The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • How Buhari can help youths, by YALI fellows

    How Buhari can help youths, by YALI fellows

    The West Africa Regional Learning Centre of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has held a leadership programme for African youths in Accra, Ghana.

    At the end of the exercise, Nigerian participants called on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate programmes that would enable youths to develop their potential.

    The participants made the call in separate interviews at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). They said youth development was imperative to nation building.

    YALI is a signature programme of President Barack Obama, which is aimed at investing in the next generation of African leaders, by equipping and empowering them with the right leadership training to reposition Africa.

    Over 100 youths selected from eight West African countries are attending the event. Forty Nigerians are participating in the programme.

    The event began on November 2 and it will end on December 4.

    A participant, Kunle Ajayi, a social entrepreneur, said one of the ways Nigeria could grow faster was for the government to prioritise youth-oriented programmes that would enhance the capacity of young people in entrepreneurship.

    He urged President Buhari to initiate policies that would encourage and support budding entrepreneurs, adding that this would help in reducing unemployment in the country.

    He said: “In addressing the challenge of unemployment, I will advise governments at all levels to boost capacity of financial institutions to create platforms for intending and existing entrepreneurs to tap soft loans to develop their ideas. This is the best way to solve unemployment problems.”

    Blessing Agho, a young farmer based in Edo State, said transformation of the agricultural sector would create more jobs for the youth, urging the government to design frameworks that would attract and encourage more youths to go into farming.

    “The government should invest more in agriculture to provide employment opportunities for the youth. Our country is blessed with a good climate and arable land for agricultural production,” she said.

    Jennifer Pearse, an activist and community developer based in Rivers State, urged President Buhari to include the youth in decision making, governance and policy formulation.

    She said: “We need to be included in decision making and governance of our country because policies designed by government will surely have effects on our future, either positively or negatively.”

    Jennifer added that it was important for the government to revamp education, saying no nation could develop without quality education for its citizens.

    The traditional ruler of Akyem Abuakwa in Ghana, His Majesty, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori, who attended the event, charged African leaders to develop the continent, stressing that quality education, infrastructure and good leadership remained the solution to Africa’s problems.

    Since the continent is blessed with natural and human resources, the monarch said Africans should have no business with poverty. He advised the youth to acquire quality education and leadership skills to take the continent out of the woods.

  • Buhari approves Justice Akanbi’s compulsory retirement

    Buhari approves Justice Akanbi’s compulsory retirement

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the compulsory retirement of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt division with immediate effect for misconduct.

    It was learnt that the President’s approval followed a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) after its 74th meeting, held on November 4th and 5th this year.

    NJC’s Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, who confirmed this in a statement Wednesday, said Justice Akanbi was fired over various allegations leveled against him by Shell Petroleum Company Nigeria Limited in its petition to the NJC.

    Shell was said to have accused Akanbi of unilaterally appointing one Mr. Emeka Nkwo of CYN-JAC (NIG) LTD who was not proposed by any of the parties as referee or valuer in Suit Nos FHC/PH/CS/434/2012 and FHC/PH/CS/435/2012.

    “He also appointed the same referee or valuer in Suit FHC/PH/CS/25/2003, which is another matter involving one of the parties in the first suit.

    “He heard and concluded the case without dealing with the Notice of Preliminary Objection on the Jurisdiction of his Court.

    “He sat on the case in the Federal High Court; Yenagoa in Suit FHC/YNG/CS/30/2013 after a new Judge had been transferred to the state without a fiat from the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

    “The judge also delivered the ruling in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/07/2009, four months after final addresses were taken without any cogent reason contrary to the constitutional provisions that Judgment should be delivered within a period of 90 days.

    “Justice Akanbi also dismissed the application to set aside the report prepared by the valuer, CYN – JAC (NIG) LTD and later changed the juling to judgement which prevented the respondent from pursuing the application for stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.

    “That Hon. Justice Akanbi also failed to give a copy of his Ruling delivered on 12th June, 2013 to the complainant until 28th June, 2013.

    “In the exercise of its constitutional powers, at the same meetings of 4th and 5th November, 2015, Council had suspended Hon. Justice Lambo Akanbi from office before the approval for his compulsory retirement by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,” Oye said.

    Justice Akanbi featured prominently in the dispute between then Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the NJC over the appointment of a Chief Judge in Rivers State, which led to the closure of the state’s court for over a year.

    He gave a judgment which was at variance with the position taken by the NJC in the matter.

  • Buhari vows to ‘wipe out’ Boko Haram

    Buhari vows to ‘wipe out’ Boko Haram

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja called for increased vigilance among the civilian population to help ward off terror attacks on soft targets around the country.

