FG uncovers over 43,000 ghost workers

The Federal Government says it has uncovered more than 43,000 ghost ‎workers during the on going verification and biometric exercise aimed at ascertaining those genuinely on its payroll.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, disclosed on Friday, when she paid a scheduled visit to Sagamu Police Area command, Sagamu, one of the centres where policemen and civilian staff, did their biometric capturing.

 . The exercise was organised by the office of the Accountant-General of the federation in collaboration with the Police Service Commission and Nigeria Police Force.

Adeosun, who said the exercise was aimed at identifying the actual number of those workers who are on FG’s payroll, uncovering ghost workers and others earning salaries fraudulently, said since the exercise began the government has saved over N4.5bn  monthly from wage bill.

He said, “As for the exact number of ghost workers discovered, I will say the figure keeps changing, because everyday we keep cleaning up the payroll and this has been going on for a long time.

“But so far it seems it is ab‎out 43,000 and it keeps on increasing and we will continue until we have removed all, because every time we remove those who shouldn’t be there, it create rooms to employ those who are ready to work and create money to spend on things the country need.

“So far we have reduced what we pay monthly by N4.5b‎n and it has been increasing everyday because everyday those that are not supposed to be on the payroll are being removed.

“We would keep on until we are sure that everybody receiving salary from the federal government is valid and the only way we can do that is to pay salaries directly into their accounts and we can also verify by using BVN to ensure that no multiple payment and that the people are alive. I think is a very good thing.”

Police arrest seminarian seeking children for sex

A former Ohio seminarian arrested for allegedly seeking to have sex with infants and young girls in Mexico was carrying $2,000 in cash along with baby clothes and a bottle in his luggage, a Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said Sunday.

ABC7NY.com reports that, Joel Wright, who was arrested Friday in San Diego, had previously traveled to Tijuana in an unsuccessful attempt to adopt a child, authorities said.

According to the criminal complaint, the former student at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus tried in 2014 to adopt a child in Mexico – going so far as to hand over an “adoption fee” in a Tijuana hotel room – and more recently spelled out in explicit online messages what he hoped to do with an infant and a 4-year-old girl.


 Asked in an email if he’d previously had sex with infants, Wright allegedly responded: “I have not gone all the way before but I have made it very close in the past so I do have experience.”

Wright, 23, has been charged with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

WHO rejects calls to move Olympics over Zika fears

The World Health Organisation has ruled out any change in timing or the location of the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, shunning a call by doctors and scientists to shift the games over the Zika virus.

The UN health body outlined its stance in a statement late Friday after a group of 150 international doctors, scientists and researchers sent an open letter outlining fears that the arrival of half a million tourists for the Games could cause the virus to spread more rapidly around the world.

But WHO said moving the Olympics would not have a major impact on the spread of Zika.


   

“Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus,” it said.

Zika can cause birth defects, including a devastating syndrome known as microcephaly in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brains.

Nearly 1,300 babies have been born in Brazil with the irreversible defect since the mosquito-borne Zika began circulating there last year.

Addressed to the world health body, the letter said that pressing on with the Games in Rio, the second-most affected city in Brazil, would be “irresponsible” and “unethical”.

“An unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic,” said experts from the United States, Britain, Canada, Norway, the Philippines, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, and Lebanon, among others.

“Should that happen to poor, as-yet unaffected places (e.g., most of South Asia and Africa) the suffering can be great,” it added.

But the WHO statement said Brazil was “one of almost 60 countries and territories which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes.

“People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice,” it said.

The Olympics and Paralympics will take place between August 5 and September 18, which is wintertime in Brazil, with the WHO noting earlier this month that it was the season when there were “fewer active mosquitoes and the risk of being bitten is lower”.

Pope mourns nameless drowned girl, shipwreck orphans

The children pledged to help those in need and presenting Francis with drawings capturing the dangers at sea.

The 79-year-old Argentine showed the children an orange life-jacket which he said had been taken from a girl who had drowned at sea.

It was given to him by a rescue worker who had wept as he described his doomed attempts to save her.


   

“He brought me this life-jacket and, crying, he said: ‘Father, I failed. There was a girl, in the waves, but I could not save her. All that is left is her life-jacket,” Francis said.

“I don’t want to upset you, but you are brave and you know the truth. They are in danger: many children… they are in danger,” the pope told the children, who sat cross-legged in front of him.

“Think about this girl. What was her name? I don’t know: a child without a name. Each of you must give her the name you want to. She is in heaven, she is watching over us,” he added.

Children from a school in Calabria in southern Italy handed the pope a letter in which they promised “to welcome whoever comes to our country” and “never think of those who are different from us as a dangerous enemy”.

An estimated 10,000 people were rescued this week near the Libyan coast as a bout of good weather kicked off a fresh stream of boats trying to cross from north Africa — some of which capsized at sea.

On Friday the Italian navy recovered the bodies of 45 migrants who had drowned, while dozens of others were still missing.

The tragedy followed the death of 30 people in a shipwreck Thursday and around 100 feared missing after a boat capsized Wednesday.

The flow into Europe via Greece and the Balkans route, which hundreds of thousands of people used in 2015, has slowed to a trickle after countries shut their borders.

But around 40,000 migrants have already landed on Italy’s shores so far this year and aid organisations warn there are vulnerable groups massing in Libya and Egypt, ready to attempt the crossing at whatever cost.

B’ Haram, Fulani herdsmen kill over 3,000 under Buhari

No fewer than 3,094 Nigerians have been killed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents and Fulani herdsmen since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29, 2015, Saturday PUNCH investigations have revealed.

Findings by our correspondents based on related killings as reported by the media show that at least 2, 569 persons were killed by the insurgents while 525 others were killed by the nomadic cattle rearers in the period under review.


 

It was also learnt that thousands of persons, including women and children, sustained various degrees of injuries from the attacks.

Available figures indicated that the number of persons killed by the suspected insurgents dramatically dropped after President Buhari’s four months in office.

In the last days of May 2015, following President Buhari’s inaugural speech, the deadly sect reportedly killed 97 persons and injured several others.

In June, July, August, September and October 2015, the sect reportedly killed 368, 635, 431, 267, and 279 persons, respectively.

But starting from November 2015, the number of persons reportedly killed by the sect dipped with November 2015 recording 81 deaths; December, 136; January 2016, 104; February 2016, 90; March 2016, 26; April 2016, 43; and May 2016, 12.

