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  • UPDATED: UK court orders stay of $9.6b award execution

    • · FG to deposit $200m within 60 days

    A United Kingdom Commercial Court has ordered a stay of execution of the $9.6billion damages secured against Nigeria by Process and Industrial Developments pending the determination of an appeal by the Federal Government.

    It however asked the government to make a security payment of $200million to the court within 60 days

    The court also granted Nigeria’s leave to file an appeal against the award.

    But the court upheld the award and refused to reverse the damages.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the battle to quash the award has shifted to the UK Court of Appeal.

    He, however, hinted of the possibility of challenging the legality of the $200million security deposit within the 60-day window.

    Read Also: $9.6b award: Fed Govt raises 13 points against P&ID, exposes trick clause in MoU

    P&ID secured the damages against Nigeria following a failed Gas Supply Project Agreement (GSPA) contract between it and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    A brief from London by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said: “Leave to appeal has been granted.  Stay of execution is also granted subject to payment of $200m security payment to court pending the determination of the appeal the leave for which has been granted by the commercial court.

    “The steps we will consider are to study the ruling and act in a way beneficial to the interest of the nation.

    “We will study the court rulings, exercise the right of appeal and consider the legal options available at our disposal as it relates to the payment of $200m in view of the 60 days window stipulated by the court.”

    Malami, who admitted that he was pleased with the judgment, said: “I see this as a positive resolution that constitutes an important step in the government‘s efforts to defend Itself in a fair and just process.

    “We look forward to challenging the UK Commercial Court’s recognition of the Tribunal’s decision in the UK Court of Appeals, uncovering P&lD’s outrageous approach for what it is: a sham based on fraudulent and criminal activity developed to profit from a developing country.”

  • Storm grows over closure of Nigeria’s land borders

    The shock waves over Nigeria’s land border closure which continues to sweep across neighbouring countries, reverberated at the Senate on Wednesday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari last month ordered the border closure.

    Some senators criticised the decision on the grounds that it has further put pressure on the economy and deprived many Nigerians of their livelihood.

    Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senators Abba Moro, Gabriel Suswan and Sani Musa, among others, opposed the border closure.

    Moro, a former minister of interior, noted that there are 87 official borders and 1,900 unofficial borders around the country. Suswan wondered why Nigeria signed trade agreements with other countries and thereafter closed its borders.

    Abaribe said the implication of borders closure was that the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, National Boundary Commission, and the various military and security agencies failed in their responsibilities.

    He urged the government to open discussions with neighbouring countries to control the movement of unauthorised persons in and out of the country.

    He said most people who are smuggling banned products, especially rice, are using commercial motorcycles to bring the products through illegal routes.

    Abaribe said the continued closure of the borders would further put serious pressure and suffering on the nation.

    But after a heated debate of the motion titled: “The impact of border closure on the Nigerian economy,” sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero and eight others, the Senate resolved to support President Buhari’s decision.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan noted that the motion was simply on the urgent need save the nation’s economy and save the people.

    Lawan said: “I think this motion is supposed to be straight forward. We save our economy and save our people. Smuggling causes a lot of damage.

    “Our people eat the wrong food items that are smuggled into the country. Of course, security is part of it. So, we pray that the resolutions will be well adhered to and, of course, implemented by the executive arm of government.”

    Adopting the prayers of the motion, which were put to a voice vote by Lawan, the Senate urged the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to increase diplomatic outreach to the government of the Republic of Benin, Cameroun, Niger and Chad to take urgent measures to stop their domains from being used as base to perpetuate the illegal importation of unwanted goods into Nigeria.

    The Senate also enjoined the Nigeria Customs Service and the security services to intensify their role of curbing smuggling across the borders and pledged the support  for their “onerous task of ridding Nigeria of smuggled goods and services.

    The Senate reassured “friendly countries around the world that the border closure should not be perceived as a punitive measure targeted at them, but a necessary action to save our economy from collapse and protect our people from terrorism and insecurity.”

