club by two years until 2019.


 

The 33-year-old was a key member of the Lille team that this season finished fifth in Ligue 1, ensuring a place in the preliminary qualifying round for the Europa League.

In conceding just 27 goals, Lille enjoyed the league’s second best defence after runaway champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Enyeama retired from international duty last year after having won a Nigerian record 101 caps.

Breaking News: CAF bans Giwa, 4 others for 5 years

Confederation of African Football, CAF, has slammed a five-year ban on embattled Chris Giwa and four four of his disciples thereby confirming and extending the same five-year ban placed on them by the Amaju Pinnick- led Nigeria Football Federation.


The four others affected by the continental ban are Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong.

In a letter signed by CAF’s Secretary -General, Hicham El Amrani and dated May 27th 2016 and copied to NFF’s President Amaju Pinnick, the letter stated that the ban forbids them from all football related activities for 5 years.

CAF’s letter titled RE- CONVEYANCE OF SANCTIONS BY NFF DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS EXTENSION AT THE CONTINENTAL LEVEL reads;

Dear President,
Following your previous correspondence dated May 16th and subsequent exchanges, CAF has well noted the decision of the NFF’s Disciplinary Committee dated May 12th placing five(5) year ban from all football related activities for the following people.
1. Christopher Giwa
2. Muazu Suleyman
3. Yahaya Adama
4. Sani Fema
5. Johnson Effiong
Following receipt of the documentation and details on the case, CAF hereby confirms the extension of such sanctions at the continental level.
Please accept, dear President, our most sincere regards.
CONFEDERATION AFRICAINE
DE FOOTBALL

Hicham El Amrani
Secretary General

Lawyers want security vote, constituency projects declared illegal

The Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) on Friday, advocated that security vote and constituency projects should be declared illegal.

However, the association has recommended the need for government to employ legal tools in order to overcome the nation’s economic challenges.


 

This is contained in a communiqué issued by Mr Adure Uzo-Peters, the Secretary of the NALT Conference Communique Committee, at the end of the 49th Annual National Conference of the association in Keffi, Nasarawa state.

Uzo-Peters said that in view of the present economic situation in Nigeria, the conference recommended for the need to employ legal tools as a veritable catalysts for national development and economic growth.

“We have decided to choose the conference theme as `Law and Economy’ as it is not only timely but also appropriate because of the volatile times our economy is passing through.

Evidently, only through law can we genuinely establish enduring economic structures. Law does not only regulate the acquisition of the factors of production but it also determines the legal context and basis of their interaction and law controls the inter-governmental behaviour in relation to the economy.

“We recommend that, for accountability, security votes and constituency projects should be declared illegal or at a minimum, open to public scrutiny and to trigger trade and investment, the present shareholder maximisation theory which underlies our corporate laws should tilt to a stakeholder maximisation focus.

“There is the need for government to also focus on law enforcement and not necessarily over legislation, as it appears that there are near sufficient laws to fight the malaise of threats to the country’s economy growth.

“It is imperative to create and develop competition law and policy (anti-trust legislation) to protect public and private interests in achieving the best allocation of resources possible,” the association said.

According to the communique, “Nigeria must make deliberate efforts to address regulatory inefficiency as it is necessary to embark upon rigorous enforcement policy to stimulate proper market behaviour which would serve as a catalyst for development’’.

The communique said the conference also recommended that in the light of the fund set up for unemployment benefits by the current administration, it is important for Nigeria to create and develop a long-term and sustainable social security policy for Nigeria.

Closing the five-day event earlier, the President of the Association, Dr Abdulkarim Kana, said that the conference featured many paper presentation on very tropical issues aimed at employing law as a veritable tool for addressing the present economic challenges faced by Nigerians.

Kana, who is also the Dean, Faculty of Law, Nasarawa State Univeristy, Keffi, commended members of NALT for their commitment in order to improve on the standard of legal profession and the standard of living of Nigerians.

“Conference is the high point of the activities of the association every year and NALT has been effective in the fulfilment of some of its objectives by keeping alive the spirit of legal research for the overall development of the country,” he said.

Children’s Day: Wike assures Rivers’ children of brighter future

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has assured children in the state that his administration would continue to make investments in education and social services with the aim of giving them a bright future.


 

In a message to mark this year’s Children’s Day, Governor Wike said his administration remains committed to the provision of a secure environment for children to develop under an atmosphere of love, peace and hope across the state.

He noted that in line with his commitment to quality education for the children and youths, his administration has commenced the phased rehabilitation of prominent secondary schools in all the three senatorial districts of the state with a view to introducing boarding school system of education.