In 2015, Nigeria ranked third in the 2015 Global Terrorism Index, trailing Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the index, on June 4, 2015, a female suicide bomber in Maiduguri killed two people near a military checkpoint. On the same day, 45 people were also killed in a Yola market, Adamawa State when a blast ripped through the place.

On July 1, 2015, suicide bombers attacked a hospital in Kukawa, Borno State when Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo visited the state, killing 118 people.

Also on July 17, 2015, 50 persons were killed when suicide bombers attacked a Muslim prayer ground in Damaturu, Yobe State.

One of the worst Boko Haram attacks in the last one year include an attack on Dalori village, some four kilometres from Maiduguri, Borno State on January 30, 2015, where at least 86 people were reportedly killed after an invasion by the insurgents.

On February 9, 2016, 60 people were reportedly killed while 78 others were wounded when two female suicide bombers suspected to be Boko Haram members, sneaked into a camp for internally displaced persons in Dikwa, Borno State.

However, the situation did not apply to the casualty figures associated with Fulani herdsmen attacks.

June 2015 recorded 97 deaths arising from suspected Fulani herdsmen attacks; September recorded three; October, 18; November, 22; December, 28; February 2016, 300; April 2016, 55; and May 2016, two.

Last December, no fewer than 22 persons were reportedly killed when suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Kwata in Jos South Local government area of Plateau State.

In February 2016, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked a village in Agatu, Benue State, reportedly killing at least 300 persons. The attack has been described as one of the worst ever witnessed in the series of attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

In April, 2016, at least 40 persons were also reportedly killed when suspected herdsmen attacked Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

About seven villages in Nimbo including Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Umuome and Ugwuachara were among the areas attacked.

No fewer than 10 houses including a church were also said to have been burnt in the attack.

In the same month, suspected Fulani herdsmen also attacked Dori and Mesuma villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing at least 15 people, according to the police. Although, residents said more than 40 persons were killed and several houses razed by the assailants.

One of the most recent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen occurred on Friday, May 20, 2016, when two persons were killed and six others injured following an attack on Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

It was alleged that the assailants had attacked their victims for refusing to allow the herdsmen use their farmland for grazing their cattle.

Strike: Labour storms Ekiti secretariat, whips erring workers

Ekiti State labour leaders on Friday stormed the old Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state secretariat and other government offices to pursue erring civil servants out of their duty posts.

The organised labour on Thursday began an indefinite strike to demand the payment of the outstanding five months salaries of workers.


 

It was learnt that members of the organised labour took the workers, who had defied the directive of the labour leaders, by surprise when they swooped on them around 12noon.

One of the workers, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “We were busy when the picketing team came in and forced us out of the office.

“Initially, we wanted to resist them but they brought out canes and started dragging us out of the offices.”

It was learnt that those who resisted picketing received “light beating” from the labour team.

Our correspondent sighted one of the sticks used to cane the workers.

The Ekiti State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Raymond Adesanmi, confirmed the development to our correspondent.

He said, “They are saboteurs. We all agreed to go on strike at our meeting, so anyone who defied the strike order is a saboteur. They should bear the consequence of their action because we are fighting for general interest.”

The strike followed the expiration of the 48-hour-ultimatum issued by the NLC, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council to Governor Ayodele Fayose to pay workers’ salary deductions for December 2015.

The workers’ demands also include the release of the staff audit and verification conducted in April 2015, disclosure of the state monthly internally generated revenue, payment of arrears of five months salaries pension and gratuities, payment of September 2014 salary to primary school teachers and payment of 2014 and 2015 leave bonuses.

Others include implementation of promotion for 2013, 2014, 2015, approval of inter-cadre transfer, remission of10 per cent IGR  to local government and stoppage of Joint Allocation Committee’s account, resuscitation of Local Government staff pension fund and release of running grants.

But the governor, in a state broadcast on Thursday, said he had no immediate solution to the demand of the workers because of the financial challenges facing the state.

He said workers’ monthly wage bill was over N2bn whereas the federal allocation kept reducing from almost N3b to as low as N751m in April.

The labour union had earlier issued a 24-hour-ultimatum last week before the commencement of the nationwide strike declared by the NLC.

Violence, rigging mar Nasarawa bye-election

The bye-election into the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State, on Saturday, was reportedly marred by several reports of violence, ballot-box snatching, stuffing of ballot papers, and massive irregularities across several polling units at various wards in Toto Local Government Area.


   

Sources revealed that before the commencement of accreditation at 10.32am, political thugs hijacked electoral materials in 6 polling units at Ugya Ward. The poling units include Bakete, Dibeku, Rudu, Kovo Dere and two others.

Also, in Katakpa Ward, Election materials in Polling units at Sere such as NW1212002) Risegu (NW 1212003), Shizhe, (NW1212004) Emue (NW1212005) were all snatched and taken away by armed thugs.

Agents of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA alleged that the violence was perpetrated by thugs loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

They alleged that a popular APC Chieftain in the area engaged the thugs to intimidate voters and cart away all the result sheets and sensitive materials for the exercise.

Ugya ward is considered a stronghold for APGA given that the APGA Candidate hails from Afor. This confirms earlier reports by APGA in Nasarawa State that the ruling APC had perfected plans to rig the elections in the area.

When contacted, the INEC Electoral Officer for Toto LGA, said he has been informed about the incidence of violence in many polling units especially in Ugya but was yet to confirm from INEC officials deployed to the area.

Felix Ayagiri, a voter in Dubeku said “INEC has been disappointing. This has been an abysmal example of how elections ought to be. It is particularly appalling that in an isolated election like this, adequate security arrangements have not been put in place.This raises grave questions about the future of elections in Nigeria.”

However, elections held peacefully across polling units in Nasarawa LGA.

There were no reports of violence in all the polling units visited.

In Government Science School PU, NASS Main Town Ward, Nasarawa LGA, there was an impressive turnout of voters with accreditation and voting going on simultaneously.

Meanwhile, final collation of results is ongoing.

PDP Crises: Hon. Adekoya Charges PDP Reps Members on Neutrality

A member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and federal lawmaker representing Ijebu-North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, Hon. Adekoya Adesegun Abdel-Majid, has appealed to colleagues on the platform of the PDP to maintain neutrality in the crises rocking the main opposition party.


