Wednesday, 30 October 2013
World Bank ranks Nigeria 122nd best place for business.
The World Bank has ranked Nigeria 147th among the best places for doing business. It also ranked the country as the 122nd for best countries to start a business. The report released, yesterday, said Nigeria’s low ranking is mainly caused by electricity problems, where the country is ranked 185th out of 189 countries evaluated. The first African country on the list is Rwanda, ranked 32nd. The report said in Africa, 66 per cent of countries enacted at least one reform last year, against 33 per cent in 2005, adding that nine African countries make up the top 20 most improved in terms of business regulations since 2009: Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The report said economies are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1 – 189. A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. This index averages the country’s percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. The rankings for all economies are bench-marked to June 2013.
Man, 37, accused of beating wife to death
A 37-year-old man, Babatunde Gbolahan, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, for allegedly beating his wife to death. The defendant, who was arraigned for manslaughter, pleaded not guilty to the charge instituted against him by the Police. According to the charge, “you, Babatunde Gbolahan, committed the offence on October 13, 2009 at 9, Olatunji Street, Mushin, Lagos at 7.40p.m.” It was gathered that the defendant had an argument with his wife, Yemisi, which led to a fight and he beat her to death with a belt and stick. State counsel, Mr. W. A. Quadri, informed the court that the offence contravened Section 325 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, and urged the court for an adjournment to enable him produce his witness. Presiding judge, Justice Aishat Opesanwo, subsequently, adjourned the case to December 2.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
PHCN: Consumers To Pay More As New Owners Move To Recover Funds - Business
As new owners set to take over physical possession of the privatised companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), electricity consumers in the
country may soon experience increment in their tariff following moves by the new owners to generate more funds. This will come through a review of the provisions of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), which will see new electricity price in place.
The new owners are concerned that stipulated tariffs in the draft of interim rules and regulations spelt out by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), prior to their take-over of the plants, were inadequate to guarantee a healthy return on investment.
However, this position becomes conflicting because the reason behind the introduction of MYTO was to review the price upward as prospective investors in the power sector may find it difficult to review the tariff upward immediately. Industry experts say with the volume of additional investment needed to bring the assets at a fair state to provide considerable service required by the users, it
would be better for the investors to recover their monies over a period of 10 years and thereafter make profit. In a joint petition to NERC, the companies rejected the tariffs proposed in the draft rules, accusing the commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) of reneging on the terms of the power sales/purchase agreement which they collectively signed. They threatened to seek legal redress if their grievances were not addressed by the regulatory authorities. NERC General Manager, Marketing and Rates, Abdukadir Shettima, said the commission and the BPE would not renege on the terms of agreement reached with the new owners of the GENCOs prior to their takeover. He explained that the interim rules were proposed since the transitional electricity market was yet to
take off. “The Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) is a market where trading is done by contract. There will be rules, which would be enforced along with all the contracts that would be in play,” he said. He added that the new rules would not be in force as the conditions preceding the Electricity Transition Market were yet to be met. He said the fear expressed by the new owners about possible losses in the proposed tariff structure were unfounded, pointing out that the baseline losses and the population in the tariff needed to determine so as to ensure that there was sufficient revenue in the entire value chain. “We need to have a set of rules to guide the industry within this transition period when the losses will be validated. The tariff will be adjusted and the remaining few issues will be concluded,” he said. He added that NERC had planned to commence the interim period which would be between November 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014. After all the conditions including the ongoing settlement of PHCN workers’ benefits have been concluded, Shetimma said the Federal Government could declare
the Electricity Transition Market on March 1, 2014. He added that if the commencement of the interim period was from November 1, it would coincide with the
physical handover of the plants to their new owners, which is put at February 28.
Result: Nigeria 4-1 Iran.
The Golden Eaglet has qualified for the quarter finals. They are to face Uruguay who earlier beat their opponent 4-2.
Quarter Final Pairings: Honduras v Sweden.
Uruguay v NIGERIA.
Argentina v IVORY COAST.
Brazil v Mexico.
Quarter Final Pairings: Honduras v Sweden.
Uruguay v NIGERIA.
Argentina v IVORY COAST.
Brazil v Mexico.
Nigeria Vs Iran: Fifa U17 WC On 29th Of October (Tuesday) 5pm
The golden eaglets of Nigeria will meet the Iranian side on the 29th of october at Sheikh Khalifa international stadium , Al Ain by 5pm.
Uruguay and Ivory Coast has booked their place in the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Ivory Coast has booked their place in the quarter-finals.
Monday, 28 October 2013
How to avoid visa application’s hitches, by U.S. envoy
THE United States of America Consul in Nigeria has urged media practitioners to seek visa appointments ahead of time and adhere to laid down procedures to avoid last minute applications hitches.
Chief, Consular Section, Carol Cox told journalists in Abuja at the weekend that the consular will always ensure listed visa procedures are adhered to so that all categories of media visas are processed promptly and without hitches.
The Consul explained that a “drop-box” system has been initiated by the section and encourages renewal applicants who had been to the U.S. within the past one year to simply drop their relevant documents in a box provided at the consular office in Abuja or Lagos for re-issue consideration.
Cox said that the media visa include the “I” category and cannot be used for any other means rather than what it’s intended for and urged journalists to re-apply for a tourist visa in another category when seeking for holiday visas.
She assured that an intended media practitioner’s request for an accompanying relative (spouse or child) would be considered.
The Chief Consular noted that the Information Media representative also include “aliens” whose activities are essential to the foreign information media function including media reporters, media film crews, videotape editors and persons in similar positions.
Chief, Consular Section, Carol Cox told journalists in Abuja at the weekend that the consular will always ensure listed visa procedures are adhered to so that all categories of media visas are processed promptly and without hitches.
The Consul explained that a “drop-box” system has been initiated by the section and encourages renewal applicants who had been to the U.S. within the past one year to simply drop their relevant documents in a box provided at the consular office in Abuja or Lagos for re-issue consideration.
Cox said that the media visa include the “I” category and cannot be used for any other means rather than what it’s intended for and urged journalists to re-apply for a tourist visa in another category when seeking for holiday visas.
She assured that an intended media practitioner’s request for an accompanying relative (spouse or child) would be considered.
The Chief Consular noted that the Information Media representative also include “aliens” whose activities are essential to the foreign information media function including media reporters, media film crews, videotape editors and persons in similar positions.
World Bank willing to work with Nigeria on infrastructure development
At the just concluded 2013 IMF World Bank Group Meeting in Washington the Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attended meetings back to back and it was difficult tracking them down for a chat. It was at the end of the meetings on Sunday at 6 PM Washington time, that the minister finally had time to brief the Nigeria corps of reporters who converge at the World Bank building in the Washington cold.
Some were severing like ants but they have to wait for a staff of the World Bank to take them up to the office the Nigerian delegation shared with other African countries. Perhaps because of the tight schedule, the CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who usually spices up the briefing was absent. His voice of support for the minister was missed.
What was discussed at the various inside the IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings?
Outside of finding out what is happening with the economics of the Globe and what precautions or actions we need to take as Nigerians, is the advice that the Bretten Woods Institutions are giving members and I think they was one or two key messages that came out of this meeting.
File Photo: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde (C) shakes hand with President Jonathan after their meeting with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (R) in Abuja.
The first is that the IMF as well as the World Bank feels that the global environment is still quite uncertain, even though growth is recovering in the euro zone and in the U.S. But there is still some uncertainties. I think the growth projections have actually been revised down and I can give you the numbers, but what is worrying almost everybody is the two twin impasses that exist in the US.
The impasse over the budget that is the fiscal impasse in the US and the second is the impasse over the lifting of the debt ceiling for which a dead line will be reached this Thursday and if they do not resolve it. It means the US technically will default on its debt, which is not acceptable, and has never happened. This could create adverse movement in interest rates and other parameters within the world economy which could in fact trigger some serious consequences. Every delegate was more or less saying that it will be very helpful to the rest of the world if the US Congress and the Government could resolve this so as to remove the uncertainties that this is creating in the global market.
What are the institutions saying of emerging economies?
Against this picture however, the emerging market countries have also seen slowed growth. Several of them like India have seen growth up to five per cent, Brazil, South Africa they have all seen slower growth. The low income countries are growing robustly and in Africa as you know they are predicting more than five per cent growth for the continent. I think the key issues that that were analyzed are that what could be the vulnerabilities, what are the interconnections, what could be the spillover effect as the economists call them from all this uncertainties. Also of the emerging markets what does this mean to them. These are some of the issues that were talked about
Any suggestions on what countries should do?
More importantly what do countries need to do to protect themselves from these uncertainties? Their advice for countries such as ours is to build buffer strongly which means you should build up your reserves, put aside some savings because you do not know what else is going to happen, manage your expenditures better to protect yourself in case the world should slip back into a recession or other adverse consequences could occur because of these uncertainties. Those are the kind of things that we learned here for us specifically in terms of our macro economics management. Those are the things we have to take into account.
What is Nigeria delegation taking home from the meetings?
Now for Nigeria in addition to hearing this advise, we also heard some very good news and that good news came on two fronts the World Bank Group, that is the World Bank IFC arm through the World Bank President has made known that they want Nigeria to be one of the focus country in Sub-Saharan Africa for their efforts on infrastructure development particularly power which means they are willing to work with Nigeria to invest hundreds of millions of dollars.
They have a lending programme of about 100 billion dollars a year but they are willing to use that to pull in more resources from the US through the power Africa initiative from the private sector using the office of IFC to help us address infrastructure problem. So the World Bank is planning to set up infrastructure facilities unit that has just been put together and been talked about and they also said that when this is done, Nigeria will be one of the first countries they will like to be a beneficiary of this giving its large size infrastructure needs.
Which sector are they focusing on?
They want to concentrate on power, as I said and they are already actively working with several private sector power companies that want to invest in Nigeria. They are also promising to give us another seven hundred million dollar in guarantees for the power sector, IBRD guarantees as well as willingness to invest 700 million dollars in transmission.
Are they interested in the power sector only?
We also discuss with them a social safety net issues. We discuss with them how to improve employment creation, how to help those at the bottom end of the ladder who may not even benefit from jobs and they are planning a social safety net programnme of about 400 million dollars which they are going to prepare with us, it is actually called social safety net programme which will support some ongoing work that we are doing like saving one million lives programme, that helps with maternal mortality.
