FG spends N222b on fuel subsidy from January to July 2015

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia, has said that the Federal Government spent N222.1billion on fuel subsidy from January to July this year, The Nation reports.

Mrs Daniel-Nwaobia, told the House of Representatives  panel investigating the implementation of the capital component of this year’s budget, that a supplementary budget would be sent to the National Assembly to cover what has been spent so far.

She defended the extra-budgetary spending, saying it was spent under Emergency Intervention (Fuel Subsidy Crisis) to end the eight-month long fuel scarcity which started in December last year  and ended in July this year.

She also said Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) was depleted to about $4billion by the end of last year and $2.08billion as at June this year due to the drop in oil revenue and payment of petroleum subsidies.

She said the drop in oil prices also affected  Federal Account Allocation Committee’s (FAAC’s) distribution.

OPEC forecasts rise in oil price to $80 in 2020

THE Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, said that oil price will rise gradually to $80 a barrel in 2020 as supply growth outside the group weakens, a slower recovery than several member nations have said they need.

The average selling price of OPEC’s crude is expected to rise by about $5 annually to 2020 from $55 this year.

“It’s much harder for OPEC to lift prices” after the revolution of U.S. shale oil, said Bjarne Schieldrop, Oslo-based chief commodities analyst, which forecasts Brent crude at $73 by the end of the decade. “Eighty dollars by 2020 is pretty close to consensus view.”

The price of crude has tumbled more than 50 percent in the past year as OPEC followed Saudi Arabia’s strategy of defending its share of the global market against competitors like U.S. shale oil. While OPEC and the International Energy Agency, IEA, expect growth in global supply to slow as low prices bite, Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated predicts that a persistent glut will keep crude low for the next 15 years.

Production from nations outside OPEC is expected to be at 58.2 million barrels a day in 2017, 1 million lower than previously forecast by OPEC. “The impact low prices is most apparent on tight oil, which is more price reactive than other liquids sources. Supply reductions in U.S. and Canada from 2014 to 2016 are clearly revealed,” Goldman Sachs said. While demand from China, Russia and OPEC members will grow more slowly than forecast a year ago, developing nations with still account for the bulk of the expansion.

High onshore tax:   The predictions come as the Chairperson of Famfa Oil Limited, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, said that Nigeria’s 85 percent tax on onshore crude oil production is dissuading local investors from taking over assets from international oil companies, IOCs.

Famfa had sought to acquire stakes in onshore oil fields, but was deterred by high tax regime. Onshore producers pay 30 percent corporate tax and 55 percent tax on petroleum profit, while offshore producers who bought stakes in the 1990s are exempted from corporate tax and pay 50 percent profit tax.

“The 85 percent that those who are onshore have to pay is going to be too high for indigenous companies to be able to stand on their own two feet,” said Alakija, who has a fortune of $1.8 billion, according to an estimate by Forbes magazine.

Tinubu bars pro-Saraki senator from APC caucus meetings

he National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has barred the lawmaker representing Ondo-Central senatorial district, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, from attending South-West caucus meetings, our correspondent has learnt.

It was learnt that the senator was ostracised for allegedly working against the interest of the party’s South-West leadership and for taking sides with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Alasoadura was also among the senators that followed Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity on Tuesday.

A reliable source within the party told our correspondent that Alasoadura had been sidelined from all APC South-West meetings for his disloyalty to Tinubu.

The source said, “Alasoadura was a Commissioner for Finance under the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu for over five years. He later defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Action Congress of Nigeria. Tinubu accepted him and appointed him the Director-General of the Rotimi Akeredolu governorship campaign organisation in 2013.

“Alasoadura was not even supposed to have emerged the senatorial candidate of the APC in the last election but the party favoured him. However, when he got to the Senate, he returned to his PDP family and started working against the party. He also supported Saraki against the interest of the party.

“When Tinubu convened a South-West meeting in Abuja during the height of the National Assembly crisis, Alasoadura came. However, Tinubu walked him out of the meeting and told his orderly to ensure that the senator was escorted off the premises.

“Tinubu also warned senators present to ensure that sensitive issues were not discussed in the presence of Alasoadura as he was an enemy within.”

