Amaechi debunks Wike’s allegation of $150m donation to APC

Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has debunked an allegation, by Governor Nyesom Wike to the effect that he (Amaechi) gave $150 million to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general election.

 

Governor Wike had at a thanksgiving service at Saint Peters Anglican Church, Rumuepirikon, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, alleged that his predecessor gave the said amount of money from the state coffers to APC.

A statement issued yesterday by Amaechi’s media office in Abuja, dismissed the allegation and said the allegation by the governor was aimed at denigrating and disparaging his person and the office he is currently occupying.

“The ‘story-story’ this time is about another phantom $150,000,000 that Amaechi purportedly stole from Rivers State Government coffers and siphoned to his party, the APC within 18days, from December 1 to 18 of 2014. Sadly, again, Wike picked a church, a sacred temple of God, to tell his new imaginary tale; another bogus, fallacious concoction.

“This new scurrilous fabrication by Governor Wike is in sync with the one-point agenda of his Wike administration; which is to throw as much mud as possible at the former governor, Amaechi, hoping that some may at least, stick.

All sorts of spurious stories about alleged corruption and stealing of state funds against the Amaechi administration have been bandied in the media, with no attempt to substantiate or prove these distorted false claims that completely makes nonsense of common sense.

“Even, when Amaechi challenged Wike’s administration and its agents to use any constitutionally available legal process or procedure to prove their jaundiced, deceitful allegations against him and his administration, they have rather elected to do their own corruption probe, trial and conviction in the media; and now, even inside our solemn places of worship (churches). How callous! Why would a government be so determined to desecrate and destroy every institution, all in the name of playing politics?

“It continues to baffle us, like most right-thinking Nigerians, that Governor Wike will stand in a church- a solemn place of worship- and carelessly, brusquely tell such a profound lie.”

The statement challenged Governor Wike, to disclose the name of the person who collected the $150 million on behalf of APC and from which state government account (s).

“How was the $150 million taken and given to APC? Was it by wired transfer from Rivers State Government account(s) to APC account(s)?  So many questions, if Wike had attempted to answer, would have made nonsense of his supercilious allegations,” the statement further said.

Lagos Marathon’s Not So Surprising Winners

The infamously congested, concrete jungle of Lagos is far from a runners’ paradise, but with the launch of a new annual marathon on Saturday organisers hope to show that the city’s bad reputation is undeserved.
Over 20,000 participants turned out before dawn on a typically muggy morning in Lagos to compete in the biggest marathon the city has seen in thirty years.
 

The streets of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest metropolis, usually clogged with cars, battered mini busses and whizzing okadas—motorbike taxis—were cleared for the event and patrolled by lines of armed police and soldiers.
Runners, some barefoot and others decked out head to toe in candy-coloured athletic gear, braved the haze, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to run on a smooth road with air free of exhaust fumes.
“It’s kind of hectic to stay in Lagos, but people make it work,” Lolade McJohnson, a 33-year-old lawyer cheering on runners, said to AFP.
“After this, we’ll have more people interested in running, maybe now we’ll even have a Nigerian champion.”
Unlike in Kenya and Ethiopia, two countries whose runners have dominated marathons for years, or in marathon-crazed South Africa, Nigeria has yet to develop a long distance running culture.
For some, it’s a casualty of years of chronic mismanagement of lucrative oil funds that has left Africa’s biggest economy without basic infrastructure, let along quality sports programs.
“In the 70’s and 80’s there was a strong culture of running, all that died,” Lagos City Marathon spokesman Olukayode Thomas said to AFP.
“But that is a culture we’re trying to revive.”
With Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, taking a massive hit from the low price of crude and battling an almost seven-year Boko Haram Islamic insurgency, Thomas said events like the marathon show it’s not only doom and gloom for the country.
“It’s not just about Boko Haram, there are a lot of positives in Nigeria.”
Pressing heat
Thousands of people turned out to encourage the runners along the 42 kilometre stretch of road, with gardeners hosing down panting contestants and a mini-marching band composed of a trumpeter and two drummers adding an impromptu soundtrack to the event.
Kenyan Abraham Kipton won the marathon and the $50,000 prize with a time of 2:16.21, crossing the finish line with his arms raised in victory before collapsing on the ground just after the finish line.
Though happy for his win, he had to acknowledge Lagos’s oppressive heat.
“It is my first time running in very high humidity but I thank God for this day,” Kipton said to AFP.
“Nigeria is very hot but it is very good,” agreed the women’s winner Ethiopian Halima Hussein Kayo.
Adeyemi Kazeem, one of the first Nigerian finishers, said that despite not placing in the top three he was proud of his performance.
“I feel good, I can inspire more people to run in Nigeria,” he said.
Still in its infancy, the race suffered a few hitches.
One runner said that by the time he reached the refreshment station there was no bottles of water left and was forced to pull out of the race at the 30 kilometre mark.
But with the next Lagos marathon already pencilled in for February next year, Thomas insists these are just hiccups in the grand scheme of things.
“We were facing many fears before the race—security, traffic—but so far there’s not been any issues,” Thomas said, “it can only get better.”

