Tag: BUHARI
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Terminal operators are volating agreement, ministry official alleges
• Buhari, Amaechi urged to intervene as concession ends in May
Three months before the expiration of their 10-year concession, some port terminal operators have been accused of violating some terms of the agreement.
They are said to have “systemically broken the lease fees” condition and also collected demurrage and storage charges on weekends and public holidays in contravention of the agreement.
According to the concession, the operators can only collect such charges on “business days”, which are defined as days “banks are not authorised or required to close”.
A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), who raised the alarm, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Transport Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to plug loopholes at the ports and ensure that the operators generate more revenue in the face of the falling oil price.
He noted that contrary to the concession, the operators have been paying the same amount as “lease fees” since 2009.
The operators, the official alleged, are conniving with some ports officials to short-change the government on the amount they are expected to pay yearly.
He enjoined Buhari and Amaechi to ensure that a throughput fee calculated on the basis of one United States dollar ($1) per tonne handled on the premises of each terminal in case of both Bulk and break-bulk cargo and $16 per TEU handled in the terminal for containers are paid to the government.
“The amount is payable in arrears at the end of each monthly period beginning on the first day of the first month after the ‘effective date’ they took over the terminals.
“Government must also ensure that the throughput fee, together with the fixed ‘lease fees’ are paid as stipulated by the concession agreement to boost the economy.
“It is stated in Appendix F of the concession agreement that throughput fee shall be assessed on empty and laden containers, import/export cargoes and shell be paid to the less or within five days after the last day of the applicable period,’’ he said.
The operators, the official said, are not expected to pay the same amount to the government as lease fees yearly.
“Apart from the initial $2 million some of them paid as ‘commencement fee’ to operate in each of the terminals in May 2006, they are expected to pay a fixed annual payment of between $8 million and $10 million in each of the first three year (May 2006-May 2009) and $19.5 million each year between June 2009 and May, this year, he said.
Some operators, the official noted, have not added value to their services and terminals since the ports were handed over to them, accusing them of not following “Prudent Industry Standard (PIS)” the clause in the agreement.
“PIS means the generally accepted practices, methods, techniques and standard employed by the international multipurpose terminal industry in accordance with applicable law with respect to (a) the development, operation and maintenance of multipurpose terminals; (b) personnel and terminal safety and environmental protection and (c) optimising the performance of the operations.
“The terminal operators are expected by the agreement to use their best efforts to develop market and promote cargo throughput and cargo-related business of the port in order to achieve maximum utilisation thereof in a manner which is consistent with the law and PIS and ensure there is no decline in the standard.’’
He regretted that most of the terminals were stocked with old equipment inherited from the NPA, adding that most of the inherited buildings are dilapidated and occupying space that would have been converted to cargo delivery.
The official lamented that the ports were still burdened by bureaucratic hitches, periodic technical blackouts and duplication of processes by government agencies.
“In its quest to generate more revenue, the Federal Government, must always demand for accurate data on the quantity, types and weights of cargo handle in each of the terminals; accurate data on the number and types of ships, wagons or road trucks loaded or unloaded in each of the terminal; average ship turnaround time, cargo dwell time, truck loading and unloading time,” he said.
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‘I’ll fight corruption like Buhari’
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello has vowed to follow President Muhammadu Buhari’s footsteps in tackling corruption and ensure that government is alive to its responsibilities.
He also said all ongoing and abandoned projects will be completed.
Government, Bello said will not embark on huge new projects that do not have any meaningful multiplier effect.
Bello who gave the assurances when he briefed journalists on his administration’s policy trust also vowed to deliver a secured environment adding that Abuja Master Plan must be followed.
He said the acute problem of traffic congestion faced by commuters in many locations will receive immediate attention through expedited completion and opening of more feeder roads.
His words: “As I set out my responsibilities in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), I shall be guided by President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of delivering a secure environment, zero tolerance to corruption and ensuring that government is alive to its responsibilities.
