The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Uduaghan to Fed Govt: involve governors in Avengers’ crisis

    Uduaghan to Fed Govt: involve governors in Avengers’ crisis

    Former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged the Federal Government to involve Niger Delta governors in resolving the crisis the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has caused in region and the economy.

    Uduaghan noted that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to Niger Delta militants failed to yield results because the region’s governors were not involved.

    The former governor spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ (NGE) conference.

    He said the region’s governors should participate in the resolution of militancy and other challenges causing underdevelopment in the region.

    Uduaghan said this would maximise the Federal Government effort to solve the challenges.

    The former governor urged the agitating youth to embrace dialogue with the government to resolve the region’s crisis.

    He said: “The Amnesty did not achieve what it was to achieve because the governors were not involved. The states should be involved. The biggest threat in Niger Delta is that our land is seriously polluted, especially the water. In those days, you could see the sand under the water. We used it to wash our teeth. But it is not so anymore.

    “Niger Delta Avengers are busting our pipelines for whatever reasons; anger. Nigerians are looking at it as something just affecting only the economy; it goes beyond that. Our environment is being ruined.

    “Dealing with the Niger Delta challenge should be a carrot-and-stick approach: engagement first and force, where necessary. Engagements should be deepened. The governors should be part of it.

    “I want to appeal to our brothers in Niger Delta Avengers that what they are doing is not just damaging the economy but the waters. I appeal to them to stop. The media should also help to appeal to them to stop it.”

    Uduaghan appealed to the media to educate Nigerians on the gains of agriculture, adding that the nation needed to embrace agriculture as a major revenue earner.

  • Fed Govt, Nigeria Breweries Plc sign MoU on teacher awards

    The Federal Government has indicated interest to partner with Nigerian Breweries Plc in order to formalize and strengthen the Maltina Teacher award exercise to ensure its sustainability

    The award, which honours teachers from both public and private schools across the country, is held annually. It is in its 2nd edition.

    Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah said this in Abuja when he received management of the company in his office.

     

    The Minister, in a statement issued by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Press) Ben Bem-Gong, commended the initiative of the company to honour Nigerian teachers.

    Anwukah described the scope of the competition which involved private and public secondary schools across the 36 states of the federation as very impressive, adding that the decision to build Maltina blocks of classrooms for the school with the best teacher as well as an oversea training and cash award for the teacher is also quite commendable.

    According to the minister, the MoU to be signed soon would further strengthen the programme as a worthy national competition.  “It is a good thing to motivate teachers,” he said.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Victor Famuyibo said that the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award is part of the social corporate responsibility (CSR) of the company, stressing that beyond the common saying that teachers’ reward is in heaven, teachers should actually reap some of the reward here on earth.

    According to him, the company has made its impact at various levels of education from primary, secondary and tertiary through the provision of facilities such as libraries, laboratories and classrooms.

    General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Obong Obong, commended the company for coming up with the award for teachers.

    He encouraged other corporate organizations to emulate the good example set by the company.

    Federal Government College, Onitsha emerged winner of the first edition of the Maltina Teacher of the year in 2015.

     

  • ‘Blame Fed Govt for cooking gas scarcity’

    ‘Blame Fed Govt for cooking gas scarcity’

    Being an oil-producing country, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), known as cooking gas, should always be available in Nigeria. But that is not the case. Many, whether in the urban or rural areas, cook with kerosene and charcoal because of the product’s scarcity. The Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Mr. Bassey Essiet, blames government’s policy for the problem, AKINOLA AJIBADE met him.

    When did Nigeria join the league of countries using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)?

    Nigerians have been using cooking gas for some time. But we began to give LPG the desired attention in 2007, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, Obasanjo directed the Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) to be producing LPG for domestic consumption. The government, in its calculation, believes that LPG export is detrimental to Nigerians, who need the product for domestic and industrial use. Of note is that the period coincided with the time the four state-owned refineries: namely Port Harcourt 1 & 2; Kaduna and Warri refineries were not producing optimally. As a result, the refineries were unable to produce enough kerosene for local use. The development did not only affect kerosene supply negatively, but resulted in more demand for kerosene.  Based on this, our association decided to intensify campaigns on the use of LPG.

