The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • Banks, their customers and unending legal battles

    Every year, banks and their customers engage in legal battle that can potentially cost trillions of naira in claims. ROBERT EGBE examines why the parties are fighting and what can be done to stem the threat this poses to the economy.

     

    For Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Lagos Federal High Court, it was a busy week. Between Monday and Tuesday, he heard the case between Shoreline Power Company (SPC) and Ecobank. In a ruling on Monday, he restrained SPC from interfering with the work of the Ecobank-appointed receiver-manager, Taiwo Ogbara, for the firm.

    Other defendants in the case are Orikolade Karim, Tunde Karim, Yinka Karim, Marc Hasenclever and Graeme Stout. The court restrained them from obstructing Ogbara in the discharge of his duties, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    The judge also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from tampering with the firm’s assets covered by a Deed of All Assets Debenture of March 18, 2013 between Ecobank and Shoreline registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Justice Obiozor directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and his men to assist Ogbara in carrying out his duties. He also restrained all banks from honouring any mandate presented by the defendants for the withdrawal of any money in Shoreline’s account. The banks were also asked to file within 48 hours the company’s statement of account with them and to transfer such funds to any account requested by the receiver-manager.

    In a supporting affidavit to the ex-parte motion, an Ecobank employee, Donatus Onoja, said Shoreline was owing the bank N4.6 billion.

    Ecobank claimed that it wrote the firm to demand payment, adding that despite receiving the letter, the firm “neither responded nor complied or displayed any genuine willingness to fulfil its repayment obligations to the first applicant within the time prescribed.”

    Shoreline’s case is one of the hundreds between banks and their customers over debts, over-charging and sundry matters. There are also some bordering on forgery. One of such began last September. Mr Emmanuel Eferere got home on September 19 to meet a letter from the First City Monument Bank (FCMB)’s Loans Workout and Recovery Unit waiting for him.

    Marked “September 19, 2018”, the letter demanded that he pays the bank N41,714,432,32 owed by a firm, Abeycom Treasures Ventures Ltd.

    Eferere became one of the firm’s sureties for the money when he executed a “Deeds of Tripartite Legal Mortgage” in favour of FCMB, which was registered at the Land Registry, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, the letter claimed.

    The letter gave him 14 days to persuade Abeycom to settle the debt, otherwise, legal action would be taken.

    Eferere wrote back that the letter was addressed to the wrong person. He did not stand as surety for anyone or any company, including Abeycom  – an entity unknown to him – neither had he ever mortgaged any of his landed assets.

    But the second letter in October informed him that the bank had the original of his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for his property at Ikorodu, which he allegedly pledged as security for the loan.

    The bank also blocked him from disposing of the property.

    Thus began a legal battle between him and FCMB. A fraud and forgery charge and a N100million civil suit are pending at an at an Ogba Magistrates’ Court and a Lagos High Court.

    A fractious relationship

    According to experts, the strength of the relationship between banks and their customers goes a long way to determine the industry’s success.

    But excerpts from the disclosures in Nigerian banks’ annual reports suggest that they and many of their customers are in a fractious relationship. Many banks are facing hundreds of lawsuits yearly which could cost trillions of naira in potential claims.

    For instance, a 2019 report by a financial resource company, Naira metrics, suggests that just four major banks – First Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Zenith Bank – face potential claims of N973.05 billion from customers.

    In response, the banks set aside hundreds of millions as contingency funds to challenge the claims and initiate claims of their own. So as not to be caught flat-footed, they also make yearly contingency provisions for liabilities that may arise from lawsuits claims. These are often published in their annual reports.

    UBA

    UBA, in the ordinary course of business, is currently involved in 714 legal cases (2017: 705).

    The total amount claimed in the cases against the Group is estimated at N745.45 billion (2017: N659.17 billion).

    UBA seems to have the highest potential claims against it, out of all Nigerian banks.

    The directors having sought the advice of professional legal counsel, are of the opinion that no significant liability will crystalise from these cases beyond the provision made in the financial statements.

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    GTBank

     

    According to its 2018 annual report, GTBank, in its ordinary course of business, “is presently involved in 484 cases as a defendant (31 December 2017: 470) and 426 cases as a plaintiff (31 December 2017: 427).

    “The total amount claimed in the 484 cases against the Bank is estimated at N476.03 Billion and $39.68 Million (31 December 2017: N530.59 Billion and $132.80 Million) while the total amount claimed in the 426 cases instituted by the Bank is N111.0 Billion (31 December 2017: N110.86 Billion).”

    No mention was also made of its well-publicised multi-billion naira dispute with vehicles manufacturer, Innoson Nigeria Ltd.

    Nevertheless, the bank’s solicitors are of the view that the probable liability which may arise from the cases pending against it is not likely to exceed N91.72 Million (31 December 2017: N178.71 Million).

    “This probable liability has been fully provided for by the bank,” the report added.

     

    Zenith Bank

    The Group is presently involved in 133 suits in the ordinary course of business. The total amount claimed in the cases against the Group is estimated at N18.32 billion (31 December 2015: N11.68 billion).

    The actions are being contested and the Directors are of the opinion that none of the aforementioned cases is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Group and are not aware of any other pending or threatened claims and litigation.

    First Bank

    According to Nairametrics, FBN Holdings Plc, which includes First Bank, is a party to a number of legal actions arising out of its normal business operations “and it made provisions of N2.91 billion for contingent liabilities that may arise therefrom.”

    However, FBN Holdings’ 2018 annual report states: “The Group is a party to a number of legal actions arising out of its normal business operations.

    “The Directors having sought the advice of the professional legal counsel are of the opinion that no significant liability will crystalise from these cases beyond the provision made in the financial statements.”

    Access Bank

    The Group is a party to numerous legal actions arising out of its normal business operations.

    A provision of N614million was made for the year ended 31 December 2016.

    But, for current lawsuits, the Directors believe that based on currently available information and advice of counsel, none of the outcomes that result from such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Group, either individually or in the aggregate.

    Why banks, customers are fighting

    There are several reasons why the bank-customer relationship may head south.

    Banks, for instance, are often sued by their customers, suppliers, among others, for excess bank charges, wrongful seizure of collateral, contract breaches, fraud etc.

    Sometimes, the fraud is perpetrated by a third party, but the bank or customer end up suing the other party.

    Last August, a businessman, Umegelo Emmanuel, dragged Zenith Bank before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere after being allegedly swindled out of his N177, 500, 000 by a Chinese, whose name, was given only as Ms Muna.

    Emmanuel urged the court to compel Zenith to pay him the N177.5m.

    Emmanuel, in his statement of claim, explained that he entered into a business agreement with Muna, who has a business interest in Nigeria, for the Chinese to help him purchase some goods from her country, China.

    Emmanuel said because of his long-standing banking relationship with Zenith Bank, he insisted that Muna should provide a Zenith Bank account.

    The businessman said, as a result, the Chinese provided him with a Zenith Bank Account No: 1005689704, with an account name, Xian Fang Li.

    Emmanuel said he confirmed that the account existed before transferring the N177.5m into it.

    “But shortly after the money was paid into the account, Ms Muna refused to deliver the goods and subsequently stopped picking my calls and blocked all my access to her contact.

    “I have visited China twice in search of Ms Muna and had even reported the matter to the Chinese police and the Chinese Embassy but all my efforts to locate the said Ms Muna has proved abortive,” the businessman said.

    He averred that investigation by the police in Nigeria showed that “the utility bills presented in opening the Xiang Fang Li account were fictitious and the signature of one of the purported referees to the Xiang Fang Li account, Mr Kazeem Lawal, was conclusively found to be forged.”

    The businessman contended that the bank did not do its due diligence “to verify the true identity of the account holder, the true identity of the referees supplied during the account opening as well as the validity of the account opening documents.”

    But the bank urged the court to dismiss the businessman’s suit.

    While absolving itself of complicity in Emmanuel’s loss, Zenith Bank contended that Emmanuel did not contact it for advice on the alleged business transaction he had with Muna before paying the sum of N177.5 into the supplied account.

    “The claimant failed to request a bank guarantee of the alleged sum from or requested that the defendant issue a confirmation or a letter of comfort before dealing with both Ms Muna and Xian Fang Li.”

    The trial in the matter comes up in October.

    Customers rise against arbitrary charges

    Perhaps the most common source of disputes between banks and their customers in recent years is ‘arbitrary’ charges.

    On March 1, 2016, the President of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Mrs Sola Salako, said 400,000 bank users lodged complaints against arbitrary charges by Nigerian banks between June 2015 and December 2015.

    Salako, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the rate at which bank users were complaining about excessive charges, was alarming.

    Salako said: “The protest has become expedient due to constant complain by banks’ customers over excessive charges.

    “Nigerians are known to be very tolerant. They will not complain about anything until it gets to an unbearable level.

    “When it gets to a crescendo and you go online, you see people posting their complaints over excessive bank charges,’’ she said.

    E-fraud disputes

    Evidence also suggests that as more customers embrace e-payment channels, including Point of Sale (PoS), Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards and mobile banking Apps, cases of e-fraud, insider abuses and poor quality of service will increase, pushing some frustrated customers to seek legal redress.

    For instance, when Idongesit Harrison Umoh, Director of Idong Harrie Ltd, received a debit alert for a N100,000 transfer from one of her company’s two Diamond Bank accounts at about 3:32 pm on June 8, 2017, she was puzzled. She had not made any transfer to anyone. She opened her phone and read the message in full. The recipient was one Uzorka Onyeka, someone she did not know.

    Umoh told a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos that she immediately ran to the Diamond Bank branch at Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos to stop the unauthorised withdrawals.

    According to her Statement of Claim, “when she got to the Defendant’s Ogunlana branch, the unauthorised withdrawals were still ongoing.

    “…While she was in the Defendant’s Ogunlana branch when she instructed the Defendant’s official to immediately block her account, the unauthorised withdrawals were still ongoing but the Defendant could not stop them.

    “…By the close of business on the 8th day of June 2017, the total sum of N2,036,000 had been fraudulently and unlawfully withdrawn from her two accounts domiciled with the Defendant.

    “The Claimant avers that the unauthorised fraudulent transactions were done with the complicity of the Defendant’s officials…”

    Diamond Bank contested Umoh’s claims.

    It averred that the claimant might have unwittingly divulged her log on information to the suspects, thinking she was communicating with the defendant, which would have made them have access to her funds.

    In its defence, “The Defendant states that the Claimant clearly informed the Defendant that before its arrival at the Defendant’s Ogunlana branch, the fraudsters had succeeded in withdrawing the said N2,036,000.00, however, Claimant was still receiving “registration code text” on its phone even whilst in the bank, which prompted the defendant to block claimant’s account and disable its web pay.

    “The defendant states that the unauthorised withdrawals were not ongoing whilst claimant was in the defendant’s branch. The claimant categorically stated that the entire sums were ‘withdrawn from its account before its arrival at the defendant’s branch.

    “The Defendant that indeed there was an unauthorised fraudulent transaction in the accounts of the Claimant, but none was done with the complicity of the Defendant’s officials. The officials of the Defendant were never involved in the fraudulent transfer of Claimant’s funds.”

    But in her judgment on July 19, 2019, Magistrate F.M. Dalley resolved the dispute in Idong Harrie’s favour and ordered the bank to pay the defendant over N1million as refund of the stolen amount and an additional N600,000 as costs of the action.

    Lessons from Innoson, GTB, Customs rift

    The Innoson Motors, GTBank and Nigerian Customs Service debacle is the messiest high profile bank-customer dispute in recent Nigerian banking history.

    According to analysts, it is an example of what a bank-customer relationship should not be.

    The outcome of the about five cases between Innoson and GTBank might result in the bank losing billions and the vehicle manufacturer’s chairman, Innocent Chukwuma, convicted for a criminal offence.

    On May 22, 2019, a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State refused to suspend the execution of its order obtained by Innoson against GTBank.

    The court also refused to set aside the orders it made on March 27  granting Innoson Nigeria Ltd leave to enforce the judgment, issue processes for enforcing the judgment and levying execution of the Writ of Fifa against the bank.

    The court had on March 27 granted leave to Innoson Nigeria Ltd to enforce and execute the judgment and Garnishee Order absolute made at the Ibadan Judicial Division on May 18, 2010, and July 29, 2011, respectively.

