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  • Court gives Saraki, Dogara, 52 others 5 days to respond to suit challenging defection

    The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday gave Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and 52 other lawmakers until April 17 to file their responses to a suit asking them to vacate their seats.

    An advocacy group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, (LEDAP) dragged the lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they were no longer members of the National Assembly having defected to other political parties before the expiration of their tenure.

    The defendants comprise 17 Senators, 37 members of the House of Representatives, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the clerks to both houses.

    When the matter was called, Mr Efut Okoi announced appearance for the senate and the senators while Safiya Mohammed announced appearance for the members.

    Both counsel urged the court to entertain their applications noting that a litigant’s choice of counsel was his fundamental right.

    Mr Jubrin Okutepa, (SAN) who announced appearance for LEDAP said that the defendants were attempting to confuse the court by changing counsel.

    He noted that at Thursday’s proceedings, Mr Mahmud Magaji, SAN, announced appearance for all the defendants and wondered why that had changed.

    He urged the court to ask Magaji to move the applications he had earlier filed and strike out any other applications before the court with regards to the suit.

    Magaji, in one of his applications, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter on the grounds that the plaintiff had no “locus standi” to file the suit.

    The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang however held that it was in the interest of justice to hear all counsel in the matter.

    He ruled that the plaintiff, (LEDAP) was at liberty to reply to all the processes filed by the defendants on or before April 15 and ordered the defendants to file their reply by April 17.

    Read Also: Court withholds judgment in suit against defection of Saraki, Dogara, 52 others

    He said that any party that failed to abide by the court‘s directive would have itself to blame.

    The judge adjourned the matter until April 18.

    The court on Thursday, suspended delivering judgment the suit, even though the judge said it was ready, in order to give the defendants an opportunity to file their processes so as to give all parties in the suit fair hearing.

    LEDAP, in their suit filed on Sept. 14, 2018, prayed the court for an interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

    This was with regards as to whether any member of the National Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the assembly.

    The group was also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers were no longer entitled to receive any remuneration due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection be refunded to the Federal Government.

    LEDAP in the suit, also prayed the presiding members of the National Assembly to declare vacant, the seats of the defectors.

  • Ijaw community decries military presence

    Residents of Gelegele community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo have decried the presence of soldiers from the 19 Battalion Koko and 4 Brigade, Benin in their community.

    Spokesman of the community, Chief Macaulay Ayiwei, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, said the soldiers were strategically positioned around the Ijaw community.

    Chief Ayiwei noted that the high presence of the military may not be unconnected with the land dispute between Benin community of Ughoton and Gelegele.

    Ayiwei said: “Yes, the court is billed to sit on this matter on Monday and Tuesday but what are they (Army) doing here taking over the whole community?

    “If there is no sinister motive about this, why will a whole detachment of military from Delta and Edo States, armed with gunboats, take over a whole community as early as 6am on Friday?

    Read Also: Ijaw group petitions Akeredolu, alleges marginalisation

    “While we have them around the community, about five truck load of them are stationed at Ekenwan baracks as we speak.

    “The whole Gelegele community is in utter confusion as to what is happening. We are also not unaware that their presence has something to do with the dispute between the Ijaw community and the Benin.

    “While we appeal to our people to remain calm, we are also calling on the President to call the army, especially the 4 Brigade Commandant, who is a Benin man, to order and not to plunge the state into crisis.”

    But the Army urged the people to go about their normal business

    Spokesman of the 4 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Captain Mohammed Maidawa, described the presence of the army as a normal routine exercise.

  • Youth leader to varsity students: key into Fed Govt’s job schemes

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader in the Southeast, Hon Olisaemeka Onyeka has urged students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) to key into the empowerment programmes of the federal government.

    He said if they do that, it would take their minds away from joining cult activities and other vices in the society.

    Onyeka was speaking in Awka, the Anambra State capital, when the students from the Law faculty of the institution presented him with an award of excellence.

    He listed some of the empowerment programmes of the APC government going on right now for them to choose from, instead of making themselves willing tools of the devil

    The president of the Law students association of NAU, Mark Anthony Ezeoha, said the recognition was for his immense contributions not only to the institution, but to the society.

    While presenting the plaque to the APC Southeast leader, the students used the forum to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory during the last presidential election in the country.