   

party has been enmeshed in series of crises in the last few weeks emanating from the several court cases, factional leadership of the party and the resultant parallel conventions held in Abuja and Port Harcourt on Saturday, May 21st, 2016.

In a letter he sent to all PDP Reps Members yesterday, he stated, “As Honourable Members on the platform of the party in the Green Chamber, we should not be seen taking sides in the disputes currently rocking our great party.”

He urged all parties concerned in the crises on the need to maintain status quo in the interest of the party and the nation at large. “It is my humble view and candid opinion that we should be guided by law to maintain status quo pending the final determination of the suits in Courts in the interest of our party and the nation.”

“As a party, we need to be united so we can be a formidable and viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whose “CHANGE” mantra has become “CHAIN”.” he stressed.

ECOWAS: Parliament urges member-states to step-up integration process

The ECOWAS Parliament has called on member-states to step-up efforts to ensure the realisation of the integration of the sub-region.

Speaker of the Parliament, Moustapha Cissé Lo, made the call in an interview with newsmen at the end of the 2016 First Ordinary Session of the Fourth Legislature of the Parliament in Abuja on Saturday.

Cissé Lo, who spoke through an interpreter, said member-states needed to make more efforts to speed up the integration process in order to promote social and economic development in the sub-region.

`Today is ECOWAS Day which is a happy day for us, and ECOWAS as a bloc should strive for more integration in different areas like security, infrastructure and health.

“When the founding fathers decided to set up ECOWAS, it was because they wanted integration, knowing fully that it would lead to economic and social development.

“ All we have noticed is that the integration process is very slow probably because of lack of political will.

`What we will like the Heads of State to do is to speed-up the integration process.

“We believe that if we really have free movement of goods and persons, a single currency, a free trade zone then we will nearly be there.”

The speaker reiterated the call for enhanced legislative powers of the parliament; adding that the enhancement would enable the bloc to “truly respond to the demands of our populations”.

He commended the level of collaboration and cooperation between the ECOWAS institutions and reassured that the cooperation would put in place measures that would facilitate the realisation of the ECOWAS vision.

ECOWAS was founded on 28 May 1975 with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos and was established with a mission to promote economic integration across the sub-region.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid teams

Teams for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium on Saturday.


 

Real Madrid

Keylor Navas; Carvajal, Sergio Ramos (capt), Pepe, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo

Coach: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)

Atletico Madrid

Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Diego Godin, Felipe Luis; Saul Niguez, Gabi (capt), Augusto Fernandez, Koke; Fernando Torres, Antoin Griezmann.

Coach Diego Simeone (ARG)

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)

Post Teebillz: 7 things Tiwa Savage has been up to after messy marriage crisis

Nigerian pop diva, Tiwa Savage, has gotten her groove back just when many thought she would be grousing her fate after the messy marriage troubles she was embroiled in with her estranged husband, Teebillz. The beautiful songstress has been appearing in public functions, recording in the studio, performing her ambassadorial duties and generally rising like a phoenix. Here are the top seven activities she has been engaged in.


 

As a result of the controversy, her Facebook followers increased. She celebrated hitting one million on her official Facebook page

The video of her inspirational song, ‘If I start to talk’ was released during this trying period. She recently announced that the video has reached one million views on YouTube via her instagram handle.

3.She posted a picture of herself and Wizkid on Instagram subtly making reference to the fact that they are shooting a video.

As at the time of this report, she revealed via her Instagram page that she is off to Dubai. No one knows if the trip is business related or otherwise.

Last Sunday, she was seen at Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi’s Gbemisoke Shoes anniversary

Some weeks back, she posted a picture of herself and Korede Bello at the Mavins Studio recording with their in-house producer, Altims

The Kelekele Love star resumed her ambassadorial duties; she had a meeting with Forte Oil and disclosed that it was successful.

Lightning strikes German football pitch, 35 injured, 3 seriously – report

Lightning struck a football pitch in western Germany on Saturday, injuring 35 people, three of them seriously, news agency DPA reported.

The accident — which came as 11 people were hurt in a similar freak strike at a birthday party in a Parisian park — happened at the end of a children’s football match in Hoppstaedten, DPA said, citing police.

The referee of the children’s match was hit directly by the lightning and was rushed to hospital.

What matters to me during sex — Maheeda

When you think of Maheeda, what comes to your mind won’t be her songs but nude selfies, raunchy videos and her “bad girl” lifestyle. The controversial Nigerian singer revealed via her new YouTube channel, her sexual preferences and how she loves to be handled sexually.

 
   

People always ask me about how I like sex. For me, sex is to be enjoyed and it depends on my mood. Sometimes, I just want it rough and when I say rough I don’t mean violent, I mean hard. Sometimes I just want it in a gentle way.

Sometimes, I have energy and I just want to use the energy to satisfy my man. Most African men think that the harder they do it, the better they are. I like to talk a lot before having sex so as to

know my partner’s preference. If you want the same thing that I want then you are a good match.

I hate dry sex, when a man is doing what I am not feeling. I like my sex enjoyable, sometimes fast, and sometimes slow.

Foreplay is just so important to me. For me, size doesn’t matter but of course not too tiny. What matters to me is that he knows how to use the tool.” She also advises individuals who are ignorant when it comes to sex.

“Go online, watch some porn, sometimes porn is educative. If you don’t know how to do it there is no shame in it.”

Misconduct: FCT Police Commissioner to sanction officers

The Commissioner of Police in FCT, Mr Wilson Inalegwu has restated the command’s resolve to sanction officers for professional misconduct while carrying out their duties.

Inalegwu made the promise while responding to complaints of conflicts between journalists and the police at the Forum of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja chapter on Saturday.

“No matter the situation we find ourselves, we must remain professional in carrying out our duty.

“We will not hide any of our men that is highhanded in dealing with the public from being sanctioned.

“We are very concerned about the conduct of our officers,’’ he said.

He said that the command does not have any laws aimed at confronting journalists carrying out their legitimate duties.

“We don’t have any deliberate policy to harass journalists in the territory or elsewhere.

“For the society to develop, we must report issues as they come,’’ he said.

The commissioner said that there was the need for collaboration between the police and journalists to stop mutual suspicion.

He noted that intervention of members of the media had enhanced operations of the command severally.

On bail, Inalegwu warned that any officer caught demanding money before granting bail to an accused would be sanctioned.

“Any officer who asks for money for bail does that at his or her own risk,’’ he said.

