Photos: Former President Jonathan pays condolence visit to the family of late Dasuki in Sokoto

Ex-President Jonathan arrived Sokoto State and proceeded to the home of detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to condole with them over the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

The former Sultan of Sokoto died at a hospital in Abuja on Monday, November14th. He was buried on Tuesday after a Janaza prayers at the Sultan Bello Mosque. More pics from the visit after the cut..

Check out this tweet...

Lol. People sef!

Alleged N4.9bn Fraud: Court remands Femi Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Esther Usman in prison

The EFCC today June 28, 2016 arraigned Former Minister of Aviation and spokesperson of PDP presidential campaign in the 2015 Election, Femi Fani-Kayode, along with Nenadi Esther Usman, a former Minister of Finance and Director of Finance PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited before Justice M. Suleiman Hassan of the Federal High Court Lagos, on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law.

The accused who were alleged to have illegally disbursed about N4.9 billion naira belonging to the Federal Government, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.

The Judge, Justice M. S. Hassan, however ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to July 1, 2016 for hearing of bail applications.

Secondus charges Buhari, to reduce battle fronts and tackle problems

The immediate past Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Prince Uche Secondus has charged All Progressives Congress APC federal Government led by President Muhammedu Buhari to stop causing more problems for the country and set out to tackle the myriads it already created.

 

Prince Secondus noted that rather than strive to address the major socio economic issues weighing down Nigerians due to the confusion and lack of direction of  the government in the last one year, the APC  is rather busy creating more battle fronts and compounding the challenges of the county.

"Today under APC leadership the country has become a whole theatre of acrimony with agitations here and there with no clear sign of solution in sight forcing political watchers to question if the country is disintegrating. 

"Even the Boko  haram issue that was supposed to be progressing well has run into troubled waters because of the confusion in the ruling party. 

"Ditto the federal Government's anti corruption fight is even skewed due to insincerity as Ministers already confirmed to be corrupt internationally continue to move untouched while Governors with immunity are harassed daily. Rather than confront the various challenges overwhelming the country, APC is currently bleeding soaked in its own greed and the obvious consequence is that a house divided against itself is bound to fall and the party is already falling.

The former PDP boss said that the federal Government under Buhari's watch is gradually eroding all indices of democratic principles especially those anchored on the rule of law and separation of power as it has continued to violate all rules of free speech as enshrined in our status.

Unlike what the world is watching in Britain where democracy is being put into action and in America where President Barak Obama is being routinely criticized, Nigerians are leaving in fear, the press, judiciary, and politicians are in heavy apprehension because of the draconian system of our operatives who come after them for airing their views.

He advised the Government to respect various organs of governance and stop seeing himself as the Lord Mayor of state Governors and the National Assembly as this will amount to dictatorship.

The on going attempt to humiliate and intimidate the National Assembly Secondus is dangerous as the parliament remains the opium of democracy.

According to Secondus, while federal Government creates more and more problems it leaves unattended to very critical projects, for example, after the hype created by his government on cleaning up Ogoniland, nothing is happening in the project while Governor Neysom Wike massive opening up of Ogoni roads neglected over the years is evident.

 

The PDP Chieftain said that APC should note that after one year in office deceit by propaganda and lies can no longer be sustained as Nigerians now know better that inside the noisy drum is nothing but confusion and lack of direction.

Secondus finally warns the APC disorganized team to gauge the pulse of their various actions and inactions and stop moving the ship of state dangerously to avoidable turmoil as Nigerians are still waiting for all the wonders they promised.

Signed

Prince Uche Secondus

Former Deputy National Chairman of PDP.

Photo: Zahra and Hanan Buhari spotted in Abuja

Comedian Chuks D General posted this photo he took with President Buhari's daughters, Zahra and Hanan in Abuja today.