The governor added that his administration flagged off the construction of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park to create a facility for recreation for Rivers children and the entire family, the first of its kind in the history of the state.

He called on children in the state to look forward to a brighter future as his administration is committed to their welfare, security and right upbringing.

While wishing the children a happy Children’s Day, the governor assured them of his love and friendship at all times.

I will give my all to win trophies at Manchester — Mourinho

Newly appointed manager, Jose Mourinho, has promised to give his all to the club and ensure they win trophies.

   

Militants group mocks Nigerian govt on children’s day

Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, Friday, scoffed at the Nigerian Government for allegedly failing to cater for children of Niger Delta, promising to provide the people opportunities that government failed to offer them.

Its spokesperson, Col Mudoch Agbinibo, in a statement wishing Niger Delta children a happy Children’s Day, said: “Childhood is an enchanting vista, an endless fun a joyful classroom an experience era of imagination and hope. The children of the Niger Delta region are missing by deliberate policies of every successive Nigeria Government.”

“If you plant honesty, you will reap trust, if you plant goodness, you will reap friendship, if you plant humility, you will reap greatness. Childhood means unlimited opportunities for children.

“This is what the Nigeria government has refused to give you, the children of the Niger Delta. But, what they have refused to give to you is what we (Niger Delta Avengers) are promising you,” the group asserted.

Children’s Day : Educate your child, Rep Obasa tells Nigerian Parents

The lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber, Hon. Tajudeen Obasa has urged every Nigerian Parent to do the needful and use all available strength‎ in educating their children/wards.

‎The Children’s Day is recognized on various days in different places around the world, in celebration of every child. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 to protect children working long hours in dangerous circumstances and allow all children access to an education‎.

In a statement released by his media aide, Mr Opeyemi Ahmed, the lawmaker described education as the ‎only means to cure ignorance, tackle social vices and build an independent individual in the future.

“It is well stated in the holy books ” Educate your child so that he or she will give you rest” The current trend of security challenges facing the nation can only be tackled with proper education. Many commit crime without knowing the negative effects of such to the society”

“For a nation to be great, the standard of education must be high both formally and informally. For Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to transform the educational sector”

Buhari’s emergence saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the President of Nigeria in 2015 saved the country’s economy from imminent collapse due to mismanagement and unbridled corruption.

The Minister made the remarks in Kano on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, shortly before the commencement of the Hausa language town hall meeting in the ancient city.

“For the fact that God loves this country, if any other political party had won the election, there would have been no economy to talk about. They wouldn’t have the courage or discipline to manage the economy,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said through prudent management of resources and the introduction of creative ideas to block leakages, the President is gradually reviving the economy, and assured Nigerians that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.

 

“This government, more than any government, has been working very hard because this is one government that genuinely believes in the people; it is one government that really cares for the poorest of the poor. For the first time we have a President whose integrity is actually driving the country,” he said.

He therefore appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the change they voted for will be gradual, noting that the past one year has been spent in laying a solid foundation for the country.

While describing the Kano town hall meeting as unique because the medium of communication is an indigenous language, the Minister said the idea of the town hall meetings is to communicate directly with the people and also feel their pulse on government policies and programmes.

“The idea of the town hall meeting came when we realized that our message was not getting down to the people. When we issue a press release or we have a press conference, it is so watered down, it’s sifted and everybody takes his story from his or her own angle. So we decided that it’s better we address the people directly,” he said.

The Minister said the representatives of all segments of the people are attending the town hall meetings and promised to continue to improve on the representation and the quality of content.

In his remarks, Governor Ganduje hailed the Minister for introducing the town hall meeting, particularly in indigenous languages, and said it is the surest way of bridging the gap between the government and the people.

“To decide to have the town hall meeting in a vernacular language, I think there is no better style and initiative than that single decision of the Honourable Minister,” he said.

The Governor observed that following the analysis conducted after the election, it was discovered that not only APC members voted for the President, but that it was the consensus of opinions to pull Nigeria from the brink and return the country to the path of growth and sustainable development.

“In order to harmonise and also to satisfy the aspirations of those divergent opinions that came together and put us forward, there is no better way than this exercise that you have undertaken,” he said.

#WelcomeJose: The Special one belongs to Old Trafford

Manchester United created the hashtag #WelcomeJose to announce the arrival of  their new manager, Jose Mourinho.

Football lovers are celebrating his arrival with the hashtag.

Siasia picks Okechukwu, Awoniyi, 18 others for Korea

Head Coach of the Nigeria U-23 team, Samson Siasia has selected 20 players made up of 12 home -based and eight overseas –based professionals for next month’s Suwon Invitational Tournament in Korea Republic.

