The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 10m pupils in 56,000 schools enjoying meals

    From Justina Asishana, Minna

     

    The National Programme Manager of the Federal Government’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi, has disclosed that 56,000 schools are  operating the school feeding programme across Nigeria.

    Speaking at the opening of the National Level Exchange and Experience Sharing Meeting in Minna, Adesanmi said about 10 million pupils across the country are benefitting from the programme.

    She said the Federal Government  was determined to ensure the programme is maintained and continued, especially it is shown to have improved enrolment and retainment of pupils in primary schools across the country.

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello stated that the programme has improved the rate of enrolment into schools in the state.

    The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Ahmed Mohammad Ketso,praised the Federal Government for maintaining the standard of the programme. He called on parents to allow their wards to go to school.

    The state Focal person, Amina Musa Gu’ar said over 3,000 schools are benefitting from the programme in the state.

    Read Also: Sani-Bello sends nominees to House

    Niger State has been adjudged by an international monitoring group as the best in the school feeding programme following its sustenance of food quality and hygienic nature since the inception of the program across the country.

    In an appraisal made by Action Aid Nigeria PATS-F project on transparency and accountability, the Coordinator, Action Aid, Kehinde Arowosegbe, rated Niger as the best in the school feeding programme.

    “We have been to other states, visited South Africa and Niger State is placed among the best. Kaduna used to be the best but Niger State has taken over.

    “We had a recommendation from the National Co-ordinator Home Grown School Feeding Programme, that there is a robust Programme going on in Nigeria and here we are. We have seen for ourselves, we are here to learn because with what we have seen on the ground, Niger is indeed the best,” he said.

     

  • Power will shift in Bayelsa, says Lyon

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, has reiterated his determination to succeed Governor Seriake Dickson during the November 16 poll. MIKE ODIEGWU reports.

     

    David Pereworimini Lyon, the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State was born on December 20, 1970. The 49-year-old Lyon grew up from the oil-rich creeks of Olugbobiri in Southern Ijaw, the largest Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

    For Lyon, growing up was difficult. But, he conquered the challenges through hard work, diligence and never-say-die spirit. “I had a humble upbringing and grew up among a people that emphasised love, hard work, diligence, peaceful coexistence and principle-centered living,” he said.

    Following his love for education, Lyon toiled and through self-help attended St. Gabriel’s State School 1, Olugbobiri where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). He went to studied at the Community Secondary School, Olugbobiri, where he sat for the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE). His desire for higher education propelled him to get admission at the Rivers State College of Education where he obtained the National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Mathematics and Chemistry.

    Lyon, who is married with three children, was famous for engaging oil multinationals operating in his community to live up to their social responsibilities to Olugbobiri became an oil industry player, especially in the security sub-sector when he proffered lasting solutions to illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining of crude oil, which were rampant in Southern Ijaw.

    A public analyst and environmental rights activist, Alagoa Morris, said Lyon’s formula saved the operations of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which had threatened to pull out of the area, following unchecked economic crimes and sabotage by oil thieves.

    “It was later I got to know that it was David Lyon’s effort that actually led to the gradual reduction in Local refinery operations in the headquarters of the business. Until now, you will not see any local refinery site or camp in Southern Ijaw local government. This has reduced oil industry related pollution in Southern Ijaw local government area and by extension; Bayelsa State and Niger Delta. It has also led to increases in 13 per cent derivation for Bayelsa State.

    “In fact, before then, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) threatened to stop operations in its swamp area, which was largely Southern Ijaw local government. This was attributed to the level of oil theft, illegal bunkering and local refinery activities, and, NAOC was not meeting up when compared with expenses in the area. That also threatened how much Bayelsa received from 13 per cent derivation monthly.”

    Indeed, Lyon, a Christian,  has been a successful businessman and has deliberately and consistently grown and expanded his business empire. He once worked as a foreman in Western Geophysical Company Ltd. But he is now the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Darlon Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, Darlon Group Nig.Ltd, and Arutex and Sons Nig. Ltd.

    Commenting on Lyon’s entrepreneurial skills, Morris said: “Actually, David Lyon has been in business, as astute businessman, who has demonstrated dexterity in same. He has successfully managed his business; unlike some sailing politicians, who have since abandoned their professions and relied completely on our commonwealth, which they can get only in politics. Some of them are lawyers but their law firms are on lock and key, gathering dust and all the monies they are making comes from politicking.

    “In addition to stopping the local refinery operations, Lyon’s company has given employment to many people, mostly youths, in our communities. Over 5,000 persons have been so engaged. During my recent trip to one of the communities in Boma Clan, I was informed about 80 youths of the community are employed by the security company associated with David Lyon. This is highly commendable; when juxtaposed with the fact that not even local, state or federal government has that record in our communities.”

    On his contributions to the economy of Bayelsa as an individual, Lyon said: “I have partnered with multinational oil companies to generate employment for legions of youths in the state. In fact, my company, Darlong Security Company Nigeria Limited, is the highest employer of labour in Bayelsa State, after the state government. It is also the single most contributor to the Internally Generated Revenue by any indigenous firm in Bayelsa.”

    Lyon is not a political neophyte or a rookie in politics. His search for a bigger platform to effect social change and transformation compelled him to join politics in the Third Republic. As a member of the defunct, National Republican Congress (NRC), he contested and won a councilorship election at Ward 4 in Southern Ijaw. But the military incursion aborted his tenure in 1997.