Two days after the faceoff with Tinubu, however, the Ondo State senator issued a statement wherein he pledged his loyalty to the party and denied supporting Saraki.

Alasoadura said he was only working in the best interest of his constituents.

An APC leader, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, said that the fact that Alasoadura accompanied Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity on Tuesday, confirmed their suspicions.

He said the party would ensure that he remained irrelevant in the APC.

Buhari orders IG to rescue Falae

Following a briefing on the abduction of elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Falae was abducted from his farm on Monday by suspected Fulani herdsmen who are demanding N100m ransom for his release.

Buhari according to a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina condemned the “callous and reprehensible kidnapping of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and elder statesman.”

The President assured Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government would do all within its powers to ensure his swift release.

Buhari, who had requested constant updates from the police and other security agencies on efforts to find and rescue Falae, also denounced the recurring incidents of criminal abductions across the country.

He assured all Nigerians that ongoing efforts to significantly enhance the security of lives and property in the country would continue, adding that under his leadership, Nigerians, irrespective of their status, “will no longer be left at the mercy of criminal elements.”

Nigeria: Grounded Aircraft Pays N11 Million Fine

Lagos — Gama Aviation, United (UK) Limited, operator of the Bombardier 700-100 aircraft, one of the two aircraft grounded by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) early this week, has paid the sum of N7 million as fine imposed on it for operating in Nigeria without clearance.

The money was paid to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), it was learnt, while another $20,000 (about N4.5 million) was paid to the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The other grounded aircraft, Embraer 135 BJ is yet to pay and as such remains grounded.

Acting General Manager, Public Affairs of NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, who briefed newsmen yesterday confirmed the development.

It would be recalled that the NCAA in a statement said the operator of G-RBEN aircraft were found operating in Nigeria's airspace with falsified flight clearance information and conducting illegal domestic flight operations in Nigeria.

Other infractions he had said included conducting illegal commercial revenue flight operations contrary to conditions contained in Nig. Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) Part 10 and security violations.

Based on the offences, the NCAA spokesman said fine was imposed on them and should be paid within seven days.

He said the two aircraft operated ten chartered flights locally before they were discovered.

He said: "As we speak, the GAMA Aviation has paid the fine because following the conclusion of our investigation, a letter of sanction was written to them which I'll read out. In the light of the above, that's the violation, you are hereby sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of section 1.3.3A and section B of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2009 and of course they are required to pay within seven days from the date of the receipt of this letter being the total civil penalty for the above violations. This was what was imposed on them and it covers the aircraft and crew."

Adurogboye said other steps were being taken to punish aircraft operators for their infraction.

During My Playing Days, I Used Juju – Taribo West Reveals

Former Super Eagles Defender, Taribo West has just made a shocking confession recently. The ex-footballer has just revealed that during his football career days he used juju to play on the field.

The ex-footballer turned pastor said he had a manager from Senegal and his manager would take him to several native doctors in Senegal where they will cut his tongue, hands and legs and then cook it.

He said,

“I spend most of my time at home meditating. All I want to do is to keep spreading the gospel. In my own little way, I have been into evangelisation visiting places like Ughelli and within the Orile community, Ajegunle and so on. God has been kind during these visits to preach the gospel to people who are yet to receive Christ. We believe He will take us globally very soon.

Taribo revealed that his move to Europe found him entangled in another life of charms and superstitious beliefs.

With a new-found life of affluence, the defender paid huge sums of money for him to be supplied charms to win games, protect him from career-threatening injuries and also to be foretold the results of matches before they were played.

He used to burn candles and hold a magical stone from Israel before games.

Buhari condemns Chief Falae’s abduction, directs police to ensure his safe rescue

Following a briefing on the abduction of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of the former SGF who was abducted from his farm on Monday.

In a statement signed by Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, President Buhari condemned the callous and reprehensible kidnapping of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and elder statesman.

The President equally assured Chief Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government would do all within its powers to ensure his swift release.

The statement further disclosed that President Buhari, has requested constant updates from the police and security agencies on efforts to find and rescue Chief Falae. He also denounced the recurring incidents of criminal abductions across the country.

