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Tag: delivered

  • Buhari has delivered, says Lai Mohammed

    CRITICS of the Buhari administration’s performance got a reply yesterday.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed compiled the administration’s scorecard in the last three years and gave it a pass mark. It has fulfilled its campaign promises, the minister said in a long reflection  on the government’s infrastructure battle, security, economy and the anti-corruption war.

    He said the administration kept its social contract with Nigerians and put the country on the path of sustainable growth.

    Mohammed, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, pointed out that concerted efforts had been made to halt the over-reliance on oil through the diversification of the economy.

    Noting that the Buhari administration inherited many intractable challenges which could inhibit performance, Mohammed stressed that these challenges were converted into opportunities to turn around the country.

    He said Nigerians, who have been impacted positively by the good work of President Muhammadu Buhari, were appreciative of the giant strides, based on the feedback to the government.

    Mohammed added: “They know that no government in the history of our country has ever done so much with so little. They know and acknowledge the sincerity, transparency and accountability of the Buhari administration. They know and support the administration’s diversification effort, which is paying off.”

    Describing President Buhari’s achievements as unprecedented, the minister said the administration has taken power generation to 7,000 megawatts from the 2690 it inherited, moved the country closer to self-sufficiency in rice production and reduced the leakages in government spending through the diligent implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Whistle Blowing Policy.

    Mohammed said in three years, 2.7 trillion Naira ($9 billion) had been spent on power, road and rail infrastructure, adding that the capital expenditure in the yearly budget had been raised to an unprecedented 30 per cent on the average.

    Tendering vital statistics, the minister pointed out that the economy has recorded a 1.95 growth in the first quarter, external reserves have hit $48 billion while inflation has fallen for the 15th consecutive month from 18.7 per cent to 12. 5 per cent.

    Hailing the government’s revenue drive, Mohammed said tax revenue increased to N1.17 trillion this year, following the rise of tax payers to 19 million.

    He also praised the “Ease of Doing Business Reforms”, which made Nigeria to move up 24 places on the World Bank’s ranking and earn a place on the “List of 10 Most Improved Economies’’.

    On infrastructural development, Mohammed said: “Road projects are on-going across every state of the country; many of these projects have been abandoned in recent years because of mounting debts owed by the Federal Government to contractors.

    “The Buhari administration issued a 100 billion naira Sukuk Bond in 2017, Nigeria’s first Sovereign Sukuk Bond. Proceeds from that Bond are funding 25 major road projects equally distributed across the six geo-political zones.”

    Mohammed added: “The administration is upgrading 3,500 km network narrow-gauge railway, with the signing, in April, of the interim phase of a concession agreement between the Government of Nigeria and an International Consortium, led by General Electric (GE). The target of this Interim Phase is that, within the next 12 months, passengers will experience reduced travel time by rail between Lagos and Kano, and for the first time in over a decade, contracted and scheduled freight rail services will be available.

    ”More than 70 Ecological Fund projects were awarded and completed by the Buhari administration across the six geo-political zones for flood control, erosion control, bridges and dams, channelisation and desilting.”

    Mohammed said before the end of the year, there will be more than 2,000 MW of additional power generation capacity, in addition to the 7,000 MW currently being generated.

    The minister noted that the Whistle Blowing Policy introduced by the Federal Ministry of Finance in December 2016 had led to the recovery of N13.8 billion from tax evaders, and N7.8 billion, $378 million and 27,800 million pounds from public officials.

    He said N8.1 trillion was discovered to have been under-paid to the Federation Account between 2010 and 2015 by revenue-generating agencies.

    Mohammed stressed: “MDAs are remitting more money to the Federation Account. From remitting only N51 million between 2010 and 2015, JAMB went on to remit N7.8 billion in 2017, and it is on course to remit a similar amount in 2018. As at March, the TSA had recorded inflow of N8.9 trillion from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”

    Mohammed applauded the administration’s commitment to security, saying that “to a large extent, security and normalcy have been restored to the Northeast”.

