₦airaland Forum

MOTORISTS, COMMUTERS KICK AS SENATE PROPOSES N5 PETROL CHARGE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/motorists-commuters-kick-as-senate.html

Motorists and commuters yesterday kicked against the proposal by the Senate to effect a N5 levy, chargeable per litre, on every petrol and diesel products imported into the country and on other non-locally refined petroleum products.
The Red Chamber said the N5 charges will be a source of revenue generation for funding and maintenance of roads in the country.
But road users, including motorists, commuters and motorcyclists in the country described the plan to effect the N5 levy on petrol and diesel an unhealthy development, which if implemented, would cause untold hardship to them.
This, they argued, is coming at a time the country is still enmeshed in recession, even as the government is yet to come up with any concrete plan for economic stability.
Those who spoke to Eyes Of Lagos on Friday on the proposed legislation said the development automatically translates to the fact that there will be more trouble for Nigerians as their suffering will heighten.
The implication of the bill, which was listed on the Senate Order Paper yesterday, is that end users who are motorists will pay N5 tax on every litre of fuel or diesel bought at any petrol station.
The bill titled, ‘National Roads Fund’ was to be presented by the Senate committee chairman on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya, but was stepped down at the last minute.
The National Roads Fund, (EST.ETC) Bill 2017 (S.B218), makes it mandatory that fuel levy of N5 is chargeable per liter on any volume of petrol and diesel products imported into the country and on locally refined products.
If it sails through to become law, the bill will evolve into additional source of revenue for the National Roads Funds, just as it will also provide a predictable and sustainable funding for road management network.
The Senate noted that “inappropriate funding for the management of road infrastructure leads to premature failure of assets and results in increased construction costs for routine and periodic maintenance”.
If the proposed plan by the Senate unfolds into a reality, a litre of petrol which currently sells at N145 may be scaled up to between N150 and N155 per litre.
The bill signed by 12 out of the 15 members of the Senate committee on works chaired by Senator Gaya (APC Kano South) recommends a road fund solution to mitigate some of the insufficiency and unpredictability of funding in the maintenance of roads.
The Senate also plans other sources of generating revenue for roads maintenance, including Axle load control charges, International Vehicle Transit Charges, Roads Fund Surcharge of 0.5% chargeable on the assessed value of any vehicle imported at any time into Nigeria, 10% from toll fees on federal roads and 10% of revenue accruing from lease or license or other fees pertaining to non –vehicular road usages along any federal road collected by federal roads agency.
The Senate committee chairman on Works, Senator Gaya had in October last year made a lead debate on the bill and submitted that Roads Fund Solution is the way out for the rehabilitation and maintenance of national roads in Nigeria.
But in a swift reaction to the proposal by the upper chamber of the federal legislature, the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) last night described the plan to effect the N5 charges on petrol and diesel as unhealthy, saying if implemented it would cause untold hardship to motorists.
In a telephone chat with Eyes Of Lagos, national president of ACOMORAN, Babangida Maihula, contended that the proposal will definitely be unrealistic because it was coming in the face of the economic recession the country is still grappling with.
Besides, he said it is a complicated scenario when it is considered that the federal was still struggling to put in place viable economic measures that can stabilise the economic hardship dogging Nigerians in the face.
He said already, motorists are merely trying to survive the hardship and that any further increase in the price of petrol would deteriorate the economic situation in the country.
According to him, while the masses are faced with varied challenges, especially the instability to meet the cost of living, the proposal, if effected, will not be a good development to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
Maihula said, “If there is any plan to increase charges on petrol, that will be unhealthy. We members of the masses, especially motorists are struggling to survive and any further increase will add to the already deteriorating economic situation. The motorists are feeling the hardship and we are not comfortable with the development”.
An economist, Mr. Tunde Oyediran, argued that, while the road funds is a welcome development, the fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petroleum and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined Petroleum products may lead to an increase in fuel prices.
He added that Nigerian was not ready for such legislation at a time consumer products are on the high side in the market. A
ccording to Oyediran, the rise in price fuel will lead to tripple effect on the other part of the economy, even as he said that government should continue on fiscal policy, taxation and borrowing, but should also ensure that the funds are put on developmental projects
Vice chairman, Winigroup, an information technology security company, Mr. Tim Akano, said if the Senate passes the bill, it will definitely lead to increase in the pump price of petrol product, which is not what Nigerians need at this time.
He said, “What Nigeria needs right now is effective tax collection. If they want to generate more money, they need to generate more of the taxes that are on ground. If government can focus on stabilising electricity, there are millions of businesses that will spring up, thus bringing new businesses into the tax net”.
On his part, the executive secretary, Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, warned that another increase in pump price through the imposition of N5 charge on fuel and diesel will amount to political suicide.
“If they should do that the cost of transport will increase. The cost of food prices will go up and even the cost of recharge cards will go up as telecommunications operators will be affected by the additional cost of diesel used in running the base stations. Who will cater for the N5; is it not the telecommunications subscribers?” He queried.
On his part, the director-general of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf , agreed with the Senate that the country cannot continue to fund maintenance of its roads from the budget.
“All over the world there is always this kind of funds that is created specifically for the funding of the roads”, he stated, noting that, while the state of Nigeria roads are very deplorable at the moment, it is a major infrastructure that the country needs in support the economy.
Muda added that one of the best way to deal with the issue of the road is to create the road funds, saying the road fund is a good idea.
He, however, said that how the funds will be generated is something the country would have to deliberate well on, depending on the prevailing social economic condition.
He added that, with a lot of challenges and difficulties facing the citizens, the government needs to choose the right time, even though the concept is desirable.

NIGERIA TO INCREASE CRUDE SELL TO INDONESIA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/nigeria-to-increase-crude-sell-to.html

Indonesia, a country with an emerging economy in South East Asia, has indicated interest to purchase more crude oil from Nigeria.
Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto, said his country is interested in increasing Crude oil purchase from Nigeria.
He stated this in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, yesterday.
Purwanto stated that his country’s president, Joko Widodo, had instructed Indonesia National Oil Company, Pertamina, to direct its attention to Nigeria in its quest to meet that country’s surging energy needs.
A press statement signed by the spokesperson of NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, explained that the call by the ambassador signifies the prospects of soaring Nigeria’s market share in Asian emerging economies which include China and India, having lost grounds in crude oil sales to the United State of America due to advances in shale oil exploration in recent years.
The statement added that although Indonesia produces 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day, it supplements its 1.4million barrels per day consumption with 18 per cent supplies from Nigeria and 28 per cent from Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during the visit of the Ambassador to his office, Dr Baru who welcomed the development said NNPC was interested in working with Indonesia on its initiative to replace firewood and kerosene with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as primary domestic fuel for cooking.
Baru said the corporation was aware of the huge success of the kerosene substitution programme in Indonesia and would like a collaboration to help Nigeria achieve a similar feat.
The GMD said NNPC would also like to partner with Indonesia in the area of bio-fuels production to diversify the nation’s energy mix and meet its energy needs.
He challenged Indonesia to consider participating in the forthcoming bid round in order to realize its aspiration of maintaining a presence in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
On his part, the Indonesian Ambassador disclosed that his country looked forward to lifting crude oil directly from Nigeria, rather than through a third party as is currently the case.
He extended an invitation to the corporation to grace the Indonesia-Nigeria Business Forum holding in Lagos, adding that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on possible areas of cooperation between the two countries was in the works.

