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Tag: Senator Kabiru Marafa

  • Marafa to Zamfara govt: fish out killers of my associate

    Marafa to Zamfara govt: fish out killers of my associate

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Kabiru Marafa has urged the Zamfara State government to fish out the killers of his associates.

    He alleged that they were killed by guards, saying that he did not due as a result of confrontation with people.

     Marafa said in a statement that justice should be done so that Alhaji Mogaji Lawali will not due in vain.

    The statement reads: “While I welcome the good news from the Zamfara State Government through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to conduct a holistic investigation into the incident that led to the death of Alhaji Magaji Lawali, my associate, I reject the claim that he died during a confrontation or skirmishes between some groups or persons.

    “It’s pertinent to commend the state government for coming up with the Community Protection Guards (CGP) to tackle the insecurity in our state, but the government must do everything possible to rid the outfit of bad characters, criminals and agents of darkness. 

    “In spirited efforts to change the narratives, the state government issued two statements in less than 24 hours, claiming that the deceased died during the confrontation.

    “First, it was a Press Statement from the office of the SSG  dated, 13th February 2024 and another one was issued by the state Commissioner of Information and Culture dated February 14, 2024.

    Read Also; ‘I would have loved Akeredolu to be alive to see me succeed him’

    “In the first statement, they claimed that” the recent confrontation between members of the community Protection Guards and some elements of the banned Yansakai group in Tsafe Local Government Area. This incident tragically resulted in the death of one individual”   The government is fully cognizant of the skirmish between the two factions”

    “In the second statement issued by the Zamfara state Commissioner of Information and Culture today, February 14_ “ZMSG condemned CPG/Yansakai classes in  TSAFE, constitutency”  The Government again referred to the incident as a clash between two groups.

    “The two releases are nothing but a desperate efforts to change the narratives of what happened.

    “It was revealed by multiple persons and witnesses that the victims were arrested from their hometown and taken to the Community Protection Guards office in Tsafe, the Local government headquarters, where one (Magaji Lawali) died and the other (Yahaya) was injured – the video he (Yahaya) made after his release is everywhere in the internet)

    “While I wholeheartedly support the government, in its effort to provide the much-needed security in our state, I reject any act of political vendetta and or witch hunt by the security outfit.

    “I, therefore, call on the state government to come out clean from this gruesome murder of an innocent person and ensure that a thorough and unbiased investigation is carried out with a view to bringing to book the criminals who have found their way into the Community Protections Guards (CPG).”

  • Okorocha on his own on non-issuance of certificate of return, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday reacted for the first time to the decision of the independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue certificate of return to Imo state Governor Rochas okorocha.

    It said the party has no official position on the issue since the governor is still under suspension.

    National publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, said at an interactive session with reporters that the governor has also not informed the party of the problem with the electoral management body probably because he is aware of his suspension.

    INEC has said it will not issue certificate of return to Okorocha, who was declared Senator-elect, insisting he was declared winner under duress.

    Asked whether the party planned to intervene in the matter, Issa- Onilu said Okorocha is still under suspension, adding until such is vacated the party will not intervene.

    “On the refusal of INEC to issue Certificate of Return to governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who was announced winner of the Imo West senatorial ticket, this party cannot take any action.

    “Don’t forget that he is on suspension and as far as this party is concerned, that situation remains because there is no way we can say that somebody is on suspension and still go ahead to intervene in his case.

    “In any case, he has not even come up to inform the party of his problem because he has realised that he is on suspension.

    “Therefore, until it is vacated, the party will now step in to intervene as a party member who has problem to resolve.”

    On whether former Rivers state governor Rotimi Ameachi had committed anti-party activity for allegedly supporting governorship of African Action Congress (AAC), Issa- Onilu said: “I will emphatically say no because if you liken it to the situation in Imo and or Ogun states, it will be wrong.

    “In Rivers state, APC does not have any candidate and as a party, Rivers state is very important to us. The state has been in the hands of pillagers for too long.

    “If we have the opportunity of working with party willing to abide by our principles, then it is within our right to work with such a party to ensure we free the people of Rivers state from the locust.

    “In this case, he has not abandoned a particular candidate that belongs to the APC for a candidate of another party.

    “They are entirely different issues and in that case, there is no anti-party. Whatever Amaechi has done is completely normal and acceptable to this party as far as working with other party is concerned.”

