The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt withdraws ‘illegal’ diplomatic, official passports

    Fed Govt withdraws ‘illegal’ diplomatic, official passports

    The Federal Government yesterday directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports from people who are not entitled to it.

    According to a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji and made available to The Nation, “The Federal Government has found out that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents.

    “In view of the Federal Government’s determination to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Kenya’s CJ advises Fed Govt on rights protection

    The Chief Justice of Kenya, Justice Willy Mutunga has urged the Nigerian government to ensure that citizens’ rights were not sacrificed because of the need to conquer the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The judge said although it was a difficult task for the country to strike a balance between the protection of national security and the preservation of human rights in the face of increasing threat by the insurgents, it was necessary to discourage impunity by state agents to avert chaos and instability.

    Justice Mutunga, who is in the country for the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), spoke in Abuja yesterday during a visit  to the Executive Secretary of ththe National Human Rights Commission [NHRC],  Prof. bem Angwe.

    He noted that the war against terror must follow due process and rules of engagement as it was being, “waged against our motherland. Our commitment is that our motherland must survive.”

    “These strategies must conform to the principles of rule of law so as to avoid infringing on the rights of innocent citizens. To do otherwise is to put the citizens in a very difficult situation of double suffering.”

    Aware of the pain terrorist cause, Mutunga, who is also the president of the Supreme Court of Kenya, said: “inhuman and murderers as they are, they cannot be our teacher and we cannot therefore treat them as they treat us.”

    “As painful and unpopular as this statement may sound, terrorists, rapists, murderers, drug traffickers…they have their rights under our Constitution.”

    “Terrorists are not our teachers so the question is why do they deserve our sympathy? But we take high moral grounds of morality. People who don’t deserve sympathy are taken through a humane process of administration of justice.

    But the war against terrorism must be fought in a way that said citizens must be able to tell the difference between state actions and those of terrorists.

    “To effectively respond to terrorism threats, it is also critical that we continue building and enhancing the capacity of our security and criminal justice systems,” Mutunga said.

    He urged the NHRC to be independent and not to cover up cases of human rights abuses but to also look holistically into the issue of corruption, human trafficking, pirates and terrorist.

  • Fed Govt vows to complete bombed UN House in six months

    Fed Govt vows to complete bombed UN House in six months

    •Ban ki-Moon praises govt efforts

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, yesterday assured the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban ki-Moon, of the commitment of the Federal Government to complete and handover the damaged United Nations, (UN) Common Building in six months.

    Chukwu gave the assurance after laying of wreath in honour of the 23 victims that died in the unfortunate bomb attack on the UN House on August 26, 2011.

    He said the Federal Government would do everything possible to avoid further delay.

    The permanent secretary challenged the contractor, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, handling the job, to work round the clock even if it meant running three shifts to complete the work in order to put that sad event behind us.

    His words: “The contractors already said they would need between five to eight months to get the job fixed but I have asked them to fast track their approach by working 24 hours to get it done within 5 months.”

    According to him, “we cannot afford to delay here anymore, this project is very important, because Nigeria government is committed to its obligations”.

    He reiterated that the FCT Administration and the United Nations had sorted out all grey areas as some of the meetings even included the UN experts.

    Speaking on the occasion, the representative of the contractor, who also serves as the Division Manager, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, Mr. Marco Braun, assured that with adequate funding the firm would try its best to deliver.

    Ban ki-Moon commended the Federal Government for rebuilding the UN House and urged UN workers to be patient for the completion of the building.

    His words: “I am happy to be with you today I know the troubled you are passing through and very soon all will soon become history. I pay tribute to all our 23 friends who lost their lives during the Bomb blast. We still remember them.

    “I also commend the survivors for the courage that they continue to show in working for a better future.

    “I commend Nigerian government for the commitment to rebuild the UN House as a symbol of our working relationship. I thank the UN staff for their cooperation and patience. We have the mandate to help promote peace. Please do not allow the sad development hinder your performance and commitment.”

    The Chairman of Federation of United Nations Staff Association in Nigeria (FUNSAN), Dr. Noma Owens lamented that United Nations agencies were scattered all over town because of the delay in the completion of the UN House.

    His words: “UN workers are people that work hard and are committed to the promotion of peace in Nigeria and all over the world. His coming is a moral booster and to share some of the challenges we have had.

    “The key challenge is the fact that Unite Nations agencies are scattered all over town because of the delay in the completion of the UN House. We appreciate all that the Nigerian government has done.”

    The solemn wreath laying is part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s programme of activities lined up for his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

     

  • Lagos to Fed Govt: relocate illegal Togolese immigrants

    THE Lagos State Government has urged the Federal Government to relocate the 199 illegal Togolese immigrants camped at the Lagos Emergency Resettlement Centres (ERCs) in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area and Agbowa, Ikorodu to their country.

