The Nation Newspaper

Tag: debunks

  • Ajaokuta Steel investor debunks minister’s dispute resolution claim

    A director of Global Steel Holdings Limited (GSHL), Dr. S. O. Nwanbuokei, an engineer, has debunked a claim by Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr Kayode Fayemi that the protracted litigation surrounding Ajaokuta Steel has been resolved.

    In his speech at the Second Annual Nigeria Mining Week, the minister said the signing of a ‘Modified Concession Agreement’ between Nigeria and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited effectively resolved the protracted litigations surrounding the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel.

    “The implication of the signing is that ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has now reverted to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we can now proceed to engage a new core investor with the financial and technical capacity to run the steel complex.”

    But, Nwanbuokei, whose firm is a party to the dispute said in a statement that he was not aware of the resolution, nor has a settlement been reached.

    “Although the company expects to be party to the resolution so referred to, we are not aware that the Ajaokuta Steel Company issue has been resolved. We are aware, however, that the delay in resolving the matter is not caused by GSHL. The company has been open to and cooperated in all the requisite terms precedent to an amicable resolution of the matter.

    “We put in all our efforts to conclude the Due Diligence process in the NIOMCO Itakpe with the conviction that the next phases of compliance with the terms of the International Court of Arbitration would be speedily determined. We regret that this has not been the case.

    “We are afraid that a message of a similar incorrect formulation may grossly mislead stakeholders both in Nigeria and abroad. We, therefore, request the statement to be removed from the official website address of the Ministry of Steel.

    “We need to emphasise that GSHL and the FGN are still in mediation claim on assets which is still binding and therefore no investor can come in until this is finally determined. We are also convinced that the over three years of this mediation is more than enough time to have all the associated issues of the Ajaokuta Steel company and indeed the Nigerian steel dream concluded.

    “We, therefore, beseech mediators to eschew extraneous interferences and distractions in order to realise the set objectives of this process,” he said.

  • Lagos debunks report on water project

    The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos  Water Corporation, has debunked a recent report published in the media that three firms had bid for Lagos water water project.

    The government was reacting to a publication in a daily newspaper, headlined “Three firms bid for Lagos Water Project,” saying an interview was never granted to the media on the issue as reported.

    A statement  by the Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Muminu Badmus, said  the corporation published an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the development of the 70MGD Adiyan Phase II Water Scheme through Public – Private Partnership in three national dailies and Global Water Intelligence, an internationally reputable water sector publication.

    “Subsequently, seven firms expressed interest and four firms were shortlisted after the evaluation process. They are AG Gold Trust Nigeria Limited, Vision Scape Water Solutions Limited / Metito, Veolia / Shoreline Group and Abegoa and Naston & Partners,” he said.

    Badmus said due diligence was carried out during the procurement process that led to the emergence of the above-mentioned firms, adding that on completion of the project, it would serve additional three million people in the western axis of the state.

    He assured residents that the corporation remained committed to ensuring delivery of potable water to all households , in consonance with the implementation of the Lagos Water Supply Master Plan.

  • Femi Branch debunks marriage rumour

    Femi Branch debunks marriage rumour

    Contrary to reports circulating online, that Nollywood actor Femi Branch is set to get married the third time, the actor’s Spokesperson, Jonathan Daniel, told The Nation on Wednesday that the story is not true.

    “My client does not wish to speak on the matter at the moment,” said Daniel.

    “He is too busy please. But he is not remarrying.”

    On allegations by his second wife, Ibitola, who claimed she suffered domestic violence, leading to their separation, Daniel stated; “my client is also not saying anything on that. She can go ahead and say whatever she wants.”

    In a recent interview with a soft sell magazine, the estranged wife of the actor, and mother of his two kids, denegrated Branch as a sort of forewarning to the purported British woman, he is planning to get married to.

  • Umana debunks false publication on ministerial nomination

    The APC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State in the 2015 general elections, Mr Umana Okon Umana, has dismissed as totally false and without any basis in facts, a publication in the social media which claims that he, Mr Umana, has criticised and rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nomination for Akwa Ibom State.

    Umana, who said that it had come to his notice that the false publication, which first appeared in Connoisseur.com.ng, is the handiwork of people working for the Akwa Ibom State commissioner for information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, condemned the said publication as a politically motivated cheap blackmail.

    Umana categorically dismissed the publication as having no iota of truth in it.

    He also described the false and malicious publication as an act of desperation by the benighted chapter of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State.

    Umana recalled that it was the same agents of blackmail in the PDP who similarly falsely accused HE Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State, of “blasting” the President over the appointment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    The APC governorship candidate said nomination for ministerial appointment was the prerogative of the President who has the right to choose whoever he deems qualified for the position.