    Read also: Kwara PDP passes confidence vote on Saraki

    On the supposed suspension of Senator Kabiru Marafa by his ward in Zamfara, Onilu said: “It’s within the powers of the party executives at the ward level.

    “If they have good reason to take punitive action against a member that they considered to have flaunted the rules of the party.

    “In this case, we don’t have all the facts because it has not been brought to NWC attention and they don’t really need to come that far before they can take that decision.

    “Whoever that has happened to has the window to seek redress. So, we are watching to be sure that they stay within the rule.”

  • A/Court didn’t clear Zamfara APC’s candidates, Ozekhome insists

    Lawyer to the Senator Kabiru Marafa faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) confirmed on Friday that the judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja given on Thursday set aside the January 27, 2019 judgment by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Justice Ojukwu had, in the judgment, held among others that there was no evidence before her court that the APC in Zamfara conducted valid primaries for the purpose of producing candidates for this year’s general elections.

    The decision of the Court of Appeal on Thursday, setting aside Justice Ojukwu’s judgment, for lack of jurisdiction, has since been interpreted by many to mean that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should now accept candidates from Zamfara APC, a position Ozekhome faulted.

    He argued that, since the Court of Appeal only set aside the judgment, but failed to make a consequential order directing INEC to accept candidates from Zamfara APC; it implies that the earlier decision by the electoral body, refusing the party’s candidates, still stands.

    In two separate documents issued on Friday – a press release and a letter to INEC Chairman (both of which he personally signed), Ozekhome urged INEC to reject candidates from Zamfara APC on the grounds that that “nothing has changed,” despite the Appeal Court judgment given in Abuja on February 21, 2019.

    Ozekhome insisted that, since an appeal filed by his client, Marafa, was still pending before the Court of Appeal in Sokoto State, against the judgement of the Zamfara State High Court, which said there were valid primaries, the issue (of whether or not there were valid primaries) could not be said to have been safely resolved.

    The Senior Advocate said: “Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on 21st February, 2019, dismissed the appeal filed by APC challenging the judgment of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, which had affirmed INEC’s stand that the APC did not conduct any primary election in Zamfara state and that INEC was right to have rejected APC’s candidates from Zamfara state.

    “The dismissal followed an application by APC to withdraw the appeal. The application was granted and the appeal dismissed accordingly.

    “Next was the cross-appeal filed by Yari & Co on jurisdiction and cause of action.

    “The judgment given by the Court of Appeal today clearly stated that the appeal partially succeeded and went ahead to set aside the judgment of the lower court on jurisdiction only, but refuse to grant the cause of action component of the appeal.

    “By this, the Court of Appeal refused to grant INEC any order to revive candidates of the APC from Zamfara state.

    “The cross-appeal therefore partially failed because, from the onset, APC had a complaint against INEC only. Governor had applied to join the case voluntarily.

    “And, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in her judgment held that ‘APC did not seek any relief against the 2nd to 6th dependents (Yari & Co) and considering that Yari and & Co didn’t file a counter claim, or cross action against APC in the suit, she now held that Yari & Co have nothing to add in this case.

    “From the foregoing, it is clear that the cross-appeal by Yari and his group, before the Court of Appeal, having partially failed, becomes at best, a mere academic exercise bereft of any utilitarian value to the entire case.

    “The false assertion that the Court of Appeal had cleared the way for the APC to participate in Saturday’s election is therefore a lie from the pit of hell.

    “It is nothing short of the desperate minute by frustrated politician holding on any available straw to smuggle themselves Willy nilly into Saturday’s election. This cannot work.

    “INEC is hereby reminded that there exists in addition to the above legal obstacles, a subsisting appeal which arose from the Zamfara State High Court judgment, which is still extant and pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal , in Appeal no: CA/S/32/2019.

    “In any event, the judgment of the Federal High Court, going by the judgment of the Court of Appeal still partially succeeded, since the Court of Appeal refused to make any clear mandatory orders directing INEC to receive any candidates from Yari group for the purpose of Saturday’s elections.

    “INEC is therefore obligated and legally bound to stand by its earlier well founded position that APC, having never conducted any primaries in Zamfara state, have no candidates in the forthcoming elections in Zamfara state, have no candidate in the forthcoming elections in Zamfara state, except the presidential election.

    “Any other act by INEC in fielding any candidates from the Governor Yari’s group or the “G-8” group will be illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever,” Ozekhome said.