    He also condemned in strongest terms the barbaric suicide attacks which took place in Yola and Kano on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the Government and people of Adamawa and Kano States respectively.

    He reassured Nigerians that his administration is very much determined to wipe out Boko Haram in Nigeria and bring all perpetrators of the heinous crime against humanity to justice.

    The President urges Nigerians not to despair in the face of cowardly terrorist attacks but to have confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s reinvigorated, well-equipped and well-motivated Armed Forces and security agencies to overcome Boko Haram very soon.

    He, however, believes that vigilance is a potential life saver, since security agents cannot be everywhere to deter every planned attack.

    Citizen’s vigilance, he said, will therefore help to reduce the frequency of such attacks.

  • Buhari sends N465.64b supplementary budget to NASS

    Buhari sends N465.64b supplementary budget to NASS

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday submitted N465, 636,926,857 supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

    Buhari said N460, 636,926,857 only is for additional recurrent (Non Debt), while the balance of N5, 000,000,000 is for contribution to the Development Fund for additional Capital Expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2015.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, read the Presidential communication containing the breakdown of the supplementary budget on the floor of the Senate.

    Buhari said the supplementary budget became necessary because the implementation of the 2015 budget has been flawed with significant revenue shortfalls due to continuous decline in oil price and oil production shortfall.

    He added that owing to the need to sustain the current progress in addressing the security challenges and other important obligations of government, emergency expenditure items required urgent funding which is projected at 465.64 billion

    Buhari in the memo said, “The Senate President you may wish to recall that the 2015 budget was predicated on oil production of 2.2782 million barrels per day, benchmark oil price of $53 per barrel and an exchange rate of N190 per dollar.

    “Based on these three assumptions the following fiscal budget was projected:

    “1. FGN budget revenue N3.452 trillion made of share of oil and mineral revenue- N1.645 trillion share of non oil revenue N1.215 trillion, FGN Independent revenue N489.3 billion

    “2.  FGN aggregate expenditure was estimated at N4.485 trillion, comprising of statutory transfers-N354.34 billion, debt service-N953.6 billion, recurrent-non debt personnel cost-N1.828 trillion, recurrent non debt overhead -N791. 2billion, capital expenditure – N536. 6 billion.”

     

  • Buhari to Kogi electorates: Vote for change, progress

    Buhari to Kogi electorates: Vote for change, progress

    Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the people of the state to opt for change and development by voting  for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu.

    President Buhari made the call  at the APC governorship campaign rally held at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, Wednesday.

    He said the time for change in Kogi has come.

    The President, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,  noted that Nigeria is already moving forward and Kogi State must not be left behind.

    Earlier, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, officially received some PDP chieftains, including 15 elected council chairmen, Senior Special Advisers and Special Advisers who defected to the party.

    Oyegun assured them of equal opportunity in the APC, urging them to work for victory on Saturday.

    He said the exercise required the collective responsibility of all to vote for change for the overall development of Kogi State, noting that the APC candidate, Prince Audu remains the best option at this critical moment in the history of the state.

    He said Audu has record of development, adding that “he has done it before and he will do it again.”

    Audu implored the people to vote enmass for the APC to rescue the state from  PDP.

    The former chairman of North Central of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Comrade Mohammed Ali, who spoke on behalf of other defectors, said they have decided to join the progressives, commending the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was on the podium, for championing the progressive cause in Nigeria.

    He assured the APC leader that as youth leaders, they will deliver Kogi to APC on Saturday.

     

  • Arms deals: Buhari orders arrest of Dasuki, others

    Arms deals: Buhari orders arrest of Dasuki, others

    Panel unveils how Nigeria was duped

    facts & figures

    • N643.8b •$2.1b

    Extra budgetry interventions

    • $2.3b •N13.7b

    Failed contracts (53 out of 513 awarded between 2007&2015)

    • N3.8b

    Cash paid to company without evidence of any contract

    • N2.2b•$1.6b •€9.9b

    Fictitous contracts awarded

    • Four Alpha jets
    • 12 helicopters •Bombs & ammunition

    Equipment purportedly paid for but not supplied

    • N350b •$1.6b • €9.9b

    Contracts awarded to two firms

    • $132m • €9.9m

    CBN transfers to banks without purpose on Dasuki’s instruction

    Those implicated by the investigative panel on arms procurement have been ordered arrested by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidency said last night.

    On top of the list – indeed the only one mentioned – is former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    But a source said last night that a former Chief of Army Staff was among the suspects.

    Another said the suspects were not named to prevent their escape from Nigeria.