He assured all Nigerians that ongoing efforts to significantly enhance the security of lives and property in the country will continue apace and that under his leadership, Nigerians, irrespective of their status, will no longer be left at the mercy of criminal elements.

World Bank to Support Lagos Farmers to Boost Agricultural Productivity

The World Bank is set to assist farmers in Lagos State to increase agricultural productivity and enhance market access.


The State Project Coordinator, Commercial Agriculture Development Project, CADP, Kehinde Ogunyinka who spoke on Monday, September 21, in Lagos before the award of certificates to participants at its women and youth empowerment training, said 55 persons will be sponsored by theWorld Bank to start their businesses in areas such as rice cultivation, poultry farming and others.

Ogunyinka said 55 persons, which include women and youths were chosen from 125 persons who interested in participating in the training programme.

According to him, the bank will support the farmers in three value chains to create agro-business ventures that will be better managed as a step toward boosting livelihoods.

The World Bank through CADP has helped to lay the groundwork for vitalisation, offering technical expertise, bringing international best practices and engaging stakeholders on building a shared vision to renew agro business development, he said.

Utomi, Falana, Oyinlola, Odimegwu others make President Buhari's list.

The Department of State Service, (DSS) recently completed a screening process for some of the ministerial nominees to make up the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Among the list of those who were said to have been screened by the DSS are, former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, Femi Falana (SAN), a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former finance commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Edun and Former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, Mr. Festus Odimegwu.

Others in the list are, Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazu (rtd.); an former chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru.
A source very close to the presidency who pleaded anonymity that the aforementioned nominees had appeared before the DSS for their screening at the weekend.

It was gathered that they had been instructed not to leak details of their screening to the media.

‘‘What was done was not physical screening but mainly background checking,” one of the already-screened nominees told one of our correspondents late on Sunday.

Multiple sources within the All Progressives Congress told our correspondent on Sunday that Falana was favoured by a camp in the party to emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

A top APC chieftain said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had convinced Buhari to appoint Falana.

Tinubu and Osinbajo were said to have told Buhari that appointing Falana, who he jailed over 30 years ago, would boost his image as a ‘converted democrat.’

It was, however, learnt that Malami was being favoured by the President.

A source within the party added power blocs within Falana’s home state, Ekiti, might not be disposed to the choice of the human rights lawyer because he is not a member of the APC.

The APC has three former governors in Ekiti State: Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi.

An APC top official said, “Falana has already been screened by the DSS. However, Buhari is closer to Malami who is from the North.”

Sources within the party also told our correspondent that Utomi, a renowned economist and former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, had been screened by the DSS and the police.

Utomi, who is now a member of the APC, was one of biggest critics of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

It was learnt that Edun, who served under former Tinubu as Lagos State governor, had also been screened by security agencies.

It was learnt that Edun was being considered to emerge as the Minister of Finance while Utomi for Minister of Economic Planning.

Sources within the party told our correspondent that Tinubu convinced Buhari to appoint Edun based on his antecedents.

He said the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, Edun and Utomi might be given the task of reviving the economy.

A source said, “Oil prices are dwindling and Nigeria will need to diversify but in the short term, increasing the nation’s Internally Generated Revenue is the key. Tinubu explained to Buhari that when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld Lagos State allocations, Edun and Fowler helped to ensure that the state’s IGR increased exponentially.’’

It was learnt that Odimegwu, was nominated by the President.

Odimegwu fell out with former President Goodluck Jonathan when he openly criticised the Federal Government. He had resigned and then travelled to the United States.

Two weeks to the March 28 presidential election, however, Odimegwu openly supported Buhari and called him ‘the best man for the job.’

Odimegwu is also close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Oyinlola, a one-time secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, defected to the APC shortly before the Osun State governorship election and he is a close associate of Obasanjo.

Repeated calls made to the telephones of Odimegwu and Utomi were not responded to.

One of the nominees who picked his call, simply said, “I don’t know if screening has been done or completed.”

Another nominee, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Although I have met the director-general of the DSS twice, I don’t think such visits could be regarded as screening.