    What is the worth of the LPG market?

    It is difficult to say the worth of the LPG market in Nigeria. Putting a figure to its worth means one simply is guessing because it is just like asking for the worth of the crude oil market. Nigeria is the largest producer of oil in Africa. If we are talking about per capita consumption of LPG in Nigeria, it is one kilogramme. This is far lower than the per capita consumption in Morocco. The government is planning to increase per capita consumption from one to three kilogrammes, which translates to 600,000 metric tonnes per annum. A kilogramme of LPG is 200,000 metric tonnes per annum. As at 2014, the country was supplying 250,000 metric tonnes of LPG to the market. Nigeria started with 60,000 metric tonnes per annum and increased it to 150,000 metric tonnes years later. Subsequently, it was increased to 250,000 metric tonnes per annum and the country is targeting 350,000 metric tonnes. But in line with the LPG roadmap developed by the Federal Government with the World Bank, the country is supposed to be at a per capita consumption of 3.75 kilogramme, which is 600,000 metric tonnes per annum. However, we are not there yet. Ideally for the size of Nigeria, which has over 170 million people, the country should be supplying one million metric tonnes of LPG per year to the market. The question is: How are we going to achieve that? It is by creating more awareness.

    Scarcity of LPG is a recurring decimal. What is the cause?

    Several factors are responsible for the scarcity of LPG in Nigeria. First, scarcity started with when multinational oil companies were dominating the country’s LPG market. At a point, the foreign owned firms could not produce enough LPG for the market. The second problem has to do with logistics. There are hitches in the transportation of cooking gas across the country, coupled with challenges facing the terminals designated for the delivery of the product, by the Federal Government. Three terminals were approved for such purpose by the government. Out of this, two terminals were giving priority to discharge white products, such as petrol, kerosene and diesel ahead of LPG. This has resulted in the delay in discharging LPG to consumers. Because of this problem, LPG vessels have to wait for hours or weeks before they discharge their content.

    Who is to blame for the problems in the LPG sub-sector?

    This is not the time to apportion blames. The way the system operates here is quite different from what it is obtainable in other climes. There are activities that are contrary to the law of the land. There are manipulations and sharp practices. What we can only do is to bring to attention the people involved in these activities. We have been doing that. Few weeks ago, our association had a meeting with the hierarchy of Product Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC) and the problems including scarcity of LPG in sub-sector was discussed, and PPMC promised to look into the problems. Based on the synergy between NALPGAM and PPMC, we invited the Managing Director of PPMC, Mr. Ahmed Farouk, to the commissioning of our NALPGAM‘s secretariat in Lagos, where he said he would be happy to see the country meeting the needs of consumers of cooking gas soon.

    When will the problem be resolved?

    We hope to end the problem of scarcity of cooking gas soon. Stakeholders are meeting to proffer solution to the problems which includes but not limited to terminal congestion, storage, vessels and others. The PPMC has been working on this. The NALPGAM, PPMC and other relevant stakeholders have been meeting on the issue. Also, the Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas has been playing a pivotal role in this regard.

    What is the future of LPG sub-sector like, in view of plethora of problems facing it?

    The future is bright; the problems are going to be resolved soon, and the LPG sub-sector will start on a new note. Presently, innovations that would launch the sub-sector into prominence have started. Operators in oil and gas and allied sectors are working on how to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for automobiles. It is has begun in Nigeria, and with time, many people would be using gas to power their vehicles, and not petrol. This is not new in Europe and other developed economies. But Nigeria is gradually catching on with it. Recently, I was invited to witness a demonstration in Surulere, Lagos, where gas was used to power a generator. That is why I said the future of LPG is great in the country.

    What is the main reason for establishing this body?

