The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Group seeks consistency in Justice dispensation

    Group seeks consistency in Justice dispensation

    A civil society group, Civic International in collaboration with civil society coalition for judicial reforms on Wednesday called on the judiciary to exhibit consistency in the dispensation of justice to ensure the the supremacy of the law.

    The group’s coordinator, Ameh Ejeh and Secretary, Abdulrazak Ajala, who were represented by Onuoha Oliver in a press briefing in Abuja, insisted that consistency in judgement should be one of the critical reforms the judiciary should take into cognisance especially in similar cases.

    This, according to Civic International, will ensure fair and undiluted dispensation of justice.

    Ejeh said: “The existence of controversial and seemingly incoherent or rather obnoxious judgements are not new in the history of our judiciary, but it took a very dangerous and alarming dimension in the cases occasioned by the aftermath of the 2015  general elections.”

    He added that the whole nation was bewildered by the judgements delivered by judges at different courts in cases that emerged due to the outcome of the election.

    Contrary to similar cases across the country where different judgements were given, the judiciary should ensure that similar justice for any individual involved in similar cases and similar facts should get similar judgements to further boost people’s confidence in the justice system.

    Recalling the alleged presentation of three different birth certificate case against the incumbent Cross River state governor, he said that a similar case involving the Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu is in the Supreme Court awaiting trial and only then could consistency in judgement be tested again.

    According to him, ” delivering judgements on election petition cases and other sensitive political matters are very crucial aspects of the role the judiciary plays in a nation and the Nigerian judiciary must be consistent and principled in rulings if the citizenry are to truly enjoy the dividends of a democratic dispensation “.

    He said that an erroneous removal of a governor by the court amounts to disenfranchisement of the people and inhuman treatment meted on the governor question.

    Explaining why it focused on the Abia State governor’s case, the group said that a state governor is a collective product of the people via election.

    He noted: “We in the civil society participate actively in the process through voter education and mobilization, conduct /monitoring of the main election and in monitoring the outcome so as to make sure that the will of the people will at every time prevail. The masses on their own part undergo whole lots of exercises which at every time involves the exercise of their inalienable rights as human beings.

    “This we notice in voter registration, massive participation in party primaries and campaigns and more especially in casting their votes. The government on their on part mobilizes a lot of Manpower and resources gotten from the tax payers money and our collective wealth as a people into the electoral process to make it credible, transparent and to make sure that the whole exercise is a success thereby enabling the will of the people to prevail.”

  • Kano earmarks N224m to treat 280,000 malnourished children

    Kano earmarks N224m to treat 280,000 malnourished children

    • advocates new structure to fight child starvation
    In order to reduce malnutrition, the Kano State Government has set aside about N224 million from N368 million budgeted for health to treat 280,000 children suffering from starvation in the state.
    Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Abubakar Hafiz disclosed this on Tuesday during a panel discussion on Nutrition and Launch of the Agric Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in partnership with the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition in Abuja.
    He said the 280, 000 children were only drawn from six local governments in the state.
    He advocated for the establishment of a new agency to coordinate activities from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to tackle the scourge.
    The Deputy Governor described malnutrition as a multi-sectoral issue that deserves multi-sectoral but more coordinated approach.
    He said: “In our approved budget. We have about N368m for health but we are using N224 million to treat 280, 000 malnourished children in 6 local governments. So the communities must try to own the interventions. They must participate so that we can succeed.”
    “Food security and nutrition are inseparable in Nigeria and one of the major cause of malnutrition is food security at the household level.
    “These two items are multi-sectoral in nature so there is need for multi-sectoral collaboration. I still believe we need to make sure there is a multi-sectoral coordination body either in the ministry or as a new structure,” he added.
    He explained that the issue of malnutrition was not well addressed in the states unlike the sincerity the Federal Government attached to the issue.
    Speaking on domestication of the document, the Kano state Deputy Governor, Chief Nutritionist for the Department for Internal Development (DFID), Ms. Melkamnesh Alemu and the Executive Director, Scaling Up Nutrition, Dr. Philippa Momah expressed concern on how the federal government, especially through the agric ministry could domesticate the report.
    In her remarks, the Senior Advisor on Food Security and Nutrition to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adeyinka Onabolu said the ministry attempted to engage the inter-ministerial group but suffered some challenges from the members.
    She explained that each of the MDAs has the possibility of addressing the issue from their perspectives rather than a holistic approach.
    “Each MDAs have the tendency to protect our territory. So long we want to continue to do that, we may not be able to carry the agenda of food security forward.
    “On the coordination, I don’t understand the rules in the civil service but it’s better we go back and revisit the coordination mechanism domiciled in the ministry of budget, so we can realise the food nutrition strategy,” she noted.
    However, Onabolu emphasised need for a sustainable approach stressing that the current approach to practising agriculture in the country cannot guarantee food and nutritional needs except through the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy
    “Integrate nutrition into the value chain and perceiving food security as human right,” she added.
    In her remarks, the Director, Global Panel, Prof. Sandy Thomas called for good capacity building and better sensitisation against the scourge of malnutrition.
    According to her, the Global Panel was established to produce evidence based recommendations to inform policy on food nutrition.
    She called for more attention on agricultural nutritional productivity for women and children beyond just increasing production.
    Director of Family Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi represented the Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole.
  • Investigation: World Bank permanently suspends six Nigerian firms, 12 others