    He made similar argument in the letter to the Chairman of INEC.

    Part of the letter reads: “Sometimes in October 2018 when INEC wrote to APC, intimating it that the commission would not be expecting any list of candidates from them, having failed to conduct primaries within the stipulated time, APC challenged that decision of the commission by filing a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which decided the case in favour of the commission and dismissed the suit.

    “Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State had cross-appealed. By the judgment of the Court of Appeal on 21st February, 2019 the intermediate court held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter in the first place and therefore struck it out.

    “What this decision means sir, is that, as at today, there is no valid or extant decision of any court of law in Nigeria, which has set aside the well-grounded decision of INEC as contained in its letter of 9th October, 2018.

    “In addition to this clear legal obstacle against any of the parties fielding any candidate in the forthcoming Zamfara elections (aside the presidential election), there also exists and still pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal, a valid appeal filed by Senator Kabiru Marafa in appeal no: CA/S/33/2019.

    “Consequently, by way of summary, nothing in the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja has changed the well-grounded position of maintenance of status quo of disallowing. Any of the parties to field candidates for the forthcoming elections, except the presidential election.

    “The Court of Appeal, Abuja division merely struck out the suit which had been dismissed by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja with no consequential order.

    “Please sir, this letter urges you to firmly maintain your earlier position so as to prevent a clear circumvent of the judicial process and an appeal that is still pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal,” Ozekhome said.

  • Indirect primaries: ‘Fifth columnists in APC Working against Buhari’s victory’

    Senator representing Zamfara Central in the National Assembly, Senator Kabiru Marafa has said that some fifth columnists are working within the APC to frustrate the electoral victory of the party in the forth coming general election by insisting on conducting indirect primaries using a flawed list of delegates that emerged from a flawed congresses that are currently being challenged in court.

    Marafa who spoke with newsmen at the national secretariat after obtaining his nomination form to contest the governorship ticket said the initial plans was to conduct the primary through indirect option so that people can challenge the victory of the President on the excuse that his nomination was done with a list of illegal delegates.

    He said the currently leadership of the party, working in concert with the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu saw into the future and decided to isolate from such plot, insisting on conducting the Presidential primary through direct primary.

    Read Also:Katsina, Kaduna, Rivers, Imo APC adopt indirect method to pick candidates

    The Senator who said he would conduct his own primary through direct option “because I am challenging the flawed congresses in court”, said it is quite obvious and clear to all that those who are pushing for indirect primary do not mean well for the party and does not want the party to win the forth coming general election.

    He said: “I said it after the congresses that I see the activities of fifth columnists in the APC that know they cannot defeat President Buhari in the general election. So, the common fear is the fear of second term of President Muhammadu Buhari. The issue then was if you cannot beat directly, how do you beat him indirectly? That was why the congresses were done, deliberately in such a way that they cannot withstand legal scrutiny.

    “In more than 21 states, there were parallel congresses and like I said that time, I don’t need to be a lawyer, or a retired judge to know that what held in most of the state was nothing but rubbish.

    “The APC said at that time, that anybody that is desirous to contest any party office should go to the bank and make so so payments and produce the teller and collect form to contest.

    “The party constitution provides for consensus. But in the absence of consensus, there should be election. Most of these states, people made payments into APC account, obtained their tellers but the governors feel they were demi-gods who must be worshipped and are the ones that can determine the attitude of every human being in Nigeria and we said look, you cannot do that.

    “There are some of us that are radically inclined, you can’t threaten us. That is exactly what happened. Now, glory be to God, under the present leadership of the APC, they saw that these people don’t mean well for this party and decided to insulate the president. That is why the APC said, Presidential election is by direct primaries.

    “This is an admission of failure of the congresses in the States. I am very happy that the APC has protected the President because their intentions (the fifth columnists), was that after general elections, people would go and challenge the election of the President and say the President was voted for during the primary by illegal delegates.

    “The National Chairman is a very wise person, highly experienced, and is working with the leader of the party, Chief Asiwaju, who can see through machinations and do the right thing. The rest is for us, States, we can sort ourselves out, we know ourselves, we know where we came from, we know all is political.

    On the issue of whether to use direct or indirect primaries, he said “I wrote the party through my lawyers because I am in court, challenging the illegality of these congresses and I have absolute confidence in my God, I have confidence in the judicial system of Nigeria. I believe they are going to do the right thing, because it cannot stand anywhere.