    The interim report chronicles alleged massive mismanagement, misappropriation and outright theft of public funds in billions of naira and in foreign currencies –dollars, euro and pounds sterling.

    Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement that the President issued the executive order for the arrests after receiving the preliminary report of the probe of arms procurement between 2007 and 2015 by the committee raised on August 31 by National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Munguno.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organisations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts,” the statement said last night.

    The preliminary report submitted by the Air Vice Marshal (AVM) O.N. Ode (rtd)-led panel listed the many cases established against Col. Dasuki, who is currently in the eye of the storm.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that he should be allowed to travel abroad, but the Department of State Services (DSS) said he must accept an invitation to defend himself in connection with some deals he was allegedly involved in.

    Col. Dasuki has declined to accept the letter of invitation, preferring to remain within his Abuja residence. But he has not been able to travel. He is on trial for illegal arms possession.

    Other members of the panel are: R/Adm J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.), R/Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.), Brig.- Gen L. Adekagun (rtd.), Brig.-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (rtd.), Brig.-Gen. N. Rimtip (rtd.), Cdre T.D. Ikoli, Air Cdre U. Mohammed (rtd.), Air Cdre I. Shafi’I, Col A.A. Ariyibi, Gp. Capt. C.A. Oriaku (rtd.), Mr. Ibrahim Magu (EFCC) and Brig.- Gen Y.I. Shalangwa as secretary.

    Part of the mandate of the panel is “in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service”.

    Yesterday’s statement on the interim report of the panel said: “On the authority of Mr President, a 13-man committee was set up by the Office of  the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.

    “While the committee which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.

    “As part of the findings, the committee has analysed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters,  both in local and foreign currencies.

    “So far the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is six hundred and forty three billion, eight hundred and seventeen million, nine hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred and eighty five hundred naira and eighteen kobo (N643,817,955,885.18).

    “The foreign currency component is to the tune of two billion, one hundred and ninety three million, eight hundred and fifteen thousand us dollars and eighty three cents ($2,193,815,000.83).

    “These amounts exclude grants from the state governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police. It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement.

    “The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; fifty three (53) were failed contracts, amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.

    “Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East.

    “The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of three billion, eight hundred and fifty million naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the FGN.

    “Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt.-Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00. The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

    “Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, two companies were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

    “Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.

    “The findings made so far are extremely worrying, considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

    “Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury while innocent lives were wasted daily.”

     

     

     

     

  • Diversification only way out of poverty, says Buhari

    Diversification only way out of poverty, says Buhari

    •President launches N40b loan for rice farmers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised that the only way out of poverty is through diversification of the economy.

    He listed agriculture and solid minerals’ mining as alternatives sources of revenues.

    He spoke in Kebbi State while launching N40 billion “Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP)” organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for rice farmers.

    The event was also used to launch the 2015/2016 dry farming season.

    The ABP programme aims to create an Ecosystem to link out-growers (small holder farmers) to local processors.

    The CBN set aside the N40 billion from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent to tackle challenges of poor funding.

    The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, put the amount spent yearly on importation of foods that can be produced in Nigeria at over N1trillion.

    He said the programme being launched has been designed to create economic linkages between farmers and processors and also ensure increased agricultural output of rice paddy.

    He said that it will also close the gap between production and consumption of rice.

    Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe said despite the achievements recorded under his predecessor, Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria is still far away from its agricultural destination.

    He said: “People supplied sharp sands as fertiliser while fake seeds were sold to farmers. There were companies with no trceable address.”

    Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu  said that Kebbi State can boast of producing 700 million metric tonnes of rice per annum.

  • ‘How Buhari can revamp Nigeria’

    ‘How Buhari can revamp Nigeria’

    Dr Ugorji Ugorji is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he  reflects on President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, the battle against insurgency, the pro-Biafran agitation in the Southeast and other issues.

    How are you responding to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s call on indigenes to join hands with him to take the state to a greater height?

    I have been involved in progressive politics in the United States for over 20 years, having worked in Democratic campaigns such as Obama for America, and now Hillary for America, to mention just those two. So, it is natural for me to be involved in and to identify with progressive politics in my home nation, Nigeria. This was why I was drawn to the progressive agenda of Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie and why I volunteered (Pro-Bono) as the Director General of his campaign for president. I had never formally registered as a member of any party in Nigeria; so I led Okorie’s campaign without being a registered member of the UPP. The UPP, as you know, was more closely aligned to the APC in ideology and even in its pronouncements during the last presidential campaign than any other party in Nigeria.

      So, will you join the UPP or the APC formally?