“In the face of the myriad needs demanding for scarce resources and the numerous uncompleted and abandoned projects, which if completed, will have immediate positive impact on the city and its inhabitants, we do not intend to embark on huge new projects that do not have any meaningful multiplier effect. Our priority in the short run, therefore, will be the completion of ongoing projects as may be appropriately reviewed.
“Project of immediate attention will include Satellite towns in which we will target the development of affordable mass housing schemes and infrastructure in partnership with private sector to address the acute shortage of housing of low income earners. This will have the multiplier effect of reinvigorating the economy and creating employment opportunities in the Satellite towns.
“The law that sets up Abuja is 40 years and after the law, a master plan was established for the city with the provision of being reviewed periodically.
“What this administration is going to handle is the issue of flagrant abuse of the master plan. Obviously this will not be acceptable but of course readjusting and being flexible on the pan in line with current demographic realities will always be done.”
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Buhari seeks vigilance against insurgents
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja urged Nigerians, especially those in areas ravaged by terrorists, to be vigilant and work with security operatives in ending insurgency.
He was reacting to suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari internally-displaced persons’ (IDPs’) camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State.
President Buhari said the insurgents had suffered sustained bombardments by the military and are gaining cheap media attention.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: “I urge the citizens to own the war and be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the work to make our country safe.”
He said the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, such as the case of the Dolari IDP.
“Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into the society. They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets,” he added.
The President noted that the materials for the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by the insurgents, urging Nigerians to be more circumspect and report suspicious purchases and movements of unusual components in any part of the country, especially in the Northeast.
Buhari extended his condolences to the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God would comfort them and grant the injured quick recovery.
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Buhari: Africa must end wars
President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Addis Ababa that the African Union’s (AU) vision to reduce preventable conflict-related deaths by 2020 must be achieved “now”.
Speaking at the 26th AU summit, Buhari decried the use of scarce resources in Africa on armed conflicts rather than economic and social development of the continent.
The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, challenged fellow African leaders to engage South Sudan and Burundi to bring the conflicts to an end.
He said African leaders must forge a united front against terrorism and face the noble goals of Agenda 2063.
“We have shed blood for Africa to be free. But the irony is that, today, we are now killing one another.
“Rather than face the challenges confronting us, we are killing our children and inflicting horrors and hardship on our brothers and sisters.
“That is truly a tragedy and it must stop. Enough is Enough!
“Within the framework of the African Union, we have to reach a consensus on how to silence the guns. Not by 2020, but now. We must say ‘No’ to wars and conflicts,’’ the President said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s determination to defeat terrorism and bring the war against Boko Haram to an end, Buhari said Nigeria would continue to partner the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Republic of Benin, through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He said Nigeria would redeem its pledge of $100 million to enhance its operations, having released $21 million to the task force last June.
The President reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the unity, peace and prosperity of the continent.
“We have always been attached to the idea of African unity.
“During the struggle to win freedom for our brothers and sisters in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Nigeria was considered a frontline state, although we were not geographically on the frontline.
“This was because we took to heart the words of President Ben Bella of Algeria that we had to die for our brothers and sisters,’’ he said.
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When Buhari’s war can succeed
Every nation has its share of patriots and traitors. They manifest in human vessels as the forces of good and evil, which define the character of a nation. When patriots are in control, a nation prospers with dignity: when traitors are in charge, the people are destroyed. The Nigerian corruption scenario has become a global case study of how a nation can be a stark contradiction of lack in the midst of plenty.
Over the course of the last three weeks, the barrage of claims and counter-claims coming from those being tried for corrupt practices in the arms procurement scandal shows that our great nation had been under the yoke of traitors for years. This is why a change in the status quo in virtually every sphere of our human endeavour is an imperative, if Nigeria is to emerge as a strong socio-economic force in the near future.
Like Rev. Chris Okotie said at his Household of God church on Sunday, 17 January, 2016: “I urge Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign which aims to rid this country of the People’s Democratic Party’s legacy of a government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt.” Indeed, there is a great need to support the present government in its corruption battle and nation building efforts. Since Nigerians voted for change, we must begin that great process individually and collectively with a change of attitude for the better by being genuine patriots, knowing that only all-inclusive change can transform Nigeria.