    Investigation: World Bank permanently suspends six Nigerian firms, 12 others

    Investigation has shown that the World Bank has permanently barred six Nigerian firms from transacting businesses and engaging in procurement activities with the global financial institution in the country.

    The organisations were accused of contradicting World Bank procurement and consultant guidelines during the Bank’s procurement for projects and programs.

    The six affected firms are Karitex Limited, Gurpreet Singh Malik limited, Kamal Sharda limited, Sharda Impex (U.K) limited, Shereena Agriculture Limited and Vikram Deepak Gursahaney limited.

    Among the permanently barred firms, only Shereena Agriculture Limited is based in Kano state while the remaining five are located in Lagos.

    Procurement guideline 1.15 of the Bank stipulates that borrowers, suppliers, contractors as well as bidders should observe highest ethical standard and shun any fraudulent practices during the procurement process.

    The section reads: “It is the Bank’s policy to require that Borrowers (including beneficiaries of Bank loans), as well as bidders/Suppliers/Contractors under Bank-financed contracts, observe the highest standard of ethics during the procurement and execution of such contracts.

    “In pursuance of this policy, the Bank: (a) defines, for the purposes of this provision, the terms set forth below as follows: (i) ‘corrupt practice’ means the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of anything of value to influence the action of a public official in the procurement process or in contract execution; and

    “(ii) ‘fraudulent practice’ means a misrepresentation of facts in order to influence a procurement process or the execution of a contract to the detriment of the Borrower, and includes collusive practices among bidders (prior to or after bid submission) designed to establish bid prices at artificial, non-competitive levels and to deprive the Borrower of the benefits of free and open competition.”

    The bank temporarily barred 12 additional firms for contravening Sections 1.12, 1.14 and 1.15 of the World Bank procurement guidelines.

    While the sanction duration for one of the firms Xl Management Services Limited extended to 12 months, Snc-Lavalin International (Nigeria) Limited was sanctioned for 10 years with sanction period to end in the year 2023. Others ranged between four and five years.

    The temporarily suspended firms include Best Scan Solutions Limited, Mr. Iyke Ambrose, Xl Management Services Limited, Zarcus Construction Nigeria Ltd, Engr. Hammed Mutiu Olalekan, Honeyomar Ventures Ltd., Agonic Associates Nig Ltd, Mr. Agomuo Nicholas and D.A. Construction Limited.

    Others are Snc-Lavalin International (Nigeria) Limited, Contransimex Nigeria Limited and Sego Ventures Nigeria Limited.

    Section 1.12 titled Reserved Procurement stated that; “When open competition would be the appropriate method of procurement for particular goods or works of the project, but the Borrower wishes to reserve this procurement for one or more specific firms or enterprises, the Bank may accept such reserved procurement only on condition that: (a) it is not eligible for financing out of the Bank loan; and (b) it will not significantly affect the satisfactory project implementation in terms of costs, quality, and completion time.”

    While Section 1.14 of the procurement procedure titled References to Bank stated that: “If the Borrower wishes to refer to the Bank in procurement documents, the following language shall be used:

    “(name of Borrower) has received (or in appropriate cases „has applied for‟) a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in various currencies equivalent to US Dollars toward the cost of (name of project), and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan to eligible payments under this contract.

    “Payment by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will be made only at the request of (name of Borrower or designate) and upon approval by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement.

