The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • No cracks in our ranks – nPDP

    No cracks in our ranks – nPDP

    The Abubakar Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that there were no cracks in the ranks of its membership, contrary to some media reports.

    A statement issued on Wednesday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, said the leaders and members of the faction remained firmly united.

    The statement was made in the backdrop of report in certain quarters that Governor Babangida Aliyu had pulled out of the faction.

    The faction traced the report to some unnamed “failed politicians in the PDP faction loyal to Alhaji Bamabga Tukur.

    The statement said: “This reassurance has become necessary in view of the antics of detractors desperate to deceive the public and to sow the seed of discord in our midst.

    “These enemies of democracy routinely planted stories in the mass media to the effect that our ranks have become depleted but such stories inevitably end up being exposed as mere tissues of lies.

    “The latest of such fictions was the report which made the rounds yesterday purporting that His Excellency, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Governor of Niger State, had resigned from the New PDP.

    “Of course, Governor Aliyu, who is also the leader of the Group of 7 (G7) Progressive Governors, was quick to rubbish the reports and to restate his commitment towards the actualization of our lofty vision to reclaim the PDP from the hands of the anti-democratic forces that have hijacked it and reform the party in keeping with the vision of its founding fathers.

    “We have noted with happiness the short-lived celebration by the Tukur faction over this false report – which betrays their culpability in the fabrication of the discredited report.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the New PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Aubakar Kawu Baraje is made up of selfless and committed patriotic Nigerians desirous of building a new Nigeria as envisaged by the founding fathers, using our great party as the starting point.

    “Contrary to the belief in some quarters, we are not in this struggle for personal gains. Therefore, anyone waiting to see one New PDP leader or the other dump the party for pecuniary considerations should be prepared to wait forever.

    “We wish to use this opportunity to once more thank our members for their steadfastness and the rest of Nigerians who have demonstrated their love and affection towards us since we embarked on this struggle. With your continued support and prayers, our cause is sure to meet with success.”

     

  • Dickson’s building demolished

    Dickson’s building demolished

    Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday pulled down a one-storey building belonging to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    The building located along Opolo/AIT road, Yenagoa was demolished for obstructing the right of way and the state capital city master plan.

    The government took the action with a statement that no building violating the right of way and obstructing the state’s master plan would be spared.

    Dickson’s building was marked for demolition by the CCDA on June 28, 2012.

    The demolition exercise, which commenced at 12:48pm, was supervised by the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah, (rtd) and the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrudjakpor.

    Others who were at the site were the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, Commissioner for State Capital City Development, Mr. Konugha Zuwa and other top government functionaries.

    Another structure that was also destroyed belonged to the Director General of State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Temple Iluma.

    Jonah said the location of the governor’s house obstructed the right of way and as a result no compensation would be paid.

    He said the exercise was in line with the development control of the CCDA and the state urban renewal programme.

     

     

     

  • IGP to banks: Stop delaying police salaries

    IGP to banks: Stop delaying police salaries

    The Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has threatened to withdraw police accounts domiciled in some commercial banks for deliberately delaying payment of monthly salaries to police personnel.

    The affected banks are First Bank, Skye Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank.

    Abubakar was said to have summoned officials of the banks to the Force Headquarters to register his displeasure.

    In a statement on Wednesday by Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the IGP described the failure by the banks to release the salaries as a conspiracy against the Force.

    Abubakar said the situation has continued to expose police officers and men to undue pressure and extreme difficulties.

    “The IGP warned the banks and their personnel of the dire consequences, including, but not limited to a reconsideration of the existing relationship between the Force and the banks if the situation persists,” the statement said.

    The police boss was particularly irked that the Federal Government has been releasing police salaries early enough, only for the banks to deliberately delay payment.

    The statement added that with the e-payment system currently in place, all police officers receive their salaries directly through the banks.

     

     

  • Defer handing over of PHCN to investors, TUC tells FG

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to defer the proposed handover date of Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s successor companies to their new owners until all agreements with the unions are met.

    The government had proposed November 1 as the date for the handover of the successor companies to their new investors.

    TUC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Amachree, made the call in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

    He said: “It will be unfair if the government go ahead with the hand over, without first settling all the workers.

    “What is the hurry about? We are not opposed to privatisation if it is in the best interest of Nigerians and the country.

    “But the workers must be paid their entitlements before the handover, ’’ he said.

    Amachree said the government must be seen to deal fairly and transparently with the workers, to avoid unpleasant consequences.