    “Having seen that we conducted parallel congresses, I don’t recognize what they have, they don’t recognize what I have. The party here is at liberty to do what they want to do, the very NWC recognised a faction, but thank God, we have the judiciary, we are there, I believe it may take some time, but the judiciary will do the right thing.

    “So, we opted for direct primaries and the reason is simple. We don’t want to be like them, we don’t want to be selfish, we want APC to win Zamfara, they don’t want APC to win Zamfara, they don’t want APC to win Nigeria. There are some of the technicalities on those things but it doesn’t matter.

    “I will do my direct primary with my with my own set of executive, they will do their indirect with their own set of executive. So, when the time comes for the court to rule, if they say Marafa is right, they will go home and retire. If the court says they are right, will I going home and retire. Thank God I have done business before I came to Senate.”

    Speaking on his ambition, the Senator said “I am not overly ambitious by nature. So, the driving force behind my ambition now this time around is the condition under which my people in Zamfara state live today. The issue of insecurity in Zamfara state is a matter of concern for everybody let alone somebody like me who a section of Zamfara State has done a great thing, that I am representing the state now.

    “The attitude of the government in Zamfara state dictates that all sons and daughters of Zamfara must put their hands on deck to ensure that we deal with the issue of insecurity decisively because one can say without fear of any contradiction that as we live today, there is no government in Zamfara state.

    “It is a common knowledge that the governor has variously been described as an absentee governor. It is a common knowledge to all that when the people of Zamfara State needed the government to tackle the insecurity, the governor absconded and he came out publicly to say that he had resigned his position as Chief Security Officer of Zamfara State. In a civilised democracy, he was supposed to resign or be forced to resign.

    “When a state governor comes out to say that he has resigned his position as Chief Security Officer and is sitting tight on the seat, spending security votes, spending the money allocated to that State, I don’t know what that is supposed to be called.

    “I don’t envy anybody aspiring to be the governor of Zamfara State. I believe that I have a responsibility to the people of Zamfara State and the zone I represent who honour to me. I also believe that no amount of sacrifice is too much for the people of Zamfara State.

    “In 2011, we contested against the Federal government, the state government and the local government. We contested under the platform of the ANPP which had no Federal government at that time, no state government at that time, no local government at that time.

    “I have faith in my God and my people stood solidly behind me because the way and manner the then PDP treated me. They said go to any party that will take you and I went to ANPP that didn’t have anything and by the special grace of God, my people brought about government of Zamfara state at that time because they gave the winning votes.

    I’m sure it was not our power, it was not anything. The people believed in us and I believe the government of Zamfara State of today has failed and I think I have a duty as somebody that contributed most in bringing about that government and I believe it is the time for me to pay back to my people.”

    Marafa who is one of the most vocal Senators in the current National Assembly said honest and sincerity of purpose are the two major things needed to address the current security challenges in the state, saying “the minister of internal affairs once had course to say that if you like, deploy all the military in Nigeria to Zamfara, they can achieve nothing because the government on ground is not interested in anything.

    “Like I said earlier, the governor has been variously an absentee governor. As I am talking right now, he is not in this country. Imagine, the Chief Security Officer has been absent in his country for more than 9 days, men and women are fleeing their hometowns.

    “In Zamfara, between 2011 and today, we have lost over 15,000 people. If you take a minimum of two wives per person, that means we have minimum of 30,000 widows. If you have a minimum of four children per person, we have 60,000 orphans. Who is feeding these children? Nobody is asking, nobody is interested, there is no IDPs in Zamfara, nobody is asking these questions, who is taking care of these widows?

    “Recently, when the Federal ministry of agriculture distributed grains, Zamfara state was missing. I was emotional at the floor of the Senate to make a case for Zamfara State. This is the duty we have. As Nigerians, we all have responsibilities.”