LOL BVN SCAMMER GOT THIS REPLY AFTER SENDING THIS TO A MAN
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/lol-bvn-scammer-got-this-reply-after.html

A lady with Instagram handle @dhamieo6 share the message that a scammer sent to her boyfriend, see her boyfriend funny reply

See Photo

FG UNCOVERS N700BN CONTRACT SCAM IN NIGER DELTA MINISTRY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/fg-uncovers-n700bn-contract-scam-in.html

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday received a report on the probe of activities in the Niger Delta Ministry between 2009 and 2015, which uncovered massive contract scams from the N700 billion released to the ministry within the period.
Eyes Of Lagos findings gathered that, According to the report, despite the huge sums paid to contractors, only a dismal 12 per cent of contract performance was recorded, even as government now plans to recover the outstanding balance from the contractors or have them prosecuted.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa, Abuja
He said, “The revealing content of the report shows that over N423 billion has been expended in the region by the Ministry alone, not other intervening agencies. From this amount, project execution rate has been at 12 per cent, with an average completion rate of a project standing at five years and the impact rate is eight per cent.
“So, today we have sought approval from Council to have the recommendations of this report conveyed to the legitimate agencies charged with the statutory responsibilities of recovering government assets that are either misappropriated, misused or found to be idling in some quarters.
“With this, it means all those who have accessed government resources for one purpose or another must be compelled to make adequate use of same, otherwise face the recommendations that go with such violations. That is our position concerning that report and we have got Council approval for that”.
The Minister explained that the figures mean that 60 per cent of the funds appropriated for 427 contracts were paid out to contractors who only managed a 12 per cent completion rate.
He continued: “When we say 60 per cent, it is 60 per cent of the amount of money that was actually appropriated, being N700billion. And so, 60 per cent of that constitutes N423 billion.
“So, to find that N423 billion has been expended in the region with the type of result we see obviously shows that there is something tangibly and obviously wrong with how procurement had been carried out in the Ministry”.
On the punishment to be meted to defaulting contractors, Usani said, “The measure of action to be taken to address the shortfall of our expectations of commitment to contractual commitments will be the determinant of what will be done. So, those that require sanctions will be sanctioned and the sanctions may not be uniform. It will also be according to the measure of liabilities owed by each of those contractors.
“Some should be compelled to return to site. Some, of course, should be made to refund money – those who we have seen by action displaying criminal intent by collecting money and not appearing at site at all.
“The report is not just all about punishing people. There are also those who have performed well and are commended and the report recommends that they should be encouraged to carry on in their contractual commitments”.
He also noted that officials like those of evaluation or monitoring personnel the ministry found to have connived with the defaulting contractors will be approximately dealt with, though he didn’t confirm any impending purge of officials.
On the slow pace of work on the East -west road, Usani said, “As you know, no government agency is sufficiently funded. That becomes a major challenge. The second issue is to address the concern about commitment or lack of it by government. No administration, to the best of my knowledge, within a democratic setting has been more committed than this present government.
“And demonstration of this is the action of this administration to go ahead and seek extra budgetary special loan credit from China to the tune of $500million dollars. Now we are making a fresh application to increase that to $774million dollars to be able to tackle an aspect of that road and this came under five of the special projects nominated by the president to see that work doesn’t stop and if you look at our budget as lean as it is- about 50 per cent goes on the allocation to the east west road.
“Beyond that, for this year, the budget ministry proposed N8 billion counterpart funding for the credit facility we are getting from China. So, we are committed but it is just impossible to say we will be able to allocate enough funds because the competing demand do not allow satisfaction in every sector of the economy. So, it is a problem for us”.

LASG ASSURES RESIDENTS OF IMPROVED WATER SUPPLY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/lasg-assures-residents-of-improved.html

The Lagos Water Corporation has assured Mainlanders and other Lagos residents that efforts to improve water supply has commenced adding that the state is also working to renovate 48 mini and three major waterworks.
According to the new development, the Lagos State Government has also concluded plans to inaugurate thet mini water works in Imeke-Iworo, Surulere , Ishasi and Abule Egba.
In a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications, Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Oluwaferanmi Akinmuleya, the additional waterworks would boost access to safe water to residents in the areas.
“Presently, the state has embarked on the installation of pre-paid meters in Lekki and Ikeja, and additional 15,000 units to be deployed in Surulere, Itire, Yaba/Ebute-Meta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, Victoria Island Annex and Lekki, to reduce water wastage,” Akinmuleya said in the statement.
Furthermore, Eyes Of Lagos gathered that the State government has also commenced pipe replacement and mains expansion to Surulere, Onikan, Lekki, Badore, Ajagbandi, Ikeja and Ikate.
Others are Ikorodu, Epe, VI Annex, Bariga, Oworonshoki, Ijora-Badia, Apapa, Iponri, Oshodi and Ikoyi, among others.
Akinmuleya added that the State government did not privatize the Odomola water project, stressing that the State government would be involved in the execution of the project.

BIAFRA: OHANEZE NDIGBO SPEAKS ON IPOB, MASSOB SIT-AT-HOME ORDER
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/biafra-ohaneze-ndigbo-speaks-on-ipob.html

John Nwodo, the leader of Ohaneze, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation has bared his mind on the proposed sit-at-home protest by Biafra separatist groups: the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.



The IPOB group plans a sit-at-home protest in the south-east and south-south regions of the country on May 30 to coincide with the annual ‘Biafra Remembrance Day,’ as well as honour the memory of pro-Biafra activists killed by security agencies over the years.

The group called for the closure of all markets within “Biafran territory” on May 30, and a halt of all vehicular movements in the area from 12 a.m. on May 29 till midnight of May 30.

“They have been very law-abiding. In fact, they say everybody should stay at home. They didn’t ask everybody to come and demonstrate on the road. They say stay at home to prayerfully and sorrowfully mourn the dead,” Mr. Nwodo said in an interview with newsmen Festus Owete and Ebuka Onyeji.

“People died on both sides… About 1.5 million people on the Biafran side died. When I talk about Biafrans I am not talking about the Igbos. Philip Effiong was from the present Akwa Ibom. He was deputy to Ojukwu. Kogbara from Rivers was administrator in Biafra. Achuzia was GOC. So, Biafra was beyond the confines of what you call Igbo land today? The feeling is still in all those places.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has warned IPOB and other separatist groups not to embark on protests on May 30.

In a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, on Friday, the police said it would not hesitate to deal decisively with any attempt to cause disturbance or carry out any unlawful procession or assembly.
The Enugu State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Ebere Amaraizu, also warned it would resist any attempt by the separatist groups to force people to stay indoors on May 30.

The IPOB and Nigeria security agencies have a history of violence confrontations over the past few years.

At least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters were killed between August 2015 and August 2016 as Nigerian security forces embarked on – what Amnesty International described as – a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions and violence in the Southeast.

During last year’s Biafra Remembrance Day march, at least 60 people were killed as hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces across the Southeast region, according to Amnesty International.

