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  • N13m, N8m quarterly allowances inadequate for lawmakers, says Lawan

    N13m, N8m quarterly allowances inadequate for lawmakers, says Lawan

    By Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday spoke on the controversy over salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly.

    He said contrary to allegations of “jumbo pay,” the National Assembly is grossly underfunded in Nigeria compared to other presidential democracies.

    The Senate President, who was guest lecturer at the maiden edition of the “Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture, 2021,” organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in Abuja, said the budget of the National Assembly is one of the lowest in the world.

    Speaking on the theme: “The legislature, legislative mandate and the people – The reality and the public perception”, Lawan reflected on the misconceptions, budget of the National Assembly and constituency projects.

    He also spoke about the corruption, stigmatisation and negative characterisation of the National Assembly as a “rubber stamp,” and purchase of operational vehicles for legislators.

    On the National Assembly budget, Lawan said: “This is perhaps one of the most persistent and vexatious issues that has dented the image of the National Assembly in Nigeria, with widespread presumptions that the budget of the National Assembly is not known.

    “It is well known that the budget of the National Assembly, which has never been above N150billion since 1999, is a fraction of the budget of the Federal Government, much less than the budget of some ministries in the executive.

    “The aggregate budgets approved for National Assembly from 2005 to 2021 and the relative shares in the national budgets show that the budget trended upwards from N54.8billion in 2006, except in 2009, peaking at N154.369 billion in 2010.

    “Thereafter, it stabilised at N150billion each year. In 2015/2016 and 2019 however, the aggregate allocation to the National Assembly dropped to N120billion and N115billion respectively.

    “In relative terms, the budget allocation to the National Assembly declined from 4.1 per cent of the total federal budget in 2008 to N1.9 per cent in the 2016 fiscal year.

    “However, in the last four years, the percentage of the National Assembly budget in the federal budget ranged between 0.82 (2021) to 1.44 (2019) per cent of the Federal Government budget.

    “The National Assembly, on average, accounts for 2.81 per cent of the national budgetary over the six years between 2011 and 2016, and much less in the last two years.

    “Between 2011 and 2014, the National Assembly attracted an annual budgetary allocation of N150billion, which is about 3 per cent of the total budgets for those years. Thus, the budget of the National Assembly has actually reduced despite the growing complexity and expansion in the operations of the legislature.

    Read Also; Ndume faults NASS ‘hasty’ approvals of loans

    “The National Assembly requires the full complement of institutions and agencies to deliver on its constitutional mandate. The key agencies and institutions of the National Assembly include the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) and the Public Complaints Commission.

    “Yet many Nigerians are not even aware of the existing of these agencies. This is in addition to over 3,000 full time legislative staff and about 3,500 legislative aides that assist legislators both at the National Assembly and the various constituency offices.

    “The budget of the National Assembly appears grossly inadequate given its mandate, membership, the scope of operations and agencies under it. For instance, the Assembly will require additional billions of naira if its core committees are to effectively undertake oversight functions, including visits, as mandated in the constitution and the standing committees.

    “Consider the 2022 proposed appropriation where defence and security are allocated N2.41trillion (15%); infrastructure N1.45trillion (8.9%); education N1.29trillion (7.9%) health N820billion (5%); and social development and poverty eradication N863billion (5.3%) of the entire allocation.

    “These are critical sectors of the economy and the importance of adequate funding to them cannot be understated. However, the same level of scrutiny that is given to the National Assembly budget should also be applied to other sectors where bigger chunks of the nation’s resources are utilised.

    “When compared with the legislatures of other democracies like the United States Congress, the following picture would emerge.

    “First, while the total appropriation to the Nigerian National Assembly dropped from N150billion ($955.33 million) in 2014 to N120billion in 2015 and 2019 ($621.67million) and about N115billion (i.e. $527.52 million) in 2016, total appropriation to the United States Congress increased from $4.2billion in 2014 to $4.3billion in 2015 and 2019, that is over N1.7trillion.

    “The budget has further increased in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and the recent attack on the Capitol.

    “In view of the size of Nigeria as well as that of the National Assembly but more importantly, the broad mandates conferred on the National Assembly by the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly is, in fact, grossly underfunded.”

    Lawan noted that another issue that has contributed to the poor perception of the National Assembly is salaries and allowances of the legislators.