    The order was concurrently affirmed by the Court of Appeal in the judgment of February 6, 2014, and by the Supreme Court in its judgment of February 27, 2019.

    In response to the execution of the order of the court, GTB approached the court seeking orders to suspend the execution and also set aside the exparte orders made by the Court granting Innoson leave to enforce the judgment.

    In its decision, the court held that the order it made on March 27, 2019, in favor of Innoson Nigeria Ltd granting it leave to enforce the judgment and issue processes of execution of the judgment are valid and that all the steps taken to levy executions in pursuance of that order are still valid and is not vacated.

    However, the court stayed further proceedings in the matter to enable the Supreme Court to hear GTB’s newly filed motion.

    Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to October 17 for the hearing of other pending applications.

    The judgment sum against the bank, plus interest, is between N8billion and N14billion, according to Innoson.

     

    What banks, customers must do

    The Managing Consultant of SMD Consulting, Fola Oseni, narrowed the problem, particularly of arbitrary charges, to two issues: banks’ disregard for Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations and customers’ ignorance.

    Oseni, a forensic accountant, said: “The first thing to understand before giving advice to banks and their customers on how to stem disputes between them is to know what is/are the cause(s) is of the dispute(s).”

    Oseni added: “Banks should ensure that they operate customer accounts in line with CBN Regulations, in line with the terms and conditions of the executed contract between them and the customers as well as in line with the tenets of the banker-customer relationship.”

    “On their part, customers should seek professional advice from a Forensic Accountant, most importantly when they want to go into borrowing from the banks.

    “They must monitor transactions in their accounts regularly, request from the bank their statement of account on a monthly basis and report immediately any exception in their statement of account to the bank.

    “They should also seek explanation on the exceptions from the banks and ensure that it is corrected.”

  • Agenda for NNPC new chief Kyari

    Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Mr Mele Kyari has since assumed office, with the promise of enthroning transparency. Will he walk the talk? JOHN OFIKHENUA examines the challenges in the money-spinning agency.

     

    Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD) Mele Kyari has made a promise others before him were unable to keep. He has promised to end the opacity permeating the entity since inception. He vowed to ensure accountability and transparency in the corporation after he assumed office on July 8. Identifying the position of the people in a social contract, he said: “It is a promise that we are going to be accountable to the citizens. The citizens will have access to what we are doing.”

    Kyari promised not to allow his interest to override the national interest in the management of the NNPC. He warned his family members to guard against accepting any gift on his behalf. At a point, he sounded very pious, as he said that someday, he would face his creator to render an account of the management of the corporation. His words: “I will stand before my creator and say I have done well.”

    However, these words have become the cliché that NNPC chiefs recite on mounting the saddle. What has been lacking is walking the talk. Analysts are of the view that Nigerians will take the acclaimed war against corruption seriously if Kyari announces the daily volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) consumption in the country. This was the question that The Nation put to the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu in a text message he is yet to receive the answer days after several other telephone calls. Is this the corporation’s no-go area? The last time, The Nation raised the question; the NNPC spokesman referred him to the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) that also avoided the question. In other words, until NNPC gathers the courage to state the volume of petrol that is consumed daily in the country, analysts would keep describing its corruption measure as a veneer of what it is.

    What casts a shadow of doubt on the fight against corruption in the corporation in the downstream sector is the bridging of the product. The agency, which the Federal Government saddles with this responsibility, is yet to live up to the concept of anti-corruption. Last week, marketers accused the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) of short-changing the marketers with the bridging payment. According to him, what the fund was paying was a far cry from the entitlements of the marketers.  The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has several times raised the alarm about the sharp practices that still characterise the lifting of products from the private depots. The association’s National Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, has always complained that the private depots sell the petrol that is ordinarily N133.28 per litre for as high as N141 per litre, making it difficult for the marketers to access the product. For fear of victimisation, the marketers always develop cold feet whenever the depots’ owners dare them to produce their tickets as evidence of malpractice.

    One of Kyari’s priorities is getting the four national refineries to work at optimum capacity before May 2023. His words: “I will follow it up to make sure that before the life of this administration expires, before Baba’s (President Muhammadu) tenure ends in 2023, we will deliver on the four refineries.”

    As good as the intention is, those familiar with the conditions of the refineries describe them as tattered rags that tear apart from the left-hand side while they are sown from the right-hand side. Therefore, the corporation has resolved that the Federal Government would not provide fund for its rehabilitation again. Kyari’s predecessor, Maikanti Baru, said in his valedictory ceremony that the corporation worked tirelessly on securing third-party financing for the rehabilitation of the four refineries.  What he refused to reveal was whether the third party financing is now readily available and the investors’ commitment to the rehabilitation project. He added that the NNPC also completed pre-visibility studies on new refineries and further fine-tuned the Eni/ Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Oando on the planned 150kb/d Greenfield Refineries in Bayelsa State. But how attractive will the business of revamping the facilities be to private investors? How fast will the construction of the refineries be to meet the timeline that Kyari has set for Nigeria to exit fuel importation and become an exporter of petrol? The accomplishment will certainly thrill Nigerians since it will be tantamount to sacrificing profit for national interest and charity. This is so because most investors still see government’s refusal to deregulate the petrol price as a major snag impeding them from activating their licenses for modular refineries.

    Of the several licences that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has awarded to investors, how many are now constructing their refineries? Exactly what is their barrier?  Kyari’s promise of product sufficiency is anchored on the Dangote Group that which is expected to debut next year. The total capacity of the refinery is 650,000 barrel per day, while the four national refineries have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrel per day. What volume of production is Kyari expecting from the licensees of modular refineries? Is the government ready to deregulate the pump price of petrol to jump-start private sector refining?

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari, Baru, Kyari meet in Abuja

    Yet, there is no hope that Nigerians would allow the government to attempt any deregulation of the product since present N145/litre has culminated in the general increase of everything in the market. Only on Monday, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba warned that “On our part, anything that will add cost to the consumers at this point, certainly, as a consumer and somebody that represents a large constituency, we will not be able to bear the cost.”

    Everything about Nigerian price mechanism is tied to the pump price of petroleum products to the extent that even when the pump prices dip, prices of other commodities hardly respond to the change proportionally. On this note, it is evident that the citizenry is prepared to die on the cross of a pump price. Therefore, exactly what measure will Kyari use to incentivise the investors that are expected revamp the old refineries and those building the new ones?

    From the Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA), the corporation under the management of the former GMD, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, adopted the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) for the sale and purchase of crude oil and refined products. To a reasonable extent, the implementation of the scheme has recorded some visible level of transparency in its bid opening exercises. The NNPC has to its credit the invitation of some anti-graft agencies, such as the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other Civil Society Organisations to witness the exercise.

    As transparent as this bid round has appeared, critics have always picked holes in the beneficial owners of the purchasers of the crude oil. Pundits still believe that the corporation must work hard towards the enactment or amendment of the Company and Allied Matter Act (CAMA) to disclose beneficial owners compulsory for whoever is involved in the crude oil and refined products deal. According to critics, as transparent as the bid exercise might seem, its organizers may be the ones lifting the crude and supplying the refined products to the corporation. In other words, the NNPC management cannot be exonerated from benefiting from the deal through proxies.

    Another question that also begs for an answer is the insistence on spinning oil out of the Kolmani River 2 in Bauchi and Gombe states. Although the corporation uses frontier basins exploration as an excuse for its insistent on discovering oil in the Lake Chad Basin, it is obvious that emphasis is on the Kolmani River 2 search. What lends credence to this submission is the fact that the impression that Baru gave at the spud in of the oil search on 2nd February 2019, was that the exploration was to last for 60 to 70 day. However, the last he said of it was that the “We have, also, been active in the Frontier Basins as exploratory activities progressed from seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation to the drilling of the Kolmani River -2 well in the Benue Trough. The findings in the Kolmani River -1 by SNEPCO are being confirmed and a lot more interesting information is being revealed by the well as it approaches the total depth of 14,250ft.” In the spirit of transparency and accountability, the corporation would thrill many Nigerians with the disclosure of exactly how much it has spent on the search and the further expenses that it has incurred since the project has extended from 70 days to over 140 days.

    The cheapest means of writing his name in gold is for Kyari to direct the NNPC under his watch to truly be transparent.

  • Our fight against Ebola, others, by U.S.

    The spokesman of the Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, in a briefing in Washington, speaks on the Ebola virus, which has cropped up again in Africa after it was defeated by Nigeria and others. She also speaks on other global issues. Excerpts:

    Ebola and U.S. efforts

    Over the last few days, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Mark Green has been traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the administrator met with health care workers at an Ebola treatment unit, community and local leaders, and response groups working to stop the spread of the disease.

    U.S. foreign assistance to the Northern Triangle countries

    Next, I have a quick update for you on U.S. foreign assistance to the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. As you know, in March, the President concluded these countries have not effectively prevented illegal migrants from coming to the United States. At the Secretary’s instruction, we continue to implement the President’s direction regarding foreign assistance for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. We completed a review, and previously awarded grants and contracts will continue with current funding. State Department assistance in support of priorities of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security priorities to help the Northern Triangle governments take actions that will protect the U.S. border and counter transnational organized crime will also continue.

    We will not provide new funds for programs in those countries until we are satisfied the Northern Triangle governments are taking concrete actions to reduce the number of illegal migrants coming to the U.S. border. Working with Congress, we will reprogram those funds to other priorities as appropriate. This is consistent with the President’s direction and with the recognition that it is critical that there be sufficient political will in these countries to address the problem at its source. As Secretary Pompeo has said, these nations have the responsibility to take care of the immigration problems in their home country.

    All right. Just before I go into Iran, can I just ask you, on the Northern Triangle aid, can you – do you have dollar amounts for what the total was that was initially suspended and how – and the amount that is going to continue now? And if you don’t, could you get them for us?

    We will get you the exact ones. Some rough estimates – and I’ll make sure to get you the exact dollar figures – is that, excuse me, we will continue to meet our contractual obligations for FY17, and that funding that’s already been programmed is around 400 million. Again, we’ll get you the – the 200 million continues to be paused or in an escrow from ’17.

    And sorry, the 400 million is both the stuff that had been previously awarded and the – there was some stuff that you said will continue?

    Yeah. So there was about – I believe it was 707 was the number of programs in a very thorough and comprehensive review that we did, and of course, we said the – our assistance and support of priority programs from DOJ and Homeland Security will continue. And so we’ll get you the exact figures, but those are rough estimates of where we are with FY17.

    When your ambassador to the IAEA noted that Iran was potentially or possibly in violation of the JCPOA on advanced centrifuges and she called for the IAEA, in particular the European parties to the deal, to urge Iran to stay in compliance. Now today, we have a situation where the Iranians say they’re going to bust through the limits on their low-enriched uranium stockpile, and maybe even start enriching up to 20 percent. Do you see – does this administration see any value in Iran staying within the limits outlined by the JCPOA?

    MS ORTAGUS: So I would say that we are unfortunately not surprised by the Iranian announcement. As we’ve talked quite a bit from this podium, this is a pattern of 40 years of behavior. It’s consistent with how the Iranian regime behaves. They did this when we were in the JCPOA, right? They continued to build their missile program, we relieved sanctions, they took American sailors hostage. We have seen no moderating behavior by this regime, and in fact what we’re seeing here of course over the past week is – constantly threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a number of activities – not just the two commercial shipping vessels that we discussed this week, but four other commercial ships.

    I think what we’re seeing here is really a challenge not only in the JCPOA, but really a challenge to the international norms on how a country behaves, a challenge to the international norms on freedom of navigation and freedom of the seas. And so we would say to the international community that we should not yield to nuclear extortion by the Iranian regime.

    Just that. Not taking hostages, not malign activity, not things that are not covered in the JCPOA. Does the administration believe there is value in Iran staying – continuing to comply with the JCPOA, which the President called the worst deal ever negotiated?

    Listen, we continue to call on the Iranian regime not to obtain a nuclear weapon, to abide by their commitments to the international community. And I think it’s unfortunate that they’ve made this announcement today. As I said earlier, it doesn’t surprise anybody. I think this is why the President has often said that the JCPOA needs to be replaced with a new and better deal. Iran, as evident by their announcement today but also their pattern of behavior over the past few years, is keen on expanding – or seems to be keen on expanding their nuclear program, and it now wants to exceed these nuclear limits in advance of these so-called sunset clauses.