Baby Mama palaver: Tuface, Olamide, Davido, 9ice and their out-of-wedlock families

They are young, handsome, rich and upwardly mobile. Little wonder they attract legions of adoring female fans. The baby mama syndrome is fast becoming the norm, as it seems some young musicians don’t see anything wrong in sowing wild oats. In fact, it has become the trend for young Nigerian artistes to father children out of wedlock, without any intention to get married to their baby mamas. From Tuface Idibia aka Tubaba who is regarded as ‘father of many nations’ to youngsters like Wizkid and Davido, the story is the same. This is the world of notable musicians with baby mamas.
Tuface



While he has been a pioneer of sort in the music industry, Tuface Idibia is also a pioneer as far as baby mama palaver is concerned. In a career spanning two decades and still counting, Tuface has developed a legendary reputation for sowing wild oats, and to date, over a dozen women have claimed that he’s the father of their babies.  Tuface’s baby mamas include Sumbo Adeoye nee Ajaba, Pero Adeniyi and Annie Macaulay. Between them the women have seven kids for the musician.
However, in 2013, Annie Macaulay became the official wife when Tuface married her in a society wedding that attracted the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry. In an interview, Tuface confessed that even though, he regrets his life with women; he loves his children very much.
9ice
Success hit 9ice like a ton of bricks after the release of his chartbuster, Gongo Aso, a few years ago. Before anyone could say Jackie Robinson, 9ice tied the knot with Toni Payne and together they made a baby boy. But the marriage soon broke up, and ever since, 9ice has been on rampage!
Beginning with his long time girlfriend, Vicky Godis, the musician fathered a set of female twins. Not done, he hooked up with Olasunkanmi Ajala, who also had a child for him, raising his number of children to four.
Flavour
Ever since he hit fame and stardom with the remix of Osita Osadebe’s classic, Ashawo, contemporary highlife singer, Flavour, has been smiling to the bank, with girls swooning all over him. Little wonder he is not left out of the fray.
However, what sets Flavour apart from the pack is his attraction to ex-beauty queens. So far, he has two daughters from ex-Delta queen, Sandra Okagbue and former MBGN queen, Anna Banner.
Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti has always insisted that the institution of marriage makes no sense to him because of the high rate of divorce in the world. In fact, the Afrobeat act has severally declared in interviews that he has no intention of getting married.
However, Seun Kuti, who has a baby girl from his long time girlfriend, Yetunde Ademiluyi, a couple of years ago is alleged to have secretly fathered another child with a lady called Adaeze.
What actually exposed Seun were messages leaked on social media credited to his baby mama, Adaeze, disclosing that he is yet to set eyes on his child, Zuna, who was delivered over a year ago. To date, Seun has declined comments on the issue.
Wizkid
Ayo Balogun popularly known as Wizkid rode to fame after the release of his debut single, Holla At Ur Boi and since then the self-acclaimed Star Boy has never looked back. While his career has risen at an astronomical rate, so also his penchant for bedding pretty ladies.
Beginning with Tania Omotayo, who had a child for him in 2011, Wizkid fathered another child recently courtesy of Blue Diamond, a Guinean model. She posted the picture of her and the baby on the Instagram recently, saying that she has christened him Ayo Balogun Jnr.
Davido
OBO singer, David Adeleke aka Davido, is not left out of the brouhaha of musicians sowing wild oats. He was recently in the thick of a custody battle with his baby mama, Sophia, over their daughter, Imade. However, Davido has openly declared that he has no intention of marrying Sophia due to age difference and the fact that she does not deserve him.
Solidstar
Delta-born musician, Joshua Iniyezo aka Solidstar, had a son with his UK-based lover late last year. Although, the identity of the white baby mama is still unknown, the singer shared adorable photos of his cute baby on Instagram. As a testament to his bedding skills, the Baby Jollof singer in an interview described himself as a “striker”!
Olamide
Award-winning rapper and YBNL boss, Olamide, is also in the thick of the baby mama drama. Only recently, the musician revealed that he had no intention of marrying Adebukunmi Suleiman, who had a child for him.
“We’ve been cool from way back and we’ve been together for almost five years now. She is not just a random chic that came around from nowhere. But regarding the question of marrying her, that one is very hard to answer because Olamide is not God; only God knows tomorrow,” he said.
Oritsefemi
Majemite Oritsefemi grew up in the ghettos of Ajegunle and rose to limelight in 2013 after the release of his hit single, Double Wahala. The self-styled Musical Taliban has two beautiful daughters aged 9 and 11 from his baby mama, Blessing Rawa. However, both of them broke up amid allegations that she hacked his Instagram account last year. The pair dated for years but as soon as success came Oritshefemi’s way, the story changed, leading him to hook up with sexy singer, Adasounds.
Lanre Teriba
When popular gospel singer, Lanre Teriba aka Atorise impregnated a lady outside wedlock, he had thought that his marriage was over. But luckily for him, his wife forgave and took him back!
In a recent interview with The Sun, Teriba narrated his ordeal: “When I had a child out of wedlock I cried. The reason why I felt bad about it was that some people were using it against me. I regret it as well. Certain things happen in your life that are beyond you; I am human. But I don’t know why some people think I should kill myself because of that singular mistake. When I read stuff about me on the Internet, I felt so bad but I have some wonderful fans that encouraged me.
“And I thank God for my wife for being a great encouragement. I have prayed to God for forgiveness and my wife has also forgiven me. So, those who still use it against me are haters.”

DISCOs assures on increased electricity supply as generation peaks

ELECTRICITY distribution companies in Nigeria have assured consumers of improved electricity supply as power generation continues to increase from the generation companies.
The Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED), in a atatement said the boost in power generation over the last few months meant electricity users were in for the best of time.
ANED in the statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan said the attainment of 5,075MW go generated electricity had to be appreciated in the context of a sector that barely generated 2,000MW prior to the start of the sector reforms, a little over five years ago.
 
