NRC moves 3,200 tonnes of goods from Lagos ports in July August 22, 2016
The Nigerian Railway Corporation moved 3,200 tonnes of goods out of Apapa ports by rail in its freight services in July, Jerry Oche, the Lagos District Manager, has said. Oche told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos that the rail freight services helped to remove about 160 trucks off the roads last month. He said: “We just started rail freight services and we now move containers from Lagos to Kano with two train services a week and each train moves 500 tonnes. “We are moving fertilizers from Lagos to Kaduna and from Lagos to Gombe with two trains a week and each train moves 600 tonnes. “We also moved pipes from Lagos ENL Port Terminal to Zaria, with two trains a week and each train moves 600 tonnes.” According to Oche, each train has 20 wagons and each wagon moves 30 tonnes of goods, while most trucks could only move 20 tonnes. He said: “If a haulage firm wants to move 1,200 tonnes of goods, it will need about 60 trucks, which may affect operations and logistics at the port. “Whereas only two trains will be needed to move them, thus preventing road accidents and making our roads last longer.” Oche said many haulage firms had started making enquiries about the corporation’s freight services on the movement of their heavy goods. He said: “A lot of people and companies want to be convinced that we can do it, move their goods up to different parts of the country. “Some even assumed that railway is dead but we’re slowly but steadily coming back.” Oche said the rail freight services was helping to decongest the ports. He said the corporation had also partnered with haulage firms on the movement of heavy goods from Lagos to different parts of the country. Oche said the rehabilitation of tracks linking coastal tank farms was underway to allow optimal use of pressurised tank wagons for lifting of petroleum products by rail.
NRC increases freight by 100 per cent 19 June 2016
The Lagos District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has increased the number of freight it carries weekly by 100 per cent, saying it now moves 1270 tonnes of fertilizers from Lagos to Kaduna, and pipes from Lagos to Zaria.
In a statement by the District Public Relations Officer, Khadijah Aroyewun – Adekomaiya, the corporation said the development came as a result of improved partnership with haulage firms in the movement of heavy goods to different parts of the country, where tracks are available.
According to Adekomaiya, the rise in freight represents a tremendous growth from previous months where 575.4 and 500 tonnes of goods were lifted in the months of March and April 2016, respectively.
VoodooDoll: Every four years Buhari comes round to try to rule Nigeria. I have met him before and I must say he is very self-centred.
Does anybody know if Buhari has apologised for his part in the July, 1966 coup?
"According to late Major General Garba (rtd), others involved in planning in the South include Captain JN Garba, Lt. William Walbe and Lt. Paul Tarfa (Federal Guards), Lts. Muhammadu Buhari and John Longboem (2nd battalion), Lts. Pam Nwatkon (Abeokuta garrison, Recce), Lts Jerry Useni,Ibrahim Bako and Garba Dada(4th battalion, Ibadan), and Lt. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (Adjutant, 1st battalion, Enugu)."
"By the time Muhammed got to Ikeja, Captain Martin Adamu, Lts. Nathan, Nassarawa, Muhammadu Buhari, Alfred Gom, Longboem and a bunch of NCOs were already in control of the battalion, having executed several Igbo soldiers and officers (including Major B Nnamani, one of the company commanders) and arrested many others by cordoning off the quartermaster section of the barracks or grabbing soldiers as they came out for morning PT.The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Henry Igboba, narrowly escaped a dragnet deployed around his house by Lt. Longboem and got away. Muhammed reportedly gave orders to stop the killing, and focus instead on securing the perimeter as well as approach roads and taking measures to ensure the eventual success of their activities."
The drugged ex-minister was put in a crate and taken to an airport where a plane was waiting
In London in 1984, a team of Nigerians and Israelis attempted to kidnap and repatriate the exiled former Nigerian minister Umaru Dikko. Mr Dikko, who had fled Nigeria after a military coup, was accused of stealing $1bn (£625m) of government money.
The plot was foiled by a young British customs officer, Charles David Morrow, who has now told the BBC World Service Witness programme what happened.
On a summer's day, Mr Dikko walked out of his front door in an upmarket neighbourhood of Bayswater in London. Within seconds he had been grabbed by two men and bundled into the back of a transit van.
"I remember the very violent way in which I was grabbed and hurled into a van, with a huge fellow sitting on my head - and the way in which they immediately put on me handcuffs and chains on my legs," he told the BBC a year later.
Mr Dikko had been minister for transport in the government of Shehu Shagari until it was overthrown by the military at the end of 1983. He fled to London accused by Nigeria's new rulers of embezzlement - a charge he has always denied.
Labelled "Nigeria's most wanted man", a plot was hatched to get both him and the money back.
The extraordinary plan was to kidnap Mr Dikko, drug him, stick him into a specially made crate and put him on a plane back to Nigeria - alive.
dre11: The Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs . Winifred Oyo -Ita , has said President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of the reinstatement of a former Chairman of the Pension Reforms Commission , Mallam Abdulrasheed Maina, into the civil service. She however said she warned the President against it .