    Morgan, is the Secretary disappointed with the response from the international community so far? You’ve said you would like to say to the international community they should not yield to nuclear extortion. So has the administration been disappointed by the response, for one thing, for the attacks on – last week, and more broadly on viewing the threat and the way to respond to Iran?

    No, not at all. I mean, in fact, I think that we have seen the international community and our allies step up to condemn this behavior. I mean, this clearly – what we’re seeing in the Strait of Hormuz defies the pattern – the tenets that we all hold dear as it relates to freedom of navigation, freedom of the seas. The Secretary has been working of course incredibly closely within the government with secretary – Acting Secretary Shanahan on multiple times, working on ensuring that we are – excuse me – able to defend our people and our interests. We’re of course working on the diplomatic solution while Secretary Shanahan and the team at DOD is focused on our military options to keep our people, our interests, and our allies safe.

    Over the weekend, as almost every weekend with the Secretary – he’s probably the hardworking – most hardworking person I’ve ever worked for – the Secretary had a number of calls with the NATO secretary-general, with a Chinese politburo member, with a Singaporean foreign minister, a Kuwaiti foreign minister, UK foreign minister, Emirati foreign minister, Republic of Korea foreign minister, Qatari foreign minister. We obviously don’t have readouts from every single call that he has, but we have worked incredibly hard with our allies on this assessment as it relates to Iran’s actions last week in the Gulf of Oman.

    Does the Secretary believe that the U.S. strategy, as he laid out when he set forth these 12 demands – I mean, given the tensions only seem to be escalating, does he believe that the U.S. strategy toward Iran is currently working?

    Our maximum pressure campaign continues, and it will continue to be what we pursue. We think it’s incredibly unfortunate, of course, the Iranian announcement today. But when we – again, when we look and see what’s happened in the region, again, this is – as we always say, I know, 40 years of behavior – but especially over the past few years, when you look at this assessment that the Secretary gave here from this podium, I want to reiterate something that he said, because I think it’s sort of gotten lost in the media coverage. He said our assessment is based on the intelligence, the weapons used, levels of expertise needed to execute the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and of course the fact that no proxy group in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with this high degree of sophistication. So we will continue to work with our allies and work with our international partners who would like to help us deter this Iranian behavior, who would like to help us get them back to the negotiating table, who would like to help us get them to behave like a normal nation. That’s the whole goal here. Our demands are not high. Our demands are that they stop terrorizing the region.

    While there is no new deal between the U.S. and Iran, you ask Iran to abide by the JCPOA even though you left – the U.S. left this deal. When you say you ought to abide to their international commitments, you mean to abide to the JCPOA, which the U.S. left?

    Yeah. We have made it very clear since this President came into office and since the Secretary came here that we will not tolerate a – Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Full stop. So any actions that they take to get a nuclear weapon will be countered by a maximum pressure campaign by the United States Government that continues to this day. There should be no relieving of sanctions for their malign and unacceptable behavior.

    I know. I finally got the directions. The Secretary last week when he was discussing this, he used the phrase that Iran was “lashing out.” In the calculation when the administration decided a year ago to withdraw from the nuclear agreement, did it anticipate or expect that there would be a greater level of this lashing out as a result of the U.S. withdrawal?

    Well, I think that the United States and the Secretary and this administration in general were well aware of the pattern of behavior from the Iranian regime. Anybody who’s studied them more than a hot minute, who have looked at them for the past 40 years, knows how they will behave. I would love for someone to give me an example of some sort of moderating behavior that the Iranian regime pursued post-JCPOA. I have no evidence of that. I have evidence of them taking U.S. sailors as hostages. I have evidence of the IRGC having millions if not billions of dollars to fund terrorism around the world, to fund Houthis, who we saw hit yet another airport in Saudi Arabia where American civilians go through. All of you just saw that report. There’s been no moderation. They continue to terrorise.

    Last week you said that what Mr. Friedman said was not U.S. policy. U.S. policy towards annexation is very clear.

    I said that our policy on the West Bank hasn’t changed. Yes.

    On the West Bank and Gaza annexation is very clear. But yesterday, the chief negotiator or the envoy, chief envoy, Mr. Jason Greenblatt, said exactly the same thing. I mean, apparently they did not listen to your statement last week or the position, or did not take into consideration the position of this building historically. So do you have any response to him? He said exactly the same thing. He said that he basically supports what Mr. Friedman said.

    I didn’t – I read Jason’s comments and I didn’t take it the way that you just characterized. But I will reiterate that there is no plan for an annexation by Israel of the West Bank that they have presented to us, and nor is it under discussion. So I’m not going to comment on hypotheticals. If and when their government —

    Just to go back to Iran briefly. Have you been speaking to Congress about the oil tanker attacks, and in particular, using that as an argument to get lawmakers to back down on their attempts to block the arms sales to Saudi Arabia? Because they were still quite determined to try after the briefing last week.

    I – that’s an interesting correlation that you just made. I mean, the Secretary, of course, said very publicly, whenever he made this decision to continue the arms sale, which I would reiterate that those arms sales are to many countries in the Middle East, not just Saudi Arabia. We’re talking about Jordan. We’re talking about the United Arab Emirates and some smaller arms sales in there as well. But one of the justifications was, of course, because of the imminent threats from Iran.

    Since I have to go in a few minutes, I believe somebody wanted to ask on North Korea, and I’m going to give them the chance.

    According the Voice of America yesterday, Kim Jong-un said in a secret document the final goal of the North Korea’s nuclear negotiation with United States is the – to strengthen North Koreans’ nuclear power. Therefore, North Korea, Kim Jong-un, is not willing to denuclearization of North Korea. What is your comment?

    We see a lot of media reports like this all the time – whether it’s North Korea or other parts of the world. And we certainly don’t comment and speculate on every report. But since you asked me, President Trump and the Secretary believe that Chairman Kim will fulfill his commitment to denuclearize, and that remains our policy.

    And I’m just wondering what you make of the situation there and if you believe that the Chinese are acting in an appropriate way here.

    It certainly was moving, I think, as a citizen in a democracy, to watch these peaceful protests happen in Hong Kong. And we’re seeing the people there in Hong Kong, of course, demonstrating for their basic rights, for the right to freedom of speech, for freedom of assembly, all of these things which are enshrined into Basic Law.

    And so, of course, as we observe these, we continue to call on the Hong Kong Government to address the concerns of their public, to consult with local and international stakeholders who may be affected by this proposed amendment, even though I know it, of course, has been postponed.

    The Secretary spoke about this a little yesterday on some of the Sunday shows that he was on and said that we’re watching the people of Hong Kong speak about the things that we value. And I think that we have been pretty straightforward and transparent from this podium on our support for these peaceful protestors.

  • I see hell only, says tricycle operator blinded by injection

    “My eyes have been operated several times. At a time, they were kept opened for three days without blinking. I have seen hell, yet I cannot see anything.”

    Those were the words of Mr. Zakariah Idzy, a commercial tricycle rider who went blind after he was given injection at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

    Idzy was not the only one befallen l by the calamity, but he is the only one of the 10 people initially affected who remains blind; the remaining nine have regained their sights.

    The Nation had reported that 10 patients who went to the medical facility with eye ailments were injected on May 28 and they all lost their sights shortly afterwards.

    The Avastin injection administered on the patients was not new to the hospital, and it was not the first time most of the 10 patients would be taking the injection, hence the hospital management invited the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to help unravel the mystery behind the negative reaction to the drug. However, the result of the investigation is yet to be made public.

    The hospital, determined to right the wrong, carried out a corrective surgery on the 10 patients on June 18, after which they were paraded before newsmen a day later. As at then, nine of the victims confirmed improvement in their sights. In clear departure from their initial conditions of total blindness, they said they could identify colours and see faintly.

    That, however, is not the case with Idzy who is yet to see even after undergoing another round of surgery on June 25. Speaking with our correspondent, Idzy, a keke (commercial tricycle) operator and breadwinner of his family, said: “I don’t want to go permanently blind.”

    His major concern is his family of nine, which he said has been living on support from neighbours and church members since his ordeal.

    Narrating his ordeal, Idzy, an indigene of Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, said before he made a contact with the hospital, he could see with both eyes, only that his right eye was becoming blurry, especially at night. As for the left eye, he said, nothing was wrong with it.

    “But after the injection, I could no longer see with either of the two eyes,” he lamented

    Idzy said: “I went to the hospital not because I was blind. Before I went there, I could see clearly with my left eye. The only problem was that I could not see clearly with the right eye. Then in the evening, it would become worse.

    “So, one day, about two months ago, I came here and I was checked. They told me I had cataract and that I would need surgery. I was given an appointment and told to come with money on that day.

    “When I returned on the appointed day, I was told that the operation was no longer going to take place and that instead, I would be given three injections on each of the two eyes, and that each of the six injections would cost N14,500, excluding the money for other drugs.

    On hearing that, I became helpless and had to call my relatives to help me raise the money. Luckily, I was able to raise it. So, I was given the first dose of the injection on my left eye.

    “To my surprise, I had a problem with my right eye, but they started giving me injection on the left one. When I raised a question about it, they told me it was to prevent the infection in the right eye from spreading to it.

    Read Also: Reckless truck driver kills tricycle operator

    “To tell you how good my sight was, I came by myself on the day I was given the injection, and I was given another one-month appointment when I would be given two injections, one on each eye. So, I went back home on my own without any problem and waited until the next appointment.

    “On the appointed day, I went with my daughter, because from the very first day, I was told not to come alone again. So, we were taken to the theatre. About 11 of us were on the row on that day. I was given the two injections, one on each eye. But, contrary to the first experience, right from the theatre, I started losing my sight, but I concluded within my mind that it was going to wear off within an hour; that it could be due to the fact that the two eyes were injected.

    “So, my daughter took me back home. Throughout that day, my vision was very blurred. I also could not sleep on that night because of headache. I have never experienced that kind of headache in my entire life; it was as if my head was going to blow off.

    “Then around 4 am the following day, I felt as if something was waved across my face. Then I tried hard to see what it was but that turned out to be the last thing I saw. Since that time, about three weeks now, I have not been able to see anything.

    “Immediately that happened, I called for my wife and asked her to call the pastor of my church. I told him to come as soon as possible because I was in a critical condition. He came and prayed for me together with my family.

    “Unfortunately, that day was public holiday, so we could not go to the hospital. The next day, I was brought back to the hospital. The service on that day was skeletal because they said it was not a clinic day.

    “But I met an official of the hospital who used to assist me whenever I was at the hospital. When we narrated my ordeal to him, he recommended an eye drop and asked my daughter to go and buy it at the pharmacy. He dropped some of it in my eyes and asked us to go home and continue using it till the following day.

    “We left the hospital and were already around Kabala Junction when the man called my phone, asking us to come back. On getting to the hospital, I was told that the rest of us that were given the injection had also returned with the same problem.

    “Some were luckier than the rest of us because it was their first doses of the injection. So, only the eye that was injected was affected. We were then taken back to the theatre for reexamination and washing of the eyes, but nothing happened.”

    After the surgery, which led to the breakthrough in other patients, Idzy raised the alarm that he still could not see anything.

    He said: “My brother, I have suffered. My eyes have been operated upon several times. My eyes were kept open for three days without blinking. I have seen hell, yet I cannot see anything.”

    But the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the centre, Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan, said there was no cause for alarm as he attributed Idzy’s plight to some underlying factors and slow recovery, explaining that the recovery process is usually gradual and differs from one individual to another.

    He said: “Some have been excellent, but we should also not forget the problems they had before our intervention. So, work is in progress. We intervened and we are hoping for the best and to make them better than they were before we intervened.

    “This is science, and we know what we are seeing and what to expect from science within human limits. So, we are trained not to lose hope. We will give you information within the limit of what we know in the natural nature of the disease.

    “At least, you have confirmed from those you spoke with. They can see now and their situation will keep improving. It is a gradual process. Even one of them that still has issues will also see. They all have different underlying factors and we are working on them one at a time.