Regrating the removal of the Fixed Charges Oduntan said: “it constitutes a revenue risk to the operators, but it is a risk that we are prepared to take, as necessary to march in lockstep with our customers and loudly convey that that the sector’s players are making every kind of compromise possible to ensure that affordable but sustainable and appropriately priced power is delivered to your homes and businesses.”
Electricity generation in Nigeria last week hit an all-time high of 5,075MW, demonstrating the capacity of the sector to meet the country’s power needs, a major milestone in the drive to grow the nation’s economy and improve quality of life.
Nigeria’s growth has been crippled for too long by decades-old deficiencies in the power sector.
Private sector-driven efficiency and realistic market prices can, and are already giving the sector a new lease of life. According to Oduntan, the Distribution Companies (DisCos) will continue to do its best to distribute power that is transmitted to them.
“ANED and its members are sensitive to customer anxiety over the recent increase in electricity tariffs,” he said.
“We hereby provide our customers an assurance that the increase is no more than that which is necessary for critical improvement of an electricity infrastructure that has suffered decades of neglect. “The increase will help to mitigate the negative cashflow and revenue shortfalls that have bedeviled the sector since the handover of the assets to private operators and hindered the ability for generators to increase power supply, due to their inability to pay their gas suppliers.
“Presently, over two-thirds of power generated are from gas-fired plants”, he stated. He said with the increased investment that will occur, as a result of the ability of the operators to generate a credible cashflow that will, in turn, provide them with access to financing for investment in distribution, generation and transmission infrastructure, the cost of electricity supply and distribution will be reduced.
“This reduction, as a result of increased investment and efficiency gains, will result in lower tariffs for electricity customers,” he added.

Senate declares war on Presidency

A showdown is imminent between the Presidency and the Senate following a failed attempt by Senate President Bukola Saraki to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The Supreme Court last Friday threw out Saraki’s appeal to stop his prosecution over alleged false assets declaration. The lawmakers have resolved to throw their weight behind Saraki.

 

The Senate may soon launch a full-scale war against the Presidency and certain people in the All Progressives Congress (APC), who they persistently accused of masterminding Saraki’s travails.

Saraki is currently ‎facing a 13- count charge of alleged corruption and false declaration of assets. Specifically, he was accused of deliberately manipulating the assets’s declaration form that he filed prior to his assumption of office as the Senate President, by making anticipatory declaration of assets.

Saraki, who once refused to honour an invitation extended to him by the CCT, approached a Federal High Court where he lost and approached the Court of Appeal. Again, he didn’t succeed. Eventually, he was docked by the CCT. 

He proceeded to the Supreme Court and on November 12, 2015, a panel of judges, headed by Justice John Fabiyi, suspended further hearing on the case pending the outcome of the appeal.

 Saraki had in his six grounds of appeal prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the majority verdict of the appellate court panel delivered by Justices Moore Adumein and Mohammed Mustapha on September 30, 2015.

 But last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the CCT’s case against Saraki should go on. ‎The court ruled that the tribunal was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over the trial.

However, the Senate is not ready to dump its embattled president. In a  statement issued in Abuja yesterday, spokesman of the Red Chamber, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, said lawmakers were solidly behind Saraki. He lampooned some Senators who have been calling for his resignation. 

In the statement, Senator Sabi, who claimed that he was speaking on behalf of the Senate, said: Following a meeting held in Abuja on Sunday by some Senators and the wide consultations with our colleagues in which we reviewed last Friday’s decision of the Supreme Court in the appeal on the preliminary matters filed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the charges filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), we hereby resolve that from the beginning of the trial last September, we have declared that this case is not about any fight against corruption. It is simply a case of political vendetta. Our position remains the same. We still believe that the case is politically-motivated.”

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana(SAN), has asked Saraki to resign in order to preserve National Assembly’s integrity. Saraki is the Chairman of the federal legislature. He said the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court would add value to the battle against corruption.

Citing an instance involving a former Senate President, the late Senators Chuba Okadigbo, Falana asked Saraki to resign having undertaken to prove his innocence before the CCT.

He said, “having undertaken to prove his innocence at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Saraki should resign as Senate President so as to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly.

“When Senators Chuba Okadigbo and Adolphus Wabara were indicted, they were made to step down as Senate presidents.”

This comes amid indications that Senators opposed to Saraki under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, had regrouped to force Saraki out of the seat.

The Supreme Court had on Friday dismissed the appeal.

A seven-man panel of the apex court justices presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously ruled that Saraki’s appeal against the jurisdiction of the trial and competence of the charges lacked merit.

Saraki, who said the Supreme Court judgment was disappointing, however, said he would have his day in court and that “at the end of the day, the truth will prevail, and justice will be served.”

Labour unions shut down Abuja, states over new electricity tarrifs

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday made good their threat by shutting down Abuja and states over the new electricity tariffs. 
 

There were mass protests against the new rates sanctioned by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Generation Companies (GENCOS) and the Distributing Companies (DISCOS) implemented the new tariffs effective February 1, this year.

The protest kicked off from the Labour House at the Central Business Area with members carrying placards.

The first point of call was the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at Wuse Zone 4 where the  NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, addressed the crowd, saying the time of taking people for granted is over. He said billing all over the world is based on what you consume. He maintained that there must be a stop to the impunity as the regulatory agency is expected to protect the interest of consumers.             

“President Buhari must stand with the people as he promised Nigerians and he must revisit the privatisation of power sector. We would not allow ‘GENCO and DISCO’ exploit Nigerians, and there must be an end to the estimated billing.”.                                                                                         

The protesters marched to NERC office and from there went to the National Assembly where a formal letter was handed over to the leadership with security agencies giving cover.   

At the National Asembly Complex, Abuja, Senate President Bukola Saraki renewed his earlier pledge that lawmakers would ensure that the hike is resolved in the interest of Nigerians.

