The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt meets with ex-militants to end pipeline bombing

    The Federal Government has met with ex-militants in the Niger Delta to end pipelines bombing in the country.

    The meeting was convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig- Gen. Paul Boroh with the Phase one, two, three ex-militants of the Amnesty Programme from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and the Edo states.

    The meeting lasted over six hours in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Speaking with reporters after the strategic meeting, Brig.-Gen. Boro urged that those behind the bombings to stop and resolve their grievances through peaceful methods.

    He added that there were plans to provide welfare and housing scheme for the ex-militants.

    Brig.-Gen Boro said: “This amnesty programme is our programme and what has brought us so far is something that is happening now that affects all of us, whether you are living in the creek or outside. It is the issue of pipeline vandalism which I understand some people do it to make people feel bad or get recognised.

    “If you have issues, if you have misunderstanding, if you have anything worrying you at all, you should discuss it with the person you fell can solve the problem rather than go an destroy pipeline that is affecting the whole environment.

    “The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our areas, in our region that is affecting the economy of the country. It is another aspect that we should not be indulging in. if you have an issue with anybody please discuss it with the person better than bombing pipeline that would affect the environment. Personally it makes me feel bad that we don’t know how to solve our problem.”

    Brig.-Gen Boroh, who was optimistic about the meeting, said: “We have all resolved that we will put our heads and hands and all in all together to prevent the re-occurrence of this type of thing.

  • Court urged to void Fed Govt’s payment to electricity firm

    A Federal High in Abuja has been urged to void an alleged multibillion naira payment made on behalf of the Federal Government under the Goodluck Jonathan administration to a firm Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited.

    The firm is owned by former Military Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, ex-Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and others.

    The request formed part of the reliefs in a suit filed by a lawyer, Baribefi Tebira, who is querying the integrity of the process leading to the Fed Govt’s alleged payment of the various amounts of N4.9b, $59m and $87.8m between 2013 and 2015 to Integrated Energy through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Council on Privatization (NCP) and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    The suit queried, among others, the propriety of the force majeure declared by Integrated Energy about 10 days after it took over the management of Yola Electricity Distribution Company (Yola Disco), following which it was paid N4.9b, $59m and $87.8m through the BPE, NCP and NERC.

    Defendants in the suit include Integrated Energy, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, BPE, NCP, NERC, Federal Ministry of Power and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Tebira, in his statement of claim, stated that upon the execution of a Share Sale Agreement of February 21, 2013, Integrated Energy paid the Fed Govt $59m for the acquisition of 51 per cent as the majority shareholder of Yola Disco.  He added that Integrated Energy took over the management of Yola Disco in August 2013 after executing a Performance Agreement dated August 21, 2013 between it, BPE and Yola Disco.

    The plaintiff stated that about 10 days after taking over the management of Yola Disco, Integrated Energy, through its Chairman, John Olatunde Ayeni, “declare political force majeure in its letter to the Director General of BPE,” on the ground that the various attacks by Boko Haram in its areas of operation have affected its operation and earnings.

    “Due to the constant and incessant complaints by the 1st defendant (Integrated Energy), on the basis that due to the nature of the severity of the Book Haram attacks it has recorded negative cash flow for 11 months and its revenue generated could not sustain the business of power distribution in the four states under its jurisdiction, the 3rd, 4th,, 5th and 6th defendants decided to compensate the 1st defendant to the cumulative tune of N4.9b.”

  • Demuren to Fed Govt: resolve Bi-Courtney concession row

    Demuren to Fed Govt: resolve Bi-Courtney concession row

    Former Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Dr. Harold Demuren has urged the Federal Government to resolve the crisis surrounding its agreement with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) over the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MM2), Lagos.

    Demuren spoke in an interview at the sidelines of the just concluded International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Abuja.

    Demuren said for investors to embrace the sector, the crisis on the public-private participation (PPP) involving BASL should be appropriately addressed. He warned that without amicable resolution of this, private investors would be skeptical to come into the sector. He spoke on:” Integrating Aviation in Economic National Planning”.