    ”Everything medically possible is being done, including necessary findings of the root cause. We are also awaiting the results of the analysis from NAFDAC. We understand their pains; we equally share in their pains. But we thank God their hope is being rekindled because their situation has improved and still improving.”

  • Winning the war against corruption

    How can the anti-corruption war be won? It is by involving the masses who are the direct victims of official malfeasance in the crusade, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF.

    IT was a conference-cum-dialogue. Unlike the usual practice of bringing in experts to talk to the audience, participants at the two-day conference on effects of corruption also doubled as resource persons. All participants left with a vow to shun, discourage and resist corruption in whatever guise. The dialogue, aimed at strengthening citizens resistance against corruption, was organised by ActionAid Nigeria, a humanitarian organisation working to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication.

    To set the ball rolling, Adewale Adeduntan, social mobilisation manager at ActionAid Nigeria, asked participants, mostly women and young people, to explain how corruption affects them in their individual lives. The conference, which featured many break-out sessions, saw journalists from the print and electronic media, women and young people sharing experiences on how corruption affects them in their private and professional capacities. Adeduntan said the essence of embracing the bottom-up approach during the event is to let women, children and other young people who are the real victims of corruption to share their perspectives on what corruption means and how best it can be tackled.

    With corruption prevalent in the society, including the private sector, he stressed that it will continue to inflict monumental disaster on the country’s development aspirations until the victims resolve to say enough is enough. That was the theme that ran through the proceedings and break-out sessions, with participants agreeing that the war against corruption should not be left to the government and its agencies alone.

    In her welcome address, Ene Obi, country director, ActionAid Nigeria, said it was important Nigerians are empowered to fight corruption because it distorts competition, reduces investments, slows development, widens economic and social inequalities and heightens injustice, discontent, exclusion and polarisation. Corruption, she stressed, has caused more deaths than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined, adding that it is a global scourge that “has disproportionately affected us as a country.”

    With many communities littered with abandoned or non-existing projects that would have improved the lives of the people, Obi described corruption as “our common enemy” because every Nigerian is affected by its consequences. “Corruption seems to have caused more deaths than HIV/AIDS and malaria. It has stolen the future of children both present and expected. It has ruined our educational system, destroyed our healthcare facilities, increased the inequality gap, exacerbated the level of insecurity and conflicts, pushed back foreign direct investment opportunities, and weakened the capacity of successive governments to provide basic amenities of life for citizens.

    “You may ask why it is important to empower the Nigerian citizen to effectively fight corruption. You may be wondering why the burden of eradicating corruption is not mounted on the government and our public officials. You may even – and rightly too – say the government should bear the burden because corruption began with the government institutions and the government is better positioned to end it. You must also think and ask yourself, what you have done about corruption in your community or where you live or work,” Obi said.

    The answers, the ActionAid boss said, were in the social cost of corruption and the mass unemployment and pervasive poverty it has engendered in the country. While acknowledging that it is true governments have attempted to curb corruption by setting up anti-graft agencies, she said such efforts seemed to be insufficient to curtail the evil and its effects on the people. “For us in ActionAid Nigeria, we believe that a government that can manage its resources effectively can eradicate poverty or reduce it to the barest minimum. ActionAid Nigeria has implemented projects in several states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We have seen the reality of poverty at the different levels, including rural and urban communities, and without any doubt corruption, being one of the major causes of these deprivations, when dealt with decisively, will liberate many Nigerians from the strongholds of poverty.

    “Social infrastructure is the right of citizens; we must demand for it when it is not given. We need to build the capacity of citizens with the critical mindset to ask the right questions from our political leaders as we use human rights-based approach to development. We must decentralise and localise issues about corruption down to the household levels and also interpret the messages for people to understand. People need to connect the state of the road, non-existing infrastructure to acts of corruption. That way, they can courageously stand up and make demands. Citizens must be dogged and determined to ask the right questions, and political institutions must be answerable to the people because it is only in this balanced format we can collectively address our common enemy called corruption,” she said.

    Read Also: Govt urged to tackle corruption across board

    A participant, Femi Falana, SAN, noted that no nation can successfully fight corruption outside its political economy, adding that the root of corruption in Nigeria can be found in the neo-liberal policies being religiously pursued by successive administrations. Specifically, he fingered the progressive withdrawal of subsidies from social services, which he said is a key component of the IMF/World Bank-sponsored Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), as the biggest driver of the mass poverty that is enveloping the country. The privatisation of public enterprises, commercialisation of social services, mass retrenchment of workers, devaluation of the naira, unrestrained capital flight, repatriation of profits by foreign companies and hijacking of the rule of law by the ruling elite, he maintained, have all combined to worsen the crisis of poverty and inequality in the country.

    While admitting that corruption is a resilient disease that is prevalent even in advanced capitalist countries where institutional mechanisms for fighting it are strong, Falana said the effects of corruption were more pernicious in Nigeria with weak institutional infrastructure such as bad leadership, weak judiciary, frail legislature, anaemic police system and compromised anti-corruption agencies. “As a result, the poor and vulnerable segments of the society continue to suffer as they rely very heavily on government for the provision of social and essential services, which has failed to provide the most basic needs of the people. The point I am labouring to make is that a neo-colonial state cannot meaningfully fight corruption because it is administered on the basis of corruption, executive lawlessness, brigandage and violence.

    “Anti-graft agencies are essentially set up to impress the international community in order to attract direct foreign investments. While the impression is given that corruption is being fought, the anti-graft agencies are deliberately underfunded and controlled by the executive to render them ineffective. The example of Kenya and Nigeria has shown that anti-corruption officials who fail to cover up the corrupt activities of a rogue regime and its friends may end up in a shallow grave or exile,” Falana said.

    However, despite the enactment of laws and creation of anti-graft agencies, Falana lamented that “it is common knowledge that corruption is on the increase in the country due to the poverty-induced programmes of the government.” This, he insisted, is bound to be so since the government is zealously committed to the implementation of neo-liberal policies. He criticised Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele for failing to defend the naira. Falana aligned with Henry Boyo, an economist, who said recently that CBN has failed to achieve its prime mandate of price stability, leaving inflation rate to be beyond 10 per cent for years. Said Falana: “But how can the governor defend the naira when he is busy supervising the auctioning of small rations of the United States dollars on a weekly basis in a market that is said to be flushed with surplus naira liquidity? Since the CBN lacks the power to remove any money from the Federation Account without appropriation, it is submitted that the weekly withdrawal of hundreds of millions of dollars from the nation’s foreign reserves by the CBN to fund the importation of all manners of goods from foreign countries is illegal and unconstitutional.”

    To arrest further manipulation of the foreign exchange market and the skyrocketing inflation rate, he urged the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgent national importance, conduct a public hearing on the management of the economy by the executive. Citing constitutional provisions to buttress his point, he said the rights of Nigerians to socio-economic development were justiciable, adding that governments at all levels are under obligation to ensure national resources are harnessed to promote collective prosperity, maximum welfare and happiness of the people on the basis of social justice and equal opportunity.

    Besides ensuring that the country’s resources are used to serve the common good, the activist said Section 16 (2) (d)) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) compels government to provide suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, old age care and pension, sick benefits for all citizens as well as the welfare of the disabled. He however insisted that the rights, despite being guaranteed by the constitution, cannot be actualised unless the government abolishes corrupt practices and abuse of power. “But since successive governments have failed to promote the welfare of the people, about 100 million citizens have become extremely poor. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to rescue the 100 million people from the labyrinth of poverty in 10 years. With respect, that is a tall order as the implementation of neo-liberal policies of the Federal Government will continue to promote poverty among the generality of Nigerians,” he said.

    Falana urged President Buhari to heed the advice of his Rwanda counterpart Paul Kagame, who at the Democracy Day Anti-Corruption Summit on June 11, urged his fellow African leaders to fight corruption from the top to bottom. The Rwandan leader submitted that the anti-graft war should be guided by four key principles of culture, responsibility, accountability and effectiveness. Falana advised Nigeria to take up Kagame’s challenge by creating wealth, “not merely fighting corruption.” “This is a fight that can be won; tolerating corruption is a choice, not an inevitability. It is within our power to end it. That is the most important starting point; otherwise, it will be a waste of time to keep talking about it. Corruption does not take decades to eradicate once we decide to break the habit. We have to set our sights high; it is not enough to fight corruption by just merely fighting poverty. It is too small an ambition for Africa. We want to create value; we want to create wealth, not merely fighting corruption,” Falana quoted Kagame to have said.

    The activist urged the government to also fight impunity, instead of celebrating the war against corruption. According to Falana, the regular breach of the provisions of the Appropriation Act will be reduced if the execution of the budget is closely monitored by the people. “Let the Buhari administration demonstrate its commitment to the prosecution of the war against corruption by complying with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Even though the Bureau of Public Procurement and the National Council on Public Procurement are charged by the law with the sole responsibility to award Federal Government contracts, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has usurped the powers of both bodies by approving the award of contracts in their weekly meetings.

    “The illegality, which started in 2007, has continued unabated. On account of such illegality, not less than three corruption cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been dismissed by courts on the grounds that the contracts involved were illegally awarded by FEC. To avoid the loss of more corruption cases, President Buhari is called upon to constitute the National Council on Public Procurement without any further delay,” he said.

    He lamented the secrecy surrounding assets declaration by public office holders. “A few days ago, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) turned down the request made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for the release of copies of the declaration forms of former state and Presidents on the grounds that the declaration forms are private documents. With respect, it is illogical to claim that the asset declaration forms submitted by the erstwhile public officers are private documents.

    “Accordingly, the rejection of the request by SERAP is a contravention of Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act (2011) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. However, it is hoped that the CCB will review its position and allow citizens to access the information in the declaration forms submitted to it by all public officers in view of the new policy of the Buhari administration to enforce effective assets declaration by public office holders,” he said.

    Urging civil society groups to link the fight against corruption to the struggle for participatory democracy, economic independence and social justice, Falana said since the law was too weak to curb official corruption, civil society groups should mobilise professional bodies and faith-based organisations to censor their members who engage in corrupt acts with a view to bringing them into disrepute. Said he: “While the anti-graft agencies are encouraged and supported in the prosecution of a few corrupt elements in the society, civil society groups should demand full compliance with the provisions of the Appropriation Act, Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering Act and Freedom of Information Act, while the campaign for the enactment of other anti-corruption laws should be intensified. In order to enhance the fight against corruption at all levels, states should be encouraged to adopt these legislations.”

     

  • Inching towards order on Apapa Ports roads

    For over 32 days, the Presidential Task Team battled to restore sanity on Apapa Ports road in Lagos. Two days to the expiration of its deadline on Wednesday, the gridlock remains, but the team reckons that it has done the groundwork for its removal. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE reports.

     

    BEFORE the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in  Apapa (Traffic Gridlock) swung into action 32 days ago, the threat of truckers overrunning bridges and roads in that part of Lagos was real.

    That threat is  gone today, courtesy of the task team, which has left no stone unturned since May 27 in the discharge of its Raindate of clearing the Apapa  ports roads of all trucks.

    During his visit to Lagos at the weekend, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo could not hide his admiration for the team. He assured the public that the Mile 2 end of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway would soon be cleared to ease traffic.

    According to him, the remediation of the ports falls within what could be classified as the short, medium and long term. All these, he said, were receiving attention as the government is committed to ensuring an intermodal system that would see trains  evacuate cargoes at the ports  to the relief of road users.

    Between 2017 and last year, Osinbajo circled Apapa in a chopper twice, but on Saturday, he drove, for the first time, from Mile 2, through the bad portions of Berger/Sunrise/Coconut bus stops to Tin Can and from there, via Liverpool,  to Ijora/Wharf roads. He also inspected the Tin Can Trailer Park and the Lilypond Truck Terminal close to Marine/Wharf road.

    This is unprecedented in the life of this administration. As head of the task team, he is happy that members have been cooperating with the Vice Chairman, Kayode Opeifa, former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, to transform Apapa.

    Osinbajo, accompanied by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Hadiza Usman and other government top brass, was taken round by Opeifa.

    Osinbajo said: “I am quite pleased with the scope of work done. I think the most important thing is what we are trying to do right now. We will improve the infrastructure In the port areas and the call up system so that there’s no pressure within the ports”

    The initial two weeks deadline, given the team expired on June 12, and it was extended till June 26, to ensure the completion of the job.