“I understand the service has done its research on ministerial nominees. For now, nobody is sure of anything until the names are announced.”

In his reaction, Oyinlola said he had not been screened as a ministerial nominee.

He said, ‘‘To the best of my knowledge, I have not been called. May be they called others, not me.”

The former governor, however, said he was one of the nine persons, whose names were submitted to Governor Rauf Aregbesola – as a ministerial nominee – having been picked by his senatorial district.

It was learnt that the report of the DSS screening would be sent to the President this week.

A top DSS operative, who confided in NE said the agency had conducted extensive checks on the nominees, including their financial transactions and their records with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police.-Nigerianeye

- See more at: http://nigerianreviews.com/buharis-ministerial-list-utomi-falana-oyinlola-odimegwu-others-undergo-dss-screening/#sthash.O6HLubPr.dpuf

Corruption is cause of poverty in Nigeria – Buhari

Apart from barefaced theft of public funds, corruption has also been cited as the main reason for poor policy choices, the prevalence of poverty in the midst of plenty and waste of resources in the country, according to President Muhammadu Buhari in his Goodwill message to the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria earlier on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

In a message delivered on his behalf by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the President declared that “corruption in our country is so endemic that it constitutes a parallel system. It is the primary reason for poor policy choices, waste and of course bare- faced theft of public resources.”

While further clarifying his administration’s commitment to the war against corruption, the President said “our fight against corruption is not just a moral battle for virtue and righteousness in our land, it is a fight for the soul and substance of our nation.”

Giving an insight into the way corruption destroys the nation, the President told the Second Plenary of the Conference that “it is the main reason why a potentially prosperous country struggles to feed itself and provide jobs for millions.”

In the same way, the President posited that “the hundreds of thousands of deaths in the infant, maternal mortality statistics, the hundreds of thousands of annual deaths from preventable diseases are traceable to the greed and corruption of a few. This is why we must see it as an existential threat, if we don’t kill it, it will kill us.”

On security, the President disclosed that “we are on course to militarily rout Boko Haram, and make them incapable of taking and holding territory, ” adding that suicide bombings in some parts of the North East are the desperate acts of the terrorists to create a sense that they are still in play.

He assured that “with vigilance and good local intelligence, we will make those cowardly acts practically impossible.”

Briefing the conference on the economy, the President disclosed that “we must change the paradigm of thinking about our economy and the ultimate good of the majority. While we create an enabling environment for free enterprise, we must reason, plan and budget with the understanding that almost 2/3 of our people are extremely poor, and must be helped first to survive and then to fully participate in the economy of the nation.”

Consequently, he continued, “we must create a safety nets for the very poor and vulnerable while ensuring that social spending is also a direct investment in the economy. We must invest substantially in relevant education, teacher training , and vocational and entrepreneurial training.”

The President who had attended the First Plenary of this year’s Conference in February as the presidential candidate of the APC, expressed a sense of honour at the invitation, and delivered to the Conference, “warm felicitations on behalf of the Government and people of our great nation Nigeria.”

He praised the Catholic Bishops noting that he has “always been impressed with the social consciousness exhibited by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference.”

The President praised the Bishops’ Conference that their “bold critical interventions at various crucial moments in our national journey have helped to caution, admonish and ultimately stabilize the polity. This is as it should be. This nation belongs to us all, leaders in every sector owe it to this generation to contribute in building a good society.”

He concluded by asking for daily prayers while promising that “for us elected into government we have since set about the daunting tasks before us, with vigour and commitment in the full assurance that by the grace of God our country will become safe, secure, prosperous and virtuous.”

In his speech, the President of the Conference, Igantius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Jos, commended the Buhari administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption and praised the formation of a Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption.

According to him, “the president is dead right that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.” He also prayed that God will give the citizens of Nigeria a new heart.

Nigerian pilgrim among 107 killed in Mecca crane tragedy

A Nigerian pilgrim from Kaduna State, Adamu Kargi, is among the 107 people killed in the crane collapse at holy site of Ka’aba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.

The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Task Force on Hajj, Saidu Adamu, said on Sunday in Mecca that the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, has confirmed the death of the Nigerian pilgrim.