    He expressed total support for President Buhari, adding that Akwa Ibom APC is solidly behind the President.

    Umana warned that fruitless efforts at desperate propaganda by agents of the PDP in the state cannot stop the march of the people to freedom through their preferred political party, which is the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • NMA debunks sale of hospitals

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has debunked the claim by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) that government plans to sell off hospitals under the guise of public-private partnerships (PPP) .  The association said  the union was afraid of the work place discipline that private sector control would bring to hospitals.

    Head of NMA’s clinical governance committee Dr Joseph Ana accused JOHESU of wanting its members to continue with their bad work ethics while they receive salaries ferom the government.

    A recent report quoted JOHESU of accusing the government of planning to sell  hospitals.

    He stressed that private sector involvement in health would bring in corporate efficiency, discipline and resources which government alone cannot afford, if it is to deliver on health promises.

  • Benue debunks lawmaker’s claim

    The Benue State Government debunked yesterday the insinuations credited to a member of the House of Assembly, Benjamin Adanyi, that Governor Gabriel Suswam was not doing enough to find a solution to the lingering crisis in the state.

    A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Cletus Akwaya, said: “Adanyi’s spurious remarks are not only unfortunate but very inconsistent with the reality on ground.

    “It is either the lawmaker is ignorant of the true picture of the situation or he has mischievously chosen to fabricate a falsehood in order to satisfy his political agenda.

    “Discerning minds and watchers of security measures being adopted by the government would have noticed a consistent pattern of sustained steadfastness and proactive steps taken by Governor Suswam in tackling the lingering crisis between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the last three years.”

    The spokesman said the governor has visited scenes of Fulani herdsmen/ farmers clashes in Agatu Local Government Area; Anyibe town in Logo Local Government Area; Tse Iordye Akaahena, Gbajimba and Udei all in Guma Local Government Area; Adeke and Adaka in Gwer West Local Government Area.

    He said: “He has convened meetings of Fulani leaders and major leaders of the affected areas in his efforts to reconcile the warring parties.

    “The governor has also gone to the extent of hosting the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who was clearly impressed by the governor’s combustible passion and whole-hearted resolve to bring peace between his Fulani kinsmen in Benue State and Benue Farmers.”

    Akwaya added that the government has committed huge financial resources to secure the state from the disturbing conflict, which has destroyed many lives and property in the state.

    “This lawmaker who is questioning the governor’s seriousness in resolving the crisis himself has never contributed a dime towards redressing the crisis which also affects his Makurdi South Constituency.

    “Worse still, the lawmaker has never been known for initiating any form of political advocacy against the problem, neither has he ever put forward a strong argument or promoted a motion to condemn the problem that has been prevalent in his constituency.

    “Adanyi has never visited his constituents neither has he ever extended assistance in form of relief materials to the displaced persons.”

  • NEITI’s Report: PPPRA debunks ‘outrageous’ claims

    The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has debunked the audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which said the agency should remit N4.423 billion to the Federal Government.

    PPPRA’s Executive Secretary Reginald Stanley told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that NEITI’s report “is steeped in inaccuracies and gross misrepresentation of facts”.

    He added: “The report has a glaring potential to mislead the public and further cast aspersions on the activities of the PPPRA as a key administrator of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF),” Stanley said.

    On July 29, NEITI released its 2009-2011 audit report on the oil and gas sector. It recommended that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from what it called an “over-recovery” collected to the Federation Account for the period in review.

    The report also ordered other establishments to refund some money to the Federal Government.

    “The PPPRA wishes to state unequivocally that the statement credited to the NEITI chairman is misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.

    “We note with dismay NEITI’s admission that it had no absolute control of its sources of data as they were derived information and data provided through its own independent auditors as well as companies doing business in the sector.

    “Such over-reliance on secondary data must have accounted for the glaringly flawed computations presented in the report,” the agency said.

    Stanley explained that the N4.423 billion “over-recovery” that the PPPRA was asked to remit was not correct.

    According to him, only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has an outstanding payment of about N3.98 billion to be paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

    “The total over-recovery advised for the nine marketers in 2008-2009 amounted to N14,073,783,779.74; the total amount paid to the account with CBN was N6,966,185,316.65, with the sum of N3,126,587,419.98 net-off by the Federal Ministry of Finance.”

    He explained that “the PPPRA does not disburse or ‘warehouse’ subsidy funds as suggested by the report,” stating that the agency only processed documents submitted by marketers for subsidy payments.

    “PPPRA merely verifies and processes import subsidy documents as submitted by marketers, while forwarding same to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is statutorily charged with the responsibility of approving payments under the PSF scheme.”