    The students urged Buhari to increase allocation to tertiary institutions in the country, while also improving on the welfare of lecturers.

    In his response, the APC youth leader, commended them for remembering hard work, while urging them to key into the youth Empowerment programmes created by the Buhari administration.

    Onyeka, equally told them that fighting crime was one of the cardinal points of the Buhari’s administration, adding that they should take off their minds from crime and criminal activities.

    He told them to support the present government of APC, noting that the previous administrations wasted the country’s resources on frivolities.

  • Awolowo, WNTV and the barbarians

    SIR: It has been said of Obafemi Awolowo, Western Nigeria’s first premier, that like Roman Empire’s first emperor, Augustus Caesar, he was ‘’an efficient organizer’’ and a ‘’great builder’’ who struck several feats that have remained unmatched in Nigeria’s record books several decades after his rule. In his severally referenced book, An Outline History of the World, H. A. Davies notes that Augustus appeared to have fulfilled his boast that ‘’he had found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.’’ He transformed Rome from a small republic not only into an empire, but also into a civilization that has influenced world history over the ages.

    With Awolowo, there are also parallels that are engraved on marble. As premier from 1954 to 1959, when Nigeria was yet a dependent colonial outpost of Britain, he ran a government that has since been rated the golden era of the southwest, the outer region of the area stretching eastwards to the banks of the Niger also  being beneficiaries. Awolowo introduced free education, the first in our clime. He then embarked upon a voyage of social reforms that heavily subsidized health to announce to the world the arrival of a socialist, even if of the centrist hue.

    October 31, 1959, Ibadan made history to become home to Western Nigeria Television, WNTV, the first TV station in Africa. Uncommon accomplishment, because it was only in the mid 1930s that even the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, began transmitting experimental entertainment programmes to about 100 viewers in the London area.

    Now, what many of us fail to realize is that Awo’s goal on WNTV wasn’t to catch the attention of history or to get a box to entertain the people. Well, history could so reckon his move. But his aim, from my reading of the legislative debate that preceded the law birthing the station, was to drive the premier’s vision for mass education. His dream to offer education to all went beyond the classroom.

    This dream took WNTV to the precincts of industrious integrity befitting a first in Africa, as it employed the best in the field. When Anike Agbaje-Williams became Nigeria’s first female announcer at WNTV, she was hitting a road to be followed by equally illustrious professionals: Teju Oyeleye, Ayo Ogunlade, Vincent Maduka, Ayo Vaughan, Tunji Shenjobi, HO Robin, Jide Akinbiyi, Yemi Farounbi, Kunle Adeleke, Fabio Lanipekun, Modupe Akin Olotu, Tunji Marquis, Akin Akinwunmi etc.

    As these distinguished professionals receded, the management began a seamless recruitment scheme that seemed to bring in quite young replicas of these masters: Toye Akiyode, Soji Alakuro, Bode Oyewole, Bukola Famuyiwa, Segun Soroye, Segun Aderiye, Kayode Adedire, Gbadebo Olaitan, Niyi Yusuf, Banji Ojewale etc. These were enterprising young men and women the station was willing to invest in through exposure to further professional courses in and outside the country. They didn’t disappoint the management. They went on to scale the heights right within WNTV or after their stay there, taking after the greats they met at the station in the early 70s.

    WNTV developed into a school, a monument of sort, that turned out those who today have swayed the broadcast industry in directions challenging one to greatness and ideological imperatives of service to the society. That’s what broadcasting is all about. From Ibadan, a seed sown at Agodi has grown beyond its territory to cover the entire expanse of Nigeria.

    But alas, rather than preserve this monument, the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo took over WNTV in 1976, halting a trajectory pushing that institution into the league of Third World monuments. As the barbarians rubbished all the totems of civilization they met when they conquered Rome in 476 AD, the military government’s takeover of WNTV, with its radio wing WNBS, also moved the industry into its dark ages. The world after the overthrow of Rome, was plunged into a long period of anarchy characterized by ignorance, turmoil and contempt for the arts, literature and science. The blueprint the station had, to be perpetual partners in development with society as conceived by Awolowo and the patriarchs and matriarchs he put together, was drowned by the bureaucracy of the forfeiture.

    History must be put back on its two legs. WNTV should be returned to its original owners. The second step is to reconstruct the premises to reflect its old façade and position it into a tourist complex. WNTV is a monument, the way it is with the Statue of Liberty in New York and Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota, both in the United States. Millions troop there paying good money to stand in the presence of history.