    It directed its committees on Customs and Tariffs, Trade and Investment and Interior to assess the effectiveness of temporary closure of borders and recommend necessary sustainable solutions.

    The Senate further urged a holistic “review of the country’s border control mechanism and also the empowerment of relevant government agencies to properly delineate Nigerian borders so as to effectively man same.”

    The Red Chamber commended President Muhammadu Buhari “on the very patriotic decision to temporarily shut down all our land borders to rectify the deteriorating effect on our country of persistent smuggling of products that negatively affect the Nigerian economy and the wellbeing of our nation.

    In his lead debate, Senator Aliero (Kebbi Central District), said apart from the temporary closure of land borders, the security agencies have resolved to secure the country’s territorial integrity against trans-border crime and criminality.

    Read Also: Senate vows to pass PIB in 2020

    He urged the Senate to note that, as a result of the situation in the border towns, the Nigerian economy is experiencing a lot of positive derivatives that is impacting on the country.

    The senator said: “For instance, fuel smuggling has significantly reduced, thereby saving the country billions of scarce foreign exchange spent by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to import fuel into Nigeria.

    “The Group Managing Director of NNPC, during a press conference recently, stated that smugglers are no longer finding it easy to smuggle petroleum products through the land borders. Consequently, petroleum products have become readily available in every part of the country.

    “The smuggling of textile and vegetable oil imported from Malaysia through the land borders, which has negatively affected local production, is equally grounded to a halt.

    “The good news of the Federal Government’s action is that it has led to the revival of local production of vegetable oil, and increased employment generation.”

    He noted that other products like rice, processed frozen chicken, tomato puree and tomato paste, frozen fish and sugar that come into Nigeria through Benin Republic and Cameroonian borders have also stopped.

    “It has made it impossible for smugglers of small and light weapons to bring them into the country. This has reduced supply of arms and ammunitions to bandits and insurgents,” he said.

    Aliero also called on the Senate to be aware that the manufacturing sector has “suddenly breathed a sigh of relief from the ongoing economic boost resulting in factories coming back to produce items like tomato puree, milk, chicken, fish and even toothpicks directly.

    As a result of the border closure, it is clear that the economy is moving up positively.”

    He said that deteriorating security situation in the country has slowed down, “particularly because arms smuggling through the borders and foreign fighters coming to boost the insurgency of Boko Haram and their Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) collaborators has been jolted.”

    Senators Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Emmanuel Bwacha and others supported the border closure.

     

  • Police arraign Sowore’s ally Jalingo in court

    The police on Wednesday arraigned Agba Jalingo at the Federal High Court in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, after keeping him in detention for 34 days.

    Jalingo, an ally of RevolutionNow Convener Omoyele Sowore, is a journalist and publisher of an online news site, CrossRiverWatch.

    The journalist was reportedly picked up at his Lagos home on August 22 by security operatives from Cross River State Police Command and conveyed to Calabar, where he was detained for days without trial.

    The police charged him with alleged terrorism, treasonable felony and attempt to topple the Cross River State government.

    There was widespread condemnation of the charges when they were leaked to the public before the arraignment.

    Jalingo pleaded not guilty to the four charges preferred against him.

    Justice Simon Amobeda, who presided over the court, remanded the accused in prison when the application for his bail could not be considered.

    The judge held that the counter-affidavit the prosecution filed in response to the motion for bail by the defendant’s counsel was added to the file.

    Read Also: Court orders DSS to release Sowore to Falana

    He said there was not time to look at it.

    Justice Amobeda also said he perused the file on Tuesday night and did not see the counter-affidavit.

    The prosecution counsel, Denis Terhemba, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), claimed the counter-affidavit was filed on September 18, but Jalingo’s counsel Attah Ochinke said he was served before the court began sitting.

    But after a brief discussion with the Clerk of the court, who whispered a few words to him, Justice Amobeda ruled that Jalingo be remanded in Afokang Prisons in Calabar.

    He adjourned the matter till today.