Saraki, who addressed the rally, said the commitment of the Eighth National Assembly to collaborate with the executive in entrenching policies that are people-friendly, will not be taken lightly.

He said the Senate believes in the struggle to ensure that the right thing is done and therefore, it will resolve the impasse to avert any further unrest.

Addressing the labour leaders and members of the CSOs, he said: “I welcome you to this place because it belongs to you. We are only tenants for four years. We are here to serve the Nigerian people. I want to assure you that the Eighth National Assembly is for the people.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the new rates as “a painful pill,” appealing to consumers to “swallow” it.

Fashola stated this on the sidelines of the second monthly sectoral meeting with stakeholders in the power sector in Lagos, where he also inspected some projects at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex yesterday.

He said, “importantly, I understand that people who have been disappointed over a long time will feel a sense of concern that again tariffs have gone up. But the truth is that these tariffs ought to have been there from day one. I don’t know why the government of yesterday was not courageous enough to tell us this was the price.

“It is a painful pill that I must appeal that we swallow. It is like quinine and malaria. It’s painful; it’s not sweet, I know that, but I do it because we are not left with many choices. This is the first major decision in power that this administration has taken. There are other problems.

“I can only appeal for some understanding and some trust that we do this in the best interest of our country. It is a hard decision, but I think down the line, we will have cause to look…,” Fashola said.

Defending the tariffs, NERC said they were effected after series of consultations with stakeholders.

In a statement issued in Abuja, NERC said the clarification is coming on the heels of reports credited to the NLC, alleging certain infractions against the commission.

The statement signed by the  Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, said while the commission will restrain itself from delving into a matter already before the court, it, however, has taken  note of the ongoing protest by the NLC.

“In this regard, the commission hereby states that it is committed to act in the best interest of electricity customers and all stakeholders in the development of the electricity industry.

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Labour unions demand reversal of electricity tariff hike

• Stage nationwide protest

From Bimbola Oyesola, Lagos, Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin, Desmond Mgboh, Kano and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Organised labour, led by  the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its allies in civil society organisations, yesterday, made good their threat by picketing the National Electric Regulatory Commission (NERC), Generating Companies (Gencos) and the Distribution companies (Discos) nationwide.

The protesters, made up of members of organised labour, consumer protection group and various communities picketed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, located at Alausa in Ikeja, carried placards with inscriptions such as “No Electricity, No Industries, No jobs, Provide Electricity ; No light.”

NLC Vice President,  Amechi Asugwuni, who was among the protesters, said the increment, at this time, negates the present economic hardship and was an attempt to further impoverish Nigerians.He vowed that labour will continue to protest the 45 per cent increase until it was reversed or there was a substantive improvement in electricity supply.

Meanwhile, in Kano, NLC and TUC picketed the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). Members who arrived the office early, disrupted resumption of normal office activities.

Chairman of Kano State chapter of the NLC, Ado Minjibir, said that the purpose of the protest was to call the attention of the public to the cost implications of the 45 percent hike in tariff, saying it was left to the public to decide whether to pay or not to pay.

In Ondo, members of the NLC and TUC locked up offices of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the protest led to power outage for several hours in Akure, the state’s capital. The protesters, who assembled as early as 8:00am at the company’s office premises condemned BEDC operations and alleged that the company was exploiting the masses.

Ondo State chairman of NLC, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, said the increase is a contravention of due process.

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... Allege FG disobeyed court order

• Threaten indefinite strike

From Tony John, Port Harcourt, Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki, Tony Osauzo, Benin, Segun Olatunji, Abeokuta, Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Elsewhere, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) told Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for  nationwide protests against increase in electricity tariff.

State chapters of both unions yesterday, picketed the head office of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED), Rivers State capital.

The unions accused the power companies of  impunity which they said have caused  electricity consumers untold suffering.

NLC state chairman, Beatrice Itubo, said: “We are saying no to impunity. This increase is unilateral and arbitrary and it is a sign of impunity. It is also disobedience to a subsisting court order which says tariffs should not be increased pending the determination of a suit to that effect which is before it. This is a warning protest, but, if the Federal Government refuses to budge, we will go on an indefinite strike.”

In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, NLC and TUC laid siege to the office of  Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), branded placards and blocked the entrance of the electricity company.

The protest, which started as early as 8:00am, forced staff of the company to close its offices and stop collection of electricity bills. Ikechukwu Nwafor, state chairman of NLC said the unions decided to carry out the nationwide protest because the Federal Government did not follow due process before it increased electricity tariff.

In Benin, Edo State capital, activities at the Benin Electricity Distribution Distribution Company (BEDC) were crippled as members of the NLC and TUC laid siege to the company’s office.

The state chairman of NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun, said the 45 percent increase was too much for ordinary Nigerians to bear, saying the protests would not stop until the FG reverts to the old rate.

The same scenario was repeated in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital when members of the NLC and the TUC, barricaded the entrance to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), shutting out members of staff of the company while protesting the hike in tariff.

The state NLC chairman, Hakeem Ambali, reiterated to reporters that the hike in tariff was abnormal and unacceptable because due process was not followed. He said the increment amounts to extortion and would be continuously rejected.

In Ibadan, Oyo State NLC and TUC laid siege to the IBEDC office which forced electricity workers to flee. The state chairman of NLC, Waheed Olojede,  who was one of the leaders of the protesters, stated that since there was a case in court, any increment in electricity tariff would be null and void.

Okonjo- Iweala, Alison-Madueke, Kola Aluko under investigation –EFCC

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday told the House of Representatives that former Finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is being investigated by the anti- graft agency. 