    WNTV in the ancient city of Ibadan is our own history. Let our people come to WNTV as we rehabilitate her and play back the best of TV we shall be dredging from the past. As the new-look station runs contemporary programmes, it shall also give visitors a peep into its glorious past.

    The current crusade by Farounbi and others who worked at WNTV to mark the station’s 60th anniversary in October should soar above a one-off affair. They should go the whole hog of restoring WNTV to its old status as broached by Awolowo and his government.

     

    • Banji Ojewale, Ota, Ogun State.

  • Banditry: Katsina donates 12 vehicles to Police

    As part of measures to tackle armed bandits and other violent criminal elements currently terrorizing Katsina state, the state government on Wednesday donated 12 vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu who said the present security challenges could be won, directed the men of the Police Special Forces and other Tactical Units currently deployed in Katsina State to deal decisively with those terrorizing innocent citizens in the State.

    The Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in statement in Abuja said the IGP gave the charge on Wednesday while addressing the combined Teams of Police Operatives at the Katsina Police Command Headquarters in continuation of his operational tour of the North Central and North Western States.

    The IGP while admitting the obvious security challenges facing the nation at different fronts, insisted that the security challenges are not insurmountable.

    Read Also: IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers

    He also assured that everything humanly and operationally possible is being done towards bringing a permanent end to incidences of armed banditry and other crimes in the country.

    The IGP had earlier paid a courtesy call on Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, where he sought his support in the renewed fight against criminal elements.

    Responding, Masari who was represented by his Deputy, Alh. Mannir Yakubu, pledged full support of the State Government and the Citizens to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and other security initiatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Operation also got a boost in its operational asset as the State Government made a donation of 12 Toyota Hilux vans to the Police in the aid of the mission.

    Mba also stated that the IGP also visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, where he sought his cooperation and other traditional authorities in the fight against criminals.

  • Kwara workers to receive salaries this week— Governor’s aide

    Dr Muideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the governor of Kwara state, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, says workers in the employment of the state government will be paid their salaries this week.

    Akorede told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin that the delay in the payment of salaries was largely due to challenges with the government’s normal revenue sources.

    Read Also: Ahmed: we’re bequeathing legacy of peace, service in Kwara

    He, however, said the issues would be resolved while workers would start receiving their salaries this week.

    Akorede also insisted that salaries would be paid in full, contrary to speculations that plans were underway to pay workers in percentages and batches.

    He expressed gratitude to the workers for their patience and appealed to them to bear with the state government while it was working hard to tackle the issue.

    NAN reports that workers in the state had yet to receive their March salaries.

  • FG blames monarchs for Northwest violence

    Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan Ali on Tuesday warned those collaborating with bandits to desist of face the full wrath of the law.

    Relying on security reports, the minister said some highly placed persons, including traditional rulers, had been collaborating with troublemakers.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by his Public Relations Officer (PRO), Col. Tukur Gusau, the minister said the Federal Government and the Nigerian Armed Forces had taken proactive steps to curtail the problems in Zamfara by launching various operations, but the activities of the collaborators have been frustrating the efforts.

    He lamented that those profiting from the situation have been providing information to the bandits and other criminal elements within the Northwest zone to escape the onslaught of the various military operations and strategies.

    Gen. Dan Ali maintained that the government would not shy away from its responsibility of making the country safe and secure, warning that those compromising military operations would be made to pay for their crimes legally.

    The minister said: “The Ministry of Defence is very concerned about the security challenges in the Northwest, particularly, in states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna.  Due to the recent prevailing security situation in the states, the Defence ministry, through the Nigerian Army, is now conducting Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA IV simultaneously in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states.

    “The purpose of the exercise is to effectively flush out the activities of criminal elements in the Northest.  The Nigerian Air Force has also intensified air strikes against the bandits in Zamfara. So far, the combined efforts have yielded lot of successes, leading to the killing of many bandits, rescue of many innocent persons, including the renowned Islamic scholar Sheik Ahmad Suleiman.

    Read Also: Delta monarchs hail Okowa’s reelection

    “The government is also addressing the remote and immediate causes that gave room to high spate of armed banditry in the states. Recently, the government acted on the advice of the Ministry of Defence to suspend all mining activities in Zamfara State and environs following intelligence report that suggest close collaboration between the activities of the bandits and illegal miners.

