Police Disrupt MASSOB Peaceful Protest, Arrest 17 Members In Imo

Police operatives on Monday, May 30, 2016 arrested about 17 members of the
Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in
Owerri, Imo State during a peaceful march to mark the 50th anniversary of
Biafra and 17th anniversary of MASSOB.
According to reports, the MASSOB members staged a protest from Waterside
Primary School in the state capital from where they proceeded to Rotibi Street
and then to Oguamana Street before they moved to Douglas Road where
they met some heavily armed security men who reportedly threw teargas at
them at Ama JK end of the street and arrested some.
The state police public relations officer, DSP Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed
the arrests to newsmen, said those arrested would be prosecuted.
The spokesman for MASSOB in Owerri zone, Chief Canice Anojuru said the
group decided to hold the road show to awaken the consciousness of the
people of the defunct Biafra which was declared a republic by Ojukwu on May
30, 1966.
He stated that the march was to draw the attention of international community
to the plight of Biafra people, adding that the group had achieved a lot despite
obvious challenges.
Meanwhile, a MASSOB leader, Mr Okechukwu Nwogu, called on Igbo leaders to
arise and speak for Igbo people being unjustly treated by security forces.
He condemned the arrest of their members who were on a peaceful march to
commemorate the anniversaries of Biafra and MASSOB respectively.
Nwogu said: “What Nigeria government is doing to us is very unfair; MASSOB is
a non-violent group moving without arms in remembrance of our history.”

Tension as soldiers comb Delta community for Tompolo

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo

There was anxiety in the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in
Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of
Saturday as soldiers combed the community for ex-militant leader, Government
Ekpemupolo, otherwise called Tompolo.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the fiercely-looking Joint Task Force operatives
stormed the Oporoza community in the area with about five military gunboats
around 1:30am.
It was further gathered that the security operatives laid siege to the Guest
House of the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta.
A source who spoke with one of our correspondents said the security operatives
carted away documents and other valuable items from Tompolo’s Guest House.
The source said, “Officers of the JTF invaded Gbaramatu community in the early
hours of Saturday. The soldiers raided the Oporoza Guest House, Gbaramatu. It
was also was raided in 2009.
“They also raided the Tompolo foundation where they apprehended some of the
children and were asking them for directives on how to get the wanted former
MEND leader. The whole place was cordoned off.”
It was learnt that members of the Government Advocacy Committee against
Pipeline Vandalism inaugurated by the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi
Okowa, travelled to Abuja since Thursday to hold private talks with security
agencies on how to avoid confrontation in the plan to halt the continued
destruction of the nation’s pipelines by the militants.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed fears that Saturday’s
raid of the Delta community could result in the loss of confidence in the
committee’s efforts to prevail on the youth in the region to halt the attacks on
the oil facilities.
Tompolo has been fingered as spearheading the new militant group, Niger Delta
Avengers, which has been carrying out series of attacks on oil facilities across
the Niger Delta region in the last few days.
Although, Tompolo, who is from Oporoza, has consistently denied any link with
the group, attacks on oil facilities have gone unabated since a federal court in
Lagos issued warrant of arrest against him over corruption charges.
A prominent Gbaramatu chief and head of Oporoza community identified as
Aititi alias Burn, was said to have been injured when he tried to prevent the
soldiers from entering his house.
Spokesman of the kingdom, Godspower Gbenekama, also confirmed the raid of
the community to one of our correspondents, adding that there were reports of
sporadic shooting in the community with many residents injured.
He said, “The soldiers arrested several youths. As of 9:30am on Saturday, there
was still shooting in the community. We neither have members of the Niger
Delta Avengers nor Tompolo in our communities.’’
Also, Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Eric Osare, asked the Federal
Government to leave Gbaramatu community alone.
Omare, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH on the telephone, said the soldiers
arrested some youths in the community.
The spokesman of the JTF, Col. Isa Ado, and his NNS Delta counterpart,
Lieutenant Lamu, did not pick the several calls made to their telephone lines.
PUNCH.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Broadcast On #DemocracyDay Full Text

My compatriots,

It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has been a

year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements. By age, instinct and

experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that

lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria. But I

believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the

progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place

to put Nigeria back on the path of progress.

We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures

the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite the many years

of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation have proved inherently

good, industrious tolerant, patient and generous.

The past years have witnessed huge flows of oil revenues. From 2010 average

oil prices were $100 per barrel. But economic and security conditions were

deteriorating. We campaigned and won the election on the platform of restoring

security, tackling corruption and restructuring the economy. On our arrival, the

oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per barrel and we found nothing had

been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices have been declining since 2014 but due

to the neglect of the past, the country was not equipped to halt the economy

from declining.

The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a decrepit state. All the

four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and depots neglected.

Huge debts owed to contractors and suppliers had accumulated. Twenty-seven

states could not pay salaries for months. In the north-east, Boko Haram had

captured 14 local governments, driven the local authorities out, hoisted their

flags. Elsewhere, insecurity was palpable; corruption and impunity were the

order of the day. In short, we inherited a state near collapse.

On the economic front, all oil dependent countries, Nigeria included, have been

struggling since the drop in prices. Many oil rich states have had to take tough

decisions similar to what we are doing. The world, Nigeria included has been

dealing with the effects of three significant and simultaneous global shocks

starting in 2014:

A 70% drop in oil prices.

Global growth slowdown.

Normalization of monetary policy by the United States federal reserve.

Our problems as a government are like that of a farmer who in a good season

harvests ten bags of produce. The proceeds enable him to get by for rest of the

year. However, this year he could only manage 3 bags from his farm. He must

now think of other ways to make ends meet.

From day one, we purposely set out to correct our condition, to change Nigeria.

We reinforced and galvanized our armed forces with new leadership and

resources. We marshaled our neighbours in a joint task force to tackle and

defeat Boko Haram. By the end of December 2015, all but pockets and

remnants had been routed by our gallant armed forces. Our immediate focus is

for a gradual and safe return of internally displaced persons in safety and

dignity and for the resumption of normalcy in the lives of people living in these

areas.

EFCC was given the freedom to pursue corrupt officials and the judiciary was

alerted on what Nigerians expect of them in the fight against corruption. On the

economy, in particular foreign exchange and fuel shortages, our plan is to save

foreign exchange by fast tracking repair of the refineries and producing most of

our fuel requirements at home. And by growing more food in Nigeria, mainly

rice, wheat and sugar we will save billions of dollars in foreign exchange and

drastically reduce our food import bill.