There is conditional cash transfers to help improve maternal and infant mortality ratios, train health workers, train mid-wive’s to deliver this services and to improve the nutrition, children immunisation, HIV Aids and malaria. They want to assist with the health related issues and also to provide a source of income at the bottom end of the ladder, they have put aside some money for that.
We also got pledges to help with our statistics. I think the chief statistician is ready to help us improve our statistics. On a general note we got a lot of commendation for the agenda budgeting programme that Mr. President launched in 2013 budget. We had another high level meeting looking at women empowerment and Nigeria got a lot of praise for the effort the president has made in getting more women into the cabinet but most importantly, the concrete effort we are making in the budget with this Gender budgeting.
As you know, we have five pilot ministries, ministry of women affairs and our self’s are working with which we announced in last year’s budget that they integrate into their mainstream the goal of getting women empowered within their programmes. If they do so they will get additional budget and we set aside three billion naira as incentive for that.
This programme has gotten a lot of notice. The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Communications and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Works and Ministry of Health are all participating in this pledge and each one has pledged to meet the goal.
Works has pledged that they will get about 200 women, they plan to mainstream attention to women by training women contractors and sub contractors trying to make sure that some contracts are awarded to women owned businesses within the works ministry and training women contractors in both health, agriculture communication technology have come together to say that they will want to reach about 5 million women with mobile telephone that can allow them have an E-wallet system for their agriculture input, fertilizers and seeds.
Some were severing like ants but they have to wait for a staff of the World Bank to take them up to the office the Nigerian delegation shared with other African countries. Perhaps because of the tight schedule, the CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who usually spices up the briefing was absent. His voice of support for the minister was missed.
What was discussed at the various inside the IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings?
Outside of finding out what is happening with the economics of the Globe and what precautions or actions we need to take as Nigerians, is the advice that the Bretten Woods Institutions are giving members and I think they was one or two key messages that came out of this meeting.
File Photo: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde (C) shakes hand with President Jonathan after their meeting with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (R) in Abuja.
The first is that the IMF as well as the World Bank feels that the global environment is still quite uncertain, even though growth is recovering in the euro zone and in the U.S. But there is still some uncertainties. I think the growth projections have actually been revised down and I can give you the numbers, but what is worrying almost everybody is the two twin impasses that exist in the US.
The impasse over the budget that is the fiscal impasse in the US and the second is the impasse over the lifting of the debt ceiling for which a dead line will be reached this Thursday and if they do not resolve it. It means the US technically will default on its debt, which is not acceptable, and has never happened. This could create adverse movement in interest rates and other parameters within the world economy which could in fact trigger some serious consequences. Every delegate was more or less saying that it will be very helpful to the rest of the world if the US Congress and the Government could resolve this so as to remove the uncertainties that this is creating in the global market.
What are the institutions saying of emerging economies?
Against this picture however, the emerging market countries have also seen slowed growth. Several of them like India have seen growth up to five per cent, Brazil, South Africa they have all seen slower growth. The low income countries are growing robustly and in Africa as you know they are predicting more than five per cent growth for the continent. I think the key issues that that were analyzed are that what could be the vulnerabilities, what are the interconnections, what could be the spillover effect as the economists call them from all this uncertainties. Also of the emerging markets what does this mean to them. These are some of the issues that were talked about
Any suggestions on what countries should do?
More importantly what do countries need to do to protect themselves from these uncertainties? Their advice for countries such as ours is to build buffer strongly which means you should build up your reserves, put aside some savings because you do not know what else is going to happen, manage your expenditures better to protect yourself in case the world should slip back into a recession or other adverse consequences could occur because of these uncertainties. Those are the kind of things that we learned here for us specifically in terms of our macro economics management. Those are the things we have to take into account.
What is Nigeria delegation taking home from the meetings?
Now for Nigeria in addition to hearing this advise, we also heard some very good news and that good news came on two fronts the World Bank Group, that is the World Bank IFC arm through the World Bank President has made known that they want Nigeria to be one of the focus country in Sub-Saharan Africa for their efforts on infrastructure development particularly power which means they are willing to work with Nigeria to invest hundreds of millions of dollars.
They have a lending programme of about 100 billion dollars a year but they are willing to use that to pull in more resources from the US through the power Africa initiative from the private sector using the office of IFC to help us address infrastructure problem. So the World Bank is planning to set up infrastructure facilities unit that has just been put together and been talked about and they also said that when this is done, Nigeria will be one of the first countries they will like to be a beneficiary of this giving its large size infrastructure needs.
Which sector are they focusing on?
They want to concentrate on power, as I said and they are already actively working with several private sector power companies that want to invest in Nigeria. They are also promising to give us another seven hundred million dollar in guarantees for the power sector, IBRD guarantees as well as willingness to invest 700 million dollars in transmission.
Are they interested in the power sector only?
We also discuss with them a social safety net issues. We discuss with them how to improve employment creation, how to help those at the bottom end of the ladder who may not even benefit from jobs and they are planning a social safety net programnme of about 400 million dollars which they are going to prepare with us, it is actually called social safety net programme which will support some ongoing work that we are doing like saving one million lives programme, that helps with maternal mortality.
There is conditional cash transfers to help improve maternal and infant mortality ratios, train health workers, train mid-wive’s to deliver this services and to improve the nutrition, children immunisation, HIV Aids and malaria. They want to assist with the health related issues and also to provide a source of income at the bottom end of the ladder, they have put aside some money for that.
We also got pledges to help with our statistics. I think the chief statistician is ready to help us improve our statistics. On a general note we got a lot of commendation for the agenda budgeting programme that Mr. President launched in 2013 budget. We had another high level meeting looking at women empowerment and Nigeria got a lot of praise for the effort the president has made in getting more women into the cabinet but most importantly, the concrete effort we are making in the budget with this Gender budgeting.
As you know, we have five pilot ministries, ministry of women affairs and our self’s are working with which we announced in last year’s budget that they integrate into their mainstream the goal of getting women empowered within their programmes. If they do so they will get additional budget and we set aside three billion naira as incentive for that.
This programme has gotten a lot of notice. The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Communications and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Works and Ministry of Health are all participating in this pledge and each one has pledged to meet the goal.
Works has pledged that they will get about 200 women, they plan to mainstream attention to women by training women contractors and sub contractors trying to make sure that some contracts are awarded to women owned businesses within the works ministry and training women contractors in both health, agriculture communication technology have come together to say that they will want to reach about 5 million women with mobile telephone that can allow them have an E-wallet system for their agriculture input, fertilizers and seeds.
Lagos lawyer sues FG/ASUU over strike
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr.Daniel Onwe, has dragged the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over violation of the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students, who have been out of school following the union’s strike.
The suit, FHC/CS/1360/13, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Order II of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Article 5 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, LFN, 1990.
Onwe is asking the court for a declaration that the indefinite strike leading to the closure of government-owned universities across the country violates the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
He is seeking for an order directing the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences and forthwith re-open universities, including an order mandating ASUU to call off their ongoing strike action and resume their job of lecturing in the said universities immediately.
Hearing on the suit, before Justice Ibrahim Buba, is on November 13.
The suit, FHC/CS/1360/13, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Order II of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Article 5 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, LFN, 1990.
Onwe is asking the court for a declaration that the indefinite strike leading to the closure of government-owned universities across the country violates the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
He is seeking for an order directing the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences and forthwith re-open universities, including an order mandating ASUU to call off their ongoing strike action and resume their job of lecturing in the said universities immediately.
Hearing on the suit, before Justice Ibrahim Buba, is on November 13.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
We may order arrest of Aviation Minister — Reps
The House of Representatives is threatening to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, if, by Tuesday, she fails to appear before its Committee on Aviation.
Oduah had been summoned to answer questions on aviation related issues on the heels of the Associated Airlines plane crash last month.
The minister will obviously also respond to the lawmakers on the two controversial armoured BMW cars said to have been bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Oduah was, as at last night, in Israel to sign a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), alongside President Goodluck Jonathan, with Israeli officials.
“If she fails to show up (for the House Committee hearing), we will issue a bench warrant to get her arrested”, the House of Representatives, spokesman, Hon. Zakari Lafia Mohammed, said.
Mohammed, who spoke in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, went on: “This is a national issue that must be properly thrashed out with the zeal of a wounded lion. If need be, we will ask the Speaker to issue a bench warrant immediately she fails to show up and she will be arrested. We’ve given her enough grace as the committee will sit on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. All those excuses given on her behalf will not hold by the time we conclude our findings.”
Meanwhile, NCAA has said it followed due process in procuring the two armoured vehicles.
In its presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, the agency said: “Procurement of operational vehicles is provided for in NCAA 2013 Budget on line 6, page 10 and is in line with NCAA Condition of Service”.
Oduah had been summoned to answer questions on aviation related issues on the heels of the Associated Airlines plane crash last month.
The minister will obviously also respond to the lawmakers on the two controversial armoured BMW cars said to have been bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Oduah was, as at last night, in Israel to sign a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), alongside President Goodluck Jonathan, with Israeli officials.
“If she fails to show up (for the House Committee hearing), we will issue a bench warrant to get her arrested”, the House of Representatives, spokesman, Hon. Zakari Lafia Mohammed, said.
Mohammed, who spoke in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, went on: “This is a national issue that must be properly thrashed out with the zeal of a wounded lion. If need be, we will ask the Speaker to issue a bench warrant immediately she fails to show up and she will be arrested. We’ve given her enough grace as the committee will sit on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. All those excuses given on her behalf will not hold by the time we conclude our findings.”
Meanwhile, NCAA has said it followed due process in procuring the two armoured vehicles.
In its presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, the agency said: “Procurement of operational vehicles is provided for in NCAA 2013 Budget on line 6, page 10 and is in line with NCAA Condition of Service”.
Frightening Revelations: Why planes may keep dropping off the skies
Frightening Revelations: Why planes may keep dropping off the skies
on october 27, 2013 at 4:05 am in special report
By Kenneth Ehigiator
Last week, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, announced plans to embark on yet another round of safety audit of all domestic airlines operating in the country. This is coming as an aftermath of the crash of Associated Airlines’ plane in Lagos which claimed the lives of at least 15 people.
The plan to audit the airlines will be one in a series of airlines’ audit which had trailed the aviation industry since aircraft started falling off the skies since 2005. After the crash of Bellview Airlines in October 2005; Sosoliso in December 2005 and ADC in October 2008, each accident had come with safety audit of airlines, yet planes keep dropping off the skies.
What this means is that there appears to be a fundamental problem in the system that has not been addressed, and that has to do with policies enunciated for the industry by government. There is a suggestion that no matter the volume of safety audit conducted on airlines, safety would remain elusive as long as the operating environment created for airlines remained harsh.