In announcing this year’s protest, the IPOB had said it would resist any attempt to deter it from going ahead with its plan.
“The saboteurs and agents cannot stop us from honouring our fallen heroes because it is our inalienable right to remember and honour those who died in the struggle for Biafra independence,” the group had said.

The Nigerian Civil War, better known as the Biafra war (July 6, 1967 – January 15, 1970), was a war fought between the government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra. Immediate causes of the war in 1966 included a military coup, a counter-coup, and persecution of Igbos living in Northern Nigeria.

In a related development, the 82 Division Nigerian Army on Monday denied an allegation supposedly made by IPOB in a statement released on Monday that “there was sporadic shootings by the Army in Aba and Umuahia axis” and that soldiers opened fire on IPOB members in Aba during a procession in honour of those who died during the Biafra civil war.

“The Division wishes to state there was no soldier at the venue or vicinity where the procession took place. Also, there was no crisis or breakdown of law and order in Aba, Umuahia and in the whole of South Eastern part of Nigeria as to warrant/justify ‘use of firearms’ as falsely and mischievously alleged by IPOB propagandists,” an army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, a colonel, said.

“What is obvious, however, is an increase in the presence of security agencies on routine patrols in different locations in the region, particularly areas that are regarded as real or potential flash points. The aim is to pro-actively checkmate possible security breaches in view of sordid/divisive utterances and in some cases blatant actions by secessionist agitators.”

NBA DEMANDS RELEASE OF DASUKI, EL-ZAKZAKY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/nba-demands-release-of-dasuki-el-zakzaky.html

The Nigerian Bar Association on Monday demanded the immediate release of the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzakky.
Both men have been in the custody of the Department of State Services since December 2015 despite various court orders directing the Service and the Federal Government to release them.
The NBA, whose President, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), addressed journalists in Abuja, said the continued detention of Dasuki and El-Zakzakky was unjustifiable.
He said, “The NBA wishes to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to continually demonstrate religious adherence to the tenets of constitutional democracy. In this regard the NBA is appalled at the continued detention of certain individuals in blatant disobedience to court orders.
“Amongst these individuals are Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife and also Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser. Whilst we recognise the serious the charges on which these individuals are held, we nevertheless view their continued detention as unjustified and contrary to the express court orders.
“We call on the government to without further delay respect these orders.”

IKORODU, BADAGRY TO GET NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRES
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/ikorodu-badagry-to-get-new-emergency.html

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has announced that plans are already at advanced stage to establish two new emergency response centres in Ikorodu and Badagry. The process according to Ambode is to ensure a twenty four hour operational interface with the major response unit hub at Oshodi.
Ambode made the disclosure during the commissioning of the newly established LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) in Lgoa.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, Ambode promised that his administration would continue to fast track the training of more voluntary community emergency responders across the State.
According to him, the “State government has ensured a paradigm shift in emergency management by scaling up monitoring and evacuation activities of disaster prone areas through the establishment of a coordinated network of CCTV surveillance and synergy with other emergency response agencies in the State.”
He appealed to residents and stakeholders to support the government by assisting the newly commissioned emergency response unit to achieve the desired impact through the provision of timely and relevant emergency information when needed.
“As individual, we must remain vigilant and be safety conscious at all times, safety is everybody’s business. We must therefore be our brother’s keeper,” he added.

US COURT FORBIDS BURNA BOY FROM PERFORMING IN US, CANADA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/us-court-forbids-burna-boy-from.html

A US Supreme Federal Court in New York has slammed an injunction against musical artist Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy.
The injunction prevents him from performing at any event venue or any form of recording anywhere in USA & Canada for the time being unless he settles with the New York- based promotion company, Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, founded by promoter/producer, Niyi Fatogun.
Burna Boy is an independent artist signed under the Burna Boy Ltd and released his OAS LP under Spaceship Entertainment label that presently holds the copyright to all his music.
He was sued in the Federal Court by Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, on allegations that he signed a contract for 2016 USA & Canada Tour, failed to turn up, postponed the tour which put the promoter Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, in serious debt in the United States.
Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, was said to have invested up to $25,000 US Dollars in preparation and facilitating the tour.
The issue started after the promoter, Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, obtained USA Work Permit approval visa for Burna Boy, then Burna Boy failed to honour the contractual agreement.
The promoter, Niyi Fatogun, hired professional entertainment lawyer, Takena Barango to represent Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, on Wednesday May17th, 2017, at the Supreme Court in New York.
The judge ordered a court injunction on Burna Boy outside US Tour, until Burna Boy Ltd settles the promoter for the financial loss Vibesland Entertainment, LLC, suffered due to breach of trust.

BRITISH AIRWAYS CANCELS FLIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD AFTER IT OUTAGE
source; http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/british-airways-cancels-flights-around.html

BRITISH Airways yesterday cancelled some of its flights around the world due to global IT failure.



The Lagos – London and Abuja – London flights as well as those from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports were affected leading to severe disruption for travellers.

The airline said it suffered a “major IT systems failure” and apologized to its passengers.

However, the cancellation was announced after the BA plane plying the Abuja route had departed.

BA said terminals at Heathrow and Gatwick became extremely congested and it was cancelling all flights from the airports. It urged passengers not to go to the airports.

Earlier, passengers at Heathrow reported long lines at check-in counters and flight delays.

Passengers at Heathrow Airport reported long lines at check-in counters and flight delays. One posted a picture on Twitter of BA staff writing gate numbers on a white board.

“We’ve tried all of the self-check-in machines. None were working, apart from one,” said Terry Page, booked on a flight to Texas. “There was a huge queue for it and it later transpired that it didn’t actually work, but you didn’t discover that until you got to the front.”

The problem came on a holiday weekend, when thousands of Britons were travelling.

British Airways Country Manager, Kola Olayinka confirmed the development.

The airline was busy all day yesterday in Nigeria trying to reach its customers already booked to inform them of the development.

Travellers at British airports flooded the company’s Twitter account with complaints of flights grounded, unavailable online services and huge queues.

The computer glitch, which also took out the BA website for two hours, came after a similar outage last September.

Delays were reported in Rome, Prague, Milan, Stockholm and Malaga.

2M NIGERIANS LIVING WITH HEPATITIS’
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/2m-nigerians-living-with-hepatitis.html
The national president, Guild of Medical Directors, Dr. Tony Phillips has disclosed that about two million Nigerians are living with hepatitis.
To this end, he said that the guild would hold its 24th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference on Eradication of Hepatitis in Abuja today with the theme, “Lets make Nigeria Hepatitis Free”.
He confirmed that there would be free screening, counseling and possible referral for treatment on hepatitis with the latest technology to be deployed by MEDICAID and Firmcare Diagnostics.
The conference which is expected to attract medical directors, health care providers, medical supply companies, officials from the Ministry of Health, allied Health agencies and the public would further proffer solutions on the scourge of hepatitis in Nigeria.
According to him, “Hepatitis is a very silent ailment that does not manifest until it is too late and it causes destruction because the organ that it affects which is the liver, does not give signal until when it has gone very far; it only shows when the damage has been done”.
He said though Nigeria could be free from hepatitis in the nearest future, that hepatitis is a stubborn ailment. “It takes time to be cleared but let us start from somewhere; we dont want to get more people affected because if you reduce more infection you will now reduce the spread and by the time those who are having it are treated and cleared, we can make Nigeria hepatitis free”.
On his part, “the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of GMD conference, Dr. Wisdom Ihejieto explained that major highlight of the conference would be the generation of data by the Guild across the States on the prevalence of Hepatitis in Nigeria.
This he said would be made available to the Federal Ministry of Health for the provision of vaccines across the states.
Also speaking, the President of Guild of Medical Directors Wives of Nigeria (GMD-WON) noted that the body would conduct a free hepatitis test at IDP Camp Kuchingoro, Abuja as part of the activities lined up to commemorate the conference.