    The salaries of the members of the National Assembly, as approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), he said, are included in the budget allocated to the National Assembly.

    He said: “The total salary of a member of the Senate is about N1.5million and that of the House of Representatives is about N1.3million. The quarterly office running allowance for legislators is what is erroneously conflated with a monthly income to create confusion and mislead the Nigerian people.

    “The average office running cost for a senator is about N13million while that of a member of the House of Representatives is N8million.

    “This is to cover the cost of local/international travel and transport, consulting of professional service, medical services, office stationery/computer consumables, books, newspapers, magazines and periodicals, maintenance of motor vehicles and office equipment and constituency outreach, among others. This is one of the lowest of any presidential democracy in the world.”

    On contentious constituency projects, he said: “I am the first to agree that we need a sustainable framework for the management of these projects after completion. This should include formal handing over to the states or local governments for maintenance.”

    On corruption in the National Assembly, the Senate President said: “Allegations of corruption must be supported by evidence to avoid ‘media trial.’ The National Assembly has taken an active step in improving accountability by establishing bodies such as the EFCC and ICPC to combat corruption. We also passed the Freedom of Information Act that grants access to the public on the activities of government agencies.”

    Lawan said the purchase of vehicles for use of legislators has also received extensive media attention.

    He noted that the argument against the purchase of official vehicles for legislators is at best counter-intuitive and at worst malicious and intended to turn the public against lawmakers.

    “If civil servants from the rank of assistant director and above are entitled to official vehicles and some ministers have a convoy of cars, why is the allocation of a Toyota Camry to members and a Land Cruiser (to Senators) such a hideous proposition?

    “While I am not against constructive criticism and engagement, I think it is important that our analysis of issues are fair and objective.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari who declared the event open said that the introduction of the Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture offers a verifiable platform to enunciate outcomes of research, comparative analysis, best practices, practical reasoning and policy implications of the choices available to the country in her quest to enthrone good governance.

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari noted that

    the theme for the 2021 lecture: is very apt and “I hope that it will present an opportunity to the legislature to remind itself of its mandate and the exercise thereof, to all Nigerians, so as to avoid the frictions always associated with some interpretation.

    “I therefore charge the National Assembly and the institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies to ensure that outcome is well documented and circulated.

    “l similarly charge you to ensure that this lecture series is sustained and targeted at addressing key national and constitutional issues in a manner that would strengthen our democracy, eliminate grey areas and enthrone best practices.

    “The executive arm of government shall continue to build on the existing good working relationship with the legislature to ensure that the interest of every Nigerian is advanced and public good delivered.”

    Former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani, who was chairman of the event noted  that the present National Assembly is raising the bar by organizing the lecture where people come to exchange and cross-fertalise ideas because the art of law making is an ongoing process.

    He said, “It evolves. It is not static. It is dynamic. And for daring to deem it necessary to organise a gathering of this nature and to have the chairman of National Assembly himself deliver the first of the series, I think it is quite commendable. They have shown that nothing is so good that it cannot be improved upon.”

    In his welcome address, the Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, noted that the lecture series has been initiated by the National Assembly as a bi-annual event to broaden legislative experience by bringing together eminent Nigerians, speakers, parliamentarians to share knowledge and encourage thought provoking conversations on issues of national importance especially those having relevance to the Nigerian legislature.”

  • Paris Club refund: Governors fail to stop $418m deduction

    Paris Club refund: Governors fail to stop $418m deduction

    Governors of the 36 states of the federation yesterday lost in their bid to hold down the Federal Government from deducting $418 million from their monthly allocations to settle their contractual obligations in the Paris Club refund.

    In a ruling at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Inyang Ekwo refused a motion for interlocutory injunctions filed by the 36 states, in which they had sought to further restrain the Fed Government from making deductions from the money standing to their credit in the Federation Account, pending the determination of the main suit they filed.

    Justice Inyang, in refusing the motion, said he would rather hear the notice of preliminary objection filed by some of the defendants, challenging the court’s jurisdiction, along with the substantive suit.

    He said since the court’s jurisdiction was being challenged, the best thing to do was to first determine whether or not the court has jurisdiction before taking any further steps.

    The judge adjourned till December 21 for the hearing of the objection and the substantive suit.

    The court had on November 5 this year, issued an ex-parte order stopping the Federal Government from proceeding with its planned deduction of the $418 million from the states’ accounts to settle consultants allegedly engaged by the states in the Paris Club refund processes.