 

The list is dominated by players who featured against the Brazil U-23 in a friendly in that country two months ago, which Nigeria won 1-0, while two new faces Emiloju Julius and Abdulrahman Taiwo break into the team, and winger Saviour Godwin also makes a return to the team after a long absence.

Addressing the players after its friendly game on Thursday at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, Coach Siasia charged those selected for the trip to see it as an honour. “That you were selected does not mean that those not selected are not good. We simply want to give everyone enough opportunity to justify why they should be part of the team to the Rio Olympics.”

To those who were dropped, Coach Siasia told them not to see themselves as not being part of the plans of the technical crew, but a clarion call to work even harder, as the team will be going to the United States of America for its final camping exercise where the best will be selected for the Olympics.

The delegation of 20 players and 10 officials will be led by NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande. The group is expected to depart Nigeria for Korea Republic on Monday, 30th May aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight, and arrive in Seoul on Tuesday.

20 PLAYERS FOR SUWON TOURNAMENT

1. Emmanuel Daniel

2. Yusuf Mohammed

3. Emmanson Daniel

4. Sincere Seth

5. Ndifreke Effiong

6. Segun Oduduwa

7. Stanley Amuzie

8. Julius Emiloju

9. Erhun Obanor

10. Saturday Erimuya

11. Azubuike Okechukwu

12. Usman Mohammed

13. Stanley Dimgba

14. Sodiq Popoola

15. Saviour Godwin

16. Taiwo Awoniyi

17. Ubong Ekpai

18. Abdulrahman Taiwo

19. Nathan Oduwa

20. Tiongoli Tonbara

5.7m Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS – Ex-African Presidents

FORMER African Presidents, under the aegis of Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation in Africa, yesterday said over 3.4 per cent of Nigerians were currently living with the dreaded HIV/AIDS.

With the percentage put forward by the ex- presidents, about 5.7 million of Nigeria’s 170 million  are currently infected with the virus.

The figures were revealed by both the former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae and ex- Vice President of Uganda, Speciosa Wandira, when they paid a courtesy call on President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Speaking earlier, former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, who disclosed that the group, Champions for an AIDS- free Generation was formed to harmonize their experiences as past African leaders to collectively fight the disease, said in Nigeria, those infected with HIV and AIDS stood at three percent, meaning that the figure translated to 5.7 million Nigerians.

Mogae, who stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the executive and the legislature to ensure that resources were made available to nip the disease in the bud, added that with the present HIV/ AIDS status of the country, Nigeria was next to South Africa.

He said:  “As you have been told, we are a group of former presidents, including your own Obasanjo.  We dealt with the scourge when it broke out and from our experience, we realized that we didn’t stabilize the situation until the top leadership was involved and by the time some of us left office, we helped stabilize the situation.

‘’We had attained some levels of success and converted what was a killer disease into a chronic one.’’

Also speaking at the event,ex- Vice President of Uganda, Speciosa Wandira, who disclosed that 3.4 per cent of Nigerians were infected with the virus, said:  “The challenges on us is the well being of the people of Africa, the people of Nigeria, the people of that state where you are governor.

“As champions, we say focus, look at the data and focus, there is money in every ministry which is talking about the health of the people.  When we talk about those who are infected, the bigger majority of Nigerians are free: 100 per cent minus 3.4 per cent: the bigger majority is not infected.

‘’So what do you do to protect this bigger majority?   You must look at the social standards that inform HIV/AIDS.  It is the poorest that are affected, it is the jobless that are affected; we advice that you focus on the women and the girls.

‘’What are those social issues that would put those girls more at risk and you put money in those areas: it could be education, it can be industry.  What are those industries that are driving the economy, that will keep girls working and make them independent.

‘’That will take them away from feeling that they must have sex with somebody for them to have HIV/AIDS.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a member of the group, who was to lead the former Presidents on the visit to senate President Bukola Saraki was, however, absent.

Responding, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the National Assembly would continue to give required attention to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.

He stressed that the leadership of the National Assembly was not only concerned about the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria in particular and and Africa in general, but also would continue to assist in efforts, including appropriating adequate funds, to agencies in the country  devoted to tackling the pandemic.

Saraki said:  “We all know the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS. You made a point that it seems we are beginning to relax concerning the danger posed by the disease. The initiative you have taken to raise more awareness is commendable.

‘’We in the National Assembly will continue to champion advocacy and creation of awareness concerning the scourge including making necessary budgetary allocation to aid the fight.

“We did it in the case of Polio. When I was the Governor of Kwara State, we, the governors across the country saw tht there was no coordination between the Federal Government and the State governments on the efforts being made to eradicate Polio.