Neither would re-modelling of airports reverse this trend. The mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria isnhigh due to what observers describe as a very harsh operating environment. Bellview, ADC, Sosoliso, Spaceworld, EAS, Harka, Okada, Oriental, Concord, Flash, Air Nigeria are some of the airlines that have exited the airspace in the last 10 years.
This is frightening. Some others may yet follow.
Firstly, the tax regime introduced by government for airlines in the country creates a near asphyxiating ambience for operators. Airlines pay all sorts of charges which stifle them.
Consequently, this is the reason most airlines find it difficult to meet their financial obligations to suppliers, service providers and staff. Even the payment of salaries and aircraft maintenance, when due, becomes a Herculean task. Airlines in Nigeria pay some of the most outrageous charges in the world.
These come in form of ground rent, landing and take off, day and overnight parking charges as well as navigational fees; and these are exclusive of other multiple taxes imposed by government. Overnight parking charges range from between N25,000 and N30, 000 per aircraft. Airlines in Nigeria also pay government taxes as high as 18 per cent of sales, including Value Added Tax, VAT, Passenger Service Charge, PSC and NCAA’s TSC. These taxes and charges, to say the least, are stringent for the airlines to operate safely and profitably. And an airline that cannot operate safely and profitably is an accident waiting to happen.
CRAsHED: Fuselage of the crashed aircraft Embraer 120RT Brasilia, registration number 5N-BJY.
Another reason air safety would remain a challenge in Nigeria, no matter the frequency of audit, is the cut-throat price of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1. At present, this product sells for between N170 and N200 litre, depending on which part of the country it is being sourced. And because up to 40-45 per cent operational cost of airlines revolves around aviation fuel, the product is a huge cost component of their operations in the country. Over time, fuel suppliers have insisted on dispensing their products on a cash and carry basis because of the inability of airlines to settle accumulated debts arising from previous purchases.
This has largely been responsible for some of the delays and flight cancellations experienced by passengers at airports across the country.
Currently, there is no sign to indicate that government is addressing the problem. Most foreign airlines do their re-fuelling in neighbouring countries because of the high cost of aviation fuel in Nigeria but the local airlines have nowhere to go.
When it comes to the issue of aircraft maintenance, the situation is even more dire for the airlines. Aside from a few of the airlines which have capacity for A and B checks in the country, all airlines operating in Nigeria take their aircraft to other countries for their C-check, which comes up between nine and 18 months, depending, however, on the number of cycles an aircraft had clocked within the period. This costs airlines as much as $1 million per aircraft.
The situation is so because there is no standard hanger anywhere in the country where such a check can be conducted on aircraft.
Consequently, airlines in Nigeria take their planes to such countries as Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, France and even tiny Mauritius for their C and D checks.
At the last Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, experts were unanimous on the leverage and cost-cutting advantage an MRO centre has on airline operations and safety.
They also attributed the absence of it in Nigeria to most of the safety issues that had arisen in the country this decade, particularly in the last couple of years.
Over time, stakeholders in the industry have clamoured for the establishment of a national hangar by the Federal Government as no one airline could shoulder the cost of establishing it. Though successive aviation ministers bought into the idea, nothing was ever done to bring it to fruition. Had government set up an MRO centre, the issue of taking planes out of Nigeria and paying exorbitantly an hard currency would have since Stopped and Nigeria would have become the hub of maintenance in West Africa.
At the moment, there is no such centre in the region. To be able to cope with multiple taxes and crippling charges imposed by government, airlines have had to increase fares on frequent basis, thus reducing the number of people that can afford air travel. This is not good enough for a country angling to be the hub of aviation business in West Africa.
With regards to loans, stakeholders have also canvassed the creation of an Aviation Development Fund, ADF, where operators could secure facilities at single digit interest rate, and not the current rate of interest in commercial banks that has helped to further strangulate airlines in the country. Unfortunately, the tokenism that passed for an intervention fund suffered greatly from corrupt practices. One other area government has stifled the ability of airlines to earn sufficient revenue to operate safely and profitably is the continuous granting of multiple entries and frequencies to foreign airlines who,at the moment, do aviation business in Nigeria.
What other governments do to grow their aviation sector with a view to driving economic growth and create jobs is to discourage granting such leverages to foreign airlines operating into their territories. This is done to protect local airlines which would assist foreign airlines distribute their passengers domestically and make money. Today, virtually all the foreign airlines in the country, including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways, enjoy multiple entries and frequencies in the country, with some even operating two frequencies from one airport per day. This situation does not only engender capital flight but also sounds the death knell for domestic airlines in Nigeria.
Nigeria currently has Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with several countries, whose airlines do business here, without an enforcement of the doctrine of reciprocity. It does appear that the Aviation Ministry is content with earning royalties from the host governments of foreign airlines than work to ensure that Nigerian carriers are strong enough to reciprocate BASAs. Such royalties are just a fraction of what would come to Nigeria, if the local airlines reciprocate the BASAs.
Now, talking about the ability of the regulatory agency to really ensure safety, against the backdrop of Associated Airlines’ crash, the issue to ponder is whether the NCAA has the capacity, in terms of personnel, for effective oversight of airlines in Nigeria?
Observers insist this is doubtful and may explain the reason why planes keep falling off the skies, in spite of constant audit.
File photo: a scene of plane crash
Sunday Vanguard was told that NCAA lacks the requisite personnel to properly carry out its oversight function on airlines, particularly with regards to safety inspectors who should check aircraft before take-off – safety inspectors are very experienced aviators. Based on the preliminary report of the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, on the crashed Associated Airlines’ plane, there are suggestions that the aircraft may not have enjoyed the benefit of thorough inspection by any NCAA inspector before take-off. Unconfirmed reports have it that the agency currently does not have more than 10 time-tested safety inspectors for the whole country, with greater percentage of the personnel concentrated in Lagos and Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has control over 22 airports in the country, which are exclusive of those owned by states and planes fly passengers into these airports.
During the time of the immediate past director-general of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren, he always admitted that NCAA lacked adequate number of safety inspectors and that the few available were aging.
The umbrella body of cabin crew in Nigeria, the National Cabin Crew Association, NACCA, expressed concern over this development when the Dana airliner crashed in June last year and wrote to the Aviation Minister to address the issue.
The letter, dated February 7, 2013, highlighted the paucity of safety inspectors on the part of the NCAA, and called for the agency to be fortified with more inspectors. The group’s concern stemmed from the number of its members that had died in plane crashes since 2005. It also called for the reversal of the system where airlines bear the cost of NCAA oversight personnel who travel overseas to inspect foreign training centres and aircraft airworthiness, noting that aside from putting more burden on airlines, the practice also could lead to compromises on the part of the personnel. Besides, the agency lacks the necessary autonomy to do its work without overbearing influences from the supervising ministry.
Although the new Civil Aviation Act of 2006 gave the NCAA autonomy, as part of the requirement for Nigeria to attain U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Category 1 certification, which the country achieved in 2010, it does appear now that that autonomy is only on paper.
This is because the director-general of the agency cannot take very critical decisions that may even affect lives, without first seeking the approval of the minister. Unless the status-quo is reversed, Nigeria stands the risk of losing the certification, which the Federal Government fought so hard to get.
From the foregoing, it is obvious that it would be difficult to ensure air safety as long as the operating environment for local airlines in the country remain harsh. Government needs to start addressing issues raised here rather than see aviation as one sector it must make money from to make up for shortfall in oil revenue. Until these are done, planes may keep dropping off the skies, despite safety audits – but God forbid
on october 27, 2013 at 4:05 am in special report
By Kenneth Ehigiator
Last week, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, announced plans to embark on yet another round of safety audit of all domestic airlines operating in the country. This is coming as an aftermath of the crash of Associated Airlines’ plane in Lagos which claimed the lives of at least 15 people.
The plan to audit the airlines will be one in a series of airlines’ audit which had trailed the aviation industry since aircraft started falling off the skies since 2005. After the crash of Bellview Airlines in October 2005; Sosoliso in December 2005 and ADC in October 2008, each accident had come with safety audit of airlines, yet planes keep dropping off the skies.
What this means is that there appears to be a fundamental problem in the system that has not been addressed, and that has to do with policies enunciated for the industry by government. There is a suggestion that no matter the volume of safety audit conducted on airlines, safety would remain elusive as long as the operating environment created for airlines remained harsh.
Neither would re-modelling of airports reverse this trend. The mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria isnhigh due to what observers describe as a very harsh operating environment. Bellview, ADC, Sosoliso, Spaceworld, EAS, Harka, Okada, Oriental, Concord, Flash, Air Nigeria are some of the airlines that have exited the airspace in the last 10 years.
This is frightening. Some others may yet follow.
Firstly, the tax regime introduced by government for airlines in the country creates a near asphyxiating ambience for operators. Airlines pay all sorts of charges which stifle them.
Consequently, this is the reason most airlines find it difficult to meet their financial obligations to suppliers, service providers and staff. Even the payment of salaries and aircraft maintenance, when due, becomes a Herculean task. Airlines in Nigeria pay some of the most outrageous charges in the world.
These come in form of ground rent, landing and take off, day and overnight parking charges as well as navigational fees; and these are exclusive of other multiple taxes imposed by government. Overnight parking charges range from between N25,000 and N30, 000 per aircraft. Airlines in Nigeria also pay government taxes as high as 18 per cent of sales, including Value Added Tax, VAT, Passenger Service Charge, PSC and NCAA’s TSC. These taxes and charges, to say the least, are stringent for the airlines to operate safely and profitably. And an airline that cannot operate safely and profitably is an accident waiting to happen.
CRAsHED: Fuselage of the crashed aircraft Embraer 120RT Brasilia, registration number 5N-BJY.
Another reason air safety would remain a challenge in Nigeria, no matter the frequency of audit, is the cut-throat price of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1. At present, this product sells for between N170 and N200 litre, depending on which part of the country it is being sourced. And because up to 40-45 per cent operational cost of airlines revolves around aviation fuel, the product is a huge cost component of their operations in the country. Over time, fuel suppliers have insisted on dispensing their products on a cash and carry basis because of the inability of airlines to settle accumulated debts arising from previous purchases.
This has largely been responsible for some of the delays and flight cancellations experienced by passengers at airports across the country.
Currently, there is no sign to indicate that government is addressing the problem. Most foreign airlines do their re-fuelling in neighbouring countries because of the high cost of aviation fuel in Nigeria but the local airlines have nowhere to go.