    But, Lyon would not give up. He said: “I continued my political journey and became a founding member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Southern Ijaw. My dexterity, astuteness and collaborative skills in politics paid off when I was appointed as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Apoi Olodiama Local Government Development Center in year 2000.

    “My brief tenure as Caretaker Committee Chairman witnessed an unprecedented surge in development, peace and stability. I am a card carrying and financial member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who is committed to the governance values and transformation programmes of the party”.

    Undoubtedly, during the trying times of the APC in Bayelsa, Lyon was said to have stood as its main financier. He kept the flag of the party flying and eventually won the admiration of most party members.

    Lyon is also known for his philanthropic gestures. Through his David Lyon Foundayion (DLF), he has been floating a functional scholarship schemes with beneficiaries drawn from the eight local government areas of the state. He provides regular financial and material assistance to the elderly, widows, physically-challenged persons and other needy individuals.

    Read Also: Jonathan, Wike shun PDP mega rally in Bayelsa

    On Lyon’s philanthropy, Morris said: “David Lyon has done much without regard to where beneficiaries come from. Through the David Lyon Foundation, he has reached out with scholarship to indigent students in secondary and tertiary institutions in all the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State. Some of these beneficiaries are in the best private Universities.

    “Just to mention two of such students who are studying Medicine and Surgery. He takes the elderly and physically-challenged along in his stride of generosity. Most politicians who have benefited from fat constituency funds from our commonwealth cannot even do some of these things David Lyon has continued to do for about ten years.

    “This gesture by David Lyon is unlike those of some selfish politicians who would want to display some levels of philanthropy when it is close to election simply because they are targeting some political office. They disappear if they fail until another election approaches.”

    Lyon said: “I am a core philanthropist that have extended help to several communities and individuals in terms of scholarship, bursary, construction and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure, payment of hospital bills, disaster intervention programmes, amongst others.”

    Morris, however, mocked persons alleging that the APC candidate lacked the ability to express himself in English Language. He wondered how he could sit atop a business group conducting his transactions globally without communicating effectively.

    He said: “Bayelsans, who see David Lyon as their choice for Creek Haven  as Governor after Seriake Dickson should be rest assured that those petty issues of him not being educated or cannot speak English fluently show his detractors and opposition are only displaying how  jittery they are and have nothing else against him.

    “Yet, they are dead wrong. Was it in Ijaw language that he addressed the media; Their antics are well known; one of which is,  give a dog bad name so as to kill it. I am not campaigning here for David Lyon, as I have not met him one-on-one in life before and nobody from his political party or camp has reached out to Alagoa Morris.

    “All I am concerned is that Bayelsans have been paying for darkness for too long. No portable water. Our communities are still largely dependent on the rivers for drinking water as in the days of Isaac Boro.

    “They still lack functional health and educational facility. No good transport system, suffering serious coastal erosion and flooding, among others. Governor Dickson has done his best for the state, becoming the very first to serve eight years. Posterity will judge how far. Come 16th November, 2019 as the electorate exercise their franchise; let it be the ballot and not the bullet”.

    ‘ Governor Dickson has done his best for the state, becoming the very first to serve eight years. Posterity will judge how far. Come 16th November, 2019 as the electorate exercise their franchise; let it be the ballot and not the bullet ’

  • SMEDAN empowers 2,070 Sokoto entrepreneurs with N103.5m

    By Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

     

    In line with its core mandate of strengthening empowerment schemes  for entrepreneurship, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) has disbursed N103.5 million across 2,070 in Sokoto state to support their drive for economic self reliance and national development.

    The beneficiaries comprising men and women entrepreneurs were drawn from across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. Ninety representative from each local government were supported with N50,000 each.

    According to the agency’s Governing Board Member, Dr Yakubu Maccido Ahmad in a statement, said a total sum of N103 million is being disbursed to beneficiaries through three commercial banks which include , Fidelity, Guaranty Trust and Polaris banks.

    Read Also: 70 female pupils trained in surveying

    He however, expressed displeasure over the inability of Guaranty Trust Bank to commence the payment at the time the remaining two banks were about to complete the disbursement.

    The Board Member further disclosed that the payment is being made directly into the account of each beneficiaries.

    “In addition, a business name enterprise will be issued to each beneficiary thereby exposing them to formal business. I want to advise them to utilise the grant for the purpose it was meant for.” Ahmad stated.

    He also expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, leader of APC in the State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Chairman, Governing Board of SMEDAN, Femi Pedro, as well as, the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Dikko Umar Raddah for their tireless efforts which led to the success recorded.

  • N5m for graduate with best business proposal

    Industry-based academic programme is regarded as a prerequisite for students to be self-reliant and have an edge in the employment market. The Chancellor of Edo University Iyamoh (EUI), Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola has commended the University for announcing a prize of N5 million prize for any graduate with the best entrepreneurial proposal. This, he said, will encourage students to embrace skills that will make them become self-sufficient CHINAKA OKORO reports

     

    Chidi Agomuo, a third-year student of Edo University, Iyamho, was optimistic that he would not roam the streets in a search of a non-existent white-collar job; but will be one of the country’s employers of labour at the end of his academic career.

    His optimism stemmed from his training as a fashion designer even before he gained admission into the university. Before then, he had been taking care of himself and his siblings from the proceeds of his handicraft.

    Makanjuola praised the university authorities for announcing a prize of N5 million for any graduate with the best proposal at the end of the maiden convocation. Chidi pledged to do his best to be a beneficiary.