    The main goal in political party activism is the acquisition of power for an opportunity to implement an agenda for the people. I think all progressive forces in Nigeria should coalesce so that there will eventually be a clear difference and a battle line drawn between progressive and conservative elements. The APC has provided a triumphant anchor for such coalescence. So, yes, after the presidential election, I formally registered with the APC at my local ward in Lorji, Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State.

     What has been your experiences so far coming in as a Diasporan?

    I registered in the APC as a Nigerian, not as a Diasporan. For over 25 years I have been directly involved in national development in Nigeria because I have maintained dual residency. I participate in Lorji and Imo activities more than most of our folks who live in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country. So, I registered with the APC as a regular and ordinary son of the soil. My experience in Imo APC so far has been encouraging. The party operatives at my ward, my senatorial region and in the state at large are excited about what I bring to the party in virtually all dimensions of community organising and community service.

    How would you assess the   strength of the APC in Imo State and the Southeast in general?

    The APC in Imo and in the South east is a work in progress. Certain dynamics in the Southeast that created bias against the APC in the last election are no longer there. So there is a great opportunity for the party to grow and consolidate in the Southeast. However, the only APC governor in the Southeast will have a lot to do with the growth of APC, based on either his performance or his lack of performance. Owelle Rochas Okorocha has a great and yet historic burden on his shoulders. He has the rare opportunity to transform the politics of the entire region and perhaps the nation if he opts to be the best performing governor in the country and if he understands that he needs to share power in order to grow or expand power. I expect nothing less from him. And I have some ideas on how he can accomplish this.

    How do you assess the Buhari administration?

    I think that for a relatively new party that has come to power for the first time, after 16 years of the PDP government, the APC has done a spectacular job of managing the expected and predictable challenges of its meteoric success. I am a patient man and I understand the turn-around time needed in a transformative public administration. President Buhari is being very deliberative and measured in his steps. After years of recklessness and free for all bazaars, it is understandable how a disciplined approach might be unsettling for some. But because I have been educated within and oriented to this kind of disciplined and accountable public administration culture in my work with state and township governments in the US, I find the approach familiar and even necessary.

    Can you do an appraisal on Buhari’s anti-corruption war ?

    I am not sure the President has laid out the specific thrusts of an “anti-corruption war.” What I see is that the sheer weight of his personality and reputation in matters of probity and disciplined service, has changed the climate in the country, especially in the public sector. He appears to have embarked first on plugging the leakages in the national boat. These plugs must be coded in the laws of the nation, which is a legacy he needs to bequeath. I believe this should be followed with the elimination of the water that had entered the boat. Prosecutors all over the world will tell you that because of limited resources, there is always selectivity and discretion in the pursuit of criminal elements in the society. The justice and law enforcement agencies of the nation under the PDP government were selective for national strategic reasons and I don’t expect the agencies to not to be selective (also for national strategic reasons) under the APC. The cry of selectivity is the last refuge of the accused and the mischievous. Whenever one is accused and he or she cries “selectivity,” he or she has essentially pleaded guilty, but just does not want to be singled out. The issue is not whether the efforts in establishing rectitude is selective; what matters is whether the results of the efforts move us closer to the desired accountability at all levels.

    Critics of the Buhari government believe that the President is beginning to let so much of Nigeria’s internal woes known to the international community. For instance, the President’s comments on Nigeria’s financial or liquidity profile seem to be annoying some of his critics. What are your views?

    What would you say about the President’s war against insurgency since his assumption of Power?

    I see two types of insurgency in the country: Political insurgency and economic insurgency. Understanding the differences and relationships between the two will affect how the challenges are met. The first is a push or agitation for a share and/or control of the political space (or part of the space), and a definition of the character of that space and its ramifications. The second is a push or agitation for sharing and/o control of the economic resources of the nation and its environs without designs necessarily for redefining the political space. Negotiation is the best approach to reaching lasting solutions in the affairs of humans. Military conquests do not last, and they leave mayhem, destruction and bottled-up sentiments in their paths on all sides. Our own history in Nigeria teaches us this. That’s not to say that military action is never necessary. The uniting units in Nigeria must negotiate their co-existence. We know what those units are and they are not the artificial states that have been created. The negotiation will happen one way or another. And it will happen someday soon, not in the distant future. It will happen either by design on the conference table or by muddling through the trenches and foxholes that some folks have already dug. It would be a great moment in history if a former soldier who performed with excellence in the battle fields of the last war, leads Nigeria to a negotiated, peaceful, lasting, and prosperous commonwealth, with a constitution that is written by the people’s representatives. This is the stuff and hallmark of progressive politics. And this is the singular most important opportunity President Buhari has.