Oyo - Ita said that her warning was based on the implications such reinstatement would have on the anti - corruption war of the Federal Government .
The HoS stated this in her memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari . The memo , with reference number HSCSF/ HCSF/ LU/ COR/FCSC/ 750 / T, was dated October 23, 2017 .
The memo , titled , “ Re : Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, ” was received in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President on October 23.
A copy of the memo was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday .
The President had directed the HoS to investigate the circumstances that surrounded the return of Maina to the civil service.
He gave the directive following the public outcry that trailed Maina’ s reinstatement.
Maina, whose whereabouts is still unknown , has been accused of embezzling pensioners ’ funds running into billions of naira and is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Explaining further , the HoS said she met the President after the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, October 11 , where she verbally warned Buhari against bringing Maina back to the service.
She , however , did not say what the response of the President was after briefing him .
Oyo - Ita said , “ Please, note that the OHCSF was never in agreement with the reinstatement and consequently never conveyed the approval of the FCPC to Mr. A. A. Maina, nor approved his posting to the Ministry of Interior or any other MDA
“ Rather, I sought audience with His Excellency , Mr. President on Wednesday, 11th October , 2017 after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide - ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A . A . Maina, especially the damaging impact on the anti - corruption stance of this administration . ”
The letter partly read, “ Further to your letter Ref . SH/COS /100 /A/ 1570 dated 23 rd October , 2017 on the above subject matter, I write to inform you of the circumstances leading to the irregular recall of Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina.
“ I wrote to place on record the following facts as it permits to Mr. A . A. Maina who was dismissed from service on 21st February , 2013.
“ The move to recall Mr. A. A . Maina was at the instance of a series of letters from the Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal Civil Service Commission requesting the commission to give consequential effect to the judgement that voided the warrant of arrest issued against Mr. A . A . Maina which formed the basis for the query and his eventual dismissal.
“ The letters herewith attached as Annexes I- III are: (a ) Ref . HAGF /FFCSC /2017 /VOL . 1 / 1 dated 19 th January 2017 , (b) Ref . HAGF /FFCSC /2017 /VOL . 1 / 2 dated 21 st February 2017 ; and (c )Ref . HAGF /FFCSC /2017 /VOL . 1 / 1 dated 27 th April 2017.
“ The FCSC thereafter requested that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should advise the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Interior to consider the AGF ’ s letter and make appropriate recommendations to the commission and this was so communicated to the Ministry of Interior .
“ The Ministry of Interior took the matter to the Senior Staff Committee of the ministry and recommended the reinstatement of Mr. A . A . Maina into the service as Deputy Director . “ The OHCSF forwarded the recommendation to the FCSC which has the constitutional responsibility for appointments, promotion and discipline for further action.
“ The FCSC in consideration of the letter from the AGF and the recommendations of the SSC of the Ministry of Interior consequently approved and conveyed the reinstatement of Mr. A. A . Maina with effect from 21 st February , 2013 vide letter herewith attached as Annex IV.
“( vi) The letter of reinstatement , as communicated to HCSF Ref . FC. 4029 . 82/ Vol. III /179 dated 18 th September , 2017 attached herewith as Annex IV , ostensibly also copied the Ministry of Interior which is the one erroneously used to document Mr. A. A. Maina on a claim that he has resumed work since 28 th September , 2017 . The Ministry of Interior informed the OHCSF of this development vide letter Ref . MI / 1436 /II/ 24 dated 16th October , 2017 from Ministry of Interior stating that Mr. A. A . Maina has resumed with effect from 28th September , 2017 is attached as Annex V .
“ Please note that the OHCSF was never in agreement with the reinstatement and consequently never conveyed the approval of the FCSC to Mr. A. A. Maina nor approved his posting to the Ministry of Interior or any other MDA .
Rather, I sought audience with His Excellency , Mr. President on Wednesday, 11th October , 2017 after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide - ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A . A . Maina, especially the damaging impact on the anti - corruption stance of this administration .
“ However , I have requested the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Interior , to provide any documentary evidence to support the claim of reinstatement and posting of Mr. A. A . Maina by OHCSF , since after his dismissal.
“ The letter to the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Interior is attached as Annex VI . The foregoing is accordingly submitted for your information and further consideration . “ Please accept the assurances of my best regards. ”
How Yar’Adua was pressurised to revert refineries sold to Dangote-Obasanjo JULY 30, 2015
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his immediate successor, Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua reversed the sale of two of the country’s refineries which had been finalized before he left office due to “pressure.”
The revelation was made in his serialised interview with “Book Club,” which aired on Channels Television yesterday.
According to Obasanjo, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, leading a consortium of investors had pad $750 million for the two refineries as the Federal Government was unable to manage them at the time, adding that Yar’Adua failed to consolidate on the sale of the refineries so the investors could revamp them, but fell to pressure and cancelled the sale. He said: “The refineries are old and Dangote and some investors paid $750m for two of the refineries.