When it comes to the issue of aircraft maintenance, the situation is even more dire for the airlines. Aside from a few of the airlines which have capacity for A and B checks in the country, all airlines operating in Nigeria take their aircraft to other countries for their C-check, which comes up between nine and 18 months, depending, however, on the number of cycles an aircraft had clocked within the period. This costs airlines as much as $1 million per aircraft.
The situation is so because there is no standard hanger anywhere in the country where such a check can be conducted on aircraft.
Consequently, airlines in Nigeria take their planes to such countries as Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, France and even tiny Mauritius for their C and D checks.
At the last Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, experts were unanimous on the leverage and cost-cutting advantage an MRO centre has on airline operations and safety.
They also attributed the absence of it in Nigeria to most of the safety issues that had arisen in the country this decade, particularly in the last couple of years.
Over time, stakeholders in the industry have clamoured for the establishment of a national hangar by the Federal Government as no one airline could shoulder the cost of establishing it. Though successive aviation ministers bought into the idea, nothing was ever done to bring it to fruition. Had government set up an MRO centre, the issue of taking planes out of Nigeria and paying exorbitantly an hard currency would have since Stopped and Nigeria would have become the hub of maintenance in West Africa.
At the moment, there is no such centre in the region. To be able to cope with multiple taxes and crippling charges imposed by government, airlines have had to increase fares on frequent basis, thus reducing the number of people that can afford air travel. This is not good enough for a country angling to be the hub of aviation business in West Africa.
With regards to loans, stakeholders have also canvassed the creation of an Aviation Development Fund, ADF, where operators could secure facilities at single digit interest rate, and not the current rate of interest in commercial banks that has helped to further strangulate airlines in the country. Unfortunately, the tokenism that passed for an intervention fund suffered greatly from corrupt practices. One other area government has stifled the ability of airlines to earn sufficient revenue to operate safely and profitably is the continuous granting of multiple entries and frequencies to foreign airlines who,at the moment, do aviation business in Nigeria.
What other governments do to grow their aviation sector with a view to driving economic growth and create jobs is to discourage granting such leverages to foreign airlines operating into their territories. This is done to protect local airlines which would assist foreign airlines distribute their passengers domestically and make money. Today, virtually all the foreign airlines in the country, including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways, enjoy multiple entries and frequencies in the country, with some even operating two frequencies from one airport per day. This situation does not only engender capital flight but also sounds the death knell for domestic airlines in Nigeria.
Nigeria currently has Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with several countries, whose airlines do business here, without an enforcement of the doctrine of reciprocity. It does appear that the Aviation Ministry is content with earning royalties from the host governments of foreign airlines than work to ensure that Nigerian carriers are strong enough to reciprocate BASAs. Such royalties are just a fraction of what would come to Nigeria, if the local airlines reciprocate the BASAs.
Now, talking about the ability of the regulatory agency to really ensure safety, against the backdrop of Associated Airlines’ crash, the issue to ponder is whether the NCAA has the capacity, in terms of personnel, for effective oversight of airlines in Nigeria?
Observers insist this is doubtful and may explain the reason why planes keep falling off the skies, in spite of constant audit.
File photo: a scene of plane crash
Sunday Vanguard was told that NCAA lacks the requisite personnel to properly carry out its oversight function on airlines, particularly with regards to safety inspectors who should check aircraft before take-off – safety inspectors are very experienced aviators. Based on the preliminary report of the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, on the crashed Associated Airlines’ plane, there are suggestions that the aircraft may not have enjoyed the benefit of thorough inspection by any NCAA inspector before take-off. Unconfirmed reports have it that the agency currently does not have more than 10 time-tested safety inspectors for the whole country, with greater percentage of the personnel concentrated in Lagos and Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has control over 22 airports in the country, which are exclusive of those owned by states and planes fly passengers into these airports.
During the time of the immediate past director-general of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren, he always admitted that NCAA lacked adequate number of safety inspectors and that the few available were aging.
The umbrella body of cabin crew in Nigeria, the National Cabin Crew Association, NACCA, expressed concern over this development when the Dana airliner crashed in June last year and wrote to the Aviation Minister to address the issue.
The letter, dated February 7, 2013, highlighted the paucity of safety inspectors on the part of the NCAA, and called for the agency to be fortified with more inspectors. The group’s concern stemmed from the number of its members that had died in plane crashes since 2005. It also called for the reversal of the system where airlines bear the cost of NCAA oversight personnel who travel overseas to inspect foreign training centres and aircraft airworthiness, noting that aside from putting more burden on airlines, the practice also could lead to compromises on the part of the personnel. Besides, the agency lacks the necessary autonomy to do its work without overbearing influences from the supervising ministry.
Although the new Civil Aviation Act of 2006 gave the NCAA autonomy, as part of the requirement for Nigeria to attain U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Category 1 certification, which the country achieved in 2010, it does appear now that that autonomy is only on paper.
This is because the director-general of the agency cannot take very critical decisions that may even affect lives, without first seeking the approval of the minister. Unless the status-quo is reversed, Nigeria stands the risk of losing the certification, which the Federal Government fought so hard to get.
From the foregoing, it is obvious that it would be difficult to ensure air safety as long as the operating environment for local airlines in the country remain harsh. Government needs to start addressing issues raised here rather than see aviation as one sector it must make money from to make up for shortfall in oil revenue. Until these are done, planes may keep dropping off the skies, despite safety audits – but God forbid
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Pilgrim dies in transit to Israel
Minna: One of the Pilgrims from Niger State to this year’s Holy Pilgrimage to Israel, Mr. Amos Peter has been reported dead in transit few hours to the Holy land. It was reliably gathered that first aid treatment was administered on him and later rushed to a Hospital in Turkey but was confirmed dead on arrival at the Hospital.
Head of Medical team leading the pilgrimage to the Holy land, Dr. Joseph Kolo confirmed that late Peter like other pilgrims from the state had undergone thorough medical examinations and were all certified and declared medically fit for the trip and wondered the cause of the sudden death.
Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased is been expected back in the country and would be handed over to the family for interment.Late Peter was part of the 286 Christian pilgrims who left the state through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Israel for this year’s Holy pilgrimage.
Head of Medical team leading the pilgrimage to the Holy land, Dr. Joseph Kolo confirmed that late Peter like other pilgrims from the state had undergone thorough medical examinations and were all certified and declared medically fit for the trip and wondered the cause of the sudden death.
Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased is been expected back in the country and would be handed over to the family for interment.Late Peter was part of the 286 Christian pilgrims who left the state through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Israel for this year’s Holy pilgrimage.
Delta state government loses bid to reclaim $15m Ibori’s bribe money
rom Ibori.”
The state which approached the court through its own Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, noting that, “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”
The state said the reason why it did not formally apply for payment of the money was in view of pending appeals before both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, saying it did not want to prejudice the outcome of the appeal cases.
Moreover, the State claimed that all monies, assets and properties recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to the Plateau State, just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.
It argued that there should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others, saying it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to the state.
How mony was picked
However, in a 14 paragraphed affidavit deposed by one Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori, he told the court that: “while the investigation was going on, on 25thApril, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.
“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) we deposited same on 26th April, 2007 with the Central Bank of Nigeria which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN.
“That from the said 26th April, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue of giving bribe was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on 9th January 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.
“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated 10thJanuary, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars), to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN.
“That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.
Order of forfeiture
“That it is in the interest of justice to, in the interim, make an order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allow publication to be made in the National Newspaper to alert any interested member of the public to come out within 14 days to show their interest, failure to which this honourable court will make an order of final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“That the EFCC is ready to abide by the order that this honourable court will eventually make. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” he added.
Adducing further reasons why the money should not be given to the state, counsel to the federal government, Mr Rotimi Jacob, SAN, alleged that Delta State government under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had on two occasions, wired money totaling N100million to a foreign account operated by the convicted former governor.
He told the court that the EFCC unearthed evidence showing that whereas the first transfer of N50million was made to the Governor in 2008, the state, in 2010, made another transfer of the same amount through Access Bank, fund he said was sent to Ibori in a bid to help him wriggle out of the money laundering trial he was facing in London.
“My Lord, we are saying that if this particular money is released to Delta State, it will be sent to Ibori also. Our position is that it should be paid into the consolidated revenue for the benefit of Nigerians. That is what the law says.
“It is on record that when EFCC was investigating Ibori, the AG of Delta State, instituted a case against the EFCC stating that the Delta State account should not be investigated and that how they spent their money under Ibori should not be our concern.
Ibori harassed
“The AG even deposed an affidavit insisting that no money was lost by Delta State government. They even got a court order against EFCC saying the former governor was merely being harassed.
“My Lord, if it was true that Ibori actually stole that kind of money from the state treasury, how come that the AG of that state has not deemed it fit to institute a criminal charge against him in line with his powers under section 211 of the 1999 constitution, for siphoning such amount from the state?” Rotimi queried.
In his reply, the Delta State AG, Ajuyah, argued that the federal government had not proved that the money did not emanate from the Delta State treasury, adding “My Lord, there is no judgment of any court today saying that the $15million in question was the proceed of any crime.”
The state which approached the court through its own Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, noting that, “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”
The state said the reason why it did not formally apply for payment of the money was in view of pending appeals before both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, saying it did not want to prejudice the outcome of the appeal cases.
Moreover, the State claimed that all monies, assets and properties recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to the Plateau State, just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.
It argued that there should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others, saying it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to the state.
How mony was picked
However, in a 14 paragraphed affidavit deposed by one Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori, he told the court that: “while the investigation was going on, on 25thApril, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.
“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) we deposited same on 26th April, 2007 with the Central Bank of Nigeria which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN.
“That from the said 26th April, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue of giving bribe was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on 9th January 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.
“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated 10thJanuary, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars), to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN.
“That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.
Order of forfeiture
“That it is in the interest of justice to, in the interim, make an order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allow publication to be made in the National Newspaper to alert any interested member of the public to come out within 14 days to show their interest, failure to which this honourable court will make an order of final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“That the EFCC is ready to abide by the order that this honourable court will eventually make. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” he added.
Adducing further reasons why the money should not be given to the state, counsel to the federal government, Mr Rotimi Jacob, SAN, alleged that Delta State government under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had on two occasions, wired money totaling N100million to a foreign account operated by the convicted former governor.
