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  • ICRC moves to resolve concession disputes between FAAN, MMA2

    ICRC moves to resolve concession disputes between FAAN, MMA2

    The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ( ICRC ) said on Monday that it will deploy everything within its ability to ensure the concession dispute between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services is resolved.
    The Commission, which is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring the efficient execution of all A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects entered  into by MDAs on behalf of the Federal Government said it has continued to engage Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State on Aviation since his  assumption of office on these challenges and believe they will be resolved soon enough in order to strengthen the relationship between the parties.
    Recall that the MMA2 and the Hotel and Conference Centre concessions awarded to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited as a PPP project for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, completion, commissioning, operations and transfer has been  experiencing  several challenges.
    The terminal which took off in 2007 was given out in concession by FAAN, as representative of the federal government on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, but while BASL insists that the concession agreement was for 36 years and that the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) belongs to the company in cognizance of the agreement, FAAN insists that it did not endorse 36 years for the concession but 12 years and that GAT was not part of the agreement.
    Speaking during a visit by the commission to MMA2, yesterday, Chidi Izuwah, acting Director General ICRC said he was aware of the challenges between the both parties adding that “We want to listen to both parties as an independent regulator, we want to physically access the situation and challenges on ground in order to Bette appreciate the positions by FAAN and Bi-Courtney and thereafter suggest possible line of action in resolving these issues.
    “We are interested in having an update from the parties on the performance of the related projects; we want to understand the challenges facing the operators, as well as the grantor of the contracts and the various steps taken towards resolving these challenges; we want to hear from the parties their requests to the government in ensuring the projects are efficiently implemented for the overall benefits to the government.”
    Also speaking during the visit, Wale Babalakin, Chairman , Bi-Courtney Aviation Services said if Nigeria intends to encourage private sector participation in the infrastructural development of the country it must abide by international regulations; government and its agencies must respect and abide by concession agreements.
    Babalakin denied the allegation that it was Bi-Courtney that drafted the concession agreement and also noted that the company was not the winner of the concession, but Royal Standerton, which was the preferred bidder; however, Bi-Courtney inherited the concession when the later could not meet the pace of work expected by the federal government.
    Also speaking on behalf of FAAN, Monica Alphonse, the Deputy General Manager, Public Private Partnership, said that GAT has never been part of the concession agreement and that the monopoly status that stated that no other airport terminal should be developed during the course of the concession period by BASL may have taken cognizance of the fact that the concession was for 12 years.
    Alphonse described such clauses that gave BASL such advantage as antitrust and pro-monopoly, adding that the agreement should have been renegotiated if the concession was designed for 36 years and noted, that “such agreement is repugnant to natural justice.”
    She said that FAAN was willing to ensure that the problem between it and BASL over the concession was resolved. BASL officials also spoke in the same vein.
  • We’ll deliver on three-pronged campaign promises – Buhari 

    We’ll deliver on three-pronged campaign promises – Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja said his administration remains resolute and focused on delivering on the three-pronged promises of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians, halting the pillage of the economy by corrupt public officials, and creating employment opportunities for the youths.

    Receiving the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group ( NESG ) at the State House, President Buhari said the initial economic challenge posed by recession was already dwindling, with the economy smarting out and posting better results on falling inflation rates, higher foreign reserve and better ranking on ease of doing business.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “If you look critically into the 2018 budget, we have already taken into account key issues of more stable electricity, construction of roads and rails, and the airport concession’’ 

    The President said the government will work more to accelerate and increase momentum in agriculture, power, gas, manufacturing and processing, while commending the Chinese government for its support in improving infrastructure in Nigeria.

    “We send our gratitude to the Chinese for all their support to Nigeria. Since Independence, no country has helped our country on infrastructural development like the Chinese. In some projects, the Chinese help us with 85 per cent payment, and soft loans that span 20 years. No country has done that for us,’’ he said.

    The President assured Nigerians that the rising attacks on communities by herdsmen will soon be brought under control by security forces deployed to the vulnerable areas across the country.