    He said: “There is need for PPP in aviation in Nigeria as it is obvious that government cannot do it all. But with the experience of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA2, Lagos, government has not shown good faith. Such crisis in the MMA2 PPP must be resolved, or else investors would not invest their resources in the sector.”

    Arik Air Managing Director Mr. Chris Ndulue urged government to reach an agreement with BASL for the industry to move forward.

    Discussing the topic, ‘Proliferation of Taxes and Charges in Aviation,’ Ndulue declared that the operators are not happy with the level of infrastructure provided by the Federal Government despite the high charges and taxes imposed on the operating carriers in the industry.

    Ndulue said private investors would be in the best position to offer qualitative services to airline operators, but insisted that this may not be possible with the present crisis surrounding the BASL agreement with the government.

    He urged government to resolve the issue, stressing that once this is done in a transparent manner, more private investors would come to the sector.

    He said: “Nobody is happy with charges and services rendered by government in the Nigerian aviation industry…”

  • Fed Govt loses N1tr to non-remittance of operating surpluses, says FRC

    Fed Govt loses N1tr to non-remittance of operating surpluses, says FRC

    • CBN: releasing N6tr budget fund ‘ll worsen inflation

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has raised the alarm that the Federal Government may be losing over N1 trillion due to the non-remittance of operating surplus by revenue generating agencies.

    Its Acting Chairman, Mr. Victor Muruako, who spoke yesterday at the first edition of the Nigerian Economic Stakeholders Summit in Abuja, said government agencies had perfected their art of defrauding the country through deliberate wrong computations, express diversion of funds, and application of wrong accounting standards.

    Muruako said the commission “will ensure that every kobo of government is well utilised; we have decided to monitor the payment of operating surpluses by revenue generating agencies into the CRF.”

    He said has attracted N367 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from operating surplus of revenue generating agencies since 2009.

    Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned that if the N6trillion budgeted for this year is released into the economy over a seven month period, it will worsen the inflation situation in the country.

    Its Director, Monetary Policy Department, Mr Moses Tule in a paper presented at the event urged the government to avoid the mistake it made in passing the 2016 budget late, stressing that with its implementation starting about five months into the year, it would be difficult to ensure full implementation.

    Tule said even if the government were to release the N6 trillion it budgeted for the year, the economy does not have the capacity to absorb such huge spending over a seven month period.

    Since the fund was planned to be utilised over a 12 months period, he warned that “any plan to release it within seven months would only worsen the level of inflation in the country.

    He added that this æould only be effectively managed through fiscal and monetary coordination.

    The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed who was represented by the Director, Macroeconomic Department in the Ministry, Mr Tunde Lawal said the Federal Government was “implementing a roadmap to stimulate investment into the solid mineral sector and plug revenue leakages in the sector.”

    The government she said, “is also determined to set a three year deadline for the country to be self sufficient in refined petroleum products and become a net exporter.”

    To achieve this, she said the Federal Government would ensure the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

  • Court orders Okonjo-Iweala, Fed Govt to account for ‘missing N30tr’

    Court orders Okonjo-Iweala, Fed Govt to account for ‘missing N30tr’

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos  has ordered former Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government to provide information on how  N30 trillion was spent.

    The cash represents some accruable income to the Federal Government during the last four years of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba gave the order while delivering judgment in a Freedom of Information suit brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the defendants.

    SERAP’s suit followed revelations by a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, that at least N30 trillion “has either been stolen or unaccounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years under the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s watch”.

    A statement issued yesterday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Olukayode Majekodunmi, stated that while delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Buba said: “Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide SERAP with the information requested for.

    “The court has gone through the application and agrees that SERAP’s application has merits and the argument is not opposed. SERAP’s application is granted as prayed.”

    He agreed with the arguments by the SERAP deputy director that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government “should have either supplied the information requested by SERAP or communicate her denial within seven days of receipt of the letter from SERAP if she considers that the request should be denied”.

    The judgment by Justice Buba added that “preliminary objection by Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government is misconceived; the court upholds the arguments by SERAP for the reasons stated herein”.

    SERAP commenced the proceeding by way of an originating summons dated February 23, 2015 and filed February 25, 2015.