    “The Loan Agreement prohibits a withdrawal from the Loan Account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of the Bank, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than (name of Borrower) shall derive any rights from the Loan Agreement or have any claim to loan proceeds.”

  • Student in prison for stealing phone

    A Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in Abuja sentenced a student, David Out, 20, to three weeks imprisonment for stealing a phone.

    The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed Tahir, sentenced Otu after he pleaded guilty.

    The convict was however, given an option to pay a fine of N15, 000.

    Tahir said that the punishment was to make Otu to change his life of crime.

    Otu, a student of Dutse-Jabu Village in the FCT, was convicted on a charge of stealing.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Otu Urom, said that one Mrs Kenechukwu Keneth of Anchor Estate on Airport Road reported the mater at the Wuse Police Station on April 30.

    He said that the convict entered All Saint’s Church at Wuse Zone 5, pretending to have come for devotion only to steal a phone.

    Urom said that the convict during a prayer session removed the complainant’s phone, valued at N285, 000 from her bag and vanished.

    He said that during police investigation the convict confessed to stealing the phone and selling it for N40, 000 naira.

    Urom said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

     

  • UNODC commends Nigeria’s anti-corruption war

    UNODC commends Nigeria’s anti-corruption war

    The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has given Nigeria a pass mark in the fight against corruption, adding that the battle can also be fought with international co-operation.

    Jennifer Bradford, UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer said this in Abuja Wednesday.

    Bradford spoke at the opening of a three-day visit for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Peer Review of Nigeria by Myanmar and Côte D’ Ivoire.

    She said the fight against corruption was not a one-off event, adding that it was only with continuous efforts and determination that it could be won.

    “The fight against corruption takes a lot of efforts and it is not a fight that can be fought and won in one day.
    “The fight also needs collaboration and joint efforts both nationally and internationally because no country can do it alone”, she said.

    Mr. Tukur Modibbo, the National Focal Person for UNCAC in Nigeria, told newsmen that after the review process, the United Nations would evolve a certain set of recommendations for Nigeria.

    He said experience had shown that such recommendations may require amendment of the national laws or enacting new laws by the National Assembly to further enhance the process.

    According to him, this is with the aim of tightening areas were there may be corruption leakages in order to make the laws water-tight and difficult for persons to perpetrate corruption or escape punishment when caught.
    Modibbo added that although the United Nations was spearheading the process, it was Côte D’ Ivoire and Myammar that were leading the review of Nigeria.

    “After this process, Nigeria will also go out and review a West-African country and one other country in another continent still under the tutelage of the United Nations”, he said.

    He explained that the process comprised a single cycle of 10 years and Nigeria had in phase one which terminated in 2016, mainly reviewed law enforcement and criminalisation of corruption and international co-operation.

    He said the present review was the second phase which would target preventive measures and asset recovery.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the two chapters under review were key areas of focus for the present administration.

    “The two chapters under review in this cycle – chapter two and five which deal with preventive measures and asset recovery are key areas of focus of the current administration as it remains committed to the fight against corruption.

    “Without pre-empting this process, this government has undertaken preventive measures against corrupt practices and has put a lot of efforts in the recovery of looted, carted and stashed asset both home and abroad.

    Malami, who is also the Minister of Justice maintained that in the fight against corruption, Nigeria had put in place various policies with a view to ensuring sanity in every sector.

     

  • Man jailed two months for stealing

    A Grade 1 Area Court, Karmo, Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced one Abdullahi Inuwa, 27, to two months imprisonment for stealing a handbag.Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, the presiding judge, however gave him N10,000 option of fine, as he admitted committing the crime.

    Inuwa who resides at Jabi garage, Abuja, was convicted on two-count charge of joint act and theft.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Florence Ahioboh, had told the court that one Esther John of Wuru village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station, Abuja, on May 5.

    Auhioboh said that the complainant told the police that on the same date, at a bus stop, the convict and other person at large stole her hand bag.
    The handbag contained Infinix hot note phone, ATM card, jewelries and N6, 000 cash.

    He said that the convict confessed to the crime during police investigation, and begged for mercy.

    The prosecutor said that the offence was punishable under Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code.