‘’We organized a seminar where we sat with the Bill Gates Foundation, to chart a new way forward. This resulted in the resounding success we witness currently.’’

Alaba traders shut bank over land issue

Traders at Alaba International Market, yesterday, shut down a new generation bank in the market over alleged encroachment on land belonging to one of them.

The traders, in a peaceful protest, closed their shops and paralysed the activities at the bank for hours, chanting solidarity songs.

The Chairman of Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association, Mr. Paul Chijioke, said: “Sometime last year, one of our members in the market reported the encroachment on his land by the bank.”

He said the executives of the market contacted the bank’s management, who accepted that they encroached on the land, but that the bank reneged on their promise to settle out-of-court and compensate the owner.

FG presents scorecard …says bad economy not excuse for failure

Three days to the first year anniversary of its Federal Government, yesterday, presented its mid-term scorecard for the past 12 months, saying  the present economic challenges facing the country were not enough excuse for failure in fulfilling electoral promises.


 

Presenting the scorecard yesterday, at a meeting with a team of ministers and the Broadcasting Organization of Nigerian, BON, in Abuja, the Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the administration had made giant strides in the three key areas of its campaign.

The meeting, which had    the ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Power, Works and Housing, Labour and Employment and Trade and Investment in attendance, afforded the media    the opportunity to engage in a robust engagement with key players in government.

The minister who expressed optimism about the achievement of the present administration, insisted  that the administration   was on track and reeled out the achievements in three broad campaign areas.

Insecurity:

In tackling insecurity, Mohammed said the administration had succeeded in clipping the wings of Boko Haram in the past one year,  to the point of  insurgents having lost their capacity to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks for which they became  infamous.

Fight Against Corruption:

On the fight against corruption, the minister maintained that the Buhari administration had demonstrated enough political will to tackle corruption that    was winning war.

For him, it was corruption that prolonged the war against Boko  Haram and dispatched many soldiers and civilians to their early graves.

His words: ‘today, the issue of corruption has  become topical in national discourse and the corrupt are no longer  able to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth with impunity, as they used to do. This is  because the government has succeeded in sensitizing Nigerians to the  cost of corruption to their lives.

Economy

In the face the present economic challenges, Mohammed said that government appreciated the great challenge facing it and decided to see opportunities rather than difficulties  by working assiduously to diversify the  nation’s economy away from oil.

While these efforts are on, he also said that the administration equally    decided to  plug all financial loopholes through the Treasury Singles Account(TSA), into which trillions of Naira have accrued so far.

We can’t fund every project in 2016 budget – Adeosun

THE Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, yesterday, said that due to the paucity of funds, agencies should not expect to get completely what was appropriated in the 2016 budget, as the government would only release funds based on necessity.

The minister also warned heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDA, in the habit of lobbying for the release of funds to their various sectors to stay away from her office as there was no room for such lobby.

 

The minister, who stated this when she appeared on the floor of the House of Representatives at the on-going sectoral debates, said the interest of government was to reduce cost of living and create  employments to for 500,000 Nigerians.

Adeosun also said government was working hard to bring down the cost of lending in the agricultural sector through the Central Bank of Nigeria, adding that efforts had been made to clear the debt of N60 billion owed by the previous administration to fertiliser suppliers which made them to stop making it available to farmers.

She disclosed that government had reduced the counterpart funding on Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, to 10 per cent against the previous 50 per cent, so  states would be able to access the funding.

The Finance Minister said there was no way government could fund every single project, adding that its priority was on capital release as it discovered that in the past, every agency got a percentage of what was available, which did not necessarily translate to delivery of a project.

She said:  “So what we are now doing is project first. Tell us what you are going to do with the money, give us your milestones. I can’t promise you that every single agency will receive every single Naira in the budget, that will be untrue and that will be a misleading impression.

“However, what I will assure is that there will be no favouritism, there will be no need for anybody to come and lobby in our office for the release of funds. Funds will be released first on priority of projects, MDAs must make request for the capital and we must measure how the capital is spent.”

On the issue of increment of the minimum wage, she was not forthcoming but  replied: “The issue is not actually about minimum wage, the issue is about cost of living because even if you increase the minimum wage to N100, 000 and the cost of living is N120,000 then you have done nothing.

“What we have to address is the cost of living and this government addresses cost of living because it is investing in the things that make cost of living very high for the people such as power cost, transport cost, people spending hours on bad roads, it is being addressed, that is a cost.”

On improving agriculture for farmers, especially on getting lower interest funds for farmers,the minister said:  “The current rate being charged by commercial banks are not viable for agriculture.

