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Tag: FG

  • FG meets Chibok girls’ families in Maiduguri

    FG meets Chibok girls’ families in Maiduguri

    Representatives of Federal Government on Thursday met behind closed doors with parents and guardians of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from their hostel by Boko Haram fighters in April 2014.

    A statement issued by Mr. Olawale Rasheed, the Special Adviser on Media to Minister of State for Power,  said the meeting briefed relations and relatives of the abducted girls on government’s efforts to free the girls.

    The statement added that President Goodluck Jonathan was represented at the meeting by the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil , while the girls’ families were led by Mrs. Pindar Dauda with the youth leader of the Chibok whose name was not mentioned also in attendance.

    The President’s representative told the parents that the federal government has devised comprehensive counter- insurgency strategies whose goals are – to reclaim the occupied territories, rescue the abducted persons, resettle the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and  rehabilitate the insurgency ravaged communities.

    “Mr. President is pursuing multi- faceted strategies which address the pains, anger and frustrations of victims. Our President directed me to tell you that his government is committed to doing everything possible for the safe return of your daughters.

    “I am here to convey the sympathy of Mr. President and the entire Federal cabinet to you the parents and families as well as all other victims. As you are all aware, our military is having the upper hand in this sacred war. We believe by the grace of God that your children will return safely.

    “Your presence here to listen to the message of Mr. President confirms your belief in the ongoing counter insurgency operations as a solution to our collective challenge.

    “I assure you that not only will rescue operations be successful, the other three goals of reclaiming occupied territories, resettlement of IDPS and rebuilding of communities, will be pursued to a logical conclusion. This is a personal pledge of Mr. President which the entire administration is committed to,” the minister said.

    Speaking on behalf of the families, Mrs. Dauda thanked the President for his concern and sympathy while praying for the success of the ongoing military operations.

    “I appeal to President Jonathan not to relent. He should continue with the war on Boko Haram. He should get our children back for us safely. We are praying for him and the military,” she said.

     

  • FG condemns Boko Haram’s bombing of soft targets

    FG condemns Boko Haram’s bombing of soft targets

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday condemned the reversion by the terrorist group, Boko Haram to the bombing of soft targets in parts of Nigeria in the wake of the ongoing rapid recovery by Nigerian troops and their multinational allies of areas formerly controlled by the sect.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan also commiserated with all families who have lost loved ones in the bombings which continued Tuesday with attacks on Kano and Potiskum.

    The statement reads: “The President shares the grief of all the bereaved families and is deeply saddened by the continued loss of many innocent lives at the hands of misguided and desperate fanatics who are now feeling the heat of the intense counter –insurgency operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “The President assures all Nigerians and the people of the North-Eastern states in particular that the days of mourning victims of incessant terrorist attacks in the country will soon be over as the tide has now definitely turned against Boko Haram.

    “President Jonathan further assures the people of Nigeria that the gallant, courageous and patriotic officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, supported with new platforms, equipment and logistics provided by the Federal Government will carry the ongoing operations against the terrorists through to a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time.”

    The President also affirmed that his administration will continue to take all necessary action to guarantee the success of ongoing military operations against the terrorist group and drastically reduce its ability to take and hold territory or recruit, groom and brainwash young persons to undertake suicide bombing attacks on soft targets.

  • Again, FG fails to arraign alleged Nyanya blast mastermind, Ogwuche

    Again, FG fails to arraign alleged Nyanya blast mastermind, Ogwuche

    For the third time, the Federal Government yesterday failed to arraign 29 year-old Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche accused of being the mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bombing in Nyanya, Abuja.

    It was the absence of the court’s interpreter that prevented his arraignment yesterday with six others named in a fresh seven-count charge now before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    On November 24 last year, another judge of the same court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, was forced to strike out an earlier charge brought against Ogwuche for lack of diligent prosecution.

    The Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force had fought each other over which agency should handle the case. On a few occasions, lawyers from both agencies openly disagreed in court on the issue.

    When the seven accused persons were again taken to court on February 6 on the fresh charge, they could not be arraigned because five of them were yet to procure the services of lawyers.

    Those brought to court included Ogwuche, Akhmad Rufai Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maitirare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (aka Kofar Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar.

    Yesterday  while  all the accused persons were represented by lawyers, Justice Mohammed informed parties that the court’s interpreter, Murtala Abdullahi, had travelled to attend to his ailing wife who was critically ill.

    Stressing why the interpreter’s presence was necessary, the judge said the right of the accused persons to fair hearing would be breached, should the court proceed when they do not understand the court’s official language of communication.