    The reasons include the need to create awareness for the usage of LPG in the country; reduce health hazards accompanying the use of stoves, firewood and charcoal; raise the status symbol of people, and further check the monopoly of foreign-owned oil companies that dominate the sub-sector. Prior to 1986, when the body was formed, there was a knowledge gap in the LPG sub-sector. Many do not know what the usage entails, others saw cooking gas as a preserve of the rich or elites. During that period, people were equating the usage of LPG to that of telephone, which was regarded as a status symbol then. Added to this is the fact that only multinational oil companies such as Mobil, Total, among others, were selling LPG in their outlets across the country. People took their gas cylinders to the outlets to refill them, albeit, spending hours on the queue. Many even travelled to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to buy cooking gas. The association was formed to correct these anomalies and further serve as an umbrella for cooking gas marketers.

    Are foreigners behind the monopoly in the sub-sector then?

    Yes, they are. Foreigners, to some extent, created monopoly in the sub-sector. Once there are few years in a market, they tend to dominate it.They create a block, through which, they control activities in that market. However, with the awareness on LPG increasing by the day, the association was able to check the excesses of the foreign oil firms in the sub-sector. Not only this, the body has brought together entrepreneurs in order to have one voice. The efforts have paid off, as the body boasts of 400 members and 400 LPG plants. This means that indigenous marketers are having a considerable influence on the market.

    Are oil marketing firms included in your NALPGAM membership?

    The membership of the association is not by force. We do not compel anybody to be our member. The marketers, either major or independent, are not compelled to become members.

    The association appears not to have control over the marketers in the sub-sector…

    (Cuts in): The fact that NALPGAM is the umbrella body for LPG marketers in the country does not confer on it the right to control or regulate the sub-sector. The power to regulate activities in LPG industry lies with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). DPR is vested with the power to license or approve LPG marketers, once they have met the requirements, which include, but not limited to the ownership of a plant. The entry point to play in the sub- sector is ownership of a plant. Once that has been done, the operator can join the association. The entry is free. This could be likened to what happened in the banking industry years ago, when banks had option to join a union in the industry.

    Do you complain to DPR, whenever you discover untoward practices in the sub-sector?

    We do not report erring marketers to DPR. Even though, the body holds meetings with DPR periodically. The association does not report erring operators to DPR formally. The DPR conducts its monitoring to put the sub-sector in proper perspective. Through this, it discovered bad operators and deal with them appropriately.

    How does the body handle issues on sharp practices?

    The association has a committee, which regulates the conduct of its members. Periodically, the committee’ members go round to ensure compliance. There is a membership sticker, which members are required to put on their plants. Usually, people in the committee check the sticker when they visit plants that are owned by members. Thereafter, they send their feedback to the association. Once, we discover sharp practices, we reach out to the people involved. Aside this DPR monitors marketers with a view of fish out corrupt ones.

    What are the achievements of the body so far?

    Through awareness programmes, the association has helped in increasing the use of LPG, improving the health of Nigerians, by letting them know that it is dangerous to be using kerosene or firewood for cooking. Also, jobs have been created. An LPG plant, on average, employs 10 people. This means that the 400 plants that are identified by the body have created 4,000 jobs. Reduction in erosion and exposure to ozone layer, are some of the successes recorded by the body. People have been educated cutting down of trees because erosion and expose people unduly to ozone layer and have since reduced such activities.

  • Fed Govt reopens NIIP plants’ privatisation talks

    •Eyes $1.975b proceeds 

    The Federal Government has reopened discussions with the preferred bidders for three of the 10 power plants built under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and supervised by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited.

    The power plants and their installed capacities are Calabar in Cross River State, 634megawatts (Mw), Geregu in Kogi State (506.1Mw) and Omotosho plant in Ondo State (512.8Mw).

    The NDPHC, a special purpose vehicle, established by the Federal Government to fast-track the achievement of stable power supply, built 10 medium-sized thermal power plants but was able to successfully market seven to investors globally in 2014 during President Goodluck Jonathan led administration. The others were not billed for privatisation due to litigations.

    In line with the privatisation processes, investors submitted bids for the seven power plants preferred bidders and reserved bidders emerged but the transactions were concluded before the end of Jonathan’s government.

    The Nation gathered that the Federal Government has resumed talks with the investors in the previous privatisation. However, this time, the government would market the plants at the same time. A source, who wants to be anonymous, said each power plant would be sold in accordance with its peculiarities.

