The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agency

  • Niger Delta students threaten agency

    Niger Delta students threaten agency

    The Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG) has threatened to disrupt activities of the Nigeria Local Content and Monitoring Development Board (NCDMB), should the agency fail to live up to expectation within a short period of time.

    The union spoke through its president, Tonbara Yalah, during a press briefing in Yenagoa. Tonbara said the union was using the medium as a wakeup call to the agency, whose board he said has been inefficient over the years.

    He equally noted that the board, which was established to improve the capacity of youths in the Niger Delta, had performed below expectation.

    In a the recent national conference held by the union in Yenagoa, students vent their anger on the board members when they visited the agency’s office at Revenue House, Lambert Eradiri Road, Yenogua. Activities at the firm were grounded as the students barricaded the entrance gate, took over the reception room and chanted solidarity songs.

    Mr Eugene Ozolua, Director in the firm, who spoke on behalf of the board’s Executive Secretary, Mr Ernest Nwapa, pleaded with the students to remain calm, promising that the agency would strengthen relationship with the students.

    Obedience Akama, one of the students, said: “The board is better liquidated if it will be inefficient. Each time their workers see any student around the office, they don’t him. They feel too big to even talk to us.”

    The president of the National Union of Izon Ebe Students (NUIS), Godwin Ogele, a student of Delta State University, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to purge the leadership of the board of “bad eggs”.

    Tonbara threatened: “Should the board refused to live up to expectation this time around, we will make sure we disrupt its activities to drive home our point.”

  • World Bank shops for power project agency

    The World Bank is on the lookout for any government agency to handle the  Project Implementation Unit of its pilot Public Private Partnership (PPPs) department.

    the World Bank team, led by the Sector Manager, Finance and Private Sector Development (Western & Central African countries), Paul Noumba was  in Abuja yesterday in pursuit of the agenda.

    Noumba said that Nigeria was the first country which the World Bank picked   for a pilot project for PPPs, but regretted that for three years, funds released for the purpose have been lying fallow.

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) which made this disclosure in a statement, quoted him as saying that because of the non-utilisation of the fund, the World Bank has decided to restructure and scale it down to $25million at the first instance to take care of technical assistance and capacity building, while in phase two, it would release $85 million.

    The initial ratio, according to him,  was $150 million and $300million. He pledged the bank’s assistance to the Bureau in the areas of advisory services, manpower development and funding in some of its transactions like the commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority, privatisation of the Abuja Stock and Commodities Exchange and the eight reform bills being fine-tuned for presentation to the National Assembly.

    Speaking, the Director General, BPE, Benjamin Dikki,  declared that for reforms to succeed in any country there must be a strong political will at the top.

    He listed some of the reforms the present administration had given full backing, to include; the power privatization, commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), privatisation   of the Abuja Securities & Commodities Exchange (ASCE) and the approval of   eight reform bills by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) which are expected to be presented to Federal Executive Council (FEC) for onward transmission to the National assembly.

    The DG called for the domiciling of PIU in the Bureau as the law establishing BPE gives it the mandate to execute PPPs through concessioning/commercialisation. He added that the successful concessioning of the country’s 24 ports by the Bureau was a clear testimony of its capability to handle PPPs.

  • SMEDAN DG to set standard for the agency

    Alhaji Bature Umar Masari has been announced as the new Director-General/Chief Executive of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

    Masari who was warmly welcome by the Senior Management of the agency, according to a statement, assumed office on Monday.

    Masari said he is going to take the agency to the next level, adding that new standard will be introduce.

    “I will uphold the ideas of the Agency.Our target is to make out what is best for our nation.

    “I will like to be remembered as a man that came to an office, improved on it and left it better off when the time arrives,” he said.

    Masari, 51, hails from Masari in Kafur Local Government of Katsina State. He is an alumnus of two prestigious Institutions – Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria.

    He is a man of many parts: a journalist, politician, entrepreneur, and a seasoned administrator.

    He attended Kafur Primary School and Government Secondary School Malumfashi before proceeding to Bayero University, Kano [BUK] in 1983. He graduated in 1986 with Bachelor of Arts Degree [Mass Communications] (Hons.) and then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from where he bagged a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) in 2010.

    He was once a Reporter with the Defunct Democrat Newspapers, Kaduna from 1987-1990. From 1990 to 1999.

    with the Nigeria Customs Service.

     

     

     

  • FCT gets emergency management agency

    As part of efforts to tackle emergency situations in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has approved the establishment of the FCT Emergency Management Agency.