    He said the multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF) aimed at combating trans-border crime and the Boko Haram insurgency had been rejuvenated.

    Mohammed added: “El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club has returned to its home base in Maiduguri in April 2016, two years after relocating to Katsina State because of insurgency. Emirs of Askira and Uba returned home in May 2016, two years after fleeing their palaces on the account of the Boko Haram insurgency. Public primary schools resumed in Borno State on Monday September 26, 2016, after two years of closure. The Maiduguri-Gubio and Maiduguri-Monguno roads reopened in December 2016, after being closed for three years.”

    The minister also said that more than a million displaced persons had returned to their homes and communities in the Northeast since 2015, adding that more than 13,000 Boko Haram hostages were freed from captivity, including 106 of the abducted Chibok girls and 105 Dapchi girls.

    Mohammed, who lamented the incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes in the Northcentral, said the Joint Military Intervention Force (JMIF) was working to restore peace.

    He applauded the successful military operations against insecurity, including the Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Hold Last, Operation Whirl Stroke, Exercise Crocodile Smile 1 and 11, Exercise Obangame, Operation Awatse, and Exercise Python Dance 1 and 11.

    The minister added: “There have also been major arrests of criminals across the country, including Usman Mohammed, aka Khalid Al-Barnawi, leader of the Ansaru Terrorist group and one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, with a US$6m United States bounty on his head. He’s being prosecuted alongside his suspected accomplices.

    “Amodu Omale Salifu, leader of an ISIS affiliate group active in North Central Nigeria, plotting to bomb foreign embassies; Ansaru leaders, Ahmed Momoh and Al-amin Mohammed Jamin, both confirmed associates of a prominent Ansaru kingpin terrorising residents in Kogi and Edo states.”

  • Will Lagos-Ibadan Expressway ever be delivered?

    •Fed Govt throws N64.1b more at busiest highway

    Despite the Federal Government’s approval of additional N64.1 billion for new features in the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the question many are asking is: will the road ever be delivered? ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE reports.

    THE Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has, more than any other highway, gained the attention of Nigerians and successive governments. Eighteen years on, the road has featured on the to-do-list of the Federal Government which continues to pump money into it to make it safe for road users.

    Fixing the road, which is gateway from Lagos to other parts of the country, is becoming expensive.

    Before Messrs Julius Berger Plc and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Plc were hired by the Government in 2013, the 127.6-kilometre highway was at best a deathtrap.  The contracts were awarded for N167 billion with a completion date of 2017.

    The two firms were hired following the failure of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited (BHSL) to fulfill the agreements it reached with the government on the project. The N91 billion contract awarded to BHSL was terminated on November 19, 2012.

    If the concessionary agreement the Federal Government signed with BHSL in 2009, had worked out, the company would have managed the highway for 25 years under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

    Bi-Courtney had a mandate to reconstruct and expand the expressway and recoup its investment through tolling and advertisement rights.

    The government said the action was taken because of the failure of Bi-Courtney.

    Since Julius Berger and RCC were mobilised by the former administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the contractors have been on and off the sections allocated to them, a development that made last year’s delivery date impossible.

    But the approval of additional N64.1 billion by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its weekly meeting week, the Muhammadu Buhari government seems poised to complete the reconstruction of the Segment  ‘A’ of the highway. The section from Lagos to Sagamu Interchange was initially awarded to Julius Berger for 70 billion.

    An analyst Deinde Ola, captured the unending rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of successive governments on the road thus; “the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is like a road to eternity, it never ends.”

    Announcing the latest development, the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the new funds would address the changing nature of the road.

    According to the minister, the increased human activity on the corridor, especially the Lagos-Sagamu segment, occasioned by the mushrooming of religious institutions, factories, universities and farm settlements, informed the need to change the inherited design. He said the inherited design has become obsolete.