GOVERNOR AMBODE SEEK IMMEDIATE RESCUE OF ABDUCTED LAGOS STUDENTS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/governor-ambode-seek-immediate-rescue.html

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Friday asked security agencies in the state to put machinery in motion to rescue six students of Model College, Igbonla who were abducted by gunmen on Thursday.


According to Eyes Of Lagos correspondent who gathered that the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who visited the school on Friday in Epe, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria said the governor had directed security agencies to take immediate action to rescue the victims.

The Deputy Governor said: “We are on top of the situation and the Governor has directed all security operatives to step up action on rescuing the students, details of which l cannot disclose in order not to undermine their operation”, she stated.

Adebule in an emotion-laden voice urged parents of the affected children to be calm as the government would stop at nothing to ensure safe return of their children.

YABA SET TO HOUSE THE BIGGEST TECH HUB IN NIGERIA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/yaba-set-to-house-biggest-tech-hub-in.html

As part of the plans to foster technological advancement in Lagos State and promote the existence of incubation hubs, the Lagos State Government has acquired 800 square meters of land to construct a technology hub.
Proposed to be Nigeria’s biggest technology hub, the development was announced by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode during his speech at the Lagos at 50 international Conference themed ‘Towards a Smart City: Preparing For The Next 50 Years Of Prosperity’.
Speaking at the event, Ambode revealed strategies being adopted towards moving the State from Mega city to a Smart city, just as he said that his administration has put in place policy framework for a technology-driven land administration and mapping, tax and justice administration.
Ambode disclosed that the government has completed modalities for the take-off of the digital switch all of which he said would come on stream in the coming months.
The Governor stressed that the future prosperity of Lagos is dependent on how well the young ones are equipped technologically and educationally, adding that in line with such, the State Government was already focusing on driving growth through key areas such as ICT, transportation, ease of doing business and tourism.

ALUU FOUR MURDER: COURT FIXES JULY 27 FOR JUDGEMENT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/aluu-four-murder-court-fixes-july-27.html

ustice Letan Nyordee of the Rivers State High court has fixed July 27 for judgment on the murder case of the four University of Port-Harcourt students, popularly called Aluu four.


The court fixed the date after all the lawyers in the matter adopted their written addresses before the court.

Seven accused persons are now standing trial in the matter, while five persons were earlier discharged and acquitted.

It could be recalled that the late four UNIPORT students, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekena Elkanah, were all lynched after they were allegedly accused of theft at Umokiri community in Aluu, near University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State on October 5, 2012.

correct

ewigmee:
50million is 2 to 3years salary in country like swiss. Remember that you will pay bills from this money. It's not enough for me to give up my home land forever.

if you are given 50million to leave nigeria and never come back again would you take it?

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/lol.html

How ex-PDP chair Bello received N300m from ONSA by proxy – Witness
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/how-ex-pdp-chair-bello-received-n300m.html

Aliyu Mohammed Mukddas, a Senior Manager with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who is also a witness in the trial a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello, on Wednesday, told Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja how Bam Projects and Properties, a company owned by former PDP chair, was paid N300 million by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
Bello and his son are on trial alongside their Company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, on a four-count charge of money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC.
They were alleged to have collected N300 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, being part of the funds meant to fight insurgency in the North-East of the country.
Testifying as PW6, Mukddas, who was led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, O. A. Atolagbe, told the court that the narration on the payment mandate showed that the payment was given as “Safe Houses” which the amount was for N300million. Although, when asked by the prosecuting counsel if it is the duty of CBN to know if the contract was executed, the witness replied in the negative.
The witness, who was manager, between 2010 and 2015, gave details on procedures for payment to Ministries, Department and Agencies.
According to him, agencies would bring their payment schedule showing the date, name of the organization, amount in words/figure and details of beneficiaries. He added that the schedule must be duly signed by signatories of that organisation after which it would be brought by the confirmation officer.
“The confirmation would be done before us with his name, signature, date and thumb print”, he said.
The PW6 further stated that, “when the payment schedule is received, the CBN passes it for verification of signatories and also check account balance before it is passed for payment”.
When asked if he knows of an ONSA account, he told the court that, “it is an account managed by CBN and it is funded by Office of Accountant General of the Federation”.
According to him, “the account has two source of funding, sometime from office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and mostly from the Accountant General of the Federation”.
Mukddas told the court that, “between 2012 and 2015, the main signatory to the account was Sambo Dasuki and also another signatory was the then Director Finance and Account S. A. Salisu, while the confirmation officer was Yazeed Ibrahim”.
The witness was shown Exhibit PL 5, which is one of the payment mandate paid and asked to explain the procedures followed in making payment to which he said, “the mandate in PL5 was brought from ONSA by Yazeed Ibrahim and he confirmed the mandate to us”.
He added that all due process was followed.
Asked by Atolagbe what he meant by all due process was followed; the witness replied that, “that means all signatories have signed, thumb printed, amount given in words and figures and that the confirmation officer have confirmed same”.
Justice Mohammed, thereafter, adjourned to July 5, 2017 for further trial.

Okorocha’s fraudulent hospitals
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/okorochas-fraudulent-hospitals.html

Healthcare is paramount to improving productivity of the workforce. The more healthy people are, the more they are enabled to participate in economic activities. It is believed, thus, that Rochas Okorocha would prioritize health policy reform within his economic agenda. 6 years after being Governor of Imo state, what is Imo state’s healthcare coverage policy? As someone with a penchant for naming all state programs and reforms after himself, one is compelled to hear now of a robust healthcare system in Imo state: ImoCare? RocheCare? NneomaCare? Or FreedaCare?
Imo state’s healthcare system is not different from other parts of Nigeria. Many issues over the years explain the lack of quality and efficiency of the health sector in Nigeria. Most are plagued by inadequate funding/financing models, weak governance and enforcement, poor service quality and inadequate infrastructure.
In other cases, household poverty and insufficient risk pooling contribute to this pool of healthcare system inefficiencies. Others include a highly inefficient and declining workforce owing to brain drain and disparate wages among the workforce or even poor quality of health staff.
In public or general hospitals, long queues, preferential treatments and high-handedness of the few qualified medical personnel are daily experiences of Nigerians. To compound these, it has taken years to pass a national health policy that has not found proper implementation.