    Accordingly, this new agency has been created to effectively and efficiently respond to all emergency challenges in and around the 8,000 square kilometre of the Federal Capital Territory in line with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act that stipulates the establishment of similar agencies in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

    The Agency, according to a statement by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, would be a one-stop-shop for all emergency cases to provide basic infrastructure as well as immediate rescue services to all affected residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The minister added that the agency has been well packaged to deliver services in tune with the mission and vision of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Meanwhile, Senator Mohammed has also approved the constitution of the FCT Emergency Management Committee in line with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act.

     

  • Melaye urges NBA, agency to withdraw Adoke’s SAN

    The Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network, Dino Melaye, yesterday accused the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister OF Justice, Mohammed Adoke, of contempt of court.

    He also urged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee (LPPC) to withdraw the minister’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.

    The former House of Representatives member said this has become necessary because the actions of the Justice Minister were unbecoming of a man of his exalted office.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Melaye accused Adoke of alleged “abuse of office and conflict of interest”.

    The politician-turned-activist urged President Goodluck Jonathan to relieve the minister of his job, if his fight against graft is genuine.

    He said: “We are in times of vicissitude and vacillation in Nigeria due to conflict of interest and outrageous use of powers against public interest by the AGF.

    “With abuse of office and conflict of interest rising to its crescendo, we call on the President to immediately sack Mr. Mohammed Adoke as the AGF and Minister of Justice, if his fight against corruption is genuine.

    “We also call on the NBA and LPPC to put their engines in motion and discipline Adoke for gross professional misconduct. The former Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, was stripped of his SAN for lesser offenCes. So, we implore the NBA to investigate and punish Adoke accordingly in the interest of justice because he is worse than Aondoakaa.”

    Explaining his reasons for expressing anger against the Justice Minister, Melaye said: “The AGF has also shown gross disregard for court orders and judgments. The most recent was the case filed in a Lagos Federal High Court with suit No: FHC/L/CS/514/12 between Mr. Boniface Okezie and the Attorney-General of the Federation and one other.

    “The court ordered that the Attorney-General of the Federation disclose to the plaintiff certain information within 72 hours after the judgment delivered on February 22, 2013. Unfortunately, over a month after, the AGF has not complied with the court order. If the AGF will not obey court orders, then who will in Nigeria?”

    But the Chief Press Secretary to the AGF, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, dismissed the allegations. He urged Melaye to formerly channel his grievances to the ministry for appropriate response.

    Momoh said the politician was entitled to his opinion, adding: “I cannot respond to a press conference that was addressed. I was not there to know what transpired. You will concede to me that it will not be appropriate to respond to what he (Melaye) has said.

    “If he formally presents his allegations to the ministry, there will be an official way of responding to him. I don’t respond to issues like that; Melaye has aired his views and opinions and he is entitled to his opinions.”

  • Senate declares border agency a failure

    Senate declares border agency a failure

    Senate President David Mark yesterday passed a damning verdict on the Border Communities Development Agency: they are a monumental failure.

    Mark made the declaration as a Bill, which seeks an Act to amend the Border Communities Development Agency Act scaled second reading in the upper chamber.

    The Bill, sponsored by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South), received unanimous support of other Senators.

    Mark noted that the failure of the agency has made the country to abandon its border communities to other countries.

    He said: “The summary is that the agency has failed and in a plain language, it has failed and woefully too.

    “If this amendment can make it become active, that is what we deserve because we have abandoned and neglected our border communities to other countries for so long.

    “They (communities) have very good reasons to go and take facilities from where they are available.

    “Looking at the agency, everybody there is on part time basis and that makes them not to perform effectively.

    The money voted for them what have they done with it.?”

    Lanlehin said the agency was established to improve the social and economic lives of and bring succour to neglected Nigerians living in various settlements, villages and towns spread across 96 local governments in the 21 states on Nigeria’s international borders.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmaker noted that the condition of the country’s border communities has not improved, neither has the presence of the Border Communities Development Agency been felt in any life impacting way, since President Goodluck Jonathan described the situation in the communities as embarrassing in 2007.

    He said the situation in the border communities could rightly be said to have deteriorated with the current security challenges in some parts of the northern states, which is being fuelled by influx of mercenaries, foreigners and arms smuggling through the border communities.

    Lanlehin said an enduring concern of ordinary Nigerian in the border communities is the neglect and lack of basic infrastructure in them, when compared with border communities of neighbouring purportedly poorer countries.

    He noted that the fear being expressed in some quarters is that, should the ordinary impoverished Nigerians in those communities have the choice as to their citizenship they might opt to be nationals of poorer neighbours.

    He added: “Governance is a social contract between the ordinary citizens who constitute the electorate and the government.

