The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • NPA clarifies $1bn unremitted levies flagged in audit report

    NPA clarifies $1bn unremitted levies flagged in audit report

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has offered clarifications to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on the debt sum of N1 billion, which the committee said was not clarified in the report of the Auditor General of the Federation.

    Its clarifications also extended to the $852,093,731.10 cited in the Auditor General of the Federation’s report being circulated in the media, even as it claimed that a total of $232,354,156.43 out of the sum had been recovered.

    Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, who appeared before the Committee said that the House Committee on Public Accounts had, in the 9th Assembly, thoroughly verified the money and had given the Authority a clean bill of health.  

    Bello-Koko explained that the misunderstanding between the position of the Senate and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committees arose from the continuous repetition of sums dating back to the period before the year 2006 Concession of the Authority, which the current NPA Management had already accounted for but the sums had yet to be expunged from its books.

    Speaking on Thursday (December 8th, 2023) when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts Bello-Koko exhaustively explained the facts of the matter to the Senators.

    He said “most of the debts date back decades. I mean legacy debts from companies like Nigerian National Shipping Line Ltd and from pre- concession period.

    “But we have been carrying these debts in our books and we have been impairing the amounts, thereby making provisions for all such debts. We have written to the Auditor-General of the Federation on the procedure to take them out of our books and solicited for the support of the Senate Committee in this regard.”

    Bello-Koko assured the Senate Committee on Public Accounts that “in the spirit of public accountability, we will always be open to give accounts.”

    Responding to the question that he should further clarify the debt issue, he explained that the debt figures were composed of estate rents, lease fees and throughput charges among others as stipulated in the Concession Agreements.

    According to him, “The debts date back to the period 2006 to 2019,” adding that “There have been recoveries within the period under review, and they are unrecoverable debts owing to issues such as Volume Change, Gross Minimum Tonnage (GMT)/Penalties, Encumbered Areas. etc.”

    He added: “For avoidance of doubt, it would be necessary to explain the following terms: “Volume Change – Means volume adjustment. The Executed Contract Agreement stated that if the percentage variation between actual/ performance and projected volume is within minus 10% to plus 10% the lease fee will be paid in full. However, if the percentage variation performance is more than minus 10% to plus 10% the lease fee payable will be adjusted by an equivalent percentage. Therefore, the adjustment is against the lease fee payable by the percentage change in volume.

    “Encumbered Areas – Refers to areas that are inaccessible due to factors not caused by the tenant such host community hostility, marshy land etc.

    “Guaranteed Minimum Tonnage (GMT)- This to the projected tonnage pledge by the Concessionaire to achieve, this arises from the inability of the Concessionaire to meet up the pledge.

    “Unpaid VAT- This relates to the VAT element of the unpaid Lease Fees arising from adjustment brought about by the volume change defined above.

    “Penalty- Refers to financial burden suffered for failure to meet terms of payment in a contractual agreement. It is as a result of the Concessionaire not paying within the specified time /days allowed in the contractual agreement. Simply put, it refers to a charge for late payment.”

    He continued: “The figure quoted in the press relates to the 2019 Auditor General’s report and it doesn’t reflect the current position of indebtedness to NPA.

    “It would be pertinent to clarify that out of the amount of $852,093,731.10 cited in the Auditor General of the Federation’s report and being circulated in the media, a total of $ 232,354,156.43 have been recovered.

    “The balance $504,663,452.37 constitutes uncollectible portion due to volume change and Contentions, $54,663,452.37 constitutes uncollectible portion due to Gross Minimum Tonnage (GMT), $19,619,459.00 constitutes Portion due to Encumbered Areas, $11,908,355.82 constitutes various penalties imposed on the terminal operators for not meeting set standards and $ 28,693,607.07 represents VAT of said amount.

    “In relation to the concessionaire debt of N1.8bn, a total of N269m has been recovered leaving a balance of N1.6bn which represents encumbered areas of the terminals.

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    “As regards the outstanding estate rent, Ship Dues and service boats of $67m a total of $10.6m has been recovered.”

    Bello-Koko added: “It is very important to note that the uncollectible debts are summation of GMT stated above (which is a performance metrics) which the Terminal Operators could not meet mostly because of change in government policies (e.g issues like force majeure) and infrastructure decay.”

    According to him; “Some of the other debts are also legacy debts being owed by a government agency which metamorphosed into a limited liability company and for which the Authority is working out modalities with the relevant parties to recover accordingly.”

    He confirmed that the Authority was in advanced talks to resolve the disputes surrounding these amounts, pointing out that all outstanding amounts due to NPA had been accounted for by the end of the year 2022.