    Secretary to the State Government Mr. Tunji Bello said the state government could no longer continue to accommodate the illegal immigrants due to the enormous pressure on its ERCs at Igando and Agbowa.

    According to Bello, the Togolese were first sighted at Awolowo road, Ikoyi, directly in front of the United Nations Refugees office following which the governor directed that the relevant state agency should take up responsibility of accommodating them.

    He added that the governor directed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration Services should be notified, a directive that was carried out.

    Bello noted that these agencies have not taken any step to address the situation because the number of illegal immigrants continues to rise.

    “As at today, they are 199 up from 114, thereby putting serious pressure on the limited space at the two camps.

    ”Investigations by the state revealed that these Togolese immigrants were expelled from Benin Republic, where they had lived for over 10 years.

    ”They came to Lagos and because of the accommodation provided by the government, those illegal immigrants at the Igando camp started calling others on phone in Benin Republic to come to Nigeria.  Another batch of 85 illegal immigrants of same Togolese descent were taken to ERC, Agbowa.

    “They came in illegally through the Nigerian borders,” the Secretary to the State Government said.

    Bello warned that the state’s hospitality to Nigerian residents and other lawful inhabitants in distress should not be abused or over-stretched because the ERC was built to accommodate Lagosians and Nigerian residents during emergencies and period of disasters.

    He said the emergency facilities could no longer accommodate anybody.

    The state government urged the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that the nation’s borders are well-manned.

     

  • Fed Govt goes tough on visa issuance to stop terrorists

    Fed Govt goes tough on visa issuance to stop terrorists

    •Foreign missions to adopt strict policy
    •Boko Haram fighters found in Libya, northern Niger

    To ensure that undesirable elements do not enter the country, the Federal Government has directed it missions to adopt strict visa issuance policy.

    The directive followed the botched attempt by the Chief Imam of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Ahmed  Al-Assir, to enter Nigeria.  Visa applicants from marked areas will, henceforth, be subjected scrutiny, sources said.

    Security agencies have already  stepped up investigation into Al-Assir’s possible contacts  in Nigeria.

    There will also be increased profiling of Nigerians travelling to suspected ISIS strongholds and visiting foreigners. An agency report yesterday said that Boko Haram has dispatched between 80 and 200 of its members to team up with ISIS in the Libyan city of Sitre.

    The report added that Algerian security forces believe that Boko Haram members are currently fighting in northern Niger Republic.

    There were concerns that some ISIS members might have sneaked into Nigeria to Boko Haram.

    A government  source said yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed all Nigerian missions abroad to “be strict with visa.”

    “The end of carefree issuance of visa is gone, all the missions have been directed to subject applicants to thorough screening before they can enter Nigeria,” a source said.

    “Special attention will be paid to ISIS prone areas and allies in some countries. We have records of the operation areas  and affiliates of ISIS.

    “Those coming from suspected areas will henceforth provide comprehensive details of their contacts, hosts and itinerary to the Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS).

    “These are preemptive measures we have in place pending the conclusion of investigation into the visa row of Al-Assir.”

    It was also gathered that  security agencies have been analysing the preliminary report from the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon on how the ISIS Chief Imam obtained visa with a fake Palestinian passport.

    The probe is being handled by the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) , Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NIS.

    A source familiar with the development said: “We cannot afford to take things for granted; we are studying the supposed  itinerary of Al-Assir based on the decoy documents he used to apply for visa.

    “There is a way we can track down his network in Nigeria. Definitely, it is obvious that he has some links in the country.

    “The clues we are investigating border on whether some ISIS members have arrived in Nigeria or if Al-Assir was on a mass recruitment mission.

    “You know he is also being interrogated by security agencies in Lebanon, we are going to compare notes with them.”

    Al-Assir was arrested on August 15 at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport,Lebanon on his way to Nigeria through Egypt.

    He has been  on the watch-list of Lebanon’s security services since 2013.

    At the time of his arrest, Al-Assir was holding a fake Palestinian passport with Nigerian visa.

    Prior to his disguise, the Lebanese government had accused him of alleged involvement in the death of 17 Lebanese soldiers.

    He had also been sentenced to death in absentia by a Lebanese Court.

    Before Al-Assir’s ill-fated trip, the NIS had barred no fewer than 4,916 Nigerians from traveling out of the country between January and March.

    Some of those affected were suspected to be travelling to enlist in some terrorist movements, including the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq and the Taliban.

    Also, 12,152 foreigners were refused entry into Nigeria because they had no genuine reasons for visiting the country.