     

  • NNPC, partners to boost domestic gas supply by 285%

    NNPC, partners to boost domestic gas supply by 285%

    • lists seven critical gas projects to fast-track execution 
    In a bid to realise the Federal Government’s mandate to deploy the nation’s gas resources to stimulate economic growth, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its partners have evolved a scheme to grow gas supply for domestic consumption by 285% from 1.3billion standard cubic feet per day to 5bscf/d by 2020.
    This was disclosed at the 7 Critical Gas Development Projects (7CGDP) stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
    The stakeholders made up of NNPC and seven  other oil and gas companies listed the seven (7) projects earmarked for fast-track execution to meet the 285% domestic gas supply growth projection to include: Assa North-Ohaji South Field Development (ANOH); Oil Mining Lease 24 and OML 18 Joint Development and Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture/Nigeria Agip Oil Company Joint Venture Unitized Gas Fields.
    A statement of the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu issued in Abuja, which contains this added that others are: NPDC’s OML 26, 30, 42 and Chevron Nigeria Limited’s OML 49 Makaraba Cluster Development; SPDC JV Gas Supply to Brass Fertilizer Company; OML 13 Cluster Development and Cluster Development of Okpokunou/Tuomo West (OML 35/62).
    Addressing the partners at the meeting, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, stated that the Federal Government has directed the Corporation to aggressively pursue gas development to jump start the nation’s economic growth.
    He outlined the strategic focus for achieving the Federal Government’s mandate to include growing capacity to supply enough gas to generate 15Gigawatts of electricity to the power sector by 2020, stimulating gas-based industrialisation by positioning Nigeria as the African regional hub for gas-based industries such as Fertilizer, Petrochemicals, Methanol and developing gas for export by selectively expanding export footprint in high value and strategic foreign markets.
    He said appropriate funding for the seven (7) critical gas projects should be a priority and a key success factor, adding that alternative funding through third party financing option would be adopted to facilitate execution of these vital projects.
    The GMD urged the partners to work together to ensure that the critical gas projects were executed expeditiously for the benefit of the country, adding that NNPC Top Management was available to work with all stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of the projects.
    Responding, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, applauded the GMD for his uncommon focus to ensure optimal production and delivery of gas to power, industry and for export, assuring that with proper alignment of the key parties, the projects would be delivered as scheduled.
    Endorsing the partnership, the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Mordecai Ladan, who was represented at the meeting, assured the stakeholders that the DPR would provide all the needed support to ensure the timely delivery of the projects.
    Present at the meeting were the seven (7) critical stakeholders which include: Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC); Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC); Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL); Seplat Petroleum Development Company PLc; Newcross Exploration and Production Limited and Eroton Exploration and Production.
  • What DisCos don’t say about escrow account – Fashola

    What DisCos don’t say about escrow account – Fashola

    The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on Monday accused the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) of failing to come to terms with the contract agreement it made with the central bank of Nigeria.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Hakeem Bello what ANED failed to say in its recent publication was that the escrow condition was agreed upon by the association with Central Bank as a condition for offering stabilization funds by way of loans to fund the business they invested in since commercial banks were reluctant to do so.

    The DisCos drew a battle line with the Federal Government upon the announcement of intention to centralise and escrow their accounts. The 11 distribution companies under the auspice of ANED issued a press statement that the Federal Government was intending to nationalise the entities in which they bought 60% stake in 2013.

    But speaking at the 15th monthly meeting of the power sector operators in Jos, the minister said: “What you (DisCos) failed to state was that the loan was at 10% interest which is well below commercial rates.

    “What you also failed to state is that you also agreed under that arrangement to establish letters of credit to guarantee future payments to NBET and TCN Market Operations, that the agreed commercial terms of the letters of credit authorizes NBET and TCN Market Operations to draw on the letters of credit for any default in payment to them, and that such defaults have occurred and continue to occur.”

    According to the minister, ANED has been silent on what the public needs to hear, he disclosed that “you are entitled to fully recover your costs and investment by law and this is the function of how tariffs calculated”.

    He added that “any right-thinking person will accept the principle that any person lending you money must have the right to know what you are doing with the money especially when under collection and underpayment has been a major feature of many Disco performances”

    He said that, since the Government holds 40% of the shares of Discos on behalf of states and local governments and the Nigerian people, it has a duty to ensure that ANED buys parts and other equipment at reasonable and competitive market prices and not through inflated contracts to relatives as we have seen in some Discos in respect of which NERC will take action in due course and sanction those who are involved.