    Bello-Koko disclosed that the management of the Authority, in a concerted effort to correct the anomalies as seen in the concession agreements, engaged the World Bank to provide consultancy services for its review while an inter-agency committee comprising NPA, FMOT, FMOJ, BPE and ICRC developed a template to address the inherent anomalies in the agreements that allowed for the accumulation of such debts and to forestall a recurrence.”

    “This has resulted in the signing of supplemental concession/legal agreements which will come into effect shortly,” he added.

  • I will consolidate on Bello’s legacies, says Ododo

    I will consolidate on Bello’s legacies, says Ododo

    Kogi State Governor-elect Usman Ododo has promised to build on the legacies of the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello.

    He spoke at the thanksgiving ceremony to mark the end of tenure of Alh Taufiq Isah, Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area and chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen (ALGON), Kogi State.

    Ododo, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the GYB years have marked a massive transformation of the Confluence State in the areas of security, education, healthcare, industrialization and women and youth empowerment, assuring the people that his administration will work hard to continue the “beautiful legacies of GYB”.

    “I want to thank the good people of Ijumu Local Government Area for voting for me massively on November 11. You demonstrated your commitment to the united, prosperous Kogi State. I also thank you for giving us Alh. Taufiq Isa who has done so much for the people and for humanity.

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    “We are coming to ensure massive rural development as well as consolidate the achievements of the GYB administration. Our slogan is Consolidation and Continuity. I worked with GYB and I have a perfect undertaking of where we want our state to be in a couple of years. We thank GYB for being the architect of a new Kogi State.”

    Ododo said he is determined to turn the youth to legitimate wealth creators by focusing on the digital economy and deploying their Information Technology knowledge to create wealth and jobs.

    He called on the people to support him to step into the “big show that GYB is leaving behind.

    “Succeeding a phenomenal leader like GYB is a massive task. But we are not afraid of making Kogi people proud because we have learnt from the best,” he assured.

  • No Boko Haram suspect arrested in Abuja – Police

    No Boko Haram suspect arrested in Abuja – Police

    The police have denied the arrest of one Boko Haram suspect in Abuja.

    According to an online report, security operatives on Saturday morning arrested a Boko Haram suspect around an estate in Kuchibuyi, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja,

    The report said the suspect confessed he fled from Sambisa Forest to Abuja and had been wandering in the area.

    Reacting to the development, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police public relations officer, SP Josephine Adeh told our correspondent that investigation has been carried out and that the incident is false and residents of FCT should ignore the report.

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    She said: “There is nothing like this incident. I even called the village chief of the mentioned area (Kuchibuyi) to confirm if there was any such incident. He said there was no such incident in his village.

    “I will advise members of the public to disregard such false reports and go about their lawful business without any fear of intimidation/molestation.

    “The CP is assuring members of the public of their safety and security. The Command has employed working strategies to safeguard life and property before, during and after the yuletide seasons.”

  • Nairametrics mourns as founder’s father, Pa Chukwu, dies at 81

    Nairametrics mourns as founder’s father, Pa Chukwu, dies at 81

    The death has occurred of Mr. Anthony Obinna Chukwu, father of the CEO/Founder of Nairametrics, Ugochukwu “Ugodre” Obi-Chukwu.

    The patriarch of the Chukwu family, aged 81, was a respected community leader and patriarch who left an indelible mark through his commitment to family and harmony.

    In a statement, Christopher Pemu, General Manager at Nairametrics, said the remembrance will commence with a Service of Songs on Wednesday, 13th December 2023, at 5:00 PM at St. Anthony’s Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos. Guests will gather to pay homage through hymns and reflections on Mr. Chukwu’s life and achievements. The service will be followed by a reception at his residence, Block TN1 Games Village, off Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.

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    “A traditional Wake Keep is planned for Friday, 12th January 2024, at Mr. Chukwu’s compound in Umueruru, Amambaa Village, Ebikoro, Ikeduru LGA, Imo State. This night vigil will allow family, friends, and community members to share stories and celebrate the life of a man who was a cornerstone of his community. The burial service is scheduled for Saturday, 13th January 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Amambaa Village, Ebikoro, Ikeduru, Owerri, Imo State. The service will lead to the final internment, where Mr. Chukwu will be laid to rest. The family welcomes condolence visits at St. John’s field, Amambaa, following the interment,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, there will also be a thanksgiving service slated for Sunday, 14th January 2024, at 6:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church. The service will be a time for reflection and gratitude for Mr. Chukwu’s life and the blessings he shared with all who knew him.

    “The Chukwu family extends an invitation to in-laws, friends, associates, and well-wishers to join them in these services to pay their last respects to a remarkable man. Mr. Chukwu’s serenity, benevolence, and loving presence will be greatly missed by all, especially by his family who takes solace in the knowledge that his legacy will live on,” the statement added.