We resolved to keep the Naira steady, as in the past, devaluation had done

dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I supported the monetary

authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal

policy. We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the Naira

and the economy. But we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency

is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong economy pre-supposes an

industrial productive base and a steady export market. The measures we must

take, may lead to hardships. The problems Nigerians have faced over the last

year have been many and varied. But the real challenge for this government has

been reconstructing the spine of the Nigerian state. The last twelve months

have been spent collaborating with all arms of government to revive our

institutions so that they are more efficient and fit for purpose:

That means a bureaucracy better able to develop and deliver policy

That means an independent judiciary, above suspicion and able to defend

citizen’s rights and dispense justice equitably.

That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and

Above all; that means political parties and politicians committed to serving the

nigerian people rather than themselves.

These are the pillars of the state on which democracy can take root and thrive.

But only if they are strong and incorruptible. Accordingly, we are working very

hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we conduct

government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can build enduring

change.

An important first step has been to get our housekeeping right. So we have

reduced the extravagant spending of the past. We started boldly with the

treasury single account, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.

We then identified forty-three thousand ghost workers through the Integrated

Payroll and Personnel Information system. That represents pay packets totalling

N4.2 billion stolen every month. In addition, we will save Twenty-Three Billion

Naira per annum from official travelling and sitting allowances alone.

Furthermore, the efficiency unit will cut costs and eliminate duplications in

ministries and departments. Every little saving helps. The reduction in the

number of ministries and work on restructuring and rationalization of the MDAs

is well underway. When this work is complete we will have a leaner, more

efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of changing nigeria for the

good and for good.

As well as making savings, we have changed the way public money is spent. In

all my years as a public servant, I have never come across the practice of

padding budgets. I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget, but

more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent, more

inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in the recent

past. 30% of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to capital items.

Furthermore, we are projecting non-oil revenues to surpass proceeds from oil.

Some critics have described the budget exercise as clumsy. Perhaps. But it was

an example of consensus building, which is integral to democratic government.

In the end we resolved our differences.

We have, therefore, delivered significant milestones on security, corruption and

the economy. In respect of the economy, I would like to directly address you on

the very painful but inevitable decisions we had to make in the last few weeks

specifically on the pump price of fuel and the more flexible exchange rate policy

announced by the central bank. It is even more painful for me that a major

producer of crude oil with four refineries that once exported refined products is

today having to import all of its domestic needs. This is what corruption and

mismanagement has done to us and that is why we must fight these ills.

As part of the foundation of the new economy we have had to reform how fuel

prices had traditionally been fixed. This step was taken only after protracted

consideration of its pros and cons. After comprehensive investigation my

advisers and I concluded that the mechanism was unsustainable.

We are also engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which are in

different jurisdictions. The processes of recovery can be 

Bill To Lower Age To Contest In Elections Passes First Reading In NASS

The House of Representatives has passed for first reading a Bill seeking to
lower the constitutional age requirement for contesting for elections in
Nigeria. The Bill with gazette number HB. 544 was read and passed for
the first time at the House plenary session on Wednesday May 26th, 2016. Hon.
Tony Nwulu representing Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos state
sponsored the bill otherwise referred to as the #NotTooYoungToRun bill.

The bill seeks to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for
the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate
35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to
25. The Bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s
electoral process.
Recently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara publicly
advocated for a downward review of age criteria for running for certain elective
offices when he played host to students at a dialogue session in the National
Assembly. In his words ‘I think it may not be out of place to lower the age
qualification for certain elective offices in the next constitutional amendment
exercise”. Charging the youths to take the gauntlet and constructively organize
for the age review he said ‘This country belongs to you but it’s under the
stranglehold of men and women of a generation that have overreached itself.
The truth is that nothing will be ceded or conceded to your generation without a
fight’.
These developments from the House of Representatives signal commitment on
the part of the 8th National Assembly to open the democratic space for
increased youth participation. It is an indication that the 8th Assembly is
responsive to the yearnings of its vast youthful population.
The constitutional amendment bill if passed will address the legal challenge
posed to young people seeking to run in elections thereby guaranteeing
inclusion in our political process. The amendment will not only create a level-
playing field for young people, it will enhance the competitiveness of electoral
politics in Nigeria due to the innovative, creative, dynamism and resourcefulness
that youths bring to the electoral process. Further more, the Bill will deepen
intergenerational dialogue as more youths will gain access to the political
process for more adult-youth engagement and partnership.
The youth community welcomes this development with excitement and renewed
hope in the legislature. We recognize Hon. Tony Nwulu for sponsoring this
important Bill. We urge all legislators in the National Assembly to support the
quick passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill to pave way for more youth
inclusion in the political process. This is the time for Nigeria to take its rightful
place in the comity of nations as a country guided by the principles of inclusion,
freedom, equality and justice.

Ex-lawmaker drags Jonathan to EFCC

                                            Former President Good luck Ebele Jonathan


A former member of the Enugu state House of Assembly, Ikenna Ejezie
has filed a petition to the EFCC seeking the prosecution of former president
Goodluck Jonathan, over alleged mismanagement of $2.1billion arms deal
scandal
– Ejezie says the request must be responded to within seven days from the
receipt of this letter and as quickly as possible
– EFCC says the petition will be treated on its merit
– EFCC says it is strange that a petitioner or an individual will have to give
the EFCC a deadline to do its work
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a very
first petition seeking the prosecution of former president Goodluck Jonathan,
over alleged mismanagement of $2.1billion released to the Office of the
National Security Adviser (ONSA) for arms purchase.
The petition filed to the EFCC, came from a former member of the Enugu
state House of Assembly, Ikenna Ejezie, through his counsel, Barrister
Osuagwu Ugochukwu.
Ejezie’s petition becomes the first ever the EFCC will formally receive
demanding the investigation of Jonathan.
According to a report on The Nation, the petition is also requesting the EFCC
to invite Jonathan for interrogation on why he made N400million public funds
available to a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, for personal and private party use.
Both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, were copied
the petition.

EFCC has received a first petition seeking the prosecution of former president
Goodluck Jonathan, over alleged mismanagement of $2.1billion.
The petition read: “We are solicitors to Hon. Ikenna Ejezie hereinafter called
our client and with you as he has instructed.
“Our client is requesting you to, in the public interest, invite ex-President
Goodluck Jonathan for questioning and possible prosecution over his role in
the misuse of $2.1billion through the Office of the National Security Adviser
(Col. Sambo Dasuki rtd) and disbursement of N400million funds to Olisa
Metuh for personal and private political party use.
“Our client notes that Dasuki had stated severally whilst in your commission
that the $2.1billion was authorized for disbursement by ex-President
Goodluck Jonathan for arms purchase, but later turned out to be for selfish
purpose.
Olisa Metuh also had admitted that former President Goodluck Jonathan
transferred and/ or authorized release of N400million public funds to his
account for political campaign of Jonathan rather than for public interest.
“Our client informed us that the confession of Olisa Metuh is contained in his
criminal statement with the EFCC.
“Our client is thus shocked that in spite of the implication of ex-President
Jonathan in the current prosecution of Metuh and Dasuki, the former
President has not been invited for his statement to be taken nor has he been
prosecuted by the EFCC as co-accused/ defendant.
“Our client herewith requests that the ex-President be invited for questioning
and to commence prosecution as he was the one who did authorize the
disbursement of the $2.1billion and N400million public funds that were
illegally abused and misappropriated by Dasuki and Metuh who are both
standing trial in various courts in Abuja.
“Our client demands that this request be responded to within seven days
from the receipt of this letter and as quickly as possible.”