    He said the unfortunate incident of attacks, which had resulted in loss of lives and properties, had already brought sorrow and hardship on many Nigerians, with the government deeply affected.

    President Buhari said the government will continue to strengthen its relationship with the NESG, especially in integrating its recommendations into policies that will improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.

    In his remark, the chairman of the NESG Board of Directors, Kyari Abba Bukar, commended the government for the “pragmatic approach’’ in engaging with citizens of Niger Delta region which had translated into steady rise in oil production.

    “Your Excellency, we salute your courage in providing support to the states that have had fiscal challenges. We recognise that without the intervention of the Presidency, many state governments would have been unable to pay salaries last year,’’ he said.

    Bukar said the outlook on the economy remained upwardly positive, projecting a 3.5 per cent GDP growth, urging the President to pay more attention on the herdsmen attacks, which could reverse the gains recorded in the agricultural sector.

  • Mining: FG engages revenue consultants to boost earnings – Fayemi

    Mining: FG engages revenue consultants to boost earnings – Fayemi

    …We intend to surpass projected annual growth rate of 8.54 per cent, says Fayemi

    The Federal Government has engaged the services of about 100 revenue consultants to work on areas of leakages in the revenue accrued from the mining sector, with a view to shoring up earnings from the sector.

    The consultants, who would be deployed to the six geo-political zones of the country in the coming week are to examine financial and production records of companies involved in mining activities in the last six years, to determine whether appropriate royalties were remitted to government.

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who disclosed the new step being taken by government during the opening of the three-day induction and training for the Revenue Consultants in Abuja on Monday, said the main target of the ministry is to ensure that the Federation Account gets its fair due in royalties and taxes.

    According to Dr Fayemi, the project, tagged “Revenue Optimization and Verification Project”. Would assist in blocking leakages  in the mining sector, thereby positioning the sector to achieve its set agenda of contributing significantly to the GDP.

    “Our expectation of this project is that the Ministry would emerge as a lead revenue agency for the Federal Government of Nigeria, in line with the growth projections of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan ( ERGP ), which recognizes the mining sector as one of Nigeria’s most promising growth sectors, and acknowledges that its contribution to GDP doubled from N52 billion in 2010 to N103 billion in 2015. The ERGP further projects that revenue from the mining sector would grow from N103 billion (2015) to N141 billion (2020) at an average annual growth rate of 8.54 per cent (2017-2020)”

    Dr Fayemi said he is optimistic that the ministry would surpass these targets, as all stakeholders work collaboratively to ensure the success of the R.O.V. Project, resulting in improved levels of voluntary compliance of operators.

    The Minister admitted that leakages in government revenue was a big challenge in the mining sector, a development, which he said the ministry was determined to redress with the ROV Project, following its approval by the National Economic Council (NEC).

    He said: The R.O.V Project is an initiative of our ministry, pursuant of one of our core mandates, which is to significantly increase the contribution of the Mining Sector to our sovereign revenue.

     “Indeed, leakages in government revenue remains a big challenge in the sector, which we are working collaboratively with other government entities and sector stakeholders to fix. We have given considerable thought to this challenge and come up with a number of strategies to tackle it, one of which we are witnessing its launch today.

    “I am therefore pleased to announce that following the approval of the National Economic Council (NEC), we are today inaugurating a new model of revenue generation and collection in the mining sector. This entails the engagement of Professional Revenue Consultants who would work with our ministry’s mining officers to identify revenue leakages in the system.

     “The Revenue Optimization and Verification Project essentially seeks to confirm the adequacy of royalties’ remittances made by the various operators in the mining industry. They are mandated to collect and analyse data from 2012 – 2017 in the course of their work, thus giving us the opportunity to demand and receive accruals due to government from the referenced period. It would also ensure compliance of all operators to paying the correct amount in royalties to the government coffers going forward.