  • Kano Govt denies court froze 24 bank accounts

    Kano Govt denies court froze 24 bank accounts

    The Kano State Government says it has blocked leakages that might lead to the misuse of public funds by those in authority in the state.

    Governor Abba Yusuf gave this hint yesterday at the commemoration of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day in Kano.

    Represented by Alhaji Aminu Gwarzo, his deputy, Yusuf explained that some of the giant strides taken by the state government towards ensuring a better life for the people of the state are evident to the fact that it does not tolerate corruption.

    The event, hosted by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), the governor declared that his administration has zero tolerance for corruption.

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    He explained that the government has resumed payment of salaries to civil servants without unnecessary deductions introduced by his immediate predecessor.

    Yusuf added that public properties illegally acquired by individuals during the last administration have been recovered and put to public use, giving an example of the Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital.

    He said the government has also prioritised the creation of anti-corruption units in government agencies while ensuring it pays the outstanding N6 billion pensions and gratuities of retirees neglected by his immediate predecessor.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the state anti-graft agency, Mr Muhyi Rimingado, described the commission as the most vibrant subnational anti-graft agency in the country.

    He explained that the day is commemorated with the view of mobilising the public towards fighting corruption.

  • NECO to get flying boats for examination logistics – Minister

    NECO to get flying boats for examination logistics – Minister

    • Council purchases 70 examination logistics vehicles

    The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman has disclosed that the National Examinations Council (NECO) would soon get flying boats for examination logistics.

    This, according to him, will enable the Examination body to be able to transport essential examination materials into places, especially riverine areas, that cannot be reached by vehicles.

    Speaking in Minna during the commissioning of five projects by the National Examinations Council (NECO), the Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Andrew David Adejohsaid that the purchase of 79 examination logistics vehicles by NECO is a step in the right direction and would limit the spread of examination leakages.

    He reiterated the determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthen NECO and other education bodies across the country.

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    The commissioned projects include 70 examination logistics vehicles, the NECO drivers pool, the senior secondary classroom block of the NECO staff school, the NECO data center, and the NECO scanning center.

    The Minister said that the data center is key because it will be the backbone of the digital age that NECO is pursuing and would act as a central repository for all NECO data ensuring its protection and efficient retrieval.

    In his address, the Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi explained that the purchase of 70 new examination logistics vehicles marks a significant milestone in NECO’s quest to ensure seamless and timely delivery of examination materials to all examination centers nationwide and would eliminate logistical challenges that often hinder the smooth conduct of examinations.

    He said that establishing and equipping the NECO data center and scanning center would expedite the processing of examination scripts leading to faster result releases while safeguarding sensitive examination data from unauthorised access.

    The Registrar announced the construction of three new NECO state offices in Gombe, Kastina, and Kogi states while disclosing that the National Assembly has appropriated NECO to construct seven additional state offices in Nasarawa, Rivers, Lagos, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, and Abia states.

    He stated that the commissioning of the projects will help the Council continue delivering excellence and shaping the future of education in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President.

  • SWAGA donates relief materials to APC supporters in Benue state

    SWAGA donates relief materials to APC supporters in Benue state

    The leadership of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA) has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other groups in Benue State for voting for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last February 25th presidential election.

    The Deputy Governor of Benue state, Sam Ode, who represented Governor Hyacinth Alia, made a symbolic presentation to various groups that turned out for the occasion.

    Governor Alia said the people and Government of Benue state have confidence in President Bola Tinubu and we have no problem voting for him again.

    Sam Ode stated that ” this is first in the history of Benue state that someone will win an election and come back to thank the people and only President Tinubu can do this.

    “Re-election for President Tinubu in Benue state is a foregone conclusion , he was also instrumental to the emergence of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as Senate President, and he has also done so many good things for Benue state.

    Speaking shortly after the presentation of the materials in Makurdi, the National Chairman of SWAGA, Dayo Adeyeye, said the group embarked on a thank-you tour of the country in appreciation of the support and mandate given to the president on the platform of the APC.

    Adeyeye, who said the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole gave the president overwhelming support during the election because they believed in his ability to reposition the country, also assured that the president will not let the country down in actualising his electoral promises and urged them to be patient with the President as he will surely deliver on his mandate.

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    “The national leadership is here in Benue on a thank-you tour to appreciate APC supporters who voted for President Bola Tinubu because they believed in his capacity to steer the affairs of the country.

    “We are thanking the residents, especially APC supporters, for their support during the last presidential election. You are part of the success story, and we quite appreciate your efforts. Your doggedness, determination to deliver APC and belief in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu contributed to the victory,” he said.