     

  • ICYMI: FG may increase petrol price to N180 per litre

    ICYMI: FG may increase petrol price to N180 per litre

     The Federal Government may increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol to a minimum price of N180 and above anytime soon.
    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who dropped the hint in Abuja on Thursday, said the current price of N145 per litre can no longer be sustained.
    In a presentation he made to a joint committee on Petroleum (Downstream) of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Minister said the landing cost for petrol stood at N171 per litre.
    According to him, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been bearing the cost of N26 per litre, representing the difference between N171 and the current official price of N145 per litre.
    Insisting that independent marketers would not be able to import the product at the current foreign exchange rate, saying the marketers were able to sell for N145 per litre when the exchange rate was N285 per Dollar. The Naira presently exchanges for N365 per Dollar.
    “We now have to go back and find the solution to this problem in order to ease supply gaps and ensure availability of the product at all times,” the Minister said.
    Kachikwu, however, proffered three alternative solutions to pump price increase: getting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce a modulated foreign exchange rate specifically for importers of the product; giving the marketers significant tax adjustments to enable them to absorb the high cost; and a plural pricing system whereby the NNPC would continue to sell at N145 through its numerous outlets while the marketers are allowed to fix their own price.
    The Minister identified causes of the last fuel scarcity to include diversion of products, logistic constraints, bottleneck associated with clearance, bad road network, insufficient product reserves, smuggling through land borders, supply gaps and enforcement challenges.
    He stated that the marketers stopped importing fuel since October 2017, as a result of their inability to access foreign exchange from the CBN, leaving only the NNPC to import the product, which has left a wide gap between demand and supply.
    Dr. Kachikwu lamented that the price of petrol rises with the rise in the price of crude oil in the international, stressing that in such instances, Nigeria spends more to import refined products. In effect, any rise in crude oil price increases the amount the country spends on the importation of fuel.
    To address the situation, the Minister canvassed the opening up of production lines, specifically the refineries, which he said, would address supply gaps that usually leads to incessant scarcity.
    “Rising prices in international market affecting domestic prices. What the country needs is to have the refineries working. It’s a shame that after 40 years, Nigeria cannot produce its domestic consumption.
    “It would take 18 months to address problems of scarcity, price stability and other issues relating to the supply of petroleum products. The pipelines should be concessioned to allow private participation.
    “There is huge infrastructure deficit in the system because the NNPC ought to be distributing products through their pipes but most of the pipes are damaged. The has necessitated the use of trucks to distribute the product across the country.
    “Most importantly, fixing the refineries should be the lasting solution. To discuss and address the issues, we have to seek approval from the President,” the Minister said.
    In his own submission at the hearing, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru said the last scarcity was caused by rumours of price increase in the media that led marketers into hoarding the product in anticipation of higher prices.
    Said he: “So there was a frenzy in the movement of products to the hinterland and diversion of products going to the hinterland in anticipation of the increase in price.
    “The NNPC, or the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) had no mandate to increase pump price.”
    The GMD said that the strike action embarked upon by PENGASAN in December was partly responsible for the scarcity, saying issues raised by the association for going on strike had nothing to do with the NNPC.
    According to him, the strike triggered panic buying by members of the public leading to scarcity of the product. He added that although PENGASAN called off the strike on December 18, the damage had already been done.
    Baru identified other factors responsible for the last scarcity to be the higher price at which petrol is sold in neighbouring African countries, citing Cameroun where he said petrol sells for N300-N400 per litre.
    Stating that the NNPC has enough product to bridge supply gaps, Baru insisted the corporation has sufficient stock to go round even without importation.
    The GMD alleged that about 4500 distribution trucks failed to return to depots to complete their distribution formalities during the scarcity period, meaning that the trucks were diverted.
    “There was no supply gap because we have Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) agreement with 10 consortia involved. Three of them rejected their cargoes, which were reallocated to others.”
    The GMD also hinted that the refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt were being reactivated and restreamed and that they have been producing three million litres daily.
    Baru also cited disagreements among the various private operators in the sector as part of the problems that threw up the scarcity, adding that the marketers were busy trading allegations of sharp practices.
    He said: “For instance, IPMAN said MOMAN and DAPPMA were charging over N133.28/litre but when we asked them to provide evidence of overcharging, they could not provide any. If proven, NNPC would have withdrawn the licenses of the errant bodies.”
    The Executive Secretary of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mordecai Baba Ladan told the committee that at the outset of scarcity, the DPR rolled out its machinery across the country, with the directive from the Minister that defaulters be dealt with.
    “Almost every marketer/filling station across the country are defaulters. And if all defaulting filing stations were to be shut down, there may not be anyone left.
    “They horde, sell above official price and also divert products. But we have stepped up our monitoring process now that the NNPC is the sole importer but the corporation cannot do it alone.
    Virtually all the independent marketers that attended the hearing alleged multiple charges by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), NIMASA and some state governments charging 3 kobo per litre wharf landing fee.
    The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore said the N800 billion owed marketers by the Federal Government has made it difficult for them to obtain credit from the banks to import the product.
    He appealed to the government to give key players major roles in the importation business, saying that shutting down errant filling stations won’t solve the scarcity problem but rather aggravate it.
    Olawore called for total deregulation of the sector to allow more participants from the private sector.
    Curiously, however, the chairman of the joint committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa who had vowed to grill the Minister and the GMD over secret subsidy payment by the government.
    Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly on Friday, Marafa had raised questions on who pays the difference of the N26 in the landing cost of N171 against the pump price of N145.
    The lawmaker said there were indications that a subsidy of N26 was being paid on every litre of petrol sold in the country and wondered who has been paying the subsidy.
    Marafa had said, “If there is subsidy payment, then who approved it and how much has been paid out as the subsidy so far. If you want to provide the subsidy, it should come through the National Assembly but we have not received any request for subsidy payment from the Executive arm.”
    Stating that about N10 trillion has been paid out as the subsidy, Marafa had lamented that stakeholders in the Petroleum industry, particularly the NNPC, have not been transparent in the running of the sector.
    He said these were some of the issues the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Baru and others would be made to explain to Nigerians at the January 4 hearing.
    “We are going back to the same circle where only a few persons benefit from subsidy payment at the expense of the Nigerian people,” Senator Marafa had said.
    Other members of the joint committee are Senators Tayo Alasoadura, Mao Ohuanbunwa, Sabi Abdullahi, Foster Ogola, Yahaya Abdullahi, Rose Oko, Philip Aduda among others.
  • Senate panel to grill Kachikwu, Baru over illegal subsidy payments