He told the court that the EFCC unearthed evidence showing that whereas the first transfer of N50million was made to the Governor in 2008, the state, in 2010, made another transfer of the same amount through Access Bank, fund he said was sent to Ibori in a bid to help him wriggle out of the money laundering trial he was facing in London.
“My Lord, we are saying that if this particular money is released to Delta State, it will be sent to Ibori also. Our position is that it should be paid into the consolidated revenue for the benefit of Nigerians. That is what the law says.
“It is on record that when EFCC was investigating Ibori, the AG of Delta State, instituted a case against the EFCC stating that the Delta State account should not be investigated and that how they spent their money under Ibori should not be our concern.
Ibori harassed
“The AG even deposed an affidavit insisting that no money was lost by Delta State government. They even got a court order against EFCC saying the former governor was merely being harassed.
“My Lord, if it was true that Ibori actually stole that kind of money from the state treasury, how come that the AG of that state has not deemed it fit to institute a criminal charge against him in line with his powers under section 211 of the 1999 constitution, for siphoning such amount from the state?” Rotimi queried.
In his reply, the Delta State AG, Ajuyah, argued that the federal government had not proved that the money did not emanate from the Delta State treasury, adding “My Lord, there is no judgment of any court today saying that the $15million in question was the proceed of any crime.”
Terror: Army kills over 95 insurgents in Borno
In continuation of its fight against Boko Haram Insurgents in the North-East, the troops of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army have destroyed Boko Haram camp, killing over 95 insurgents in Galangi and Limanti villages of Kaga local government area of Borno state.
The invasion came barely some hours after attack on military and police locations in Damaturu the capital of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members yesterday. The gunmen had access and launched coordinated attacks using Rocket Propelled Launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices (EIDs) on different military checkpoints within the metropolis killing several people.
Mallam Abdulwasiu Akinsanya, a staff of Media Trust, publishers of Daily Trust, Weekly Trust and Sunday Trust was among several civilians that were killed in Damaturu when the gunmen launched multiple attacks on military and police locations as well as public and private buildings on Thursday. His Wife, Bilkisu A. Akinsanya confirmed that her husband was killed around 5.30pm when their vehicle broke down in Damaturu shortly before the Boko Haram insurgents launched the attacks.
Explaining the military invasion, the insurgents, the Army in a Press release signed by its spokesman LT Col Muhammad Dole stated that the operations which involved ground and aerial assault supported by the Nigerian Airforce led to the destruction of the terrorist camp, killing of over 95 insurgents, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the terrorist’s camp, according to the release includes two Isuzu Tiger Pick-up Vans and five Hilux belonging to the terrorists were destroyed, while two soldiers were wounded during the operation.
General Ethan also reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army 7 Division to ensuring safety of lives and property of all citizens within its area of operations.
Witnesses of the Damaturu onslaught said the gunmen first launched attack around the NNPC Mega station, a suburb of Damaturu which had been a GSM Call centre for Maiduguri residents who on daily basis travel from Maiduguri due to lack of telecommunication network to make calls.
The NNPC Mega Station is about 2 kilometres away to the City of Damaturu where military operatives have one of their checkpoints, a few metres away from the station, and because of the presence of the security checkpoint, many phone callers from Maiduguri turned the place to a call centre with adequate security cover; but the gunmen launched their deadly attack on the area before moving to other places in the city.
The attack which signaled their presence before penetrating the town after a while started around 5:30pm and lasted till midnight as security operatives responded promptly.
Although, the number of casualties was sketchy at press time, sources said, several terrorists were killed including security operatives.
Residents said sound of gun shots and Improvise Explosive Devices (IED) were heard across all the nook and crannies of the town, but could not give further details as to how many people were affected in the attacks.
A source said, “I saw dead bodies on the streets near my house, but could not ascertain whether the dead bodies are that of Boko Haram members, innocent civilians or security operatives”.
The spokesman of the Special Operation Battalion in Yobe state, captain Eli Lazarus who confirmed the attack said ”security forces in the state capital are in a gun battle with the insurgents.”
Shortly after the confirmation of the attack, Captain Eli Lazarus in a statement said “the Special operation Battalion Damaturu hereby imposed a 24 hours curfew across Yobe state with immediate effect, as the battalion steps up its operation to rid the state of insurgents”.
The statement urged law abiding citizens to remain calm and to accord the security operatives the usual cooperation.
Security forces are yet to confirm the level of casualties or destruction caused by the attack which lasted for over eight hours.
The Special Operation Battalion Damaturu had early yesterday reviewed the curfew time in Potiskum town between the hours of 10PM – 6:00 AM to 9: PM – 6: 00 AM.
Yesterday’s attack was a serious setback to the relative peace being enjoyed across the state and Damaturu the state capital in particular.
The invasion came barely some hours after attack on military and police locations in Damaturu the capital of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members yesterday. The gunmen had access and launched coordinated attacks using Rocket Propelled Launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices (EIDs) on different military checkpoints within the metropolis killing several people.
Mallam Abdulwasiu Akinsanya, a staff of Media Trust, publishers of Daily Trust, Weekly Trust and Sunday Trust was among several civilians that were killed in Damaturu when the gunmen launched multiple attacks on military and police locations as well as public and private buildings on Thursday. His Wife, Bilkisu A. Akinsanya confirmed that her husband was killed around 5.30pm when their vehicle broke down in Damaturu shortly before the Boko Haram insurgents launched the attacks.
Items recovered from the terrorist’s camp, according to the release includes two Isuzu Tiger Pick-up Vans and five Hilux belonging to the terrorists were destroyed, while two soldiers were wounded during the operation.
General Ethan also reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army 7 Division to ensuring safety of lives and property of all citizens within its area of operations.
Witnesses of the Damaturu onslaught said the gunmen first launched attack around the NNPC Mega station, a suburb of Damaturu which had been a GSM Call centre for Maiduguri residents who on daily basis travel from Maiduguri due to lack of telecommunication network to make calls.
The NNPC Mega Station is about 2 kilometres away to the City of Damaturu where military operatives have one of their checkpoints, a few metres away from the station, and because of the presence of the security checkpoint, many phone callers from Maiduguri turned the place to a call centre with adequate security cover; but the gunmen launched their deadly attack on the area before moving to other places in the city.
The attack which signaled their presence before penetrating the town after a while started around 5:30pm and lasted till midnight as security operatives responded promptly.
Although, the number of casualties was sketchy at press time, sources said, several terrorists were killed including security operatives.
Residents said sound of gun shots and Improvise Explosive Devices (IED) were heard across all the nook and crannies of the town, but could not give further details as to how many people were affected in the attacks.
A source said, “I saw dead bodies on the streets near my house, but could not ascertain whether the dead bodies are that of Boko Haram members, innocent civilians or security operatives”.
The spokesman of the Special Operation Battalion in Yobe state, captain Eli Lazarus who confirmed the attack said ”security forces in the state capital are in a gun battle with the insurgents.”
Shortly after the confirmation of the attack, Captain Eli Lazarus in a statement said “the Special operation Battalion Damaturu hereby imposed a 24 hours curfew across Yobe state with immediate effect, as the battalion steps up its operation to rid the state of insurgents”.
The statement urged law abiding citizens to remain calm and to accord the security operatives the usual cooperation.
Security forces are yet to confirm the level of casualties or destruction caused by the attack which lasted for over eight hours.
The Special Operation Battalion Damaturu had early yesterday reviewed the curfew time in Potiskum town between the hours of 10PM – 6:00 AM to 9: PM – 6: 00 AM.
Yesterday’s attack was a serious setback to the relative peace being enjoyed across the state and Damaturu the state capital in particular.
Friday, 25 October 2013
TERROR: Army frees three suspected Boko Haram insurgents
The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army has said, that three out of the six suspects Boko Haram insurgents arrested at the Maiduguri International Airport Monday, while returning from this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia had been released.
Spokesman of the Division, Captain Aliyu Danja told newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday that those released had no link with terrorists, contrary to reports by a section of the media.
Danja confirmed that arrests were made at the airport by security operatives where six suspected Boko Haram sect members were handed over to men of the division, but stressed that after thorough interrogation, it was discovered that they were neither terrorists nor members of Boko Haram Islamic sect. He pointed out that three of them had since been freed by the Division and reunited with their families.
He also stated that the three remaining suspects were undergoing further interrogation, adding that they would face the full weight of the law if it was discovered that they had any link with terror activities either directly or indirectly.
A military source who probably participated in the arrest had said that, “we coordinated the interception and arrests of terror suspects at the airport last Monday,’’ pointing out that ‘’the arrests were facilitated with the cooperation of airport authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCOM, which allowed security personnel to do their job thoroughly at the arrival hall of the airport at dawn.”
Spokesman of the Division, Captain Aliyu Danja told newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday that those released had no link with terrorists, contrary to reports by a section of the media.
Danja confirmed that arrests were made at the airport by security operatives where six suspected Boko Haram sect members were handed over to men of the division, but stressed that after thorough interrogation, it was discovered that they were neither terrorists nor members of Boko Haram Islamic sect. He pointed out that three of them had since been freed by the Division and reunited with their families.
He also stated that the three remaining suspects were undergoing further interrogation, adding that they would face the full weight of the law if it was discovered that they had any link with terror activities either directly or indirectly.
A military source who probably participated in the arrest had said that, “we coordinated the interception and arrests of terror suspects at the airport last Monday,’’ pointing out that ‘’the arrests were facilitated with the cooperation of airport authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCOM, which allowed security personnel to do their job thoroughly at the arrival hall of the airport at dawn.”
Pastor accused of raping 9-yr-old, two 7-yr-olds
A pastor, Emmanuel Mathew, 50, appeared before an Abuja High Court for allegedly raping three pupils in a primary school at Mpape, Abuja.
Mathew, who is the pastor and General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of the said school, was arraigned on a five-count charge.
The Prosecutor, DSP Stanley Nwodo, told the court that the accused raped two seven-year-old and a nine-year-old pupils on different occasions in his school.
Nwodo said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code, which attracts 14 years imprisonment, an option of fine or both.
Mathew pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After arraignment, the Counsel to the accused, Mr. Uya Yamah, urged the court to admit his client to bail.
The prosecutor did not oppose the application because the accused had been on administrative bail.
In his ruling, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum.
Baba-Yusuf ordered that the surety must be resident within the FCT and must produce proof of ownership of a landed property.
He adjourned the case till January 21, 2014, for hearing.
Mathew, who is the pastor and General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of the said school, was arraigned on a five-count charge.