    Read Also: Paris Club refund dispute: Way out, by lawyers

    The court had directed that the ex-parte order would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, which was heard and refused yesterday.

    Plaintiffs’ lawyer, Sunday Ameh (SAN) had, while arguing the motion, stated that his clients were not averse to federal Governor’s issuance of promissory notes to the consultants (also sued as defendants), but became uncomfortable when it (federal government) issued a notice to commence deduction from the states’ accounts.

    Ameh argued that it was necessary that the federal government be restrained from making the deduction while the status of the alleged debt was still being disputed.

    Some of the defendants, represented by different lawyers, including Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Maimuna Shiru (Acting Director, Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice) urged the court to dismiss the motion.

    They contended that the motion was without merit, because the suit on which it was predicated was also unmeritorious.

    The defence lawyers contended that the plaintiffs, by their suit, want the court to sit on appeal over the earlier judgments given in cases on the same issue by other judges of the court.

    They argued that it amounted to blowing hot and cold at the same time when the same state governors, who at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) level conceded to the debt owed consultants, are now challenging it.

    The plaintiffs are, in the substantive suit, contending among others, that they were not parties to the case which resulted in a judgment that ordered the federal government to deductions from the accounts to settle debt allegedly owed consultants by the states.

  • Brace for more taxes, levies, Finance minister tells Nigerians 

    Brace for more taxes, levies, Finance minister tells Nigerians 

    Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed yesterday asked Nigerians to brace for more taxes, levies and tariffs.

    She however, gave a caveat – the new taxes and levies will not be introduced until there is improvement in the economy.

    The minister, during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on the 2021 Finance Bill at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

    House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila stressed the need to repositioning  the nation’s financial system to plug wastes, close openings for corruption, create opportunities for employment and stimulate stability and growth in the nation’s productive sectors.

    The minister disclosed that there was the need for the country to focus more on non-oil sector revenue to finance critical infrastructure.

    She said the non-oil sector has performed better than the oil sector, recording about 171.3 per cent above the projected figure as at September 30, 2021, averaging N1.31 trillion.

    Mrs. Ahmed said: “As of Sep. 2021, the Federal Government’s retained revenue was N4.56tr, achieving 75% of Budget; Federal share of Oil Revenues was N845 billion (representing 56.3% pro-rated performance). Federal share of Non-Oil revenues was N1.31 trillion (117.3% above budget).

    Read Also: Reps summon Customs, FIRS, others over unremitted taxes

    “Companies Income Tax (CIT) & Value Added Tax (VAT) collections were N616 billion and N274.4 billion representing 121% and 153%, respectively, of the pro-rata targets. Also, Customs collections were N418.97 billion.

    “Clearly, our ongoing fiscal reforms of the last six years are yielding tangible results. However, the ministry is closely studying the following issues, developments & policies.”

    The minister said some reforms and amendments had been recommended in the draft 2021 finance amendment bill, adding that more will be introduced in the middle of 2022.

    She said more fiscal reforms were still in view as the ministry could not take all the proposals collected from stakeholders.

    “While these issues may require most increases in taxes and tariffs on certain businesses, industries, and individuals over the medium term…,” Ahmed said in her closing remarks.

    “Our aspiration is to do a midterm review with a possibility of another Finance Bill in mid-year 2022 to bring in more amendments.”

    Ahmed explained that the ongoing cases in court against the Federal Government on VAT and stamp duties had prompted the finance ministry to steer clear of those areas.

    She, however, expressed hope that by mid-2022, the cases might have been dispensed with, and reforms in those areas could be proposed for parliament to consider.

    Mrs. Ahmed said there may  be need to revisit the antiquated stamp duties and capital gains tax for holistic reform by the parliament.

    “We prepared this draft bill along five reform areas, the first domestic revenue mobilisation, the second is tax administration and legislative drafting, third is International taxation, fourth is financial sector reforms and tax equity and fifth is improving public financial management reform,” the finance minister said.

    “The provision in the draft bill is proposing to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Company Income Tax, FIRS Establishment Act, Personal Income Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Tertiary Education Act, Value Added Tax, Insurance Police Trust Fund, and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    “This is to amend the Police Trust Fund Act and the Nigerian Trust Fund Acts, the purpose is to empower the FIRS to collect the Nigerian trust fund levies on companies on behalf of the fund itself.