When contacted, a top source at the EFCC said: “We have received a copy of
the letter from the affected individual, and it will be treated on its merit.
Normally, once anyone drops a letter or a petition, we subject it to our due
procedure of whether it has any merit or not.
“From what we have, what was sent to us was based on media reports.
Those who brought the letter have not disclosed any fact yet.
“So far, they have to come up with more evidence. We will certainly demand
for concrete evidence against the ex-President from the aggrieved who wrote
us. And it is strange that a petitioner or an individual will have to give the
EFCC a deadline to do its work.”
Reports had become rife that the former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan
had go one exile in Cote’d’Ivoire. But in a swift reaction, the ex-president
denied the reports.
According to Dr Jonathan in a report in the Vanguard of Tuesday, May 24,
through one his personal assistants, he said: “I am not in exile; it is quite
unfortunate that anybody is insinuating that I am in exile.
“I am now a private citizen. Since I left office, this is my second visit to
Cote’d’Ivoire; I have gone to so many countries in recent times as part of my
efforts to promote peace. What I am doing is a global tour since leaving
office, and this is my second visit to Cote’d’Ivoire.
“It is unfortunate that anybody should insinuate that I am in exile. When I
finish what I am doing here, I will continue my visit all over the world.”

What Buhari has done after 1 year in office

A document titled “Factsheet on President Muhammadu Buhari’s 1st year in
office” was made available by Femi Adesina, the president’s aide on media
and publicity.
Below is a full analysis of what Buhari has done in the last 365 days in
office.
SECURITY
•The relocation of the Nigerian Military Command Centre to Maiduguri, since
May 2015, contributed to the success in the fight against insurgency in the
North Eastern part of the country.
•As at February 2016, the total number of persons rescued by the Nigerian
troops during the ongoing operations in the North East came to 11,595
•Since December 2015, the well-motivated and rejuvenated Nigerian Military
have regained all Nigerian territories previously under Boko Haram control.
•Prioritized regional cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency
and violent extremism, through the operations of the 8,500 strong Multi-
National Joint Task Force in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, currently
headed by a Nigeria military general.
•Nigeria has provided $21million USD to the Task Force since June 2015 and
is committed to an additional $79 million USD, bringing the total of Nigeria’s
commitment to the Task Force to 100 million USD.
•Cohesive international support in the fight against terrorism and assistance
to victims and communities affected by terrorism, following President
Buhari’s meeting with G7 leaders and other world powers.
•In May 2016, Nigeria hosted a Regional Security Summit to boost military
operations against Boko Haram and forge a global support for the
rehabilitation of the IDPs and rebuilding of the North East.
•In June 2015, the United States announced a 5-million-dollar support for the
fight against the terrorists in the sub-region.
• In April 2016, during the visit to Ms Samantha Power, the U.S Ambassador
to the UN to Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, the U.S Government further
announced an additional $40 million USD for humanitarian assistance in the
sub-region
•Recruitment of additional 10,000 persons into the Nigeria Police Force is
ongoing. The recruitment will address the manpower gap which currently
exists in the Nigeria Police
•Overhaul of the dysfunctional topmost hierarchy of the Nigerian military
which resulted in optimal result and degradation of the Boko Haram
elements.
•Was able to bring back our hitherto military allies; which saw the United
States and UK governments commit their resources to the fight against the
insurgents after previously backing out of negotiations with the previous
administration. The Israeli government has also indicated interest in the fight
against insurgency.
•Introduction of the motor cycle battalion (This is so that the Nigerian Army
can travel to remote areas that were not accessible to cars/trucks)
•Realigned our partnership with regional allies by embarking on foreign visits
which resulted in bilateral and multilateral agreements to tackle insecurity
back home.