“Already, the Central Bank of Nigeria is doing some interventions around bringing down the cost of lending for agriculture and equally in part of commitment to the capitalisation of the Development Bank of Nigeria.

‘’We will be doing intervention funding as single digit to bring down the cost of funding for agriculture.

“We inherited debt of N60 billion due to supplies of fertilisers which were not paid by previous administration, the President has directed that we negotiate with them to see how we can pay to release money to them so that they can supply for this year and that has been done.

“It was a very huge debt that we inherited at a very wrong time for us and we are trying to resolve it.”

“People having to pay for young people in their families who should be working, graduates who should be working and collecting pocket money from their parents, that is a cost of living and this government is addressing it.

‘’We will employ 500,000 unemployed graduates to go into teaching, they will receive a stipend, they will relieve the families of those people, they will give those people a chance to develop their skills.”

Nigeria bleeds as militants blow up more pipelines

South-South, Soni Daniel, Clara Nwachukwu, Emman Ovuakporie, Michael Eboh, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Egufe Yafugborhi, Brisibe Perez & Akpokona Omafuaire
WARRI — THE nation’s crude oil fortunes took another downward plunge, yesterday, following attacks by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, on pipelines close to Escravos Tank Farm at Ciera creek,  near Abiteye community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

The attacks, on two separate gas and crude oil pipelines belonging to Chevron, Wednesday night, caught security agents and the oil company unawares.

   

It was learned that both lines were blown up during Wednesday’s downpour which prevented residents and workers  from hearing the explosions.

An underground Chevron crude oil trunk line along the Ceria creek, near Abiteye, and a major electricity gas line were severely affected in the attacks.

Sources said both incidents happened a short distance from the company’s multi-billion dollar tank farm in Escravos. It was gathered that the incident was noticed by workers in the production department when they observed a drop in production pressure early yesterday.

Militants attack

Yesterday, a top Chevron management staff and a security source  confirmed the incident to our correspondent. The source said a technical team of experienced engineers had been dispatched to the scene of the spill to ascertain the true cause.

A local source in the area said: “At the moment, the entire creeks are awash with crude oil.”

Another Chevron source, while confirming the incident, said: “The explosions occurred while it was raining. There are two Chevron gas lines, which are the onshore and offshore. It was the offshore pipeline that was affected, while the other one is a crude oil line. The affected pipelines are located between the Chevron Tank Farm and Ceria near Abiteye community.”

Efforts made to reach Isa Ado, spokesman of JTF, to speak on the development did not yield result as he did not respond to calls and SMS sent to his telephone. Deji Haastrup, Chevron’s spokesman, did not take calls put to his lines, while mail sent to him was  also not replied at press time.

Gbaramatu calm

Meanwhile, Gbaramatu Kingdom was peaceful and calm after the attack.

Speaking on the constraints facing residents of the area, Public Relations Officer, PRO, Oporoza Youths, Paul Kirifede, said:  “We did not record any form of attacks on oil installations in Gbaramatu. Our only challenge is that military operatives, who patrol the river every minute, are constantly molesting us.  We cannot fish, neither can we embark on our daily business activities.”

FG meets stakeholders on bombings

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has moved to end the destruction of oil facilities by aggrieved Niger Delta militants, with a strategic meeting with some militant leaders in Abuja, as a first step.

The meeting was attended by high level government functionaries such as the governor of Edo State, Mr  Adams Oshiomhole; National Security Adviser, NSA, Maj.-General Mohammed Monguno (retd); Minister for Niger Delta, Usani Uguru Usani; Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Coordinator Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (retd); and stakeholders from Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta  and Ondo states.

Following the meeting, the Amnesty Coordinator and SA to the President on Niger Delta, Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), opted to move into the creeks to meet with the aggrieved groups and individuals in order to end the renewed cycle of attacks  on oil facilities.

Boroh is to hold series of discussions with the militants to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

He said:  “The whole aim of my relocation to the Niger Delta creeks is to enable me identify the aggrieved individuals, groups and hold extensive discussions with them on the need to keep the peace since the government is working hard to put things right in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.

“From available records, the Federal Government has not reneged on its amnesty package to the region and is working hard to improve the infrastructure needs of the Niger Delta, one of them being the Calabar-Lagos coastal railway, which is already captured in this year’s budget.”

Oil price rises  to $50 per barrel

Also, oil price rose, yesterday, to $50 a barrel,  for the first time in nearly seven months, as a global supply glut that plagued the market for nearly two years showed signs of easing.