The Prosecutor, DSP Stanley Nwodo, told the court that the accused raped two seven-year-old and a nine-year-old pupils on different occasions in his school.
Nwodo said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code, which attracts 14 years imprisonment, an option of fine or both.
Mathew pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After arraignment, the Counsel to the accused, Mr. Uya Yamah, urged the court to admit his client to bail.
The prosecutor did not oppose the application because the accused had been on administrative bail.
In his ruling, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum.
Baba-Yusuf ordered that the surety must be resident within the FCT and must produce proof of ownership of a landed property.
He adjourned the case till January 21, 2014, for hearing.
VC explains why Nigerian graduates are unemployable
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Biyi Daramola, says Nigerian graduates are unemployable due to the lack of self discipline and commitment to vigorous academic pursuit.
Daramola said this in a lecture entitled; ”The Role of Science and Technology in Human Resource Management”, he presented at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday.
He spoke at a forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
The Professor of Agricultural Economics said it was regrettable that many Nigerian graduates could not secure jobs after years of applications.
He said that the lack of exposure to science and Technology was also a major factor responsible for their plight.
The vice chancellor said it was high time the country’s education curricula be fashioned in a manner to make mathematics compulsory for all courses at all levels.
This, he said, would boost students’ interests in science and technology from their tender ages.
Daramola urged governments to ensure proper funding of science and technology at all levels of the academic cadre, adding that “they should also help in the establishment of monotechnics and polytechnics or universities of technology that would expose students to skills acquisition.
“Over the years, Nigerian education policies have recognised the importance of science-based courses in the nation’s education curricular and thus pursued the policy of giving more attention to science-oriented courses during admissions into the nation’s tertiary institutions.”
He said that the empahasis on science and technology would facilitate the actualisation of the country’s desire to join the comity of developed economies by the year 2020.
In her remarks, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kehinde Ojo, said the distributions of 48,000 laptops to students and teachers, as well as renovation of all schools by Gov. Kayode Fayemi-led administration underscored the importance placed on education.
The President/Chairman of Council, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, who was represented by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer
of the Institution, Mr Sunday Adeyemi, pledged that the council would continue to live up to expectations in its
commitment to the management of human capital for maximum productivity. (NAN)
Daramola said this in a lecture entitled; ”The Role of Science and Technology in Human Resource Management”, he presented at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday.
He spoke at a forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
The Professor of Agricultural Economics said it was regrettable that many Nigerian graduates could not secure jobs after years of applications.
He said that the lack of exposure to science and Technology was also a major factor responsible for their plight.
The vice chancellor said it was high time the country’s education curricula be fashioned in a manner to make mathematics compulsory for all courses at all levels.
This, he said, would boost students’ interests in science and technology from their tender ages.
Daramola urged governments to ensure proper funding of science and technology at all levels of the academic cadre, adding that “they should also help in the establishment of monotechnics and polytechnics or universities of technology that would expose students to skills acquisition.
“Over the years, Nigerian education policies have recognised the importance of science-based courses in the nation’s education curricular and thus pursued the policy of giving more attention to science-oriented courses during admissions into the nation’s tertiary institutions.”
He said that the empahasis on science and technology would facilitate the actualisation of the country’s desire to join the comity of developed economies by the year 2020.
In her remarks, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kehinde Ojo, said the distributions of 48,000 laptops to students and teachers, as well as renovation of all schools by Gov. Kayode Fayemi-led administration underscored the importance placed on education.
The President/Chairman of Council, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, who was represented by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer
of the Institution, Mr Sunday Adeyemi, pledged that the council would continue to live up to expectations in its
commitment to the management of human capital for maximum productivity. (NAN)
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Grounding of Amaechi’s aircraft illegal — Reps
ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, cleared the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi of any offence in the operations of the state-owned Bombadier B700 Global Express jet and indicted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for illegally grounding the Rivers State owned aircraft.
The verdict was delivered when it considered and adopted report of its joint committee on justice and aviation on the urgent need to investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the controversial grounding of Rivers State Government Bombadier B700 Global Express aircraft last April.
Briefing
Briefing the committee of the whole House presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, chairman of the committee, Rep Ali Ahmad (PDP, Kwara) explained that the allegations on which the NCAA based its actions on grounding the aircraft were false. He said the aircraft was registered in the US and the committee also found out that over 70 per cent of private jets in the country were registered abroad.
Briefing the committee of the whole House presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, chairman of the committee, Rep Ali Ahmad (PDP, Kwara) explained that the allegations on which the NCAA based its actions on grounding the aircraft were false. He said the aircraft was registered in the US and the committee also found out that over 70 per cent of private jets in the country were registered abroad.
While adopting the recommendations, the House requested the attorney-general and minister of justice to consider prosecuting Caverton Helicopters for misleading the NCAA to illegally ground the aircraft.
The House noted that “for providing information that led the authorities to wrongly believe that Rivers State Government falsified documents thereby leading to grounding of its aircraft, the Attorney-General is requested to consider prosecuting Caverton Helicopters under the provisions of section 36 (4) Civil Aviation Act. C13, 2004”
Resolution
It was also resolved that “the Rivers State Government should be allowed to comply with the necessary conditions for granting of all required permits and licences of Rivers State-owned Bombadier B700 Global Express with registration number N565Rs”
It urged the ministry of aviation to desist from undue interference in the day to day operations of the aviation regulatory authorities as envisaged by the law.
It equally asked the aviation regulatory authorities to operate professionally and ensure compliance with international best practices in the industry”
It will be recalled that the Rivers State-owned private jet was grounded in April, 2013 by the NCAA.
NCAA reacts
A statement from the NCAA had read “By our records, the last flight clearance for this aircraft was approved for operation on Thursday, March 28, 2013 on Accra—PH–Accra and to terminate on April 2, 2013. With this development, the aircraft has exceeded the extra two days or 48 hours leeway for it to leave the country.
A statement from the NCAA had read “By our records, the last flight clearance for this aircraft was approved for operation on Thursday, March 28, 2013 on Accra—PH–Accra and to terminate on April 2, 2013. With this development, the aircraft has exceeded the extra two days or 48 hours leeway for it to leave the country.
“While still operating illegally, the aircraft has been sighted in several places including Owerri and Akure. The owner of this aircraft according to the Certificate of Registration is Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The clearance for the aircraft was sought by Caverton Helicopters on March 27, 2013. Consequently, this aircraft in reference is hereby grounded at any airport that is located right now in the country.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/grounding-amaechis-aircraft-illegal-reps/#sthash.te3Mu0Du.dpuf
18-yr-old victim of gang rape commits suicide
YENAGOA— An 18-year-old girl, allegedly gang-raped by three boys, has committed suicide at her Amarata residence. It is a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The deceased, simply identified as Janet, was a native of Oduali in Abua/Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
She was reportedly gang-raped at gunpoint by the boys, who forced her into an uncompleted building last week, while she was on an errand for her elder sister.
A source said: “The girl was sad and devastated after the incident. After she narrated her experience, her sister’s husband, who is a pastor, asked her to describe any of her attackers. She described one of them.
“The boy was traced to his house, but he had absconded. The pastor counselled her and promised to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.”
It was gathered that, unknown to her guardian, the distraught girl had decided to take her own life.
The source said the rape victim left behind a suicide note, after which she took a poisonous substance known as Sniper.
She was discovered groaning in pain, and taken to GlorylandHospital, where she died.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident. He said the Police has launched investigation into the alleged rape charges filed by the girl’s family.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/18-yr-old-victim-of-gang-rape-commits-suicide/#sthash.vanQ3rHu.dpuf
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Nigerians against same sex marriage – FG
The Federal Government,yesterday, declared before the United Nations Human Rights Council, that it will not bow to international pressure to allow same sex marriage in the country. The government argued that it is not only against the cultural and traditional values of Nigerians but that 92 percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate.
Nigeria also accused foreign countries of sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the country even as it justified the execution of death row inmates in the country, contending that it was in accordance with Nigerian laws.
Defending Nigeria’s human rights record at the on-going 17th session of the Universal Peer Review, UPR, mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, said “Nigeria does not accept recommendation of some countries on same sex marriage, because it is against its national values. Recent polling data suggests that 92 percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate.
“The Marriage Act defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. Christianity and Islam, which are the major religions in Nigeria, also recognize marriage as relationship between a man and woman. Same-sex marriage is not in the culture of Nigerians. Sexual and gender minorities are not visible in Nigeria and there is no officially registered association of gays and lesbians. In writing this report, a consultation and validation process was held with various stakeholders where the issue of same-sex marriage was brought up, and the general view of the participants was that same-sex marriage was not a human rights issue in Nigeria.”
On the security challenges in the country, Mr Adoke said, “Nigeria is experiencing the impact of externally-induced internal security challenges, manifesting in activities of militant insurgents and organised crime groups which has led to the violation of the human rights of many Nigerians. To address the problem, the government has adopted constitutional measures which include the “declaration of a state of emergency” in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the North-East Nigeria, where the insurgents have their base. As a result, a Joint Task Force and a Special Task Force have been deployed with the required legislative authorization to utilize rightsbased “Rules of Engagement” and “Operational Plans” in combating the insurgency.
“However, the Nigerian Government has kept open communication channels through activities of a Presidential Committee on Security Challenges towards working out a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Meanwhile, Government has already proscribed Boko Haram as well as the Jama-atu Ansa-ril Muslimi-na fi- Bila-dis Su-da-n and stipulated a 20-year jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors them in any manner whatsoever. The Government has also put in place an amnesty programme to dissuade terrorists and other extremists from violence.
“The Nigerian Government has taken other measures to improve security, including enactment of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and its subsequent amendment in 2013 to broaden the scope of its application; development of a Counter Terrorism Strategy and creation of crisis management centre in the office of the National Security Adviser; coordination of enhanced capacity building for all security and intelligence outfits at both the strategic and tactical levels; the National Security Adviser coordinates efforts among the security and intelligence agencies to ensure protection of the human rights of all persons in counter terrorism operations. Human rights standards have been incorporated in the training curricula of all operatives and coordination of a security awareness programme for ministers and other functionaries of government.”
On death row inmates execution, he said “the right of man to life is the most fundamental human right. Government uses the death penalty as a deterrent to protect human life. Section 33 (1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees the right to life. It provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.