    Senate panel to grill Kachikwu, Baru over illegal subsidy payments

    The Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) will on Thursday grill stakeholders in the Petroleum sector on subsidy payment allegedly being paid to some individuals and corporate bodies through the back door.

    Specifically, the Senate panel has picked holes in claims by Petroleum marketers and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, that the landing cost for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is N171 while domestic pump price for the product is N145.

    Briefing journalists at the National Assembly on Friday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa, raised questions on who pays the difference of N26 if the landing cost of PMS is N171 and the pump price is N145.

    Marafa said there are indications that a subsidy of N26 is being paid on every litre of petrol sold in the country and wondered who has been paying the subsidy.

    He said: “If there is subsidy payment, then who approved it and how much has been paid out as subsidy so far. If you want to provide subsidy, it should come through the National Assembly but we have not receive any request for subsidy payment from the Executive arm.

    Stating that about N10 trillion has been paid out as subsidy, Marafa lamented that stakeholders in the Petroleum industry, particularly the NNPC, have not been transparent in the running of the sector.

    He said these are some of the issues the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Baru and others would be made to explain to Nigerians at the January 4 hearing.

    “We are going back to the same circle where only a few persons benefit from subsidy payment at the expense of the Nigerian people,” the senator said.

     

     

  • Fuel scarcity: Senate summons NNPC GMD

    Fuel scarcity: Senate summons NNPC GMD

    Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Tuesday invited the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru to throw light on the fear of fuel scarcity in the country.

    The committee also said that it has concluded arrangements to begin nationwide inspection of filling stations following fears of possible fuel scarcity in the country.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, stated this while briefing journalists shortly after an investigative hearing on the issues.

    The Zamfara Central lawmaker noted that the Senate would not watch some unpatriotic persons put Nigerians through any form of hardship, particularly given the yuletide period.

    He said that though the Senate had adjourned to begin budget defence, members of the committee would take time out to go on the oversight.

    He added that members of the committee will be divided into subcommittees to make it possible for them to visit all the states of the federation.

    Marafa said, “First thing first. The welfare of Nigerians especially in this season is that a lot of them will be travelling to reunite with their love ones is paramount.

    “We will take time out to embark on a serious oversight. We will break into sub-committees to be able to cover the entire country.

    “We have already mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to furnish us with the daily distribution.

    “This is to enable the sub-committees to be armed with detailed evidence of which filling station was given what quantity of fuel.

    “We will also get these details from the filling stations to ascertain when last they got supplies and the quantity sold.

    “We will not stop at that. We will also inspect tanks in filling stations to ensure that Nigerians are not taken advantage of.’’