    With the agreement of parties, the judge granted accelerated hearing in the case.

    To prevent delay, lawyer to Ogwuche, Ahmed Raji (SAN), equally withdrew the bail application he had filed for his client.

    The judge adjourned to March 6.

    The accused persons are, in the new charge, accused of conspiracy, engaging in an act of terrorism, belonging to Boko Haram, an outlawed group and refusal to disclose to security agencies, information that would have prevented an act of terrorism.

    Ogwuche was, in count six, accused of rendering support to a terrorist group by giving money at different times and places in Abuja to the widows of members of the terrorist organization known as Boko Haram.

    Ogwuche and Abubakar (aka Dr Tsiga) were, in count seven, accused carrying out “surveillance and identified Silverbird Galleria and other locations as potential targets of terrorist attack.”

    The accused persons were said to have committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 1(2)(a) &(b), 5(b),8(b) 16, 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013.

  • Lagos may sue FG over illegal placement of political adverts

    Lagos may sue FG over illegal placement of political adverts

    The  Lagos State government has formally complained to President Goodluck  Jonathan over alleged confusion instigated on Lagos roads by  a ‘faceless’ Federal Task Force.

    Governor  Babatunde Fashola, in a letter to the President, alleged that the  recent deployment of personnel of the task force  on Lagos roads  created chaos all over.

    The deployment,according to him, was done without regard to the existing laws  in the state.

    Also in dispute are the use of national colours on road kerbs and illegal placements of political adverts – all done without recourse to the  law.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.Ade Ipaye, who briefed  reporters yesterday on the development said that last Thursday, unknown men in black uniform, under the aegis of the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme/ Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (SURE-P/FERMA) task force, forcefully took over  traffic  control at  the old toll gate end  of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    With them were  four armed policemen.

    He said the men proceeded to intimidate  officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate the axis.

    He said: “We have made a series of complaints in the past and on one of such occasions when police personnel were attacked (by the task force), the police made some arrests and since then, we are yet to see a stoppage to this unlawful act.

    “These men (Federal Task Force)  have no terms and conditions known to us, whether they are paramilitary force  created by statute; whether they have a code of conduct or regulation that guides what they can do; whether they can arrest, detain and seize vehicles, among others, that are regulated by the law.”

     Continuing, he said: “The law that guides this group is totally unknown and they pose a serious risk to the people of Lagos. That is why we are particularly concerned.

    “We want to urge a re-consideration by all the agencies concerned, and to stress the importance of maintaining law and order no matter what else is going on in the public. We, therefore, call on the FRSC, the Corp Marshal and the Minister of Transport and Works to call FERMA to order on the paintings, while the Federal Government ensures that the illegal task force group is removed from Lagos.”

    On the  painting of road kerbs in the green-white-green national colours,Trasportation Commissioner Kayode Opeifa also at the briefing said  this is  contrary to the international  best practices and national highway code of white and black colours for visibility by  road users.

    His words: “Best practice requires two contrasting colours of white and black or yellow and black. We believe the exercise is aimed to show federal might and intimidate the people of Lagos State. They must call FERMA to order. If we want to begin the use of green-white, then let us institutionalise it and begin to use it nationally. It should not be reserved only for Lagos”

      Managing Director of the Lagos State Advertisement Agency (LASAA), George Noah, said that  the agency would soon head to the courts  to challenge  the indiscriminate placement of political advertisements  without regard  for established rules and norms.

  • FG seeks legal framework for GES Scheme

    FG seeks legal framework for GES Scheme

    The federal government yesterday said that it has sent a bill to the National Assembly to institutionalise the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES).

    The legislation, it added, will define the legal framework for a constant and orderly implementation of the scheme.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said this in Abuja at a one- day stakeholders’ meeting on the draft bill for the consolidation of the GES scheme.

    Adesina, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Dr. Martins Fregene, said that the bill will provide the legal framework for the sustainability of the GES scheme such that its implementation by successive administration could be guaranteed.

    The minister noted that the bill will promote greater collaboration between the federal, state and local governments in facilitating the provision of GES to agriculture in Nigeria.

    According to Adesina, it will facilitate direct purchase by farmers of agricultural inputs across the country.

    “We must do all possible to ensure that the policies and institutional reforms are institutionalized and backed by legislations to secure the future of our farmers,” the minister added.

  • Fed Govt now pays N2.50 per litre as petrol subsidy, says minister

    The Federal Government  says it still subsidizes  the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)  to the tune of N2.50k per litre.

    Petroleum Resources Minister,  Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke said in Abuja yesterday that the  crash of crude oil prices in the global market has not completely absorbed government’s  subsidy on fuel.