BBOG campaigner, Aisha Yesufu, calls out President Buhari, for not hosting IDPs to Ramadan dinner in Aso Rock

Aisha is one of the campaigners of the Bring Back Our Girls Group. She shared the tweets this afternoon.

Wife of US lowest-paid Governor takes waitressing job

The wife of Maine Republican Governor, Ann LePage got a waitressing job a few weeks ago to "supplement" her husband's $70,000 per year salary, the lowest of any U.S. governor. The Governor Paul LePage made this known at a recent town hall in Maine.
The LePages live with their dog, in the Augusta governor's mansion and bought a $215,000 Boothbay home two years ago. The governor recently tried but failed to increase his successor's salary to $150,000 per year, above the nearly $135,000 average for all 50 state governors in 2015.

Ann LePage said being a waitress is something she had "always always wanted to do."

LePage said she spent years taking care of her mother, who long suffered from scleroderma and passed away in October.

She said, it's not time to follow through on her interest, LePage said, adding: "I know she'd be proud of me."

LePage, who's saving up for a Toyota RAV4, works three days a week, and is asking for more shifts at work in order to make more money.
She said:

 "Because of who I am and who I'm married to, I want to work extra hard just so I can show them I can do the job," she said.

She doesn't tell customers, or co-workers, who she is unless they ask. She doesn't tell them because she wants to be treated like every regular worker with no preferential treatment.



Source: ABC News

The Brexit Nightmare By Reuben Abati

What has the United Kingdom just done to itself, its people and the future of its youth? It is difficult to fully understand why a country in taking a decision about its future will decide on a false option that seems to negate long-term interests. And this, just because a total of 17.4 million people out of over 61 million chose to vote against the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the EU. More than 50% of these pro-Brexit voters are actually between the age bracket: 50-70, thus an ageing class of voters has taken a decision to undermine the future of the younger generation. Pro-EU Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “courageous and optimistic” when in January 2014, he tried to justify the need for a referendum.
His words then: “I think the overwhelming majority of the British people say they want to be in Europe but they want some changes to that relationship and they would like to be given a say. It is not something that we should be frightened of. It’s something we should embrace.” Cameron is now a study in political miscalculation and how over-confidence can make a political leader misread the people’s moods and expectations. He has been praised for his “courage” in quickly accepting the people’s verdict and for tendering his resignation, but I guess he won’t possibly be talking about courage. He must be full of regrets for presiding over the United Kingdom’s exit into a nightmare. Britain is better off remaining in the EU.


But on June 23, 2016, the people of Great Britain spoke and their verdict has been accepted as the status quo, except a miracle happens and the current petition by the pro-EU protesters results in a second referendum. As things stand, the people have rejected continued membership of the European Union. The implication is that the majority of the people believe that the United Kingdom is better off on its own. What is quite clear is that this British exit (Brexit) is more about the rise of xenophobia, bigotry and isolationism. It is not new. Britain has always looked backward and in-out in the course of its membership of the EU, oscillating between its commitment to a greater Europe and the need to preserve British identity and sovereignty.

The British public mind has been driven in recent years by loud, perpetual carping about too much control from Brussels, and the need to project Britain first. The ultra nationalists nursed fears about their great country becoming a colony within a EU empire. They are uncomfortable with the apparent globalization of British demographics, turning Britain into a country of many racial colours, with the influx of so many immigrants who are empowered by EU laws to be free citizens of a united Europe.

The call for a referendum on this matter has now given the Brexiteers, who just want their country to be left alone by outsiders, the opportunity they have always wanted. PM Cameron apparently underestimated their resolve. The Leave EU activists campaigned more vigorously, and deployed every possible means including blackmail and sentiments. They had the vibrant support of many political leaders including former London Mayor Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and fire-eating UKIP leader, Nigel Farage. In the event of an intense campaign that divided the country right down the middle, we witnessed the mainstreaming of xenophobia and bigotry.

Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered by an irate Eurosceptic for her pro-EU stance will be remembered as the symbol of how a straightforward, for or against, political debate turned into hate campaign and a national referendum became an act of terror. There are many lessons to be learnt from this instructively low moment in Britain.

What has happened is actually a referendum on the British establishment and the EU. The EU faces a crisis requiring urgent introspection and reform of its processes, if it must continue to serve its purpose. Britain is not the first country to avoid membership of the EU but whereas countries like Switzerland and Norway can hold out on their own, Brexit comes at great cost to the British. At hand is the triumph of emotions over reason, and the triumph of right wing populism. In many countries of Europe and even at the moment in the United States, the ultra-conservative political bloc seems to be in the ascendancy. Questions are being asked about regional integration and globalization. The basis for this is largely the manner in which regional groupings such as the EU disappoint the people. This is made worse by the failure of the leadership elite and sitting governments. When people are not happy with their governments or their circumstances, they are ready to make any choice that looks like an alternative. Opposition and anti-establishment politicians understand this game too well.

All they need to do is to demonize the establishment, tear the government of the day into pieces, call names and tell the people that the time has come for change. Those who claim that they best know how to save a nation, armed with populist rhetoric in an election time, and have the best support of the people, in the long run stand a better chance of winning. Democracy in that fashion is a play-field of emotions, not facts. It is the same scenario that made Bernie Sanders so popular in the recent Presidential nomination process in the United States, and also led to the emergence of Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate. Political leaders who don’t want sad outcomes only have to provide good leadership and meet the people’s expectations.

It is also clear that democracy may not produce rational outcomes in so far as it awards triumph on the basis of percentages: in Brexit, the difference is just 4%, 58-42, but the rule of the game is that majority carries the day, and as in most cases, the winner takes it all. But should the economic and political destiny of a people be determined in such formulaic manner? Brexit has left the United Kingdom in a more divided shape that it was before the referendum. The entire country is in turmoil. The taste of change doesn’t quite seem so sweet anymore, less than 72 hours after the vote. Young Britons may no longer be able to move freely across Europe and the experts have predicted rising costs and expectations and greater economic hardship. If Brexit stands, more than half of the population will be thrown into a winter of discontent, wondering why just about 1.3 million voters (17.4 million (for), 16.1million (against) should have been allowed to mislead a country. Many Britons will no longer be able to find jobs so easily across Europe. Hyper democracy has resulted in British discombobulation.

But that is democracy: it includes the people’s right to make mistakes, that is - the right of the simple majority to make mistakes at the expense of the minority, who may have lost the vote due to poor turn out or other matters of logistics. Leadership counts. The truth is that the leadership elite in Britain has also not always being too clear about where Britain should stand in relation to the rest of Europe. Even the pro-EU political leaders do not really object to Britain holding on to its national currency, the Pound, as opposed to the Euro, and Britain opting out of the idea of being a Schengen border. Britain also did not join the European Economic Community until 1973, 16 years late.

Two years later, there was an exit referendum similar to this one, won by the pro-Europe campaigners. Nothing forecloses the possibility of another referendum in the not too distant future to reverse the present decision. What has happened is perhaps all correctly British, in the final analysis: a nation yet to come to terms with certain modern realities, caught between nostalgia and the future.

This is precisely what the copycat plebiscites should understand, particularly in Africa where some commentators have been saying that some African countries on account of Brexit may begin to raise questions about the relevance of the African Union. The AU is modeled after the EU and it receives substantial funding support from it, but it has not been as remotely relevant in addressing the people’s expectations. In my opinion, there is nothing to fear in terms of a copycat effect in Africa; most Africans are indifferent about the AU anyway, they are not even aware of its existence. But as most development aid received by African countries come from the EU, this may be negatively affected with the exit of a major country like Britain, and a post-EU Britain may also be compelled to adjust its trade relations, immigration rules, and development support for countries in Africa. This, I think, is all there is to it at this end.