    The respondents filed a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance, a Notice of Preliminary Objection and written address – all undated but filed on September 29, 2015.

    The preliminary objection was filed on the following grounds that SERAP did not obtain the mandatory leave of the Federal High Court to issue and serve the originating summons and other processes outside Lagos State; that there is no mandatory endorsement on the originating summons that it is to be served on Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government in Abuja and outside jurisdiction of this court.

    The judge said: “The only issue for determination is whether Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government should be heard on their preliminary objection considering the totality of the circumstances of this case.

    “The suit filed on February 25, 2015 was served on Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government on July 3, 2015 and took about three months for the respondents to come up with technical response to the simple request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.”

    Justice Buba further noted:  “Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have therefore been caught by Order 29 of the Rules of this court, which requires that an application shall be made within 21 days after service on the defendants of the originating summons.”

  • PENGASSAN to drivers: don’t sabotage Fed Govt

    PENGASSAN to drivers: don’t sabotage Fed Govt

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned its drivers arm, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), against sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government by flouting rules guiding the distribution of fuel nationwide.

    It said it is in support of the price modulation that led to the removal of fuel subsidy and consequently increased the pump price of petrol from N86.50 per litre to N145 per litre. It therefore warned its members not to sabotage government’s efforts by disrupting the fuel supply and distribution network.

    The PTD’s National President Mr Salimon Oladiti, told The Nation, that the body is working hard  to ensure compliance  with the rules guiding the distribution of fuel and its associated products such as diesel and kerosene in Nigeria.

    He said the association is monitoring its 12,000 members closely, in order to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products in the country.

    Oladiti said: “The issue of compliance with the rules guiding the lifting of fuel from the depots and subsequent distribution to designated retail outlets is paramount to the body. This explains why PTD wants its members to comply with all known regulations on the issue. Failure to do this would attract punishment from the body.”

    Compliance, he said, should be total, if PTD wants to achieve its goal of helping Nigeria to overcome problems in the fuel supply chain.

    “The leadership of PTD has ordered its members to obey directives from NUPENG, oil marketers, depot operators (both government and private) and other critical stakeholders once the directives are geared towards improving fuel supply in the country. By so doing, the body is helping the country to reduce problems in the downstream sub-sector of the oil nation’s oil and gas industry,’’ he added.

    Oladiti said the body has agreed to supply fuel to retail outlets nationwide irrespective of the problems that came in the wake of the recent adjustment in the pump price of fuel by the Federal Government.

  • Adeyemi hails Fed Govt over Obajana-Kabba road

    Former Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday praised the Federal Government’s decision to allow Africa’s foremost businessman, Dr. Aliko Dangote to rebuild the Obajana -Kabba road in exchage for tax waivers.

    He described the voting of N200billion for road projects as significant and a right step by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also asked the government to reintroduce toll gates on Federal roads and use the rates for maintenance.

    Adeyemi, who made his views known in a statement in Abuja said it was regretful that Okun people persuaded the last administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to reconstruct Obajana-Kabba road to no avail.

    He said: “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari  and his team for this decision. For eight years, we tried all we could  to get relief for that road, all efforts came to nought. The decision to grant approval for Dangote to build the road is commendable.

    “We played all the politics needed to convince the last administration to fix the road to no avail. We salute the determination of this government in meeting the needs of the masses.

    “Now that they have started with Dangote, they should continue to other zones. The objective should be to made Federal Roads motorable round the year.

    “We are also looking forward to the reconstruction of Kabba-Ilorin road and Kabba-Omuo road.”

    He expressed the hope that all Federal Roads would enjoy such approvals, with renewed activities of the Private sector, adding that with effective collaboration between the public and private sector all roads in Nigeria would wear a new look.

    The Senator said the allocation of N200 billion for road construction in the 2016 budget was also significant and faster way of stimulating the economy.

    Adeyemi added:  “I equally commend the allocation of N200 billion for road construction in 2016. If we get at least 80 percent of that executed, the roads would be in good shape across the geopolitical zones.”