    Over the years, the government has tried to restore  sanity in Apapa. But the series of efforts to do so, which started in 2011, have failed.

     

    What’s in a name?

     

    What’s in a name? Plenty. Stakeholders believe that the difference in the government’s intervention in Apapa this time begins with the name.

    Hitherto, the government believed in the use of task force to whip the  truckers into line. But did it work?

    The reality is that task forces have been short in bringing the much-needed relief to Apapa. Rather, they have compounded the crisis, stifling growth and development and deliberately foisting a situation close to anarchy on Apapa.

    To Tunde Olaosun, a logistics expert, what happened in Apapa in the past, was man-made confusion. He may be right. From Berger Underbridge to Tin Can, is a world of its own. A world dreaded by truck drivers. A world where crime and sleaze walk and the law and its enforcers propagates their own terms.

    Speaking in the same vein a chieftain of the Amalgamated Transport Union Operators in Apapa, who asked not to be named, said: “Task forces, headed by officers of the Nigerian Navy were regularly established, but each end up becoming worse than their predecessors. Each ends up complicating the already compounded situation. The situation is so bad that they now brazenly extort money from us and our drivers. To allow a 20- foot container we pay as much as N65,000, and N120,000 for a 40-ton trailer. They collect this daily. And this is just to get us to the road. You pay more if they must guide your truck, in which case, they sit with you in the truck.”

    Opeifa said what the team met on May 23 was “an urban shanty.” The government, he said, guided by the failures of the past, deliberately avoided the word force to describe the name or terms of reference.

    He said: “By naming it a task team, members of the committee, which are drawn from all Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)  within Apapa, such as; the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), NPA, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH), the Lagos State Government, truck owners and operators, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, the police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) came together to bring creative solutions to bear on Apapa.

    “After a month of intense work, the team has restored law and order in Apapa, and sanity which took flight especially on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway axis over a decade ago is now back,” Opeifa said.

    According to him, transport unions, area boys and some military personnel turned the 10-lane dual carriage road to a truck park, an extortion field, or ATM plaza, with trucks moving in all directions against traffic despite the deplorable condition of the road and perennial flooding as a result of collapsed drainage channel.

    He said over N35 million was at play daily in the black economy that developed round the jungle that Apapa had become. But the cartel, he said was busted.

    He alleged that the “cartel of extortionists” is run by navy officers comprising task force operatives, adding that they turned their ad-hoc assignment of controlling traffic and maintaining the law into money-making ventures.

    Opeifa said the team’s squad  is headed by Hakeem Odumosu, a Commissioner of Police, assisted by Commander of MOPOL 41, Bayonle Sulaimon an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).  Traffic control has also been taken away from the Navy, and given to LASTMA.

     

    Never this bad

     

    Opeifa insisted that the traffic situation in Apapa was never this bad until 2015. Though it started rearing its head at  the turn of the millennium, traffic congestion had always been limited to the activities of  petroleum tankers, which surfaced whenever there was fuel crisis.

    He said Apapa’s situation gradually went from bad to worse from 2015 when LASTMA was  withdrawn after the killings of some of its operatives.

    The situation was compounded by the ports and terminal operators’ dwindling handling capacity and a deterioration of the road infrastructure, which made Apapa practically inaccessible by the truckers that lay siege to it.

    The absence of a traffic controlling agency, Opeifa insisted, was the greatest undoing. According to him, it left truckers to their own devices resulting in the blocking of all access roads and bridges, with spill over into the heart of the city.

    Noting that  the team has done a lot in the last one month, he said trucks have not disappeared from the Marine Beach/Ijora Bridge because of the ports’ inability to handle empty container return and other deliveries with the right of way to the place.

    Opeifa believes the team’s job was not to proffer lasting  solution to the gridlock, but to create an enabling environment for such solution.

    According to him, the team’s  main task is to restore law and order, that eliminate extortion of money and make Apapa and environs free of gridlock.

    He said: “We have restored law and order to the area. We have stopped the issue of extortion levelled against the military task force earlier set up for management of traffic in the axis.

    Pointing out that the economy cannot be shut down, Opeifa said what Apapa and environs needed was sanity.  Port activities, he said, must go on alongside all efforts to sanitise the area and sustain all initiatives put in place to make it liveable.

    He said once the roads were repaired, they would improve access on both carriages as all the 10 lanes would be fully in use.

    “Once this is achieved, the backlog of trailers on the road at Mile 2, Kirikiri and Ajegunle would be reduced and moving in and out of Apapa would be greatly enhanced.”

     

    Things are getting better

     

    But drivers are  happy with what the team has done. A driver, Sulaiman Bello, who arrived in Lagos from Katsina on Wednesday, said he was surprised he made it smoothly to Lilypond on Saturday and was called to approach the port to load.

    “Before now, I paid between N65,000 and N120,000 to even approach the Tin Can Island Port. We pay some faceless people who we may not even see again once we paid and you dare not pay as they wield huge cudgels menacingly and do not care to damage anything in your vehicle. I was surprised that  I paid only N1000 at Lilypond for parking and no molestation whatsoever. I thank the government for helping us flush out these people,” he said.

    Auwalu Aliu and Abubakar Idris, who came from Kano a new wind was blowing in Apapa, adding that it should continue.

    LASTMA General Manager Olawale Musa said  rickety trucks were a major challenge to port operations.

    He said 70 percent of the down time at the port was usually caused by the break down of such trucks, adding that there are also instances where trucks are denied access at the gate because of non- compliance with safety regulations.

    NSC’s Executive Secretary Mallam Hassan Bello said the agency and the NPA had met with ship owners and terminal operators to address the demurrage and granting of more days of grace to importers.

    Shippers, he said, had agreed to increase their days of grace from five to 15, and terminal operators, three to eight days.

    These new reforms according to Bello, were sacrifices made by these groups to help decongest the port and assist the Task team in its national assignment.

    “If these new regimes fully come into play, the pressure on importers to return their empties would be reduced and the roads would be better for it,” Bello added.

    NPA’s Traffic Manager and a task team member, Victor Oginni, said Apapa Port Terminal Limited (APTL), Greenview, Eko Support, AP Miller Terminal (APMT) Apapa Bulk Terminal Ltd (ABTL) ENL Consortium, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TCICT), Josepdam Terminal Five Spar Logistics and Sifax Port and Cargo have pledged their commitment to decongesting the ports roads.

    He said pending the start of the electronic call up in August, its manual counterpart was now in use.

    NPA, he promised, would ensure that the era of Apapa gridlock becomes a thing of the past. Will it? Time will tell.

     

  • Egypt 2019…Africa’s soccer fiesta begins

    For 29 days, the best footballers in Africa will converge on four Egyptian cities of  Cairo, Ismailia, Suez and Alexandria, for the biggest soccer showpiece on the continent. The football stars in the colours of their countries will aim to outshine one another at the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). ADEYINKA ADEDIPE and OLALEKAN OKUSAN chronicle  the  tournament’s history and Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the fiesta.

     

    The best of football artistry will be on display as the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial continental men’s football championship organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) kicks off in Egypt today.  For the first time in the competition’s history, 24 countries will battle for the top prize after CAF expanded the competition from 16. Some countries are returning to the championship after a long absence; others are making their debut in the foremost Africa football fiesta.

    Also, CAF moved the tournament from the usual January/February to June/July for the first time, a development which will guarantee the participation of top stars, who were hitherto held back by their European clubsides. It is certain that fans would see their idols at  their best.

    The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon and the West African nation would have hosted the competition for the first time since 1972 as the title holders after winning the previous edition. But last November 30, the continental football ruling body stripped Cameroon of the hosting right due to delays in the delivery of infrastructure, the Boko Haram insurgency.

    On January 8,  the last fell on Egypt the host nation. The tournament was also moved from  June 15-July 13  to June 21 -July 19 due to the Ramadan.

     

    History

    When the Africa Cup of Nations tournament started in Sudan in 1957, few could have predicted the expansion of the tournament, which was precisely the aim of a meeting between seven delegates in Lisbon, Portugal, the previous year.

    There, the CAF was born and the organisation planned the first tournament for the following year in Khartoum, Sudan. But, as that date drew near, there were a few hurdles to scale, such as the exclusion of South Africa after the apartheid regime failed to approve a multi-racial team.

    With South Africa out, the tournament came down to a play-off among three teams – Egypt, hosts Sudan and Ethiopia. These three countries played the first two tournaments in odd years before it increased to four, six, eight, 12 and then 16 teams.

    Ironically, 39 years later, at the end of apartheid, South Africa returned to rescue CAF by staging the expanded 16-team event after Kenya withdrew as hosts. Every adjustment increased the chances of seeing the best players on the continent. Papa Camara, Petit Sory and Cherif Souleymane were the cream of an excellent Guinean side that  could easily be compared to the devastating Nigerian and Cameroonian squads of the last decade.

    Few Africans today would have heard of the Algerian Lalmas, Ghanaian dribbling wizard Osei Kofi or Ethiopian captain Italo Vassalo – they were among a host of legends to play in the Nations Cup tournaments of the 1960s.

    In the space of 30 years there has been an amazing shift of power with the likes of Cameroon and Nigeria taking over from former champions, Ethiopia and Sudan. Egypt remains the best team with seven win in the tournament.  Remarkably, the AFCON is now the third world football competition in terms of its cumulative television audience, coming after the FIFA World Cup and the European Nations Championship (Euro).

    Super Eagles’ chances

    Nigeria is making its 13th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations and its first since 2013 when it was crowned champions. The Super Eagles arrive in Egypt as one of the tournament’s most successful teams, boasting three titles to their name and having ended at least third in all but three of their previous appearances.

    Gernot Rohr’s side were one of the highest scoring teams in qualifying after netting 14 times in six matches. Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo scored seven of those goals – the most by any player in the qualification stages – as Nigeria bounced back from an opening day defeat against South Africa to win four of their remaining five matches.

    They were held to a draw in the return leg against South Africa but four wins from four games against Libya and Seychelles were enough to ensure that Nigeria topped the group and secured qualification to the AFCON tournament.

    With an impressive qualifying run, the Nigerian team will be hoping to win their fourth title as they take on 23 other countries in Egypt.  The task is huge, but the Nigeria that won the 2013 edition with mostly rookies, knows the enormity of the task ahead.

    After the end of the European season, the invited players reported to camp in Warri to begin their preparation with the coach announcing that two players would be dropped at the end of the camping. To test their level of readiness, the Nigeria took on Zimbabwe in Warri, and the game ended 0-0; the one against Teranga Lions of Senegal ended 1-0 in favour of the Senegalese.

    Despite Nigerians feeling upbeat about the chances of their darling team, Coach Rohr has warned that pressure should not be mounted on the players, pleading that they be allowed to concentrate on the task ahead.

    Ighalo is confident that Nigeria has the quality to conquer the rest of the continent in a ‘tough’ tournament. “If anybody says the tournament will be easy, it is a lie. It is going to be tough, it is going to be hot but I believe in the team we have and we have all it takes to do well at the AFCON.

    “Nigeria has a good team that can play in the semi-final and the final. As I said, we will not get carried away. We have a team that can even win the trophy if we work hard and if we give everything we have on the pitch. We have all it takes to win it but let’s just start with the first game and see how far we can go.

    “Anything I do in life, I like people to take me as an underdog because I like to surprise people and I like to take people unaware, that’s for me as a person. If they are taking us [underdog], it is very good because it won’t give the team more pressure,” Ighalo added.

    Looking at their group, Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi said it would be ‘war’ when the competition starts today. “Everyone is saying on paper that we should go through and qualify [from Group B] but we know it is not going to be easy,” he stated.

    “Every team is there to try and do their best, to try and win. It is going to be almost like a war, it is going to be a serious battle and fight, every game will be competitive. I’m sure Madagascar and Burundi, even though it is their first, they will come to prove to everyone why they had the chance to get to the AFCON.

    “We know it will not be easy because it’s been a while we played at the Africa Cup of Nations but we are going with confidence and our heads held up high. And not only that, we are still young and the future is very bright with young talent in the team. There is a lot of hope and a bright future ahead of us.”