My successor came to office and reversed the sale. He even refunded the money they paid. “So, I went to him and said ‘why did you do this?’ He said it was because of pressure. So, I said ‘so the pressure of some people was more important than the interest of the whole nation?’ “Right now, you will hardly be able to sell the refineries for more than $250m because they are very old,” said Obasanjo.
$9.6b judgment: How P&ID snubbed Buhari’s $600m offer
According to the fact-sheet, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo separately approved negotiation with Messrs Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) after the Arbitration Tribunal awarded $6.597billion to the company. The two leaders at various times offered $250million and an improved offer of $600million to the Irish company.
The Vice President gave the approval on April 18, 2017, following the recommendations of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), which included a negotiation with P&ID.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Federal Government’s team to meet with P&ID counsel on July 12 and 13 in New York.
Based on Osinbajo’s approval, the AGF and the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and a delegation along with counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, on May 16, 2017, met with representatives of P & ID and its counsel to negotiate the judgment debt.
The government team initially on May 16, 2017 succeeded in negotiating the judgment debt from $8.4billion, to which it had risen, to $600million.
But P & ID rejected the offer on the grounds that what was agreed on to be executed was a Draft Stay of Enforcement Agreement and not a Settlement Agreement as proposed by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government offered $250million which P&ID rejected.
The document said although a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), recommended an amicable settlement with P&ID, the “ proposed settlement broke down.”
The government said the “settlement could not be reached before the time for report of settlement elapsed, therefore proceedings resumed at the Tribunal for determination.”
Anambra Election: Buhari, Tinubu, others protest at INEC hqtrs NOVEMBER 28, 2013
The party had earlier called for the cancellation of the entire election due to wide-spread irregularities which allegedly characterized the exercise held penultimate Saturday. The APC procession was led by leaders of the party including:the National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; former military Head of State,Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Other notable members of the party who participated in the protest were: former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba; former Governor of Kano State, Senator Kabiru Gaya; former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sanni Yerima; former Governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume and former Governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo.
In what appears a brazen mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption to date, a former governor accused of absconding amidst his ongoing fraud trial has been seen attending a rally of Nigeria’s ruling party.
Orji Kalu joined other politicians of the All Progressives Congress in Umuahia to stomp for the party’s candidates ahead of the general elections next month.
The appearance comes amidst pronouncements by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former governor was wanted after departing Nigeria for Germany on purported health grounds in November 2018.
The N7.7 billion trial had remained stalled ever since, although the court fixed further hearing for later this month.
Mr Kalu left office as governor of Abia State in Nigeria’s South-east in May 2007, and has faced allegations he squandered state resources during his reign.
After several judicial manoeuvres which critics said were designed to frustrate his prosecution, the EFCC ultimately reactivated Mr Kalu’s case last year, filling amended graft charges of up to N7.7 billion against him.
At the resumed hearing at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on November 5, 2018, the EFCC expressed shock that Mr Kalu had departed the country despite seizing his travel documents.
The former governor’s lawyers said he travelled to recuperate in Germany following a surgical operation.
The judge scolded Mr Kalu for departing the country without due notice to the court, and gave him seven days to return to the country for his trial.
Although the matter was subsequently adjourned till November 12, 2018, Mr Kalu failed to show up. He has been reportedly sighted at different parts of the country by those who know him.
Last week, the Buhari campaign announced Mr Kalu as a key member of the president’s reelection committee.
The announcement drew nationwide outrage, even though the politician was not sighted in public.
But at the rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, today, Mr Kalu was shown on NTA wearing white clothes with an APC campaign lapel Friday afternoon.
It was not immediately clear why Mr Kalu seamlessly roamed about in the country without being apprehended by law enforcement authorities.
A spokesperson for the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES the agency was not aware that Mr Kalu was in the country, much less attending a public event.
A spokesperson for Mr Kalu did not return requests for comments Friday evening.
A Trend
The seemingly sloppy manner with which Mr Kalu’s corruption case is being handled suggest that the Buhari administration has not been as enthusiastic in going after corruption suspects in his own political party as he had been with opposition, said political analyst, Sola Olubanjo.
“We have seen cases and cases where the Buhari government turns a blind eye to its allies who have been formally accused of corruption,” Mr Olubanjo said. “But we may say the soft-landing they have given Orji Kalu is the most brazen since 2015.”
Mr Kalu was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party since 1999. He joined the APC in November 2016, and critics immediately added him to a growing list of opposition politicians moving to the new ruling party to dodge trial for fraud.
I don't know these people problem gan joor. To me he deserves more than these, these are his sweat so what is ur problem with That? most of these people complaining are Igbo. what's igbos problem with Lagos or tinubu ?I ve never seen or heard any igbo man complain about orji uzor kalu or other former governor.
adoboy04: I don't know these people problem gan joor. To me he deserves more than these, these are his sweat so what is ur problem with That? most of these people complaining are Igbo. what's igbos problem with Lagos or tinubu ?I ve never seen or heard any igbo man complain about orji uzor kalu or other former governor.