It is a mirage for us to expect any dramatic change from President Muhammadu Buhari’s government if we remain detached from this anti-corruption war. Moving the nation forward is a collective task and not the solo effort of any particular leader or political party. Every Nigerian has a role to play in the quest to move the nation forward. We cannot appoint a leader as we always do and leave him to his own devices. We must hold our leaders accountable; we must compel them to walk their talk. Whatever President Buhari and his party promised must be delivered if they are to govern with peace of mind.
If our elected leaders go off tangent at any stage or become complacent, it is the duty of Nigerians to call them to order. Once our leaders know that they must deliver on their promises or get sacked at the next polls or even impeached, they’d sit up: That’s one of the duties of patriotic citizens. This anti-corruption tsunami is a wake-up call to over-ambitious politicians and office holders, and an admonition to government to sustain the momentum. Everybody must become an anti-corruption fighter.
Corruption is a global scourge, and pen thieves abound everywhere; look at the tsunami sweeping through FIFA headquarters for an attestation of this. But what differs between the Nigerian scenario and other climes like Europe and zero-tolerant nations like North Korea are obvious. For a start, those nations do not celebrate ill gotten wealth; neither does their economic legal system exculpate culprits with weak punitive measures. The economic system does not operate an open door policy which makes the perpetration of economic and financial crimes as easy as a, b, c. Neither do ex-convicts bask in the klieg-lights and media glory of social soirees with men and women in government. The populace ensures this.
Demanding the heads of looters will not impede corruption, not if the system celebrates them. To realistically begin to curb corruption, plugging the channels that looters exploit is the best step forward. Rev. Okotie also posits that re-ordering the value system is the foundation upon which a corruption-free and equitable Nigerian society can be built. Let’s start there. Reports have it that CBN is to publish the list of suspected looters: They should also publish details of contracts and expenditures.
Over and above the anti-graft battle is the need to rally together a united front and a cohesive nation at this time of low morale and an obvious national economic downturn: The corruption racket has taken a toll on the nation and the challenges of instability making rounds in the nation are the drumbeats of discontent; the Boko Haram insurgency in the north, the militancy in the south-south, Biafra agitations in the east, kidnappings across the nation, serial murders and ritual killings, proliferation of arms and IED’s and trafficking and laundering.
As the anti-corruption war heats-up, still languishing at the back end of all these socio-economic crossroads is a traumatised nation with citizens who need a chance at redemption from the numerous challenges that coxswain their opportunities at attaining their best potential. This is what must go alongside the corruption battle and economic restructuring; reconciliation of old troubles.
In closing, let President Buhari heed Okotie’s admonition never to relent or compromise because Nigerians are behind him. Your Excellency, Mr. President, you must fight to make Nigeria right. You have no choice. But your fight against corruption, injustice and for the rule of law must be fair to all. Unlike your predecessors, you must finish strong and leave a great legacy. Then, indeed, Mr. President, will your fight be right for Nigeria as indicated by the Pastor-politician
- Elakhe, a member of the Fresh Democratic Party (FRESH), wrote in from Lagos.
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Boko Haram: Nigeria to redeem $100m pledge to MNJTF
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said Nigeria will fully redeem its pledge of $100million to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to enhance its operations against Boko Haram.
The President spoke at a high-level meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He said that having already released $21million to the task force in June last year, Nigeria will remit the balance of $79million very soon.
Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also assured the Council that Boko Haram’s capacity to conduct conventional attacks has been “heavily degraded.”
He said: “As at now, there is no single Nigerian territory under the control of the insurgents other than their hideouts in Sambisa Forest.
“Displaced persons (IDPs) are now being resettled in their respective homes.
“This feat totally accords with our promise to Nigerians to rid the country of terrorism and extremism within few months of our assumption of office.
“Our efforts are already yielding dividends and we will not relent until the terrorist groups are totally decimated and wiped out of our country and sub-region.”