•No more roadblocks and curfews, which normally impeded free flow of
movement.
•Continuous monitoring of activities in the region of war through the use of
satellite images and geographical information system is helping in fighting
insurgency and strategizing against the enemy.
•The trips to our neighbouring countries showed the resolve of the President
to push Boko Haram elements out of existence by going for the jugular of the
group, cutting their arms, food supply routes. Support has thus been
mobilized through the Multinational Joint Task Force.
•Another major stride is the Trans National Organized Crime (TNOC) where
the president got partnership with regional allies in the fight against the
proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
•As part of the reconfigured military partnership, the United States donated
24 mine-resistant armoured vehicles (MRAP) which had protected the
Nigerian troops from the menace of Improvised Explosive Devices. Today we
have less causalities.
• Reached out to the G7 countries and achieved the following: intelligence
sharing; technical military training; arms deals/donations
•Overhauling of NIMASA. A reversed policy of the past administration where
national infrastructural assets were given to militia leaders to protect as
against established bodies like the Nigerian Navy was stopped.
•The President Buhari government has drafted the army to partner with other
security agencies in ensuring the security of our national infrastructure and
this is already yielding the desired results.
•A major ring of pipeline vandals in Lagos state were captured recently in a
joint operation by security forces led by the army.
•The government has renewed its fight against oil bunkering
•The Nigerian Navy has recorded tremendous success lately in apprehending
vessels used by oil thieves. This operation has improved security on our
water ways and it has also helped improve the revenue of government.
•Deployment of sophisticated weapons to ensure vandalism is contained by
setting up a pipeline security force in stamping out the menace.
•Effective Management of the Separatist Biafran Movement
•Improving the technical capacity of Nigerian Police Force. We now have a
forensic lab and GSM tracking device. We now have a more IT integrated
Police force.
•Restructuring of Nigerian Immigration to stop cross border crimes.
•NSCDC has become more proactive in the prevention of pipeline
vandalization, with arrest of several pipeline vandals.
•Joint operations involving various security outfits in curbing the menace of
the herdsmen in the country has been set up.
•The use of surveys and updated mappings across the country as strategies
for preventing threats among ethnic groups in Nigeria.
CORRUPTION
•Right from the moment he won the Presidential Election in 2015, the
impression of the President as a ‘‘no nonsense and incorruptible leader’’ sent
a signal to looters of public funds, with many of them returning funds that
had been stolen under the previous administration.
•To create a frame work for prosecuting the war against corruption and
institutionalize probity, President Buhari set up an Advisory Committee on
War Against Corruption.
• The anti-corruption battle is gaining ground with several high profile cases
already in the courts. The administration is being guided by the rule of law in
the prosecution of corruption cases.
• President Buhari enlisted the support of multilateral institutions like the
World Bank and IMF, security agencies, Western countries and other friendly
nations to locate and repatriate stolen assets.
• At a London summit on anti-corruption, President Buhari announced that
Nigeria will begin the full implementation of the principles of the OPEN
contracting data standards.
•In the first quarter of 2016, President Buhari embarked on trips to the Middle
East to sensitize the governments on the need to repatriate stolen assets
and hand over the looters for trial in Nigeria. In January, Nigeria and UAE  signed Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons,
Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters.
•In March 2016, the Federal Government and the Swiss Government signed a
Letter of Intent On the Restitution of Illegally-Acquired Assets forfeited in
Switzerland. Under the agreement, Switzerland will repatriate $ 321 million
USD illicitly acquired by the Gen. Sani Abacha family.
•In March 2016, the Presidential Committee set up to probe contracts
awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) from 2011 to
2015 announced the recovery of over N7 billion from indicted companies and
individuals.
ECONOMY
• Implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has provided greater
visibility of government revenues and cash flows. Between June 2015 and
April 2016, the Federal Government TSA collection clocked N3trillion.
•To further instill fiscal discipline, President Buhari directed the closure of all
multiple accounts in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government,
thereby plugging loopholes for leakages with new technology.
• The opaque accounting structure of the NNPC has been reconstructed to be
more transparent with the closure of more than 40 accounts. As a corporate
entity, NNPC is now accountable and more transparent in operations,
publishing its monthly financial reports.
• The President also resolved the lingering shadowy oil swap deals that had
cost the country billions of dollars and left it at the mercy of a few rich
Nigerians.
•To alleviate the suffering of Nigerians in September 2015, President Buhari
directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to disburse N689.5 billion as bailout to
27 states of the federation to pay salaries.
•To stimulate the economy and reduce poverty, in April, 2016, President
Buhari approved deferment in the payment of the bailout as states were still
reeling under the burden of the fall in commodity prices.
•Records of more than 34,000 ghost workers draining the nation’s resources
were expunged from the Federal Civil Service, saving N2.29 billion monthly.

•In 2015, President Buhari ruled out the appointment of a government
delegation for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. By this decision, the government
saved about one million U.S dollars and N30m of local expenses
•Enforcement of the Bank Verification Number: Also the BVN has ensured that
the menace of “ghost workers” are being identified and dealt with, while
looters with multiple accounts can no longer hide their loot undetected.
•Social Protection: Groundwork for social intervention/palliatives for the poor
is being put in place as data is being collated by the economic planning
office of the VP in conjunction with the World Bank.
•Reorganization/restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) into a focused, accountable and transparent institution with
autonomous Units (Upstream; Downstream, Gas & Power; Refineries;
Ventures and lean Group Headquarters)
•Reduction of operational deficits in NNPC by over 50% as at March 2016 as
a result of Increased Transparency and Commercial focus
•Conduct of NNPC outstanding Annual Audits from 2011 to 2014, and the
publication of Monthly Financial and Operations Reports to ensure
transparency
•Introduction of third party financing in order to eliminate direct funding of
cash calls by the Federal Government
•Renegotiation of existing service contracts under Joint Venture and
Production sharing contracts (PSC) Operations by about 30% leading to
operational efficiency improvements and cost reductions
•Elimination of the Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA) through the
introduction of the Direct Sales and Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme with
reputable off-shore refineries thereby yielding annual savings of US$1 billion
•Resuscitation of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries presently
producing about 7 million litres of products per/day
•Repair of products pipe lines and the resuscitation of supply of products
from Atlas Cove-Mosimi- Ibadan- Ilorin after a six year lull
•Repairs of Escravos/ Warri and Bonny/Port Harcourt crude oil pipe lines
•Introduction of a Price Modulation framework for downstream petroleum
product pricing to encourage responsiveness to market dynamics
•Guided deregulation of the downstream sector to allow market forces
determine product price and eliminate subsidy payments
•Introduction of the initiative on refinery co-location to increase domestic
refining capacity and minimize the drain on scarce foreign exchange for
product importation
•Commenced policy reforms for gas monetization, flare out and infrastructure
development, to fast track power supply and economic diversification.
POWER
•Under President Buhari, the Federal Government agreed to a 50 million Euro
(about N11.15 billion) loan agreement with French government for capacity-
building and upgrade of power training facilities in Nigeria.
•Nigeria signed a $237 million agreement with World Bank to improve power.
•Chinese solar power manufacturers agreed with the Federal Government to
set up solar panel manufacturing business in Nigeria.
•President Buhari has signed an agreement with the Chinese government to
improve Nigeria’s power infrastructure
ENVIRONMENT
•Presidential approval for the Implementation of United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) report 2010 for the clean-up of Ogoniland
with regards to oil pollution and inclusion of stakeholders in the process of
implementation.
•Continuation of the implementation of the Great Green Wall project to fight
and contain desertification in Northern Nigeria initiated by past
administration.
JUDICIARY
•Since assumption of office, President Buhari has maintained a clear stance
on the rule of law and respect for separation of powers.
•The President has focused on the strengthening of institutions with key
appointment of professionals.
•Appointment of 30 new Federal High Court Justices
NATIONAL IMAGE
•On assumption of office, the President undertook some foreign trips both
within and outside Africa to re-establish Nigeria’s position in the global

arena and solicit support for Nigeria and Africa.
• President Buhari has continually pushed the agenda for enhancing Nigeria’s
global image by always demonstrating Nigeria’s credentials in the 2015
general elections, which saw the country scoring high on peaceful transition.
•President Buhari strongly supported the emergence of a Nigerian, Dr
Akinwumi Adesina, as President of the Africa Development Bank.

NDA struck early Saturday, May 28, in Bayelsa state, blowing up trunk lines
belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC).
Vanguard reports that the group in a tweet revealed that its strike teams, in
the early hours of today blew up trunk lines belonging to NAOC and SPDC.
“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,” the NDA stated in a
tweet.
The NDA has threatened to do something that will shock the whole world. In
a series of tweets, the militants revealed that they blew up another oil
pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on
Thursday, May 26, which they claimed was heavily guarded by the Nigerian
military.
The group also blasted the Niger Delta stakeholders over the meetings they
held in the region, stating that they want a sovereign state and not pipeline
contracts.
In a related development, 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 8am.
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 the newspaper on phone.