    According to the source, the government is discussing with the preferred bidders in the earlier exercise. In the previous privatisation, the Joint Transaction Board confirmed EMA Consortium as the preferred bidder for Calabar Generation Company with a bid price of $625 million, while Nebula Power Generation Consortium emerged the reserved bidder with an offer of $623.75 million.

    For the Geregu Generation Company, Seoul Electric Power Limited was the preferred bidder with a bid of $690.2 million, and YellowStone Electric Limited the reserved bidder with $613.1 million offer while Omotosho Electric Power emerged the preferred bidder for Omotosho Generation Company with an offer of $659.9 million as against an offer of $645.15 million by the reserved bidder, ENL Consortium Limited.

    If the government settles for the bids in the previous exercise, it would rake in at least $1.975 billion from the three power plants. The government’s intention in reopening the bids with a determination to close the transaction sustainably, the source said, is to promote private sector investment into the power sector.

    When the deal on the three power plants is concluded, another two plants will follow successively until the entire power plants are privatised. The previous government was expected to realise $4.3 billion from the sale of the plants. Whether that amount will still be realisable is left to the government to decide, the source added.

  • Fed Govt, financial experts parley on solutions

    Fed Govt, financial experts parley on solutions

    BATTLING to stave off a looming economic recession, the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team (EMT) on Tuesday held a consultative forum with economic and financial experts.

    The meeting, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, afforded the EMT, which consists of government officials only, the opportunity to engage the private sector experts on how to tackle the economic challenges confronting the economy.

    Other members of the EMT are: Trade and Investment Minister Dr. Okey Enelamah; Budget & Planning Minister Udo Udoma; Information & Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Debt Management Office (DMO) Director-General Dr. Abraham Nwankwo; Budget Office Director-General Ben Akabueze and National Bureau of Statistics Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Yemi Kale.

    At the parley, the government weighed several options on how to reflate the economy, steer it out of ‘technical’ recession and restore growth in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to continuously consider and adopt policies that support businesses, increase employment and provide relief to the poor.

    Osinbajo said: “We will continue to engage with experts and other stakeholders so that we can measure the progress of the economic policies that have been put in place.

    “The challenges are many but the opportunities are much greater. We are clearly on the path to building an economy that will create jobs and ensure inclusive growth.”

    The meeting was part of a comprehensive consultation process introduced by the government to reach out to as many stakeholders as possible on how to wriggle out of recession.

    Some of the private sector experts at the meeting are: West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Director-General Prof. Akpan Ekpo; Financial Derivatives Company Limited Managing Director Bismark Rewane; Economic Associates Chief Executive Officer Ayo Teriba and Agusto & Co. Director Bode Augusto.

    Discussions at the meeting centred on the flexible forex regime and its effect on the economy, as well as the draft Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF) for 2017 -2019.

    There were suggestions on how to reflate the economy by spending more on infrastructure, engaging the private sector, ensuring people-oriented economic policies and increasing the dollar inflow into the economy.

  • Fed Govt to generate $2.558b from Badagry port

    Fed Govt to generate $2.558b from Badagry port

    •FEC okays project

    The Federal Government yesterday took another step to boost the economy through the maritime sector with the approval of the construction of the Greenfield Port in Badagry, Lagos.

    When the project, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday is completed, it will pump no less than $2.558 billion into the economy, according to Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

    Amaechi, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Works, Power and Hosing Babatunde Fashola briefed reporters on the outcome of the FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ameachi said there will be no government involvement in the project that it would take five years to construct it from the end OBC and FBC concessional agreement.

    “In this period when we are looking for foreign exchange, it is going to bring a total of $2.558 billion into the system and federal and Lagos State government would not contribute financially other than the land given by the  state government,” he said.

    The FEC also approved the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement to prevent tax evasion and avoidance by multinational companies, among other benefits.

    Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria has lost over N1 trillion to tax evasions by multilateral companies.