    “Currently, because there is no such provision, the FIRS is unable to start collecting on behalf of the fund. Also, it is to streamline the tax and the levy collection from the Nigerian companies in line with Mr. President’s administration’s ease of doing business policy.

    “So, we do not have NASENI going out to collect that tax, the FIRS will collect on their behalf during their collection process, and it will be passed through to them.”

  • COVID-19 was not created to depopulate Africa, says Buhari

    COVID-19 was not created to depopulate Africa, says Buhari

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Frank Ikpefan, Moses Emorinken, Abuja, Segun Showunmi, Ibadan, and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to disregard conspiracy theories claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic was created by foreign countries to depopulate Africa or to make money for Western pharmaceutical companies.

    President Buhari gave the warning in his ‘get well soon’ message to the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was recently diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also warned that refusing to heed non-pharmaceutical instructions on staying safe from the virus is capable of setting government’s efforts at containing its spread back.

    The President, therefore, advised Nigerians to come out fully and get vaccinated.

    In the statement, he reminded Nigerians “to disregard the allegation that the pandemic is a foreign creation to depopulate Africa and boost the financial interests of western pharmaceutical companies through vaccine production”.

    “Lack of attention to medical advice and apathy are damaging to the government’s efforts to contain the spread of this deadly viral disease,” he said.

    In his message to President Ramaphosa, Buhari said: “My heart and prayers are with Mr. Ramaphosa of South Africa at this difficult moment of health challenge, and I pray for his speedy and full recovery.

    “Mr. Ramaphosa is a friend of Nigeria and an important partner in our joint continental efforts to tackle Africa’s social, economic and political difficulties.  “The coronavirus pandemic is a reality and no respecter of persons.”

    South African President Ramaphosa tests positive

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, the presidency said in a statement.

    Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, began feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service for former deputy president F W de Klerk in Cape Town earlier in the day, but was in good spirits and being monitored by doctors, it said.

    He would remain in self-isolation in Cape Town for the time being and had delegated responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.

    On a recent visit to four West African states, the president and the entire South African delegation were tested for COVID-19 in all countries, the statement said.

    “The president and the delegation returned to South Africa from the Republic of Senegal last Wednesday, after obtaining negative test results.

    “The president also tested negative on his return to Johannesburg on December 8.”

    The statement quoted Ramaphosa as saying that his own infection served as a warning to all citizens of the importance of getting vaccinated and remaining vigilant against exposure.

    NYSC: no COVID-19 vaccine card, no orientation next year

    TheNational Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has made the presentation of COVID-19 vaccination card compulsory for prospective corps members to attend orientation exercise from next year.

    The scheme said from the next year, incoming prospective corps members must show evidence of vaccination before they will be allowed into the camp for registration.

    NYSC Director-General Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim stated these in a nationwide virtual address to the 2021 Batch “C” Stream Two Corps Members and camp officials.

    In a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations at the NYSC, Emeka Mgbemena, the DG said: “We want to ensure that we adhere strictly to the non-pharmaceutical protocols of COVID-19.”

    Ibrahim advised corps members that would complete their orientation course tomorrow to add value to themselves by acquiring skills that would make them business owners, instead of seeking the scarcely available jobs.

    He said the scheme had partnered several institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank, Bank of Industry, NYSC Foundation, Heritage Bank and others to provide soft loans to corps members with good business proposals.

    But, a retired Professor of public health, Prof. Michael Asuzu and the President, Association of Residents Doctors, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Chapter, Dr. Zakariyah Hussain, yesterday faulted the Federal Government over its decision to ban unvaccinated prospective corps members from accessing the orientation camps to participate in the scheme.

    Speaking at the 53rd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of UCH ARD in Ibadan, they stated that government could not force Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination, but could only persuade them.

    Prof. Asuzu noted that in medicine and health practice, people can refuse anything they don’t want because it’s their right, urging the government not to force Nigerians, but appealed to them to know the importance of the vaccination.

    EFCC bars unvaccinated officials from entering office

    Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday barred members of staff that were yet to vaccinate from the office premises in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The anti-graft commission took the step to comply with the directive of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

    The committee had mandated Federal civil servants to be vaccinated or have evidence of negative PCR test for COVID-19, effective from December 1, to access government offices.