Given these factors, Okorocha’s campaign promises for robust health programs in Imo state were a welcome development. “Free Health For all” “New Hospitals” projects were declared to fanfare and pomp.
Promised basic health services include the treatment of aged citizens at no cost, and the improvement of medicated services in the state. In most states, these promises does not address the underlying problems of healthcare system in Nigeria, stated above.
In Imo state, Okorocha promised the upgrading of facilities and the considerable improvement in basic medical services rendered by the general hospitals. Imo state, however, like so most states in Nigeria, has no specific health policy, besides the generic offers noticeable among all APC states.
In all Local governments surveyed, the feedback from respondents posed the same verdict: that healthcare services in the General Hospitals have declined, with lack of sophistication of equipment, and expensive out-patient services for citizens. Respondents also declared that “no noticeable improvement in the employment of quality workforce or rapid standardization of general hospitals” Some of these were confirmed on visits to the Local governments.
Many pregnant and feeding mothers complained bitterly of the quality of service and also of expenses incurred during pre-natal check-up and diagnosis. In many cases, these necessitated the decision to patronize private sector hospitals, leading to an increase in out-of-pocket expenditure. This is worse when the lack of consistency in salaries of public servants (who make up the bulge of employment) in Imo state is added to the mix.



Rochas Okorocha, like many other governors in Nigeria, has no specific policy objective for initiating “health programs” in Imo State. Many General Hospitals visited are in dire shape years after Rochas’ election. Most users complain of little or no difference between services offered and no difference in pricing for health services.
For the gullible public, this strategy of “movement without motion” never fails. Roads that lead nowehere, white elephant and phantom programs that serve no specific economic purpose. It worked, and still works, in Imo state.
Okorocha’s crave for political visibility is not lost on the astute. His construction ventures in Imo must be portrayed as “doing something”; construct buildings around the state, even if they cannot be completed or if they are not viable. In 2014, Okorocha’s establishment of new hospitals are not informed by any data but the brash urge to throw money at problems.
Without any information on revenue, or how new hospital projects will be funded, Okorocha announced the construction of new hospitals across all the local governments; whereas existing general hospitals have no access to basic clean water, consistent energy, and an acute shortage of medical personnel.
Rochas Okorocha started the construction of these new “world class” hospitals in 2014. Many respondents saw it as a calculated move towards the 2015 election towards winning electoral votes within the state. These hospitals were promised to begin functional services by 2015 January and were constructed across the 27 local governments in the state. Till date, none of the visited hospitals have been completed since 2014 when their constructions started.




The decisions underlying these new hospitals are impractical, wasteful, and are not based on sound policy qualities (e.g. technical efficiency, equitable distribution of health welfare or allocative efficiency). With high poverty, inconsistent wages, and an over-burdened public health system, many Imo citizen are paying for their healthcare in private hospitals at a high cost.
This is the summarized feedback from our visit around the state (all of them are not completed, unequipped, and abandoned):
– General Hospital Aboh Mbaise (Serving 3 LGAs)
– Njaba LGA (No Equipment, No Gate, Not Opened, Rusty, Bushes all over)
– Orlu LGA (No Equipment, No Gate, Not Opened, Rusty, Bushes all over)
– Nkewrre LGA (No Equipment, No Gate, Not Opened, Rusty, Bushes all over)
– A “joint” Hospital in Nwagele LGA being run by the Catholic Church, serving about 3 LGAs
– A “joint” Hospital in Isiala Mbano LGA being run by the Catholic Church, serving about 2 LGAs
– Ahiazu LGA (No Equipment, No Gate, Not Opened, Rusty, Bushes all over)
– Ikeduru LGA (No Equipment, Bushes all over and locked up)
– Mbaitoli LGA has NO General Hospital
– In Ahiazu LGA, The main General Hospital was demolished for a “Timber Market” while the new hospital remains abandoned with rusty walls and bushy environment.
Like other states, the main financial model for healthcare coverage in Imo state is on out-of-pocket fees. The loss in social welfare owing to the construction of these new but incomplete and unequipped facilities have huge implications. If completed, perhaps a community-based healthcare insurance partly funded by the state and supplemented by citizens would have been a beautiful model worthy of emulation. This will increase access, affordability (equity) and improve quality (efficiency)
Naturally, Okorocha, like many other state governors, are in that crucial position to lead sustainable development projects that enrich future generation and not rob them. In fact, the solid performance of many state governors would naturally reinforce the need to implement decentralization as promised in the constitution. Not so!

Read more : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/okorochas-fraudulent-hospitals.html

Nigerian Airforce commences formal investigations into the alleged invasion of UNIOSUN by it's personnel
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/nigerian-airforce-commences-formal.html

Members of staff and students of the Osun State University, Ipetu Ijesa, were reportedly harassed and battered by Air-force personnel on Tuesday. According to multiple reports, the Airforce men, who have allegedly been terrorizing students of the University for a long time, arrived the campus Tuesday and beat up people on sight.

The Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Adebimpe Adigun, confirmed the incident and revealed that some students were hospitalized after the attack. "Six of the students are currently admitted to a hospital; five were treated for injuries. Two members of staff were also wounded by the military men." she said.

The Air Force have now commenced investigation, insisting that they do not condone or encourage the violation of anyone’s human rights. "The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to reports of some of its personnel being involved in a fracas on the campus of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) at Ipetu Ijesha. While the NAF highly regrets the entire incidence, it is noteworthy that the reported incidence is not a reflection of what the NAF stands for. The NAF is a highly professional force that does not condone or encourage the violation of anyone’s human rights.
The general public is invited to kindly note that the NAF has already commenced formal investigations into the reported unfortunate incidence. At the end of the investigations, Nigerians are assured that any NAF personnel found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate laws."

Our rice to compete with international brands soon – Osinbajo
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/our-rice-to-compete-with-international.html

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said that Nigerians would soon start seeing the manifestation of some of the reforms taken by the Federal Government in the agricultural sector as the country would soon start producing local rice that would compete favourably with any brand in the world.
Osinbajo said this in Abuja during an interactive session with some middle level civil and public servants on the ease of doing business.
He called on Nigerians to increase their patronage of products manufactured locally, adding that this would enable the government to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.
Citing the example of rice production, he said that Nigeria has enough capacity to grow quality rice that would meet the demands of not only Nigerians but all the countries in Africa.
He said if Nigerians can consume what the country produces locally, the twin problems of poverty and unemployment would be easily addressed.
He said it was worrisome that rice imported from China, India and Thailand are sold at a cheaper prices to those produced locally, adding that this was as a result of subsidy enjoyed by farmers from these countries.
He said the government was mindful of this development and would do everything within its powers to encourage local farmers to improve the output and quality of local price.
Osinbajo said, “It is worrisome that locally produced rice is still expensive than imported rice from India, China and Thailand.
“Rice produced in these countries, are subsidized by their respective governments making rice from the region cheap and affordable.
“By subsiding rice production for farmers, more jobs are created. We are planning to introduce some kinds of assistance to our farmers in due course. Our rice will have to compete with any rice in the world. We will hold meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture every day”, Acting president said.