The oil markets have suddenly been hit with a multitude of unexpected supply disruptions, the largest of which comes from the more than four million barrels per day that had been knocked offline because of wildfires in Canada as well as crisis in Libya and easing of United States supplies have contributed in buoying prices.

US pledges help

United States of America, USA, Consular General to Nigeria, Mr John Bray, yesterday, expressed his country’s preparedness to assist Nigeria  restore peace and end the ongoing violence in the Niger Delta by Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups.

The consular-general, made the disclosure when he visited former national chairman of Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, ATROMPCON, and Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom, Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, at his Edjeba Palace Annexe, Warri.

Bray, who was visiting Warri for the first time, said:  “We are looking at whatever we can do to assist the Nigerian government to establish a peaceful, prosperous region in the South-South of Nigeria.”

Oil firms owing FG $2bn — House c’ttee

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee probing all oil prospecting licences, OPLs, and Oil Mining Leases, OMLs, granted by the Federal Government, yesterday, said oil companies had deliberately avoided to pay compulsory fees to the tune of about $2 billion.

Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Gideon Gwani (PDP, Kaduna), who briefed newsmen, said the oil companies, which ought to help the country in view of its present predicament by prompt payment, were owing the government hundreds of millions of dollars, thus compounding the nation’s woes.

He described the situation as alarming and worrisome, noting that it was a dangerous trend that cannot be allowed to continue.

He said:  “It is estimated that the oil companies, by their actions, have either evaded or avoided the payment of these compulsory fees which is presumed to have denied the Federal Government about $2 billion.

“At a time the government is talking of obtaining loans for infrastructure development, such as roads, railways, power plants, petroleum refineries, among others, and where oil blocs have been allocated to some companies to use the proceeds accruing from loyalties, signature bonuses, etc, to fund these important projects, yet several years after, these facilities are still comatose, with little or no new projects to show as approved.”

He expressed unhappiness that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, have not responded to requests of the committees.

Economic impact  of attacks

Nigeria, which is hoping to fund its 2016 national budget in excess of N6 trillion benchmarked at $38/barrel, from mostly borrowings, will be hard put repaying the loans, as the production cutbacks will significantly affect building both the foreign exchange and production reserves.

Painting a gloomy picture of the situation, a former Director of industry regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mr. Osten Olorunsola, noted that the situation was so serious that it required both urgent military and political interventions.

Olorunsola told US on phone:  “If the situation is not resolved quickly, it portends grave consequences for petroleum industry and the economy in general, so it requires both political and military solutions.

“Attacks on oil facilities are a major setback because each time this happened, apart from the production disruptions, it takes time, about two to three years, for people to remobilise. As a result, oil and gas production nose-dives, there will be no development in the region during the period of the downturn, and if there are no production activities, there will be no building of oil reserves.”

Uduaghan urges FG to engage militants

Also, former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, urged the Federal Government to initiate a “serious engagement process” with the militant group to end the bombings in the region.

Uduaghan told  US:  “I am disturbed by the damage, which the explosions are causing to the environment. We live here, it is affecting us and I also appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers to stop the attacks.”

He said the Federal Government should review all the past decisions and templates for the development of the region and take a holistic decision to tackle development of the region to stem continuous resort to violence by militants.

Ayokunle wins round one of CAN presidential polls

OUTGOING Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and president of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle yesterday won the first round of the CAN presidential election, defeating his only rival eight votes to two.

Sources close to the CAN Electoral College which sat yesterday to screen the nominees for the election, said Rev. Ayokunle who is representing the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) polled eight votes against his only rival, Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) who scored two votes. Five members of the 15-member Electoral College abstained.

According to the constitution of CAN, the Electoral College headed by erstwhile Chaplain to two Nigerian presidents and Head, Aso Rock Villa Chapel, Rev. William Okoye is expected to screen the nominated candidates and recommend two of them for the National Executive Council for election.

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN and the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CPFN/PFN, which nominated the outgoing president, did not present candidates for the election.

Following the unresolved dispute in the TEKAN/ECWA bloc the number of candidates for the CAN president was reduced to just two which, some now reason, should have made the Electoral College to have recommended the two to NEC for the election.

Some members, who spoke to Vanguard yesterday said the Electoral College had erred in its operation when it went beyond its brief to conduct an election among the two persons with some suggesting that the election would create a credibility problem for CAN which is desirous of giving opportunities to every participating bloc.

A senior cleric belonging to the CCN, told our correspondent yesterday that the current development may negate the rotational principle of CAN, insisting that the Electoral College should have stopped at screening the candidates for their qualifications.