    Accordingly, EFCC Chair Abdulrasheed Bawa directed that the Federal Government’s directive be complied with, in all the commands of the commission, including its Head Office, Abuja.  Deputy zonal commander of the command Mrs. Atinuke Akinroyeje led the enforcement.

    WHO makes case for health fund

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the Federal Government to increase its investment in the health sector, especially now that the country is battling COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks.

    It noted that aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is faced with high burdens of HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and respiratory tract infections; increasing cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes and cancers and frequent disease outbreaks such as cholera, Lassa fever, yellow fever, meningitis, etc.

    WHO Country Representative Dr Walter Mulombo stated these to commemorate this year’s global Universal Health Coverage Day.

    First Omicron death confirmed in UK

    United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed the death of one person from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

    He warned of a looming “tidal wave” of Omicron infections, with cases doubling every two to three days across Britain.

    As the Delta variant continues to drive up coronavirus infections in the United States, Britain has now shifted its focus to Omicron, which officials warn is spreading at a “phenomenal rate”.  The UK re-imposed some restrictions yesterday in a bid to slow Omicron’s spread and give scientists time to find out just how much more transmissible it is, how successful it will be at evading current vaccines, and whether it is any more severe than previous variants.

    Ghana’s airport to fine airlines carrying unvaccinated passengers

    The operator of Ghana’s main international airport will fine airlines 3,500 dollars for every passenger they bring in that is not vaccinated against the COVID-19 or that tests positive for the coronavirus on arrival.

    The rules, announced by Ghana Airports yesterday, follow others introduced last week by the health ministry that require people entering Ghana to be vaccinated.

    They come into effect for the Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra today.

    The requirements are some of the strictest in Africa where vaccine uptake has been slow due to lack of supply and logistical challenges, and come as the new Omicron variant raises concerns about quicker transmission of the virus.

    Ghana, one of West Africa’s largest economies that runs on exports of cocoa, gold, and oil, has so far vaccinated a little over 5 per cent of its population of 30 million, data compiled by Reuters showed.

    Its health service has recorded 131,412 infections and 1,239 deaths from COVID-19, according to the data.

    Over the last two weeks, COVID-19 cases recorded at Kotoka airport accounted for about 60 per cent of total infections in the country, the health service said on Friday.

  • EFCC probes governor for withdrawing N60b

    EFCC probes governor for withdrawing N60b

    A North-Central governor is under probe for allegedly withdrawing N60 billion in cash in six years, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Executive Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa has confirmed.

    The fraud, according to him, was uncovered by the newly-created Department of Intelligence under his administration.

    He spoke of plans to update Nigerians on the behind-the-scene investigations bordering on cybercrime and politically exposed persons (PEPs), adding that the agency has secured 1,576 convictions within 11 months.

    Bawa’s disclosures were contained in an interview published in EFCC Alert, an in-house journal of the commission.

    Although the interview was said to have been granted to Television Continental (TVC), the transcript was published in the magazine.

    Only one of the six states in the Northcentral is controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The others are under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Bawa did not however, disclose the identity of the affected governor.

    There were indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has received preliminary report on the governor.

    Bawa said: “I can tell you for free that the new Department of Intelligence that we have created is working. They have come up with a lot of intelligence.

    “In one of them, a governor in a Northcentral state within the last six years (one individual) has withdrawn over N60 billion in cash.

    “We are looking at all of that, and I assure you that at the end of all of our investigations, Nigerians are going to be briefed of what we are doing behind-the-scene on cybercrime, politically exposed persons as well as engaging government agencies to ensure that we have better processes and procedures on how to do government business.”

    Bawa, who confirmed that ex-Governor Lucky Igbinedion is still under investigation after the initial conviction, tersely addressed the case.

    He added: “I can assure you that we are working (on them). We don’t want to talk about matters that are under investigation.

    “Yes, we invited a former governor (Lucky Igbinedion) for interrogation. He was with us for two days and he has been released. Investigation is ongoing, but we are being careful and cautious. So, we won’t be accused of engaging in a media trial.”

    On the convictions secured by the agency since he came on board, Bawa said: “From January to November 16, 2021 we have recorded an unprecedented 1,576 convictions; it is an unprecedented number of convictions.

    “The highest number of convictions that the Commission secured previously was 1,282 or thereabout. So, we have beaten that record.

    “I have said it time and again; no agency of government has contributed to the development of law in Nigeria in the last 10 years than the EFCC.