    She spoke  on Political Forum,    a programme of RAYPOWER FM. Responding to a question on whether   government still subsidizes PMS,the minister said: “We are paying about N2.50 per litre.”

    She said government arrived at the new  pump price of N87 from N97 per litre  after considering that it could sustain it to give the citizenry some  benefits.

    Madueke said : “We still have subsidy to pay, but we said N10, we could stretch to N10 to give Nigerians a reduction we think  gives them some impact in their daily lives.”

    She explained that despite the drop in  oil prices in the international market since September, it was only at the end of December that the price of $56 per barrel was equivalent to N97 per litre pump price in Nigeria’s petrol stations.

    The minister noted that government had to observe the volatility of the market for another two weeks before it was convinced that there was  stability .

    She added: “You should bear in mind that we will still be covering subsidy cost for at least 40 days for those marketers who had already brought in stock to distribute. So we are distributing this at the lower prices.”

  • FG releases N3b to Kaduna for 2011 post-election violence victims

    Vice President Moham-med Namadi Sambo has said the federal government has released N3 billion for onward disbursement to victims of the 2011 post-election violence in Kaduna State.

    He spoke at the weekend during the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, in reaction to the recent protest by victims of the crisis over non-payment of compensation promised by the government.

    Sambo said the money which was already in the coffers of the state government would be disbursed to the affected victims accordingly.

    He, however, stressed the need for people to live in peace with one another to enable government at all levels effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate.

    While congratulating the Emir for attaining 40 years on throne, Sambo attributed the success recorded by the Emirate to patience, fairness, justice and truthfulness.

    Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Yero, in his remarks advised both politicians and the electorate not to see the forthcoming election as a do-or-die affair in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Highlight of the occasion was a durbar performed by district heads and traditional title holders of the Emirate.

  • PDP backs FG, warns politicians against inflammatory statements

    PDP backs FG, warns politicians against inflammatory statements

    As the 2015 elections draw near, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged members of the political class to desist from heating up the polity through inflammatory statements.

    A statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, also asked politicians in the country to eschew bitterness and desperation for power, enjoining all to join hands to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections.

    A part of the statement reads: “It is saddening that incendiary statements by some politicians fuelled violence and killing of innocent Nigerians. Indeed, this is not the way to go. The New Year and the Eid-el-Maulud therefore present yet another opportunity for a rethink.

    “We pray that those who use false claims and inciting comments to stoke the fires of violence will retrace their steps and ensure that the New Year, with its promises, is not polluted by such actions.

    “As we go along with the campaign therefore, we call on all politicians to endeavor to keep it clean, speak only the truth at all times and try to be more mature and decent in their conduct.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us. Her interest must be paramount, over and above all parochial interests”, the statement said.

    The party charged members of the political class to rededicate themselves to peace, truth and respect for constituted authority.

    It noted that the year 2015 has great significance and presents an important lesson to all Nigerians to live in peaceful co-habitation and brotherhood.

    The party urged Nigerians to reflect on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud to deepen their commitment to and be guided by the virtues of peace, truth, goodwill and respect for constituted authority.

    Restating its commitment to a credible electioneering and issue-based campaign, the PDP said it would campaign in peace; with hope in the hearts of its leaders and members; with issues and ideas, and with its verifiable record of achievements.

    “It is indisputable that Nigerians, from the east to west, north to south; irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliations, enjoy living together as one indivisible nation”, the statement added.

  • IMF pushes FG to hike fuel pump price in 2015

    IMF pushes FG to hike fuel pump price in 2015

    THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked the federal government to consider increase in the pump price in compliance with the Fund’s updated subsidy removal strategy, The Nation can authoritatively report.

    Should the federal government accede to this request, it means Nigerians are expected to pay more for petroleum products in 2015.

    The Nation however learnt that the federal government is not keened on making any policy statements regarding the proposed new pump price yet as it reckons this may affect the political fortunes of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 election.

    Investigation by The Nation further revealed that the federal government planned IMF inspired 2015 post-election PMS prices increase will be backed by political and legislative force.

    The IMF African Department paper 13/02: Energy Subsidy Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experiences and Lessons by Trevor Alleyne et al, April 18, 2013, a document obtained exclusively by The Nation revealed that the federal government had been nursing the idea of raising the current petroleum products prices after the 2015 election in accordance to an updated IMF subsidy removal strategy for some time.

    In a study titled: ‘Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications” a IMF paper prepared by a staff team led by Benedict Clements, January 2013, the IMF study blamed the lack of information and credibility for the partial success of the 2012 subsidy removal in Nigeria. It emphasised key elements needed for a successful energy removal programme.