    “We haven’t really discussed that as a team. We haven’t really pinpointed what we want to achieve but we all have this dream and this idea that we want to win the competition so that’s what we are going to do because we are confident and we are going to keep working hard and hopefully, we can not do just ourselves proud, but our nation as well.”

    Nigeria’s squad

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany).

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi; Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain).

     

    Scorers to watch

    Liverpool of England duo Mohammed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal), who scored 22 goals and emerged joint top scorers with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyan (who is absent), will lead the goal charge at the championship. They will face stiff challenge from  Mbaye Diagne (Kasimpasa/Galatasaray) 30 goals from Senegal,  Nicolas Pepe (Lille) 22 goals of Ivory Coast, Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) 16 goals of Morocco , Ishak Belfodil (Hoffenheim) 16 goals of Algeria, Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Etienne) 13 goals of Tunisia, Pappis Cisse (Alanyaspor) 16 goals of Senegal and Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray) 14 goals of Nigeria. Ighalo, who did well in the Chinese League, will also be in the mix.

  • Hurdles before AMCON’s N5.4tr debt recovery bid (1)

    Four years to its liquidation, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is still battling to recover over N5.4 trillion  debts. In eight years of its operation, AMCON has not made a headway in recovering these debts. Can it do so before it winds down in 2023? COLLINS NWEZE examines the intricacies of the exercise as billionaire debtors  continue to dodge payment.

    Michael Stephens, a graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos, was employed as Credit Officer by a Tier-1 commercial bank at the age of 21.

    One of the basic courses he attended within his first four years on the job was Basic Credit, facilitated by Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) in Lagos.

    Banks use such courses to get credit officers and other market-facing staff acquainted with the tenets of lending, teaching them what to look out for in every loan request, including the red flags.

    “As a Credit Officer, I have come to realise that many borrowers have no intention of paying back the loans. Many of them with the ability to payback, lack the willingness to do so. They are always waiting and hoping that one day,  the creditor would write off the debt. So, the first thing I look out for when analysing a credit is the borrower’s willingness and ability to repay the loans and only a few customers meet these criteria,” Stephens told The Nation.

    Banks’ loan books are filled with millions of borrowers that have outrightly refused to pay back their debts. The Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio in the Nigerian banking industry is currently around 25 per cent average, as against five per cent regulatory benchmark set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    A particular development finance institution, NEXIM Bank, was said to even have about 91 per cent of its total loan as bad debts. CBN report showed that the NPLs of the bank before 2018 stood at N48.9 billion against the total loan portfolio of N53 billion. In many other commercial banks, NPLs’ rise was due to insider loan abuses, poor corporate governance, poor board oversight and outright disregard for basic guidelines in credit approvals.

    It was the rising NPLs, and need to save the industry from the imminent collapse that prompted the Federal Government to set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2010 with a 10-year mandate.

    AMCON was established on July 19, 2010 when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed the AMCON Act into Law.

    It duly acquired the initial NPLs from banks valued at over N1.2 trillion and injected some N1.6 trillion to further absorb other toxic loans from the banks.

    AMCON’s total bad loans purchased from banks were worth around N5.4 trillion in 2012 and the corporation moved quickly to recover the debts.

    Also, AMCON Bonds (debts) worth N3.8 trillion were issued in December 2014 at six per cent interest rate  and have remained outstanding at end-December 2018, same as in 2017. The bonds which were taken up solely by the CBN, were issued in a restructuring exercise, and will mature in 2023.

    More revealing is that the national treasury did not fund the exercise. Under the auspices of the Bankers´ Committee, AMCON´s operations are financed by 0.5 per cent of banks´ annual profits through the sinking fund and CBN´s N50 billion funding plans spread over 10 years.

    AMCON was created to be a key stabilizing and re-vitalizing tool aimed at reviving the financial system by efficiently resolving the NPLs ratio of more than 40 per cent at that time. The poor corporate governance practice in the banking sector, poor risk management, low liquidity as well as insufficient capital adequacy ratio just to mention a few also had severe adverse effect on the banking system, promoting the creation of the corporation.

     

    Progress report on

    debt recovery

     

    Unfortunately, after eight years into its operation, and ahead of 2023 sunset period, AMCON has only recovered N1 trillion through through assets seizure, forfeiture or outright cash payment. Data from AMCON showed that of the recovered funds, cash assets account for 60 per cent and non-cash assets, such as properties and equity securities, account for the balance of 40 per cent.

    The recovered sum represents 18.51 per cent of the total sum. Financial pundits have therefore expressed doubts on the possibility of the corporation recovering substantial  part of the debts in the next three years even as the interest accrued to the existing debts has continued to rise, bringing the total obligation back to N5.4 trillion despite the N1 trillion recovered.

    The big question is what happens to the outstanding debts owed the corporation and who inherits them after the sunset period? It was such a question that made many debtors adopt a wait-and-see plan, hoping that their debts will be forgiven when the corporation’s 10-year timeline ends.

    AMCON Managing Director/CEO, Ahmed Kuru, said the corporation had taken strategic steps to ensure more debts are recovered through negotiations and resolutions, using cash recoveries, asset forfeitures and capital restructuring for short to mid-term exits, including deploying Joint Venture arrangements for asset operations and land development.

    He said AMCON has done enough of negotiations with its obligors who have remained not just difficult but recalcitrant in the last eight years.

    “From all indications and with what we now know about them, we have realised that most of them are just unwilling to pay. As an organisation with a clear mandate, we cannot continue to sit in our offices and listen to these ever winding stories from our obligors because it is no longer helping us. We are now in a hurry to meet our mandate. As a dynamic corporation, we must continually evaluate our processes and seek improved ways of delivering better results. We have critically reviewed the old strategy and have come to the realisation that it will not take us far,” Kuru said.

    “But in a deeper sense of the change in our strategy, which we recently adopted, do not forget the fact that AMCON has a time period when it is expected to wind down; so there is a need for speed; there is a need for us to move faster as we get closer to sunset. The assumption when the AMCON was established was that within a period of 10 years, it would have liquidated and wound up its operations. This is the eighth year and we still have a huge outstanding meaning we cannot be doing the same thing repeatedly and then be expected to arrive at a different result”.

    He said the Act that established AMCON recognised the fact that, if obligors are not in a position to pay, AMCON should at the least have recourse to the collaterals. The Act also recognises that if AMCON is going to have recourse to the collaterals, there must be a process where AMCON must first of all go to court, and get an order to take over the property.

    The AMCON boss said the corporation cannot continue with the old practice where obligors come to tell stories that do not add up. “Interestingly too, the Act anticipated that when the corporation gets closer to sunset and things are the way they are now, then the corporation is under obligation to call up the collaterals through the court process. So we are now going through the court process,” Kuru added.

    AMCON statistics showed that 350 obligors owe 80 per cent, amounting to N3 trillion, of its total debt profile. Further data showed that 62 debtors representing 40 per  cent of the obligors, owe the corporation over N10 billion; 431 debtors representing 37 per cent of the debtors owe between N1 billion and N10 billion;  1,998 debtors constituting 16 per cent of the total obligors owe between N100 million and N1 billion while 10,046 debtors representing seven per cent of the total obligors owe between N100 million and below bringing the total number of bad loans under AMCON management to 12,537.

    Also, companies under AMCON receivership include Rockson Engineering Limited, Suru Worldwide Limited, Knight Rook Limited, Seawolf Oilfields Limited, Arik Air,  Sigma Engineering & Construction Limited, Micmerah International Agencies Limited, Premier Timber Limited and Bao Yao Limited. Others are Osigwe Foods Limited, Ekha Agro Limited, Multitrex Limited, Hotel Excel Limited, Bulk pack Services Limited, Dansa Foods Limited, Global Formwork Limited, NEGRIS / OKIPP Limited, Nigerian Braiding Manufacturing Company, Nabegu Nigeria Limited, Fiogret Limited, Amakpe Refineries Limited, Wokson Engineering Limited, among others. These companies are currently run by AMCON-appointed management after taking over the firms from their owners over unpaid debts.

    Kuru said the corporation is doing everything within the powers of its mandate (the AMCON Act) and within the powers of the laws of the land to recover the debts. “The people are the same so-called big men and women that are known to all Nigerians- people in politics, top businessmen and women as well as private individuals. The debt is huge and if we do not recover the outstanding, which is about N5.4 trillion, you will agree with me that the negative impact of that on the economy and on taxpayers would be unimaginable. The huge debt profile is not a healthy development for the economy of this country,” he said. Kuru said the debtors are the real enemies of Nigeria.

    AMCON   recently published 105 names of top delinquent debtors of AMCON that owe the corporation a total of N906, 109, 840, 662.99.

     

    Debtors to face sanctions

     

    Institutions and individuals on AMCON’s debtors’ list are to be blacklisted. They will no longer be allowed to do business with the government henceforth.

    According to a plan by the Federal Government, an inter-agency collaboration framework that comprises Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and supervised by the office of the Vice President, will block the indebted entities from dealing with the government, which is the biggest player in the economy.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who doubles as the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), dropped the hint, when he hosted some members of the AMCON Board at the State House, Abuja. The Board was led by its Chairman, Muiz Banire.

    Prof. Osinbajo said the debtors made it impossible for the corporation to resolve its outstanding N5.4 trillion debts, thereby holding the entire nation to ransom with their “bad behaviour”.

    There are 105 debtors on the AMCON list that include key players in aviation, power, real estate, oil and gas, as well as other sectors of the economy.

    The vice president plans to invite the AMCON team alongside other MDAs to fine-tune how to ensure that anybody or agency that is a debtor to AMCON faces the wrath of the Federal Government as those who are indebted to the government are direct enemies of both the government and the people.

    He said the Federal Government will no longer allow a few individuals who owe AMCON huge sums of money walk freely on the streets. Osinbajo said: “I think the time has come for us (Federal Government) to set some examples with some of these top debtors of AMCON, which I believe will set a good example and serve as a deterrent to others.”

    Osinbajo said that AMCON would be empowered with the tools to go after the obligors who have remained recalcitrant despite the olive branch extended to them over the years by the debt recovery agency.

    He said: “I congratulate AMCON for the work done so far has recovered over N1 trillion and counting both in cash and in assets. The work you do as a recovery agency is not something that is particularly easy or encouraging because we all know how Nigeria works. But we are committed to working more closely with your administration to ensure that these monies are recovered from AMCON obligors because it will help our economy and provide the government with more money to continue to improve on the development of infrastructure across the nation.”

    Banire highlighted some of the challenges faced by AMCON as a result of the attitudes of some debtors who behave as if they are above the law.

    Banire said: “As at the end of December 2018, AMCON’s Assets Under Management (AUM) amounted to about N172.5 billion.

    “It is noteworthy to state that out of the total real estate properties, assets available for sale are valued at N62 billion. Of this N62 billion, about 83 per cent comprises bare land and other assets, which may need considerable improvement to convert into income generating assets.

     

    AMCON’s interventions

     

    In September 2018, following the takeover of defunct Skye Bank Plc by the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), AMCON was invited to inject a total sum of N898.45 billion as capital, thereby leading to the emergence of another bridged bank named Polaris Bank Limited.

    The intervention in Skye Bank was caused majorly by internal abuse by the operators. As a result of that development, AMCON’s total debt obligation to the CBN is currently in excess of N6 trillion. AMCON had also intervened in the takeover of three bridged banks- Mainstreet Bank, Keystone Bank and Enterprise Bank. The three lenders have all been sold to new owners.

    While some of the AMCON debtors are still enjoying government patronage, others are using the judiciary and adopting legal technicalities to stall recovery, which is why we need a new strategy to enable AMCON to meet its mandate before sunset.

    Kuru said he could not wait for the take-off of the inter-agency collaboration promised by Osinbajo as, according to him, such a move would compel all sister agencies to be on the same page in the interest of the country.

    The AMCON boss also reminded the vice president that AMCON’s debts sit on the government’s balance sheet with CBN, and failure to recover them may result in serious consequences including recourse to taxpayers’ money, which must be avoided.

    Kuru said that for an organisation like AMCON with sunset date, all hands must be on deck to provide the support required. According to him, considering the huge portfolio of debt, no obligor must be allowed to go scot-free – no matter how highly placed in society.