    Read Also: N19.3b bailout saga: Kogi sues EFCC, demands N35b damages

    “We are changing the narrative here, because I will also want to report that 122 were discharged and acquitted.

    “Now compare that with the success that we have recorded in terms of convictions. It shows that we lost less than 10 per cent of our cases. That means when you compare by way of measurements, you will see that it is a 90 per cent success rate.

    “We are all over the place trying to see that we eradicate economic and financial crime through the court processes and other preventive measures that we have in place.”

    On the seizure of a N20 billion bailout funds, which Kogi State Government has disputed as false, Bawa said: “The records are straight. Based on what we told the court, the court agreed with us and the funds were frozen.

    “Of course, at the end of the day, the funds have been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the betterment of Nigerians that are to utilise them.

    “We have recovered N20 billion from the bailout fund that is given to them. So, that is the record and the evidence is there

    “We are not setting out to be engaging with people on the pages of newspapers or press conferences. We are working hard behind the scenes (to eradicate corruption).

    “And very soon, Nigerians are going to see some of the things that we are doing.”

    Bawa restated EFCC’s determination to uphold the fundamental rights of suspects, adding that all the sting operations on cybercrime suspects, popularly called Yahoo boys, were within the ambit of the law.

    He described as unfortunate that some of the operations were misunderstood.

    The EFCC chair said: “We are in a world of social media, where any small thing can be magnified (beyond the ordinary).

    “It is not in our character [to harass anybody]. That is not what we set out to do. That is not what has happened. From January to date, we have arrested nothing less than 2,000 alleged suspected cybercriminals across the country. And then you have one or two persons complaining. .

    “But then, look at the ratio, vis-avis people that were arrested and people that are complaining. Indeed, we look inwards to see where we are wrong, and we correct and address it. Of course, we need to be concerned about the human rights of people.

    “It is part of our responsibilities to investigate suspected cybercriminals. All those sting operations that we carried out came as a result of a series of surveillance activities as well as intelligence and information gathered before we moved in.

    “In Lagos alone, from January to now, we have carried out in sting several locations, and if only one or two are complaining out of thousands of such sting operations, I think, it is still a pass mark.

    “I want to assure you that all of the sting operations that we carried out, we carried them out professionally, within the ambit of the law. We are a law abiding institution and we will continue to be a law-abiding institution.”

  • Nigeria to have widest 5G coverage in Africa, says Pantami

    Nigeria to have widest 5G coverage in Africa, says Pantami

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, said on Monday that Nigeria will have the largest/widest 5G coverage in Africa next year.

    He spoke at the auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) Spectrum in Abuja.
    According to him, the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology can help in addressing some of the security challenges facing the country.
    Pantami explained that since the technology provides real-time services and platforms for advanced telecommunications systems, the country needed to take advantage of technology and maximise the opportunities inherent in it.

    Read Also: Nigeria to have widest 5G coverage in Africa by 2022 — Pantami

    Two out of three telecommunications companies bidding for the Spectrum are expected to emerge as winners of the two slots of the 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had in a statement announced that three telecoms companies were qualified as approved bidders for 5G permit after meeting all requirements for participating in the licensing process.

    The three qualified bidders for the 3.5 GHz spectrum, are MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd, and Airtel Networks Ltd.

    They all took part in the software-based simulated auction, using the Ascending Clock Auction System for the mock session last Friday.

  • Omicron: Airlines directed not to fly Nigerians into Dubai

    Omicron: Airlines directed not to fly Nigerians into Dubai

    The frosty diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over travel restrictions took a different turn on Monday as other carriers have been directed by the Middle East country not to board Nigerians whose final destination is Dubai.

    The fresh hostility comes amid last week’s reduction of Emirates flight frequency into Nigeria by the Ministry of Aviation.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, cancelled the 21 frequencies earlier given to the airline and restricted it to a once-weekly flight into Abuja.

    Industry watchers say matters got to a head as part of a retaliatory decision by the UAE to deny Nigerian flag carrier airline – Air Peace from operating to Sharjah near Dubai three times a week; a situation that infuriated the Nigerian government.

    The Middle East country, it was learnt, may go a step further by tightening the noose by introducing stringent rules for visa applications for Nigerians willing to visit Dubai for medicals, tourism, and business.

    Investigations reveal that other airlines including Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air and other international carriers connecting transit flights from their headquarters/hubs into Dubai are refusing to board Nigerians.