    Responding to the ruling, Ochinke said: “We had an application for him to be granted bail, but because of the reaction, the counter-affidavit was only brought to the attention of the court today (yesterday). The court graciously granted us to come back tomorrow (today) for the argument on the application for bail. We hope that by tomorrow, the court will give a considered opinion on it and Agba will be admitted to bail.”

    The lawyer, who described the charges preferred against Jalingo as “sensational”, added: “We have looked at the proof of evidence and we know that they have no basis. We are ready to stand trial.”

  • Fed Govt to spend N2.45tr on debt servicing in 2020

    The Federal Government plans to devote N2.45trillion (about 24.5 per cent) of its N10.002trillion 2020 budget estimates on debt servicing, according to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) submitted to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    In the MTEF/FSP document, the Federal Government has also adjusted the 2020 budget figures from N9.789 trillion to N10.002 trillion. The MTEF and FSP document was accompanied by a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate which was read during plenary by President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan.

    The  Federal Government plans to borrow N1.7 trillion. Of this amount, N850 billion will be domestic borrowing while the balance of N850 billion will be foreign. The Federal Government has projected a total fiscal deficit of N2.154 trillion with additional funding coming from: privatisation proceeds of N126,522,715,909; multi-lateral/Bi-lateral project-tied loans N328,128,150,000.

    Sale of government property and Non-Oil asset sales are expected to be nil in 2020. The total budget for 2020 is put at N10.002,285,764.998. For 2021, N10,198,623,174,614 and in 2022, N10,507,395,157,584.

    In a move designed to erase friction between the monetary and fiscal authorities, the government has restricted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to its core function of monetary policy issues, while the Federal Ministry of Finance would, henceforth, be saddled with fiscal matters. The development is seen as a proactive measure to prevent a clash and bad blood between the fiscal and monetary authorities.

    In line with the new order, the Federal Government has outlined priority areas, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has to stick to in managing the economy while the Federal Ministry of Finance will concentrate on fiscal matters.

    Read Also: Fed Govt, states sign MoU on SDGs

    This is a clear departure from the practice over the years, when the CBN had increasingly played both monetary and fiscal roles in response to the exigency of the time designed to close a noticeable gap.

    To take back its control of fiscal matters, the Federal Government has outlined what the roles of the CBN will be in the near future. According to MTEF/FSP document, the priority areas, which the CBN must focus on, include:

    • Preserving domestic macroeconomic and financial stability
    • Fostering the development of a robust payments system infrastructure
    • Improving access to mortgage facilities and credit for small holder farmers, MSMEs.
    • Supporting the education sector and youth with entrepreneurship skills in the creative industry.
    • Boosting external reserves.
    • Accelerating economic growth and job creation.
    • Supporting economic diversification efforts through intervention programs in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
    • Promoting price and monetary stability, reducing inflation to single digit, and
    • Maintaining exchange rate stability.

    The letter reads: “It is with pleasure that I hereby submit the 2020=2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) to the Senate.

    ”Let me use this medium to express my gratitude for the much improved partnership between the legislative and executive arms of the Federal Government in our goal of making the budget process deliver better outcomes for the Nigerian people.

    “In particular, I note, with appreciation, the commitment and support the Distinguished Senators have continued to demonstrate.

    ”Pursuant to provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, the preparation towards submissions of the 2020 Budget to the National Assembly is progressing well.

    ”The MTEF/FSP was prepared, taking into account key developments  in the global and domestic environments.

    ”We have endeavoured to ensure that forecast revenues are realistic, but also reasonably challenging in the face of our significantly constrained fiscal space.

    ”Planned spending has been set at prudent and sustainable levels, consistent with government’s overall developmental objectives as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “Given our shared objectives to returning the budget to a predictable January- December fiscal year with effect from 2020, I hereby forward the 2020-2022 MTEF/FSP to the Distinguished Senate and trust that it would be expeditiously considered to facilitate the 2020 FGN Budget preparation.”

    The 2020 – 2022 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) outlines Federal Government’s fiscal policies/strategies and macroeconomic projections for 2020 – 2022 and provides the broad framework for the annual budget in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007.