    These included “(i) a comprehensive energy sector reform plan entailing clear long-term objectives, analysis of the impact of reforms, and consultation with stakeholders; (ii) an extensive communications strategy, supported by improvements in transparency,..(iii) appropriately phased price increases, …(iv) improving the efficiency of state owned enterprises to reduce producer subsidies; (v) targeted measures to protect the poor; and (vi) institutional reforms that depoliticise energy pricing.”

    A similar study in April 2013, by another IMF team studying energy subsidy removal in sub-Saharan Africa reached similar conclusions.

    The study tagged: ‘Energy Subsidy Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experiences and Lessons’ an IMF African Department paper 13/02 by a staff team led by Trevor Alleyne, April 18, 2013, concluded that “in oil exporting countries, the task of removing subsidies has proven even more challenging because it is difficult to convey to the public the rationale for products to be sold at their opportunity cost and not their cost of production.”

    The Nation learnt that Indonesia successfully implemented the updated IMF strategy and raised PMS prices by 30 per cent in November 2014 after its national election and Nigeria is also expected to comply.

    Every year, an IMF team visits Nigeria, collects relevant data/information and holds numerous meetings with Nigeria’s financial and economic officials.

    The team returns to the IMF headquarters and prepares a report for the IMF Board. The IMF Board holds a meeting and sends a summary of the views of IMF directors to the federal government. More meetings are held. The federal government responds and implements its economic/financial programs within the broad guidelines of the IMF. This is one of the institutional mechanisms that the IMF uses to control the Nigerian economy.

    The first part of the federal government plan, The Nation gathered, was to re-organise the leading role of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the CBN in the subsidy removal propaganda campaign. The second part was to mobilise other stakeholders such as the National Assembly, the judiciary, the state governors and political class, the media and trade/student union leaders using SURE-P.

    Besides, the final part was the 2015 post-election introduction of fuel price hike and the neutralisation of the ensuing public opposition.

    The ensuring investigation by the House of Representative Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy headed by Farouk Lawan had set the three institutions at odds with each other.

    In response to the unfavorable exposure, the FMF encouraged the Presidency to inaugurate a Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation on Fuel Subsidy payments (the Aig-Imokhuede committee). The FMF ensured that the Aig-Imokhuede committee focused only on local subsidy payments and not on the New York JP Morgan Chase account. This did not satisfy the CBN.

    Speaking to newsmen in May 2014, the IMF Senior Resident Representative/Mission Chief in Nigeria, Mr. Williams Rogers, supported the federal government efforts on subsidy removal, adding that subsidy removal is necessary for planned savings in recurrent spending and public sector reforms (reduced government wage bill by workers layoff and fixed wages).

    The state governments still refused to cooperate with the federal government. On December 8, 2014 the Supreme Court began hearing on the case of the state governors against the federal government method of deducting “fuel subsidy” funds from oil proceeds before payment into the Federation Account. The state governors want the Supreme Court to declare the NNPC practice of deducting “fuel subsidy” funds from oil proceeds before payment into the Federation Account unconstitutional. They also want an account of all “fuel subsidy” deduction made from the Federation Account from 2007 to 2014.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nation at the weekend, Prof. Izielen Agbon, a renowned oil and gas expert based in Dallas, Texas, USA, said: “The federal government promotes the continuous underdevelopment of Nigeria by imposing European energy prices on Nigeria’s developing industrial and agrarian structures. The PMS production cost of a litre of petrol in Nigeria is N40/litre and any price above that is a reflection of the power relationship between the Nigerian masses on one hand and the IMF/FGN/Cabal on the other. The IMF knows this and therefore conducted numerous reviews of its subsidy removal strategy in 2012-13.”

  • Ex-minister blasts FG on lip service to science, technology

    Ex-minister blasts FG on lip service to science, technology

    A former Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Emmanuel Emovon has berated the federal government for according lip service to science and technology.

    Professor Emovon in an exclusive interview with The Nation in Benin City against the backdrop of the sliding crude oil price in the international market said, unless the nation gives adequate attention to science and technology, “we are not serious” about finding a solution.

    “Agriculture is being stepped up, but research institutes do not appear to be funded to show Nigeria the road map to prosperity. Asian tigers invested lots in science and technology; it is where their prospect lies, so, we do hope that our governors and masters will try as much as possible to harness what we have. Add value to exported agric products by adopting science and technology,” he added.

    According to him in diversifying the economy, you cannot rely on mono-economy and expect the country to move because oil is a wasted asset that is irreplaceable.