He also warned officers to desist from being used by the public to recover debts.
“The police is not a debt recovery organisation, anyone who want to recover debts should approach the court of law,’’ he said.

He said that the command was collaborating with Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi commands to check activities of criminals.

The commissioner adviced residents to go about their businesses as the FCT was the safest in the country.

Petition to EFCC against Jonathan a hoax – Metuh’s Counsel

Counsel to Chief Olisa Metuh, the embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democractic Party, PDP, Barr. Ben Nwosu, has described as a hoax, a recent petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the anti-graft agency to invite and probe ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on issues relating to the ongoing trial of Metuh.


 

The petition was sent to the EFCC by Barr. Osuagwu Ugochukwu, on behalf of a former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Ikenna Ejezie.

Nwosu in a statement on Saturday, said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media regarding a petition by one Barrister Osuagwu Ugochukwu claiming to be representing a non- existent former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, given as Ikenna Ejezie, and asking the EFCC to invite and interrogate ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on issues relating to the on-going trial of our client, Chief Olisa Metuh.

“Whereas we note that Barrister Ugochukwu has links with the EFCC and had appeared on behalf of the commission while representing its former Chairman, Ibrahim Larmode at a hearing in the National Assembly last year, the claim that the petition is on behalf of a former member of Enugu State House of Assembly is false as no such individual ever served in that legislative house.

“However, we have thoroughly studied the petition and for the avoidance of doubt, wish to state as follows.

1. The petition is not really against ex-President Jonathan but actually a calculated attempt targeted at swaying public sentiments and the judiciary against our client in this orchestrated and well-funded media trial. The idea is to sway the minds of the public and the court to get a conviction based more on media trial than the laws of the land.

2. It is clear that their assertion is neither based on the statement our client made at the EFCC nor on the evidence placed before the court, which has clearly established our client’s case that the N400 million approved by the former president was not for personal and private use.

3. The fact that this matter is subjudice should have impressed upon the petitioners and their backers that publicizing such hoax is actually an affront to the judiciary except it is intended to cow the judiciary.

4. We are astonished as to how the petitioners would have referred to our client’s statement as a confession and a criminal statement.

5. We are also not unmindful of the fact that this appears to be a vendetta by some persons to cast our client in the mold of an already guilty individual just waiting for sentencing.

6.It is therefore obvious that the sole intention of this petition is to distort our client’s defense, which has so far been honestly and sincerely presented before the court

7. Finally, we state that we support the present fight against corruption and which is needed at this time of our national development, however this should not be used by some persons as a ploy to settle personal scores,” the statement added.

Nasarawa bye-election: Police confirm snatching of ballot boxes

The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Lawal Shehu, on Saturday confirmed that hoodlums snatched five ballot boxes in the on-going bye elections in the state.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the boxes were snatched at Ugwar ward of Toto Local Government Area of the state.

 

He said INEC officials reported the snatching of ballot boxes containing electoral materials in units 003,004,005,006 and 008, adding that he had directed his men to ensure the recovery of the boxes and arrest of culprits.

“We are doing our best to ensure violence- free election; to also ensure the protection of lives and property, as such we will not allow any person or groups to cause distraction,” he said.

He called on voters to remain peaceful, law-abiding and respect constituted authorities in order to have free air and acceptable bye- election.

Meanwhile, a former senator, Abubakar Sodangi, has lauded the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

“I want to commend the INEC and the electorate for their peaceful conduct; I urge them to sustain the tempo,” he told NAN, after casting his vote.

Also speaking with journalists, Ahmed Musa, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the Nasarawa/Toto federal constituency, expressed optimism that PDP will win the bye-election.

He also praised the electorate for their peaceful conduct and urged them to maintain their good conduct.

Murtala Sodangi (APC-Nasarawa Central), who is also the chairman, House Committee on Urban Development, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, urged voters to be patient with the APC- led federal and state government in order to enjoy the more dividends of democracy.

Sani Bawa, former chairman of Nasarawa Local Government area of Nasarawa state and a chieftain of the APC in the state, also commended INEC and the electorate for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

1yr in office: Kano gov, Ganduje reshuffles cabinet

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has appointed Usman Alhaji Usman, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

 

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Usman replaces Dr Rabi’u Bichi, who was removed by Gov. Ganduje.

Also, a former Guild of Editors President, Halilu Baba-Dantiye, was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce.

The appointments are contained in a statement signed by the Kano State Head of Service, Alhaji Muhammad Na’iya and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

According to the statement, Ganduje also approved the appointment of seven new permanent secretaries.

They are: Halilu Baba-Dantiye, for Ministry of Commerce; Alhaji Usman Bala; Hajiya Bilkisu Waziri; Dr Saadatu Bala; Danladi Garba; Aminu Mohammed, and Aliyu Sani.

Similarly, the governor approved the immediate redeployment of six permanent secretaries to other ministries.

According to the statement, the appointment and redeployment are with immediate effect, while handing and taking over processes should be completed within one week.

Dickson at Makarfi’s home, says all PDP Govs are behind him

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Saturday, visited Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at his Kaduna home and announced that all the PDP Governors stand by him.

Makarfi, who appreciated the visit said that the PDP was only on sabbatical in Kaduna State and at the National level, saying that all that party members needed do was forgive each other and forge on.

Said Dickson: “I am here to consult with our Nation Chairman who is one of our respected leaders of party and of our country. I am here to consult with him on the way forward for our country.

“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate him on his emergence as the national chairman of the Caretaker Committee – a job that he didn’t seek for. I want to thank him for taking the gauntlet.

“I want to thank him for being a good party leader as he has always been, for being the agent for the rebirth of our party in this very trying time.

Omatseye prays court to be admitted on bail pending appeal

Former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Director-General, Mr Raymond Omatseye, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to grant him bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.

It will be recalled that Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the same court had, on May 20, sentenced him to five years imprisonment and dismissed him from public service for awarding contracts above threshold while in office.

Omatseye, who is challenging the verdict, is praying the court to grant him bail pending the determination of his appeal before the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos.

He is contending that given the number of years it takes to prosecute appeals, it was likely that he could have finished serving the prison term by the time the appeal was determined.

Omatseye is further contending that he is a father of four children, one of whom is very ill and suffers from “severe medical conditions of epilepsy, atypical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation, artrial fibrillation, enuresis, severe learning difficulties and development delays.”

According to him, his wife stays full time in London with the sick child to enable him get proper medical attention and in his wife’s absence, he has been providing parental care to the remaining three children in Nigeria.