“The Penal code and Criminal code prescribe death sentence for anybody who commits culpable homicide punishable with death and murder respectively. Death penalty is a valid part of Nigerian law. In Nigeria today, offences that are punishable by death include murder, treason, directing or presiding at an unlawful trial by ordeal from which death results, and armed robbery.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/nigerians-sex-marriage-fg/#sthash.StwcKUe5.dpuf
N225m cars scam: Jonathan queries Oduah
By Okey Ndiribe , Emman Ovuakporie, & Levinus Nwabuhiogu
ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, queried the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah over the N225 million armoured cars scandal involving her and some agencies of her ministry.
ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, queried the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah over the N225 million armoured cars scandal involving her and some agencies of her ministry.
Jonathan’s query, signed by one of his aides asked the minister to explain her role in the purchase of the vehicles which had generated nationwide controversy.
It was further learnt that the President also asked the minister to explain the circumstances under which the purchase of the cars were made.
Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah
President Jonathan will begin a visit to Israel today where he is expected to sign a bilateral air services greement with the country.
Still on the matter, the House of Representatives yesterday summoned Mrs Oduah to appear before it tomorrow in an investigative hearing over her role in the alleged purchase of two bullet proof BMW cars valued at N225 million.
This is pursuant to yesterday’s resolution of the House to begin investigation into the purchase.
A statement from the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha indicated that the investigative public hearing is billed to hold Thursday (tomorrow) at 10:00am.
Others expected to appear before the committee are the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Managing Director, Coscharis Motors; Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement; Managing Director, First Bank PLC; Federal Ministry of Finance and members of the general public.
Meanwhile, another agency in the aviation ministry, the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was also said to have purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for Mrs. Stella Oduah. NAMA however denied the report, saying it is false.
According to an online media which published the photographs of the limousines, the Tundras are in addition to four stretch limousines allegedly purchased for the movement of VIPs. The vehicles were said to be parked at the headquarters of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) grounds in Abuja, yesterday.
The purchase and donation of the Tundras to the minister was allegedly made earlier, in June, while the four limousines were received in the third week of June but have not been put to use.
NAMA denies buying
limousines for Oduah
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency {NAMA} has, however, denied the online media reports that the agency purchased eight limousines for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.
A statement issued yesterday by Mr. Supo Atobatele, General Manager, Public Affairs Department of NAMA said: “The attention of NAMA has been drawn to frivolous, malicious and mischievous reports being bandied by an online news outfit to the effect that the agency bought four limousines along with other brands for the Ministry of Aviation or its leadership.”
According to Atobatele: “We hereby make it categorically clear to the public that this evil story, as being promoted is patently false in its entirety and is calculated to put the agency and the office of the honourable minister into disrepute.”
He continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, the said limousines belong to a concesssionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for non-scheduled operators. The said vehicles were never on the inventory of NAMA and we would like to declare with all emphasis that we do not run ground services as we are statutorily an air navigation service provider.”
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation which was mandated to investigate the car scandal was specifically instructed to submit the report of its findings within 168 hours — one week, to the House for further deliberation.
The action of the House followed a motion brought to the floor of the House by Rep Samson Osagie, APC, under matters of National Importance and seconded by Rep Sehu Gusau, APC representing ZamfaraState.
Osagie had argued in the motion that investigations into the purchase of $1.6million bullet-proof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, pursuant to Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended) has become mandatory.
The Edo legislator further explained that “given the poverty and unemployment ravaging our dear nation and its people, it will be absurd, unthinkable and indeed unpatriotic for an agency of government to connive with its political head to incur such an expenditure simply for the comfort and safety of one public officer.”
Osagie said that “over the past four weeks, the nation has been inundated with the news of the purchase of $1.6m BMW bullet-proof cars by the NCAA for the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.”
He observed that “the furore generated by the said matter has left tongues wagging on the sincerity and objectivity of this administration’s stand on fight against corruption which was again re-emphasized by Mr. President’s nationwide broadcast on October 1, 2013″.
Continuing, the Minority Whip of the House said that “the RMAFC has elaborate recommendations as to the way public officers including Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are to be catered for in terms of salaries and emoluments, housing and motor vehicles, which recommendations have been passed into law by the National Assembly.”
Issues before House committee
He appealed to members to mandate the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back to the House within one week with specific reference to the following:
*Whether it is correct that the purchase was made;
*Whether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law;
*Whether NCAA has been complying with FRA on IGR;
*Whether the Minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria;
*Whether (if the answer to 2 above is in the negative) the EFCC and all anti-corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved; and
*Whether ( if 2 above is correct) the President and Commander-in-Chief can continue to retain the services of the Hon. Minister and all those involved in the matter.
At this juncture, the presiding officer, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal cautioned members saying:
“We need to be mindful of the fact that we are investigating a serious matter; we should reserve our comments so that we are not seen to be judgmental in our arguments.”
In his contribution, Rep Kigbu Haruna, representing NasarawaState said: “This is an issue we should talk about until we get it right. The MDAs are involved in lots of extra-budgetary spending and who among them is greater than any Senator or an elected member of this House?
“Soon and very soon, Senators and Reps would be asking for bullet-proof cars when we can’t feed the poor or give quality education to the people of Nigeria.”
Rep Hassan Saleh, representing BenueState asked: “Is this the right way to go!
“Is this the priority of the Ministry of Aviation? Recently, aircraft inspectors were not being paid allowances and what we hear is that bullet-proof cars were bought.”
Rep Emmanuel Jimeh, PDP, Benue, in his contribution said: “This calls for serious introspection in this House on the way public officers are conducting their businesses. I have listened and I am not in any doubt that the amount of money was used for the purchase of the vehicles, the main question therefore is what is the nexus between the purchase of the vehicles for the minister and air safety in this country.
“Recently, an air accident occurred. That is why we must be angry that the people in charge of air safety in the country are busy protecting themselves on the ground. We should stop profligacy in the way that the fund of this country is being managed. This NASS will not sit back and watch the resources of this country being frittered away by a few Nigerians.”
ASUU strike ‘ll be over in few months – Wike
The Federal Government, yesterday, assured Nigerian students that the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be over in a few months.
The Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike stated this at the anniversary lecture of National Universities Commission, NUC, in Abuja.
The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala, reiterated Federal Government commitment in resolving the ongoing strike of ASUU.
Minister of State for Eduction, Barrister Esenwo Nyesom Wike
According to Wike, “The Federal Government is very concerned about the state of public tertiary institutions in the country. The Federal Government is really worried about the ongoing strike of ASUU and the strike would be resolved in a few months.”
Professor John Daniel in his paper presentation titled, ‘Turbulent and Testing Times for Global Higher Education: Lessons for Nigeria’, said “online teaching and learning is now part of the future of most universities. Nigeria should be very good at this because without embarrassing you by pressing the point, I note that your country, through 419 scams, is a world leader in the use of the internet for less desirable purposes.”
He said higher education all over the world is facing lot of challenges that included youth unemployment and the current changes in the university system.
“These are indeed turbulent times, not only for United States of America but also for much of higher education globally”, he said.
A former Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Jubril Munzali, in his goodwill message, said the education sector for 21 years have been under funded and the significant increase in the funding of tertiary institutions were done through the struggle of ASUU.
He blamed the Federal Government lingering crisis rocking the nation’s university system.
He said it is time Federal Government listened to its agencies and allow NUC perform its statutory role and fund universities based on the advice of its agencies like NUC.
“Successive administrations in the country never paid adequate attention to university education”. He said the Federal Government process of direct funding of universities, have over the years resulted in mismanagement of the funds allocated to the institutions.
Police stop ASUU rally in Bayelsa
Meanwhile, the police authorities in Bayelsa State, yesterday, stopped the planned public protest by lecturers of the state owned Niger Delta University, NDU, Amassoma in the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The police order, issued against the planned public procession by the ASUU, NDU chapter, was reportedly signed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Okpara.
But the undaunted lecturers converged at the Yenagoa campus of the university to stage solidarity rally and also held a prayer session to seek the face of God over the lingering crisis.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/asuu-strike-ll-months-wike/#sthash.1OnaBk4B.dpuf
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Covenant University will be among world’s top 10 by 2022 - Oyedepo
The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Dr David Oyedepo, said on Monday that the institution would be among the top 10 universities in the world by 2022.
Oyedepo made the remark at the institution’s 11th Founder’s Day celebration in Ota.
According to him, the university has since inception in 2002, focused on actualising its mandate, which is primarily to raise leaders who will change the world.
Covenant University, Ota
Oyedepo said that already, the university had surpassed set standards but was not relenting till it achieved its desired 2022 dream, tagged: Vision 10: 2022, (1 of 10 in 10).
“It is in view of this that we are launching our new vision and, therefore want to charge the faculty managements to invest maximally in the review of our curriculum.
“We must strive to review pragmatically, the contents of our curriculum by bringing it into the realities of the day.
“Let us not be afraid of trying out new things in new ways because unless this is done, you cannot move forward.
“We must strive to have the creative mind of Christ to review our curriculum in order to truly meet the needs of the society,” he said.
The Chancellor said that empowering the people intellectually and practicalising it through inventions and discoveries was key in taking universities to higher levels.
He charged the students to be excellent performers, especially in the area of self-discipline, as it was a major tool in becoming great leaders.
The chancellor later inaugurated projects in the institution, among which was the vision 10:2022 (1 of 10 in 10) billboard.
He also inaugurated the glass blowing laboratory at the chemistry department of the institution as part of activities lined up for the celebration.
The laboratory is meant for fabricating, moulding and re-moulding of glass.
The Head of Department of Chemistry, Dr Kolawale Ajanaku, said that the laboratory would enable students to turn waste to wealth by picking up broken glasses and putting them into use.
He said that the laboratory would not serve the students alone but would be open to members of the public for training.
Covenant University, which was established on Oct. 21, 2002, has graduated more than 10, 000 students. (NAN)
Oyedepo made the remark at the institution’s 11th Founder’s Day celebration in Ota.
According to him, the university has since inception in 2002, focused on actualising its mandate, which is primarily to raise leaders who will change the world.
Covenant University, Ota
“It is in view of this that we are launching our new vision and, therefore want to charge the faculty managements to invest maximally in the review of our curriculum.
“We must strive to review pragmatically, the contents of our curriculum by bringing it into the realities of the day.
“Let us not be afraid of trying out new things in new ways because unless this is done, you cannot move forward.
“We must strive to have the creative mind of Christ to review our curriculum in order to truly meet the needs of the society,” he said.
The Chancellor said that empowering the people intellectually and practicalising it through inventions and discoveries was key in taking universities to higher levels.
He charged the students to be excellent performers, especially in the area of self-discipline, as it was a major tool in becoming great leaders.
