The Nation Newspaper

Tag: embargo

  • Embargo on explosives halts road projects in Borno

    The embargo placed on use of explosives in the North East has brought road construction and rehabilitation to a halt in Borno State.

    Contractors handling the reconstruction of Biu-Gombe road and Damaturu-Biu road disclosed this yesterday during an inspection of the North East infrastructure projects led by Minister of State for Power, Work and Housing I, Mustapha Baba-Shehiru.

    Project Manager, FIK Global Resources Limited, Taofeek Rahman, said the firm’s permissions to blast was denied by the Ministry of Mines and Steel, which noted only the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) could give such permission.

    Appealing to the Minister to intervene, he explained that dynamites are most essential element for blasting and crushing rocks, which makes up aggregates needed for the road construction.

    He said it was necessary to ensure the 119km Biu-Gombe road is completed within the 24- month schedule.

    “We have tried to start the project but we are having some constraint which is the issue of quarry.

    “So far all we are doing is scarification and making the road usable so that the people can assess it.”

    He said the construction had so far employed 140 indigenes of the community in various capacities like engineers, operators and labourers among others.

    At the 49.1km Damaturu-Biu construction site the Project Manager Omoshewo Abdul-Razaq also said the embargo on explosives has affected the progress of his work greatly.

    Abdul-Razaq said they had scarified and cleared 15km and also constructed out 10 covets.

    He also appealed to the Minister to help in getting the much needed permits.

    “The major challenge of this road is aggregate as we are aware there has not been blasting in this state for over 11years now and all the quarries are not functioning.

    “We have to go and get aggregate from as far as 160km away from here for the concrete work,” he said.

    Baba-Shehiru assured the contactor of doing everything possible to get the construction back on track after expressing satisfaction on the work done so far.

    He urged the contractors to consider the importance of the road that links Gombe, Borno and Jalingo before the raining season sets in fully.

     

  • NNPC lifts embargo on 113 crude oil vessels

    NNPC lifts embargo on 113 crude oil vessels

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) yesterday lifted the embargo it placed on some 113 Vessels from engaging in  Crude Oil/Gas loading activities in any of the Terminals within the Nigerian Territorial waters.

    The Corporation said lifting the ban is predicated on  the receipt of Letters of Comfort from all Terminal Operators, oil companies and Off-takers of Nigerian Oil and Gas as guarantee that nominated vessels, pending the outcome of detailed investigation, are unencumbered and would not be utilised for any illegal activity whatsoever.

    NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, who made this known in a statement, said the Federal Government has approved the establishment of an Inter-Agency Committee made up of the Department of State Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Navy, Department of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC.

    The body is mandated to collect data and investigate the activities of the banned vessels within Nigerian territorial waters. In addition, it is expected to appraise the culpability or otherwise of each of the vessels in the time past and advise appropriately, the statement said.

  • Boko Haram: No ‘arms deal embargo’ on Nigeria, says US

    Boko Haram: No ‘arms deal embargo’ on Nigeria, says US

    Contrary to the news making the rounds that United States (US)  refused to sell arms to  Nigeria, US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle Friday, said such imposition does not exist.

    Entwistle, however, admitted that the military training was stopped because of a strain in the training-agreement.

    While not denying or giving reason for US refusal to sell aircraft to Nigeria, the ambassador asserted that there was never any arms deal embargo on Nigeria,  stressing that the relationship between both countries was still cordial.

    Reports in some quarters had blamed the US for Nigeria’s cash for arms deal scandal in South Africa. It was noted that Nigeria took the South Africa option when US refused to sell arms to the country to prosecute its war with the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    The disagreement, it was also learnt was responsible for the termination of a training programme for Nigeria’s battalion.

    Amb. Entwistle, in a television interview monitored in Abuja, denied the said arms embargo describing the claims as ‘nonsense’.

    According to him: “The idea that there is arms embargo and that the US has cut Nigeria off is nonsense.

    “No country is doing more to support Nigeria in its fight against terror right now. We can’t talk about the details in public, but I can assure you that we are with you every step of the way.

    “We have a number of discussions right now for various pieces of equipment in the air, on the ground and army personnel carriers. We share information everyday with your army that they can use operationally.

    “The notion that we have cut you off is nonsense.

    “When we transfer or consider transferring arms to any country, by US law, there is a process that we have to go through. We consider whether this makes sense for the country and other human rights considerations. Sometimes the answer is no much more often the answer is yes.

    “You were right about the Cobra Helicopter when the answer after careful deliberation was no.

    “We have a number of other things in the pipeline. So that water under the bridge is focused on the present and the future and the cooperation is excellent.”

    On the termination of military training, the Ambassador said: “We have good relations with the Air Force, Navy and Army at the working level. We are in touch everyday working together.

    “Late last year, I told President Jonathan that the US wants Nigeria to win the war on terror and we stand ready to help in any appropriate way.

    “We have already started training, at the request of Nigerian government, to train one of its battalions up to a world-class standard. We brought in the best military trainers in the world. But the agreement with the government was that we will provide the trainers in order to do this properly. The Nigerian Army will provide the equipment needed to do this training. It is a partnership. We are doing this together. It is not something we are doing for you.

    “Training started, but sadly it got to a point that we had to stop because the equipment was not available.

    “And after several weeks of waiting, we could not keep the trainers here and the Nigerian government decided to end the training.

    “I say this with great regret, it was a great opportunity to train a world-class battalion, but unfortunately it stopped at the request of your government. But his doesn’t have to derail our cooperation. Whatever reasons were for that, we continue to move forward. As I have said, could we do training again in the future, sure everything is possible.

    “But we have to talk about the details very carefully from the beginning because we do not want to experience this again.

    “I don’t think the US and Nigeria are experience strain relations. I think we are in good shape,” he stressed.

  • IG: Embargo on firearms licensing still in force

    IG: Embargo on firearms licensing still in force

    The embargo placed on issuance of fresh licenses to the public for the procurement of firearms is still in force, Police Inspector-General Mohammed Abubakar said yesterday.

    A statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations officer, Mr. Frank Mba said the embargo was meant to check the proliferation of firearms.

    The statement reads: “Consequently, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to state that in furtherance of the subsisting embargo, it has not and does not intend to issue permits to any person, group of persons, organisation or agency of any state government, for the procurement or purpose of bearing firearms.

    “In view of the need for public education on the subject matter especially with respect to concerns expressed by many Nigerians over the eligibility and rumoured desire of some groups to bear firearms, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that the extant laws guiding the use of firearms explicitly prohibit the bearing of various categories of firearms, without requisite licenses”.

    The statement reminded the public of the legal implication of having unlicensed firearms in their possession.

    The embargo also affects importation or exportation of firearms and ammunition without the appropriate license.

    “While vigilance groups and other sincere community efforts towards safety and security are encouraged to work in partnership with local police authorities, the conduct and practice of such vigilante groups must be in total conformity with the laws of the land.

    “Members of the public are advised to be properly guided in respect of the above as the police force is poised to uphold the existing restriction over the use of firearms.

    “It is also in that vein that the Force had closed down the armouries of all licensed firearms dealers and kept due surveillance over their activities.

    “Government and non-government institutions with genuine concerns for the security of their environment are hereby advised to partner the police and other legitimate security agencies for the safety of their environment.

    “The Nigeria Police Force will continue to diligently work towards eliminating all threats to internal security and assures Nigerians of its commitment to their well-being”, the statement added.

  • NSC places embargo on capital projects

    NSC places embargo on capital projects

    The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will not embark on any new project until year 2020 when the existing ones must have been completed.

    The Director-General of the NSC, Dr Patrick Ekeji, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, said the decision was due to a lack of funds.

    According to Ekeji, most of the projects appropriated for since 2009 including the 44 mini-sports centres are yet to be completed.

    “The funds have not been available and the Federal Executive says we should prioritise and we are prioritising.

    “Mini Sports Centres are part of the capital projects of the NSC and we have done our best within the limit of the funds at our disposal.

    “Not all the funds for capital projects have been released in all of these years and it is not deliberate that government is not releasing them,’’he said.

    Ekeji stressed that budgetary allocations are usually actualised only when the funds are available.

    “Budget releases are contingent on the amount of money available to the executive.

    “When expectations are not met, it is the responsibility of all of us in the arm of government including the National Assembly to work together.

    “From 2009 till date (four years), the total appropriation for the NSC is in the sum of N12 billion but the total amounts released is N7 billion plus,” Ekeji said.

    He said that out of the over N7 billion released, N2 billion was set aside for the rehabilitation of the eight stadia that hosted the FIFA U-17 Championship tagged “Nigeria 2009.”

    “We have included the N250 million released by government directly to each of the eight States that hosted the world championship for the upgrading of their stadia.

    “What it means is that we have included the N2 billion in the expenditure because it is part of the appropriation. In the actual sense what we got in 2009 was less than N1.2 billion.

    Which means the release is little above 50 per cent and this amount is supposed to be spread to various projects over the years, these expenditures are verifiable,” he added.

    The D-G further stated that apart from the NSC lacking funds to complete its capital projects, funds for the maintenance of sporting facilities have not improved to any significant level.

    He pointed out that the challenges associated with running a government office were enormous but maintained that the Commission would always be alive to its responsibilities.

    “There is no government office that does not have challenges but the accounting officers are expected to be innovative for things to move forward.

    “The easiest thing to do is to run away from problems, but we have no option than to face it. At best, consultants will present paper work and recommendations which are persuasive; the desire, spirit and determination to carry through lies on Nigerians,” Ekeji noted.