    In 2020, the Federal Government plans to cut a whooping N1.16 trillion off capital expenditure from N2.92 trillion in 2019 to N1.877 trillion in the proposed 2020 budget.

    Details of the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) 2020-2022 showed that capital expenditure will suffer successive cuts for the three-year period, despite increases in total expenditure during the same period.

    Key assumptions of the 2020 Budget Framework: Oil Production 2.18 mbpd; Oil Price $55/b; Exchange Rate N305/$; Inflation Rate 10.81%; Nominal Consumption N122.75 trn; N142.96 trn Nominal GDP; GDP Growth Rate of 2.93% and Debt Service for 2020 N2.45trillion

    A lower benchmark oil price of $55/b (against $60/b for 2019) is assumed, considering the expected oil glut in 2020, as well as the need to cushion against unexpected price shock.

    There are strong indications of an oversupplied market in 2020. The three major forecasters – Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), International Energy Association (IEA) and the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) generally see non-OPEC production growing by around 2mbpd this year, and by even more next year.

    The Federal Government had last week warned Nigerians to brace up as the 2020 to 2022 fiscal years would be challenging.

    According to the MTEF/FSP document, the 2020 to 2022 fiscal years would be very challenging with respect to revenue generation and rapid growth in personnel costs.

    It attributed the growth in personnel cost to the creation of new ministries and appointment of additional ministers.

    The Federal Government is ready to take firm decisions to contain rising personnel cost, and that “any government staff not captured in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) by October 2019 should forget their salaries.”

    It further said that from 2020, the budgets of all MDAs and Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) would be contained and published in the nation’s annual budget.

     

  • Benue Police uncovers 9 corpses in secret graves

    The Police in Benue said they have uncovered hidden graves in Gbatse village with nine corpses of people suspected to have been killed by criminals in Ushongo Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Catherine Anene, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Thursday in Makurdi.

    Anene said one suspect has been arrested, adding that ” as soon as we have concluded interrogating him, we will give out the full information”.

    She said, for now

    NAN gathered that the suspect, a gang leader of a kidnapped and armed robbery syndicate, was arrested following tip-off by members of the community.

    The suspect and his gang were alleged to be killing their victims and burrying them after collecting their motorcycles in order to conceal their crime and avoid arrest.

    A resident of Ushongo town, who pleaded anonymity, said they had already uncovered over 10 bodies from different graves at different times.(NAN)

  • You cannot waive your immunity for adjudication, Lawyer tells Osinbajo

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a Constitutional Lawyer says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo cannot waive his constitutional immunity for adjudication of claims of libel and malicious falsehood against his person in the court

    Ajulo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja against the backdrop of an alleged falsehood peddled in a newspaper by Mr Timi Frank and Mr Katch Onanuju against Osinbajo.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that Osinbajo said he had instructed the commencement of a legal action against two individuals who put their names to the odious falsehood.

    Ajulo however said that the provisions of Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended frowns at it.

    According to him, the implication of the foregoing provision of the law is that the person holding the office does not have the right to waive the immunity.

    “Because any of such waivers is ineffective as the immunity is not that of the person holding the office but of that particular office he represents during the tenure of the office.

    Read Also: Yemi Osinbajo, ‘incestuous’ bullies and tumours

    The lawyer said that the position further found backing in the use of the word “shall” which was the operative word in the section which admitted no discretion whatsoever.

    He said that the immunity granted to Osinbaji prescribed an absolute prohibition on the courts from entertaining any proceedings and civil or criminal in respect of any claim or relief against him.

    According to him, no question of waiver of the relevant immunity by the incumbent of the office concerned or indeed by the courts may therefore arise.

    “The court has laid it down as a rule that the time a person spends in office will not be reckon with in the calculation of time for the purpose of statute of limitation,’’ he said.

    Ajulo said the immunity clause remained of great antiquity in Nigeria’s nascent constitutional law jurisprudence.

    He said that the vestige of the doctrine of immunity in favour of the occupier of offices had always been a consistent feature of each successive constitutions of Nigeria.