    The new approval, Fashola explained, is designed to modify the bitumen for the road in order to withstand pressure from heavy duty vehicles plying the road and to cover the construction of pedestrian bridges and toll plazas.

    He said: “The inherited design didn’t provide for all these at all. The second section – the 80-kilometre Sagamu-Ibadan segment – which is under Reynold Construction Company (RCC) is not captured in the variation. It may incorporate similar works, including drainage works, when the ministry completes procurements.”

    As at the time of filing this report, there was now news on when the Messrs Julius Berger should return to site. Neither has the government announced a new deadline for the completion of the project.

    The multi-billion naira project is stucked- no thanks to the inability of the Federal Government to adequately fund the project.

    After rewarding the project in 2013, the Jonathan administration pledged to release N50 billion. But instead, the government provided only a guarantee to the Infrastructure Bank to facilitate the release of N117 billion to Julius Berger and the RCC.

    The two construction were unable to get up to N10 billion, a development that forced the firms to withdraw their gangs from the road.

    The bank, it was learnt, was trying to limit its risk exposure because the BHSL had approached the court to challenge the termination of its contract.

    The case was determined in favour of the government in a Federal High Court on April 25, 2016.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Fred Kuti, said a clearer picture of the details may not come until next month.

    Kuti said: “How these things works is that when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) comes up with its approvals, it takes about two weeks for the council to pass extracts of such approvals to the ministry and it is only when we get the extracts that we can formally write Messrs Julius Berger, the contractor.”

    For now, the only information at its disposal, the controller added, “is that additional N64.1 billion has been approved by the government in addition to the N70 billion currently being expended.”

    If the ministry will get the extract by mid-May, mobilising Julius Berger and returning to site may not be earlier than June.

    A transport expert, Dr. George Banjo, said the real issue is not when the project would resume, Nigerians are anxious to know when it would be delivered.

    The reason for this is not far-fetched. The road in its present state has become the nation’s most prominent death trap, claiming lives on a daily basis.

    Saluting the government for the new design going on the road, George, a former World Bank Consultant on Transportation, said the road’s upgrading is long overdue as the road used to be a rural motorway.

    He said: “With the heavy human activities along the corridor, especially the first segment, coupled with the vehicular pressure on the road, the need to upgrade the road into an urban motorway becomes imperative, because it is in response to the growing needs of the people.”

    George urged the government to put its overall plan on the road to the public domain.

    “Until such is done, it would be difficult to fault the government on this new initiative as it simply showed that it is not immune to those needs that might make it return to the project sooner, if it had delivered it because of the need to prevent lives of other road users as well as ensure the longevity of the road. For now, it is a step in the right direction,” George had said.

    Echoing him, another transport planning expert, Dr. Joseph Shojobi, called for the implementation of a new template to manage the nation’s basic commonwealth.

    According to him, a fundamental reform such as the return of all roads to the state governments must be undertaken, to take the shine away from the regular ritual of announcing hefty sums for the construction and rehabilitation of roads.

    He said: “This should be followed with the re-classification of the roads and the growth of dedicated funds by the reintroduction of the tolling regime to ensure regular maintenance of the roads.

    “We must make tolling part of our culture. It must be a consistent policy, if we are to ensure we have motorable road all year round.

    “Let the government come up with an agency or corporation to handle our roads. This agency must statutorily collect at least two percent of the cost of construction of any new road as well as fuel tax and tolls.

    “Everywhere in the world, the usage of the road is not free. We must get the tolling regime back and also get to introduce fuel consumption tax. Consumers must be able to pay between one or two percent tax on our daily fuel consumption. That is what obtains in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (U.S.), Germany and other partsof Europe.

    “The beauty of such a fund is that the country would not have to wait for yearly allocations to fix any road because the special agency so created to warehouse the money would have enough to maintain all road networks and construct new ones across all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    “When the taxpayers see that the money is being judiciously deployed, they would be willing to pay.”

    Shojobi, who recalled that the country was able to pay for the construction of the road in the 60s without recourse to the World Bank, said the country would not have gotten into the cesspool, if the government had cultivated the culture of tolling of its highways.

    To prevent the cankerworm of corruption from sinking its fangs into the agency, Shojobi called for the decentralisation of its operations and the use of professionals and consultants.

    Shojobi said: “If the same template used by the military government during the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), is introduced, we would be able to sanitise the transportation ecosystem and ensure that money is available to fund the repair of construction of new roads across the country.”

    He said the new template would provide a new gust of wind into a sector that is exemplified by dilapidated infrastructure.

    The highway, according to Shojobi, “is a commonwealth for which a neutral agency is the needed catalyst to ensuring the proliferation of roads that would be mutually enjoyed by all as it would be able to ensure that everything is put in place to ensure that it is safe and secured for all classes of users.”

     

  • Buhari has delivered on his promises –Abdullahi

    Buhari has delivered on his promises –Abdullahi

    Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of Sports and now national publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), says it is wrong for anybody to say the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has failed to fulfill the party’s electoral promises. In this interview with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, he cautioned prominent Nigerians against adding their voices to inciting statements ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    A PROMINENT voice from the north, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has accused the APC of planning to rig the 2019 presidential election. What is your take on this?

    Allegations like these are very weighty and people should not just make them just like that. Our eminent persons must be wary of adding their voices to such statements. If I may ask, where are the evidences to back this claim? Can the person making this allegation provide detailed evidences or proof? He should be able to prove the statement before making it publicly.

    People should also learn to ask for detailed evidences when they hear or read statements like this. Most of these people making wild allegations probably have personal issues with Mr. President. I want to advise that they sort out such issues with him and leave the APC out of it. The APC will not need to rig election in 2019. The people voted for our party in 2015 massively. We are still relying on the same people to do it again in 2019.

    Specifically, he said the north will not vote for Buhari in 2019

    I am moved to ask if the person saying this is the spokesperson of the north. Or better still, I want to know which constituency of the north he is speaking for? Buhari is a northerner too. Is it the whole north that appointed him to speak for them? I think he should leave the issue of who the north will support for the people to decide. Elections are decided by the votes of the people, not personal opinions.

    The north voted for the APC in 2015 even when some statements like this were being made. The people decided otherwise based on their knowledge of the man Buhari and the party APC. So, I would rather say we allow the people to make their choice on who to vote for and who not to vote for. Again, I say this statement is a very personal opinion of just one individual. It does not in any way represent the opinion of the north as a people or geo-political zone.

    But would you also disagree with him on his claim that Buhari has failed to fulfil his campaign promises?

    Of course I disagree with him. The APC as a party campaigned with a manifesto and promised specific things. What did Buhari promise? Buhari promised the people to fight Boko Haram with seriousness. He promised to revive the economy and fight corruption. I want to ask you if he has not been tackling all these things. It is not enough for people with personal scores to settle with Mr. President to cast aspersion on the entire government.

    I take it that these are his personal opinions and nothing more than just that. Nigerians are the people to decide if the campaign promises are being fulfilled or not. They should be left to decide on that. The APC as a party is still very much loved by the good people of Nigeria who see the effort of the party at making life better for Nigerians. So, it is the people that can say whether the party is fulfilling its promises or not.

    Is it true that APC is incapable of moving Nigeria forward as some have observed?

    I still believe the APC can solve Nigeria’s problems. I must admit that there have been challenges. There are areas where things have not gone as expected. But largely, I believe the APC has the solution to Nigeria’s problems. The basis for saying this is not just because of the individuals in the party, but also because of my understanding of the philosophy of the party as expressed in its manifesto.

    APC is a party that was formed on the basis of solving identified problems confronting Nigeria and Nigerians. The philosophy of the party expresses consideration for the issues that are pertinent to Nigerians, whether it is the issue of poverty, social welfare, education or health. It is based on this that I believe the APC is the right party for Nigerians at this stage of our development.

    Again, I am cognisant of the fact that there have been challenges since we took over and a lot of things should be addressed consistently. I believe we are not where we should be at the moment, but APC is still the party that has the solution to Nigeria’s problems. With the support of Nigerians who have been very supportive of this administration since we took over, I am sure we will get there.

    Some people also said the crises in the APC will militate against its chances in the 2019 elections

    What people tend to describe as crises in APC are what I will call disagreements or misunderstandings which happen everywhere you find two or more people coming together to cohabit. I believe the party will in no time surmount all these cracks within its rank. These misunderstandings that you call crises will soon be a thing of the past and the APC will remain a formidable party.

    I repeat, what we have are just disagreements or misunderstandings. I think what has happened is that over the years there have been disagreements on a couple of things, which is bound to happen. A political party exists to manage tendencies and interests. I think, the prospects of realignment in terms of closing those gaps that we have at the moment is very strong.

    Today, things are no longer as they used to be because efforts have been made to address the misunderstandings. We are still talking among ourselves, and I believe we will overcome whatever misunderstanding or disagreement we might still find.

    President Buhari has also been accused of campaigning contrary to the provision of the electoral act

    Has the president started campaigning? I am not aware of that. As I said, we need evidences of these things so as to know how best to react to them. It is not enough to just make allegations. We need proofs.

    Dr. Junaid said the president campaigned in his new year message

    I didn’t notice that. Do you mean that President Buhari asked Nigerians to please vote for him in his new year message? I didn’t see that anywhere in that message. But if he did, I will like to be informed of where it is in the message. Even when there were reports about the appointment of a Campaign Director-General, the APC as a party said we were not aware of it.

    Buhari has not mounted the podium anywhere to seek for votes. The APC has not embarked on any form of campaign for him or anybody else. So, how is the electoral act being breached by the party or the president? Members of the APC are not complaining about the president jumping the gun. Junaid is not a member of the APC. That is why I said maybe he should sort out issues with Mr. President personally.

     

     

     

     

  • ‘We have delivered credible performance’

    Guinness Nigeria Plc Managing Director, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, said he is satisfied with the first quarter result posted by the company in the period ended 30 September 2017.

    Ndegwa said   notwithstanding the difficult trading conditions which have persisted, the company was still able to deliver a credible performance, especially with a net sales growth of 30 per cent for the quarter.

    A look into the books revealed that Guinness delivered revenue of N29.9 billion and gross profit of N10.4 billion, representing a 30 and 24 per cent increase respectively over the same period last year. The results reflected continued growth within the spirits business as well as benefit of an expanding portfolio; however, this was against the backdrop of lapping the inventory reduction last year.

    The results, released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), also saw the company’s marketing expenses increase by 12 per cent, indicating continued investment behind its brands, while administrative expenses were reduced by 17 per cent, a feat that is said to be driven by the organisation’s productivity agenda.

  • ‘Power sector privatisation has delivered’

    ‘Power sector privatisation has delivered’

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has listed the gains of the power sector privatisation of 2013 as power plants.

    He cited the Egbin and Shiroro power plants as having upgraded their output substantially.

    Fashola spoke during the Policy Dialogue on the Power Sector organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos.

    He said when the administration took over in 2015, only two of the six turbines at the Egbin Power Plant were working.

    Egbin has 1,320 megawatts (mw) capacity with each turbine producing 220mw.

    “So, when people say privatisation hasn’t delivered anything, it has delivered, given what we met on ground. The investors spent money, but as it is with every mechanical device, from time to time it breaks down, and need maintenance. They have to shut the machines, change some parts, and during this period, the machines will be out of service. Sometimes there is no gas, therefore, the plants don’t generate at full capacity for so many reasons,” he said.

    Fashola said another plant to double the Egbin Power Plant capacity was being built, stressing the need for people to be well-informed about the sector. “Aside the generation plants, I have also visited most of the transmission stations.”

    The Shiroro Hydro Plant had just done its turnaround maintenance, the first since it was built in the 1980s, he said, adding that maintenance should be carried out every  five years. This, he said, was made possible because of the power sector privatisation.

    The minister said the power sector recovery plan would soon be made public, after every one concerned had made an input to it. It  will take some time, he said, adding that it is better to be dealt with in detail and with full preparation, than withdrawing it half way through implementation

    “So, what we intend to do really is to first talk to the parliament who are our elected representatives so that they won’t say they don’t know about it,” Fashola said.

    According to him, when the plan is finalised, it would be translated into the three major languages, adding that there will also be a public hearing on it. It would be taken to churches, mosques, tennis clubs, motor parks, bus stations, and other places, for public enlightenment.

    The work is going on simultaneously.

    He also said metering regulation would soon be issued. The regulation would open up the market for more players to come into the meter supply value chain and strengthen local meter suppliers. This would make more people to get access to power, he said.

    The metering regulation would ensure that those who specialise in manufacturing, supply and installation of meters would go into the business subject to licensing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    LCCI President Dr. Nike Akande, said for the power sector to survive and be sustained, it must be driven by the private sector. She urged the government to provide the enabling environment for this to happen, adding that working and collaborating with the government is the way forward.

    Expressing disappointment at the low power generation, she said there was a need for stakeholders to work together to provide a more effective and efficient power supply.

    She noted that power supply is at the heart of doing business, adding that from statistics the country generates about 6,700 megawatts of which 2000 is wasted daily because of transmission and distribution challenges.

    To Dr. Akande, there is an urgent need to reduce power losses, adding that this could be achieved with a more enabling investment and regulatory environment.

    She noted that improved power supply was critical to sustaining the economy. Expressing the hope that there would be an improved ranking of Nigeria in the next edition of World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, Dr. Akande said getting electricity was one of the indicators for the ranking.

  • Ex-director: I delivered $47m in 11 suitcases to Dasuki

    Ex-director: I delivered $47m in 11 suitcases to Dasuki

    MORE shocking revelations have come on how huge cash estimated at $2billion meant for arms purchase was allegedly diverted by key government officials and politicians during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Presidency.

    A former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, said $47million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 11 suit cases.

    He said he suspected that the cash might have been given to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He, however, said as a civil servant, he was innocent because he only carried out instructions from the ex-National Security Adviser, Mr. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.

    The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Ishaq Bello, yesterday ordered that Salisu  be either arraigned in a competent court of law if there is any basis for so doing or be released on administrative bail on terms to be settled by the applicant.

    It was also discovered that N10billion was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)  for gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    The payment of the N10billion was authenticated by former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has said she transferred $322 million from the Abacha loot to Dasuki, following instruction from Dr. Jonathan.

    Salisu opened up in a Statement of Witness/Accused  he wrote under oath in the presence of investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The statement was attached to the charges preferred against Salisu and filed  in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in preparation for his arraignment by the EFCC today before Justice H.Y. Baba and Justice P.O. Affen.

    Salisu, who said he did not benefit from all the slush funds from the CBN, said: “I could remember on the 20/11/2014 , I was directed by the NSA, M.S. Dasuki to go to the CBN and collect the sum of $47m in cash and the balance in Euro and the directive was obeyed and the monies were delivered to the NSA in about 11 suit cases.

    “I acknowledged the receipt of the money from the CBN which was handed over to M.S. Dasuki.

    “I think the monies were meant for PDP. After delivery, I left, I did not see or know when the money was distributed.

    “I did not benefit even one cent. The request for the funds was tag(sic) Special Services signed by the NSA, M.S. Dasuki, addressed to the Governor of CBN.

    “I did not know the source of the money into our CBN Account. The foreign currencies  that I collected from the CBN were delivered to the NSA in his house, No. 13, John Kadiya Street, Asokoro.”

    The Nation last night  obtained memos of some  of the curious withdrawals.

    In a  November 26, 2014 memo to the Central Bank Governor(NSA /366/S), the former NSA instructed as follows: “Further to our discussion, you are pleased requested to provide the sum of $47m cash out of the N10 billion and the balance in Euro to this office for special services.

    “Mr. S.A Salisu, Director of Finance and Administration, is hereby authorised to sign and collect the amount. Please accept, Your Excellency , the assurances of my highest esteem.

    In another April 10, 2015 letter, BPSD/CRC/ GEN/FMF/01/36 by the Banking and Payment System Department, the CBN authenticated payment mandate of N10billion to the ONSA for preparation for gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

    The letter, signed by CBN Director, Banking and Payments System Department, reads: “In accordance with your letters, Ref. No. HMF/FMF/082.F15276.7 and F.15276 respectively on the above subject, we forward herewith the following mandate for authentication. Mandate Ref. FD/LP(9/4/2015)-N5,000,000,000 to National Security Adviser Account No. 0029172241019, CBN; another N5,000,000,000 to National Security Adviser Account No. 1014199287, Zenith Bank, K-City Plaza, WUSE II Abuja.

    “Purpose of payment: “Being amount released to the Office of National Security Adviser(ONSA) from the Signatory Bonus Account in preparation for the forthcoming Gubernatorial / State Assembly elections as approved by AGF.

    “The Honourable Minister may wish to authenticate this mandate to enable the CBN remit the fund.”

    In a short note to approve the request Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala simply said: “Authenticated” and signed.

    There were indications last night that the EFCC may invite Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala “for clarifications”. She has openly admitted that she released $322million to ex-NSA Dasuki from the Abacha loot recovered.

    “ We have to find out from her whether or not due process was followed. She also needs to tell the anti-graft agency whether such a release was appropriated or not,” a source told The Nation, pleading not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on the matter.

    Justice Ishaq Bello yesterday ordered that Salisu  be either arraigned in a competent court of law if there is any basis for so doing or be released on administrative bail on terms to be settled by the applicant.

    This followed an application for the enforcement of Salisu’s fundamental human rights by his counsel, A.U Mustapha.

    Mustapha had sought for a declaration that the “ arrest and continuous detention of Salaisu by the EFCC from November 20, 2015 constitutes a gross volation of the applicant’s rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement respectively guaranteed under sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “A declaration that the arrest and continuous detention of the applicant in custody without any charge since November 20 with a view to denying him freedom of movement as guaranteed by 1999 Constitution and .article 10(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights( Ratification and Enfircement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria is accordingly unlawful, unconstitutional and illegal.

    “An order directing the the EFCC to release the applicant forthwith without any condition.

    “An order as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the application.”

  • Buhari to attend 36th AU Summit in Addis Ababa

    Buhari to attend 36th AU Summit in Addis Ababa

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday depart Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).

    The President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The theme of the AU Summit is ‘‘Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation.’’

    According to the presidential aide, the president will participate in three high level meetings on peace and security, climate change and the political situation in some West African countries.

    ”First is the Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting of Heads of State and Government on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (AUPSC High Level AU), to be chaired by the President of South Africa, in his capacity as the Chair of the Council for the month of February.

    ”Second is the meeting of the Committee of the Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), currently chaired by the President of Niger Republic,” Shehu further revealed.

    On the margins of the annual meetings of the AU, Buhari, according to Shehu, will also attend an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

    He said: ”The Nigerian leader will deliver remarks at these events as well as present his National Statement at the opening session of the Summit.

    ”It brings together leaders from the AU member countries as well as a number of non-AU countries and international institutions accredited to the AU in Addis Ababa.”

    Shehu said the president would be accompanied on the trip by some Ministers and other top government officials.

    He disclosed that Buhari would return to Abuja on Monday.

    (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

  • My administration has delivered, says Wada

    My administration has delivered, says Wada

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada has said the welfare of the state has been the cornerstone of his policy in the last three and half years.