    What is your advice for the government on how to handle the rise of Biafran militancy in Igboland?

    Igbo land is Nigeria, just as Borno, Adamawa and others are Nigeria. So you are asking about the agitation for “Biafra” in Nigeria. None of the people you call militants has taken up arms against Nigeria to the best of my knowledge. None has assembled an army. None has acquired a base in a neighboring country from which it operates against the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians. So what you essentially have are speeches and nonviolent marches

    I come from the civil rights movement and traditions of African Americans. Just as in America’s history, it pains me to see deaths in peaceful protests and marches in Nigeria. I do not subscribe to a name (Biafra) that has little or no spiritual or cultural value to our journey as Ndi Igbo, a journey that dates back to creation and antiquity.

     

    Three accidental years of “Biafra” cannot define a people of creation and antiquity. But that’s beside the point. Herein lies that opportunity I stated earlier for President Buhari. He can either dwell in the past and the present or he can choose to shape the future for generations to come. A negotiated world power in the axis of West Africa is a legacy he can deliver in the fullness of his presidency. If he does that, he would eclipse in stature even the great Nnamdi Azikiwe.

     

  • NLC urges Buhari to end fuel scarcity

    NLC urges Buhari to end fuel scarcity

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari administration to take urgent steps to stop fuel scarcity.

    It said no group or cartel, no matter how powerful, should be allowed to arm-twist government into doing its bidding.

    The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement entitled: “Fuel Scarcity: Mr. President, Please Stop Mass Suffering of Nigerians”, said a situation where a few individuals hoarding petroleum products with a view to arm-twisting government to removing subsidy on petroleum products would not be accepted by Nigerians.

    Wabba said the congress would not allow any group to distract it from its struggle to have control over the operations of the sector, especially as it relates to full sufficiency in refining the petroleum products.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is outraged by the continuing incidences of fuel scarcity, resulting in skyrocketing prices and long queues spreading to different parts of the country.

    “We note that this is happening despite assurances from government and its agencies that there is enough fuel being distributed around the country and that citizens need not go into panic buying.

    “That the situation has not visibly improved after more than 72 hours of such assurance means that the marketers and other groups that have held the country hostage over the years for their unearned profiteering from the petroleum sector are still determined to continue as if it is business as usual.

    “It is completely unacceptable to us that Nigerians are forced to go through the perennial hardship, especially towards the end of the year, and now have to cough out between N130 – N300 per litre of petrol in different parts of the country, instead of the official N87 per litre price.

    “This for us shows a clear determination of the unpatriotic operators in the petroleum sector working to circumvent government regulation through blackmail and other unorthodox methods.”

    The NLC urged government to urgently address the issue of hoarding by marketers and others, accusing them of canvassing for deregulation in which government would hands-off regulating prices of petroleum products.

    “Given that petroleum products continue to be the artery of our economy, indeed our existence, it is naïve and foolhardy to expect that government will hands-off the downstream sector and allow for those whose sole purpose is profit-making to take over full control of determining the prices of these critical products.

    “They have done this and succeeded in the past, most particularly in the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, through blackmail and deliberate hoarding of petroleum products,” the statement said.

    The congress called on government, through the regulatory agencies like the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), to impose punitive sanctions on the perpetrators of the “artificial scarcity”.

    Wabba said the NLC was prepared to partner with the relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies to enforce the N87 per litre price regime.

    He called on state governors to join in enforcing the official price of products in their domains.

     

     

  • Buhari orders Dasuki’s arrest over arms procurement

    Buhari orders Dasuki’s arrest over arms procurement

    . President receives interim report of probe panel
    A 13-man committee set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.

    Although the committee, which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, it has submitted an interim report to the Presidency.

    On the strength of the report, the president has ordered the arrest of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    The committee had analyzed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force  Headquarters,  both in local and foreign currencies.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the total extra budgetary interventions so far articulated by the committee is Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Hundred Naira and Eighteen Kobo (N643,817,955,885.18).

    The committee also revealed that the foreign currency component is to the tune of Two Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand US Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($2,193,815,000.83).

    These amounts, the panel said, excluded grants from the State Governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police.

    The committee in the report observed that in spite of the huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement.

    It also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; Fifty Three (53) were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.

    It noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East.

    The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    Further findings by the panel revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50,  $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00.

    The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

    The statement said: “Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, 2 companies, were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone.

    “This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

    “Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.” It added

    The findings made so far, the statement saud, are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition.

    The statement said: “Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.”

    “Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were wasted daily.” It said

    President Muhammadu Buhari has therefore directed that the relevant organizations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts.