The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FEC

  • From Chibok 276 to President Jonathan

    SIR: It is with deep sense of anger, resentment and desperation that we write you this letter. You would recall that on April 14, after an explosion rocked Nyanya a suburb of Abuja killing over 75 persons and wounding many others, some individuals in military camouflage came to Chibok Girls Secondary School with the guise of assisting us escape an imminent Boko Haram attack. Conversely, the “good Samaritans” have turned out to be dare-devil Boko Haram abductors. Twenty one horrible days after, we are helpless hostages languishing in the den of these sheep in wolf clothing. The attendant depression and hopeless experience is better imagined.

    We learnt that our abduction naturally hit you like a thunder bolt and our country knew no peace since then. But a day after, your presidential train moved to Kano where you danced away the shock in reception of Ibrahim Shekarau and other defectors to your party the PDP. How would one conscientiously reconcile your shocking disposition to our plight to what happened some hours later in Kano? If we were truly your children, would you have gone to Kano? Being in government should not make us lose our sense of decency and humanness.

    We also learnt that government postponed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday  April 30, to honour the younger brother of the Vice President Namadi Sambo who unfortunately lost his life in a ghastly motor accident along Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja. We pray Allah to receive the soul of the departed in al-jannah Firdaus and through this medium send our heart-felt condolences to the Vice President and his entire family. It is customary in our clime to honour the dead but should we conclude that the dead are more important that the living in Nigeria?

    At the time we were abducted, we were putting on only school uniforms. Has anyone thought of how we feed, sleep, take bath and care for ourselves as young girls?

    Boko Haram menace needs a concerted national and patriotic effort to surmount. We are hostages today; tomorrow it might be people in position of authority. If drastic steps are not taken, the nation will be consumed. The doom’s day is imminent.

    Our abduction coincided with the untimely death of more than 200 school children like us at a resort island off the nation’s southwestern coast of South Korea as a result of crew malfeasance. The Prime Minister took responsibility and threw in the towel. The crew members are currently facing the music. Who will take responsibility for all these calamities that have been befalling us as a nation?

    The world is expected to mark Children’s day on May 27. Would you like us to celebrate ours as hostages in the bush with gun trotting insurgents whose well established principle is that education is a sin and are out to stop it?

    The events that led to our abduction has offered your government the impetus to scrutinise the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of making sure that the state of emergency is implemented. How could these people have unbridled access to roads that are supposed to be manned by soldiers? We learnt that our government agencies do not even know how many of us thatare missing. Even if it is one person, a good shepherd will leave 99 sheep and go after the missing one.

    We salute the courage of our mothers in Chibok, mothers all over Nigeria who have worked, prayed and marched the cities of Nigeria to demonstrate and register their displeasure over our abduction and lack of government proactive measures for our release. Finally, we thank God for preserving us till this day and for mercifully granting 53 of us freedom and safety. Our gratitude goes to all Nigerians for standing by us and our families in this trying time. We still look forward to our freedom someday.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    Zaria

  • FEC approves N35.9bn AfDB loan for agric development

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Wednesday approved the procurement of 152-million-dollar loan (about N35.9 billion) and 385,000-dollar grant (about N64.5 million) for agricultural development.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, made this known after the council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.

    Adesina said that the facilities to be obtained from the African Development Bank (AfDB) would be used to develop 14 Staple Crops Processing Zones in seven states and 27 local government areas.

    According to him, the loan to support agricultural production and investments, will attract 1.5 per cent interest and be repaid over 22 years.

    He explained that a Staple Crop Processing Zone is an area of high production where the government would provide the enabling environment to attract private sector food processing companies.

    “It is a big game changer for agriculture and the AfDB and the World Bank are so excited about it that they have asked other African countries to copy Nigeria.”

    Adesina noted that infrastructure was very important in attracting private sector investments.

    “They need power, water, roads and rail for transportation and you cannot invest that everywhere because it is expensive to do.

    “What we are doing is unique; which is to identify the vast areas for Staple Crops Processing Zones to which we will immediately upgrade the basic infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business by the food processing companies that will come to Nigeria.

    “We have developed 14 staple crops processing zones masterplans across the country which will cover a whole range of commodities like rice, cassava, cotton, sorghum, aquaculture, livestock and other production.

    “Out of the 14 staple crops processing zones masterplans, six have been fully completed and now at the execution stage.”

    The minister said that the loan would be specifically used to develop rice, sorghum and cassava in commercial production and also to support private sector processing and value addition for the commodities.

    Adesina said that the zones would be located in Adani-Omo in Ebonyi and Enugu States for rice and cassava; Bida and Badeggi for rice; Kano and Jigawa for rice, tomato and sorghum; Kebbi and Sokoto for rice and Sorghum.

    He listed the seven states to be involved in the first phase as Anambra, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto.

    “The facility will support infrastructure development, production facility, irrigation infrastructure, social infrastructure in particular, rural roads, potable water, sanitation and healthcare.

    “We want the rural areas to be places where the young ones can stay and be productive. The loan will also be used for agro-processing development, value addition and market information system for farmers in those areas.”

    The minister added that 17 water control structures would be rehabilitated including 1,300 irrigation canals.

  • FG okays $152.12m for agriculture

    FG okays $152.12m for agriculture

    …Presidency yet to receive 2014 Budget

    The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the acquisition of $152.12 million loan from the African Development Bank (ADB) towards boosting agricultural produces in the country.

    The Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting Presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Adesina said the loan will be used to boost cultivation of rice, sorghum and cassava in 14 staple crop processing zones in the country.

    Stressing that the loan will go a long way to add 20 million tons to Nigeria’s food production by 2015, he said that 120,000 jobs will be created from the initial staple crop processing zones.

    He said: “Council today gave approval of a loan of $152.12 million dollars and a grant of $385,000 from the ADB to support the agricultural transformation agenda of Mr. President.”

    “We are all excited about this because it is another affirmation by global institution of what we are doing and that we are on the right track as regard to agricultural development. Mr. President set a strategy that we will run agriculture as a business which is a major shift from how agriculture had been run before.”

    “We no longer just focus on production but we focus as well on storage, warehousing, processing, value addition, marketing, logistics and trade. In other words, agriculture today in Nigeria is a business which we have to make sure that we provide enabling environment in supporting it to grow and to generate wealth.”

    Maku on his part told journalists that the issue of 2014 Budget was not discussed during the FEC meeting, saying the National Assembly is yet to transmit the passed budget to the President.

     

     

     

  • The Lagos siege? NSNC: ‘Honest Census’; Solar Revolution; Protest NASS N45m

    The Lagos siege? NSNC: ‘Honest Census’; Solar Revolution; Protest NASS N45m

    Who authorised that soldiers be unleashed on Lagos State to enforce an exclusively politically orchestrated difference of opinion about land use in several areas? Even in a demented democracy as unforgiving, bizarre, viciously violent, ritualistic and murderous as our own in Nigeria, is this ‘Siege of Lagos’ display of soldiers not a flagrant abuse of ‘all we are trying to hold dear’ and also the National Security Act? It reminds Lagosians of the negative milito-ethnic federal might in 1983/4 under Buhari and Babangida that stopped the Jakande Monorail in Lagos at a penalty for contract cancellation of $184,000,000 rather than allow Lagosians modern transport. Shame on them and still no apology yet from them. Instead, only, new political federal capital wahala. Was national security ever threatened by Lagos State? Is national security the preserve of ‘federal Lagosians’, hirelings of power in Abuja? Is this misuse of soldiers approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the National Security Adviser (NSA) or the Minister of Defence? Neither police nor the armed forces should be used to enforce obviously partisan political decisions. What is most painful is that the developments being shut down are for the benefit of all Lagosians, including the Lagos-living relations of the federal Lagosians. Why have these federal Lagosians shed their ‘state-ship’ for a ‘mess of federal party pottage’? Is it the price to be paid to get a CV that will allow one to be chosen as the state governorship candidate of the federal party? The price is too high! Lagosians will retaliate at the polls. Nigeria’s soldiers have enough to do facing and dying in the Boko Haram insurgency and guarding schools from Fulani herdsmen and do not require to be brought into disrepute or have their intelligence insulted and their persons disrespected by federal Lagosians misusing their specialised training just to inflict political pain on a political enemy without weapons.

    At last government provides figures for Nigerians power deficit. For years we have reported that Nigeria has a 100,000Mw deficit when government was working on providing a still unattainable 10,000Mw. We have a disgraceful 4,000Mw. Now at last government admits to a 170,000Mw need at 1,000Mw per one million if you believe we are 170 million. I think we have 20-25% inflation of census figures for dishonest financial interstate ethno-religious and political reasons, cutting the projected population to 136m. Interestingly this will improve further the reworked GDP figures as the same $510b is divided by a lower population pushing Nigeria to number 23 or so in the world. So the Non Sovereign National Conference (NSNC) should clearly address the importance of getting our next census right. The NSNC must stand against the sack of honest whistle-blowers like Festus Odimegwu of the National Population Commission. The NSNC must discover how to defuse the ‘politically explosive sensitive and probably corrupt census scam. NIGERIA MUST BE ACCURATELY COUNTED. The NSNC must get a commitment from all delegates and stakeholders for ‘A HONEST CENSUS’ as one of the most important and indispensable keys to the future political and financial prosperity.

    Well, now it is official everywhere except in Nigeria’s political circle. United Nations scientists recommend a dramatic increase in renewable energy and especially solar energy to fight climate change. It is one of the irresponsible marvels of our time that giant solar farms are found in the cold low sun UK and power entire solar cities in Spain while here in Nigeria and Africa, with our burning God-given sun, we have only a few token solar projects. What Africa and Nigeria need is a ‘Continental and Country by Country Solar Power Plan’ to provide 10 or 50% of all energy ASAP. For this, massive funding as grants and loans by the World Bank, IMF and Bank of Industry and all central banks will quickly provide access to the newest solar technology at discounted 0-5% interest rates with long repayment schedules. Nigeria needs all political parties and politicians in the National Assembly (NASS) and state assemblies to be educated on and commit to delivering a 2014-2019 Nigerian Solar Revolution before God gives our sun to some country more deserving. Indeed the urgent need for Solar Power should be on the agenda of the NSNC, all Economic Summits especially ‘State Summits’ as solar will set states free from the politics and failures and workers of the national grid.

    We hope that the NSNC delegates ‘North/South Exchange Visits’ take place to enlighten each other about floods, erosion, gas flares and pollution, petroleum and mining hazards. Some have suggested that the tours include the dams in the North and crossing the First Niger Bridge. Having done this each member should choose any three days to have a wheelchair day, a blind day and a deaf day in the National Conference, just to feel what the physically challenged have needlessly suffered. Delegates should face reality and not be spoilt by Abuja’s glamour. NSNC must represent Nigerians and protest the N45,000,000/quarter NASS Salaries and Perks, SAP, which are ‘SAPing’ Nigeria dry and unsustainable! The political system must be changed to part-time with sitting allowances and cancellation of most perks. The delegates should choose a ‘Nigeria week’ to work without electric power, water in the toilets and positive leadership. Finally, if at the end of the NSNC Nigerians feel genuinely aggrieved or cheated as most Nigerians have felt these 50 years, then the NSNC would have failed and Nigeria would be closer to the ‘disunity’ not to be discussed. Work to stay together!

  • Why ministers were ‘allowed to go’, by Maku

    Why ministers were ‘allowed to go’, by Maku

    Yesterday’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was solemn.

    President Goodluck Jonathan shocked the ministers when he announced the exit of four of them from the cabinet.

    A major casualty – the controversial Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah – was absent at the meeting. She had been told by the President of the decision to “let her go”.

    It was not clear whether the three other ministers dropped from the cabinet were told before yesterday.

    Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe and Minister of State for Finance Yerima Ngama, attended the meeting.

    But Olubolade and Orubebe left before the end without talking to reporters.

    Ngama spoke briefly in Hausa to a few reporters on his way out of the Villa.

    Yesterday’s action by the President followed Monday’s forced exit of Chief of Staff to the President Mike Oghiadomhe.

    Minister of Information Labaran Maku told reporters at the end of the FEC meeting that the ministers were “allowed to go” to pursue personal and political goals.

    According to him, the President thanked them for their contributions and wished them well in their future endeavour.

    Until substantive ministers are sworn in, he said the President directed the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom to take charge of the Aviation Ministry, the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Isiaku Darius is to take charge of the Ministry, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will oversee her portfolio in addition to that of the Minister of the State. Minister of State FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide will take charge of the Police Affairs Ministry.

    He said: “The President announced further changes in the federal executive council. He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the federal executive council to pursue or further their own interests, some in politics others private-focused. But mainly what the president did today was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity and in the economy and in the life of the country, to be allowed to go.

    “In announcing the acceptance of their decision to participate further in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise a number of the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda. The President believes that they have done so well for the country, they have done so well for this administration. He was generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors to help the administration realise the goals that we see today and the results that we have arrived at under the transformation programme of the government.”

    Maku said the President explained that the former Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe was not sacked because of corruption or malpractices.

    Maku said: “The President explained that contrary to this insinuation which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interest in politics.

    “The office of the chief of staff does not supervise the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it has no direct correlation with the work of the NNPC and he said if Oghiadomhe had left because of NNPC, then it will suggest that there must have been people in the NNPC that would have been involved with him and those people too would have gone. So contrary to these speculations, the President asked him to go when he offered to resign to participate to pursue interest in politics. The president made it very clear that the resignation of the former chief of staff has nothing to do with the alleged misdemeanors in NNPC, but rather it was purely a decision of the former chief of staff to withdraw his services to participate in pursuing further interest in politics,” he added.

    On whether Mrs Oduah was asked to go based on the report on the N255 million car scam by the committee set up to investigate the allegation, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the President said. Also don’t forget allegations don’t necessarily mean guilt and I think the press should always take sometimes to be patient. But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and the President has decided to let them go”.

    On why the government is keeping silent on the allegation of missing funds by Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, he said: “I will caution that we be patient for the institution of government to respond. You will recall that the CBN governor claimed $49 billion or there about was missing and inquiry shows that that was not so. Now he has been making further claims and NNPC has been responding and I believe that I do not have the facts now to answer your questions.”

    Maku added that the council considered the report of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and referred it to the Minister of Agriculture to look into the recommendations and present a memo.

     

  • Investors to pay N117b for Lagos-Ibadan road

    Investors to pay N117b for Lagos-Ibadan road

    Private investors will bear 70 per cent of the N167billion rebuilding cost of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ensure its timely completion, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    The government will bear 30 per cent of the cost, which is about N50billion.

    The government, however, said it would only be able to pay N25billion of its counterpart funding this year as contained in the 2014 Budget.

    But it was silent on the modalities of the fresh concession of the Expressway and the likely investors.

    The clarifications were made in a statement in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Works through its Director of Information, Mr. Bisi Agbonhin.

    The statement confirmed The Nation’s exclusive report on Tuesday that the Federal Government was planning to concession the road following a cash crunch.

    The statement said: “It is worthy of note that from inception, the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for implementation of the road project was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works with attendant Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals to the two contractors.

    “This was also subject to the finances scheme put in place through the private sector-led project finance; infrastructure finance facility with the Federal Government of Nigeria providing 30 per cent of the project cost (i.e. N50billion), while the balance of 70 per cent would be provided by the investors and financiers to the project. This arrangement will enable completion of the project on time and on budget. “

    The government said it had already allocated N25billion out of its N50billion counterpart funds for the Expressway in the 2014 Budget.

    The statement added: “Contrary to the misinformation that the Federal Government has voted N23million in the 2014 budget for hiring the services of consultants on PPP scheme, the Federal Government has made a total provision for the sum of N25Billion as her own counterpart funding in the 2014 budget, with a view to providing the balance of N25billion in the 2015 budget.”

    A document from the Budget Office of the Federation, however, showed that N5billion was voted for the “rehabilitation of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway Section 1”.

    The government said contrary to alleged “grave allegations” in the story, both Julius Berger Plc and Reynolds Construction Company Plc had begun work on the Expressway.

    The statement said: “In the report, grave allegations were raised maliciously indicting the Federal Government on the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “The insinuations are malicious, untrue and unfounded. To put the facts straight, the general public should note that since the Presidential ground breaking ceremony of July 2013, both Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company Plc commenced early work on the road in preparation for full blown construction work.

    “It is evident that road users who plied the road during the 2013 yuletide season enjoyed seamless motoring as there was free flow of traffic due to the reconstruction efforts embarked upon by the construction companies.”

    The Federal Government had in November 2012 terminated the 25-year concession given to Wale Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney Limited for the construction and maintenance of the 105-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The expressway was concessioned to Bi-Courtney in 2009 at N89.53 billion for 25 years.

    The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said the concession agreement was revoked due to failure of Bi-Courtney to adhere to the terms.

    In June last year, the Federal Government re-awarded the reconstruction of the Expressway to Julius Berger Plc and RCC.

    In July 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off the reconstruction of the Expressway at N167billion with a completion timeline of 48 months.

    But barely six months after, the project has run into a hitch.

    The government is looking for investors to bail it out to be able to complete the project within 48 months.

  • The Mandela factor at FEC meeting

    Last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo had a sizeable number of ministers in attendance compared to past sessions.

    The moment President Goodluck Jonathan is on an official trip abroad, many Ministers are often in the habit of staying away from FEC meetings even though they are in the country.

    These Ministers, however abandon every assignment they have to attend the meetings when the boss is in town.

    In my write-up of October 1, 2013, entitled “Where are the Ministers”, I pointed out how only 14 Ministers attended the FEC meeting presided by Sambo on September 25, 2013 and how the council could not achieve much because of the poor attendance. The meeting only lasted for about one hour, 40 minutes.

    Apart from FEC meeting of September 25 and many other instances before that date, the attendance of FEC meeting conducted by Sambo on Wednesday 4th December, 2013 was not too impressive while full house was recorded the following day when President Jonathan gave 2013 Nigerian National Order of Merit award to three professors at the same venue.

    As if they have all turned a new leaf, 22 ministers did not only appear for last Wednesday FEC meeting, but they were very punctual. The President was away on a trip to South Africa for the late Nelson Mandela’s burial ceremony

    By the time the digital clock in the Chamber was showing 10:00 am, which is the deadline for arriving for the meeting, 19 out of the 22 ministers had already arrived.

    The ministers who attended last week FEC meeting which lasted for about five hours include Special Duties, Police Affairs, Petroleum Resources, FCT, FCT (State), Niger Delta, Niger Delta (State), Mines and Steel, Trade and Investment, Trade and Investment (State), Labour.

    Others include Communication Technology, Power, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Health, Finance, Finance (State), Works (State), Information, Transport and Interior.

    One major reason for the ministers’ high attendance at the meeting is being linked to the opportunity given last week to pay tribute to the Late Nelson Mandela.

    Each of them was given the opportunity to make a comment on the late anti-apartheid crusader.

    Most ministers who were not on foreign trips but absent in FEC meetings presided by Sambo are believed to be using the opportunity provided by the President’s trip abroad to attend to their personal issues.

    Even outside the country, some of them have been accused of abandoning international conferences and seminars to go on shopping spree and other personal businesses.

    A point in case was the recent accusation that some ministers abandoned the Honorary International Investors’ Council (HIIC) meeting in London.

    But the President on arrival in Abuja defended the ministers, saying: “All of them performed very well. I think there are some kinds of misconception. Ministers are not meant to sit throughout the period. Ministers are meant to go and make presentations even in Nigeria.”

    “The only person that normally sits throughout is the Minister of Trade and Investment that warehouses the HIIC. Some ministers don’t normally sit for two days, in a day you may not see a minister. If a minister is meant to make a presentation on the second day, is not that for the two days you will expect all the ministers.”

    “Because I read some of the perception in the media, that the Minister of Communication Technology was not there on Thursday, the Minister of Petroleum was not there on Thursday. They were not meant to make presentation on Thursday, they appeared on Friday and made their presentation. So there is no issue about ministers, people make a lot of insinuations out of nothing.”  He added

    It must be said here again that true service to our fatherland, devoid of pretence or deceptions is paramount in delivering the goods in line with the transformation agenda of the government.

     

  • FEC pays tribute to Mandela

    FEC pays tribute to Mandela

    Vice President Namadi Sambo, who presided over Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, led other council members to pay tributes to late Nelson Mandela.

    Before they went into the proper business of the day, each of the 21 ministers present and other government officials were given opportunity to make a comment.

    They exhorted the good qualities and legacies which Mandela left behind.

    Some of them specifically called on leaders not to hang on to power by emulating Mandela who went for only one term in office.

    Vice President said: “Nelson Mandela was a great revolutionary leader, philanthropist, politician and anti-apartheid crusader. He dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity.

    “After 23 years of solitary confinement, the apartheid government shifted its stance and bowed to the will of the people.

    “At the end of apartheid, Mandela left no one in doubt that his struggle was for mankind, the struggle was for all races.

    “After just spending one term in office and despite of the many successes he attained, Mandela did not rest on his oars. He continued with his struggle and activism both at home and abroad, despite his advanced age.”

    Sambo condoled the members of his family for the great loss.

    “They should ever take solace in the fact that Madiba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation by all. Nelson Mandela will forever remain a source of inspiration to the younger generation.”

    “He has become a reference point for the younger people. We should continue with his good legacies and always try to replicate his good life,” the vice president added.

     

     

  • PHOTO: FEC meeting tribute to Mandela

    PHOTO: FEC meeting tribute to Mandela

  • FEC approves N42.69b road contracts

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved road contracts worth N42.69 billion across the country.

    The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The road projects, according to him, include rehabilitation of three federal roads in Kogi/Kwara, Bauchi/Plateau and Adamawa States and dualization of one federal road in Kano State.

    He said: “The Ilorin- Jebba (93.6km long single carriage way) in Kwara State is in favour of Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited in the sum of N14, 587,233, 292.17 with completion period of 24 months.”

    “Council also approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation of Ilorin-Omuaran-Kabba road in Kwara/Kogi States in the sum of N8, 217,373,106.17 with a completion period of 36 months.

    Contract for the dualization of Kano-Katsina road phase 1(Kano town at Dawanau roundabout Katsina State border in Kano State) in the sum of N14, 078,252,565.88 with a completion period of 30 months was also approved by the council.”