 

Magu, who spoke before the Kayode Oladele- led  Committee on Financial Crimes during the agency’s  budget defence  also said former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and a businessman believed to be her close associate, Kola Aluko, are persons of interest to the EFCC.

The EFCC boss said this when he responded to questions asked by a member of the committee,  Razak Atunwa who had earlier asked whether the two ministers and Aluko were included in the investigative list of the anti-graft agency. “Very soon, we will go into the petroleum industry,” was Magu’s reply.

He said such an investigation requires that “we have to build capacity, we have to bring in experts to enable us tackle what we are doing properly and the investigation must be conducted properly. We have internal lawyers and external lawyers; we have to pay insurance.”

Meanwhile, Speaker  Yakubu Dogara has said the National Assembly will soon begin work on its own version of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The speaker, made this known at a courtesy call by the international board of Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) at the National Assembly yesterday. He also  said the bill, which is in final stages, will be given expeditious consideration on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Dogara told the delegation that in line with the resolve of the House of Representatives to fully cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to implement reforms in the oil, gas and mining sectors,  the House will give both sectors priority attention.

“We have repeatedly, called on the executive to present reform proposals in the petroleum sector. However, we may not continue to wait for an executive bill on this subject matter as we are prepared  to introduce the National Assembly’s version; what we believe should be the legal framework for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.”

“We cannot continue to take the blame for non-passage of the petroleum reform legislation in Nigeria. As I speak with you, work on our own version has reached advanced stage and hopefully, we hope to introduce it in both chambers of the National Assembly. If it happens that the executive transmits its own version of its own vision of the oil sector, we have ample provision in the House Rules for us to merge the two together. 

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, in Abuja, began the interrogation of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), over his role in the $2.1 billion arms purchase being probed by the anti-graft agency.

Badeh, who made a brief appearance at the commission’s headquarters last week, was directed to return yesterday.

EFCC sources said the former defence chief was quizzed for several hours and as at 7 pm, he was still with his interrogators. It was not clear whether he was detained or allowed to go home last night.

Efforts to get the agency’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujare, to speak on the matter failed.

Several retired and serving top military officers, including the former chief of Air Staff in Jonathan’s administration, Vice Admiral Amosu , have been interrogated on the controversial arms deal.

Nigeria’s most wanted suspect lives in UK -Buhari

In far away London, United Kingdom, and despite reports that he is on a five-day vacation, President Muhammadu Buhari told Daily Telegraph that one of the biggest suspects in the ongoing probe of corruption in Nigeria lives in their midst.

Buhari, who refused to mention any name, said this  in an interview with the United Kingdom-based newspaper, Daily Telegraph.

He also spoke about  Boko Haram, saying that his administration was ready to discuss with them on the missing Chibok girls.

“One of the biggest corruption suspects  is in Britain, although, I am not going to name that person. But, Britain has earned our respect in the way it deals with these matters.

“Our only problem is that it seems to be too thorough and it takes too much time. If there are obvious cases, like bank accounts, infrastructure, houses and hotels, I would hope they could do it quicker, so that we can claim these things back promptly.”

On  Boko Haram, the president said: “As long as we can estsblish the bonafides of the leadership of Boko Haram, we are prepared as a government to discuss with them on how to get the girls back. But, we have not established any evidence of a credible leadership.

Asked if Abubakar Shekau  was still the leader of the sect, Buhari said: “ I receive  conflicting information about the status of Shekau. Some say he has been removed and replaced by a less charismatic terrorist” I think he must be on the run, because out of the 14 local governments that Boko Haram used to call their Caliphate, they do not control any now. They are scattered around the Sambisa forest and they have resorted to attacking soft targets, people in churches, mosques and market places, using improvised explosives devices.” Responding to a question on whether he  asked the west for military assistance during the last G7 meeting, the president answered: “Yes. I did, but I don’t want to  give details of that in public, at present. As you know, we already have foreign military help in terms of training missions”. While expressing disappointment that his predecessor in office  resorted to mercenaries, he also lamented the recent revelations of how military allocations were also misappropriated. Buhari asked rhetorically: “How is it that  Nigeria’s military, which has a good record across West Africa, cannot claim back to 14 out of 774 local local governments from Boko Haram. They have to ask for mercenaries from South Africa?. How the mighty has fallen!”

On the  threat of terrorism across West and North Africa, Buhari said: “I think we should be very worried because with technology, Boko Haram and other terrorists have become very mobile in all continents, not only in Africa, but also in Europe, America and Asia.

“For Africa and the Sahel, the demise of  (Muamar) Ghaddafi’s regime led to a lot of armed and trained people, especially those from the Sahel, being dispersed. Fighting is the only thing they know and they are available at a fee. The danger is there and I am pleased that Europe has  realised it too”.

The president said he has not seen confirmed reports that Nigerians have been fighting for Isil in the Libya city of Sirte. On whether Nigerian in diaspora in the UK were being involved in Boko Haram, he replied:” No, but if I do, I will immediately raise the issue. “A number of Nigerianss use the migrant routes to come to the UK to claim asylum, saying their lices are at risk from Boko Haram. Is it legitimate for them to do so?”  