    Ajulo however said that the only option available to the vice president in his bid to waive his immunity was to resign, adding that “Nigeria is not yet tired of the services of Osinbajo’’.

    (NAN)

  • El-Rufai’s son’s public school enrolment deceptive, says Shehu Sani

    The lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the eight National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to the action of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who on Monday enrolled six-year-old son, Abubakar, in a public school.

    Sani said the governor’s intention was to deceive people outside the locality, who might not know the level of decay in public schools in the state.

    He said it was designed to score points ahead of 2023 political dispensation.

    Sani described the action as a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, designed for the media, preparatory to 2023.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Kaduna, he said the governor’s action “was simply a 2023 political stunt set up for the media and people who live outside Kaduna because those who reside here know what public primary schools look like.”

    Sani said: “It is not because I have political difference with him, no. But whoever lives in Kaduna State knew that what the governor did with his son by enrolling him in a public school was just a comedy.

    Read Also: As El-Rufai’s son goes to public school

    “Although, it was a badly written Kennywood or Nolywood script, as far as I am concerned that was a bad and poorly written script for the media preparatory to 2023 and nothing else.

    “He would have done better by upgrading schools in Kaduna. You cannot spend N195million in a particular school and then take your son and the media to that school and think you have done anything different.

    “Let me tell you, we had a governor in this state, Balarabe Musa, who never lived in the Government House when he was in power. He lived in his private house. I know that the children of former Governor Ahmed Makarfi attended this same Capital School.

    “I also know that other public officials’ children go to that school too. So if you are not being cunning, deceptive and comical, you would have allowed all your children to enrol in public schools. Public school doesn’t mean primary schools alone, there are public secondary schools and public universities.

    “He is not new in this kind of drama. It was the same person who was moving around Kaduna-Abuja road with cameras, saying he was chasing kidnappers. So, this is a new script, but as far as I am concerned, that is comedy since we are in an era in this state of using public utilities, public hospitals and now public schools.

    “So it is also in order that public officials, both elected and appointed, should patronise public toilets in Kaduna. That is the highest form of patriotism and selfless service. You should use what the masses are using, which is public toilets.”

  • Osinbajo threatens accusers with litigation

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is ready to surrender his constitutional immunity so that allegations against him can be freely investigated.

    He said waiving the immunity will permit “the most robust adjudication of baseless allegations, insinuation and falsehoods” against his person and office.

    Under the 1999 Constitution, the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies are insulated from criminal investigation.

    But, in a tweet, Prof. Osinbajo said he would give up the privilege until the claims against him are resolved.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also yesterday clarified that it was not probing the vice president and the National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP).

    N-SIP said contrary to rumours, Prof. Osinbajo was not involved in financial transactions or disbursement of funds under its programmes.

    Taking an exception to what he described as defamatory remarks about him, the vice president said he had instituted a suit against those behind the “misleading assertions”.

    He said: “In the past few days, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods has been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals.

    ”The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique had mostly been making the social media rounds anonymously.

    ”I have today instructed the commencement of legal action against two individuals, one Timi Frank and another Katch Ononuju, who have put their names to these odious falsehoods.

    “I will waive my constitutional immunity to enable the most robust adjudication of these claims of libel and malicious falsehood.”

    Disclaiming the purported probe, EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, said he never  made any reference to N-SIP as a programme or accused those who superintend it of corruption.

    The agency cautioned against reports, which could project a false indictment and incite the vice president against the person of its chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    Uwujaren said Magu appreciated how N-SIP has lifted many Nigerians out of poverty.

    He said: “The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a report captioned, “There is corruption in N-SIP programme- Magu”, which appeared in a newspaper on Wednesday September 25,  2019 and a few other newspapers, in which the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu was quoted as saying that there is corruption in the National Social Investment Programme and the Anchor Borrower’s Programme.

    “The papers claim that Magu, who spoke through the Spokesperson of the agency, Wilson Uwujaren, at the 15th Anti- Corruption Situation Room organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda in Kaduna on Tuesday September 24, 2019, asked the civil society organisations “to investigate the N-SIP”.