    The committee has summoned the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to appear before it on Thursday, Dec. 7, having failed to appear before it on Tuesday.

    “Immediately the issue came up, we contacted NNPC to know the situation of things and we were told that the rumours were unfounded and that they have written rejoinders to that effect.

    “However, given the seriousness of the matter, we decided to invite the GMD to come brief us on the development and to enable Nigerians know the situation of things.

    “Unfortunately he wrote informing us of his inability to honour the invitation.

    “We hope he will be back by Thursday to tell Nigerians the true situation. Even if he cannot make it he can send people that are in good authority to speak on his behalf.

    “There is an Executive Director in charge of Downstream who oversees the downstream generally. There is also the Managing Director   of Petroleum and Product Marketing Company.

    “So, whatever it is by next tomorrow we will be able to tell Nigerians what the situation is like and what the Senate is going to do in the event of any eventuality.’’

    The Committee chairman warned filling stations in the habit of hoarding fuel to inflict untold pains on Nigerians to desist as it would not be business as usual.

    Marafa assured that the Senate would work with relevant agencies of government to severely punish any filling station found wanting.

    He said, “By yesterday night all relevant agencies were given a marching order by phone president to get into town to ensure that any filling station that hoards fuel will be appropriately dwelt with.

    `The NNPC has also been directed to look at their supply chain and inform the relevant agencies of their supplies to various stations while they work with that plan to see that anybody found hoarding the product will be sanctioned.

    “We will take appropriate measures also as a committee to ensure that any marketer found wanting would be dealt with,’’ he said.

    Marafa also assured Nigerians that the Senate would do everything possible to break the jinx of unnecessary fuel scarcity in the country during festivities.

    Nigerians, he said, should avoid panic buying and go about their daily activities.

  • Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Spirited efforts to pave the way for the future inclusion of Kano and Plateau States as part of beneficiaries of the newly created North East Development Commission (NEDC) failed on Wednesday in the Senate.

    This is coming as the upper chamber sought adequate financial provision for NEDC in 2018 budget

    A Bill seeking the establishment of a commission to spearhead the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of peoples and infrastructure affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States were assented to last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Although the Senate had included Kano and Plateau States as part of States to be covered by the commission when set up the inclusion of the two states was later expunged at the conference level between the Senate committee and that of House of Representatives.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) in an attempt for the inclusion of the two states during future amendment of the NEDC Act, sought the approval of the Senate to pave the way for inclusion of the two States in any future amendments of the Act.

    Barau’s prayer seconded by Senator Jeremiah Useni (Plateau South) read: ” Whenever in future the NEDC Act is amended, Kano and Plateau states should be included “

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu put the prayer to a voice vote, the senators overwhelmingly voted against it.

    Ekweremadu repeated the voice vote. The result was a resounding nay as the lawmakers stood their ground against any future inclusion of the two states as part of NEDC states.

    A motion on assent to the bill sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central) and 15 others some senators asked for a similar commission for the development of their zones.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) who commended President Buhari and the National Assembly for the NEDC Act urged the Senate to do likewise for the South East Development Commission Bill which according to him, has passed second reading.

    The manager noted that all the federal roads in the South East have collapsed aside disasters already inflicted in a substantial part of the area by gully erosion.

    He said that the situation needed urgent intervention from the centre in the mode of a development commission.

    He said: “We all supported the now signed NEDC Act when presented to us as a bill because of the need for it and in that light, I appealed to this Senate to give similar support to the South Development Commission Bill that is already before us and even passed second reading.

    “Am making this appeal because it’s been long when the said bill was passed for second reading without us hearing anything about it again. Please where ever the bill may be and whatever may be happening to it, let in the interest of fairness to all Nigerians bring it forward for the needed consideration and support.”

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) in his contribution said a bill for similar commission for the same purpose covering Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina may soon be tabled before the Senate for consideration

    He lamented that not less than 5,000 people have lost their lives to violence being inflicted on the states by groups similar to Boko Haram like cattle rustlers and others within the last two years aside property and farms worth billions of Naira destroyed.

    Marafa said, “The blood thirty groups killed people in these States on daily basis and even recently attacked a military formation in Zamfara killing four soldiers. I support this motion commending Mr President for assenting to the NEDC Act and congratulates my colleagues from the North East zone on the commission but the Senate should not be surprised if a similar bill seeking for such development commission to cover the mentioned States is brought for consideration.

