Yes, there is corruption within Nigerian government, but it has been over amplified, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday.

The president said this at the signing of the Power Reform Transaction contracts at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Let me continue to assure Nigerians that yes, there are issues of corruption in this country but somehow it has been over-amplified,” Mr. Jonathan said. “People should watch how we have been conducting government business. We have been bringing down the issues of corruption gradually.”

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130756-corruption-in-nigeria-is-over-amplified-president-jonathan-says.html

^^^ Hehe.. He is drunk again! After taking some kinkin...the clueless one always come out to spew rubbish

** Corruption in Nigeria is “over-amplified”, President Jonathan


The Federal Government was praised for ensuring a transparent bidding process for the power stations.

Yes, there is corruption within Nigerian government, but it has been over amplified, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday.
The president said this at the signing of the Power Reform Transaction contracts at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Let me continue to assure Nigerians that yes, there are issues of corruption in this country but somehow it has been over-amplified,” Mr. Jonathan said. “People should watch how we have been conducting government business. We have been bringing down the issues of corruption gradually.”

Nigeria needs N530 billion for power
Also at the programme, the Federal Government announced that it needs investment worth $3.4 billion (N530 billion) between now and 2016 to improve on the power currently being generated in the country.

The government, however, said it is working out funding arrangements for the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s long term expansion plan from a mix which will include the Transmission Development Fund, International Development Banks and Multilateral agencies.

Amidst praises on government for ensuring a transparent bidding process, Mr. Jonathan said he was particularly pleased to hear directly from the private sector that the process was transparent adding that the stories of corruption in the bidding process were not true.

Obviously elated by the encomium poured on his administration for the way government has handled the privatization process, the president made the declaration that the issue of corruption in Nigeria has been over-amplified.

“Look at the power sector, when we started initially there were stories in the papers but at the end, even when I was in the U.S., companies from there that participated said publicly that the process was transparent and issues of corruption was not there.
“At least today we have also heard directly, that the process was transparent and that there were no issues of manipulations or corruption,” he said.

Mr. Jonathan further appealed to Nigerians on the need to trust in his administration’s efforts to tackle the issue of corruption adding that “the country belongs to all of us and we will all protect what belongs to us, what belongs to our children and what belongs to the generation yet unborn.”

The President also commended the various stake holders including the Governors, the development partners and the private sector for their interest and investment in thesector and for “having confidence in us to place this huge investmentin this country.”

In his speech, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, disclosed that “installed available generation capacity has risen to 6,000MW while generation capability has increased to 5,228MW with peak generation at slightly above 4,500MW.
“We expect to add additional generation capacity of about 2,200MW from the NIPP projects (1,896MW), IPPs (292MW) and FGN legacy assets (514MW) before the end of 2013.”

He noted that the Federal Government is also investing heavily to boost generation through the large, medium and small hydro plants with total capacity of over 4,234MW. These include Zungeru-700MW; Mambilla -3,050MW; Guarara II -360MW; Itsi-40MW; small Hydro Power -84MW.

“These massive increase in generation underpins the need fora robust transmission grid. Currently, our grid remains a weak link with a wheeling capacity of about 4,800MW. With government’s objective to achieve 10,000MW in 2014 and 20,000MW in 2016, the urgent need to expand our transmission capability to evacuate the projected additions becomes imminent”

“I must admit that it has not been a bed of roses. The reform has had its setbacks and slippages due to the unprecedented size and scope of the reform program. Resolution of labour issues is at advanced stage. We expect to conclude all labour severance settlement issuesbefore the end of June 2013. The process for the sale of Afam Power Plant and Kaduna Disco is on-going,” Mr. Nebo said.