    Makanjuola had, at the elaborate ceremony on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at the sleepy town of Iyamho identified industry-based academic programme which he said is one of the qualities that stood the institution out. He further said such programmes would prepare students and give them an edge in the employment market. He described Edo University, Iyamoh, as a centre of entrepreneurship that would equip students with vocational skills.

    Makanjuola said: “The idea behind the entrepreneurship training in Edo University, Iyamoh, is that the citadel of learning is not only preparing the students for the labour market, but they will become employers of labour.”

    He, therefore, advised the students to take their studies serious and aim at being one of the great employers of labour by engaging themselves in skills that would not only make them self-reliant but also contributors to the country’s economy. He also encouraged them to be studious as some of them would be great academics.

    “The knowledge industry has moved away from mere paper qualifications. Countries, the world over, combine academic excellence with skills acquisition which is the basis for any nation’s economic prosperity.

    “I, therefore, encourage you not only to be serious in your academic pursuit but to also arm yourselves with skills that will make you self-sufficient and contributor to your country’s growth and development,” he said.

    The university town was ecstatic as unprecedented crowd thronged the city when the Caverton boss was appointed as first Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamho, and conferred with an honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) during the first convocation of the university which was established in 2016 by the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

    Makanjuola’s appointment as the first Chancellor of the university may possibly be as a result of his big heart for the needy and institutions in the country that produce the needed manpower for the country’s progress.

    Checks on his philanthropy indicate that, over the years, his impact has been felt in most of the critical sectors of Nigerian economy; be it education, health and well-being of the less privileged. Being a man of means, his frequent intervention in tertiary education has not gone unnoticed.

    A lover of education, the school managed by the Makanjuola family has continued to provide quality education for Nigerians. He has made huge interventions in tertiary education in different parts of the country.

    From Minna to Summit University Offa and Lagos State University campuses, he has built and donated 500-seater multi-purpose halls respectively.

    Also of recent, he donated, through his Caverton Foundation, a multi-million naira worth of Molecular Biology Laboratory to the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASCOM).

    Authorities of Edo University, Iyamho regard partnership with the philanthropist as one of the good things that has happened to the institution.

    The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor said: “Makanjuola’s association with the institution was a big boost in the efforts to make the state-owned university world-class. We thank the newly installed Chancellor for accepting the challenge.”

    Speaking in a similar manner, acting Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Emeritus Kimbe Audu hailed the vision of the founding fathers of the institution in establishing a university that would be a model for the 21th Century.

    He said: “The vision of a centre of excellence was already yielding results in terms of quality education of world standard, which has prompted many parents to enroll their wards in the school. I have no doubt that the management will continue to keep the flame of excellence burning.”

    The Caverton boss expressed delight at his appointment as Chancellor of the institution by the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    He said: “I deeply appreciate this honour done to me. You have introduced me into a new hall of fame for which I am most grateful. I learnt about this university and its uniqueness through friends and associates who told me that Edo University, Iyamho, is the Harvard, Cambridge and IMT of our time. I was not in doubt of this claim because I know that great things are usually found in the heart, as Heart Beat of the Nation.

    “I see Edo State redefining education in Nigeria. It is with this sense that I accept the offer from His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to be the first Chancellor of this great institution of higher learning.

    “Nigeria has been yearning for this kind of education since independence, but no one was ready to face the challenge and come up with a world-class university of this status. I must commend the founding fathers of the University for their foresight in establishing a university that competes favourably with Ivy League universities such as Cambridge and Harvard. I must say that EUI’s facilities are among the best in the world.”

    Makanjuola commended the management and pioneer graduates. He said: “I am also confident that with the kind of management team in place, facilities, environment and members of staff, the students and, indeed, the pioneer graduates of the university, are set to take over the world with the knowledge they have acquired.”

    He also congratulated their parents on the decision they took in sending their children and wards to EUI.

    “I am aware that all the programmes in the university have passed through the National Universities Commission assessment and accreditation with a minimum of 82 per cent; far above the NUC benchmark of 70 per cent required for full accreditation status. This is indicative of the fact that the university is blessed with a team of dedicated lecturers and administrative members of staff that are first among equals,” he said.

    Those who know Makanjuola say his appointment was an honour well deserved.

    On his appointment as Chancellor, one of his friends Oba Otudeko said: “It is a double honour, the university has chosen well because he will bring his wealth of experience which he has used successfully in his career to the helm of affairs of this great institution.

    “This is a call to duty, a call to serve and I have no doubt that he will excel in this role. I wish him God’s blessing, longevity, good health to be of service to God, humanity and society at large.”

    Continuing, the monarch said: “He is a person of good character, a man of uprightness, transparency, accountability and a dependable friend. He is positive and constructive and someone who is particular about humanity and society at large.”

    Sir Alex Onabanjo also said: “I am so happy that the university decided to choose an astute Chancellor. I am also grateful to God Almighty for the double honour of his being the first Chancellor and being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree. The honorary degree happens to be the first to be bestowed on anybody since the inception of the university.”

    Smith, another of his friends, also praised Makanjuola for the honour bestowed on him: He said: “It is an honour well-deserved because Makanjuola is a thorough person. It is befitting that the university recognised that kind of person to be at the helms of their affairs. He is a man with a Midas touch and I am not surprised that the university reached out to him to be their Chancellor. They have chosen right.

    “Apart from this, I am impressed with the university. The infrastructure is excellent for an out-of-town university. I would recommend Nigerians to send their children here. I am sure that is why my friend accepted the offer. I wish him good health and long life.”