PRESIDENCY URGES NIGERIANS TO IGNORE MEDIA REPORTS ON COUP PLOT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/presidency-urges-nigerians-to-ignore.html

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said.
Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a “routine warning that goes to military officers.’’
The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President).
Adesina said: “The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don’t hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position.
“Let’s take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.’’
The presidential spokesman also debunked the assertion that the ruling party had failed in fulfilling its political obligations and promises to the electorate in view of the reported hardships being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was unfair to assess the performance of the Buhari’s administration within its first two years.
“People can always express their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don’t have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
“The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement.
“When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don’t then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed.
“No. You can be accused of being atomistic using a small part to determine the whole. You can’t write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark, that will not be fair.
“This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them is too early in the day because is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don’t reach definitive conclusions in two years.’’
Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke on the Human Rights records of the Buhari’s administration, said the records were impeccable.
“The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, there are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms.
“The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to buttress assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
“As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
“Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.’’
According to Shehu, the Buhari’s administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land.
“I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the president will not allow him to get away with it.’’
Laolu Akande, who spoke on alleged weak prosecution of corruption cases across the country, said: “The truth of the matter is that our criminal justice system does need a profound and deep reform.
“The important thing is that this government is working on it. As a matter of fact now, the Acting President has put together a national coordination prosecution team for all the prosecution trying to see how in the medium term we can bring some progress.
“But also working on judicial sector reforms on the long term on criminal justice system to strengthen both the investigation and prosecution at the courts.
“And I know it is going to take a while for us to address it,” he said.
On food security, Akande revealed that the government had recorded tangible achievements in the nation’s agricultural sector.
According to him, the committee on food crisis is still working, while the government has reduced importation of food items especially rice.
He disclosed that about 40,000 farmers in Kebbi state had become millionaires due to government favourable agricultural policies.

mavin star boy reekaado banks just added two brand new cars to his garage
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/mavin-star-boy-reekaado-banks-just.html



Five star music star skiibii took to his Instagram page to congratulate reekaado banks on his two new cars he just bought, congratulation reekaado banks .

Eyo Day Celebration - Eyo and their followers spotted standing inside a flood
source; http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/eyo-day-celebration-eyo-and-their.html


Eyo Day Celebration - Eyo and their followers spotted standing inside a flood in Lagos Island seriously drenched with rain.

Transparency: Between Nigeria’s Yesterday And Today
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/transparency-between-nigerias-yesterday.html
Transparency International (TI) on Thursday released a report alleging that lack of transparency in defence spending is responsible for the continuous existence of Boko Haram and that some of the measures to be adopted are that no nation should sell arms to the country. The report, prepared in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and ominously titled, “Weaponising Transparency: Defence Procurement Reform As a Counterterrorism Strategy in Nigeria,” warned that corruption in defence procurement is a threat to Nigeria’s stability.
On the surface the report appears like genuine intention on the part of an international “do gooder” that is out to ensure that Nigerians are not short-changed of N380 billion annually by corrupt politicians and greedy military officers who take the money under the cover of military purchases that are either inflated, substandard or non-existent. The true objective of the report is however hidden in plain sight. The real intent was the demand that countries do not sell weapons to Nigeria, which is in itself a secondary or even tertiary agenda as the real reason for seeking to drive Nigeria into a strait is known to only those executing that project.
To understand the duplicity in the intent of the Transparency International’s report is to recall that it is a rehash of the report of another project manager that appends “international” to its name.
Amnesty International had in the past, during the US Presidency of Barack Obama, fabricated lies that were packaged as a report to block the sales of military gears to Nigeria. The consequences of that blockade in the Goodluck Jonathan era are well documented; it marked the period Boko Haram grew with lightening rapidity while there were no equipment to fight them.
The coming of President Buhari’s administration and the appointment of the current military chiefs changed the permutation. Even without the benefit of procurement, they looked inward and rehabilitated existing hardware that were earlier mothballed and deployed same for degrading Boko Haram. Along the line, the tenure of the “moderate rebels” loving Obama ended and a more pragmatic, if overbearing, Donald Trump came and the US again became a willing partner in the quest to defeat terrorism with the approval to sell Super Tucanos aircraft to Nigeria among other approvals that will place weapons in the hands of troops.
For project managers that have been contracted to ensure the growth of extremism and terrorism as destabilization tools in Nigeria, that development would negate contracts and bring catastrophic casualty to the fighting forces of contrived insurgency. There is no way that is going to be allowed to happen. The one tool that has been used to hound the military from performing, Amnesty International, has been overused to a point where some angry Nigerians wanted it booted out of the country. Hence the quest to hastily find a replacement with a global outlook and a level of acceptance that equals the level of Amnesty International before it became damaged good. Transparency International was the perfect choice and corruption is a good cover for it to continue running the brief without raising red flags.
But the human factor gave this operation away. To be sure that it has a control of the spin, Transparency International ran the partnership with CISLAC, whose Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani conveniently happens to be the Chairman, Board of Amnesty International (Nigeria). So all the INN sympathizer did was to change vessels and continue plying his wares as fanatical Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) promoter, not necessarily as a sectarian adherent but as someone who will throw anything into the wheels of the military machinery for the purpose of wrecking it and deliver a sorely needed project to his sponsors.
The exercise carried out by Transparency International in partnership with CISLAC is therefore a fiasco even before it was presented to resounding rejection by stakeholders. Its content is a reflection of the past as the people guilty of the malfeasance it supposedly documented have long left office with some standing trial. Yet it wants this to be used as a basis to stop Nigeria getting weapons to fight terrorists and the military institutions demonized. In the first place, researchers that arrived at those findings are the type that did not even bother to visit a beer parlour anywhere in Nigeria but chose to be misled by a Rafsanjani who has links to IMN and has been openly favoured any criminal group that has the undermining of Nigeria as its manifesto. He is committed to tarnishing the image of the current administration using fictitious reports and cares nothing how this affects the rest of us that are apolitical.
Rafsanjani’s Transparency International was silent while the psychotic looting took place under the Jonathan government and only now woke up to Sambo Dasuki’s infractions because it needed an indictment to clock in a milestone.
For now, the focus is to deliberately frustrate and castigate the government’s anti-corruption crusade in recovering stolen funds.
Choosing to release the report at about the same time the rendering of the midterm report of President Buhari’s administration is expected to be rolled solidifies the suspicion about its dubiousness. The President’s performance, even in the face of setbacks that are out of human control, remains remarkable considering where the country has been, where the country is and the improved potentials of where the country could be in the near term.
There is therefore no doubt that the Transparency International-CISLAC-Amnesty International report was rolled out by elements that are out to tarnish the image of Nigeria with findings that did not take into cognizance the reforms and measures that have been put in place from May 2015 to date. For instance, there was no Department of Procurement in the Army, but now it must be acknowledged that Lt. Gen TY Buratai introduced the department and issues of procurement are now being prudently handled.
Considering the sheer bad faith behind the report, the government should not take investigating the motives of those behind it off the table. We must question the motives behind the report and the call for security sector reform which is usually for failed states. Possibly, Boko Haram remains the leading agenda that the owners of the report do not want to end as can be garnered from the failure to acknowledge the tremendous progress recorded to the point that the US Secretary of State asked the world to learn from Nigeria. It could be jealousy over the accomplishments of Nigeria even under the harshest of conditions that were brought about by their failed prediction of destroying the country two years ago. They are now coming out with silly, inhuman and irresponsible recommendations like stoppage of arms sales, denial of visa and travel bans.
One would only wish the incumbent government would go beyond the niceties of considering the people it is dealing with as deserving the usual courtesies even after they have repeatedly made mincemeat of the country. This band of thugs are determined to down the government and the country with it, which dictates that they should not get the nice treatment anymore.
– Agbese is a an international public affairs commentator and writes from the United Kingdom