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND PROJECT CONTINUITY BILL, 2011: A MIXTURE OF ENDURING LEGACIES AND EXCELLENT PROMISES

By Sunda Onyemaechi  Eze

All over the world, government is a continuum. Ideally, once the baton of
leadership of a nation is handed over to a new government, the onus lie on the
regime to embrace the projects, policies and programmes of the previous
administration without recourse to any personal, party or primordial interests.
However, one major identifiable draw-back to social, economic and
infrastructural development in Nigeria is lack of continuity of policies and
programmes of government at the federal, state and local levels. State
resources are poorly managed, majorly siphoned or frittered as political leaders
often embark on white elephant projects that cannot endure the test of time at
the twilight of their tenures.
This unfortunate tradition has badly characterised governance and induced
corruption since 1999. As at June, 2011, the Presidential Projects Assessment
Committee led by Architect Ibrahim Bunu, a former Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory had reported that there are 11,886 abandoned federal and
state government projects dotting the nooks and crannies of Nigeria which will
require N7.78 trillion to complete. The committee revealed that political and
personal considerations outweighed national interest in the award of contracts.
Majority of the contracts the committee said were procurement-driven rather
than development driven. With this ugly political trend and ridiculous disposition
of politicians, the nation is utterly consigned to retrogression if not urgently
checked.
Vision 20:2020 initiated by late General Sani Abacha said to be one of the best
of Nigeria’s developmental plans had already identified interruption of
development plans, programmes and projects as part of the bane of effective
budgeting and development in Nigeria. The Vision considering the number of
abandoned projects within the three tiers of government, proposed a legal
framework that will guarantee continuity of projects even if there is a change in
government. The proposed Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill,
2011 sent to the 7th Senate which stands to permanently remedy this man-
made problematic situation is an off-shoot of Vision 20:2020. With this act of
the parliament, the culture of initiating new or duplicating projects, programmes
and policies by every government while those embarked upon by previous
administrations are pending is permanently laid to rest. This bill provides sure
remedy to the overt lack of seamless developmental plan for the nation. It rises
above primordial sentiments and stands to quarantine any regional neglect or
political vendetta. The proposed bill professes enduring legacies and showcases
excellent promises to Nigerians.
First, section four of it states that it shall be unlawful for a government of the
Federation to have an abandoned project in any part of Nigeria. Second, it calls
for the establishment of a registry of projects for all ongoing and completed
projects detailing the location, cost and purpose of each project and means of
identification, the project commencement date and the agreed or projected date
of completion. Third, the register should also include information on budgetary
and funding sources of the project; the contractor in-charge of the project;
amounts, disbursed and expended on the project; the estimated amount required
for completion; and any other information or details pertaining to the
implementation of the project. Section three makes formulation of development
plan compulsory for all the three tiers of government in Nigeria.
Why have we habituated too long on this mount? According to Eze Onyekpere,
Lead Director Centre for Social Justice, “the major underlying reason is that
power has been entrusted to elected and appointed officials and career civil
servants without a commensurate duty to be accountable to citizens. The
thinking, sadly, is that the credit and the glory will go to the previous
administration if the new one continues with the projects they initiated.
But governance is a continuous exercise and two administrations are bound to take
credit for initiating, continuing and completing large-scale projects. In the
process of initiating new projects, too many activities are inserted in the budget
year after year with very little resources to implement them. There are perverse
incentives for public officials to abandon projects started by their predecessors.
In essence, public officials deem and know that the kickbacks and bribes in old
and ongoing projects have already been collected by the preceding public
officials and as such, there is not much to personally gain in continued
implementation of old projects. The alternative is to upwardly review the cost of
an ongoing contract for the new men to get “a piece of the action”. But this
may raise suspicion from the discerning public. Therefore, their best option is to
design a new project (notwithstanding that it has no bearing on the welfare of
citizens or growth of the economy) and get kickbacks from the exercise.”
The apparent lack of political ideology and patriotism driving parties and
individuals is one low democratic spot in Nigeria. Politics is played with
manifest bitterness. It is a do or die affair! Most Nigerian leaders are egoistic
and power drunk. They take little or no advice from anyone. Parties and
politicians alike see governance as an elitist question, a national cake to be
shared among friends and relations devoid of service to humanity. Continuity in
government induces seamless and even societal development. Developmental
strides or legacies of government should not be seen as a personal achievement
of individuals at the helm of state affairs. Rather as services occasioned and
provided by virtue of the positions occupied by those who initiated them for the
benefit of the nation and not one meant for accolades or a pat on their backs
for a job well done. Government should take advantage of the excellent promises
this bill offers and join hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to begin a
robust engagement with the National Assembly to ensure that it is revisited and
passed before the end of this administration. Therefore, we must all rise to
bring to the consciousness of National Assembly the import of that bill and the
disservice they are doing to the nation for not passing it. A bill of immense
societal benefit like this one should not be allowed to die a natural death. This
is a clarion call to the 8th Senate to revisit that proposed bill and give it the
accelerated hearing and passage it deserves for the good of our nation-Nigeria.

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Communications Specialist wrote via
sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201