“NAHCON has confirmed the death of one Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu Kargi from Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State among the 107 killed as a result of the collapse of a crane due to strong wind storm in the Holy Mosque in Mecca,” Mr. Adamu said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Gombe State Amirul-Hajj, Abdullahi Mai-Kano, said four female pilgrims from Gombe State were missing after the incident.

Mr. Mai-Kano said that the four pilgrims were from Akko, Dukku and Nafada local governments areas of the state.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia had earlier on Saturday confirmed that 107 people died in the tragedy.

The spokesperson for the Presidency on the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Ahmad Al-Mansouri, said at “least 107 people were dead and another 238 were injured.”

Tinubu can never be as great as Awolowo – Tunde Bakare

Fiery preacher and pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, has said former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, does not belong in the same class with the former premier of Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, and does not deserve to take the place of the late sage as the leader of the Yoruba race.

He said although both leaders made unique contributions in bringing the race together, Mr. Awolowo belonged to a special breed created by God and was only in the class of world leaders like Mahatma Gandhi of India.

Mr. Bakare stated this in an interview published in the second edition of The Interview magazine, a new monthly publication led by a former Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspaper, Azubike Ishiekwene.

Mr. Tinubu, a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, holds the title of Asiwaju, one of the numerous titles also held by the late premier of Western region, who passed away in 1987.

Asiwaju in the Yoruba language means “the frontline leader.”

Mr. Awolowo founded the Egbe Omo Oduduwa in the 40’s to promote the culture and unity of the Yoruba. In 1951, he founded the Action Group, a political party that ran for elections in the First Republic.

He later founded the Unity Party of Nigeria, which swept the governorship polls in all the states in the old Western State as well as the old Bendel State in the Second Republic.

Apart from ruling Lagos State for eight years, Mr. Tinubu, a Third Republic senator, was believed to be the brain behind the merger of some opposition party into the APC in 2013.

The parties were the Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The party currently controls the federal government and 22 states, including five of the six states in Yoruba land.

But Mr. Bakare said Mr. Tinubu was yet to cross the kind of rivers rivers Mr. Awolowo crossed.

“What major river did he (Tinubu) cross?” Mr. Bakare fired back when asked by his interviewer if the former governor was not qualified to take the place of the sage who is widely described as the last authentic leader of the Yoruba.

Reminded that Mr. Tinubu was the major engineer of the merger that helped to bring the Yoruba together, the clergyman said, “And you think it was only Bola Tinubu who made that possible. I see. Which one came first, the chicken or the egg?”

He stated further, “Well, the answer is in the Bible. You are a preacher yourself. God first created the bird of the air and not eggs. The birds laid the eggs. If you see the picture of patriots and Nigerian leaders here, they are all a collapse of his.

“The people who are attempting to wear his (Awolowo) glasses do not have his vision, they attempt to wear his cap but do not have his brain, they attempt to wear his shoes but do not walk his ways. Show me the empire that Awolowo built with public funds. To a Yoruba man, there is no concept greater than Omoluabi.

“If you get to my father’s grave in a hut he built in 1922, which is now a museum, there is an inscription ‘bibire koshefowora” which means you cannot buy a good pedigree or familial background.

“I am not trying to take the shine off Tinubu’s efforts; he had laboured but he is not in the same class with Awolowo. Regardless of how many rivers he crosses, he is still Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Awolowo is Awolowo.

“I have seen some paintings and pictures out there of Mahatma Gandhi, Awolowo and others and I just laugh and wonder why people can’t be themselves. When God needed a Mahatma Gandhi, he created one. So he did when he wanted an Awolowo. He created a T.D Jakes when he needed one.

“A young man once went to T.D. Jakes and said, ‘Pray for me that God will bless me and make me like you.’ T.D.Jakes asked him, “Are you sure.” “He said ‘Yes’ and T.D. Jakes said, “Let us pray. May you be homeless, go through hardship,’ and the young man jumped up and said ‘no, no, no, no, “and T.D. Jakes said, “That is what produces results.”

Mr. Bakare, who was the vice presidential candidate of the CPC in the 2011 election, said books Mr. Awolowo authored were still relevant today.