Between NCC, MNOs And Consumers Expectations
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/between-ncc-mnos-and-consumers.html

Amid poor quality of service, increasing and fraudulent costs of tariff by mobile network operators (MNOs) on telecommunications consumers, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) says it is bent on sanitising the telecommunications ecosystem in such a way that all stakeholders will be proud of services and products on offer across all network. CHIMA AKWAJA writes.
he Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), declared 2017 “The Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.” NCC had already flagged off the programme few months in ago in Abuja, but on Wednesday this week, it brought to Nigeria’s economic capital, Lagos to emphasize the position of Lagos State as the telecommunications hub of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics in its first quarter telecommunications sector report for 2016 placed Lagos voice subscriber base at 19.04 million or 12.8 per cent of the country’s subscribers and 12.62 million internet subscription or 13.65 per cent. The state is home to many of the key players in the telecommunications sector so it is understandable that is has been selected as the flag off city after the major event in Abuja on March 15 2017.
According to the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, the NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer is remarkable because the Nigerian Telecom Consumer is centre stage. “We must also remember that these consumers together have made all the success stories we speak about possible in the telecom industry today.
“Almost two months ago (March 15) NCC flagged off a national campaign of the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer at its Headquarters in Abuja. Sixty days hence, I am glad; we can report some progress resulting in increase in the activation of the Do-Not-Disturb short code using the 2442 facility, by more than one million consumers in this short span. More subscribers reported their unresolved complaints using NCC’s 622 toll-free lines in the same period” he remarked” he said. Danbatta further disclosed that NCC consumer conversations are going on simultaneously every month in the six zones across the country
Consumers As Focal Point
Danbatta said the year 2017 is dedicated to the Nigerian telecom consumer. This followed a management decision that compelled NCC to seek to amplify the year’s activities towards ensuring that the consumer enjoys a customer experience that is enhanced and consistent in time and quality. “In 2017, and even beyond, the consumer will be our focus. NCC intends to inform and educate the consumer with the sole intent of protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions.
The NCC boss said as a regulator, NCC has the mandate to ensure all its key stakeholders are protected and their interests balanced in an atmosphere of fairness, transparency and within the framework of the NCA 2003 and other subsidiary legislations. Almost one year ago the NCC launched an 8-Point Agenda.
The agenda, which will drive the NCC until 2020 aims, among other things, to: facilitate broadband penetration; improve quality of service; optimize usage and benefits of spectrum; promote ICT innovation and investment opportunities; facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership; protect and empower consumers; promote fair competition and inclusive growth and ensure regulatory excellence and operational efficiency.
Improving Quality of Service
The Year of the Consumer is focused on two key areas: improving the quality of service; protecting and educating the consumer. To address the unsolicited calls received by consumers, the NCC has introduced the ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) facility where consumers are urged to activate the facility by texting 2442. There is also the 622 number for the NCC customer toll free complaint line. NCC intends to increase the awareness level and equally the activation level of these two initiatives.
“In its determination to ensure that the consumer experiences improved quality of service in the year and beyond, the commission is implementing measures to ensure drop call rate reduces and meets its industry benchmark of less than one per cent (<1% DCR) target. The commission is closely monitoring, tracking and reviewing the key performance indicators (KPIs) of operators by the Network Integrity and Technical Standards Department. Greater efforts would also be put in place for compliance monitoring and enforcement of set standards.
“The Commission will also enlighten consumers about the environmental impact of telecom infrastructure. As part of efforts to realize NCC 2017 Year of the Consumer, I have convened a meeting with MNOs and infrastructure providers to demand that the quality of services must be improved upon immediately. This is to ensure that the consumer gets value for money and gets satisfactory user experience.
“There are sanctions for failing to meet KPIs. NCC will not hesitate to enforce them and might consider making them even more stringent. NCC is mindful of the forex challenge faced by the telcos. We have intervened with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Already this intervention is beginning to yield some results. We are sure that in the not too distant future, the forex challenge will be addressed to the benefit of both the consumer and the operators,” Danbatta revealed.
Danbatta said that when the year is ended, the NCC should be able to measure the success and impact of this initiative by the level of awareness created among consumers and the number of consumers that have activated the 2442 facility. “It is my hope that the Nigerian telecom consumer would consistently get the right quality experience and value for money” he added.
Engaging With Mobile Network Operators
Executive Commissioner, stakeholder management, NCC, Mr Sunday Dare on his part noted that for the first time, NCC is singling out the consumer and dedicating a year of activities towards safeguarding the rights, protecting the interests, and empowering the consumer to make informed decisions – but above all, to place the consumer atop the stakeholder ladder of the NCC. With a base of over 154 million subscribers, the Nigerian consumers dominate the African telecommunications landscape.
Drivers of Consumer Expectations
The drivers of the NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer are the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb Service Code, the 622 toll free complaints line, Quality of Service, QoS and concerns about the electromagnetic field, EMF radiation. These are the areas the information provided in the course of the campaign would focus on.
Dare noted that “For the Nigerian telecom consumer and indeed the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), things have come almost full circle. They know each other and need each other. The NCC as a regular stands like an impartial umpire, a referee engaging and monitoring to ensure the interests of all parties are respected. From a customer base of slightly over 400,000 in the height of NITEL’s glory, we now have a combined subscriber base of over 150 million across the country.
“This boom and massive jump in mobile telephony have brought with it several challenges especially in terms of reliable service, network upgrade, expansion and maintenance, and increasing demand for capital expenditure (capex) injection into the telecom industry.
“Continuous monitoring of Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, and benchmark is ongoing too on a quarterly basis to ensure that the quality of service does not deteriorate. On a continuous basis, NCC will seek to engage and explore ways to make consumer experience more satisfying within the Nigerian telecoms industry,” Dare said.

Fed govt merges operations of agencies at airports, seaports
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/fed-govt-merges-operations-of-agencies.html