    “In this particular case, Nigerians, especially those at the border communities are not asking for too much.

    “Their clamour is for the basics of life such as good motorable roads, schools, hospitals and potable drinking water.

    The lawmaker said that the current security challenge facing the country is partly being orchestrated and driven by influx of mercenaries, terrorists and other armed groups who gain entry into the country through porous borders.

    He added that needless to state that the abject poverty and lack of government presence in the border communities has created a veritable ground for unscrupulous elements.

    Among other proposals, the Bill seeks in addition to the financial provision as contained in the Principal Act as amended, 1 per cent of the Ecological Fund accrual to the border states and 0.5 per cent statutory allocation of the border states be dedicated to development of the border communities.

    Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ganiyu Solomon, Solomon Adokwe and others supported the Bill.

    The Lagos State Special Economic Assistance Bill 2013, sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) was read by the Clerk of the Senate and Senate President.

    Apart from the Special Economic Assistance Bill, a Bill for an Act to repeal the National Assembly Service Commission Act Cap N7 2004 and enact a new National Assembly Service Act, 2013 scaled second reading.

    The Bill seeks to reorganise the management and administrative structure of the National Assembly for improved service delivery.

    It was sponsored by Senator Ita Enang, (Akwa Ibom North East).

  • Oil wells dispute: Revenue agency backs Bayelsa

    Oil wells dispute: Revenue agency backs Bayelsa

    Despite the protest by the Kalabari community in Rivers State, the disputed oil wells will still remain with Bayelsa, a federal agency declared yesterday.

    Kalabari elders and traditional rulers on Monday staged a protest in Abuja over the alleged ceding of Soku oil wells in Rivers to Bayelsa State, allegedly with President Goodluck Jonathan’s support. The President is from Bayelsa.

    The oil wells in Kula, Soku, Ehem-Sarama, Idama and Abose communities produce 300,000 barrels of crude daily.

    “The status quo remains – which is that the oil wells, for now, belong to Bayelsa State,” chair of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Elias Mbam, said yesterday in Abuja.

    The Kalabari elders accused the RMAFC, the National Boundaries Commission (NBC) and other federal agencies of being used by the President to cede the oil wells to Bayelsa, a claim presidential spokesman Reuben Abati dismissed as “irresponsible” because, according to him, the federal agencies are independent.

    Mbam said: “The status quo remains and that is that the wells, for now, belong to Bayelsa state it is an old issue and the RMAFC is not doing anything differently until the NBC completes its assignment and the Supreme Court gives a final ruling on the matter.”

    He said the commission “relies solely on the decision of the Presidential Committee on the Verification of Oil Wells of December 2000, comprising the office of the Vice President, National Security Adviser, Department of State Security, National Boundary Commission RMAFC, the Nigerian Navy, DPR and the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation,” which retained the wells in Bayelsa State.

    He added that the commission was holding on to the Supreme Court judgment of July 10, which stated that “until the National Boundary Commission concludes its exercise of delineation of the disputed boundary to finality, it will be futile and premature to determine the boundary of the two states in present circumstances. However, the appropriate order to be made in the prevailing circumstance is that of striking out the plaintiff’s suit.”

    Mbam said the claims of the Kalabari National Forum, led by Awoyesuau-Jack, a traditional ruler, alleging that some public officials connived to take away some communities from Rivers state and hand them over to Bayelsa State for political reasons is baseless, malicious and a calculated attempt to misinform the public and embarrass the RMAFC.

    He urged all parties to exercise restraint and allow peace to reign while the National Boundary Commission completes its assignment on the delineation of boundaries between the two states.

    The RMAFC boss said Bayelsa State has sent a petition to the commission, and the RMAFC has constituted an inter-agency committee, comprising the National Boundary Commission, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation and the offices of Surveyors-General of Bayelsa and Rivers states.

    The committee, he said, will look at the details of the petition to determine where the disputed oil wells belong. The DPR will determine the content and quantity of the oil wells.

    The National Boundary Commission, Mbam said, will have to complete its assignment first before the determination of which state owns the wells, but he expects the NBC to finish in good time so that other activities will follow.

    On the 13 per cent derivation funds that is now a source of controversy between the states and oil producing communities, Mbam said: “As of today, the RMAFC Act does not allow the commission to release money to communities but we have advised state governments to use the 13 per cent derivation fund to develop the communities where oil exploration takes place.

    The 13 per cent derivation fund, according to him, is meant to address the challenges that may arise as a result of oil production. He maintained that the money should be used to address such challenges.

    Mbam urged aggrieved oil producing communities to come forward and make presentations at the review of the new revenue formula, on how best the 13 per cent derivation should be handled in the review.