Omatseye said he will not run away if granted bail, adding that he was always in court during trial, even though he was granted bail after his arraignment on self-recognition, having been a lawyer for 28 years.

Opposing the bail application, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,argued that the issues raised by Omatseye ought to be determined by the appellate court, adding that the reasons for the post-bail application “are based on appeal to pity and extraneous circumstances.”

The prosecution argued that “In the present application, no exceptional or very special circumstances have been shown to entitle the applicant to bail pending appeal.

“The applicant has failed to show any special circumstances or reason to enable this honourable court to exercise its discretion in its favour and admit the applicant to bail.
“We, therefore, urged this court to dimiss the application,” EFCC said.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogibia adjourned to June 6 for ruling

Democracy Day: How governors performed in last one year

T omorrow, May 29 is a day set aside to celebrate democracy otherwise called Democracy Day. President Muhammadu Buhari will lead other state governors in giving their account of stewardship to the people. Speeches will be made where excuses will be given for failure to fulfill promises made and more promises while restating their commitment to the welfare of their people.

Some governors will be celebrating their one year in office while some have spent less than that. Others are in their second term while a few are already on their way out of government house. As they roll out the drums tomorrow in celebration, we try to identify a few areas where the governors have done well in their respective states as well as where they are having challenges.

Delta:

By Festus Ahon

ACHIEVEMENTS

*Job creation: Over 1,700 youths have been trained and provided with equipment.

   

Road construction: Construction of middle section of Alisimie-ozanogogo road, Ozanogogo; Dualization of Nnebisi road, from traffic light to cable point, Asaba, Construction of Idumu-Ughoh street, Agbor. Reconstruction of the old Oleh/Emede/ Olomoro road; Widening/reconstruction of Owhe-Ologbo/Abbi road, Reconstruction/expansion/construction of Kefas road, Emore road and Uzere road. Dualization of Sapele road, from Amukpe roundabout to AT&P, Sapele; Construction of EJinyere/Orodje street, Orerokpe, Construction of Oteri township roads, Ughelli.

*Education

Upgrade of Sapele, Agbor and Ofagbe Technical Colleges. Upgrade of infrastructure in both primary and secondary schools across the State.

CHALLENGES

*Security

More resources need to be deployed in tackling the challenges of insecurity

*Environmental sanitation

The Asaba Capital Territory, other urban towns littered with refuse. Refuse are now being dumped on major streets unchallenged.

Anambra:

By Vincent Ujumadu

  ACHIEVEMENTS

*Agriculture

N2bn investment was secured for production of rice and maize. The state achieved self-sufficiency in rice production, and plans to export rice

Grants were also given to farmers

   

Security

Security committee comprising police, army, navy, civil defense was put in place. Notorious places in Onitsha were cleared of hoodlums.

There was also drastic reduction of crime rate in the state.

*Payment of workers salary

Government pays workers salary by end of every month, while pensioners also receive their pensions; Governor Willy Obiano also increased salaries of workers by 15%; Hundreds of State Water Corporation staff were paid several years salary arrears.

CHALLENGES

*Housing

Many civil servants still come to work from Enugu where they reside due to lack of accommodation in Awka, the state capital.

*Water supply

There is no pipe borne water in any part of the state. All the water projects broke down many years ago and nothing much has been done to reactivate them. Boreholes that were constructed did not last as most of them broke down soon after commissioning.

*Roads

Most road projects started by the past administration have remained abandoned.

ENUGU:

By Francis Igata

When last year Enugu people united to enthrone Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to steer the mantle of governance for a first period of four years following his blistering popularity at the poll, a lot of expectations obviously rested on his shoulders. A prepared Ugwuanyi had during his inaugural address at the Micheal Okpara Square on May 29, assured the tumultuous crowd of his administration’s resolve to roll its sleeves in order to meet the burgeoning yearnings of the people especially now that the nation’s mono-cultural economy is buffeted by crude oil glut at the global scene while grappling with insecurity challenges at the home front.

Matching words with action, Ugwuanyi’s managerial dexterity was put to test when stakeholders, observers and the entire people of the state who were waiting in the wings to witness an epic showdown with his predecessors in office, got the rough end of the stick, as he quietly settled down for the business of governance.

A copious peep at the Governor’s principles of governance showed that he operates a government of consultation such that every segment of the stakeholders are carried along in all decisions affecting the people.  Saturday Vanguard  learned that this strategy is to weed out possible bickering which usually snowballs into political warfare. Such situation equally breeds anarchy, smolders scarce resources which would have been deployed to meaningful ventures that will better the lots of the people.

Ugwuanyi, a man of peace

The Governor’s mien, carriage and comportment one year in office have radiated an olive branch to the cleavages dotting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, culminating in the unification of the fragmented party. Until now, political heavyweights in the state rived personal cracks on the walls which threatened its dominance in the state in the days leading to the last general elections.

Rather than melt the mettle, Ugwuanyi’s humane disposition which could be likened to that of a Vatican Bishop who remains unprovoked when bile regurgitates in times of frayed nerves, came handy as a soothing balm that unified the party. This disposition, cutting across party lines, prompted strident calls in various quarters for higher leadership roles come 2023.

Seen by most Igbo as a rallying point, the prevailing peace in Enugu State has endeared the Governor to the innermost recesses of the people’s hearts which has provided a veritable platform for the socio-economic development currently being witnessed in the state. Ugwuanyi’s leadership steps resonate across the South-East geopolitical zone as is evident in the reinvention of the Neighborhood Watch Groups to complement the efforts of security agencies in the wake of last April Fulani herdsmen invasion of Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA) which other sister states are emulating.

Working relationship with first female Deputy Governor

Governor Ugwuanyi’s peaceful stance robs off on all spheres culminating in the robust working relationship prevailing between him and the Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeillo, first female Deputy Governor of the state. Ezeillo,  Saturday Vanguard  gathered, has been a supportive pillar who brings motherly touch to governance that accounts for the ease with which the wheels of governance th

rongs to the fulfillment of government promises to the people.

Payment of workers’ salaries

Ugwuanyi has sustained in the past one year, the payment of workers’ salaries on the 25th of every month. The N4.207b Federal Government bail-out funds received by the state meant for the payment of arrears salaries and pensions of some public servants owed by the previous administration is currently being disbursed and supervised by a joint committee comprising of representatives of organised labour, government and pensioners.