    The executive secretary said there was need for NEITI to meticulously cross-check its facts and figures with relevant agencies before making such report public.

    He said it was instructive to note NEITI’s admission of the fact that it had no absolute control of its sources of data, adding: “such a possibly deficient source must have accounted for the glaringly subjective computations presented in the report’’.

    The PPPRA chief said the agency was alarmed to discover that most observations and clarifications earlier made were ignored and not reflected in the final report released to the public.

    “We wish to advise that NEITI takes a second look at our initial observations and clarifications, while reconciling its figures with those of both the PSF and Federation Accounts.”

    Stanley affirmed that there was no discrepancy in PPPRA’s records and the CBN, where the PSF account was domiciled.

    He said the responsibility of payment shifted from PPPRA to the Ministry of Finance, following the introduction of the Sovereign Debt Statement and the Sovereign Debt Note in 2009.

     

     

     

  • Enugu govt debunks Chime’s travel report

    The Enugu State Government has refuted claims that Governor Sullivan Chime has travelled again.

    A national newspaper on Sunday published a story, alleging that Chime has left the country for an undisclosed location.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chukwudi Achife, said contrary to the report, the governor is in Enugu attending to official duties.

    Achife expressed dismay at the ease with which such report was published without any verification.

    He said the governor hosted his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda and Senator Jim Nwobodo and his wife in Udi on Saturday, whereas the report claimed that he travelled on Thursday.

    Achife said the government would not have reacted to such a mischievous report, if not for the need to douse the anxiety that it may cause among the people.

    He said: “It’s really disheartening that such an untrue report could be published without regard to the fundamentals of ethics and professionalism.

    “One would have thought that after all that happened when the governor was away, our colleagues would have learnt some hard lessons about checking the veracity of their stories before publishing.

    “This story is another ample show of disregard for such values and I don’t think it speaks well for those who published it.”

  • Govt debunks Ekiti PDP’s allegation on contracts

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of inflating contracts.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, PDP Publicity Secretary Pastor Kola Oluwawole alleged that the governor had been “awarding bogus contracts”.

    He alleged that the administration had incurred a debt of N31 billion, instead of the N20 billion it said it took from the capital market.

    Oluwawole said the government was planning to borrow N13 billion to finance the 2013 Budget, adding that it would ruin the state’s economy.

    He said: “None of the contracts so far awarded by the government had been executed up to 50 per cent of the contract value. Fayemi is giving the impression that only N20 billion was borrowed from the capital market, but the debt profile is N31 billion.”

    Commissioner for Information Funminiyi Afuye debunked the allegation.

    He said: “The evidence that PDP is a party without direction or a clue about governance is all over the country, with Nigeria ranking high in all the indices of failed governance.

    “Despite confirmed large scale looting and plundering across the country, the PDP leadership has been entirely helpless. They are a gang of liars plundering the collective wealth of the people. But because of evil the ramifications of the human mind and possible interpretation of their warped message, we have got to respond to their attack.”

    Afuye said the Fayemi administration was committed to due process, the rule of law and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which make the process of awarding contracts open and transparent.

    He said: “This is a government of due process and rule of law, which has laid the legal framework for contract award processes. More so, anyone can approach the Internet and access information about its activities. Equally, the Fiscal Responsibility Act further makes it binding for project awards to follow due process.”

    The commissioner urged PDP to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), if it had problems with awarded contracts.

    He said: “As against the experience under the discredited administrations of the PDP in Ekiti, in which 80 per cent contract sum was released for a job that never took off, all projects awarded by this administration have reached 80 per cent completion and due payments made.”

  • Jim Iyke debunks lovechild allegation

    Jim Iyke debunks lovechild allegation

    JIM Iyke is on the news again and, as is the attribute of the Nollywood act, for the wrong reasons. Stories making rounds have it that the actor is currently enmeshed in a lovechild saga dating back eleven years. According to reports, eleven years ago, as an undergraduate, Jim was involved with a certain Chantelle Nkechi Benson, a UK-based lawyer, the product of which is a son.

    Speaking via his publicist, the actor who is known to have a temperamental persona said that he is aware of the viral story currently making the headlines stating that this is not the first time that issues of this nature have arisen.

    “Nonetheless, as a responsible man, he is always disposed to verify any such development(s) brought to his attention and when any satisfactory outcome has been ascertained, the general public will be duly informed without ambiguity. The only specifics at the present time is that at the age of 22yrs-23yrs old he dated for a brief period the lady at the centre of the story who subsequently left Nigeria for the UK,” a statement said.

    The actor denied that there had been contact between them ever since and by implication no linking of the existence of a living product of that encounter. “Since this is more about an innocent child than the star himself we advise caution and respect for privacy,” the statement further stressed.