Why poverty rate increased in Nigeria — Lai Mohammed

Federal Government has said that no amount of blackmail will make it to surrender the ongoing war against corruption.
This is even as it said that Nigeria poverty rate has increased by the same proportion with annual budget since 1999 because the appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of few looters.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed stated this on Tuesday during his meeting with Abuja Bureau Chiefs in Abuja.
He said that no amount of attacks will deter the administration from prosecuting the war against corruption in its efforts to save the country from collapse, insisting that the Federal Government will not be cowed or distracted on the ongoing fight against corruption.
‘‘ The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in their quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight,” the Minister said.
”When I met with the News and Political Editors in Lagos on Sunday, I said, among other things, that the government is aware that in fighting corruption, corruption will also fight back. I also said that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations as well as online platforms, and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption.
”Well, I can tell you today that corruption is already fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored articles have started appearing in the newspapers and in the Social Media, while ‘Talking Heads’ have started making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this Administration.
”Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media to deride the administration’s policies generally, tag the President a budding dictator and even write off his 2016 budget. We know that the sole purpose of these attacks is to distract attention from the war on corruption,” he said.
‘‘The cost of corruption is evidenced in the rate poverty in the country. Whereas Nigeria’s national budget has increased from just over 900 billion Naira in 1999 to over 6 trillion Naira in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion. The reason is not far fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters.
‘‘When the money meant to construct roads are looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
‘‘These are the costs of corruption. Let us not just talk about corruption in the abstract, let us be counting its cost to our lives, in order to drive home the point that corruption must be tackled decisively for Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.
The Minister said it was saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly allowed themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra”, while some ”hack writers” are struggling to whittle down the impact of the anti-corruption campaign.
He sensed that though sponsored attacks may not stop, and that they will become more intense and more coordinated in the days ahead, he expressed optimism that ‘‘the good news is that we are winning the war. Nigerians are now talking more about corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption to their lives.”
‘Even one of those who benefitted from the ‘Dasukigate’ had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as ‘selective’, ”when in saner climes, he should have been so ashamed of himself that he would have apologized to the nation and hunkered down for good”.
Mohammed charged Nigerians not to be swayed by the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war, warning that ”the treasury looters, who have so much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink at this Administration. But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”
”Recall that in the so-called Dasukigate, 2.1 billion dollars meant for the fight against Boko Haram was diverted to other uses, including over 4 billion Naira for spiritual purposes, 13 billion Naira for Maritime University land, 2.1 billion Naira for publicity and hundreds of millions of Naira for political patronage.
”That explains why we lost many soldiers to the fight against Boko Haram, which in turn created many widows and orphans, in addition to pushing millions of Nigerians from their communities into IDP camps. This explains why the war dragged on for years until President Buhari assumed office and, within just seven months, strengthened the capacity of the military to decimate Boko Haram,” he added.

Enough of this change mantra Okogie tells Buhari

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Car­dinal Olubunmi Okogie, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to re­tool and lead by example on all fronts or risk plunging Nigeria into a state of despondency.
In a statement by the Director of Social Com­munications of the Diocese, Monsig­nor Gabriel Osu, Okogie accused the pres­ident of acting disdainfully towards the judicial authorities while millions of Nigerians are abandoned to face unimaginable social problems.

Buhari-Okogie

Okogie said, “He (Buhari) must retool, re­focus and aggressively face the so­cial, economic (fiscal and monetary) problems we have head-on, without letting the anti-corruption drive look like a political distraction.
“A snail-paced and disordered methodology in governance, his ap­parent disdain for judicial authorities and decisions, a lost today and found tomorrow 2016 Budget debacle, and a rather rudderless and confused Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with an unclear monetary policy strategy (inevitably increasing the economic uncertainties being faced by Nigeri­ans), have set alarm bells ringing in my mind and in the minds of many discerning Nigerians.
“Indeed, his perceived discord­ant relationship with the leadership of the Legislature has many naysayers chuckling and remarking that Pres­ident Buhari’s government is head­ing into his comfort zone, a one man show.”
Okogie also noted that “a lot of Nigerians are beginning to feel that Buhari is fast transforming this na­tion into a police state where the president, the Economic and Finan­cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Secu­rity (DSS) rule the day.
“What they say is given lurid headlines in the me­dia, and it seems to all that some of the defendants cum accused persons are being tried in the press with in­formation conveniently slipping into the hands of the press, presumably from the security agencies, even be­fore such people have been charged to court.”
Frowning at the President’s refusal to heed the court pronouncements on the bail grant­ed to the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sam­bo Dasuki (retd) the eminent cleric said: “The pro-Biafran activ­ist, Nnamdi Kanu and the erstwhile NSA, Sambo Dasuki, were granted bail by the courts but such bails were disregarded by the security agents under Buhari’s watch.
“Unfortunately, democracy is difficult and this government must realise that democracy pervasive­ly coloured with impunity, arbitrar­iness and highhandedness, cannot be used to fight and correct the finan­cial impunity and reckless abandon of the previous administration, even if it is more difficult to do so; the rule of law must be obeyed and be the or­der of the day.
“If Buhari wants to leave a cred­itable legacy come 2019, he should retool the bureaucracy. For instance, the roof of the Central Bank is leak­ing water.
“Governors, who arm-twisted Okonjo-Iweala into signing out our reserves held by Central Bank, are today ministers in the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) government.
“We are still talking about change and corruption when old things refuse to pass away! These political gimmicks can only car­ry away gullible or naive Nigeri­ans. President Buhari should beam his flashlight on policies and pro­grammes that will lift up the masses.
“Existing industries are almost dead and they call for urgent revital­isation. The budget ought to aid so­lutions to the mass unemployment, rural-urban migration, skewedness in the distribution of income, abject rural poverty and industrialisation of rural economy.
“The 774 local government cap­itals should be linked to their state capitals. Even the mindboggling in­frastructure deficits can take the en­tire tenure to address.”
“The weakness in the bureau­cracy has not been addressed. The problem the APC government is trying to solve is bound to re-occur because it is treatment of effect rath­er than the cause,” he said, adding that causative factors are being to­tally ignored or glossed-over while institutional weakness pervades the Ministries Departments and Agen­cies (MDAs), offices of the Account­ant-General, Auditor-General and the Central Bank.”
Irked by the continuous change mantra, Cardinal Okogie said: “Our Change must change something. How could we continue to talk of change in a static system? How could we be talking of change when the same crew are governors, ministers, senators, and members of the House of Representatives? This is a cyclical devolution of power to the same people who are never out of power!
“What sort of change is the Pres­ident talking about? When will the youth take over when even a gov­ernor does not take a bow and go? When shall we plan for the replace­ment of delinquent leadership? This is what constitutes change. Change is not changing from Jonathan to Buhari.”
Continuing, he said: “Change is be­havioural and pervades all levels of society including the family, the church, the mosque, schools, market women and business men. When we talk of change, we talk of positive-salutary, healthy growth and devel­opment oriented change that cuts across the entire gamut of the so­ciety.
“What sort of change is this that ignores the glaring unequal distribu­tion of national income? It is absurd that the same government that is un­able to pay N18,000 per month to the lowest grade of labour can afford to pay N1.8 million per month to anyone in the economy. Why must tax payers’ money be used to feed Mr. President and his family?
“Why must the tax payers’ mon­ey be used to buy brand new exotic vehicles for the legislature, judges, ministers and governors when they are heavily paid?
“Why don’t they use loan finance or mortgage finance to buy their cars and houses? This is also a form of looting and it is the cause of grounding the economy and calling in an IMF spin-doctor all the time.
“Precisely two years ago this same President Buhari rejected off-hand this use of a spin doctor to heal the ailing economy. He pre­ferred the use of counter-trade and inward looking policies like cutting down costs and flamboyant exotic life styles.
“Today, I am not so sure we have the same Buhari. I do hope he has not changed all the colours of the rainbow. The ruling elites are living a luxurious lifestyle while the mass­es are in abject poverty and yet we are all Nigerians. Enough of this change-conundrum,” Okogie warned.