The two candidates would now be presented to the NEC which is scheduled to meet again in mid-June to elect the successor of outgoing CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Children’s Day: Buhari assures on rights to education, good health, others

President Muhammadu Buhari has re-affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the well-being of its children, reminding them that they had fundamental rights to quality and affordable education, good health and other basic necessities of life.

The President, therefore, assured that good health and well-being of Nigerian children remained top priorities on his agenda.

President Buhari gave the assurance in his message to the children on the occasion of 2016 Children’s Day celebration.


 

He stated that an allocation of N12.6 billion had been made in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases,  such as polio, measles and yellow fever.

He also stated that the school feeding programme articulated in the budget for children which, he said, would cost N93.1 billion, would ensure that more children went to school.

He said: “I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration, which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.

“On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.

“The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain top priorities on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases, such as polio, measles and yellow fever.

“Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers.

Meanwhile, as Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day  today with the theme: “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage,” the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has called on the Federal Government  to take actions and renew efforts towards ending all forms of violence against children.

The call came as UNICEF records showed that more than 1.2 million children have been displaced in the North-East of the country.

In a press statement to mark the Day, Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Jean Gough, noted that the theme of the day helps to shed a much needed light on the unprecedented levels of violence against children in Nigeria in the recent past and present.“Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation, my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our youth.”

The President expressed delight that one of the Chibok abducted schoolgirls, Amina Ali, had been rescued to join in the celebrations.

He also vowed not to rest on his oars until Boko Haram was completely defeated.

“It is a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, we can also celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki, and many other abducted women and children who have been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram by our gallant troops.

“I assure all Nigerians and friends of the country, once again, that my administration will not rest on its oars until the ungodly terrorist sect is totally eliminated from our country.

According to Gough, “In the North East, we have witnessed, and continue to witness grave violations of children’s rights – killings, abductions, sexual violence and use in suicide bombings by Boko Haram.”

Noting that out of the 1.2 million children more than half of them were below the age of 5, Gough added that children living away from the crisis in the North East are also at risk of violence.

Ese Oruru, 14, delivers baby girl

The rescued 14-year-old Ese Oruru gave birth to a baby girl in the early hours of yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Ese was allegedly abducted in Bayelsa State last August and taken to Kano State by one Yunusa Dahiru, where she converted to lslam and married without her parents’ consent.

Since the minor returned to Yenagoa in March, she had been in custody at the Police Officers’ mess in Yenagoa. Visitors, including her former schoolmates and teachers, were not allowed to see Ese, except her parents, siblings and the medical team taking care of her.

The former Junior Secondary School III student was said to have gone into labour yesterday morning and delivered of a baby girl, described as ‘Divine’ at the Government House Clinic, by a medical team led by Dr. James Omietimi and Monica Olamide.

  

The baby girl, weighing 3kg and her mother (Ese) an indigene of Uhweru, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, are in stable condition. WE gathered that the wife of the state governor, Dr. Rachael Dickson, was the first person to visit Ese and her baby at the clinic, and was said to have expressed gratitude to the medical team for the safe delivery.

Ese is expected to return to school after weaning her baby. Mrs Dickson assured that the state government would take care of Ese and ensure her early return to school. Mrs Dickson said: “She is a precious and divine baby. I am happy as a mother for her safe delivery. Afterward, she will return to school.”

Also, Mr. Charles Oruru, father of Ese, thanked the state government and other well-meaning Nigerians for their support. WE had reported penultimate Tuesday, that Ese was in her third trimester and close to delivery. Described as a brilliant student whose ambition is to become a nurse, the state government, it was learned, had registered Ese for the forthcoming Junior Secondary School examination.

Labour assures of realistic minimum wage

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, faction led by Joe Ajaero, has said labour will not sign any agreement on a new minimum wage that will not be implementable.

 

Ajaero, who said this at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, insisted that the ability to pay the proposed new wage was the purpose of any minimum wage agreement, saying “no labour leader will sign an agreement that cannot be realistic.”

According to him, since his faction proposed N90, 000 while the Ayuba Wabba-led group demanded for N56, 000, government had the prerogative to come out with its own position, stressing: “If the government comes out with its position, we, the labour movement can crosscheck and counter it, if necessary, before the agreement is signed.”

The factional president contended that the N90.000 minimum wage his faction proposed was based on the economic index and that during negotiation, all issues including ability to pay and security of employment would be looked into.

Ajaero said there would be a sub-committee that would look into an increase in wages for the manufacturing sector, to enable it to be able to cater for the welfare of employees in the sector.

According to him, “From what has happened (fuel price hike), we can see that N56, 000 is not realistic. If we are talking about a certain percentage of inflation given all other indices, now it has worsened and has sky rocketed. But N90, 000 is still realistic if we take other factors into consideration.