    “The commission wishes to disclaim the reports as false and a mischievous twist of the goodwill message presented by Mr. Uwujaren, on corruption and peace building in conflict communities.

    “In the presentation, the EFCC spokesperson observed that the agency had received complaints in some zones regarding the social investment programmes, citing an example in Gombe where the Commission investigated a case in the Anchor Borrower’s Scheme in which sand was bagged and passed off as fertilizer.

    “He, therefore, warned that for the crises in these conflict zones not to degenerate, civil society organisations should play more active roles in monitoring the programmes to ensure that their benefits get to the people for which they are intended.

    “At no time in the presentation did Mr Uwujaren mention the N-SIP as a programme nor did he accuse those who superintend it of corruption. The specific case mentioned, the Anchor Borrower’s scheme, is not part of the N-SIP being supervised by the office of the Vice President.

    “This clarification becomes necessary to correct the wrong impression of a verdict of corruption on N-SIP by the EFCC which the purveyors of the false reports obviously want to create.

    It added: “All over the world, one of the core competences of civil society organizations is project monitoring. Calling on Nigerian civil societies to monitor social intervention programmes, was not a call to ”investigation” as no one had been indicted.  Investigation itself is not the job of civil society organisations.

    Read Also: Nigeria bound to succeed, says Osinbajo

    “The EFCC chairman recognizes the unprecedented impact of of the N-SIP intervention in not only lifting the poor out of poverty but also its potential for reconciling feuding communities across the country.

    “It is, therefore, shocking to read the unfounded insinuation of the reporters, aimed only at fanning the embers of disaffection that only exist in their imagination.

    “The sensational attempt to project a false indictment, and incite the Vice President against the person of the Chairman of the EFCC, is therefore condemnable.”

    According to the NSIO, the office of Vice President was not involved in financial transactions or the disbursement of funds for N-SIPs.

    A statement by the NSIO Communications Manager, Justice Bibiye, said that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning is in charge of all matters regarding financing, budgeting, procurement and disbursement of funds allocated and released for the N-SIPs.

    According to the statement, the N-SIPs, which involves four broad programmes (N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes), are uniquely targeted towards different subgroups of Nigerians for empowerment.

    Bibiye said: “The Steering Committee for the NSIO, chaired by the Vice President, supervises the implementation of the SIPs, The Steering Committee comprises nine Ministers, including that of Finance; Education; Health; Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Youth and Sports, Women Affairs; Labour and Productivity; Information; with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as the Secretariat. The Steering Committee meets regularly for updates, to review, advise, guide and approve the processes of the N-SIPs,” it said.

    “Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) beneficiaries are identified by members of the communities themselves, through a tripartite method, which includes technology, for objectively and scale. At commencement, the World Bank community-based targeting process was adopted to assure of community ownership of the process.

    “The Bank of Industry (BOI) manages the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) which provides collateral and interest-free financial support to businesses at the bottom of the financial pyramid, through its MarketMoni, FarmerMoni and TraderMoni schemes. The payment process is also transparent”.

    Bibiye explained that Osinbajo only went round markets in the states where the TraderMoni scheme was launched to engage with beneficiaries, adding that he was not involved in the disbursement of loans, whether in cash or through cash transfers.

    The Coalition of Northern Nigerian Youth urged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any attempt that can lead to maltreatment or embarrassment of the vice-president.

    Speaking with reporters in Kano, its Chairman, Mallam Yusuf Abdulmalik, said any attempt to whittle down Osinbajo’s influence will label Buhari, and by extension, the North, as ungrateful people, thereby creating a bad image for the region.

    He said Osinbajo, who has displayed maximum loyalty to the President, is the face of the Church and strength of the Yoruba as well as the South in Buhari administration.

     

  • PDP will struggle to get 25 per cent of Kogi votes, says APC DG Adeyemi

    THE Director General of the Governorship Campaign Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress  (APC) in Kogi State, Senator Smart Adeyemi, on Wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will struggle to get 25 per cent of total votes in the November poll.