Also, the welfare of workers has received the Governor’s attention as work has reached advanced stages at the Workers’ Estate at Ogbeke. The government has paid 30 percent equity contribution to enable interested Enugu State civil servants from Grade Level 01 to Grade Level 10, to acquire 100 units of one-bedroom flats at Elim Estate, Ibagwa, Nike, Enugu. The beneficiaries of this scheme have since been selected through an open lottery system held recently at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.

Local government administration

Following the expiration on January 4, 2016 of the tenure of 17 Local Government Council chairmen, Ugwuanyi had summoned a stakeholders’ meeting where he consulted with them saying, “Recall that the State Caucus had in its last meeting at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Enugu, agreed that all activities towards the local government elections be put on hold to enable the committee handling the on-going local government staff audit and other reforms conclude its assignment.”

Stakeholders approve caretaker committees

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu-West Senatorial District; Prof. Barth Nnaji, Enugu-East; and Chief Nnia Nwodo, Enugu-North all led other stakeholders from the three districts to approve the setting up of a caretaker committee. The 17 Caretaker Committees are in place as approved by the stakeholders.

Security

The state government donated 17 Hilux trucks to the police and other security agencies in the past year to support their efforts apart from other logistics provided by the Governor. The Governor has doled out N100 million to the Neighborhood Watch Groups in the 472 communities in the state to serve as vigilante and complement the efforts of security agencies.

Urban, rural developement

In fulfillment of the promise to catalyse urban and rural development and develop new cities in the state to boost economic activities, the government embarked on the massive development of roads across the state. The government flagged off the construction of major roads across the state. These were the Ameke Ngwo-Nsude Junction Bypass, Ninth Mile Corner Bypass, Dualisation of Opi-Nsukka Road, Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road, Ohom Orba Junction, Imilike Ani-Ezimo, Uno-Ezimo, Agu-Imilike-Ogbudu, Aba-Obollo-Etiti, Amalla-Obollo Afor, Udenu Ring Road, Enugu Road Junction, Umuezebi-Nru Junction, University Gate, Nsukka; Post Office Roundabout, Odenigbo Roundabout, Ogurugu Road, Ikenga Hotel Junction, Obechara Road Junction, Umuakashi Mechanic Village, Ikenga Hotel Junction.

Some of the roads like the Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road have been completed while others have gone beyond 70% completion. Ugwuanyi’s government, in this one year, has also completed the hitherto intractable Ogbete Market and gone far with the rehabilitation of the Airport Roundabout-Orie Emene-St. Patrick’s College-Eke Obinagu Road Project, Mbanefo II, New Haven. It also directed the continuous maintenance of the roads in Enugu.

Agriculture

As part of rural and agricultural development initiatives, the government of Ugwuanyi initiated the construction of a 15-kilometre Inter-Town Connection, ITC, 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station at Ezi-Nze, Udi LGA just a few days after assumption of office. This initiative will supply electricity to communities in Udi, Igbo-Etiti, and Uzo-Uwani LGAs. It will also activate businesses in these rural communities and power the Adada Dam Project as well as the Greater Nsukka Water Scheme.

Twenty tractors to be hired to genuine farmers at very low rates were procured by government. The release of counterpart funds for the robust participation of the state in the implementation of the N2 billion Staple Crops Processing Zone, SCPZ, programme by the African Development Bank in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria was approved during this one year.

Health

The health sector is already receiving a breath of fresh air as the state government has, among other things, continued to sustain the well acclaimed Free Maternal Health and Child Care Programme while ensuring the proper equipment and staffing of existing health institutions in the state. The government also is on the verge of completing the ultra-modern medical diagnostic centre in Enugu and has initiated the construction of three new Specialist Hospitals in the three Senatorial Zones of the state with the flag off of the scheme at Orba, Udenu LGA.

Discipline

The Child Rights Act is now before the House as an executive bill and in collaboration with the UNICEF, the Ugwuanyi government has carried out sensitization activities to ensure its successful passage. In response to the persistent complaints of the people, the state government took concrete steps to end touting, illegal collection of fees and undue harassment and intimidation of citizens by unscrupulous persons and others purporting to be working for government agencies in Enugu State.

Internally generated revenue

To standardize, streamline and shore up the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, the state government has set up a team to design a blueprint for the collection of revenue which is believed to help eliminate corruption and illegal collections. It is equally working on the promulgation of a Property Tax Law and other revenue related laws that will regulate revenue collection in the state.

Saturday Vanguard  confirmed that some banks and other organizations have been interviewed with regard to this matter and very soon, the state government is to announce the institution that will drive IGR enhancement activities. Investigation revealed that the government equally has plans to reorganize the system of Land Allocation and related matters in order to plug the loopholes and leakages that have been observed in the process. The bottlenecks militating against the take off of the Enugu State Industrial Park has been removed in partnership with Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and the DFID.

Employment

In line with the polices on human development, youth empowerment and poverty alleviation, the state government recently appointed 600 Executive Assistants and is on the verge of making other major appointments and reconstituting boards for parastatals in the state.

JIGAWA

By Aliyu Dangida

ACHIEVEMENTS

*Workers salary

Governor Badaru ensures prompt payment of workers salary.

Petroleum industry: All motion, no progress

One year into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian petroleum industry had been bombarded with a number of initiatives, reforms, policies and strategies, but in spite of these, the industry had not recorded any significant improvement in its fortunes. Over the years, Nigeria and the international community had been consistently reminded of the fact that the Nigerian petroleum industry is bedeviled and enmeshed in an intricate web of corruption, to the extent that almost every successful player in the industry is termed corrupt or seen as benefitting from the corrupt system.


 

It was believed that the rot and opacity in the industry was depriving the country of billions of foreign exchange earnings. It was also a widely held view that the petroleum industry is a symbol of everything bad about Nigeria, as the industry is claimed to be replete with widespread corruption, illegalities and irregularities, outdated contracts; lopsided agreements, theft and vandalisation among others.

With this mindset, the present administration took it upon itself to rid the sector of the massive corruption which was believed to have made it difficult for the industry to make any significant contribution to the development of the Nigerian economy. President Buhari’s administration also set out to improve the lot of the Nigerian petroleum industry and positioning it for relevance, especially with the declining fortune of crude oil in the international market.