PASSENGERS’ RIGHT TO COMFORT AND VEHICULAR USAGES IN NIGERIA

Overloaded vehicle

In climes where law reigns supreme and lives treasured, all road users if not all
citizens are at home with the traffic laws. These laws are clearly spelt out and
a dividing line drawn between the functions of different kinds of vehicles plying
their roads. Before one acquires a drivers’ license and qualifies to sit behind the
wheels, such individual must have passed through rigorous tutorials, driving
tests and exams expected to be passed with good grades. Citizens dread
breaking traffic laws more than anything else for fear of the attendant dire
consequences. Offenders are charged to court immediately, vehicles impounded
or statutory fines imposed accordingly and licences ceased for a certain
stipulated time. Heavy duty vehicles are strictly designated for haulage of goods
and services while other smaller vehicles like cars and buses strictly convey
human beings contrary to which full weight of the law will be visited upon
defaulters. At no time or circumstance will a haulage truck driver contemplate
interchanging his traditional role of conveying goods with that of a commuter
bus even if he was financially induced or pressurised to.
It is a different kettle of fish here in Nigeria. Land transportation system has
witnessed and accommodated terrible practices. The ugly consequences and the
resultant carnages of these actions are common on our roads. Road users can
willingly break traffic laws and easily get away with it. As evident on our roads,
vehicles are all utilised interchangeably depending on the situation, the seeming
accruable gain to the driver, the vehicle owner or even the passengers
themselves. It has become a common pathetic, astonishing, worrisome and
unbecoming sight on our highways to behold people especially the young ones
regularly hanging on trucks from Kano to Lagos or Port Harcourt to Damaturu
without a whimper. Passengers are also seen cramped inside trunks of vehicles
reminiscence of animals or mere commodities as they journey to their various
destinations. Some national dailies have done a bit by attempting to portray the
dangers by dedicating a pictorial column to it and some other unusual
developments in our roads and society. However, the trend demands drastic
measures and deserves urgent attention of road managers. This unwholesome
common practice take place under the nose of several mounted Security and
Road Safety Check Points. Still the law turns blind eye and look on mindlessly.
Many Nigerians have been confined perpetually to wheel chairs while others
unfortunately met their untimely deaths to this unacceptable practice. The
nation can no longer afford to have disabled citizenry or lose more lives to this
system; hence, it should be discouraged. This ugly situation has practically
thrown up the quantum of attention and concern an individual Nigerian pay to
the sanctity of his own life; that of his neighbours and to a large extent the
seriousness Nigerian state attaches to the welfare of her citizens. Furthermore,
it brings to light the high level of ignorance or perhaps the folly which induces
some passengers to inconvenience or denigrate their persons for some ludicrous
reasons.
Are there extant laws for passengers’ comfort as they journey around Nigeria?
How active and protective are conveyance laws in the nation? Are the road
users and transport operators aware of the laws? Of course, there are lots of
laws with institutions driving them but something urgent needs to be done to
make them adequately functional. If the awareness for the protection of the
rights of even lower and less important animals is on the increase the world
over; every Homo sapiens deserve the right to live a decent and dignified life in
addition to comfort and convenience while travelling. This law of nature guiding
our existence has no meaning to some passengers themselves and transport
operators in Nigeria who were both ignorant and indifferent to this grave danger
lurking around.


Vehicular mode of transportation is the fastest, reliable, comfortable and most
convenient among various kinds of road transport systems all over the world.
Peoples’ lives, movement of goods and services from one place to another have
been improved and enhanced by this common but unique type of transport
system. Therefore, for continued preservation of lives of citizens, growth and
improvement in the vehicular transport system; we must not underestimate the
right to passengers’ comfort and convenience to vehicular usages in Nigeria.
The Federal, States and Local governments, the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)
and even passengers and community leaders should understand the enormity of
this transportation challenge and disaster. These groups and institutions should
individually or jointly engage in aggressive and robust public enlightenment of
the operators and stakeholders in the transport sector to learn, recognise and
understand the essence of safety of their lives, choice of vehicles and the right
to comfort when travelling. By so doing, the consciousness of the road users
will be awakened to the realities and the consequences of this unwarranted
trend.

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Communications Specialist wrote via
sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201
daylight articles vehicles comfort in nigeria

Obasanjo, Nnamani, Duke, Others Linked To New Political Party

                                                                                   
                                                                        Obasanjo

 Obasanjo, Nnamani, Duke, Others Linked To New Political Party
   
Apparently dissatisfied with the performance of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, former
President Olusegun Obasanjo is said to be leading a pack of top
politicians including former senate president Ken Nnamani and former Cross
River State Governor Mr. Donald Duke to float a new political party ahead of
the 2019 general elections.
Our correspondent gathered authoritatively that the new party in formation,
which is billed for lunch in November 2016 also has Sokoto State Governor
Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor Senator Aliyu Wamako as coordinator of
Sokoto state while Senator Musa Kwakwaso is to oversee Kano state.
Other coordinators of the yet to be named mega party our correspondent
gathered are Senator Adamu Aliero who is to coordinate Kebbi state, Mrs
Helen Esuene who is to coordinate Akwa Ibom, the current secretary to the
Edo State government Professor Julius Ihonvbere is to coordinate Edo State
while Mr. Jimi Agbaje is to coordinate Lagos state. The name of Ogun born
politician Mr. Bode Mustapha also featured in the new political arrangement.
Some governors of the South-South and South-East, who are serving their
second terms in office our correspondent gathered are also deeply involved in
the political arrangement but with the promise of vice presidential slot while
present and former governors of the North have also been linked to the new
party.
Though the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was linked to the
new party, an insider told Frontiersnews that Obasanjo is strongly opposed to
the inclusion of his former deputy in the party.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent, on condition of anonymity said ”
Obasanjo is blocking the inclusion of Atiku Abubakar because of their old
quarrel. We are beginning to see the former VP returning to the PDP before
2019 because the APC will certainly not give him the ticket in 2019″.
Top political leaders in both the ruling APC, the PDP and other political parties
in the country have also been linked with the new party as consultation
intensifies.
An inside source told our correspondent on Monday that key members of the
National Assembly, some serving ministers, former governors and a host of
other powerful individuals in the country swell the rank of the new political
group.
The source stated that in the months ahead, “you are going to see alignment
and realignment of political interests. As for the APC and the PDP, there
survival will be dependent on their ability to manage their crisis”.
Our correspondent’s investigations revealed that APC strongman Senator Bola
Tinubu is already mobilising his supporters to consolidate their hold on the
South West bloc and possibly reawaken “his old political bloc”.
Tinubu’s key allies and diehard loyalists who the source said are very unhappy
in APC and with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government are already
mobilising to recreate the old Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform ahead of
the 2019 general elections, another top politician confirmed.
The source said this development is also applicable to the Atiku Abubakar and
the Bukola Saraki’s blocs.
Frontiersnews had exclusively reported that a across sector of top politicians in
the six geo-political zones of the country have been consulting to fashion out a
new mega political party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The promoters of the yet to be named political party, the online medium said
were undecided wether to create a completely new political platform or
leverage on an already registered party and build it into a mega party to form a
formidable opposition party to the APC and the PDP in the political landscape.