    The Minister said the  exercise will be carried out in line with the provisions of Section 17 of the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 which empowers the Mining Inspectorate Division of the Ministry to supervise and enforce compliance of laws and also section 43 of the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 which mandates mining operators to keep and supply records upon request by the ministry.

    Speaking further, the Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Muazu Abdullahi, said the project was not designed to witch hunt anybody, even as he warned the consultants to avoid any shady deals.

    “This is not a witch hunting initiative, but the exercise of the statutory responsibility of the Ministry to determine the adequacy of remittances made by the various operators in the mining industry.

    Dr Fayemi added: “The image and reputation of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and indeed the entire Federal Government of Nigeria is key during this Revenue Optimization and Verification Project; therefore, we charge all consultants to stand for what this government stands for by avoiding any form of compromise, illegality and unprofessional conduct.

    The Project Coordinator, Mr Makinde Araoye, said the projects is at no cost to the Ministry as the National Economic Council approval stated that consultants and the ministry take a certain percentage of whatever is recovered.

    “NEC approved 15 per cent as cost of collection, out of the 15 per cent. The consultant will be paid a certain percentage of what they recover, the lead consultant will be paid a certain percentage of what they recover and the Ministry will also retain certain percentage as cost of collection”, he added.

    The consultants which have already been grouped into all the 36 states in the six geopolitical zones of the country are to commence work after the training programme.

  • Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    The late arrival of the defence counsel on Monday again stalled the arraignment of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, on fresh charges at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos.

    The Lagos State Government had brought a fresh five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against Evans and three others.

    The three accused standing trial along with Evans are Emeka Joseph, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    The arraignment was first stalled on Nov. 13, because Evans’s counsel was not served with the fresh information.

    Also, one of the three persons charged along with Evans had no legal representation.

    However, on the second date of adjournment, the defence counsel was absent in court.

    When the case came up on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that the business of the day was arraignment.

    She, however, said Evans’ counsel, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, was not yet in court, adding that an application seeking to quash the charge was served on them by the defence.

    Other defendants’ counsel — Messers Ogedi Ogu, Emmanuel Ochai and Jude Igbanoi — were all present in court and they acknowledged the application seeking to quash the charge.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye, however, adjourned the case until Feb. 28 for the hearing of the application to quash charge.

    NAN also reports that the alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10 and was in August arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at an Ikeja High Court for kidnapping.

    He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who has been transferred to the Ikeja Division. (NAN)

  • NVBF begins plans to host Under-19 Men’s Nations Cup

    NVBF begins plans to host Under-19 Men’s Nations Cup

    The Nigeria Volleyball Federation ( NVBF ) on Monday said plans were underway to host the Zone Three Club Championship and U-19 Men’s African Nations Cup in Abuja.

    Maikano Adamu, the Secretary-General of NVBF, however, told our reporter that the federation was still awaiting the Ministry of Youths and Sports’ approval for the hosting.

    Adamu said the Confederation of African Volleyball ( CAVB ) has already given the federation the hosting right to the two championships.

    “We are expecting a team from the African body of volleyball to come and inspect our facilities ahead of the championship,’’ he said.

    Adamu said the African Club Championship would have teams from eight countries in the zone, adding that the championship has been tentatively fixed to hold in April.

    He added that the U-19 Nations Cup would hold in July or August.

    Read also:NVBF opens camp for Beach Volleyball Under-21 World Championship Qualifiers

    “The federation has already set up a committee to verify the state of our facilities before the team’s arrival. So, it will be easy for us to take them round the facilities.

    “The state of our facilities will give the team the hope that we are ready to host the championship,’’ Adamu said.

    The federation secretary disclosed that CAVB had already sent letters of invitations to clubs which would participate in the championship.

    “In our tradition as a federation, we have also sent letters to clubs and states, to indicate their interest to participate and also to solicit support in terms of sponsorship,’’ he said.

    On the federation’s upcoming national league, Adamu said the federation would hold a stakeholders meeting on Sunday to deliberate on the way forward to having a sustainable volleyball league.