     

    •To be continued tomorrow

  • ‘We must move to next level’

    Text of an address by President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2019 National Democracy Day at the Eagle Square, Abuja…yesterday.

    All Praise is due to GOD Almighty Who spared our lives to be present at this great occasion. We give thanks also that the democratic process has been further entrenched and strengthened.

    Twenty years ago, a democratically elected government took over from the military in a historic transfer of political power for our country.

    Today, we are privileged to mark the longest period of unbroken democratic leadership and 5th peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Nigeria.

    Throughout the last four years, I respected the independence of INEC. I ensured that INEC got all the resources it needed for independent and impartial management of elections in the country.

    All interested parties are agreed that the recent elections, which except for pockets of unrest, were free, fair and peaceful.

    I thank all the people who worked for our party, who campaigned and who voted for us. I thank my fellow Nigerians, who, since 2003 have consistently voted for me.

    Victory is your greatest reward; peace, unity and greater prosperity will be our collective legacy.

    Your Excellencies, Fellow Nigerians,

    I and Nigerians collectively must give adequate thanks to our Armed Forces, Police and other law enforcing agencies for working round the clock to protect us by putting themselves in harm’s way and defending our values and protecting our future.

    Terrorism and insecurity are worldwide phenomena and even the best policed countries are experiencing increasing incidents of unrest and are finding things hard to cope.

    The principal thrust of this new Administration is to consolidate on the achievements of the last four years, correct the lapses inevitable in all human endeavors and tackle the new challenges the country is faced with and chart a bold plan for transforming Nigeria.

    Fellow Nigerians, I have had the privilege of free education from Primary school to Staff College to War College.

    I received my formative education in Katsina and Kaduna and my higher education in England, India and the United States.

    I have worked and served in Kaduna, Lagos, Abeokuta, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Jos and finally here in Abuja. Throughout my adult life, I have been a public servant. I have no other career but public service. I know no service but public service.

    I was involved at close quarters in the struggle to keep Nigeria one. I can therefore do no more than dedicate the rest of my life to work for the unity of Nigeria and upliftment of Nigerians.

    In 2002-2003 campaigns and elections, I travelled by road to 34 of the 36 states of the Federation. This year I travelled by air to all 36 states of the Federation.

    Before and during my time in the Armed Forces and in government, I have interacted with Nigerians of all ages and persuasions and different shades of opinion over a period of more than fifty years.

    And my firm belief is that our people above all want to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians. They desire opportunity to better themselves in a safe environment.

    Most of the instances of inter-communal and inter-religious strife and violence were and are still as a result of sponsorship or incitements by ethnic, political or religious leaders hoping to benefit by exploiting our divisions and fault lines, thereby weakening our country.

    And our country Nigeria is a great country. According to United Nations estimates, our population will rise to 411 million by 2050, making us the third most populous nation on earth behind only China and India.

    We have water, arable land, forests, oil and gas and vast quantities of solid minerals. We are blessed with an equable climate. However, the bulk of our real wealth lies in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Mining. We possess all the ingredients of a major economic power on the world stage.

    What we require is the will to get our acts together. And our strength is in our people – our youth, our culture, our resilience, our ability to succeed despite the odds.

    A huge responsibility therefore rests on this and succeeding Administrations to develop, harness and fulfil our enormous potential into a force to be reckoned with globally.

    Thus far, we Nigerians can be proud of our history since Independence in 1960. We have contributed to UN peace-keeping responsibilities all over the world; we have stabilized Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and two years ago we prevented the Gambia from degenerating into anarchy.

    Without Nigerian influence and resources, the liberation of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and ultimately South Africa would have come at greater cost. This fact had been attested by none other than the late Nelson Mandela himself.

    Elsewhere, Nigeria is the Big Brother to our neighbours. We are the shock-absorber of the West African sub-region, the bulwark of ECOWAS and Lake Chad Basin Commission. We can therefore be proud to be Nigerians. We must continue to be Good Neighbours and Good Global Citizens.

    At home, we have been successful in forging a nation from different ethnicities and language groups: our evolution and integration into one nation continues apace.

    When, therefore we came to office in 2015 after a decade of struggle we identified three cardinal and existential challenges our country faced and made them our campaign focus, namely security, economy and fighting corruption.

    None but the most partisan will dispute that in the last four years we have made solid progress in addressing these challenges.

    When I took the oath of office on 29 May 2015, insecurity reigned. Apart from occupying 18 local governments in the North East, Boko Haram could at will attack any city including the Federal Capital, could threaten any institution including bombing the United Nations building and Police Headquarters in Abuja.

    Admittedly, some of the challenges still remain in kidnappings and banditry in some rural areas. The great difference between 2015 and today is that we are meeting these challenges with much greater support to the security forces in terms of money, equipment and improved local intelligence. We are meeting these challenges with superior strategy, firepower and resolve.

    In face of these challenges, our Government elected by the people in 2015 and re-elected in March has been mapping out policies, measures and laws to maintain our unity and at the same time lift the bulk of our people out of poverty and onto the road to prosperity.

    This task is by no means unattainable. China has done it. India has done it. Indonesia has done it. Nigeria can do it. These are all countries characterized by huge burdens of population.

    China and Indonesia succeeded under authoritarian regimes. India succeeded in a democratic setting. We can do it.

    With leadership and a sense of purpose, we can lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

    Following the 60 percent drop in oil prices between 2015 and 2016, through monetary and fiscal measures, we stimulated economic growth, curbed inflation and shored up our external reserves.

    We now have witnessed 8 quarters of positive growth in the economy and our GDP is expected to grow by 2.7 percent this year.

    Furthermore, our external reserves have risen to $45 billion enough to finance over 9 months of current import commitments.

    This Administration is laying the foundation and taking bold steps in transforming our country and liberating our people from the shackles of poverty.

    First, we will take steps to integrate rural economies to the national economic “grid” by extending access to small-scale credits and inputs to rural farmers, credit to rural micro-businesses and opening up many critical feeder roads.

    Secondly, for small-scale enterprises in towns and cities, we shall expand facilities currently available so that we continue to encourage and support domestic production of basic goods and reduce our reliance of imported goods as I will outline later.

    For the next four years, we will remain committed to improving the lives of people by consolidating efforts to address these key issues as well as emerging challenges of climate change, resettling displaced communities and dealing decisively with the new flashes of insecurity across the country, and the impacts on food scarcity and regional stability.

    We are not daunted by the enormity of the tasks ahead. Instead, we are revived by this new mandate to work collaboratively with State and Local Governments, Legislators, the Diplomatic Corps and all Nigerians to rebuild and reposition our country as the heartbeat and reference point for our continent.

     

    Fellow Nigerians, Your

    Excellencies, ladies & gentlemen:

    1. Despite the enormous resources pledged to infrastructure development these past four years, there remains the urgent need to modernize our roads and bridges, electricity grid, ports and rail systems.
    • Whilst agriculture and industrial output have recovered since the recession, we are more committed than ever to work with the private sector to improve productivity and accelerate economic growth.
    • The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index which is the gauge of manufacturing activity in the country has also risen for 26 consecutive months since March 2017 indicating continuous growth and expansion in our manufacturing sector.
    • It still takes too long for goods to clear at our seaports and the roads leading to them are congested. It still takes too long for routine and regulatory approvals to be secured. These issues affect our productivity and we are committed to addressing them permanently.
    • Our Government will continue work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programs, education, technology and improved information.
    • Our social intervention programs are a model for other nations. Together with state governments, we provide millions of school children with meals in primary schools, micro loans to traders and entrepreneurs, skills and knowledge acquisition support to graduates and of course, conditional cash transfers to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
    • A database of poor and vulnerable households is being carefully built based on age, gender, disability, educational levels for proper planning in this Administration’s war against poverty.
    • A database of unemployed but qualified youth has also been developed under the National Social Investment Programme which can be used by the public and private sectors for recruitment purposes. Cumulatively, nearly 2 million beneficiaries have received aid under this Programme apart from Anchors Borrowers Programme and School Feeding initiative each reaching 2 million recipients. And we will do more. Much more.

    Fellow Nigerians, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, we know that there exists a strong correlation between economic inequality and insecurity.

    When economic inequality rises, insecurity rises. But when we actively reduce inequality through investments in social and hard infrastructure, insecurity reduces.

    The disturbing increase in rates of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities can be attributed to the decades of neglect and corruption in social investment, infrastructure development, education and healthcare.

    This issue is further compounded by the impact of our changing climate and ecology.

    The ECOWAS and Sahel regions, starting from Chad all the way to Mali, are also experiencing adverse impacts of drought and desertification, which have triggered waves of human displacement; conflicts between farmers and herdsmen; terrorism; and a fundamental socio-economic change to our way of life.

    These issues are regional and not unique to Nigeria alone. The problems call for increased regional and international cooperation in developing a sustainable solution.

    As Chairman of ECOWAS, I will be hosting a regional security summit of heads of states in the Sahel to develop a Joint Strategy to continue our efforts in addressing these issues.

    Fellow Nigerians, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, at the heart of inequality and insecurity, is pervasive corruption. When we took office we realised that if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back – and we have seen this at all levels.

    For Nigeria to progress, a collective resolution to address corruption and foster broad-based prosperity is required to create a country that is not only for a few privileged, but for all Nigerians.

    This charge is not only to Civil Servants, Ministers, Legislators and State Government functionaries, but also to Corporate leaders.

    We shall make greater investments in our rural economies. We shall aggressively source locally our raw materials.

    We have incentives for investments specifically made in rural communities.

    However, nationwide development cannot occur from Abuja alone; it must occur at States. And Government cannot do it alone.

    I therefore implore all State Governments, especially those with large rural economies, to aggressively solicit investments in your states. Invest in developing human capital, reducing bureaucracy and corruption, hosting and attending investment summits and improving the ease of doing business.

    At this point, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists who have built or are building agro-processing projects; petrochemical plants; crude oil and solid mineral refineries; energy exploration; software development projects; telecom infrastructure; health, education and manufacturing projects; and the like, across our country.

    I would like to make special mention to promoters of our small businesses that are proudly making goods and services for export and for local consumption. The Nigerian economy rises and falls on the strength of your investments and productivity.

    We will continue to listen to your ideas and plans not just about how we can secure more investment, but how your plans can help create a more equitable economy.

    I also thank the labour unions, farmer groups and associations, organized private sector and the civil society organisations for their support and cooperation with our government these last four years.

    We will continue to count on your support, guidance and understanding during the next four years.

    I especially thank our traditional leaders and congratulate re-elected and newly elected State Governors and members of the National Assembly. Our Government will continue to count on your support so that we can together move our country forward.

    Fellow Nigerians, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, despite the challenges over the last four years, my optimism about Nigeria’s future is unshaken and Nigeria’s role in the world as an emerging economic force is without a doubt.

    Over the next four years, we are committed to assembling a strong team of Nigerians, and allies, to implement our transformative plans and proposals.

    • We will see significant focus, resource and, where necessary reform, in tertiary and technical education to reposition Nigeria’s workforce for the modern technological age.
    • We will accelerate investments in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare programs, interventions and infrastructure as well as in upgrading of our medical personnel to stem the flight of our best trained people.
    • On food security, our farmers have made great strides in local production of rice, maize, cassava, poultry, fertilizer, fisheries and sesame. We remain resolute in supporting private sector in emphasizing backward integration and export expansion plans.
    • Felling of trees to provide energy for domestic use is taking its toll on our rain forests, our ecology and our climate. Accordingly, we are taking steps to harness cleaner and more sustainable sources of electricity. We export over 2 million tons of cooking gas, yet we consume less than half a million tons.
    • We will work to address this issue and support rural communities with challenges of safely switching from firewood to cooking gas.
    • Dedicated agro-industrial processing zones will be developed on a PPP basis to increase farming yields, agricultural productivity and industrial output.
    • Over 2,000 kilometers of ongoing Federal road and bridge projects across the country will be completed to reduce journey times and the cost of doing business. As I mentioned earlier, critical feeder roads will be built to facilitate easier transportation for people and goods from rural areas to major roads.
    • We are at advanced stages of securing investments to modernize and expand our transmission and distribution infrastructure, ensuring that electricity is available and affordable for all Nigerians.
    • Several rail, seaport and airport projects are at various stages of completion. We will open the arteries of transportation nationwide.
    • It is a fact that Nigeria has more gas reserves than it has oil. Over the last four years, we have become a net exporter of urea, which is made from natural gas. We invite investors to develop more natural gas-based petrochemical projects.
    • Fellow Nigerians, This Government will not tolerate actions by any individual or groups of individuals who seek to attack our way of life or those who seek to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us. We will crack down on those who incite ordinary innocent people to violence and unrest.
    • We will ensure that such actions are met with the strong arm of the law.