The Minister commended the President for his unprecedented support for the power reform programme stating that the President and his Vice have demonstrated great leadership and dogged courage in taking the needed decisions and initiatives in driving, with personal commitment, the Nigerian Power Sector Revolution

“I wish to place on record that there is nothing we in the sector have asked from Mr. President that he has not graciously granted. For us, that is the highest demonstration of political will. Sirs, history and generations of Nigerians yet unborn will ever cherish your vision and labour,” he addressed Mr. Jonathan and Vice-President, Namadi Sambo.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130756-corruption-in-nigeria-is-over-amplified-president-jonathan-says.html

@OP, you would have posted the full article, to understand the Context and even the Reason for the Gathering:

The Federal Government was praised for ensuring a transparent bidding process for the power stations.
Yes, there is corruption within Nigerian government, but it has been over amplified, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday.
The president said this at the signing of the Power Reform Transaction contracts at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Let me continue to assure Nigerians that yes, there are issues of corruption in this country but somehow it has been over-amplified,” Mr. Jonathan said. “People should watch how we have been conducting government business. We have been bringing down the issues of corruption gradually.”
Nigeria needs N530 billion for power
Also at the programme, the Federal Government announced that it needs investment worth $3.4 billion (N530 billion) between now and 2016 to improve on the power currently being generated in the country.
The government, however, said it is working out funding arrangements for the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s long term expansion plan from a mix which will include the Transmission Development Fund, International Development Banks and Multilateral agencies.
[b]Amidst praises on government for ensuring a transparent bidding process, Mr. Jonathan said he was particularly pleased to hear directly from the private sector that the process was transparent adding that the stories of corruption in the bidding process were not true.
Obviously elated by the encomium poured on his administration for the way government has handled the privatization process, the president made the declaration that the issue of corruption in Nigeria has been over-amplified.
“Look at the power sector, when we started initially there were stories in the papers but at the end, even when I was in the U.S., companies from there that participated said publicly that the process was transparent and issues of corruption was not there.
“At least today we have also heard directly, that the process was transparent and that there were no issues of manipulations or corruption,” he said.
Mr. Jonathan further appealed to Nigerians on the need to trust in his administration’s efforts to tackle the issue of corruption adding that “the country belongs to all of us and we will all protect what belongs to us, what belongs to our children and what belongs to the generation yet unborn.”[/b]
The President also commended the various stake holders including the Governors, the development partners and the private sector for their interest and investment in the sector and for “having confidence in us to place this huge investment in this country.”
In his speech, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, disclosed that “installed available generation capacity has risen to 6,000MW while generation capability has increased to 5,228MW with peak generation at slightly above 4,500MW.
“We expect to add additional generation capacity of about 2,200MW from the NIPP projects (1,896MW), IPPs (292MW) and FGN legacy assets (514MW) before the end of 2013.”
He noted that the Federal Government is also investing heavily to boost generation through the large, medium and small hydro plants with total capacity of over 4,234MW. These include Zungeru-700MW; Mambilla -3,050MW; Guarara II -360MW; Itsi-40MW; small Hydro Power -84MW.
“These massive increase in generation underpins the need for a robust transmission grid. Currently, our grid remains a weak link with a wheeling capacity of about 4,800MW. With government’s objective to achieve 10,000MW in 2014 and 20,000MW in 2016, the urgent need to expand our transmission capability to evacuate the projected additions becomes imminent”
“I must admit that it has not been a bed of roses. The reform has had its setbacks and slippages due to the unprecedented size and scope of the reform program. Resolution of labour issues is at advanced stage. We expect to conclude all labour severance settlement issues before the end of June 2013. The process for the sale of Afam Power Plant and Kaduna Disco is on-going,” Mr. Nebo said.
The Minister commended the President for his unprecedented support for the power reform programme stating that the President and his Vice have demonstrated great leadership and dogged courage in taking the needed decisions and initiatives in driving, with personal commitment, the Nigerian Power Sector Revolution.
“I wish to place on record that there is nothing we in the sector have asked from Mr. President that he has not graciously granted. For us, that is the highest demonstration of political will. Sirs, history and generations of Nigerians yet unborn will ever cherish your vision and labour,” he addressed Mr. Jonathan and Vice-President, Namadi Sambo.
Tony Elumelu of Transnational Corporation, who spoke on behalf of the five generation companies who also received their certificates, commended the Federal Government for transparently handling the power process.
He also commended the new partnership between government and the private sector, assuring that they were willing to pay up the balance of 75 percent adding that they will develop the much needed capacity to ensure that Nigerians enjoy power within the shortest time possible.
Mr. Elumelu further called on government to take Nigerian banks into confidence in the financial arrangements for the long term funding of the Transmission Company of Nigeria adding that Nigerian Banks have come of age and are capable of partaking in the funding of the needed $3.4billion.