Closer home, the more strident call is for a referendum on the Nigerian union. In the last few days, I have for example, seen a strange Nigerian invention called “Biafrexit”. This must be a joke, symbolically thrown up by those who must know that no Nigerian government will allow such a vote.

The Brexit vote was not about disintegration, even if Scotland is now insisting on its independent right to be part of the EU; rather the vote was more about national and economic identity. Nigeria is still at the level of debates: we can hold as many conferences as we like, adjust the Constitution at mutually agreed terms, but a referendum that could lead to the dissolution of this country is not what we need, and it is certainly not the lesson from Brexit.

Rivers Govt denies withdrawing N11bn, tells EFCC to operate within the law

Read the state government's statement below...

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a publication in The Punch newspaper of Friday, 24/06/ 2016. The report alleges that one “Mr Kinsgsely Fubara”, said to be a Director of Finance and Administration, in the Rivers State Government House, made repeated financial withdrawals from the Central Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, to the tune of 11 billion Naira.

According to the report, the “suspicious withdrawals” on behalf of the Rivers State Government were made between December 2015 and February 2016.
The government categorically denies this fabricated and irresponsible publication by the Punch.
The Rivers State Government never conducted such financial transactions and the report is patently false.

The Rivers State Government has no record of any staff known as Kingsely Fubara. This must be a fictional character created by the All Progressives Congress (APC)) and the Punch newspaper to embarrass the State Government and deceive the public.

The Punch report also indicated that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe these so-called withdrawals. Such a directive, if true, would be a manifestly illegal and ridiculous proposition.
 
By law, the Rivers State Government is accountable to the Rivers State House of Assembly and the people of Rivers State, not to the Attorney General of the Federation.
This is a totally fictitious report typically orchestrated by the APC and its media allies.
But the story raises fundamental questions about the moral horror that confronts a nation where an anti-graft agency becomes openly partisan in all its intentions and actions.

There is universal concern that the EFCC is playing an extremely corrosive role in the current political dispensation. Rather than fight corruption in a professional and dispassionate manner, the EFCC behaves shamelessly like an integral organ of the APC.
An anti-graft commission that targets only opposition politicians and critics of the failed policies of the APC government is a national embarrassment.

Has the EFCC ever heard of one Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport? Despite receiving over three trillion Naira in eight years as governor, Amaechi left the most abandoned projects in the history of Rivers State, since 1967. Several petitions against Amaechi, supported by sworn affidavits, have all been summarily ignored by the EFCC.
Even chieftains of the APC have publicly acknowledged Rotimi Amaechi’s stupendous financial contributions to the party’s presidential campaign in 2015. These financial contributions, estimated to be in billions of Naira, constitute serious financial crime against the people of Rivers State.
The Government and people of Rivers State will resist any politically-motivated targeting of its leaders by any agency of the Federal Government, by whatever name it is called.
Signed:
Dr. Austin Tam-George,
Commissioner for Information and Communication,
Rivers State.

President Buhari hosts APC leaders to dinner to break his Ramadan fast

Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar, APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun were part of the APC leaders that attended President Buhari's break of Ramadan dinner at the state house Abuja yesterday. More photos after the cut...

Serial presidential contestant who is in APC is sponsoring Makarfi-led PDP committee- Ali Modu Sheriff alleges

Embattled National chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, at a press conference held today, alleged that a "serial presidential contestant" who is in APC, is sponsoring the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the PDP, so that they can reserve the party ticket for him in 2019.

 

TVC's senior correspondent, Sumner Shagari Sambo, who was at the press conference shared the details on his twitter account. 

EFCC interrogates ex-Kebbi state governor, Saidu dakin Garin, over N450m PDP campaign fund

Former governor of Kebbi State, Saidu dakin Garin, was quizzed by the Kano state office of EFCC over his alleged involvement in the sharing of N450 million campaign fund. The state allegedly got the money from the $115 million 2015 election largess ‎by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Photos: Zenith Bank's management team pay a visit to allegedly beg Fayose

This is according to SA to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications & New Media, Lere Olayinka. Read the statement below..