    “We will not hesitate to call out our other affiliates in other sectors to join in the struggle, because an injury to one is an injury to all,’’ he warned.

    Amachree said the unions would engage in peaceful and legal means to compel the government to honour its agreement with them.

    “We have decided to stage protests and eventually embark on total strike, if the government reneges on its agreement,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the contending issues include the non-payment of retirement savings to pension fund administrators and non-remittance of dues of two per cent deducted from workers’ salaries to the unions.

    Others are the non-payment of benefits of retirees who disengaged in 2011, non-regularisation of the service of some casual workers and the non-payment of the severance package to some of the workers.

     

  • Arik to FG: Overhaul aviation industry

    The Chairman of Arik Airlines, Mr. Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to overhaul the nation’s aviation sector.

    Arumemi-Ikhide made the call at the 7th anniversary and unveiling of the firm’s new aircraft, an A330-200 Airbus, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

    He commended the remodelling of some airports in the country, but urged the government to expand more of the terminals.

    “Talking about infrastructure in the industry, some airports have changed. We have seen improvement in some areas.

    “We expect the airports will be fenced to stem cases of stowaways.

    “We hope more infrastructure will be put into the terminals, particularly the conveyor belt at the international wing,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Arik chairman as saying at the event.

    He said the Federal Government had not approached the airline for the purpose of setting up a national carrier.

    “I do not think that any government runs an airline in this 21st century.

    “We have not been told that government wants to take over Arik.

    “If government wants to take over our airline, they (government) should talk to our shareholders and it is left to the government whether they want a national carrier or not.

    “We expect competition will better the business. We expect some stronger airlines to come up and strengthen the sector,” he said.

    Arumemi-Ikhide urged Nigerians to invest in the aviation business, adding that Arik should be seen as a role model in the industry.

    He denied the allegation that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had carried out an audit exercise of the airline.

     

     

     

     

  • Crises hampering our development – Jonathan

    Crises hampering our development – Jonathan

    …FEC meeting cancelled

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday maintained that terrorists’ activities in the north, kidnapping and militancy in the south and other forms of crises have worked against development in the country.

    He made the remark while receiving the 2013 Africa Peace Award from the United Religions Initiatives (URI) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, no one can talk of economic development where there is crisis as there must be internal democracy and internal stability before economic stability could be attained.

    He stressed that differences can never be resolved through the barrels of the gun.

    He said: “Even when countries are fighting at the end of the day they will still come to the dialogue table to resolve the conflicts. They have hardly solved them through the barrel of the gun, even if you had the most sophisticated weapon to fight, they will still come to negotiate otherwise you can never live in peace.

    “So let me call on all Nigerians especially the young people, if you come to the South part of this country you hear about militancy, kidnapping and if you go to the North you have this issue of Boko Haram. For us to develop our country we must all embrace peace.

    “There is no way the government can perform magic when the people are shooting guns, because economic growth and development is in the hands of the private sector.”

    He specifically pointed out that Muslims, Christians and Jews are living peacefully in Israel and Palestine except for the territorial conflict in the area.

    Faulting the past resolution of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) where the continent could not deliberate as a body on crisis in any particular member state, he said that the disposition of the African Union (AU) to intervene in crisis in any nation in the continent is aimed at promoting peace in the continent.

    He said: “There cannot be economic development without peace. For you to develop economically there must be peace and political stability. So the leadership of African Union and ECOWAS have changed and we believe that we must help ourselves and help our states and govern our states the way it should be governed. If there are crisis we should intervene and that has been helping us significantly.”

    Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting did not hold on Wednesday and no official statement has been issued for the cancellation.

    President Jonathan flew into Abuja from Palestine on Tuesday midnight while Vice President, Namadi Sambo was in Lagos for an official function on Tuesday.

     

     

  • Fashola presents N489.69bn 2014 Budget

    Fashola presents N489.69bn 2014 Budget

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN) on Wednesday presented the sum of N489.69 billion 2014 budget to the state House of Assembly for approval.

    Fashola, who presented the budget before a large audience of various stakeholders, party chieftains and captains of industry amongst others, said the proposed budget shows a slight drop of about N10billion from the N499.604 2013 budget.

    He said the budget has N234.665 billion as recurrent expenditure and N255.025 billion capital expenditure, which is in the capital to recurrent ratio of 52:48 as against 58:42 in the 2013 budget.

    He said the budget has a Total Personnel Cost/Total Revenue of 19 per cent; Total Personnel Cost/IGR, 27 per cent and Personnel Cost as percentage of Recurrent Expenditure of 37 per cent, adding that a zero deficit financing requirement is proposed for 2014 budget.