In his early days, Buhari promised to introduce far-reaching reforms to boost accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry; address the myriad of challenges in the sector, especially in exploration, production and distribution of petroleum products in the country. He also vowed to tackle the issue of insecurity in the Niger Delta and optimize investments in the country’s oil and gas industry.

To this end, the present administration, within its first year in office, introduced a number of initiatives in the entire gamut of the petroleum industry, ranging from the upstream, downstream sector to the gas sector. It is also instructive to note that Buhari’s plans for the petroleum industry did not commence until after almost three months in office, when in August 2015, he appointed Mr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Also, his road-map for the petroleum industry did not commence until Kachikwu was also named as the Minister for State for Petroleum Resources.

  Upstream

The upstream sector of the Nigeria’s petroleum industry had over the last one year recorded declining fortunes, with Nigeria’s crude oil production dropping from around 2.3 million barrels per day, when Buhari came into office as President in May 2015, to about 1.4 million barrels per day as at today. Widespread crude oil theft and vandalism continued, with the country losing significant percentage of its crude oil production to theft, sabotage and shut-ins.

The Federal Government, had through the NNPC, promised to review all the Joint Venture agreements and Production Sharing Contracts with oil majors in the country, but nothing had been heard of the review. The delay in the review might be as a result of the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill. Also, numerous initiatives and reforms were introduced in the sale of the countries’ crude oil, such as the Direct Sale-Direct Purchase Approach for the lifting of the country’s crude and review of the terms for the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA) and the Crude Oil for Products Swap Arrangement.

  Downstream

In the downstream petroleum sector, no significant progress was recorded despite the major reforms put forward in the sector. The sector within the last one year had been one of the major sources of hardship and pains for a large majority of Nigerians. For the larger part of the last one year, the sector was marred by an unending and gruelling fuel crisis, which saw motorists spending long hours on the queues. To quell the fuel crisis, the Federal Government gave fresh licenses to some investors to build three new refineries at the site of the country’s existing refineries.

  The refineries to be built under the co-location arrangement would ensure that the refineries share facilities with the existing refineries, saving the investors the cost of building supporting infrastructure.  The initiative was also aimed at increasing the countries’ refining capacity to 650,000 barrels per day.   The government also threw open the fuel import segment open, stating that any entity was now free to import fuel as long as they can source dollar.  It was estimated that the results of the various reforms and initiatives would be seen from 2018.

However, while the country waited for the effect of these initiatives, the crisis in the downstream sector within the last one year, climaxed with the hike in the price of the commodity from N86.50 to between N135 and N145 per litre.  The price hike followed a liberalisation of the sector, whereby oil marketers were given a leeway to determine the price of their commodity within the N135 and N145 per litre band, while the marketers were asked to source foreign exchange for fuel importation from the parallel market.

The government, in hiking the price, failed to take steps to safeguard and insulate the country from the volatility in the price of crude oil, by ensuring that the country rely less on fuel import.  This could have been achieved by ensuring that the refineries work at optimal level, while also increasing surveillance on crude oil installations to forestall sabotage, like pipeline vandalisation, crude oil and products theft, among others.

Presently, the fuel crisis appeared to have been addressed, but in reality, the crisis is far from resolved, as oil marketers claim they are still finding it difficult to source dollar to import fuel. In addition, with the rising price of crude oil in the international market and a low naira value, another fuel price hike is imminent in the next couple of weeks.

  Gas

No major development was recorded in the gas sector within the last one year. No single initiative was developed within the last year in the gas sector, while the sector was marred with constant vandalism and gas flaring. No significant policy was introduced to boost gas-to-power; local gas consumption remained low; pricing remained an issue; funding challenges remained, while huge gas debts were still hanging.

The NNPC identified the a number of challenges hindering the growth of the gas sector in Nigeria, ranging from the export orientation of sector; short/medium term proven reserve; reserve development; gas pricing; revenue securitization and lack of a bankable gas agreement among others. Despite identifying these challenges, no effort was made by the government to address the issues so as to improve the fortunes of the sector.

NNPC

The major reforms undertaken in the petroleum industry by the present administration was in the NNPC. In the NNPC, a major restructuring was undertaken, whereby the NNPC was reorganized into four business and three services components. The Group Executive Directors, GEDs, of the NNPC were converted to Chief Operating Officers, COO, and redeployed to the various business components. The  four autonomous business units are Upstream, Downstream, Refineries, Gas & Power, and supported by a lean Group Headquarters, namely -Finance & Accounts, Corporate Services and Venture Unit for non-Core assets management.

Furthermore, the NNPC took a turn towards transparency and full disclosure, as its Group Managing Director, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, commenced the publication of the financial and operations report of the corporation on a monthly basis. Also, the NNPC entered into collaboration  with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and major international upstream oil companies to address the foreign exchange challenges faced by the marketers. The collaboration was aimed at providing between $180 million and $200 million foreign exchange to support major private importers.

The co-location initiative for new refineries was spearheaded by the NNPC, while the NNPC also entered into joint partnership on petroleum products distribution and storage facilities with capable investors. The NNPC also engaged its Joint Venture (JV) partners on alternative ways to defray the current upstream JV funding gap and Cash Call arrears. In addition, the NNPC embarked on a ‘20 Fixes’ project which identified 20 critical issues that need to be addressed in order to re-position the 37 years old national oil corporation on the track of efficiency and profitability.

The target included: Reduce and audit cost, restructure corporate centre and staffing, renegotiate existing contracts, including PSCs, streamline subsidy management, boost pipeline security, enhance transparency and accountability, achieving zero tolerance for corruption, rebrand NNPC and unbundle PPMC.

Other initiatives include: unbundling of the Nigerian Gas Company, reduce contracting Cycle, restructure refineries, improve information technology to drive business, embed staff and business performances management, restructure JV funding and reduce Cash Call, improve retail profitability , deploy and attract focused investments, re-kit NPDC, expand crude marketing and   generate power profitability.

The various reforms in the NNPC was applauded by stakeholders, but skepticism still remained, especially with the fact that the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC is being held by the same person. It is claimed that this was in negation of corporate governance principles, as it does not allow for clear separation of powers and would also hinder efforts by regulatory authorities to hold the NNPC to account for some of its action.

 Conclusion

In spite of the good intentions of the Federal Government and various initiatives, not much success was recorded in the petroleum industry in the first year of President Buhari’s administration.  However, in his recommendation on ways to drive growth in the petroleum industry, Professor. Adeola Adenikinju, Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan, emphasized that current emphasis on crude petroleum exports must be discontinued and should be replaced with seeing petroleum as source of energy and growth enabler.