'A management team from Zenith Bank Plc visited Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, over the involvement of the bank in the funding of the June 21, 2014 governorship election of the governor. Their visit to the governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election.

The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo. It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager. When accosted by newsmen, the ED said they only came to see the governor. Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words. He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything.

While commenting on the development, Governor Fayose said the bank officials came to beg him over the issue. "They were begging me and that the matter should not go beyond this level. I asked them why did they go to the EFCC to tell lies. Why did they have to lie that money came from the Office of the National Security Adviser? If the money is for me why did they have to link with me what is not."

 

Forgery of Senate rule: Offer your explanation in court- AGF tells Saraki, Ekweremadu, others

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has asked the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu, to offer explanations on their alleged involvement in the forgery of the senate standing order last year, in court. Malami said this in a statement released on his behalf by his media aide, Salihu Isah, today Jun 23rd. 

Saraki, Ekweremadu and two others are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday June 27th on criminal charges of forgery of the senate standing rule in June last year. Read Malami's statement below...

“The attention of the attorney-general of the federation has been drawn to a press statement by the senate, signed by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, chairman, senate committee on media and affairs, on June 19,” Malami’s statement read. The statement entitled: ‘Forgery Case, An Unconstitutional Violation of Principles of Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances’, was published in some national dailies and social media platforms. It is quite unfortunate that the senate construed move of the federal government as a coup against the legislature with a view to cause a leadership change in the national assembly. It is worthy to note here that the action of the Attorney General of the Federation can stand the test of any law since he did not act on a vacuum. He acted based on a recommendation by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who having fully satisfied investigative procedure arising from the petition sent to the Nigerian Police by some aggrieved members of the Red Chambers of the National Assembly alleging that the affected officers altered the rules of the Senate for Dr. Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu to emerge leaders of the Eighth Senate of the National Assembly. Under the 1999 Constitution, only the Attorney General of the Federation has the powers to institute criminal proceedings. For the benefit of doubt, as stated above, there was a petition bordering on allegations of forgery against the defendants, the petition was investigated by the police and the police recommended the case for prosecution. At this point, the question is how initiation of criminal proceedings against Dr Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu, Salisu Maikasuwa and Bernard Efeturi violated the principle of separation of powers as contained in the Constitution? The action of the Attorney General of the Federation cannot obviously be said to be a coup against the National Assembly as the Senate has claimed. By preferring the charge, the accused persons are entitled to fair hearing under the law while the prosecution is obligated to prove its case against them beyond reasonable doubts. Therefore, the Attorney General of the Federation has not violated any known law in the land. Or is the Senate suggesting that its principal officers, members and staff of the National Assembly are above the law or enjoys same immunity as do the nation’s President and Governors? It is common knowledge over the years since the nation embraced democratic system of governance and backed by the current Constitution those elected officers of government who are exempted from legal encumbrances whether it is civil or criminal are known to all. It is pertinent to be reminded too, that forgery of the Senate Standing Rules cannot be described as the internal business of the National Assembly that is exclusively only in its purview. The Attorney General of the Federation cannot therefore be faulted for his decision to initiate legal actions against the accused for alleged forgery after a thorough police investigation of the issue whether there was an amendment of the Senate Standing Rules in 2015 or not. The case of Adesanya vs Senate which has been seriously touted in its press statement does not support them and they should rather take their plea and defend the action accordingly. We assure Nigerians that the Attorney General of the Federation will continue to be committed to the rule of law at all times. On this particular forgery case, we believe he should rather be commended for his foresight and political will to carry out his constitutional role to the letter and not to be vilified under any guise.”