”If the exchange rate remains the same, and its effect is only on fuel and maybe people selling garri will change. But if it increases you will discover that the N90, 000 minimum wages will be messed up, so we are just taking N90,000 in isolation.”

Crisis: All PDP organs back Makarfi

VARIOUS organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday resolved to support the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party in order to resolve the crisis in the party and chart a new way forward.


At the end of a meeting brokered by the Board of Trustees of the party at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the organs and groups in the party also urged all entities of the party in court to allow for a peaceful resolution of whatever grievances  they might have.

The organs and groups that attended the meeting were representatives of the PDP Governors Forum, the National Assembly Caucus, Concerned PDP stakeholders Forum, the Former PDP Ministers Forum and representatives of eight former members of the National Working Committee of the party.

The secretary of the BoT, Ojo Maduekwe, who read the resolution at the end of the meeting, noted that as a rebranding party, PDP expected that all its members would abide by the provisions its constitution in the resolution of the crisis.

Though members of the Caretaker Committee of the party were in attendance, the man at the centre of the crisis, Ali Modu Sheriff, was conspicuously absent.

He had earlier been excused from the meeting of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the party alongside Makarfi. Chief Ojo Maduekwe noted that the meeting also resolved that members of the Concerned PDP Group would be coopted into the caretaker committee to allow for all inclusiveness.

Sheriff, Makarfi excused from meeting

Earlier as the BoT meeting got underway, Sheriff and Makarfi were excused.

Senator Sheriff had walked into the Transcorp Hilton venue of the meeting at about 11:10 am and was followed five minutes later by Senator Makarfi who also walked into the meeting.

The duo sat on the high table, alongside the chairman of the Board, Senator Jibril Wali, and secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

A few minutes later, the chairman of the board announced that the board had a very important decision to take before the commencement of the meeting.

At this point, he asked journalists covering the opening ceremony to leave the hall and less than five minutes later, Senators Sheriff and Makarfi walked out of the meeting.

A member of the board who preferred anonimity told Vanguard that the two were asked to leave the hall because it would be inappropriate for them to be in attendance at a meeting that was going to discuss their matter.

Vanguard also gathered yesterday that the BoT resolved to despatch a delegation to be led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu to parley with Sheriff. The House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, and Senator Abdul Ningi, are to be included in the delegation.

Also yesterday, Senator Makarfi affirmed that there was no injunction against his caretaker committee.

In a statement he issued yesterday, he said:

“No orders of injunction or any order whatsoever is granted or exists against appointing caretaker committee for the PDP.”

“Justice I. N. Buba did not make an order dissolving the caretaker committee. An order of court could only be made if the court is presented with either a motion ex-parte or motion on notice which the court hears and makes appropriate order(s) as deemed necessary. No court makes an order not sought.”

“The plaintiffs in SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/613/2016 had on Monday May 23, 2016 filed a motion on notice for the purpose of setting aside the national convention of the party held on Saturday May 21, 2016. The motion on notice is yet to be served on the defendant (the PDP being the 2nd defendant in the suit) as at today Wednesday 25 May, 2016.

“The suit comes up Friday May 27, 2016 for the hearing of all pending applications, including Motions for stay of proceeding/execution of the order of May 12, 2016 pending the Appeal already filed against the suit; motion to set-aside and/or vacate the order of May 12, 2016; motion for joinder of certain persons; motion on notice by way of notice of preliminary objection on ground of jurisdiction, among others.”

“Aggrieved members of the PDP who were affected by the resolution of the national convention, being the supreme organ of the PDP, have resorted to desperation and manipulation of judicial proceedings,” he said.

“The national convention of the PDP, in the exercise of its powers under section 12.88 of the PDP constitution, dissolved the National Working Committee and appointed some of its members as caretakers Committee for the next ninety (90) days, to enable it pursue true reconciliation of its disputant members towards peaceful, amicable and political settlement of the disputes leading to the cases in court.

“As a party, we shall fully cooperate with the IGP and the Nigeria Police in ensuring maximum compliance with the Court order dated May 12, 2016 to the effect that no election should be conducted into the above offices, namely National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Auditor pending the resolution of the cases in Court,” he said

“As a matter of fact, it is for this reason that the supreme organ of the party, the national convention resolved not to conduct election into all the offices of the Party.

“Steps are already being taken to reconcile every aggrieved member, and to resolve all grievances with the ninety (90) days duration of the caretaker committee for the purpose of putting an end to needless litigation over issues that are purely internal affairs of our party,” he said.