Blackface threatens to drag 2face to court for stealing his song

Former member of ‘Plantashun Boi’, Ahmedu Augustine, popularly known as Blackface, has threatened to drag his former friend and multi-award winning artiste, Innocent Idibia (2face) to court for allegedly stealing his song.
Blackface accused 2face of stealing “Let Somebody Love You”.  2face released the song with Bridget Kelly,  an American singer and songwriter from New York City,  as part of his Ascension album in 2014.
On Monday, Blackface took to social media to make the allegation.
“You singing #LetsomebodyLoveYou without telling me when you know its my song isn’t going down without the world knowing what you and you manager efe been doing …am coming for una,don’t get it twisted”
“Since you decided to hide you know I still let you know a piece of my mind @official2baba and well meet in court about my publishing”
“Suddenly your manager @EfeOmorogbe is a song writer on my song? So you can split publishing 4ways with Bridget Kelly?with my name misspelt?”
“y not ask dat u wana record my song?I was out in d wilderness n u never called becos u wish me dead so my properties be urs? @official2baba”
Plantashun Boiz were a Nigerian hiphop and RnB music group. It consisted of 2face Idibia, Faze and Blackface.
The group was formed during their college years in Enugu, at the Institute Of Management And Technology (I.M.T Enugu). The group was managed by Owoyemi Akinwale Nathaniel (Natz), Ifeanyi Oji (Odogwu), and Obasi Leonard (Baba Leo). As a result of the Plan B reunion album, Plantashun Entertainment Ltd. Management was born in 2007. The Plan B album was distributed by T Joe.
The band released two successful albums Body and Soul in 2000 and Sold Out in 2003. The band broke up in 2004, to be briefly reunited in 2007 for just one more album Plan B.
After the Plantashun Boiz split up in 2004, Blackface led a solo musical career. He released the hip hop album Ghetto Child in May 2004 collaborating with a number of artists. The album contains “Hard Life” featuring Alabai as the first single. He also recorded a full album for his crew D Tribunal called What We Are.
After Ghetto Child, he released Evergreen, Jungle Fever, Me, Musiq and I, Dancehall Business and the prospective Defender. In 2013, he made a collaborative album 200 with Maine Eazz.
2face Idibia released his debut solo album Face 2 Face (2004), which established him as a viable solo artist.
Following the release of his debut album, he released his second album Grass 2 Grace in 2006, which contained hits “One Love”, “True Love, “4 Instance”. He is the founder of Hypertek Entertainment.
In 2006, his song “African Queen” was used in the soundtrack for the film Phat Girlz, which was released internationally.
He released a promotion album in 2008 called The Unstoppable releasing the single “Enter the Place”. Problems with album distribution in 2007 caused as shift of the release date of the album from 2008 to early 2009. In 2010, 2face released an “international edition” of the same under the title The Unstoppable International Edition making him the first Nigerian artist to have an appropriately priced international album.
2face released two more singles from the international version of his Unstoppable album. The international edition of the album won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards. He also won the Channel O Music Video Awards Best African Western award and the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Male and Artist of the year.

Oil crash: Nigeria producing at $5 per barrel loss

Oil theft more dangerous than price slide —Producers

As oil prices continue on the downward slide, Nigerian oil firms may be producing at up to $5/barrel loss, as average production costs for independent and marginal field producers is between $30 and $35/barrel.
Oil prices, yesterday, resumed their free fall, with Brent crude, similar to Nigeria’s sweet crude grade, falling 2.6 per cent to $31.34 a barrel following a 10 per cent rise on Friday, while U.S. oil shed 95 cents to $31.24.