  • Fed Govt, states partner to boost agric production

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said the Federal Government is now partnering with state governments to take advantage of the increasing tractor density in the country for enhanced agricultural production through land acquisition, preparation and ownership.

    This is through the agricultural equipment hiring enterprises (AEHE) scheme to provide value added services, such as leasing/hiring of various kind of agricultural equipment for land preparation, harvesting and post harvesting, repair and maintenance of such equipment, and as an incubator for training of personnel within farming communities.

    Consequently, Ogbeh said the Federal Government will build zonal capabilities and comparative advantages in each geo-political zone of the country to enhance self-sufficiency in local staples, boost agricultural production for exports and certification; and quality control and packaging. This, he said, would ensure that each part of the country engaged in the cultivation of crops and tendering of animals that are best suited to their peculiar circumstances.

    Ogbeh, who spoke on the sideline of a paper presentation in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the effort will enable the country avoid unnecessary dissipation of energy on unprofitable ventures, while also ensuring that resources are efficiently and effectively applied for the maximisation of the agricultural potentials of each state or zone. For instance, he said, cassava and rice (ofada) production, as well as kola nut, poultry and aquaculture are distinct areas of comparative advantage in Ogun State which should be attractive to agric investors.

    As part of the initiative to foster development in the sector and also provide enough food all year round, the minister said there will be reactivation, expansion, and utilisation of the existing dams and irrigation facilities in the country. The underground water reserves would also be exploited to meet the water needs for agricultural production and agribusiness.

    “This will help in making agriculture an all year round activity rather than being rain dependent,” he said.

    He agreed that achieving higher yields through the utilisation of improved seeds and seedlings is critical towards the revival of agriculture, hence, the decision to work closely and cooperatively with all key stakeholders, including research institutes and private sector seed production entities

    “We are not satisfied with the extension system in the country, hence our determination to overhaul it by revitalising the extension system by having an extension outfit  in every local government in the country, as one stop shop,  in order to reverse the abysmal low ratio of extension worker to farmer presently put at 1:10,000. We are committed to improving fertiliser types and ensuring that the delivery reaches farmers on schedule,” he explained, adding that government will improve farmers’ access to credit by working towards removing all the existing barriers militating against improved credit penetration to farmers and other key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

  • Fuel price hike: Why I support Fed Govt, by Oshiomhole

    Fuel price hike: Why I support Fed Govt, by Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has explained why he stands with the Federal Government on the new price of petrol.

    According to him, it doesn’t make economic sense for the government to spend more than half its earnings just on fuel subsidy to the detriment of other development programmes.

    He spoke at a special thanksgiving service organised  by Apostle Charles Osazuwa, Senior Pastor and founder of Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAi), Benin City, to round off a 7-day programme of the church yesterday.,

    Oshiomhole said the former President Goodluck Jonathan spent as much as N1.2 trillion on fuel subsidy.

    He said: “l have listened to our chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and he reminded us that the Hon. Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has been under fire. I believe the fire will continue for some time. In spite of all that he is going through, the Minister recognized that we can’t be too busy to come to the church to ask God to help us to do the job. After all, the Bible says that the unless the Lord builds the house, the labourer labours in vain.”

    He said: “The fire that he is going through, the end of it will translate to prosperity for our people. Leaders must see ahead of their followers, and when followers can’t see what leader is seeing, with time and consistency, the followers will see the benefits of the decisions the leader has taken.

    “As many of you might have known, this is not my first time in the struggle against pump price increase. I have fought it over and over again, and at a point, God used us to shut down the country just to make a point to the then government in power, but the truth is that the fundamentals have changed.

    Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, we were talking of N20 billion for subsidy. And Obasanjo would ask me, Comrade, N20 billion can build XYZ road. I think the last one was about N40 to N45 billion a year for subsidy.

    “However, the last government under President Goodluck Jonathan quadrupled the number to N1.2 trillion. When your total earning is about N2 trillion and you spend more than half for petrol, how much will you use for your house? How much money will you use for clothing of your children? How much will you use to send your children to school?

    “Government must make investments in research, in education, in technology. If we spend all our money or half of it on subsidy, we will drink petrol without vehicles for us to ride in. It simply doesn’t make sense anymore.