  • Akwa Ibom land owners to Fed Govt, Emmanuel: save us from untimely death

    Five villages in Ukana Clan, Essien Udim Local Government Area, which donated their land for the establishment of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Special Vocal School (a Federal Government project), have decried non-payment of compensation on economic trees that were destroyed in the area to give way for the project.

    They have also decried government’s neglect following the destruction of their means of livelihood.

    Members of the five villages, which consist of Ukana Ikot Ngwo, Ukana Ikot Udo Etim, Ukana Ikot Osom, Ukana Ikot  Udo Inam and Ukana Ikot Ide , told reporters in Ikot Ekpene that the donation of their land for the project and refusal of government  to compensate them for the destruction of their means of livelihood, had made life unbearable for them.

    The land donors who spoke through the village head of Ukana Ikot Ngwo, Chief Effiong Akpan Udoeshiet said, “Since 2013 when government demanded the use of our land for Niger Delta vocational school, we gave it to them as we saw it as a project that would bring development to the area.

    “Shortly after we gave out the land which government promised to pay compensation for the economic trees destroyed, we never heard anything from them again. All we saw was the raising of structures which are nearing completion.  We never heard from the government again even when some of our kinsmen have died due to the fact that what used to sustain them as peasant farmers have been taken from them and they don’t have anything to lean on. Till now, nothing has been done to alleviate the suffering of our people.”

    The monarch said while they appreciated government’s lofty project for the community, he decried the negative effect and untold hardship that they are currently suffering.

    He made a passionate appeal to the federal and state governments to come to their aid by paying them compensation.

    The Village Head of Ukana Ikot Udo Etim, Chief Effiong Udo Udo Enwene, said while the community really appreciated the siting of the project, it was however unfortunate that they have been made to suffer while they should be thanking God and the political leaders of the community.

    Other leaders of the five communities who spoke with reporters to express concern over their total neglect were the village head-elect of Ukana Ikot Osom, Chief Monday Sunday Udo, village chairman of Ukana Ikot Ngwo, Ime Akpan Umo, Village chairman of Ukana Ikot Udo Etim, Ime Akpan Okure and family head of Iwe, Alphonsus Johnsons Iwe.

    They said the call for federal and state governments to pay compensation has become necessary as they do not want members of the community especially youths to react confrontationally with the authorities.

    A human rights group in the state, Community Policing Partners for Justice, Security and Democratic Reforms, has expressed displeasure over government’s taking over of the communal land without payment of compensation to owners of economic trees destroyed in the cause of raising structures on the said land.

    The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr. Saviour Akpan, in a letter to Governor Udom Emmanuel, said the acquisition of the land without adequate compensation is a ‘serious violation of the people’s right to food.

    Akpan urged the governor to take an urgent action to meet with the owners of the said land to “forestall unnecessary tension and a possible breach of the peace”.

    The communities said the youths are gradually losing their patience and may be forced to embark on a mass protest.

    They called on political leaders in the area who might have gotten their due from government to give them their rights.

  • NNPC reform: Oil workers disagree with Fed Govt

    NNPC reform: Oil workers disagree with Fed Govt

    Nigeria’s oil workers have criticised the on-going reform in the oil and gas industry, saying they would take steps to protect their members’ interest.

    The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (NUPENG/ PENGASSAN) described the reform as a cover-up and vindictive action against their members.

    The workers therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the newly appointed Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, to order by directing him to stop the on-going sack in the Corporation.

    Vowing to give equal response to whatever action of government they consider capable of suppressing worker’s interests, the unions suggested that a team should be set up immediately to review Kachikwu’s actions so far in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.

    They said within two weeks of the commencement of the reform,  Kachikwu has carried out massive restructuring of the management of the corporation. Apart from the sack and re-composition of the board, he has retired 38 top management staff, pruning the top hierarchy of the corporation from 122 to 83, while reducing the operational directorates from eight to four.

    In a joint statement by the President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, and his counterpart in NUPENG, Igwe Achese, accused the NNPC management of executing an agenda that did not carry the workers’ unions along.

    The statement, which was also signed by their General Secretaries – Bayo Olowoshile and Joseph Ogbebor respectively, also accused Kachikwu of pursuing an agenda contrary to the idea canvassed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “While we are fully in support of the fight against corruption, the fight itself should not be turned against workers whom government swore to protect,” the oil workers said, noting that the ongoing exercise portends a great danger in the oil sector if workers are meant to bear the brunt of government’s current action where the fight against corruption is now being used as an act of vindictiveness against workers.

    The on-going exercise, the oil workers stated, did not show any attempt to fight corruption and block leakages, but was “an act of cover up.”