    Such carriers, a source hinted, have been directed not to airlift Nigerian passport holders to Dubai.

    Following the development, hundreds of passengers are affected by this directive as Ethiopian Airlines on Monday afternoon offloaded their Nigerian passengers to Dubai.

    A travel agent confirmed the development, saying passengers who had already booked their tickets were shell shocked when they told them that the UAE had instructed them not to pick passengers from Nigeria through their hubs.

    “Our customer currently in the airport about to board Ethiopian Airlines said the airline said that flights have been banned from Nigeria to Dubai,” the agent said.

    Read Also: First death with Omicron variant recorded in UK

    Aviation security consultant, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (Rtd) said it was shocking that Ethiopian and other airlines are not allowed to take passengers to Dubai paints a very dangerous diplomatic problem.

    “Ethiopian Airlines does not fly or check passengers directly to Dubai, so why deny transiting passengers to Dubai except Nigerians are banned in Dubai. There are many things still hidden in the melee that we need to expose”.

    Emirates on Friday suspended all flights to Nigeria from this week after the West African nation imposed new restrictions on its flights, the carrier said on Friday.

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority announced earlier on Friday that it was restricting Emirates to just one weekly flight from 21 that had been initially approved.

    The authority said this was in retaliation for the United Arab Emirates declining an application by local carrier Air Peace to fly to Sharjah International Airport three times a week.

    UAE gave the airline one weekly slot, citing the lack of available arrival slots at the airport.

    “With the recently imposed directive limiting Emirates to operate one flight per week to Nigeria via Abuja, Emirates will be suspending its flights between Nigeria and Dubai from 13 December 2021, until the UAE and Nigerian authorities work on a solution to the ongoing issue,” Emirates said in a statement.

    In March, Nigeria suspended Emirates from flying into or out of its territory after the carrier-imposed additional COVID-19 test requirements on passengers from Nigeria but had lifted the restriction last month.

    Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with a huge diaspora that frequently travels back home and some carriers like British Airways have daily flights to the country.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack Police headquarters in Abia

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack Police headquarters in Abia

    Gunmen have reportedly attacked the Police Command Headquarters in Abia State located along Bende road in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

    A yet-to-be-identified police sergeant was killed during a gun duel between policemen and the gunmen.

    The incident which occurred Monday morning was said to have created panic amongst residents.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Bandits kill 10 in fresh Plateau attack

    The deceased was said to have been on guard when the gunmen struck the area.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.

    The Nation, however, gathered that a team of police officers repelled the attackers.

    A team of policemen and soldiers have been parading the streets of Umuahia following the incident.

  • BREAKING: Bandits kill 10 in fresh Plateau attack

    BREAKING: Bandits kill 10 in fresh Plateau attack

    No fewer than 10 people have been reportedly killed while scores of others sustained various degrees of injuries on Sunday evening when suspected bandits attacked Pinau town in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The incident happened after the villagers had finished from their weekly community market.

    Read Also: 20 killed, seven injured in Bauchi multiple crashes

    A member of the community, Hamman Sale, who confirmed the development, said the suspected bandits were from Zamfara State.

    The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Gabriel Ubah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the incident, added that the Command was yet to get full details on the attack.

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • Omicron: Fed Govt to ban flights from UK, Canada

    Omicron: Fed Govt to ban flights from UK, Canada

    Kelvin Osa Okunbor and  Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

    The travel ban by the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and other countries has sparked a big row between Nigeria and some western nations.

    In a retaliatory move, Nigeria yesterday announced plans to halt commercial flights from the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Argentina into its airspace from today or tomorrow.

    The UK, which had on December 4 added Nigeria to its red list, imposed the travel ban to curtail the spread of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus. A few days after, Canada, Argentina, ad Saudi Arabia followed suit.

    On Wednesday, The Nation exclusively reported that Nigeria was weighing options against the UK, including retaliatory action, if UK authorities failed to immediately reverse the ban.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed last Thursday said it was up to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 to announce an appropriate response to the flight restrictions by the four countries.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who is also a member of the PSC, said in an audio recording shared with reporters in Lagos that airlines from the four countries have lost the moral right to fly into Nigeria.

    He said: “They are not supposed to come in. I am very sure in the next three days; Monday or Tuesday, all those countries will be put on the red list of COVID-19.