    “The life of a nation is not different from the life of a human being. When you are traveling on a road which you believe will take you to a destination, sixteen years down the road, it appears to be getting longer and longer, only a fool will continue to travel on that road. From the way it is, this is the time to stop, look back and see other options that are available. I believe that is what this Minister of Petroleum and President  Muhammadu Buhari have done. I give my full support.”

    He added: “When a nation and a people could not for good reason trust the leadership, even when the leadership asks you to make a sacrifice, the first question you ask is, if I make the sacrifice, what about you? Obviously, for a government that was sharing money for security services to party leaders, that government didn’t have the moral standing to call on Nigerians to make sacrifices.

    “So, I think it was that thing that was missing, having a president that cares, a President that is not corrupt, a President that commands respect within the country and outside the country. When he asks you, change your ways of life, look at my own lifestyle, let us restart, we have all sinned in the past, let us repent so that we might not sin again, I think it makes sense to listen.

    “There will be sacrifice, so, no pain, no gain. I believe this is the time to accept a lot of pains, so that once free, the gains will come. I know under President Buhari the gains will come. I know that this time will come and go and Nigeria will maintain its progress.”

    Also speaking, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachukwu said the Buhari administration would change the country, explaining that things could not continue the way they had been.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun noted that the country was going through difficult times, but the people had to change their ways for things to get better.

  • Fed Govt condemns attack on judge in Dasuki’s trial

    Fed Govt condemns attack on judge in Dasuki’s trial

    The Federal Government has condemned the attack on Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He is the trial judge in the case against former National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.

    Dasuki’s lead-lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) had on May 19, written the judge, querying his decision to direct the commencement of trial in the case and sought a postponement of further proceedings pending when he would be available in court.

    Reacting to the letter, lawyer to the Federal Government and lead prosecution counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), condemned the content of the letter and distanced his team form the decision of the defence to write, querying the judge’s decision rather than file an appeal against a ruling of the court they were not happy with.

    “We dissociate ourselves from the content of the letter, particularly paragraphs three and four, which we believe, are not complementary and ought not to have been written.

    “We are willing to concede to their request for adjournment, although we do not think it was necessary since the team is led by a Senior Advocate, in the person of Ahmed Raji,” Okpeseyi said last Thursday during proceedings the trial of Dasuki for unlawful possession of arms and ammunition as well as money laundering.

    Justice Ademola had, on May 18, refused the oral application by Raji, for stay of proceedings in the case pending the determination of the motion for stay of proceedings filed by the defence before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The judge, in refusing Raji’s application, noted that the motion was not before his court, and relied on the provision of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and the Court of Appeal ‘s recent  decision not to entertain motion for stay of proceedings in some appeals  including those by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Biafra agitator and  Nnamdi Kanu.

    Although proceedings continued after the judge’s ruling on May 18, the judge was bitter about the content of the letter written the next day by Daudu, querying among others, Justice Ademola’s decision to reject Raji’s application for stay of proceedings.

    Justice Ademola , who vowed to bring the letter to the attention of the court’s Chief Judge, said the content of the letter “is highly objectionable.”

    While Daudu, in paragraph three of the letter, queried the judge’s exercise of his discretion to refuse Raji’s application for stay of proceeding, he, in paragraph four, accused court of pressurizing the defence to subject itself to trial.

    Paragraph for of the letter signed by The Nation on Friday, reads: “My lord, right or access to courts in Nigeria is reserved by Section 6 of the Constitution to all persons including government; none has a greater stake in justice than the other.

    “A situation whereby it would appear to a reasonable man or a judge in the Clapham Omnibus that one part has a superior stake in the justice of a case and that the other party is merely desirous of delaying proceedings must be corrected at the earliest opportunity.

    “After all, the prosecutions in this case are the ones that have flouted three positive orders of this honourable court and it is startling that the court is now putting pressure on the party that is incarcerated unlawfully by the state and giving access to the disobedient party.

    “My lord, we are within our right to approach the Court of Appeal to hear the pending application before it and nothing must be done to stultify our right to approach any court in Nigeria.”

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for June 8.