The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to support measures to end the conflicts in Burundi and South Sudan, including the proposed deployment of troops by the AU to Burundi.
He added: “Let me reiterate Nigeria’s deep commitment to ensuring durable peace, stability and security on our continent.
“Without peace, there will be no development. It is therefore vital for all of us to join hands in taking appropriate measures to end the conflicts and bring a stop to the incalculable damage being inflicted on innocent citizens in the affected countries.”
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Buhari seeks acceleration of Africa’s economic integration
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night called for intensification of intra-African trade and acceleration of the pace of economic integration across the continent.
He spoke at a banquet in his honour at the conclusion of his state visit to Kenya.
President Buhari, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the expansion of trade relations between Nigeria and Kenya in recent years should be replicated by all other African countries to speed up the pace of economic development on the continent.
He said: “We now have Nigerian industrialists establishing cement plants in Kenya, while Nigerian telecommunications operators are learning and adopting the Kenyan mobile banking model as a tool for financial inclusion in rural Nigeria.
“We have Nigerian farmers coming to learn from successful Kenyan farms while at the same time, we have many up and coming Kenyan oil and gas businesses partnering with Nigerian oil companies.
“We have Nigerians drinking Kenyan coffee in their homes and offices, while we have many Kenyans listening to Nigerian music and watching Nollywood movies.
“These developments point to a real integration on the continent beyond formal diplomatic relationships. Greater intra-Africa trade will ultimately result in the creation of millions of jobs within Africa for Africans.”
The President was optimistic that Nigeria and Kenya will continue to build on the mutually-beneficial trade and economic relations between them.
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Buhari rejects naira devaluation
President Muhammadu Buhari has said he is yet to be convinced that Nigerians will benefit from an official devaluation of the Naira.
He spoke on Wednesday at an interactive meeting with Nigerians living in Nairobi, Kenya.
President Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, maintained that while export-driven economies could benefit from devaluation of their currencies, devaluation will only result in further inflation and hardship for the poor and middle class in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.
He said he had no intention of bringing further hardship on the country’s poor who, he said, have suffered enough.
Likening devaluation of the Naira to having it “killed”, President Buhari said the proponents of devaluation will have to work harder to convince him that ordinary Nigerians will gain anything from it.
The President also rejected suggestions that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should resume the sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux de Change (BDCs), saying that the bureau de change business has become a scam and a drain on the economy.
“We had just 74 of the bureaux in 2005, now they have grown to about 2,800,” President Buhari noted.
He alleged that some bank and government officials used surrogates to run the BDCs and prosper at public expense by obtaining foreign exchange from the government at official rates and selling it at much higher rates.
The President said: “We will use our foreign exchange for industry, spare parts and the development of needed infrastructure.
“We don’t have the dollars to give to the BDCs. Let them go and get it from wherever they can, other than the Central Bank,” President Buhari told the gathering.
The President reaffirmed his conviction that about a third of petroleum subsidy payments under the previous administration was bogus.
“They just stamped papers and collected our foreign exchange,” he said.
The President urged Nigerians studying abroad to bear with his administration as it strives to address the challenges they are facing as a result of new foreign exchange measures.
He is optimistic that the economy will stabilise soon with the efficient implementation of measures and policies that have been introduced by his administration.
The President said that for peace to reign in the world, the global community must develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated counter-extremism strategies at sub-regional, regional and continental levels.
He spoke during the opening of bilateral talks between Nigeria and Kenya. He said radicalisation and violent extremism were taking root across Africa and must be tackled head-on and with brand new strategies.
His words: “The threat posed to national, regional and global peace and security by terrorists has taken an alarming dimension in recent times.
“In Nigeria, Boko Haram has caused havoc, especially in the Northeastern part of the country – killing, maiming, destroying livelihoods and displacing hapless citizens, majority of who are women and children.
“In Kenya, you also face terrorist challenges. Similarly, Iraq and Syria are facing their own brand of terrorism which has thrown the entire Middle East into turmoil. Terrorism does not respect religion, creed, race or national boundaries. No country is safe from the menace.