“You need to see books he (Awolowo) wrote and how they are still relevant today,” he said. “Years after he left the scene, he is still the numero uno Yoruba leader. Eagles don’t flock. You see one at a time.”

Nigerian Army Chief spent night in former Boko Haram enclave

The border town of Gamboru, a town in North-Eastern Nigeria, has witnessed several attacks by Boko Haram insurgents. Apart from attacking the village and sending residents fleeing to nearby communities including Fotokol in Cameroon, Boko Haram also occupied Gamboru and for about a year lorded over the area.

However on Wednesday, one week after Nigerian soldiers recaptured the town after fierce battles with the insurgents, the Nigerian Army chief, Tukur Buratai, vowed the town would never fall to insurgents again. In an unprecedented move, the army chief not only visited Gamboru to fraternise with soldiers, he slept in the quiet town.

In a display of strength, Mr. Buratai, a Lieutenant General, also ordered the hoisting of Nigeria’s flag that was a taboo during the Boko Haram conquest.

For anyone that saw what the terrorists made of the once bubbling and economically vibrant Gamboru, having a army chief pass a night there would be one of the craziest things a top soldier would consider doing.

The Trip

The trip from Maiduguri to Gamboru is just 145km. But it took about 12 hours to get there, as the Explosive Ordnance Department of the Nigerian Army had to sniff every inch of the route for land mines. Many land mines buried by Boko Haram were unearthed and defused by the bomb experts. But one went off, injured some soldiers and destroyed one of the Armoured Personnel Carriers.

The Chief of Army Staff alongside other top army rednecks arrived Gamboru at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday. PREMIUM TIMES and other journalists were also part of the trip.

Mr. Buratai’s first  task after addressing cheering soldiers was to hoist Nigeria’s flag in the liberated territory. Boko Haram had forced the residents of Gamboru to flee their homes for many months now. Most of them are still taking refuge in Fotokol, about 500 meters away. Nigeria and Cameroon are separated in that area by a river, which has a concrete bridge across it.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that when the Chief of Army Staff and his troops arrived near the bridge to hoist the Nigerian Flag, the quiet area almost turned chaotic as over 3000 Nigerians taking refuge in Fotokol went wild in excitement,  hailing the soldiers from the bank of the river on the Cameroonian side. The mood caused tears from some observers especially as the poor villagers, who had spent months looking at their devastated hometown from across the river, continued to chant ‘Sai Baba Buhari, Sai soldier (meaning ‘all hail President Buhari, all hail Nigeria soldiers).

After a brief ceremony and statement from the army chief , everyone at the venue sang the Nigerian National Anthem in high pitch, as a soldier who was the last bearer of the flag after it went through the hierarchy of command from the army chief, hoisted the Green-White-Green flag. The villagers, chanting from across the river bank, provided a rhythmic melody to the national anthem. Even the generals shed tears as, once again, Nigeria’s territorial control and integrity was restored in the Gamboru area.

General Buratai’s words echoed from the loudspeaker over the desolated  town of Gamboru and into Fotokol as he delivered a brief speech at the flag hoisting ceremony.

“We are here today to observe this significant and symbolic ceremony of hoisting the Nigerian national flag,” he said.”If you could remember, this town of Gamboru was occupied by the Boko Haram terrorists for almost one year ago. The Chadian troops came to help recapture it but could not hold the town, so they later withdrew and the Boko Haram returned again.

“In line with my vision which is to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army that is abreast of its constitutional roles, and one key underlying phrase in my mission is the constitutional role,  today, under my command, we are here to discharge and redeem our territorial integrity as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Today we are hoisting our flag and we will never allow any bunch of criminals in the name of Boko Haram to come and take an inch of our territory again.”

Mr. Buratai thanked soldiers who partook in the operations to recapture the town.

“I will like to commend officers and soldiers of the Operation Lafiya Dole, especially the officers and men of 7 Division and indeed the 7 Division Strike Group, who have proved to be resilient, dedicated and highly patriotic. Nigerians are proud of you, Nigerian Army is proud of you and indeed Mr. President is very proud of you.