The chancellor later inaugurated projects in the institution, among which was the vision 10:2022 (1 of 10 in 10) billboard.
He also inaugurated the glass blowing laboratory at the chemistry department of the institution as part of activities lined up for the celebration.
The laboratory is meant for fabricating, moulding and re-moulding of glass.
The Head of Department of Chemistry, Dr Kolawale Ajanaku, said that the laboratory would enable students to turn waste to wealth by picking up broken glasses and putting them into use.
He said that the laboratory would not serve the students alone but would be open to members of the public for training.
Covenant University, which was established on Oct. 21, 2002, has graduated more than 10, 000 students. (NAN)
N250m cars: More trouble for Aviation minister as EFCC gets set to probe deal
More trouble may still be lurking the way of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, over the controversial purchase of two bullet-proof cars for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, without necessary approvals.
There was indication yesterday that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, might move in to unravel the untidy deal, which has added to the list of misgivings denting Nigeria’s battered image before the international community.
A competent source at the commission confided in Vanguard that the agency was under pressure from Nigerians, particularly civil society groups to probe the purchase of the controversial High Security Sedans, HSS.
The source, which pleaded anonymity because he had not been authorised to speak to the media on the matter, said however that the operatives were studying the situation and could move in without notice.
“It is not our duty to serve notice to those we want to investigate so that the suspect might not be put on notice. When we want to do our job, we simply swoop on the suspects, the source said.
“We have been inundated with queries as to when we are going to investigate the purchase of the cars for the minister but we cannot give any notice because they would no longer be a surprise.
“In a matter of this nature, the necessary steps must be taken at the appropriate time,” the source explained.
There were indications that the whole transaction did not pass through the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP, since the cars were allegedly bought based on what a source described as ‘Anticipatory Approval’ and delivered on Hire-Purchase Agreement to the NCAA.
Efforts to get clarification from the Director-General of the BPP, Mr. Emeka Eze, proved abortive, as calls to his phone, rang out. Eze did not also respond to text messages sent to his phone.
BPP’s Head of Media, Dr. Biodun Adeniyi, could not also be reached for comments on the matter, as his phone was switched off at the time of filing the report.
Controversy over the cars has thrown up a serious image problem for both the minister and the NCAA since the papers were leaked last week.
Initially, the minister’s office had owned up on the purchase of the cars, justifying it on the need to protect the minister’s life given the far-reaching changes and innovations she had introduced that angered some unnamed persons in the country.
However, following public outrage, the statement was later withdrawn and the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, made to explain that the cars were procured for the use of the minister and visiting foreign dignitaries, a claim that further infuriated the Nigerian public.
As a result, many Aviation stakeholders and civil society organisations have asked Princess Oduah to resign and save her face from further indignation.
The Presidency is said to have been seriously embarrassed by the unfolding drama over the luxury cars and might be considering measures to save its face.
There was indication yesterday that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, might move in to unravel the untidy deal, which has added to the list of misgivings denting Nigeria’s battered image before the international community.
A competent source at the commission confided in Vanguard that the agency was under pressure from Nigerians, particularly civil society groups to probe the purchase of the controversial High Security Sedans, HSS.
The source, which pleaded anonymity because he had not been authorised to speak to the media on the matter, said however that the operatives were studying the situation and could move in without notice.
“It is not our duty to serve notice to those we want to investigate so that the suspect might not be put on notice. When we want to do our job, we simply swoop on the suspects, the source said.
“We have been inundated with queries as to when we are going to investigate the purchase of the cars for the minister but we cannot give any notice because they would no longer be a surprise.
“In a matter of this nature, the necessary steps must be taken at the appropriate time,” the source explained.
There were indications that the whole transaction did not pass through the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP, since the cars were allegedly bought based on what a source described as ‘Anticipatory Approval’ and delivered on Hire-Purchase Agreement to the NCAA.
Efforts to get clarification from the Director-General of the BPP, Mr. Emeka Eze, proved abortive, as calls to his phone, rang out. Eze did not also respond to text messages sent to his phone.
BPP’s Head of Media, Dr. Biodun Adeniyi, could not also be reached for comments on the matter, as his phone was switched off at the time of filing the report.
Controversy over the cars has thrown up a serious image problem for both the minister and the NCAA since the papers were leaked last week.
Initially, the minister’s office had owned up on the purchase of the cars, justifying it on the need to protect the minister’s life given the far-reaching changes and innovations she had introduced that angered some unnamed persons in the country.
However, following public outrage, the statement was later withdrawn and the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, made to explain that the cars were procured for the use of the minister and visiting foreign dignitaries, a claim that further infuriated the Nigerian public.
As a result, many Aviation stakeholders and civil society organisations have asked Princess Oduah to resign and save her face from further indignation.
The Presidency is said to have been seriously embarrassed by the unfolding drama over the luxury cars and might be considering measures to save its face.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Villagers flee as gunmen invade Delta community, destroy houses
UGHELLI— GUNMEN, weekend, stormed Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, vandalising about 12 houses and a car belonging to supporters of a former aide to the governor and Presidential-General of the community, Mr. Clement Osieta.
The gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, were said to have earlier beaten Mr. George Imiti, an elder brother of a councillor in the area, Festus, to death.
Yesterday morning, Over 500 indigenes of the community, the Vanguard gathered, had fled into the bush for fear of being attacked by the armed thugs, who reportedly invaded the town at 1a.m.
A source said: “The current mayhem in Uwheru was because the ring-leader of the gunmen was arrested by the police. So the top official wants to stop his prosecution.
“At Egbo quarters, two houses belonging to one Boge Ogbe were vandalised alongside a beer parlour in front of his house.
“Margaret Ogbe’s store was vandalised and the armed youths went away with the N800,000 given to her to keep by her club.
“At Odja, four houses were destroyed. A People’s Democratic Party, PDP, chairman in Uwheru was not spared as his house and Toyota Corolla car were destroyed.
“Also vandalised is Mr Wilson Umukoro’s house; Umokoro is an In-law to Clement Osieta.”
The gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, were said to have earlier beaten Mr. George Imiti, an elder brother of a councillor in the area, Festus, to death.
Yesterday morning, Over 500 indigenes of the community, the Vanguard gathered, had fled into the bush for fear of being attacked by the armed thugs, who reportedly invaded the town at 1a.m.
A source said: “The current mayhem in Uwheru was because the ring-leader of the gunmen was arrested by the police. So the top official wants to stop his prosecution.
“At Egbo quarters, two houses belonging to one Boge Ogbe were vandalised alongside a beer parlour in front of his house.
“Margaret Ogbe’s store was vandalised and the armed youths went away with the N800,000 given to her to keep by her club.
“At Odja, four houses were destroyed. A People’s Democratic Party, PDP, chairman in Uwheru was not spared as his house and Toyota Corolla car were destroyed.
“Also vandalised is Mr Wilson Umukoro’s house; Umokoro is an In-law to Clement Osieta.”
Saturday, 19 October 2013
”Return to classrooms”, Jonathan appeals to ASUU
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classrooms in the interest of their students.
He made the appeal at the inauguration of the College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.
The three-storey college complex was also named after the President.
Jonathan urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for four months was unpatriotic.
“I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the vibrant youths of this great nation.
“The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow’s leaders should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.
“As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society, this labour dispute must come up.
“I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker.
“Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force and para-military, intelligent services are also operating in an environment that is not the best.
“If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our dream.
“So, let me use this unique opportunity that I am interfacing with our future leaders, our students, to plead with ASUU members.
“If it is a genuine strike keeping students out of classrooms for almost four months, by that they have demonstrated to everybody that they have a case.
“And if the strike is motivated by some other interests, they have also achieved that by keeping students out of schools for more than a semester,” he said.
The President emphasised that the freedom of association and the right of workers to go on strike should not be abused to harm the country’s interest.
“I believe that labour has the right to go on strike, but in that strike, any action taken must be built on patriotic zeal.
“In as much as you can go on strike, you must be patriotic to our country.
“No matter how and what you feel about Mr president and the federal government, I plead with ASUU that for the sake of our students, they should resume classes,” he said.
President Jonathan assured all that the government would continue to work with all Nigerians to build a better country for all and future generation.
He noted that as long government had shown commitment to improving the qualities of infrastructure in the universities and the operating environment, ASUU should reconsider its stand.
Jonathan noted that if students of private universities could get their degrees within three and half years as witnessed in ABUAD, “it is unacceptable that students of public institutions are kept for extra one or two years”.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/return-classrooms-jonathan-appeals-asuu/#sthash.InFX78LM.dpuf
U-17 Cup: Eaglets whip Mexico 6-1
Three-time champions Nigeria opened their 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign on Saturday with a 6-1 thumping of twice champions and title-holders Mexico in Al Ain City.
In the opening Group F match at the competition holding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Golden Eaglets overcame a nervous start to go top of the group
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria now lead the group with three points and a +5 goals difference from one match, ahead of Sweden and Iraq.
The Mexicans were unable to take advantage of their opponents’ trepidation, as striker Ulises Jaimes had a chance to score with his head after only three minutes.
But the Nigerian defence deflected the ball wide of danger to get a respite until after about 30 minutes when the Eaglets settled into their rhythm.
After 33 minutes, the Eaglets followed on a counter-attack for Success Isaac to race in and round the goalkeeper, before pulling the ball back across goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho followed the play with a clever finish, hitting the ball high into the net over a pair of Mexican defenders.
Seven minutes later, the Eaglets scored again, after Isaac crossed from the left following a fast-break.
Iheanacho kept his cool to cut inside, showing great patience to drift past two defenders and slam into the side netting.
But the Eaglets’ enthusiasm got the better of them as they conceded a goal a minute later, after failing to clear their lines.
The ball fell kindly in the goal area for Jaimes who rounded his marker to score with a low shot to the corner.
However, Iheanacho claimed his hat-trick four minutes into the second-half, slamming home a low and hard shot at the near post after a flick-on from a long throw-in.
Chidiebere Nwakali made it 4-1 three minutes later with a shot from 25 yards out, while Isaac made it 5-1 on the hour mark when he raced on to a through-ball.
He waltzed past two tired and devastated Mexican defenders before firing inside the near post from 12 yards out.
Iheanacho cut in from the right side after 70 minutes to strike from a long way out to make it 6-1.
NAN reports that Nigeria will face debutants Sweden in their next match on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the same Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium venue.(NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/u-17-cup-eaglets-whip-mexico-6-1/#sthash.7ngDI1M5.dpuf
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