Amina, Sambisa, and the Parable of a Wobbly Nigeria

                                                             Okey Ndibe




A
Photo Credit:State House Photo/Sunday Aghaeze
peculiarly Nigerian type of frenzy happened last week. The event was
triggered by a report that a young woman named Amina Ali Nkeki, one of
the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted the night of April 14,
2014, had been rescued. The initial reports disclosed that a vigilante group
rescued Amina last Tuesday as she wandered along the edges of Sambisa
Forest in the company of a man who claimed to be her husband, but was
suspected to be a Boko Haram insurgent, and a four-month baby in her arms.
From there, it was brouhaha all the way. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno
State feted the 19-year-old mother. Then, a day later, President Muhammadu
Buhari welcomed Amina and her baby to Aso Rock, his official residence. The
misfortunate woman was cast in a dizzying drama that featured photo-ops,
speeches, and global media coverage. The president cradled Amina’s baby in his
arms as he and others beamed for the cameras. Speaking on behalf of the
Nigerian state, the president promised that Amina would receive the best
physical, psychological and emotional healthcare Nigeria can provide.
You’d think, watching all the excitement, that all 219 schoolgirls, not just one,
had been spirited from their abductors. But that was the one narrative, thumbed
with the imprimatur of the Nigerian state. There was an album of counter-
narratives, running the gamut from those who insisted that the whole thing was
an abject hoax, a stage-managed political theater, to those who believe that the
abduction saga never happened in the first place.
Last Thursday, two days after Amina’s rescue, the Nigerian military announced
a second rescue, of a youngster named Serah Luka. For a moment, it appeared
there was some momentum, Nigeria on the cusp of finding and liberating the
200 odd victims who remain unaccounted for.
But the second success story turned out a dud. Chibok parents as well as
activists who pressed former President Goodluck Jonathan—and are pressing
Mr. Buhari—to bring back the schoolgirls questioned the military’s claim that
Serah was one of the schoolgirls. Neither her name nor image was on the roster
of the missing schoolgirls.
Whether it was an honest mistake or a calculated fib, the misidentification of
Serah as one of the Chibok schoolgirls further fueled conspiracy theories. Some
critics saw the first and second rescues as politically orchestrated maneuvers, a
plot by the Buhari administration and its champions to deflect attention from
biting economic crises and deepening social misery.
Other doubters wondered why Amina, who was supposed to be sitting certificate
exams at the time of her abduction, was incapable of expressing herself in
English. Her apparent incapacity fed speculations that she was chosen and cast
in a contrived melodrama.
This theory’s currency and traction demonstrate the depth of Nigeria’s
fragmentation. I doubt that a plot as audacious as the feigned abduction of 200
plus schoolgirls could have been pulled off and sustained for more than two
years. One inclines to a different theory. It is possible that Amina is a victim of
an educational system that delivers little or no curricular content. As a Fulbright
lecturer in Nigeria in 2002, I encountered English students whose proficiency in
the language was simply awful. When I asked a student why she had not
switched off her phone, she answered, “I thought I off it.” I asked her to correct
herself, and she answered, “I thought I offed it.” Many a student could not make
a complete sentence without mixing in pidgin.
Nigerian education, like other vital sectors of the country’s life, has been
devastated by decades of neglect, poor funding, and a certain cultural disdain
for learning and enlightenment. Most Nigerians have no praying chance of
receiving good healthcare—unless they have the funds to fly away to
destinations like India, the UK, South Africa, Dubai or the US.
In a perverse sort of way, then, Amina is “lucky” that abduct

AT LAST! Court Freezes All The Billions Owned by Kola Aluko & Jide Omokore over Diezani Loot

'I'm a big boy, I'm connected to government, into oil business, I control Millions
and Billions'. It doesn't last! What is happening to big boy Kola Aluko and
others today is another classical example. People should try and imbibe the
virtues of patience and diligence; work and build a sustainable life.

As you read this, a federal high court in Lagos has granted a Mareva injunction
permitting the government of Nigerian to freeze assets owned by two Nigerian
businessmen Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, and their company Atlantic Energy.
The "big boys" are linked to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-
Madueke in a wide range of shady business dealings that illegally transferred
Nigerian oil assets to them and their companies...

The legal documents obtained by SR, demanded a global freeze of $1.8 billion
in assets stolen by Atlantic Energy executives Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.
This development follows reports that Aluko sold his lavish Bel-Air mansion in
Los Angeles, USA at a $2m loss. Omikore has also been under intense scrutiny
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which seized a 2
million pound wristwatch from him on April 27th, 2016 and raided his Nigerian
homes on October 2nd, 2015.

Atlantic Energy was granted enormous contracts from the Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company (NPDC) under the direction of Madam Diezani. According
to reports, when she granted Atlantic Energy contracts through the Strategic
Alliance Agreements (SAA) the company did not even legally exist.
According to legal documents, Aluko and Omikore stole more than $1.7b from
Nigerian government:

Assets specifically mentioned include three mansions in Los Angeles, two high-
end apartments in New York City, properties in Santa Barbara, California;
numerous properties in Lagos including 43 apartments in Banana Island, 58
vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht, and three airplanes.
- Even if you were not caught, how far will you go with these greed? Sigh!

Nigeria Police ‘arrest Nimbo attackers, recover video of attack’

– The Nigeria Police Force has revealed

that it has arrested five suspects involved in the midnight raid on Ukpabi Nimbo
community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 25
which left at least 20 people dead.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the police on Wednesday signed
by The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole.

She revealed that operatives of the Police Inspector General’s Intelligence
Response Team (IRT) arrested the suspects based on “credible intelligence”.
“The Nigeria Police Force in its renewed determination to rid the society of
crimes and all forms of criminality, has arrested five of the suspects involved in
the midnight raid on Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government
Area of Enugu State April 25, 2016 as operatives of the IGP’s Intelligence
Response Team based on credible technical intelligence swooped on them,” the
statement read.

“The IGP’s IRT, based on the intelligence gathered on the attack, arrested the
following suspects viz: Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman
Laute and Haruna Laute.”

She added that Police also recovered one Gionee L88 mobile phone with
memory card containing the video recording of the massacre in the community.
The police also revealed that the team, on May 6, arrested a three-man
syndicate of bank robbers/kidnappers and recovered arms, ammunition,
dynamites and rifle servicing tools from them.

“The gang members, Gogo Daniel Ume, Ikado Michael and Ifeanyi Kalu had been
terrorizing Rivers, Imo and Enugu State, respectively,” the statement said.
“Items recovered from them include 3 AK-47 rifles; 1 LAR rifle; 310 rounds of
live ammunition; 12 rifle magazines; rifle servicing tools; cache of dynamite
explosive; 1 Toyota Highlander Jeep; 1 Toyota Venza jeep; and 1Ford Edge
Jeep.

“In continuation of the IRT anti-kidnapping operations in Kaduna State, the
team on 20/05/2016 as well arrested Babangida Ibrahim; Idris Abubakar and
Idris Mai Anguwa in the State for allegedly involved in kidnapping and robbery,
while different calibre of weapons were also recovered from the bandits.”

FG appoints new DGs for NTA, FRCN, NBC, others

The Federal Government has appointed the Chief Executives of
six information-related parastatals under the Ministry of Information
and Culture.