    He said: “In respect of the first memo which is the memo for Multilateral Competent Agreement and the exchange of country by country report, the whole essence is to give the government a better grip on its tax laws and also to prevent tax evasions and avoidance by multinational companies.

    “Where multinational companies operate in more than one country, it is quite easy for them to move profit from one territory to another territory where the tax laws is very favourable to them.

    “And what has happened over the years is that the revenue companies have lost a lot of money. As at the last count over N1 trillion has been lost over a period of time and the revenue companies have found that they were losing more money in terms of tax evasion and avoidance than what they were even receiving as grants from multinational agencies.

    “So this is a law that provides that if a company like MTN or Nestle for instance, is operating in Nigeria, not only must he file returns on his activities in Nigeria, he must also file returns on his activities in every other country that they are doing business so that you can see from there whether there is any attempt to hide figures.

    “Apart from shoring up our finances, I think it is part of the fight against corruption and it also enhances transparency.”

    He said the approval for Greenfield port facilities in Badagry is the first step to approving the establishment of a new sea port in the country.

    The approval, he said, showed that Nigeria is still a very preferred investment destination in Africa despite the challenges it is facing.

    Fashola said the Multinational competence authority agreement is consistent with the macroeconomic policy of government to fund its operation and economy with more tax incomes.

    According to him, it will allow government to see how much taxable revenues are accruable to it especially from companies.

    He said: “It is for transparency and accountability on the private side of the economy because transparency and accountability has been focused perhaps a little more on the public side of our national life.

    “When you look at the profit that is coming from the private sector beaming the ray of transparency and accountability on revenues that should come into the public space and be used for national development only helps to strength the economy in the long run and bring probity across board.”

    Noting that the Badagry port was long overdue, he said the ports in Nigeria are behind in terms of technology in the maritime industry.

    He said: “There are bigger vessels now being built across the world that require larger depths and drafts berth. Now some of our competitors on the continent like Djibouti are building bigger ports, so if we don’t build this port, we risk becoming uncompetitive and we risk a threat to our maritime hub status in the sense that we may become a transshipment port instead of a port of original destination.”

    Stressing that the work on the port started in 2012, he said that all its financing is coming from the private sector.

    “Again that is consistent with what this government stands for in terms of allowing private capital and competence to come into the development of our infrastructure,” he added.

    He said the Badagry port was delayed because of the refusal of the last administration to grant approval for it as the port development was under Federal Government control.

  • Fed Govt, states, councils owe contractors N2.4tr

    The National Contractors Association of Nigeria has said the Federal Government, all the 36 states and 774 Local Government Areas are owing contractors N2.42 trillion.

    Federal Government alone is owing contractors N1.97 trillion, the group lamented.

    Its National Chairman, Hon. Onuche Okoh, who spoke yesterday  with reporters in Abuja on the agony of the members of the association, lamented that the non-payment of contractors has affected the welfare of his members.  He lamented that the association has lost about 579 members to heart attack.

    While supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration fight against graft, Okoh appealed urged the president to look at the issue of welfare of contractors.

    He said the non-payment has been for years especially on contracts that have been executed.

    “By our statistics, the Federal Government alone is owing contactors about N1.97 trillion and if you add that together with the 36 states, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 774 Local Government Areas is put at N2.42trillion.

    “The association is fully in support of the President Buhari administration’s fight against corruption and since the change mantra is for the common people, we wish to passionately appeal to the president to quickly take a look at the issue of the welfare of contractors over the years especially on contracts that have been executed.”

  • Fed Govt launches ‘Saving one million lives for result’

    The Federal Ministry of Health has launched ‘Saving One Million lives Programme for Results (SOML-P for R) in Abuja.

    It is a Federal Government–led intervention to improve maternal and child health with states’ ministries of health as partners.

    Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, said the programme would monitor the flow of resources to pay for results, outcomes and impacts, rather than simply pay for processes or reimburse costs.

    The Minister explained that the programme, being funded from a N140 billion ($500 million) World Bank credit, was negotiated by the Federal Government from which $1.5million had been disbursed to states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The programme, the government said, is expected to deliver high impact, evidence-based and cost effective health interventions based on six ‘pillars’, namely: Maternal, newborn and child health, childhood essential medicines and increase treatment of important childhood diseases, improve child nutrition, immunisation malaria control and the elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV.