    Adebayo Sarumi said: “His appointment as the first Chancellor of the university is in recognition of the best he has given to the society. I don’t need to reel off his numerous achievements. I wish him well.”

    His son, Rotimi said “I feel very proud and excited because it is an honour well deserved.”

    “ The knowledge industry has moved away from mere paper qualifications. Countries, the world over, combine academic excellence with skills acquisition which is the basis for any nation’s economic prosperity…I encourage you not only to be serious in your academic pursuit but to also arm yourselves with skills that will make you self-sufficient and contributor to your country’s growth and development “

  • Diri: APC can’t beat PDP in Bayelsa

    Senator Douye Diri is the governorship flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State. He told Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU in Yenagoa, the state capital, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot dislodge the PDP at the poll.

     

    The governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri  is a founding member of the PDP. He joined the party in 1998. Since then, Diri has been holding different political positions.

    The 60-year-old Diri was born into the family of A.J.M Diri of Kalamaowei-Wari compound of Sampou Town in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area. He attended the Okoro Primary School in Sampou and the State School Kaiama, now the Rev. Proctor Memorial Primary School, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.

    In his quest for secondary education, Diri attended the Government Secondary School, Odi and later, the College of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), Port Harcourt River State. He went to obtain Bachelors of Education in Political Science at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Diri, no doubt, has had a robust experience in public administration and the Ijaw struggle. He started his career as a teacher in secondary schools in the creeks in the old Rivers State before the creation of Bayelsa. It was gathered that he engaged in business briefly before his adventure into politics.

    Prior to his involvement in active politics, Diri was elected the pioneer National Organising Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), a pan-Ijaw social-political organisation formed for the protection of Ijaw interest in the country.

    The PDP candidate first served in the administration of the first elected governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeiseigha as the Executive Secretary, Centre for Youth Development (CYD). During the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Diri was appointed as Commissioner for Youths and Sports.

    Diri also served as a board member, the University of Maiduguri Governing Council and  Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party Disciplinary Council in Bayelsa in 2012. In fact, Diri has been a friend, political associate and confidant of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    He was brought into political limelight by a former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe. So, he owes his rise in politics to Alaibe. He was one of the foot soldiers of Alaibe, who influenced his appointment as a Commissioner for Youths and Sports when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was governor.

    Alaibe, who hails from the same Kolokuma-Opokuma, has is a popular politician in Bayelsa and a rallying point in his local government area, following his developmental strides in his area during his days as the NDDC boss.

    Speaking on Alaibe’s role in his political relevance, Diri said: “For clarity, a lot of people saw me as a staff of NDDC, but I wasn’t. I was a political ally and a close person to Chief Timi Alaibe, believing that we were going to enthrone a government in Bayelsa that would be more responsive to the people.

    “I was with Chief Alaibe for about 10 years. One thing or the other happened in each election we attempted. Then, he would return to NDDC. A few of us didn’t feel very comfortable with that.

    “Just to let you know, we hail from the same local government area. So, he is my brother. I see him as a brother and I believe that he too sees me as one.”

    But, Diri switched his camp to Dickson’s when it became obvious that Dickson was the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s choice to replace former Governor Timipre Sylva. The Green Movement, was a forceful and vibrant  king-making association consisting of powerful and wealthy politicians, including Jonathan.

    On why he parted ways with Alaibe, he said: “Being a former colleague, he (Dickson) invited me to be a part of the campaigns. In fact, when I accepted the offer and informed Chief Alaibe, my political ally at that time, he didn’t take it kindly. That was how we parted ways. So, I joined Governor Dickson, we campaigned, went into the election and he won in 2012.”

    Read Also: Jonathan, Wike shun PDP mega rally in Bayelsa

    Diri warmed himself into the heart of Dickson and became a trusted foot soldier of the governor. He played crucial roles in the election and reelection of the governor in 2012 and 2015. Since then, he has been enjoying the dividends of his loyalty to Dickson and his Restoration Government.

    Dickson first appointed Diri his Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House and later made him his Principal Executive Secretary. The governor supported him to win an election in 2015 as a member representing Yenagoa-Kolokum-Opokuma at the House of Representative. He later in 2019 to became a Senator representing the Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

    Against all odds, Dickson and his restoration team backed Diri to become the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election. Dickson deployed his political mastery to plot Diri’s victory at the internal poll that was contested by 21 PDP aspirants, including Alaibe, Diri’s former godfather.

    But, Diri has always insisted that his governorship ambition was a call to service to consolidate on the achievements of his boss, Governor Dickson. Diri, who tagged his campaign theme, Consolidation for Prosperity, has been traversing the creeks of Bayelsa to convince the electorate to vote for him.

    Diri once said he was neither a stooge nor an underdog in the governorship race. He said he would shock those who underestimated him.

    He said: “It will be very clear to anyone in doubt about who I am, what I stand for and why I even accepted to work with the current governor. I told you that Sylva was in power for five years and I didn’t get into Bayelsa State. That tells you I am a man of principle. I choose my friends and those I want to work with. And I chose to work with Governor Dickson and I am very satisfied working with him.”

     

    ” But, Diri has always insisted that his governorship ambition was a call to service to consolidate on the achievements of his boss, Governor Dickson. Diri, who tagged his campaign theme, Consolidation for Prosperity, has been traversing the creeks of Bayelsa to convince the electorate to vote for him “.