    He called on the media and multinationals to partner with the federation to support volleyball and further develop the sport.

    NAN

  • Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    The Students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in solving the rectorship crisis in the institution.

    Their appeal was conveyed at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend by a former President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Samson Okoduwa.

    The students had last year staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Education over allegations of high-handedness, mismanagement and corruption against the acting Rector, Mr. Sanusi Jimah.

    The students also urged Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to make public the outcome of the interview conducted for the position of rector in 2016.

    They alleged that the acting Rector was running the institution as a personal office by giving appointments to his friends and cronies.

    A development a source at the institution confirmed, noting that 95 per cent of appointments made by Mr. Jimah favored people from his Auchi region.

    Okoduwa also alleged that students of the institution were not issued identity card in the 2016/2017 session despite management collecting N1,500 naira from them.

    He also alleged that the acting rector failed to conduct an election into the SUG because he wanted to impose a stooge on the students.

    According to him, Mr. Jimah deliberately fixed the SUG election immediately after the second semester examination when all students would have finished their examinations and technically seize to be students.

    Okoduwa noted that a substantive rector would save the already sinking polytechnic.

    He said: “We are again restating/re emphasizing our demand to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hi Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, intervene in Auchi Polytechnic rectorship issue.

    “The President should direct the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of urgency release the report of the already conducted interview in 2016 at Abuja and appoint a substantive rector for the institution.

    “The delay in the release of the result/report and subsequent appointment of a substantive rector for Auchi Polytechnic is the millennium corruption.

    “The aberration in the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah as acting Rector by the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) should be withdrawn as the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) has never appointed a Vice Chancellor for any university.

    “This already sinking institution should be salvaged  as it requires an emergency.”

    However, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said elections into the SUG was deferred because of security reasons.

    He also said the students were issued identity cards to enable them write their second semester examinations.

    Mr. Oshiobugie said: “Election into the executive offices of the students union was deferred because of security reasons.  Departmental and school elections which preceed the union election had been successfully held in five schools.

    “There was violence in the sixth school (School of Engineering).  The reverberations could not be contained before the scheduled sessional examinations which was two weeks away.

    “To the best of my knowledge, students gain admission into examination halls on presentation of their identity cards showing that they are bona fide students of the polytechnic.  The Second Semester examination was conducted using this procedure.  And there was no incidence throughout the examination.”

  • Workers threaten to shut down NIGCOMSAT over alleged victmisation

    Workers threaten to shut down NIGCOMSAT over alleged victmisation

    The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies ( SSASCGOC ) has accused the management of Nigeria Communications Satellite ( NIGCOMSAT ) of victimizing workers in the company and warned that unless the victimization and issues of promotion is addressed, it will have no option than to disrupt official activities of the agency.

    In a letter to the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, the union said it may be forced to embark on a three day warning strike unless the issues of promotion and victimization, of its members in the company is addressed.

    The letter, dated  January 10, Reference SSASCGOC/LAB/17/2018/9941​​​​​ and signed by the President, Mohammad Yunusa and the General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi alleged that one of its members is being victimized by the management for refusing to take part in corruption related activities.

    The letter entitled: “Re: Operational Modalities in NIGCOMSAT-Our Demands,” the letter read: “Under the directive of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Association we refer to our letter No SSASCGOC/HM/FMCT/1/2017/ of 9th Oct 2017 on the above subject matter and observe with dismay the non-response to any of the issues raised.

    “We are most concerned about issues that bother on the rights of our members; particularly the issue of promotion. As we speak, one of our members is being victimized  for  refusing to participate in activities that promotes corruption in the workplace.

    “We shall be left with no other choice than to embark on a ​3 day warning strike to drive home our points, if nothing is done to address all the issues raised in our letter under reference within 21 days from the date of receipt of this letter.”

    Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Olorunfemi, condemned the promotion exercise done by NIGCOMSAT management after a long pressure from the union, adding that the promotion was lopsided as important issue of seniority was lost due to earlier embargo and delayed in the process.