    He said PDP has no candidate yet since its governorship primaries is still being disputed in court.

    The APC chieftain also said more than 15,000 defectors from the opposition and other parties will be received by the ruling party in the next few days.

    Adeyemi, who gave insights into the preparation for the poll, said even if PDP’s candidate, Musa Wada, survives the court hurdles, he cannot defeat the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello.

    He said: “The PDP cannot defeat APC in the forthcoming governorship poll in Kogi State. The main opposition in the state will strive to secure 25 per cent  of the votes.

    “In any case, PDP has no candidate because about 35 leaders of the party are in court to seek the nullification of the results of their party’s governorship primaries. Even ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris, who should be the backbone of the party’s campaign, has rejected any offer from the party.

    “The PDP is in disarray in Kogi State; it is too weak to win the governorship poll. But we are interested in PDP resolving its dispute to enable Governor Bello win in a free and fair poll.

    “APC wants a candidate to compete with at the poll. We are fully on the ground. It will be difficult for PDP to defeat Governor Bello.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: INEC trains 210 security personnel

    Adeyemi  noted that although more than 15,000 defectors from the PDP and other parties will defect to APC in the next few days, the party will not make any commitment to anybody.

    “As the election is fast approaching, APC is receiving more defectors on daily basis. We are not going to make personal commitment to any defector. We will not promise anyone slots of being a commissioner or Special Adviser or other personal gains.

    “We will accept people to join our party on the basis of vision, needs and aspirations of the masses. We want those who are committed to the ideals of  the APC,” he said.

    Also, the APC has appointed three deputy directors general for its campaign committee.

    They are:  Haruna Isa (Kogi West District); Abubakar S. Adagu Danguruma (Kogi Central District) and Idoko Musa Haruna (Kogi East District).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Kogi governorship poll for November 16.

    Although 22 candidates are jostling for the governorship seat, the battle appears to be between APC candidate and his opponent in the PDP.

  • Obiano proposes 137.1 billion for 2020

    Anambra Governor Willie Obiano has proposed N137.1 billion budget for 2020 fiscal year

    This is the first time a Governor of Anambra State since the berth of Democracy had presented a budget for any fiscal year in September.

    Presenting the budget to the Anambra House of Assembly on Thursday, he projected N58.69 billion representing 43 percent for recurrent expenditure while 78.3 billion, representing 57 percent, was for capital expenditure.

    The budget, with the theme :Accelerating Infrastructural Development and Youth Entrepreneurship , had road works and Infrastructure as the highest with a vote of N22.2 billion.

    It was followed by education with a vote of N 8.3 billion for the year while Health came third with N6.98 billion.

    Obiano, said his vision remained to “make Anambra state the first choice investment destination and Hub for industrialization and Commercial Activities ”

    Also, his mission, is “to make Anambra state a socially stable, business friendly environment that would attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth creating opportunities”

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    According to him: “In the past fiscal year, the operating environment has presented the stiffest challenges in recent national memory, herdsmen -farmers clashes, widespread kidnappings and general insecurity, heavy flooding of coastal Communities and increasing boldness of ethnic militia groups and agitators have created the fear of the unknown and adversely affected investors confidence in the National economy”

    “Over the same period, we have made great efforts to grow the economy of Anambra state, curb insecurity and preserve our reputation as Nigeria’s safest state”

    “Consequently, we have grown our GDP from 3.8 trillion naira in 2016 to 4.0 trillion in 2017 at the rate of 5.73 percent and it is expected to hit 4.2 trillion mark in 2018 GDP report, based on the preliminary figures from state Bureau of statistics. We have retained our position as the fourth largest economy in Nigeria, our target is to leapfrog to number 1” Obiano said

    The Speaker Uche Okafor commended the Governor for being the first to present his 2020 budget in the country.

    He promised that the cordial relationship existing between the legislature and the Executive must continue to achieve the aims of Ndi Anambra.

    He assured the Governor and the people of the state that the 2020 budget would hit the ground running by January 1st, 2020