     

  • ‘Shut up or risk being killed’

    A retired Texas cop, a businessman and a businesswoman cum security consultant are enmeshed in a web, which has kept the police, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and others busy. The businesswoman says she has been told to shut up or risk being killed, reports PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

     

    In the beginning, Augusta Peter, a businesswoman and security consultant, and the duo of Adamu Sadiq Mohammed and Maisule Kurugu, a retired Texas cop, never envisaged a day like today. Mohammed and Kurugu shipped bullet proof vests and helmets for Ms Peter and there was no problem. Trouble, however, took root in 2013 when she contracted the duo to help her buy a bullet-proof car and some patrol vehicles for her protocol business, all was well. Now, things are so bad that almost all the security agencies in the country have had to investigate their business transaction.

    The worst of it, Ms Peter says her life is being threatened by Mohammed and Kurugu who allegedly duped her of $242,000 in the guise of importing some vehicles for her. Both men have denied the allegations.

    Ms Peter says she has been in hiding since she reported the duo that she paid the money to in 2013 for the purchase/ importation of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) as well as patrol vehicles for her protocol business.

    A group, Organising for Nigeria, has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Ms Peter’s behalf accusing the Department of State Services (DSS) of releasing the suspects without due diligence.

    The group said petitions were also sent to the wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Minster for Women Affairs Mrs. Pauline Tallen to prevail on state actors to investigate her claims of threat to life and intimidation.

    The group’s Publicity Secretary, Vincent Offiong, said Ms Peter was forced to shut down her offices in Lagos and go into hiding.

    He alleged that the threats were usually made to her through phone calls, text messages and contrived robbery which became intense to the extent that she had to send her employees away, thus adversely affecting those around her economically and socially.

    In her telephone chat with The Nation, Ms Peter said trouble began after she realised that the men she had entered a business deal with were out to defraud her.

    She said she wanted to buy a Lexus LX570 for her personal use which they agreed to for a fee of $92,000. After paying the amount to Kurugu, through Mohammed, the party had another agreement for the purchase of some patrol vehicles she needed to set up a protocol business.

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    “We agreed for $250,000 but at that time what I had was $150,000. I wanted to keep the money until it was complete before I send to them but Maisule called me shortly after I left Texas and said they were to ship some vehicles for a state government.

    “He pleaded with me to send the $150,000 since I was not using it yet and that they could buy the vehicles and ship them the same time with my personal car. I did not have any cause to suspect or doubt them because of the person who introduced them to me and also because we have done a business before this time.

    “They shipped bullet proof vests and helmets for me and there was no problem at all. But surprisingly, after paying the naira equivalent of $242,000 to Mohammed’s corporate account- Ibad Integrated Services, Zenith Bank, 1012183325- on December 21, 2013; for onward transmission to Maisule, they started playing me.

    “They went as far as involving one man by name Osagie who lives in Texas as the person that bought the vehicle. But along the line, the man opened up and told me there was no vehicle that they have been playing me. They even gave me a car key for a vehicle I have not seen today. I told Mohammed I wanted special number plate and he charged me another N147,000 only to bring a fake number plate.

    “The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) did nothing about this incident. The more I asked for my car, the more they threatened to kill me. I went back to the person who introduced Maisule to me who actually had told me there was nothing to fear when I first raised brow and still no help, rather there were intimidations for me to shut up or risk being killed.

    “They had sent people after me (at least) twice and once I ran into Dolphin Police Station in Lagos State where I was escorted to my house that night. I reported the incident to the Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL, Lagos), we mounted pressure, but nothing came out of it.  I never saw Maisule again. He never picked my calls either. When I called Adamu, he threatened me. They were not talking about me getting my car.  And they never delivered the car or paid me back my $242, 000. I wrote to them and they threatened me.”

    The group condemned the DSS for releasing Kurugu without Ms Peter’s consent, adding that the woman was already exhausted.

    “Ms Peter has been unable to concentrate to discharge her motherly and family roles appropriately because she is always on the run. These men have on occasions threatened Augusta by name-dropping President Muhammadu Buhari saying that they were being protected by the government as such nothing can happen to them even boasting of attending the same mosque,” said the group.

    But Mohammed denied they were threatening the woman’s life, noting that the case was already in court.

    He said it was untrue that they defrauded Ms. Peter, adding that documents have been provided to show that all items she ordered were duly delivered.

    He alleged that Ms. Peter was being greedy and exploiting her police contacts to harass them despite getting a chunk of the profit from a contract they executed for her.

    “It is not true that I am threatening her. If you want to get the full details, come to court on December 5. This case is already in court and witnesses are being called,” he said.

    Neither the DSS nor the police responded to the issue when contacted.

    Kurugu, who was detained by the police over the matter, dragged the police and others to court.  An FCT High Court last year awarded the sum of N3 million in damages against the Nigeria Police over his prolonged detention. He was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja on January 11, 2017 and his passport and luggage were seized.

    The Nigeria-born former United States police officer, Justice M. A. Nasir held, was detained for six days, without recourse to a court of law, thus violating sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The judge ruled that only the wrong done to the applicant, which included arresting him in the presence of his family and friends and preventing him from travelling from the airport could be remedied by the award of damages.