Buhari appoints Boss Gida Mustapha as MD of National Inland Waterways Authority

President Buhari has approved the appointment of Boss Gida Mustapha as the new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Mustapha's appointment was contained in a statement released and signed today by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir David Lawal.

"President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, as the new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Mr. Mustapha is a lawyer with extensive experience in both private and public sectors in management positions. The appointment is for a term of four years in the first instance.”he said

Ekwueme, Adebanjo, others task Buhari on true federalism, confab report

The 17th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), headed by Evangelist Elliot Ukoh, ended in Enugu on Sunday, with a call on President Muhammadu Buhari to embark on immediate restructuring of Nigeria in line with the principles of true federalism.

The event, which took place at Nike Lake Resort Hotel Enugu, attracted Nigerians from different parts of the country.‎

They advised President Buhari to begin the immediate implementation of the National Conference report of 2014 as a first step towards restructuring the country.

Those at the event included second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Yoruba leader, Ayo Adebanjo; former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana; former Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; resource control protagonist, Ankio Briggs; and immediate former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.

Speaking on the theme of the convention, “Still, In Search of True Federalism”, they noted that the current protests and demands for separation by various groups in the country, as well as other socio-economic crises could be reduced if the national confab report was implemented.

The second Republic Vice President, Ekwueme stated that every disappointment was a blessing, noting that his incarceration in 1984 at Kirikiri prison by the military afforded him the opportunity to reflect deeply on Nigeria’s problems.

According to him, he came out with the idea of six geo-political zonal structures, which he pushed for in a national conference.

Ekwueme stated that what Nigeria negotiated for and agreed with colonial masters before independence was a regional government where each had a constitution, which was annexed to the Republican constitution of 1963.

According to him, the Republican Constitution then provided 50 percent revenue sharing formula for the regions, 30 percent to a distributable pool, and 20 percent to centre.

“There is need for us to return to the basics from what we inherited from our founding fathers,” he said.

On his part, Chief Adebanjo who went down the memory lane to traced the origin of federalism in Nigeria to various pre-and post colonial constitutional conferences, insisted that Nigeria must be restructured to correct the humongous damage done to the nation’s constitution by the military and to put a stop to various acts of uprising in the country today including those of Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB, and IPOB.

PROF Jerry Gana stated that the nation’s founding fathers were right by agreeing to a federal structure, which he described as the best governance structure to guarantee peace, equity and justice.

Ankio Briggs who received the award of “Amazon of Truth” by IYM stated that true and fiscal federalism must be truthful and justifiable.

She further stated that if the nation continues on the current path, then disintegration would be inevitable.

Former governor Peter Obi of Anambra stressed that he supports restructuring the country on the basis of fiscal federalism, but while that was being addressed, there was need to urgently address the high cost of governance in the country, insisting that any governor who said he can’t pay salary should give way for other persons with better ideas.

Dr. Ezeife who also received award of “Igbo Peoples General” stated that the 2014 national conference report recommended additional 18 states to make FOR 48 state-structure in order to address some inequalities created by the military.

Highlight of the event was the award of “Liberator” to the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, by the IYM, even as the national leader of IYM, Evang Ukoh expressed the conviction of his group that if Nigeria is restructured it would take care of the various agitations for break away by various separatist groups.

Ex Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, returns to Nigeria following rumors of his death

Former Military Leader, Ibrahim Babangida, returned to Nigeria today June 10th after he was rumored to have passed on in Germany where he had gone to for medical checkup. Babangida arrived Minna, the Niger state capital at about 3pm.

Rumors of his death were rife on social media three days ago after he failed to return to Nigeria from Germany on Tuesday June 7th. He refuted the rumors when he spoke with TV Continental on Wednesday June 8th.