    “It is instructive to mention here that insurgency and terrorism are global phenomena that cannot be addressed through military actions only. The whole society has to rise in unison to support the government’s efforts to address the problem.

    “However, in spite of the concerted efforts of the Armed Forces and other security, some unpatriotic persons, including highly placed traditional rulers in the areas, were identified as helping the bandits with intelligence to perpetuate their nefarious actions or to compromise military operations.

    “In the last three years, the Ministry of Defence had carried out several reforms geared towards the reorganisation and expansion of the Armed Forces in order to meet up with contemporary security challenges across the nation and the sub region.

    “In line with this, the Nigerian Army established 8 Division with headquarters in Sokoto to cover Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states while the Headquarters of 1 Brigade was relocated from Sokoto to Gusau.

    “Presently, the tactical headquarters of 8 Division has since located to Gusau. Similarly, the Nigerian Air Force also established Quick Response Force in Gusau and landing areas in Gusau and Birnin Magaji, respectively.

    “The Ministry of Defence, therefore, wish to warn any person or group of persons who choose to connive or sympathises with the bandits to perpetuate crime against the law abiding citizens to henceforth retract their steps or face the full wrath of the law.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria have been directed to deal decisively with anybody identified helping the bandits under whatever guise, no matter how highly placed the person or persons may be.

    “The Ministry of Defence wants to, once again, use this medium to assure Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with other security agencies, will continue to protect lives and properties of law abiding citizens of this country. The general public is also requested to cooperate with the Armed Forces to discharge of its constitutional responsibilities effectively.”

  • Buhari condemns Kaduna violence

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the violence in Kaduna State, which claimed 20 lives in  Adara community.

    The  deaths occurred in the latest incident between the Adara and Fulani people in the state, who have a long history of mistrust between them.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also condemned the resurgence of cultist killings in Rivers State.

    He ordered for increased community and law enforcement action against its escalation.

    Buhari appealed for peace and decried the on-going culture of “an eye for an eye” that has fuelled a number of attacks and reprisal attacks, with the two communities  suffering casualties in Kajuru and Kachia local governments in Kaduna State.

    The President urged indigenes of Kaduna and other Nigerians to refrain from comments in the traditional and social media, especially by people who have little knowledge of the history of the longstanding conflict.

    Such comments, he noted, can fuel further conflicts.

    Buhari made a special appeal to traditional and religious leaders to be cautious with their comments on the conflict, insisting that whatever words they share publicly should not be inflammatory but be inspired by an interest in peace.

    Read Also: I’m going slowly to survive – Buhari

    Condoled with those who lost loved ones in the attacks, the President said: “The entire nation grieves with you. The Nigerian army and police are already in the area to ensure that peace and security are restored.”

    In response to reports of the resurgence of cultism leading to loss of lives in Rivers State, President Buhari called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to end the menace before it further escalates.

    On Sunday, no fewer than eight persons were killed when a group of bandits suspected to be cultists invaded the Rumuodohia, Rumuolumeni community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Rival gangs were believed to be at war. The victims are said to belong to a rival group in the area.

    The killings took place between 3am and 5am. The police came in after the hoodlums had left. The Chairman, Rumuolumeni Community Development Committee, Sunny Odum, described the development as strange.

    On Monday, more cult-related deaths were recorded in three communities in the state. Twelve people were killed. Seven of them were killed in the Kaani Babbe community in the Khana Local Government Area. Those killed in Kaani Babbe were identified as Mgbibari Nyornyaa, Sorlesi Youngman, Dornu Aanu, Bariagra Menebe, Lekia Eleaee, Boy Mgbibari and Sira Mgbibari.

    Five persons, including a 64-year-old man, died in Rumuohia and Rumuche communities in the Emohua Local Government Area. Bright Oteh, Foundation Onuekwa and Junior Kayi were said to be among the five victims of the cult attack in Emohua. They were hit by stray bullets. It was learnt that three persons, who were hit by stray bullets, were rushed to a nearby hospital.

    The President urged quick and effective intervention by community and civic leaders in support of law enforcement efforts, in all such areas bedeviled by cultist attacks and inter-communal violence.

  • Senate okays N1.64tr borrowing plan

    The Senate on Tuesday adopted the N1.64 trillion proposed by the Executive for new borrowing to fund this year’s budget deficit.