“This is why the entire global community must work in a concerted manner, particularly in areas of sharing intelligence and pooling resources and finance, to confront the scourge. Our armed forces and security services should also be adequately supported and well-motivated to fight terrorism.
“It is worth emphasising that terrorists are continually changing tactics, building alliances, merging and generally getting more sophisticated, all in an attempt to build their capacity to inflict pain and misery on societies.
“To win the war on terror, therefore, we must respond to this phenomenon by developing new and versatile strategies. Together with our allies, Nigeria and Kenya can successfully tackle these challenges that have traumatised and brought untold suffering to our people.”
At the Nigeria–Kenya Business Forum, President Buhari expressed the confidence that the Nigeria-Kenya Business Council and the Kenya-Nigeria Agribusiness Forum will serve as platforms for the promotion of intra-African trade.
The two countries plan to launch five-year business visas for business people operating in both countries to allow ease of doing business.
While signing various bilateral trade agreements in Nairobi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Buhari committed themselves to removing barriers to trade between the two countries.
They pledged to jointly fight corruption and insecurity in a bid to strengthen trade ties between the East and West African nations.
Kenya also announced that it will host the inaugural Kenya – Nigeria Joint Commission for cooperation later this year.
Kenya and Nigeria began the process of reviving investment and trade agreements signed eight months ago.
The two countries are keen on establishing a joint commission for cooperation aimed at boosting ties in trade, tourism, security, agriculture and energy.
Kenyatta said: ”The streaming of immigration issues, particularly the issuance of the five-year visas for our businessmen, will invigorate our trade and business ties, the Kenya-Nigeria joint trade commission for cooperation remains an important implementation and monitoring mechanism for the agreements that our two countries have signed.”
Buhari and Kenyatta pledged to cooperate in the war against terrorism and corruption.
Both countries are battling the threat of terrorism within their borders, Nigeria from Boko Haram and Kenya from the Al Qaeda-linked militant group Al Shabab.
Kenya has recently discovered oil in the North of the country and is seeking expertise from Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, which Buhari pledged to give.
Buhari said: “We congratulate Kenya for discovering oil and gas. There we believe with indigenous technology from Nigeria we will be able to help. In other areas we are going to benefit from agriculture in Kenya.”
Official figures indicate that trade between Kenya and Nigeria stood at $190million in 2013.
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Buhari seeks implementation of counter-terrorism strategies
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, said for peace to reign in the world, the global community must develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated counter-extremism strategies at sub-regional, regional and continental levels.
Speaking at the opening of bilateral talks between Nigeria and Kenya, President Buhari warned that radicalization and violent extremism were increasingly taking root across Africa and must be tackled head-on and with brand new strategies.
Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “The threat posed to national, regional and global peace and security by terrorists has taken an alarming dimension in recent times.
“In Nigeria, Boko Haram has caused havoc, especially in the North-eastern part of the country – killing, maiming, destroying livelihoods and displacing hapless citizens, majority of who are women and children.
“In Kenya, you also face terrorist challenges. Similarly, Iraq and Syria, are facing their own brand of terrorism which has thrown the entire Middle East into turmoil. Terrorism does not respect religion, creed, race or national boundaries. No country is safe from the menace.
“This is why the entire global community must work in a concerted manner, particularly in areas of sharing intelligence and pooling resources and finance to confront the scourge. Our armed forces and security services should also be adequately supported and well-motivated to fight terrorism.
“It is worth emphasizing that terrorists are continually changing tactics, building alliances, merging and generally getting more sophisticated, all in an attempt to build their capacity to inflict pain and misery on societies.
“To win the war on terror therefore, we must respond to this phenomenon by developing new and versatile strategies. Together with our allies, Nigeria and Kenya can successfully tackle these challenges that have traumatized and brought untold suffering to our people.
“The need to tackle and defeat terrorism cannot be overemphasized as there can be no development and prosperity in an atmosphere of insecurity and instability. “