In a statement  by SA to Hon Minister of Information
and Culture, Segun Adeyemi, the appointments were announced in Abuja on
Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed

The new Chief Executives are:
1. Mr. Ishaq Modibo Kawu – Director-General, Nigerian
Broadcasting Commission (NBC
2. Mr. Mansur Liman – Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation
of Nigeria (FRCN)
3. Mr. Yakubu Mohammed – Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority
(NTA)
4. Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA)
5. Mr. Bayo Onanuga – Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
6. Mr. Osita Okechukwu – Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON)
The new appointees replace the Chief Executives of the parastatals
who were disengaged on Feb. 15th 2016
The appointments take immediate effect

THE HYPOCRISY OF APC AND THE REALITY OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

fuel-scarcity-nigeria

By SUNDAY EZE

“It amounts to capitulation and outright deception for those of us who led millions of people out in the street few years ago against pump price increase and against subsidy removal to now give economic excuses to justify same. The moral flag we raised in the past is now the scale of justice to measure the degree of our conscience in the past.” Sen. Shehu Sani

Reactions have as usual trailed the total removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as fuel. A litre now liberally sells at 145 naira. This was coming from a government which though in opposition in 2012 demonised every attempt to remove fuel subsidy. A rally tagged “Occupy Nigeria” was staged throughout the country forcing the government of Goodluck Jonathan to recant its decision. Every effort made by that government to convince Nigerians through Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former governor of central bank, now the Emir of Kano and Governor Adams Oshiomole on the need to take such a drastic decision through town hall meetings proved abortive. Some people were bent on giving the government of Goodluck Jonathan a bad name in order to hang it. They succeeded but left us in the same quagmire. Before the coming of this government, agents of APC boasted of the ease and handy possibility of selling a litre of petrol at 40 naira. It was a major campaign propaganda sold to gullible Nigerians. One is shocked that President Buhari who has continually condemned fuel subsidy removal since 2003 has suddenly become an apostle of same.

Few Nigerians who lent strong support for the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 but were vilified and called unprintable names are presently vindicated and must be laughing at our national naivety. We can clearly understand now that political and partisan party interests were driving the then opposition to subsidy removal.  Today, those who condemned and mobilised men and their resources against fuel subsidy are ironically current champions of the removal. They are now governors, legislators of both National and state assemblies and party stalwarts. What they said and did in 2012 are streaming on the internet as testimonies against them and of their selfishness.

They brazenly lied to the nation and the labour movement and civil society group are yet to mobilise to the streets.  The pipers are presently those who dictate the tune. One governor from the North West who spear headed the “Occupy Nigeria Protest” only issued a statement calling for calm. Any way you can fool some people sometimes but not everybody all the time. They made PDP policies look criminal and anti- people while this decision of APC is greeted with deafening conspiracy of silence. Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was one of the arrow heads of “Occupy Nigeria Protest” in 2012 has come out strongly in support of the removal. His views were clearly articulated in a piece entitled “The New Fuel Pricing: Much Better Deal For Nigerians” He said, “if government sets the system fairly, it will ensure better supply and with it economic certainty. Over the long term, it will boost investment that can spur employment across several sectors. Perhaps more importantly, it will liberate money that government can now use to lower the social costs of living for our brothers and sisters who really need help.” Tinubu labored in vain to convince Nigerians that the benefits of this subsidy removal are enormous and that the accruals will be adequately invested as if APC government falls from heaven. His position was not different from the one canvassed by the previous government. The different was that Bola Tinubu said this.

The likes of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not patronise us. They should tender unreserved apologise to Nigerians for intentionally misleading us to work against a sincere policy of government which they knew was not sustainable. Four years on, the lies APC told as a launching pad to gain power has suddenly become its’ current policy thrust. The economic toll this fraud has taken on the nation would have been averted four years ago but for political interests of APC stalwarts who saw the need of hiding under the removal to hit back at the past administration.

All is fair and foul in war and I add in politics. You can haul any weapon of lie of your choice at your opponent to prove him wrong and stand tall on the altar of patriotism while in the end it is all deceit. To many Nigerians who can see beyond their noses, fuel subsidy regime was characterised by big time fraud. It is true that some people miraculously turn billionaires overnight through sustained subsidy fraud. But those saddled with the responsibility of checks abandoned their duties or had encouraged and connived with the system to fleece the nation.

Many do not have any qualms with the removal but what do poor tend to benefit from it?  Government owes Nigerians a duty to believe it is no longer business as usual. We must be well informed of the benefits accruing to Nigerians from this policy. Those benefits accruable to the common man as a result of this subsidy removal should be reeled out so as to keep tab on them. For this purpose, will our children attend schools free? Does it cover free medical treatment?  How does this create employment? We lack social security in Nigeria. What happens to transport fare? Does this take care of it in all ramifications? The purpose of government is to provide for the welfare of its citizens. Since May 29, 2015, the current government behaves as if it is still campaigning by placing every blame at the door steps of the previous administration.

President Jonathan established SURE-P where funds accruing from subsidy removal were channeled to infrastructural development. Late General Sani Abacha established PTF which was chaired by President Buhari to cushion the effect of fuel increase. The minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu failed to provide one relief proposed by government. He wrapped the benefits of the withdrawal in the in-built infrastructural programmes of 2016 budget. Nigerians need to know.

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a media and Communication Specialist wrote via siunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201

Again! Buhari urges Niger Delta militants to stop confrontation

– President Buhari has called on the Niger Delta milltants to stop their confrontation and come to terms with the government instead – The president assured the representatives of the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta of the government’s protection from vandals President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu met with the Royal Dutch Shell Group team at the State House on Friday, May 20. Insurgency in the Niger Delta area as well as oil companies presence and future plans were the main topics for discussion. During the meeting the president once again urged the militant groups, aggrieved persons and communities to drop weapons and sit down at the negotiating table primarily for the review of the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua administration. READ ALSO: Breaking: Niger Delta militants bomb pipeline in Delta state The leader of the country assured oil companies operating in the region of the government’s commitment to ensure security and protection of strategic assets. He recalled that the chief of naval staff was ordered to reorganise and strengthen the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta. Besides, he stressed that the JTF operations were enhanced by the cooperation with the United States and Europe in training, intelligence, equipment and logistics. The president told Andrew Brown, the director of the Royal Dutch Shell Group: “We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy. I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region.” READ ALSO: IPOB hails Niger Delta Avengers, says ‘they are more Biafra than any other body’ Mr Brown in his turn assured Buhari of the company’s staying in the country — contrary to the recent speculations about its withdrawal. Moreoverm he said that Shell was currently in discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on new joint oil and gas projects. President Buhari praised the Shell resilience and persistence in Nigeria despite the challenges caused by the hositle environment. He urged the company to stop gas flaring in the Niger Delta as soon as possible and produce more gas for electricity generation to support manufacturing and job creation in the country. Recall that last week President Muhammadu Buhari has given fresh orders for the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers to be hunted down and destroyed.

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