    In the judgment delivered on May 24, last year, Justice Nasir refused to award exemplary damages after upholding the submission of the police that there was reasonable ground for the police to make the arrest in line with sections 214 and 215 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 4 of the Police Act CAP P.19 LFN, 2004. Kurugu and his business partner, Adamu Mohammed, demanded the sum of N500m against ex-IGP MD Abubakar, serving IGP Ibrahim Idris, Ms Peter, Ibrahim Bello Sada, a DSS official; C.S.P. Onuoha Emeka, a Chief Superintendent of Police and DPO of Airport Police Station; Inspector Vincent Agyo, and the Nigeria Police.

    In the fundamental rights enforcement application by his lawyer, Francis Mgbo, the ex-Texas cop and the chairman of Global Security and Equipment Ltd, also sought an order compelling the police to issue a public apology in three national newspapers over the arrest and detention. But, the judge saw no need to grant such request.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Nation learnt, has also had cause to investigate the deal.

    The last has certainly not been heard of the matter.

  • Magu’s job as EFCC chair – 1

    By Wahab Shittu

     

    There is a way the name Ibrahim Mustafa Magu has a close chemistry with the name President Muhammadu Buhari. The two personalities are very passionate about the anti-corruption war; both live relatively simple and are perceived as hardliners in terms of adherence to principles. So far, both have worked together particularly in fostering the anti-corruption agenda of this administration, winning in the process accolades locally and internationally. The surprise however is that while President Buhari is enjoying a second term tenure on account of his high moral and ethical standards including popular appeal, Magu who shares similar traits with the president is still in acting capacity as the chair of EFCC because forces obsessed with the theory of corruption continue to mount fierce battle against this confirmation in spite of his stellar achievements detailed hereunder.

    The irony of all of these however, is that in spite of this fierce opposition against Magu by pro-corruption elements, only President Buhari as the appointing authority has the power under the law to determine who spearheads his anti-corruption crusade.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is no doubt, one of the most vibrant anti-corruption agency in Nigeria. Prevention, which is a cardinal objective, if the fight against corruption must be won, was given the top priority. To this extent, various preventive initiatives were designed towards public re-orientation and enlightenment. These programmes include:

    The Nigerian Women Against Corruption Project, NWAC, which was developed to increase women participation in the fight against corruption. The programme was flagged off in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, by the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, in December 2016. The same programme was rolled out in February 2017, in Lagos, South West Nigeria. Other geo-political zones of the country followed suit.

    The Clean Hands Campaign for Children was also flagged off. This campaign was designed primarily to promote the values of integrity and probity among the younger generation.

    The Creative Youth Initiative Against Corruption, CYIAC, is another laudable initiative, earlier unveiled in October, 2016. The idea was conceived out of the need to give children a platform to express themselves using arts and various other platforms of talents to speak against corruption.

    To further deepen the participation of young people in the anti-graft war, the EFCC established Integrity Club in secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country. In a bid to draw more attention to the anti-graft fight, awareness road walks are also organized quarterly in collaboration with various stakeholders across the country. The commission additionally airs its anti-corruption programmes on leading radio and television networks across Nigeria, even as the various social media platforms have been fully embraced as vehicles for mobilization and information dissemination. Other re-orientation mechanisms employed include: engagement with civil society organizations, organized labour unions and stakeholders in the public and private spheres. Town hall meetings are also employed to create a face- to- face interactive platform with community and religious leaders, and various groups within communities in the grassroots, just as musical concerts are staged to draw more attention to the Commission’s anti-corruption messages.

    Another cardinal objective of the National Anti-corruption Strategy is public engagement. In order to bring the Commission closer to the people for increase public enlistment in the war against corruption, created additional offices across the country. The commission before 2015, operated offices in the six geo-political zones of the country, namely: Abuja, (North-central) Lagos, (South-West), Port Harcourt, (South-south), Enugu, (South-east), Kano, (North-west) and Gombe, (North-east). In the last four years, additional offices were established in Maiduguri, (North-east), Ibadan, (South-west), Kaduna, (North-west), Benin, (South-south), Uyo, (South-south), Ilorin (North-central), Makurdi, (North-central) and Sokoto, (North-west).

    The EFCC new head office building whose construction was abandoned due to lack of funds was also given priority attention and with support from the Nigerian government, the project was completed and commissioned on May 15, 2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Read also: EFCC to protect investments of Nigerians in Diaspora

    For the purpose of closing the gap from the shortage of officers in the commission, massive recruitment exercises were conducted across all cadres with the newly recruited officers in the Detective Superintendent, Detective Inspector and Detective Assistant cadres, trained with the best of facilities at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. More than ever before, the social media was employed as a tool for public engagement. In order to create a conducive environment for reporting corruption cases, the commission created several reporting platforms on the social media platforms and dedicated phone lines. Through these channels, the commission engages the public in its corruption preventive programmes and also receives intelligence from whistle-blowers, which has led to the recovery of several billions of naira hidden away by looters.

    The whistle-blowing policy of the federal government was initiated in December, 2016, primarily to support the fight against financial crimes and corruption, through increasing exposure of financial crimes and monetary reward for whistle-blowers. It encouraged the citizens to volunteer information which could lead to the recovery of stolen funds. The policy which set aside a reward of not more than five per cent  of the total recovered sum as incentive to whistle-blowers, got a boost with the creation of the EFCC corruption reporting platforms as many individuals volunteered information that led to the recovery of billions of dollars hidden away by looters, through the platforms.

    The very first information which came through the corruption reporting platforms led to the discovery of $9.8M hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha, in Kaduna State. The money is said to belong to Dr. Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).The funds are currently under an interim forfeiture order even as the alleged owner has challenged the forfeiture order of the court.