    The upper chamber also approved the proposed N500 billion special social intervention funds.

    The adoptions were parts of the 2019-2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) passed Tuesday by the upper chamber.

    President Muhammadu Buhari sent the MTEF/FSP to the National Assembly on November 6, last year, for consideration and approval.

    The passage of the MTEF/FSP came as the Senate is set to receive the report of the 2019 budget from its Appropriation Committee.

    The Senate adopted all the critical projections in the MTEF/FSP as proposed by the Executive.

    The MTEF/FSP, an annual rolling three year-expenditure plan, sets out the medium-term expenditure priorities and provides the basis for the preparation of the annual national budget.

    The Senate Committee on Finance which considered the MTEF/FSP presented its recommendations for adoption by the Senate in plenary.

    Apart from the adoption of N1.64 trillion for new borrowing to fund the budget deficit, the Senate advised agencies to explore ways of generating additional revenues for the government to bring down the fiscal deficit.

    It said that the Federal Government should harness the full optimal potential of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in terms of revenue generation to minimise the level of new borrowing.

    Read Also: Senate Passes Police Trust Fund Bill

    The committee also said that the Federal Government should consider reducing waivers and exemptions. Besides, it should ensure that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) personnel were at all oil terminals for accountability.

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), it said, should consider increasing tax on luxury goods and services.

    On the N500 billion special social intervention funds, the Senate asked for the cooperation of committees in the National Assembly and other MDAs in ensuring that the funds are judiciously utilised to provide tangible impact on Nigerians.

    The Senate retained the oil output of 2.3 million barrels per day, oil price benchmark of $60 per barrel, exchange rate of N305/$1, GDP growth rate of 3.0 per cent and inflation growth rate of 9.98 per cent.

    Other Executive proposals for 2019 also adopted by the Senate include: proposed expenditure of N8.83 trillion, FGN retained revenue N7.92 trillion, fiscal deficit N1.86 trillion, new borrowings N1.65 trillion, statutory transfers N492.4 billion, debt service N2.14 trillion, Sinking Fund N120 billion, total recurrent (non-debt) N4.72trillion, personnel costs (MDAs) N2.29 trillion, capital expenditure N2.86 trillion, Special Intervention N500 billion.

    The committee said that crude oil production output stood at 2.0 million barrels as of December 2018.

    According to the committee, the 2.3 million barrels daily target is achievable “due to the continuous efforts of all stakeholders in checkmating the issues of oil facilities vandalism and other vices associated with such regard”.

    The committee, which recommended an exchange rate of N305/$1, asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “to continue adopting strategies that will aid the strengthening of the naira and bridging the gap between the official and parallel market rate of the foreign exchange.”

    On the 2019 Budget, Senate President Bukola Saraki, gave the Appropriations Committee till tomorrow to submit the 2019 budget report.

    The Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Sunny Ogbuoji, told the Senate that only 24 of 61 sub-committees had submitted their reports.

    Saraki insisted that the budget report must be presented tomorrow ahead of the April 16 approval of the money bill.

    The Senate President warned that the Appropriations Committee would be forced to use Executive submissions if the sub-committees fail to submit their reports today.

    Saraki said: “It is unfortunate that only 24 committees have submitted their reports. Last week, we all took a decision here that we were not going to waiver on our position.

    “Our position is very clear: that all committees should submit (their budget reports). And those that don’t submit, the Appropriations Committee should use the Executive submission.

    “That position is still where we are. And I want to appeal to all our committees that you really have just till tomorrow (Wednesday) to make sure that your reports get to the Appropriations Committee because Thursday, you must lay this report.

    “Vice Chairman of Appropriations Committee, if you don’t get report from our committees by tomorrow (Wednesday), then you just use the submission of the Executive. But come Thursday, you must lay that report.”

    President Buhari presented the N8.83 trillion budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2018.

  • ‘Our Girls; IDPs; CBN; Power

    Our Chibok Girls were kidnapped on April 15, 2014, five years ago on Monday, and over 100 are still unaccounted for. Leah Sharibu, kidnapped on Feb 19, 2018, one plus years ago, in Dapchi was the only one held back after a mass release of over 100, excluding five who died.