    Other breakdown in the budget are – General Public Service (N100.215 billion); Public Order and Safety (N17, 977 billion); Economic Affairs (N160.046 billion) and Environmental Protection (N39.727 billion).

    Others are the sum of N50.537 billion budgeted for Housing and Community Amenities; N37.8 billion for Health; N3.482 billion for Recreation, Culture and Religion; N77.423 billion for Education and N2.466 billion for Social Protection.

    “Because this is the last full year budget that my administration will implement, it represents a slight reduction in budget size when compared with the 2013 budget. Its focus will be to complete on-going projects, and consolidate on the gains we have made,” Fashola said.

     

  • Probe of NIMASA contract scam ‘inconclusive’

    A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday heard that investigation of alleged contract scam at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was inconclusive.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor Ibrahim Ahmed said there were no documents showing whether the contracts, which were alleged to have been split, were indeed supplied.

    He was testifying in the trial of former NIMASA Director-General Raymond Omatseye.

    EFCC re-arraigned him before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on an amended 27-count charge bordering on contract scam.

    Omatseye pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    His re-arraignment was due to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako.

    The accused person was charged with alleged illegal transfer of the agency’s fund and contract splitting estimated at over N1.5 billion.

    During cross-examination by defence counsel Olusina Sofola (SAN), Ahmed said he asked for the “performance” documents, but was not given.

    “I made request for the documents orally from the people who made statements. I also requested for the documents from the contractors,” he said.

    The witness said he was, therefore, unable to determine the “performance” of the contracts allegedly awarded by Omatseye.

    “According to statements made by the accused person and the contractors, the items were supplied.

    “The contractors said the contract was performed. I requested for documents showing performance of the contracts but was not given.

    “Because the documents were not available, I wasn’t able to confirm the contract performance,” he said.

    Asked by Sofola if he stated his inability to confirm the contract performance in his statement before the court, the witness said he did not write down everything.

    “It’s not everything I did in the course of my investigation that is contained in my statement,” Ahmed said.

    The EFCC witness, however, said the materials supplied to NIMASA were “almost the same thing” and ought to be awarded to a single contractor.

    He added that the contracts were allegedly split to come within the approved threshold for management approval.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned till December 3 for continuation of hearing.

     

  • Freed French hostages leave Niger

    Four Frenchmen held hostage in the Sahara desert by al Qaeda-linked gunmen for three years left Niger on a French government plane on Wednesday morning.

    The men, who were kidnapped in 2010 while working for French nuclear group Areva and a subsidiary of construction group Vinci in northern Niger, were freed on Tuesday after secret talks.

    A Reuters’ correspondent at Niamey airport said the four men boarded the jet with two French ministers, including Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, dispatched to pick them up.

    “I am very happy. It was difficult, the ordeal of a lifetime,” said Thierry Dol, one of the freed men.

    Fabius said the men were in a state of shock, having been isolated for so long. “They slept well, but on the floor as they are not yet able to sleep on mattresses,” he said.

    The men’s release gave Francois Hollande a boost a day after a poll showed he had become the most unpopular French president on record.

    No details have been given on the circumstances of the quartet’s release but Niger’s President Mohamadou Issoufou said they had been retrieved from northern Mali.

    Thousands of French troops were dispatched to Mali’s desert north earlier this year to prevent Islamists and criminal gangs operating in the zone who occupied the region in 2012 from extending their reach further south.

     

  • INEC begins distribution of ‘non sensitive’ materials in Anambra

    INEC begins distribution of ‘non sensitive’ materials in Anambra

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the commission had commenced the movement of non-sensitive electoral materials to Anambra in readiness for next month’s governorship election in the state.

    The INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that with this early movement of materials, the commission was re-assessing its operational strategy to ensure a hitch-free election in the state.

    He said sensitive materials would be moved from the commission’s headquarters a week to the election.

    Olurode said the commission had put in place various strategies to ensure a high standard of integrity and transparency to make the outcome of the election acceptable to all.

    The commission had created area centres close to polling units, for the distribution of all sensitive materials to ensure prompt arrival of election materials during the election.

    “A combination of four wards will form a registration centre from where materials will be distributed to polling units. This will enhance synergy for timely arrival of materials,’’ he said.

    Olurode said the creation of the centres would guard against the problem of late arrival of materials, delay in accreditation and voting.

    It would also forestall discrepancies in voter registration statistics noticeable during past elections.