File Photo: Crude Oil

To compound the producers’ woes, a significant proportion of what is produced is lost to oil thieves and pipeline vandals, which they insist are even more dangerous than the bearish run oil prices
Industry chiefs, who spoke exclusively with Vanguard on phone, argued that the turbulence in the international oil market deserves urgent attention.
Specifically, they insisted that the Federal Government needs to be talking with Nigerian producers very fast, if it must save indigenous companies from running aground and plunging the economy into deeper crisis than it is in already.
Impact on producers
Speaking on the impact of the oil crash on the producers, Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Emeka Ene, said:
“Current price is below Nigeria’s average of between $30 and $35 per barrel. Most marginal field producers are producing above $30/barrel, and with pipeline vandalism activities, costs will shoot up by another $10/barrel, so oil production now is not sustainable.”
Ene, who spoke against the backdrop of oil crashing to 13-year lows of below $28/barrel last week, noted that the bearish run may soon fizzle out, whether shale or conventional oil is being produced at above $25/barrel. As such, the southward run is not favourable to any producer.
He also revealed that “a lot of Nigerian companies are out of work because they cannot compete with the multinationals, so government needs to have a serious talk with stakeholders in the industry.”
Oil theft, pipeline vandalism
Whether oil prices go bullish soon or not, other stakeholders feel that the benefits of the rise will be lost on Nigeria, if the government does not deal decisively with the twin incidence of pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
The President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Mr. Nosa Omorodion, maintained that “government needs to address the issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism very fast because, even if price stabilises tomorrow or whenever, we will still not be able to reap the full benefits of that rise.”
He further argued that “oil theft and vandalism remain recurring and very worrisome because these issues are much bigger than oil slide, which is mostly driven by speculation, while these activities affect planning and are more cankerous than price slide. Operators are risking their assets including human resources to produce the oil, only to have it stolen thereafter.”
Against this backdrop, Omorodion, whose association is responsible for finding and producing oil, revealed that NAPE is planning a national seminar this month end to holistically address the issue of oil slide.
He said: “We are going to assess the length and breadth of the oil and gas industry because the price slide is not only affecting petroleum, but also other sectors of the economy.”
Apart from the impact on cost of production, the NAPE boss noted that “The current price is affecting so many things, as nobody is drilling for exploration now, and no one is thinking about fancy technology to boost production. Also, exploration will suffer as no company is exploring for new wells to grow reserves, and many small scale producers, which are mostly Nigerians, will shut down.”
Going forward
Currently, most producers, both OPEC and non-OPEC including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq and a host of others are producing at optimal capacities, which indicates that the downward glide may not let up soon. Also, some analysts have predicted that price may glide to below $20 or even $10/per barrel before rebounding.
Furthermore, with Iran’s oil also up in the market and expected to be ramped up systematically, compounded by the melt down in demand being fueled by the crisis in China, crude prices are facing more pressures. But producers recognise that the global economy is in need of some succour but differ on the best ways to go about it.
Noting that Nigerian service companies, who are the hardest hit by the crashing oil prices and provide about 650 value services across the industry, Ene insisted that Nigeria has the weapon in these companies to cushion the market turbulence but has not fully appreciated it.
According to him, “Nigeria has a thriving local oil industry, and if properly supported, can push down cost of production to $10 per barrel. About 10 to 15 years ago, industry cost was below $10 per barrel and nothing much had changed.
On his part, Omorodion believes that now is the time for oil companies to be at the most cost efficient by prioritising between wants and needs, while government becomes more fiscally disciplined and diversifying the economy.
But Ene argued that the solution is not in prescriptivism, like the majors calling for as much as 40 percent cuts in cost of services thereby killing off the companies, adding that government needs to identify and reduce unrealistic economic toll gates.
In his opinion, “The whole system is heated up, and cost of borrowing is very high. So far, conversation has been restricted to major operators and has not included the service companies driving operations in the industry.
“If we must produce oil at $10/barrel, government needs to be talking to Nigerian companies, who have invested in people and technology and are not repatriating their profits.”
Furthermore, he noted that a lot of the systemic costs being borne by indigenous firms contribute to the high cost of production, such as what he described as “Federal Government agents charging unrealistic charges like asking for $10million for permits need to be looked into.”

How Nigeria Can Survive Without Oil

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said Nigeria can survive without oil if most Nigerians could transform agricultural practices into agric-business.
Gov. Ahmed
The governor disclosed this through his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba at a lecture organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum, titled, “Northern Nigeria economy free of oil revenue.”
The governor said the practice of agric-business be focused on value addition to develop the economy and provide jobs.
He stressed that for this to be possible, the demand-driven approach which would allow farmers know the markets available for their produce be introduced.
Ahmed highlighted the benefits of agric-business, saying the pursuit of an agriculture-based economy should be premised on good governance and growth of the right institutions.
He said, “On-going agitation for resource control and allocation and the consequent clamour for fiscal federalism demonstrate the need to free our region’s economy from oil revenue.
“Additionally, northern Nigeria’s immense agricultural resources strongly recommend a revival of the agro-based wealth that the region once enjoyed.”
The governor warned that agribusiness should not be implemented in the centralised and ad-hoc manner that commercial agricultural policies had been executed in the past.
Suggesting that Northern states employ a holistic measure in revolutionising agriculture, he said, “I propose an approach that fully explores specified value chains by providing inputs to farmers and connecting them to consumers through the financing, handling, processing, storage, transportation, marketing and distribution of agro products.”
In his remarks, the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Muktar Yero, called for unity among the 19 Northern States governors and elders in the region.
He stressed the need for the improved economic relations among the states in the northern part of the country based on their historical antecedents.