    “Those of us from the affected States have been keeping quiet but the rate at which violent attacks from the groups are causing severe destruction in  the states, a bill for a commission like this   may be brought for consideration and support of all.”

    Meanwhile, the Senate has asked the Federal Government to make adequate financial provision in the 2018 budget for the take-off of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

     The upper chamber also affirmed its commitment to the implementation of the NEDC Act following the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari on 26th October 2017, to the NEDC Bill as passed by the National Assembly.

    The lawmakers noted that signing of the Bill into law marks the establishment and take-off of the North-East Development Commission.

    Commenting on a motion raised at the plenary in the Senate, Wednesday, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the signing into law of the NEDC Bill “marks a significant development in our country’s humanitarian and development response to the crisis in the North-East region.”

    Through the establishment of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), resources from the Federal Government and international donors will be coordinated and disbursed to meet the relief, recovery and developmental needs for a region in desperate need of stability.

    The President of the Senate decried the devastating impact of the conflict on the public infrastructure and on the lives of millions of Nigerians in the North-East. “According to the Borno State Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, in Borno State alone, over 950,000 houses, approximately 660 municipal buildings, and around 700 power distribution stations were destroyed during the insurgency.” Another “over 5,000 schools, 200 health facilities and 1,600 water supply sources were also razed.

    “With such dire statistics, it is vital for the NEDC to coordinate the planning of federal and state authorities to begin the work of transitioning from humanitarian response to recovery activities. These programmes must also include support to revive the livelihoods of the local populations.”

    The President of the Senate expressed confidence that standing up for the NEDC will go a long way towards augmenting civilian-military relations. “The military has greatly improved the security situation in the region and has created an enabling environment for stability and growing rehabilitation,” he said.

    “We must all keep in mind that the creation of funding of the NEDC alone will not resolve all of the issues in the North-East. However, it must build and represent a better level of governance than what existed before.”

    He thanked the Senators from the North-East states who sponsored the motion, saying: “They honourably represent the thousands of communities and millions of people whose properties have been destroyed and whose lives have been disrupted” as a result of the crisis. “We can never forget the terrible price these Nigerians have paid just to live in their homeland.”

    Affirming commitment to defend, protect and rehabilitate all territory and people within Nigeria’s national borders, the Senate also called on Donor Agencies’ to continue their support for the North-East through the newly established Commission.

  • Northern Senators disagree over North East commission

    The controversy trailing the proposed North East Development Commission continued on Tuesday as Senators from the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones, sharply disagreed over the removal of Kano and Plateau States as beneficiaries of commission.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, however prevailed on the lawmakers to pass the bill setting up the commission.

    Aggrieved North-West Senators threatened to sponsor an amendment bill to include other states.

    The upper chamber had on October 20 during the third reading of the bill included Kano and Plateau States as parts of the proposed commission.

    The main function of the commission is to rebuild Boko Haram ravaged North-East region.

    Apart from the North East region, other states affected by Boko Haram insurgency are Kano, Plateau, and Benue south and will be included as parts of the commission.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), who opposed the passage of the bill, noted that the removal of Kano and Plateau as parts of the commission was unacceptable.

    Marafa said, “This report should be rejected. There are other parts of the north that were affected by insurgency. We cannot adopt this report and pass it. This is wrong. There were terrorist attacks in Kano and Plateau and why should they remove the two states even when we have already resolved that here?

    “Another thing is that, out of 14 members of the committee, only five members signed the report and that means those who did not sign are not in support of what has been done by the committee. We are all from the north and we need to carry everybody along.”

    Senator Kabiru Gaya, (Kano South) also opposed passage of the bill.

  • Senate suspends amendment of CCB Act

    Senate suspends amendment of CCB Act

    The Senate after a lengthy closed session emerged to announce the suspension of the investigation of Senator Kabiru Marafa.

    Senator Marafa is being investigated by the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee for allegedly granting interviews aligning with former President Olusegun Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly are corrupt.

    The upper chamber also asked Senators in court over issues involving the running of the Senate to consider withdrawing such issues.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who announced resolutions at the closed session also said that they resolved to suspend the consideration of the bill which seeks the amendment of the Code of Conduct Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    Senator Ekweremadu also announced that they resolved to back Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his trial until he is proven guilty.

    He said their support for Saraki is in line with democratic practice all over the world including South Africa, Russia and Brazil.