    In his brief remarks the APC governorship candidate in Plateau state, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, said Benue state has produced two governments because of his long relations with the state.

    The National Secretary of SWAGA, Otunba Oladele also commended the Benue Chapter of SWAGA, for the massive support and votes they gave President Bola Tinubu during the Presidential elections and advised them not to relent.

  • NYSC member distributes wheelchair, sanitary pads, towels to disabled persons in Katsina

    NYSC member distributes wheelchair, sanitary pads, towels to disabled persons in Katsina

    A serving National Youth Service Corps member, posted to Katsina State, Hope Bitrus. M. With State Code KT/23A/.0540,yesterday distributed wheel chairs to 70 less privileged persons, including sanitary pads and towels to 200 women in the state.

    The Corps member told newsmen at the event which took place at the NYSC orientation camp, Mani road, Katsina that the effort was part of her Community Development Service (CDS) and service to humanity.

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    She also disclosed that she had organised training programs on menstrual Hygiene for three selected Secondary School Students in Katsina metropolis.

    According to her, she embarked on the project out of empathy rather than Sympathy.

    She said, “I came across some of the disabled along my way to the place of primary assignment on daily bases and each time they beg for harms, i felt how they were surviving especially their movement from one place to another.”

    “I started having sleepless nights thinking how i could do something to assist the less privileged.”

    She called on the people of Katsina and Nigeria, not to stigmatize the disabled but to show them love.

    The NYSC Katsina State Coordinator Hajiya Aisha Muhammad while speaking at the event, commended the Corps member for the initiative.

  • PPDC trains 60 journalists, CSOs, others on public procurement in Kaduna

    PPDC trains 60 journalists, CSOs, others on public procurement in Kaduna

    Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has trained over 60 journalists, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), development monitors, Persons With Disabilities and other critical stakeholders on public procurement in Kaduna State.

     The Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion Officer, PPDC, Precious Adigwe during a 5-day intensive Boot Camp training on public procurement explained that the training was  aimed at promoting a more equitable, transparent, and accountable public procurement process in Kaduna State.

    According to her, public procurement plays a crucial role in channeling public funds toward acquiring goods, services, and infrastructure that serve the needs of the citizens. “It is a powerful tool for shaping our communities, driving economic development, and enhancing the overall quality of life.”

    Adigwe said that programme was aimed at empowering the participants to become active watchdogs and champions for transparent and accountable public procurement practices, adding that the initiative also aims to improve inclusion in public procurement.

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    She reiterated that the training was to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of participants in public procurement laws, transparency and accountability, E-procurement processes, and gender inclusion through public finance management for gender-responsive procurement, she said.

    “We have also instituted new knowledge on the area of gender inclusion in public finance management and gender responsive procurement which is one of the key and entry points that we came to achieve in this programme.”

    She therefore said that there is a need to improve women participation in public procurement processes, adding that their capacity and ability need to be strengthened to actively participate.

    One of the participants, Ibrahim Idris from Transparency and Accountability in Totality promised to use the knowledge he acquired to ensure that citizens participate actively in government projects.

    “This training exposed us to so many things that we didn’t know before, especially the inclusion aspect. I will use the knowledge I garnered from this training to help my community members to be more engaging in governance,” he said.

  • Experts mull CSR investment for all sectors

    Experts mull CSR investment for all sectors

    Public Relations experts have disclosed that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should not just be done by few big business entities, multinationals or rich individual but should be the sole responsibility of every individuals and businesses whether small or big in the interest of making the society better and protecting the planet in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    They made this assertion at the unveiling ceremony of the book titled ‘Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development’ co-authored by Dr. Wole Adamolekun and Dr. Rotimi Olatunji.

    According to the reviewer of the book, Lanre Arogundade who was represented by Oladokun Omojola said that “CSR should not necessarily be an exclusive preserve and sole responsibility of big business entities and super-rich individuals. Rather, it should be the concern for all, to make the desire impact.”

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    He added that “Corporate Social Responsibility, with or without the ‘corporate,’ had great potentials in the years to come, as it is the defining factor for those businesses that will hold sway. The corporate scandals that wreaked irreparable damage to the corporate image of many big multinationals: the unethical practices of falsified company performance accounts, poor labour standards, human right abuses, corruption, aggravated poverty, conflict and negative environmental impacts, are all eye-openers for pitfalls that can be avoided. Ultimately, this will aid the achievement of peak performance in the three key areas of the environment, social, and financial performance.”

    The Chairman of the occasion, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the Group Managing Director of CMC Connect LLP, said “The world is changing and we are feeling the effect of not giving back to the society and not being socially responsible. I know times are hard but we must give more.”