    SECURITY: Both events are extreme terrorist murderous outings taken in proportional perspective to thousands killed and millions displaced with no names or places. Last week another 50 dead; murderers masquerading as Zamfara miners; stabbing of new doctor and kidnap of Lagos fire chief and suicide bombs females perhaps forced to kill JTF heroes compound the problems.

    Are we breeding humans for slaughter? The Presidency laments as ‘Operation Puff Adder’ kicks in. Why advertise? Perhaps to inform marauders to relocate before action is taken? The cycle of attack- mayhem-murder-kidnap- show of force visit- bold political statement of never again- withdrawal and another attack is familiar. And now the armed forces, usually reactionary, want more of our budget.

    Are checks and balances in place to ensure that multi-billion naira financial inflows, meant for armed forces service delivery across all defense services do not follow the pre-2015 path of being expropriated and buried in soak-aways, by armed forces top brass and the alleged purchase of jets and the stupendous wealth of many military children? Fear always wins where security is concerned. The armed forces will get their money but how much good will it do the suffering citizen and armed forces units in the fighting field or the Abuja-Kaduna Road requiring more accurate and faster intelligence, instant communication and quicker response time?

    Are there now checks and balances to prevent this profligacy during this government?  Across the spectrum, the ugly head of massive corruption has stained the process of delivery of democracy and distorted the outcomes in all segments from business, electricity, health, education, roads and even the care of IDPs.

    CBN: Stop discriminating against Nigerians!! The minor cut, not slash, in Monetary Policy Rate to 13.5% did not end the world. Cut more. Yes, give single digit loans to music, films and media, cocoa, palm oil etc. But those businesses will still die if the citizens are not empowered to buy their products. CBN still forces citizens to borrow at 30% including 14% MPR. Cut MPR and make single digit loans for every Nigerian citizen. Banks and oil companies are still reporting crazy profits.

    POWER: The nation remains severely underpowered in spite of powerful statements claiming we now have 8,000Mw but can only use 6,000Mws or so and that the problem is evacuation of created power. Well, fix it. That is your job. Who creates a product but does not take it to market, but still boasts about one’s failure?? Only government!!!

    Talk to the South Africans and especially the Japanese who got 10,000Mw of emergency power from emergency power companies [Google them] within three months during a shutdown of Fukushima power plant. South Africa has 51,309Mw for its 58 million population. UN recommends 1,000Mw for every one million citizens. The ministry should wake us up when it has achieved 150,000Mw for its approx. 150 million people. We are not 198 million-a fake fictional figure of politically manipulated grandiose delusions! First the beneficiaries of the power failures must be educated on the benefits of 24/7 grid power. Then get someone or the Chinese who put in 30,000Mw annually in China to extend and revamp our grid to 120,000Mw in four years.

    IDPs: This government wants $8b in loans and donations to rehabilitate/rebuild Nigeria’s IDPs. We must not only pray but we must work to ensure that that money, if realized, actually reaches the IDPs and does not disappear into the pockets of out of state, non IDP workers, contractors, building materials, accountants, bank accounts of  administrators – the very things that diluted the effects of other interventions in the past. Over-administration and excessive bureaucracy increase costs with no added benefit to improved results. This last one is particularly painful because this government should have prevented anything adverse happening to the IDPs. Have they not suffered and are they not suffering enough? Prevention of scandals -sexual and moral, fraud and funding are paramount responsibilities of the government.

    ELECTIONS:  Those thinking that the Buhari government has succeeded in the anti-corruption drive meet the harsh reality that the recent elections demonstrated huge expenditures of money [from where?] by all the major three or four parties- perhaps corruption fighting back but such expenditure was always cross-party for survival. This political financial flood including expenses for crazy mega-billboards, thugs-by-the-dozen, a billion posters and stomach-infrastructure gifts for millions of electorate effectively buying votes by foul or fair means but not for development suggests that political election corruption is alive and will be illegally recovered as ‘first line deductions with massive interest’ from the federal and state budgets. Losers will go the sympathetic states and get fake contracts to replenish their investment in the 2019 election- all crippling the ever-losing Nigerian citizen.

    Meanwhile the real winners of any election, corrupt or not, are the legal ‘luminaries’ lined up on either side of the political divide seeking changes in the results for various reasons and the victorious media houses drunk with the inflows of sacks of political cash for campaigns strategies and material like mega posters, flyers, etc. They have been laughing to the bank for many years-every four years, like clockwork.