    He said Kogi has made remarkable progress, compared to other states with better resources, adding that government has met the aspirations of the people. The governor spoke with reporters in Lagos.

    He said the state has focused on agriculture by establishing 20,000 hectares of pilot farms for the production of rice, engaging youth and rural dwellers in farming activities and promoting small and medium scale industries.

    Wada said: “We constructed and rehabilitated over 700 KM of roads which include welcome to Lokoja International Market road, Lokoja township roads, Ganaja-Otokiti bypass, Idah township road, Ankpa-Okaba roads, Odenyi-Ogunma road etc.

    “We resuscitated the Kabba dam water scheme, Ozi dam, and water scheme in Ankpa, Ayingba, Idah, Egbe, Isanlu, Agaliga, Ajaka and over 200 rural communities benefited from the rural electrification project.”

    On why he had to go through the primaries for his second term ticket,  he said, except the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not give automatic ticket to its flag-bearers.

    Wada said Jonathan got automatic because at the eleventh hours, some of the contestants pulled out, leaving him as the sole candidate.

    “Normally when you contest for the leadership of a state, people show interest and see the incumbent as a challenge, because you are incumbent, it is just for you to follow the procedure to allow for fairness in the choice made. The party takes decision on issue, and you have to abide by the party decision.”

    The governor refuted the claim, that the PDP leadership in the state demanded N1 billion from him in order to support his second term bid.

    “Whoever passes out such information is a liar and that is evil machination. In Kogi State, we don’t have N1 billion. If we have, we will use it for infrastructure development. I can tell you nobody or the National Working Committee (NWC) demanded such money from me.”

    He governor said the PDP will retain Kogi State during the election, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) success in the state during the Presidential election was because of President Muhammadu Buhari whose emergence was a movement.

     

     

     

     

     

  • How we delivered affordable houses in Cross River –Banksome Group

    As part of its vision to partner state governments across the country provide affordable houses for their teeming civil servants, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Banksome Group, Mr. Anthony Somefun, has disclosed how his firm’s partnership with Cross River State government has resulted in the provision of cheap and affordable houses for the state’s civil servants.

    Citing Governor Liyel Imoke administration’s strict adherence to due process as a motivating factor in the partnership that has ensured his firm’s delivery of 850 civil servants’ housing units at Atimbo, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state, Somefun said: “Our relationship with Cross River State Government has proved to us that, there is a state that adheres to due process and good governance and we are glade to do business with it.”

    The Banksome Group boss noted that upon his firm’s arrival in the state, it observed that Governor Imoke was sincere and passionate to provide shelter for his civil servants who after a long and meritorious service to the state, deserve to retire into decent and affordable houses of their own.

    According to him, “When we first came to the state, we discovered that Governor was not only determined but also sincere about providing shelter to his civil servants. Apart from this, the governor’s strict adherence to due process and good governance was one of the motivating factors that actually made the partnership to work. And today, we can say that we have been able to assist his administration in providing about 850 housing units for civil servants in the state.”

  • APC states have delivered, says group

    APC states have delivered, says group

    All Progressives Congress (APC) states, including Lagos, Edo, Imo, have delivered the dividends of democracy to the people, Voice of the People has said.

    The group called on the people of Imo State to vote Governor Rochas Okorocha for a second term in office on April 11 to give him the opportunity to accomplish the promises he made during his campaigns

    President, Comrade Maxwell Adiele, who made this call, said that Okorocha’s government has delivered the dividends of democracy to the people.

    Apart from the free education scheme, he said the administration has delivered in the area of infrastructural and developmental facilities that would give meaning to the lives of the people including good road network system, hospitals, electricity, water etc.

    Adiele said that the government has provided free education at the primary, secondary and university worthy of commendation.

    Speaking in Lagos, Adiele however, urged the people of the state to put away sentiments and party interest and vote Okorocha a second term in office who according to him will deliver to the people the true dividends of democracy