    Still in Kaduna State, a whistle-blower information led EFCC operatives also to intercept the sum of¦ 250 million, stashed away in coloured sacks at the Kaduna International Airport. The money was to be smuggled through the airport.

    In Lagos, a tip from a whistle-blower also led to the interception of another ¦ 250million in various currencies at a popular textile market in the city. And in a shopping mall located in the high- brow area of Victoria Island, also in Lagos, another sum of ¦ 500million was also uncovered.

    The more shocking discovery was, however, that of Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, also in Lagos, where cash in local and foreign currencies was recovered in an apartment on the seventh floor of the towers. Funds recovered in the apartment through information provided by a whistle-blowers include: ¦ 527, 463, 500.00; $53, 222, 747. 00; £122,890.00 and €547,730.00.These funds have now been forfeited to the federal government. Still on the National Anti- Corruption Strategy, its Technical Objective Number Four emphasized on enforcement and sanctions for corrupt offenders.

     

    • Shittu is a Lagos-based attorney.

    ‘ To further deepen the participation of young people in the anti-graft war, the EFCC established Integrity Club in secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country. In a bid to draw more attention to the anti-graft fight, awareness road walks are also organized quarterly in collaboration with various stakeholders across the country ’

  • New Deep Offshore Act offers Nigeria a new vista

    By Sunday Dare

     

    In November 4, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Bill into law. His photograph with the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, went viral on social and traditional media. This underscores the importance of this moment to our country’s political economy. As the presidency has stated, the amended bill will generate an estimated $500m in additional revenues for the federal government in 2020, and over $1bn yearly after 2021. With the new law, the federal government has refused to allow our national interests to be a secondary consideration to the interests of the International Oil Companies (OICs) to maximize their profits while exporting those profits beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    For years the powerful multinationals and their allies, inside and outside the country, worked against change in the Deep Offshore Act.  This deprived Nigeria of significant revenue of several billion dollars more rightfully due it than due the oil companies.  This imbalance impaired the government’s fiscal strength and its ability to spur economic growth. Determined for Nigeria to derive its fair share of oil proceeds so that government can do more to push the economy forward, President Buhari was committed to amending this law. After the General Elections, which caused the leadership of the National Assembly to come into the progressive and patriotic hands of loyal APC members, President Buhari saw the opportunity to change this law.  He quickly went into action with the National Assembly leadership.  They too sensed the unfairness of the old payment regime and how it shortchanged Nigeria’s development.

    The new legislative leaders made sure the fair amendments were passed despite the intense lobbying against passage. Shortly after the new measures were passed, those lobbying efforts shifted into overdrive to pressure President Buhari. Some of these activities included bilateral pressure from foreign governments. It thus became important to show Nigeria would stand firm to protect its core economic interests and to show that the executive and legislature were of one seamless accord in this regard. To demonstrate there was no going back on this important measure, the official assent of the president was needed to turn the good amendments into enforceable law of the land. The seal and signature of the president were required.  There was only one thing to be done. Get the document to him to affix his hand to it. That was what happened.  This was done in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    The 2019 budget witnessed delays in full implementation due to crawling revenue hence the 2020 budget identified growing new revenue sources and sectoral reforms as ways to improve revenue.  The Deep Offshore Act Amendment is perhaps the greatest boost to the drive to increase public revenue.  President Buhari must be saluted for his principled stance.   It is a victory for the Buhari Presidency, for the Ninth National Assembly and for Nigeria.

    The development resets the clock in our economic relationships and business ventures.  It heralds a new era. We must put a long overdue end to the days when doing business with the West or any other region of the globe means that Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular, would always find itself situated on the least profitable end of the arrangement.   The old way was not good business.  It was a guidebook to underdevelopment. The Buhari government has simply put its foot down, with emphatic knocks on the lectern that the era of Tobman Goldie is gone.

    National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS) says Nigeria hosts the world’s 10th largest reserves at about 25 billion barrels. Also, the country’s natural gas reserves is put at more than 166 TSCF (trillion standard cubic feet), with her current gas production put at 12 billion scf, which is the associated gas (AG) produced in the course of crude oil production.

    Of great significance is amended Section 5 of the Act which highlights royalty by water depth and royalty by price. It says: “Royalties shall be calculated on a field basis and shall be at rate per centum of the chargeable volume of crude oil and condensates produced from the relevant period as follows: In deep offshore: greater than 200m water depth – 10 per cent, and in frontier/inland basin – 7.5 per cent.”

    On royalty by price, it says: “The royalty rates shall be based on increase that exceeds $20 per barrel, and shall be determined separately for crude oil and condensate as follows: From $ 0 and up to $20 per barrel – zero per cent; above $20 and up to $60 per barrel – 2.5 per cent; Above $60 and up to $ 100 per barrel – 4 per cent; Above $100 and up to $150 per barrel – 8 per cent and Above $150 – 10 per cent.”

    Chika Amanze-Nwachuku in his article in Thisday entitled, Nigeria: PSC Amendment Bill and Nigeria’s Future, wrote that the Senate during the clause-by-clause consideration of its committees’ report on the bill, also amended clause 17 of the PSC Act, and amended the timeline for review of future contracts from five years to eight years. The Senate also increased the penalty for failure to comply with the obligations of the Act to not less than N500 million or a prison term of not less than five years, or both.