    “We dare the new GMD of NNPC, Dr. Kachikwu to recover the stolen trillions of naira in the sector than retiring and sacking of innocent workers. We are quite sure that the on-going action is not the idea of our dear President,” the workers stated.

    As players in all spheres of the industry’s operation, the unions said they have been trying to meet with the President to review the on-going reforms in the NNPC, saying they have so far been kept in the dark by his protocol staff.

    Despite being the representatives of organised workers in the industry, the union leaders claimed that all their suggestions on the critical challenges affecting the on-going reforms were not being considered by the authorities.

  • Perm Sec urges support for Fed Govt

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu has residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-Federal Government to enable it achieve its goals in the territory.

    The Permanent Secretary made this call when some elders of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA) visited him.

    Chukwu, an engineer, stressed that the call has become necessary to ensure that Buhari administration gets the necessary support, understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians in order for him to change the country for the better.

    The Permanent Secretary said this is a new dawn and therefore the partnership and support of all the citizenry with the change mantra of the government is paramount.

    He assured that the government recognises the rights and privileges of all Nigerians residing in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    The Permanent Secretary further stressed that Abuja is real, noting that it is today the seat of government, housing Mr. President, all organs of the government as well as members of the diplomatic community.

    He said, “I admonish all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to also support the security agencies to continue to maintain peace and security of the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Territory by living in peace, providing useful information and reporting any suspicious movement and person (s) to the security agents in order to nip any security breach in the bud”.

    Speaking earlier, the President of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), Pastor Jeji Danladi thanked the Permanent Secretary for the warm reception accorded his team.

    He pleaded with the Permanent Secretary to carry OIDA along in the developmental strides of the Federal Capital Territory.

  • Fed govt seeks assistance for flood-hit states

    The Federal Government has called for the release of intervention funds to states affected by flood.

    It also called for the relocation of anticipated and affected flood victims ahead of the expected release of water from Ladgo dam in Cameroon and massive rain fall.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Fatima Nana Mede, who made the call at the weekend said there was need to complete the construction of ongoing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps to accommodate affected persons.

    She called for the completion of the Datsin Hausa dam in Yola, Adamawa State, to check the release of excess water from Ladgo Dam.

    Mrs. Mede said: “The buffer dam (Datsin Hausa), located upstream should be completed within 36 – 48 months to curtail excess release of water from Ladgo Dam, as being proposed.

    “Anticipated and affected victims should also be relocated as soon as possible and intervention funds, from the ecological fund, be released to affected states to construct necessary infrastructures and support the displaced.”

    Mede urged the relevant ministries, departments and agencies to monitor and communicate early warning signs to states as well as local government areas.

  • Fed Govt begins gas network code implementation

    The Federal Government has begun the implementation of the Nigeria Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC), it was learnt.

    The Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Dr Mordecai  Ladan, stated this on the sideline of the just concluded 2015 conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) held in Lagos.

    The code   NGTNC is a contractual framework between transporter (or network operator) and network users (known as shippers) that provides open competitive access to existing and future gas transportation infrastructure. The code stipulates that every gas meant for domestic use be it power, petrochemical or industrial, will have a single entry and exit point to eliminate sharp practices that exist in the current supply and distribution system.

    Ladan said stakeholders in the sector had earlier met in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to discuss the way forward to ensure smooth implementation of the code. He said part of the implementation exercise of the NGTNC is the training of 20 personnel outside the country under the guidance of foreign partners.

    The steps taken by the government, according to him, is to help eradicate the bottlenecks and problems in the system, adding that the approach may help in ending gas flaring in the country from the end of 2020, but noted that adequate funding is required to achieve it.

    To further reduce or eliminate gas flaring, the Nigerian Gas Company  (NGC) said gas supply to power plants will increase by additional 800 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) by the end of next year. The increase in supply will be created by market forces where there will be a willing-buyer, willing-seller situation.

    According to NGC, although the willing-buyer, willing-seller situation is currently in place, the government needs to implement the $2.50 per 1000 standard cubic feet pricing regime for gas in order to help gas suppliers boost supplies to the market. The successes of increase in gas supply to power plants, also depends on adequate regulatory framework on the commercial side of the sector.

    Its immediate past Managing Director, Dafe Sejebor, said: “Regulation has a major role to play for effective gas supply. Regulation should be looked at more on a commercial basis and we don’t want to forget that time is of essence. Government should implement regulations on time.’’

    Sejebor noted that the reluctance of upstream oil and gas companies to invest in domestic gas production is as a result of low pricing while uneconomical gas-to-power price framework is stalling growth of the gas industry. He said the inadequate funds for infrastructure development and limited appetite of Nigerian banks to invest in long to mid-term projects as well as host community issues, work against gas industry’s growth.