    “There is also the case of Saudi Arabia that put Nigeria on the ban list.

    “On Sunday, I participated in a meeting with the COVID-19 task force.

    “We have given our input that it is not acceptable by us and we recommended that those countries- Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina – also be put on the red list.

    “As they did to us if they do not allow our citizens into their countries; who are they coming, as airlines, to pick from our country?”

    Sirika apologised to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries, saying the government’s decision was in the interest of the country.

    A diplomat, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, and an international relations expert, Prof.  Osita Agbu,  welcomed the move by the government, saying it was in tandem with the principle of reciprocity.

    Lolo, a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the decision is not new in international diplomacy, “especially under certain circumstances”.

    His words: “The reasons Federal Government has given, I believe in my view, are very cogent, if the United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, among others, can place Nigeria on their red list with their citizens coming into Nigeria; this doesn’t make sense.

    “It is a very timely and a very good move by Nigeria to embark on the principle of reciprocity; that is being proactive.”

    Agbu, who is a senior fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, said the principle of reciprocity is used when it is extremely necessary.

    He said it was too early for the UK and the three other countries to have added Nigeria to their red list, considering the fact that Omicron was traced to passengers who travelled through and from Nigeria.

    Agbu added: “I am of the opinion that Nigeria should explore diplomacy before embarking on reciprocity. We should be a little bit circumspect.”

    Read Also: Omicron: Senators, Reps angry over UK’s inclusion of Nigeria on red list

    The expert recalled that Nigeria once embraced the principle of reciprocity when South Africa deported its citizens.

    Mohammed told reporters last week in Abuja, that the “reflex responses” of the UK and others were driven by fear rather than Science.

    He described the flight restrictions from Nigeria as “unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible and discriminatory”.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said countries should apply an “evidence-informed and risk-based approach” when deciding on travel measures related to Omicron, including possible screening or quarantine of international passengers. The world body added that blanket bans may not prevent its spread.

    Nigeria has a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with over 90 countries. However, over the years, stakeholders have lamented that most air agreements between Nigeria and other countries have been one-sided as Nigerian airlines have been unable to reciprocate the agreements due to what they termed, “aero-politics”.

     

    Air Peace protests to Sirika, faults UAE on operations

    Nigeria’s lone carrier operating into the United Arab Emirates  (UAE) , Air Peace, denied flying into Dubai (DXB) Airport in the oil-rich country.

    The airliner was reacting to a November 10 letter by UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, to Sirika seeking restoration of flight frequencies from his country into Nigeria.

    Al-Marri, who doubles as the chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) board, predicated the request on the alleged flight by the Nigerian carrier into Duvai (DXB) Airport.

    But, in a letter   by its Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, Air Peace stated that it has only operated in Sharjah Airport

    Olajide’s letter reads in part: “We take very serious exception to that letter (by Al Marri). We believe that the minister about the chairman of the board of the GCAA may have been misinformed of the true position of the issues in discourse as no one in such an exalted position and office would deliberately push out such an untrue statement.

    “Al Marri letter has misinformed the public about the real facts against us. We do not see what wrong Air Peace has done in the whole saga. We are the ones being wronged and now we are being attacked from a quarter we least expected. Facts don’t lie. In aviation, there are things one cannot lie about.

    “Operating into and out of an airport is one of them. When did such flight operations occur? Which slot did we operate? For an airline to conduct scheduled operations into and out of an airport, there are agreements signed with several parties, executed, and implemented.

    “There is a need for the authority to provide the Ground Handling Company that handled the scheduled operations in Dubai Airport (DXB) for Air Peace. Air Peace has only operated flights into Sharjah Airport alone.

    “Air Peace has never been given slots at the Dubai International Airport. Slot availability was used to deny us operating from that popular airport as it was our first choice. It was the politics of slot unavailability that did not allow us to operate into Dubai Airport directly. The lack of flight slot angle forced us to approach Sharjah Airport as the last resort.

    “We were welcomed by the government and people of Sharjah. While we were denied slots in their most important airport, the Dubai Airport,

    “Emirates has always enjoyed red carpet treatment in Nigeria where they were given our most important airports- Lagos and Abuja —where they operate a total of 21 flights weekly. We only asked for three flights weekly at the Sharjah Airport and we got same and started operations on the 5th of July, 2019 until Covid-19 lock-downs in 2020.”