    Mbam said lack of funds has delayed the review and eventual release of the much expected revenue formula.

    “The success of the review of the new revenue formula depends on variables. One of such variables is funding,” he said.

    He said RMAFC is optimistic that the 2013 budget will address funding challenges to allow RMAFC go to the zones and carry out workshops and receive input from stakeholders.

    The RMAFC boss was silent on when the new revenue formula will be released but he said the commission was looking at next year – if it has the requisite funding to complete its duties.

    Funding is required to finance the travel arrangements of 37 members to all parts of the country, hire consultants and for sundry logistics.

  • Kogi to re-organise emergency agency

    Kogi to re-organise emergency agency

    Kogi Deputy Governor Mr Yomi Awoniyi, says the state government will reorganise its Emergency Management Agency to increase its capacity to respond to emergencies and disasters.

    Awoniyi, in a press statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja, said this when he received a delegation of UNICEF officials from Kaduna State.

    The UNICEF officials were in the state to assess the current flood disaster which ravaged parts of the state.

    Awoniyi disclosed that the state government had concluded arrangements to begin the process of cooking for displaced victims within their camps, rather than the daily sharing of raw foodstuffs.

    “We discovered that people now impersonate to collect food stuffs,” he said.

    The deputy governor said the state had prepared ahead for the flood but its magnitude was beyond its capacity.

    He disclosed that the state would partner with both the Federal Government and UNICEF to expand and strengthen of the State Emergency Management Agency to be more proactive.

    Awoniyi thanked the Red Cross International which had been assisting the state to build new camps with the use of tents, across the state.

    Earlier while speaking, the leader of the UNICEF delegation, Mr. Raymon Akor, said he had visited several camps in the state.

    He promised that the organisation would give more assistance to the state towards the upkeep of the victims.

     

  • Rent regulatory agency for FCT

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded plans to introduce a rents regulatory agency (RERA) to control what many have termed the prohibitive rents in the Territory.

    It was gathered that the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has concluded plans to establish the agency, which will be backed with necessary laws that will require property owners to collect rents on monthly or quarterly basis instead of the current annual or bi-annual arrangement.

    Recall that Mohammed had hinted on this move while responding to questions from FCT residents recently.

    “Together with property tax, Senator Smart Adeyemi said the FCTA intends to sanitise the system in the real estate sector, kill the black market in that sector, make housing affordable and rents sustainable and more importantly; it will boost the economy,” a source said.

    One of the stakeholders in the real estate sector who spoke to Abuja Review in confidence noted that the move will curb corruption and will be in the best interest of the majority of the FCT residents, especially the middle and low income earners.

    The source said: “It is good for middle and low income earners as it protects them against shylock landlords. Lagos is implementing it and you can see Lagos has the highest internally-generated revenue (IGR).

    “On its economic effect; it will improve welfare, consumption and disposable income because majority of the populace earn monthly salary with little upfront payments. So, it is inconceivable how they survive by paying two, three, or one year rent in advance to landlords.”

    Another source also warned FCTA to brace up for stiff resistance; especially from the property owners who are mostly the powerful elite should the proposed property tax and rents regulatory agency be introduced. This is in spite the fact that it will boost the economy.

  • Agency alerts Lokoja residents to presence of killer pythons

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has alerted residents of Lokoja in Kogi to the presence of big pythons in communities along the bank of the River Niger.

    In a newsletter yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, the agency said large pythons and other dangerous reptiles had been washed off the bank of the river, following the recent floods in the state.

    It said: “In fact, large pythons have already been washed off the banks of River Niger following the flooding.”

    NIWA said its warning was based on what environmentalists and marine experts said.

    It warned flood victims to be careful in their attempt to recover their homes and personal effects.

    NIWA attached a picture of one large python, killed at the bank of the river by some of its officials.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIWA’s warning came at a time the floods were receding and people were returning to their submerged homes to recover their property.

    It was, however, learnt that some of the victims were apprehensive that pythons and other dangerous reptiles might have found a new abode in their homes.

    In Kpat, Adankolo, Gadumo, Kabawa and other affected areas, some residents confirmed the influx of pythons, crocodiles, snakes and other reptiles in the communities.

    In the newsletter,NIWA also confirmed that it provided seven boats, jackets and other materials that were deployed for the rescue of trapped flood victims at Ibaji Local Government Area and other parts of the state.

    The newsletter said NIWA’s Managing Director Alhaji Aminu Yar ‘dua joined the rescue team, which comprised the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Red Cross, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and officials of the Kogi State Ministry of Environment, to rescue flood victims at Ibaji.