He called on the Federal Government to develop a medium to long term strategies to anticipate developments in the oil market; improve on the competitiveness of the economy and doing business conditions; promote vertical integration within the oil industry in order to develop a fully integrated economy that is able to generate jobs and development.

He also called for special incentives for marginal field producers, adding that the country must ensure that it is part of the current innovation drive in the energy industry.

Panic as soldiers shoot at random in Oporoza

WARRI- SOLDIERS, who laid siege to Oporoza community, traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, at 1.52 am, started shooting indiscriminately at about 8.44 am, causing more confusion in the riverine town.

Villagers, who ran into the forest on sighting them with gunboats were yet to return, as soldiers, who came in search of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers,  have taken over the community.

Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, told Vanguard on phone at about 9.00 am: “Soldiers have started shooting in Oporoza as I speak to you now, I do not know the casualty, but they are shooting right now, the whole town is in turmoil.”

His words: “I am crying on behalf of my people, we have been saying before now that we do not know what the military is looking for in Oporoza, they have come two times before now in the last few weeks. We said then that they were looking for excuse to start shooting, now they are shooting, we do not know what will happen after the shooting.”

National President of Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, Mr. Austin Ozobo, also raised the alarm that soldiers were shooting in Oporoza and called on the Federal Government to call the soldiers to order.

A villager, who called our reporter on phone, said: “The military is currently shooting randomly in Oporoza but we do not know whether it was aimed at anybody because we are still in the forest. We ran into the forest this morning.

Militants again blow up Agip, Shell trunk line in Bayelsa

THE strike teams of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, in the early hours of today,Saturday, struck in Bayelsa State, blowing up trunk line belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC

The group, which claimed responsibility for the explosions in a tweet, said: “At About 2.15am on Saturday the @NDAvengers blow up Nembe 1, 2 and 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk Line belonging to Agip and Shell.”

Meanwhile, soldiers invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom, at about 1.52 am, this morning and were still laying siege to the community as at 8.00 am.

The soldiers, who came in no fewer than seven gunboats, allegedly beat up residents, including an octogenarian community leader, Chief Atiti Mala, with the butt of a gun.

“They were asking the helpless villagers to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers,” a youth leader told Vanguard on phone.

Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who confirmed the attack on Oporoza, said: “Information available to me is that the military invaded Oporoza again in the early hours of today. As I am speaking to you, they are still there molesting people.”

“They have arrested many persons and villagers have fled into the bush, this is wrong, they are going to worsen issues with what they are doing. I posted on Facebook that they invaded Oporoza and a military called me to tell me that they would deal with me.

“We are not safe, we have said it over and over that Gbaramatu people are not synonymous with Niger Delta Avengers, they should leave my people along. If they want to kill me, let them go ahead, but I will continue to say the truth, why are they harassing my people, they should harass the militants whose activities we condemn,” he added.

More details later.

N’ Delta Avengers to Military, IOCs: ‘Watch out, something big about to happen’

AFTER blowing up additional gas and crude oil trunk lines belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Delta State, in a twin attack, Thursday night, the Niger Delta Avengers yesterday issued a notice to the Nigerian Military, International and Indigenous Oil Companies, IOCs, to watch out for “something big.”

The fear was that the operation of the daring militant group was about to become bloody and enter the phase of abduction, which it warned about earlier.

     

The double attack at 11.45 pm, Thursday, around Batan community in Warri South-West Local Government had sunk the nation into deeper economic quagmire.

The latest attack came less than 24 hours after two Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facilities were hit reportedly grounding its swamp operations in Delta.

Apparently amused at the depression its activities were causing the nation, the leadership of the group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Col Mudoch Agbinibo, yesterday, announced the promotion of the fighters, who carried out the devastating attacks to the rank of Brigadier-General.

“To the IOCs, indigenous oil companies and Nigerian Military, watch out, something big is about to happen and it will shock the whole world,” the group tweeted before announcing that “the high command has rewarded some brave and courageous soldiers of Avengers and promoted them to the rank of Brig.General.”

The Avengers at 8.00 am, Friday, tweeted that it attacked an NNPC Gas and Crude trunk line close to Warri, Delta State at about 11:45pm on Thursday.

The tweet read: “At 11:45PM on Thursday, @NDAvengers blew up another NNPC Gas and Crude trunk line, close to Warri, a pipeline that was heavily guarded by the military.”

Moments later, it dismissed the stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday between government officials and supposed militants as an affront to the people of the region.

The tweet read: “The Niger Delta stakeholders meeting is an insult to the people of the Niger Delta. What we need is a sovereign state not pipeline contracts.”

Earlier in the month after the group bombed Chevron’s Valve Platform, it said: “This is just the beginning and you have not seen anything yet. We will make you suffer as you have made the people of Niger Delta suffered over the years from environmental degradation, and environment pollution.”

Avengers’ spokesperson, Col Mudoch hinted that the commander of its strike team 9 is from Eastern Nigeria, while the commander of strike team 6 that blew up the platform is an Itsekiri and the commander of the elite team one from Akwa Ibom State.

The group had also warned owners and operators of oil blocs in the region to shut down their operations and evacuate their staff latest May 26, saying “if at the end of the ultimatum, you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So just shut down your operations and leave.”

As at the time of this report, attempts to speak with the NNPC spokesperson, Garuba Mohammad was fruitless,    while security sources in the area were yet to confirm the alleged attack.

However, security sources confirmed a twin attack by the group on Wednesday night.

An official of the  Ijaw Youth Council corroborated claims by the militants that they attacked pipelines operated by the NNPC around Batan community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Pipelines, Product Marketing Company and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, both subsidiaries of NNPC operate the damaged pipelines.

According to a security source, both crude and gas trunk lines were severely affected in the attacks.

Locals in the affected community said they heard series of explosions and people thrown into panic, as they did not know what was happening.

Speaking on the incident, IYC spokesperson, Mr, Eric Omare, described the explosion as a recurring incident that is getting out of control.  He asserted: “It was at the back of Batan, Warri South-West. I think the facility should belong to NNPC”.

A rights activist and community leader, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, who is from the area, told Saturday Vanguard: “We  have not been able to ascertain the exact point. An account says it was around Bennet Island, another says it was Batan, we need to be very concrete with our information.