God bless this fisherman from Otuoke. Keep doing your best and let the haters rot away.

Corruption Massive Under Jonathan-U.S.

The United States government on Friday indicted the President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government of massive and widespread corruption.

According to the United States Department of State, government officials and agencies frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity.

This was contained in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, which was released on Friday evening.

In the report, the judiciary and security agencies, especially the police, were said be lacking in transparency.

It read in part,“The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces. The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office.

“There was a widespread perception judges were easily bribed and litigants could not rely on the courts to render impartial judgments. Citizens encountered long delays and alleged requests from judicial officials for bribes to expedite cases or obtain favourable rulings.

“Police corruption remained rampant. Reports of checkpoint bribery and shooting incidents decreased in February after newly appointed Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar announced the closure of all police checkpoints across the country; however, illegal checkpoints remained common in some regions. Police routinely stopped drivers who did not commit traffic infractions, refusing to allow them to continue until they paid bribes,” it stated.

Highlighting events that occurred in the country in last year that portrayed lack of transparency and probity, the US government listed the escape of the suspected mastermind of the Boko Haram 2011 Christmas Day bombing from custody, noting how the police commissioner, who aided the suspect went unpunished; the conviction of former Delta State governor James Ibori in the Southwark Crown Court in London of charges of money laundering and other financial crimes totaling N12.4bn, after he was acquitted by a Nigerian court; and the N1.067trn fuel subsidy fund lost to “endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency” as examples.

It stated that, “In July, the government released a list of those who had benefited illegally from the subsidy program, which included relatives and colleagues of key government officials. In late July, the EFCC began arraigning suspects, first with a group of 20 indictments, including six oil companies and 11 individuals. By year’s end, the EFCC initiated prosecutions of approximately 50 cases related to the subsidy scam. The majority of these cases involved companies and individuals who had fraudulently received subsidy revenue. Investigations and trials had not produced any convictions by year’s end.”

The US document also faulted the refusal of public officials to declare their assets as stipulated by law.

It stated that in June 2012, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and other groups demanded that President Jonathan should disclose his assets from 2007 to 2012 but that Jonathan refused.

The report also rated the anticorruption efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practises and other related offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as “largely ineffectual,” adding that despite ICPC’s wide mandate, it had only achieved 60 convictions since its inauguration in 2000.

It also listed a number of cases being handled by the EFCC that have remained inconclusive, including the case of alleged misappropriation of one N1bn against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and N40bn against his deputy Usman Nafada; and the cases against four former governors Gbenga Daniel, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and Muhammed Danjuma Goje, for allegedly misappropriating N58bn, N25bn, N18bn, and N12.8bn, respectively.

Apart from corruption, the US accused the Federal Government of numerous unlawful killings.

It decried frequent abduction of civilians and lack of press freedom, highlighting cases, where journalists were harassed and beaten up.

It also noted widespread discrimination against persons with disability.

The Presidency, however, described the report as an incorrect assessment of the situation in the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, warned Nigerians to be wary of such assessments which he described as “parachute researches.”

He said contrary to the picture the report painted, the present administration has remained the most transparent government since the return of democracy to Nigeria.

He said it was in the spirit of transparency that the present administration exposed the scam in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry and passed the Freedom of Information Bill.

He said, “In 2012 that the report is talking about, the EFCC alone got more than 200 convictions. This is in public domain.

“This government did an audit to eliminate waste and leakages in the system.

“On the checkpoints they talked about, it is important that they identify the difference between checkpoints and stop-and-search operation which is required especially in tackling security challenges.

“Nigerians should be wary of these external assessors that jump into conclusion. What are the parameters used in arriving at their conclusion? How scientific are the analysis?

“They assess Nigeria based on the instinct of a parachuter who jumps put of an aircraft without a fair knowledge of where he is landing.”

Source:http://www.punchng.com/news/corruption-massive-under-jonathan-us

taharqa: @OP, you would have posted the full article, to understand the Context and even the Reason for the Gathering:

Dont mind the mischievous Op