    A proof of the propensity of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to seek to maximize their profits at the expense of Nigeria’s efforts toward economic development is that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been making a case for the recovery of over $62 billion from said companies as arrears of revenues that should have accrued to Nigeria during the years that oil sold above $20 a barrel. He actually accused the IOCs of “frustrating efforts in the past for the government to negotiate the review of the PSC.”

    Read also: Buhari can rule Nigeria from anywhere, says Oshiomhole

    Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (Anambra South) also lamented that the non-review and amendment of the PSC Act had cost the federal government about $21 billion (about N7 trillion) in the last 20 years. “Nigeria, having lost trillions of naira due to non-review of the PSA Act, stands to gain an additional sum above N30 billion naira monthly (360 billion naira annually) if the Act is reviewed and amended,” he added.

    Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East) complained: “The price of crude has since 1999 been on the rise; it was supposed to be revised after 15 years since the law was formulated. The country can make more money from PSC, but it hasn’t. Why have we failed? I understand that there is a cartel frustrating it because they make money at the expense of Nigeria. The president must personally take this upon himself and recover all the outstanding arrears.”

    Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), stated that those who enacted the PSC Act were conscious of the fact that it must be dynamic, “but no review has been done after 15 years as stipulated.” “It even said subject to crude oil price but we have refused to review it for whatever reason and everybody watches Nigeria bleed. We must do something to save this country. There must be cost recovery ceiling, it is 50% in Angola and you can’t go beyond it. We must stop Nigeria from bleeding. Whatever needed to be done must be done,” he added.

    The Senate President also hoped that the new law will “give us N160 billion proposed for the 2020 budget. So time is of essence here, and therefore, we will do everything possible to pass it, and of course follow it up, so that the effect is seen in money available to finance the 2020 appropriation…”

    What the government should do with the windfall is the crux of the matter. We have many challenges to be tackled: Infrastructure, health, education, youth unemployment and others.  The president said he would use the enhanced revenue to treat these obstacles to our development.

    A critical area is investment in the youth. The establishment of Nigerian Youth Development Fund, NYDF, is overdue.  We must invest in them now.  We need to give them jobs, entrepreneurial skills, digital skills and great opportunities for them to learn, experiment, grow and lead.

    November is designated by the African Union as the Africa Youth month. Nigeria plugs into the challenge of one million by 2021 in Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement – 4Es. The Nigerian youth must now be seen as the nation’s most precious gift to be nurtured.  A decade or so from now, beyond oil, the youth of today will be those who drive Nigeria. They must be adequately equipped now so that when their time comes they know how to steer this nation in the right direction. We must invest in them today.  Not tomorrow.

     

    Dare is the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

  • Govt reforms boosting business, says APMT

    By Muyiwa Lucas

     

    The management of APM Terminal has commended the reforms of the Federal Government which have improved port activities.

    In a statement, the firm said: “We have recently experienced a substantial increase in volume of containers arriving through the seaports. This positive development can be attributed to various positive government policies such as improvement in the implementation of Ease of Doing Business policy, the Agriculture Promotion Policy and closure of land borders to curtail smuggling activities amongst others.

    The firm said however, if these containers are not cleared by customers soon enough, this volume increase could lead to high yard density which could impact berthing of vessels resulting in vessel queues. We are anticipating further improvement in throughput ahead of Christmas and year end.

    Read Also: Closure of borders yielding positive results -Buhari

    “We therefore urge all the relevant stakeholders and the wider port community to ensure timely delivery of containers in an effective manner without compromising government’s policies and procedures. The terminal is willing to offer discount for longstanding containers commensurate with dwell time and therefore urge customers with containers in this category to take advantage of the offer and take delivery of their containers.

    “We commend the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for operating the Lilypond Transit Truck park and the Presidential Task Team on decongesting Apapa access roads for their effective implementation of the call-up system and traffic management system respectively,” it said.

    As for the terminal, it assured the shipping lines and its customers, that it is dedicating adequate resources despite the seasonal bad weather and working closely with the port authority.

     

     

  • South-South entrepreneurs team up to help startups grow up

    Startup leaders from across the South -South and South -East will be converging in Uyo, Akwa Ibom Capital, later this month. The aim is to position the emerging startup ecosystem in the region, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

     

    As entrepreneurs in South East region eschew the traditional quick exit route and opt instead to grow their companies to maturity, they have come to realize that they cannot go it alone. They need the help and experience of peers who face similar growing pains — and they need to join forces so that problems they encounter can be quickly addressed.

    To this end, Startups South 5 is holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital to gather mentors and innovation leaders good at fostering ideas and startups to network and deepen connections.

    The event is billed for October 29 and November 2. It will hold at E3 Event& Banquests, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Themed: Unlocking the next 60 million people, the  convener ,Uche Aniche said  the  aim of the  conference  is to promote entrepreneurship and help develop world-class regional startup hubs as well as highlighting the regional  startup sector to global entrepreneurs, innovators and research and development teams.

    The agenda at the conference will centre on, but not limited to, experience sharing, regional goal harmonisation, startup funding options and more.

    For him, the programme is a fantastic opportunity for those who are thinking of starting a business, those who want to scale their business or others who might want to invest in startups to come together, be inspired by each other and share new ideas.

    He believes the region has all of the vital ingredients to become a global startup hub, and that what they need now is to bring them together to make it a reality.

    According to him, Startup South is about driving real change across the startup sector, creating better networks, connections and collaborations with all of the players across the entrepreneurship spectrum – the startup leaders, investors, Government, research centres, universities, large corporates, and multi-nationals – to work collectively to build on the region strength.