    On the N701.9billion intervention, the minister said that the intervention fund is consistent with Government’s policy and determination to enable businesses to flourish, and it was meant to save the Gencos, the gas companies and their financiers who were providing service, from collapse.

    He said that while the public constantly blames the Government for a service it does not receive money to provide, good corporate governance will only demand that customers are provided with meters to measure their power usage before seeking tariff increase.

    While commiserating with families of the victims of the Electrocution accident in Cross River, the minister recalled that the incident was clearly man-made as the building was located under or close to an electricity line. He added that we must admit as a People that the time to stop cutting corners and violating regulations has come upon us, and the time to change those non-compliant conduct is now, for our own long term benefit.

  • OMPALAN tasks FG on further consultation with Niger Delta

    Oil and Solid Mineral Producing Area Landlords’ Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) has called on the Federal Government to open further consultations to get contributions from diverse groups in the oil producing states.

    OMPALAN expressed unflinching confidence in the Presidency to deliver on the promises it made to remove the lingering peace process in the Niger Delta region definitively from limbo and give the region a new lease of life.

    However, speaking with one voice at the leaders’ meeting in Abuja, the association insisted that the Presidency style of visiting every oil producing state one day at a time, might not give it the desired results.

    Its chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) Bishop Udo Azogu, said that: “OMPALAN believes that the strategy adopted by the Presidency to visit and interact with every Oil Producing State one day at a time may not yield the desired result. This is because the time of engagement with stakeholders is too short and does not allow for contributions from diverse and informed groups /individuals in the State.

    “The Presidency should give the scheme greater flexibility and open up more to organizations like OMPALAN and individuals who have genuine contributions to make so that the good intentions of Government will not be derailed by selfish politicians and pressure groups who are working vigorously to dictate the tone exclusively with an eye on oil blocks and modular refineries.”

    Azogu noted that the association has developed a blueprint for sustainable peace and development of mineral producing areas.

    He said, that the blueprint is a bottom-up proposal that basically focuses on transparency and security of host communities.

    Those that attended the meeting were the Chairman, BOT, Bishop Udo Azogu, National Chairman & Chief Executive, Prof Eyo Etim Nyong, Leader (former Minister for Police Affairs), Dr. Ibrahim Lame, Dr. Abdul Jhalil Tafawa Balewa: Chairman, Environmental Committee, Chief (Barr) Sam Ezediaro, Principal Secretary, Sir Eustace Eke, Chairman, Advisory Board, Delta State, HRM Obi Nzemeke, Chairman, Advisory Board, Rivers State, HRM Eze Amuda Ginikanwa, National Publicity Secretary, Prof Katuka Yaki, Secretary, Environmental Committee, Prince Tony Ebietomiye, National Liaison Officer, Alhaji S. I. Sule, National Treasurer, Dr. Adindu Ndukwe, Chairman, National Youth Affairs Committee, Hon. Ngokanya Benjamin, and the National Youth Affairs Committee, Kabiru Aliyu.

    According to him, the meeting was predicated on the growing need to adopt strategies and explore avenues to move the association forward in view of growing public demands to make the extractive industries more competitive, transparent and beneficial to impacted communities and the nation at large.

    Azogu said that: “As the lawful voice for mineral producing communities across Nigeria we have a duty to protect these vulnerable communities from all forms of abuse by strengthening corporate governance and making our extractive industries more competitive, transparent and beneficial to impacted communities and the nation at large. We can only build a strong and virile Nigeria by scaffolding the concept of transparency, accountability, due process and patriotism with diligence.”

  • Man in court for theft of home appliances

    A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday, arraigned one Nlarian Nlowe, 28, for alleged theft.

    The defendant, who is standing trial on a count charge, resides at Jabi area, Abuja.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, said one Ugomma Rita, of the same address with the defendant, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station Abuja on March 9.

    Obatomi said that the complainant alleged that sometimes in August 2016, she left the defendant as her childhood friend in her room and travelled to Lagos.

    On her arrival, she discovered that her LG home theater, stabiliser, DSTV, shoes and her clothes, valued N120, 000 were missing.

    The prosecutor said she called the defendant to confirm what happened but he switched off his phone.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him, saying that he was not aware of those items that were stolen.

    However, the prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted him bail in the sum of N20, 000 and one surety in like sum.

    Ado said that the surety must be a worker in any corporate organisation and must have worked for five years and should reside within​the court jurisdiction.

    He adjourned the case till June 21 for further hearing.