    The minister said the initiative was not new, but that it would give a new lease of life to the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) and State Strategic Health Development Plans (SHDPs) through innovative financing mechanism.

    The programme would be implemented by the states’ ministries of Health and the SOML-P for R Steering committee chaired by the minister.

    President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Foreign Affair and Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in a message, urged stakeholders to imbibe the culture of performance-based programming so that results could be achieved within a short time.

    Earlier, the Project Manager of the Programme, Dr Ibrahim Kana said state would be rewarded for their performance based on the objectives’indicators using household and health facility survey as well as achievement of certain process indicators related to implementation of a performance management system.

  • Fix our roads, communities beg Fed Govt, Lagos

    Residents of Igbo-Efon, Ogombo,Okun-Ajah, Okun-Alfa, Lafiaji, Mopol and Mopol-Iwaju communities of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to the state government to repair their roads.

    Akogun of Awori land and the Managing Director of Atican Beach Resort, Prince Atiku Abogun, urged the Federal, and state governments to construct the proposed service road that would open up the coastal towns.

    Abogun said: “The two tiers of government have refused to do anything. They are only interested in forcefully taking over our ancestral land and share it among themselves. We need good roads for the communities to be opened up. As a people, we have done everything for them to come to our aid.”

    In similar vein, the prince of Igbo-Efon bemoaned the neglect the communities are suffering, while noting that, “the current crop of leadership does not believe that human beings are living in these areas. They have been working on the Lekki-Epe Expressway expansion for more than ten years now, but it took the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande just a little over four years to construct the same road in the early 80s.”

    He explained that “right from the Abraham Adesanya Estate to the sea is always flooded whenever there is a slight shower not to talk of when it rain heavily. The rains have continued to wreak havoc in the Ajah area of the state, making any form of movement difficult.”

    The Akogun of Awori land suggested that the state government should channel the flood water to the nearby sea. He said: “With all the down pour in Lagos, the government channel some of the flood to the Lagoon and sea. This will help mitigate the hardship that had crippled business activities. Our roads have become River Niger to the extent that flood is now living with us in our homes.

  • Fed Govt loses $.39m to visa payment reversals in South Africa

    Nigeria’s Consul-General in South Africa Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke yesterday said the Federal Government lost $39,370 (about N10.9 million) as visa and passport fees at processing centres.

    Okeke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the Online Integrated Solutions (OIS), a firm processing passport and visa on behalf of the Nigeria Immigration Service abroad, reported the loss to the consulate.

    ‘’Evidence shows a recent compilation of 254 online payment fraudulent reversals of passport applications, which occurred between April and June, 2016.

    “These acts were done by Nigerians to defraud their government,” she said.

    Okeke said the acts were perpetrated through banks.

    She said the South African banking system allowed anyone with a credit card to reverse such payment, if there was a complain, within 30 days.

    “Unfortunately, some Nigerians in South Africa have perfected the act of defrauding the Federal Government by going to the banks to report loss or fraudulent use of such cards and the banks will reverse the payment,” she said.

    The consul-general said “because of speed in service delivery accorded Nigerians by the consulate at the instance of the Federal Government, the passport would have been produced”.

    According to her, Nigerians will pay online; collect the passports within the stipulated 30 days with the passports in their pockets, go back to the bank and reverse the payments.

    Okeke said it’s unfortunate some Nigerians defrauded the government through such acts in a foreign land.

    “The consulate has compiled a list of those involved and sent to Abuja. The Nigeria Immigration Service will decide whether those passports will be cancelled or withdrawn,” she said.

    She said the mission recorded 58 reversals of online visa payments between April and June, 2016.

    The envoy added that South African visa applicants reported they paid a Nigerian agent to process for them.

    “The Nigerian agent will collect cash from the applicants, use his credit card to pay and reverse the payment thereafter,” she explained.

    She said the consulate was on top of the situation and that soon the Immigration Service would be advised on measures taken to deal with the situation.