    He said the union would not accept a situation whereby some senior officers have to forfeit one year due to no fault of theirs but just because the management decided to place embargo on promotion.

    “The essence of promotion is to motivate, but when promotion is becoming a de-motivational factor, there will be reduction in productivity and the union would not accept that.”

    On the victimization of its member, he explained that an officer, who is the head of account refused a directive from an executive director to pay a money which was not approved and was being victimized.

    Comrade Olorunfemi said the present government came into power on the mantra of corruption, saying that the minister should conduct an investigation into this case and ensure that workers who stand up against corruption are not punished.

  • Smuggling: Customs appeals for cooperation to with communities

    Smuggling: Customs appeals for cooperation to with communities

    The Niger Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday appealed for cooperation with border communities to check smuggling.

    Mr Bengal Benjamin, the Area Comptroller, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    According to Benjamin, the command believes that the support of the border communities was necessary to achieve more success in ending smuggling across the borders.

    He appealed to residents of members in the communities to offer intelligence reports on the movement of smugglers to help save Nigerian economy.

    He said that the time had come for all Nigerians to see smuggling as a crime to the nation’s economy.

    NAN reports that the command is made of Niger, Kwara and Kogi states.

    Read also :Customs  sets N1.3trn revenue target for 2018

    Benjamin said that the command had also partnered some traditional rulers, especially those around border communities, to alert the command on the movement of smugglers.

    He urged the mass media to educate members of the public to shun smuggling and embrace export of local goods because of the inherent gains in export trade than smuggling.

    He said that officers and men in the command had been mobilised to ensure that the command would meet it’s N3.7 billion revenue target for 2018.

    “We have since issued effective operational order to our officers in the border areas on how to prevent the illegal business and deal with smugglers.

    “We have blocked all their identified exits through our border posts in Kwara as well as in other states,” he said.

    NAN

  • Court remands man in prison over assault, trespass

    Court remands man in prison over assault, trespass

    A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ court has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Alhaji Danmagajiy in prison for alleged assault and trespass.

    The Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, who gave the order on Monday, adjourned the matter to Jan 31, 2018 for hearing.

    The defendant of Gidan Sanda village area of Kware Local Government Area in Sokoto State is facing a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, trespass and assault.

    Read also: Court  orders probe of Patience Jonathan’s property’s demolition

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, Cpl. Umar Rabi’u contravened sections, 342 and 268 of the penal code law.

    Rabi’u told the court that on Jan. 9, one Alhaji Abubakar Gago lodged a complaint at the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Sokoto.

    He said that the accused attacked the complainant’s daughter-in-law, named Hadiza, with the intent of having intercourse with her.

    The prosecutor said that the 25-year-old girl raised alarm attracting people nearby who came to her rescue.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    NAN

  • Teacher in court over alleged raping of neighbour’s daughter

    Teacher in court over alleged raping of neighbour’s daughter

    A 38-year-old man, Joshua Babatunde ,was on Monday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly raping his neighbour’s daughter.

    The defendant, a teacher, who resides at No.7, Ogunshola St., Alaguntan, Alimosho, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a charge of rape.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 11, at Animashaun St., Alaguntan, Lagos.

    Donny said that the defendant lured the 16- year –old girl to his friend ‘s house under the pretext of sending her on an errand, but shut the door and raped her.

    “The defendant had sexually molested the girl for about three times in his friend’s house, and had always threatened to deal with the girl if she talks.

    “The defendant’s friend didn’t know anything about this because he traveled and gave the house key to his friend,” he said.

    Read Also: Court sentences student four months in prison for cheating

    Donny added that luck ran out of the defendant when one of the neighbours peeped in through the window and caught him molesting the girl.

    “The woman who saw him raised an alarm and the defendant was apprehended,” he said.

    The offence, according to the prosecutor contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folakemi Davies –Abegunde, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until Feb. 26 for mention.

    NAN