    Nation building takes time. But we must take solace in the knowledge that this country, our country, has everything we require to make Nigeria prosper.

    Fellow Nigerians, Your Highnesses, Your  Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I invite you to join me in this journey of rebuilding our nation.

    Our focus will not be to help the privileged few but to ensure that Nigeria works for Nigerians of all persuasions. That is a more just arrangement.

    As we all know, correcting injustice is a pre-requisite for peace and unity. As part of the process of healing and reconciliation, I approved the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and invested the late Chief Abiola and Babagana  Kingibe with National Honours, as I did with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The purpose was to partially atone for the previous damage done in annulling the Presidential elections of that year.

    Today, I propose the re-naming of the Abuja National Stadium. Henceforth it will be called MOSHOOD ABIOLA NATIONAL STADIUM.

    In my first term, we put Nigeria back on its feet. We are working again despite a difficult environment in oil on which we depend too much for our exports. We encountered huge resistance from vested interests who do not want CHANGE, But CHANGE has come, we now must move to the NEXT LEVEL.

    By the Grace of God, I intend to keep the oath I have made today and to serve as President for all Nigerians.

    I thank you for attending this august occasion from far and near, and for all your best wishes to me, to our party and to Nigeria.

    God bless us all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

  • APC excited as Lawan, Gbajabiamila triumph

    The Ninth National Assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday, with Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila elected Senate President and House Speaker.

    Ovie Omo-Agege and Ahmed Idris Wase are their deputies.

    Lawan  (Yobe North) polled 79 votes to defeat Ali Ndume (Borno), who scored 28 votes. Gbajabiamila got 281 votes to Umar Bago’s 76

    “Omo-Agege scored 68 votes to beat Ike Ekweremadu, with 37 votes for the deputy Senate president’s seat

    Wase emerged  unopposed as deputy Speaker.

    Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA)  Mohammed Sani- Omolori conducted the  elections in both chambers. He left for the  House of Representatives  after leaving the Senate at about 2:20pm

    The election was not without drama, as there was uproar in the Senate when Sani-Omolori announced that the open Secret ballot would be used.

    Sani-Omolori said its use was as contained in the Senate Standing Orders 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of 2015.

    The announcement did not go down well with majority of the senators-elect.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North), who obtained an injunction for the use of open ballot as contained in the Senate Standing Order 2011, challenged the Clerk.

    Barau asked the Clerk if he did not receive a court order on the issue

    Sani-Omolori answered in the negative, insisting that the business of the day was election of Senate president   and deputy Senate president.

    He told the senators-elect that no question or motion would be entertained.

    The lawmakers-elect, he explained, did not have any say on the issue, especially when the election would be conducted in accordance with the Senate Standing Order 2015.

    After order was restored, Sani-Omolori directed the Senate Clerk, Nelson Ayewoh, to take the roll call to establish the number of senators-elect in the chamber.

    On being told  that 107 senators-elect were present, the clerk called for nominations for the Senate president.

    Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) nominated Lawan and he was seconded by Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West).

    Lawan accepted his nomination and promised to work for the country’s unity and progress, if elected.

    Senator Ishaku Elisha (Adamawa North) nominated Ndume and he was. seconded by Senator Ndidi Barinada (Rivers East).

    Ndume accepted his nomination and promised to unbundle the Office of Senate President for  senators to take charge of things.

    Voting began at  10.50am and ended at 11.56 am.

    Around noon, Sani-Omolori announced: “Today, 11th of June, 2019, gathered in the Senate chamber are 107 Senators-elect. 107 Senators-elect cast their votes.

    “After voting and counting of votes, Senator-elect Ahmed Lawan received 79 votes. Senator-elect Mohammed Ali Ndume received 28 votes. Total votes cast 107.

    “On the strength of this, Senator-elect Ahmed Lawan, having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner and returned elected President of the Ninth Senate.”

    The Omo-Agege floored Ekweremadu

    For the deputy Senate president, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) nominated Ekweremadu and he was seconded by Senator Rose Okoh (Cross River North).

    His nomination came after Senator Ahmed Baba Kaita (Katsina North) nominated Omo-Agege and was seconded by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North).

    Ekweremadu was deputy Senate president for 12 years – serving for eight under Senator David Mark and four under Senator Bukola Saraki.

    Omo-Agege and Ekweremadu accepted their nominations.

    Omo-Agege promised to assist Lawan to perform his functions.  Ekweremadu said the election of the deputy Senate president would be a referendum on the April 18, 2018 invasion of the Senate.

    Ekweremadu told reporters that he contested the election to make a statement on last year’s invasion of the Senate,

    He said: “For over 20 years, I have been very busy with politics and governance. So, I think I can have a rest and reflect on other things.”

    On why he contested, Ekweremadu said: “I believe there must be a referendum. Look at what happened on a day I was presiding and the chamber was invaded.

    “I wanted a situation where we could present a referendum in respect of what transpired.”

    Asked at what point he took the decision to contest, he said: “Early this morning, we were not minded to run for any office, we thought that our friends in APC will present a consensus candidate that we can all be proud of.

    “We need to exonerate ourselves. It was not a contest to win or lose. I wanted to make a statement.”

    In a statement, Ekweremadu congratulated  Lawan and Omo-Agege, saying he appreciated his colleagues, constituents, and Nigerians for their supportt.

    Ekweremadu said on his social media handles: “I congratulate Senator Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on their elections.

    “I specially appreciate my colleagues, who supported me as I vied for the office again to preserve the hallowedness and honour of the Senate and uphold equity as a priceless ingredient for building a Nigeria of our dreams.

    “I have made my point and my colleagues have made their choice. It is now for us all to join hands across all divides to work for the success of the Ninth Senate and National Assembly as well as the peace and prosperity of our nation.”

    Read Also: Lawan, Gbajabiamila: Triumph of party supremacy

    At the House, Gbajabiamila won  by a landslide, securing 281 votes to Bago’s 76, out of a total of 358 votes.

    Two members were absent; one vote was invalid.

    Bago congratulated Gbajabiamila even before the  conclusion of the counting of votes.

    The voting took less than two hours; there were two voting points.

    Some members made sure that Gbajabiamila, Wase and Abdulmumin  Jibrin displayed their ballot papers after voting before casting it.

    No member attempted to display how he or she voted to Bago, who sat on the third row.

    There was pin drop silence during the sorting of ballot papers, which was witnessed by Jibrin, Linda Ikpeazu, Mark Gbila and Yunusa Ahmad.

    Members began jubilating and congratulating Gbajabiamila before the Executive ended.

    After the sorting, Jibrin bowed and touched the floor with his forehead and went to hug Gbajabiamila.

    Buhari: new dawn is here

    President Muhammadu Buhari led the way yesterday in  congratulating Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

    In a statement by his  Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also saluted members of the National Assembly for their patriotism and non-partisanship before and during the presiding officers’ election.

    Buhari noted the transparent and fair nature of the exercise, adjudging it as a plus for democracy.

    He described the election of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as “a new dawn, different from duplicity and perfidy of the immediate past.”

    The President urged the winners to use their exalted positions for the higher interest of the country’, the people and the growth of democracy.

    He said: “The executive does not desire a rubber stamp legislature. While the separation of powers is essential, collaboration among all arms of government should be the name of the game. Opposition need not be virulent.”

    “Stepping into the Next Level, the legislature has a big role to play for the goals of the administration to be achieved.” This is for the ultimate good of the nation.”

    The President implored those who lost to be gallant and join hands with the victors who should be magnanimous and eschew vindictiveness.

    “At the end of the day, we, the people, who elected our representatives at the national level, are the winners,” the President said.

    Put Nigerians first,  says Saraki

    Former Senate president Bukola Saraki, in his message, hailed Lawan, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Gbajabiamila, and  Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase.

    “Congratulations to Senate President Lawan, Speaker Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President Omo-Agege and Deputy Speaker Wase as they begin their journey as presiding officers of the 9th National Assembly.

    “As you set forth on your legislative endeavours in the next four years, I ask that you always put the Nigerian people first in all that you do and protect the integrity of the legislative institution.

    “I wish you all, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, utmost success as you work to serve our nation and its great people,” Saraki said.

    Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North Orji Kalu also congratulated Lawan, Gbajabiamila.

    He also hailed Omo-Agege and Wase on their election.

    He extolled the virtues of the presiding  officers, noting that they will develop and sustain a harmonious relationship with the executive and judiciary arms of government.

    Kalu described the presiding officers as experienced parliamentarians with the capacity to drive the National Assembly.

    He said:  “The new leadership of the National Assembly symbolises a new era in the history of Nigeria.

    “Senate President Lawan and Speaker Gbajabiamila have the political capacity, legislative experience and administrative acumen to steer the affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “Also, Senator Omo-Agege and Hon. Wase will perform well in their new roles.”

    The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) described the election of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as a good omen.

    A statement by its spokesman, Alex Kalejaye described Lawan as arguably one of the most patriotic, well-cultured, and disciplined senators in the country.

    It described Omo-Agege,  an experienced political tactician, and loyal party man.

    “We heartily rejoice with the National Assembly, and congratulate the Senate President, his deputy, the Speaker, his deputy and other elected officers on their elevation”.

    It added: “Lawan has repeatedly promised to lead a Senate that is devoid of rancour, work harmoniously with the other arms of government, without compromising the independence of the legislative arm. We trust that these would be the hallmarks of his tenure as the President of the Senate.

    “We commend the dexterity, and efforts of all the leaders of APC, particularly that of the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for this laudable feat.

    There was jubilation in Yobe, Lawan’s home state, over his election. Some people said his emergence reflected  the national interest.”

    In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu , the state capital they prayed for his success in office.

    The  Zanna Dujima of Bade, Alhaji Muhammad Gagiyo, described the election of Lawan as a new dawn for patriotism and  national development.

    He said: “Nigeria now has a committed Senate President with a passion to serve the country and improve peoples’ lives.  The Senate President has over the years exhibited commitment with quality representation of his constituency. We are  optimistic that he will provide the required leadership to the senate to see national service over and above selfish interests.”

    An APC member, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman,, said the new leadership would provide the support to move Nigeria forward.

    He added: “Sen. Lawan has the required leadership skills for a friendly and productive senate.”

    The Majidadin Bade, Alhaji Mamman Suleiman, described Lawan’s election as well timed  one to support the policy and programmes of  President Buhari.

    This is our finest hour, says Oshiomhole

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Adams Oshiomhole is excited over his party’s triumph in the National Assembly leadership elections

    “This is the party’s finest hour”,  he told reporters at the National Assembly Ccomplex yesterday.

    Speaking  with reporters after Gbajabiamila’s election, Oshiomhole said: “For those who thought something was wrong with the APC, I think the outcome of the Senate election will humble them, not just for the victory but for the size of the defeat.

    “They insisted on secret ballot which is not good enough because in parliament the constituents must know how their representatives are voting. That will be the basis of supporting them in the future. But if the vote is secret, it means that they are not accountable.

    “But they insisted that it must be secret ballot. It is okay. We have worked hard to let our people  recognise that Nigerians, with their eyes open, gave the APC the executive; they also gave us the overwhelming majority in the two arms of the National Assembly. I think that in doing that, they expect that this time around APC would have no excuse not to deliver.

    “We cannot say that we are being blocked by the parliament. The parliament is ours and those who don’t believe in ‘Change’ cannot be entrusted with the challenge of managing the ‘Change.’ That is why I said we must give the position of responsibility to those who believe in our ‘Change’ agenda.

    “So, today, that has been translated. You can just imagine how I feel; like a mother, we are on the verge of delivering twins in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    “For me it is our finest hour, particularly when you bear in mind what happened in 2015. It is the mischief of 2015 that we have tried to correct, and I am happy that it has been settled.”