“We have to maintain the momentum and from now on you must maintain an aggressive posture to constant patrols along this routes and all other routes into this area.”

More Work Needed

The Army Chief lamented the ability of the insurgents to still lay mines in territory in control of soldiers.

“The incident of mines being laid along the routes must be stopped! Troops are not here to come and sleep at night while Boko Haram bury mines on our roads.

“We still have a lot to do. The war is not over. The terrorists have changed their tactics from moving out from their camps to attack communities to now moving in pockets, planting IEDs via humans or vehicles.

“On our way to this place, we saw how some IEDs were uprooted from the road by our troops and unfortunately one of the mines got detonated and affected our vehicles, from which some soldiers got wounded.

“We once again, thank Mr. President for reposing his confidence in us to help deliver his mandate. We are making progress and definitely we would achieve that mandate within the time given by Mr President. On this note I have the singular honour and pleasure to present the Nigerian Flag to the Commander Operation Lafiya Dole for hoisting and never to come down again.

Shortly after the flag had been hoisted, Mr. Buratai moved across the bridge to address the Nigerian refugees down the bank of the river in Cameroon and spoke to them in the local language of the area – Kanuri.

The atmosphere went electric, as the people applauded every assuring word of Kanuri being uttered by the number one soldier.

Soldiers danced and exchanged pleasantries with their counterpart from Cameroon.

At night, the senior officers simply took their seats in one of the destroyed fuel filling stations thatmomentarily became the makeshift Army Headquarters and continued to interact with the gallant officers and men in the field.

At about 7:30 p.m., the army chief had a private chat with non-commissioned officers and soldiers for about two hours during which he personally took down the complaints and suggestions each soldier made.

The dark night was even more petrifying as some of the soldiers informed PREMIUM TIMES reporter that “there is 50/50 chance that we may be attacked by the Boko Haram because that is what they do every day. But we are ready for them; and that is if they will be bold enough to come here after how we dealt with them days back.”

Meals were cooked and two rams were slaughtered and barbecued for soldiers and journalists.  Then the army chief led other officers and soldiers to ignite a burn-fire that lit the bushy surroundings. Soldiers danced wildly as they sang at the top of their voices – chanting different lyrics that ridiculed the Boko Haram.

“They (Boko Haram) are hearing us even now that we are here singing”, said an excited Corporal.

The excitement was paused midway for the decoration of a gallant Major, Muhammed Abu Ali, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Abu Ali, an officer in the Nigeria Armoured Corps, actively took part in leading most of the recent operations in the most dangerous Boko Haram camps. His colleagues described him as the panacea to Boko Haram when he drives his War Tank (T72). The Army spokesperson, Colonel Sani Usman, described him as “hero of our time”.

After the burn-fire, the celebration went on until a heavy rainfall began. There was no shelter for both officers and soldiers except the building of the filling station. Soldiers on sentry stood their grounds to ensure no Boko Haram crept nearby, while others took shelter in their vehicles.

Mr. Buratai and other officers like the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yushau, the GOC 7 Division, Lamidi Adeosun; the Commander, Multi- National Joint Task Force, Major General Iliya Abba; a Cameroonian Colonel, Fonkon Djio Venerd Richard; and Chadian Lieutenant Colonel D’ Aviation, Mohammet Yahaya, continued to chat with journalists and some of the soldiers.

Sleep was an option many would rather not take. Some that tried sleeping only did so for about three hours before the officers asked everyone to board their vehicles at about 5:30 a.m. on Thursday for a return to Maiduguri, shortly after the morning prayers.

The Return

The 145km return journey that started at 6 a.m. from Gamboru ended 13 hours later. The convoy had to move at snail speed, about 12km per hour, as soldiers of the bomb detection unit, sniffed the route on foot ahead of the convoy.

At the destroyed Gamboru bridge bombed by Boko Haram in 2013, the convoy spent two hours manoeuvring the bridge.

There was apprehension during the remaining part of the journey after the bridge – through Dikwa, Logomani and Mafa – as soldiers had to charge their way through likely flash points for ambush.

Everyone arrived Maiduguri safely, except for the soldiers that suffered the blast from one of the land mines.