FG sacks management of Niger Delta Holding Company of Nigeria

Federal Government has sacked the management of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company led by James Abiodun Olotu pictured above. The sack is contained in a statement released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal today June 10th. Chiedu Ugbo has been announced as the acting MD of the company. Read the statement below

The Federal Government of Nigeria has dissolved the Executive Management of the Niger Delta Holding Company of Nigeria Limited. Consequently, the Managing Director of the company has been directed to hand-over immediately to Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, who has been appointed as the Acting Managing Director of the company. All Executive Directors of the Company and the General Manager Audit are directed to hand-over immediately to the most senior officer in their respective Departments. 2. The Federal Government appreciates the services of the disengaged officers during their tenure of office.

(Signed) Engr. BD Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Bakassi Militants appeal to Niger Delta Avengers to stop blowing up oil pipelines

Bakassi Militants under the aegis of Bakassi Strike Force, have appealed to their counterparts, the Niger Delta Avengers, to stop blowing up pipelines in the region. In an interview with Channels TV, the Militants asked the group to desist from carrying out more attacks on oil installations as such acts will only inflict more hardship on the people of the region.


Leader of the group, Simple Benjamin in the interview which was recorded at Esuk Mba, in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross Rivers state, said the Federal government should listen to the demand of the Niger Delta Avengers

"Fellow compatriots of the Niger Delta Avengers, please sheath your sword and give peace a chance. I think you have made your point. Give the government a chance to respond. Nigeria needs peace now more than ever. I appeal to the Nigerian security agencies to please thread carefully as two wrongs cannot make a right. I appeal to the Federal government and all those in authority to be mindful of their words as it can infuriate and set one against the other. We recently hear comments from the Federal government such as we will crush them and no fresh amnesty. We are not saying criminals should be celebrated but we should take cognizance of the fact that Niger Delta challenges are unique therefore should be treated carefully"he said

Statement from the office of the Vice President on fuel pricing debate

Read the statement below...

Fellow Citizens: 

I have read the various observations about the fuel pricing regime and the attendant issues generated. All certainly have strong points.  

The most important issue of course is how to shield the poor from the worst effects of the policy.  I will hopefully address that in another note.

Permit me an explanation of the policy. First, the real issue  is not a removal of subsidy. At $40 a barrel there isn't much of a subsidy to remove. 

In any event, the President is probably one of the most convinced pro-subsidy advocates. 

What happened is as follows: our local consumption of fuel is almost entirely imported. The NNPC exchanges crude from its joint venture share to provide about 50% of local fuel consumption. The remaining 50% is imported by major and independent marketers. 

These marketers up until three months ago sourced their foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria at the official rate. However, since late last year, independent marketers have brought in little or no fuel because they have been unable to get foreign exchange from the CBN. The CBN simply did not have enough. (In April, oil earnings dipped to $550 million. The amount required for fuel importation alone is about $225million!) . 

Meanwhile, NNPC tried to cover the 50% shortfall by dedicating more export crude for domestic consumption. Besides the short term depletion of the Federation Account, which is where the FG and States are paid from, and further cash-call debts pilling up, NNPC also lacked the capacity to distribute 100% of local consumption around the country. Previously, they were responsible for only about 50%. (Partly the reason for the lingering scarcity). 

We realised that we were left with only one option. This was to allow independent marketers and any Nigerian entity to source their own foreign exchange and import fuel. We expect that foreign exchange will be sourced at an average of about N285 to the dollar, (current interbank rate). They would then be restricted to selling at a price between N135 and N145 per litre. 

We expect that with competition, more private refineries, and NNPC refineries working at full capacity, prices will drop considerably. Our target is that by Q4 2018 we should be producing 70% of our fuel needs locally. At the moment even if all the refineries are working optimally they will produce just about 40% of our domestic fuel needs. 

You will notice that I have not mentioned other details of the PPRA cost template. I wanted to focus on the cost component largely responsible for the substantial rise, namely foreign exchange. This is therefore not a subsidy removal issue but a foreign exchange problem, in the face of dwindling earnings. 

Thank you all.

VICE PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN

May 13, 2016