The Federal Government has directed all relevant ministries, departments and agencies operating at the nation’s airports and seaports to harmonise their operations into a single interface station.
While those at the airports have 30 days to merge, those operating at seaports must do so within 60 days.
This is one of the highlights of an ‘Executive Order on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment’ signed by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday.
By the order, the Apapa Port is expected to resume 24-hour operations within 30 days.
The order read, “All relevant MDAs at the airports shall within 30 days of the issuance of this order merge their respective departure and arrival interfaces into a single customer interface, without prejudice to necessary back-end procedures.
“All agencies currently physically present in Nigerian ports shall within 60 days harmonise their operations into one single interface station domiciled in one location in the port and implemented by a single joint task force at all times, without prejudice to necessary backend procedures.
“The new single interface station at each port shall capture, track and record information on all goods arriving and departing from Nigeria, and remit captured information to the head of the MDA and the head of the National Bureau of Statistics on a weekly basis.
“Each port in Nigeria shall assign an existing export terminal to be dedicated to the exportation of agriculture produce within 30 days of the issuance of this order.
“The Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of this order.”
The order also outlawed touting and bribe-taking by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria.
Any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users, according to the order, shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations.
The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission is also expected to within 14 days of the issuance of the order ensure that all registration processes at the CAC are fully automated through the agency’s website from the start of an application process to completion, including ensuring the availability of an online payment platform where necessary.
According to the Executive Order on Budgets, all agencies, whether listed or not listed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, shall, on or before the end of May every year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning their schedule of revenue and expenditure estimates for the next three financial years.
They are also expected to, on or before the end of July every year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the two ministers their annual budget estimates, which shall be derived from the estimates of revenue and expenditure as projected in their three-year schedule.
It stated, “A joint committee of the ministries of Finance, and the Budget and National Planning shall review such estimates and ensure their conformity with the national plan and the financial and budgetary regulations before processing them for approval and early transmission to the National Assembly.
“Supervising ministers and heads of agencies as well as the chief executive officers of government-owned companies shall verify that the processes of preparation, harmonisation and collation of budget estimates are as stipulated in relevant laws and guidelines as well as ensure strict compliance with this Executive Order.
“Except with the express consent of the President, no payment shall be made in respect of any capital or recurrent liability of an agency, other than payment of due salaries and allowances, unless the agency has an approved budget and the payment is in conformity with the approval.
“Heads of agencies and chief executive officers of government-owned companies shall take personal responsibility and be subject to appropriate sanctions for any failure to comply with this Order.
“Any revenue or other funds of an agency in excess of the amounts budgeted and duly expended shall accrue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.”
According to the third Executive Order, which is on support for local content in public procurement by the Federal Government, all MDAs have been directed to grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their procurement of goods and services.
The order stipulates that any document issued by any MDA for the solicitation of offers, bids, proposals or quotations for the supply or provision of goods and services shall expressly indicate the preference to be granted to domestic manufacturers, contractors and service providers, and the information required to establish the eligibility of a bid for such preference.
The order read, “All solicitation documents shall require bidders or potential manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and consultants to provide a verifiable statement on the local content of the goods or services to be provided
“Made-in-Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of the following items and at least 40 per cent of the procurement expenditure on these items in all MDAs of the FGN shall be locally manufactured goods or local service providers: a. Uniforms and footwear; b. Food and beverages; c. Furniture and fittings; d. Stationery; e. Motor vehicles; f. Pharmaceuticals; g. Construction materials; and Information and Communication Technology.”
The order requires that within 90 days, the heads of all MDAs shall assess the monitoring, enforcement, implementation and compliance with the Executive Order and local content stipulations in the Public Procurement Act, or any other relevant Act within their agencies; propose policies to ensure that the Federal Government’s procurement of goods and services maximises the use of goods manufactured locally and services provided by Nigerian citizens doing business as sole proprietors, firms, or companies held wholly by them or in the majority; and submit such findings to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Bank Customers To Pay N17.54bn As Card Maintenance Charges
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/bank-customers-to-pay-n1754bn-as-card.html

Bank customers in Nigeria will pay not less than N1.462 billion to banks as card maintenance charges every month totaling N17.544 billion in a year beginning from May 2017, as the revised Guide to Bank Charges take effect from this month.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had revised the card maintenance charges in the new guide which was released last month from N100 annually to N50 monthly. This means every debit or credit card holder will pay N600 annually as against the N100 being paid previously.
According to data released recently by the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) the central database for banking transactions in the country show that as at September 30, 2016, there are 29.24 million active cards being used by the 63 million active bank customers.
The new Guide to Bank Charges stipulates that banks charge N50 monthly as card maintenance fee on naira debit and credit cards, while foreign currency denominated debit and credit cards would be charged $20 or its equivalent on an annual basis.
Charges for new hardware token and for replacement was increased from N2500 to N3,500, while one time soft token is to attract a SMS charge of N4 compared to N20 that was being charged by some banks.
It however left the rate for acquiring new debit and credit card, renewal or replacement of the cards at a one off charge of N1,000, while not-on-us, which is withdrawal from other banks Automated Teller Machines (ATM), would attract a charge of N65 after the third withdrawal within a month.
The new charges however favour electronic transfers as the charges for online transfers between two banks were cut from N100 to N50. Before now, interbank transfers either through the mobile banking application or internet banking attracts a N100 charge and N5 Value Added Tax. This has however been cut down. The amount to be paid for printing of account statement was also cut down from N50 per page to a maximum of N20 per page.
Bank customers led by Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) had last year protested excessive bank charges. CAFON launched a campaign against the introduction of Stamp Duty charge of N50, Current Account Maintenance Fee and excessive bank charges, calling on bank customers to boycott all banking services in March last year.
Founder of the group, Sola Salako told LEADERSHIP that, “It looks like the CBN is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who are already complaining that charges are excessive. Why should they add to the charges? If they are trying to encourage a cashless Nigeria, why would they now make it more difficult and expensive to do transactions?”
The CBN recently suspended the nationwide implementation of the cash less policy which was to take effect from April 1, 2017. The apex bank also directed banks to revert to the old charges and refund customers who had been debited.
According to the cashless policy banks were directed banks to charge five per cent and 10 per cent on deposits and withdrawals above N40 million in the corporate category. The bank had fixed 1.5 per cent and two per cent for deposits ranging from N500, 000 and N1 million in the individual category.
But in the circular signed by the director, banking and payments system department, CBN, Dipo Fatokun, the existing policy before the announcement of the new policy shall remain in place in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers and Abuja.
The CBN suspended the policy until further notice urging the banks to “revert to the status quo ante. The old charges to be reverted to three percent processing fee for withdrawals above N500,000 in the individual category and five percent for withdrawals above N3 million.
“The new policy already applied effective April 1, 2017 as contained in the circulars in reference above should be reversed and the old charges be applied. All necessary refunds should be made accordingly,” it added.

'I fainted after policemen tied me to their van' - Man who was handcuffed to a police van, driven on the street says
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/i-fainted-after-policemen-tied-me-to.html

The 38-year-old commercial bus driver, Kester Odosi, who was handcuffed to a police Hilux van in Benin, Edo State capital, and driven on the street, has said he fainted after his ordeal.



Odosi said he woke up in a hospital bed, which the policemen allegedly chained him to.

Narrating his ordeal at the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, Odosi said his ordeal started after a boy the policemen were searching ran away.

He said: “That Sunday, as I was driving my bus, one boy begged me to give him a lift. As I got to Third Junction on Sokponba Road, some policemen from the Esigie Police Division stopped me.ý With the mind that I did not have any incriminating thing in the bus, I parked and waited. They brought me down and searched me. But they did not find anything.

“When the boy, who was with me was searched, they found an empty pack of cigarettes in his pocket. I did not know what was inside the packet of cigarettes. But as soon as they brought the packet out, the boy ran away. I asked them if they would not run after him. But they did not mind him; they were only afterý me.

“They ordered me to bring my hand and I asked what the problem was. But they did not listen to me. They handcuffed me to their vehicle and threatened to pull me along. They said I would accept that I was the boy’s accomplice, if I was tortured.

“I told them I did not know the boy or his whereabouts. But they held me and dragged me from Third (Junction) to First Junction. People who saw me started asking what my offence was.

“So, they (policemen) parked and started hitting me. I did not know what happened afterwards because I fainted. One of them hit me with a wood to see if I was pretending and if I would shout out of pain.ý

“I later saw myself in a hospital on Muritala Mohammed Wayý; I did not know how I got there. I asked the nurse how I got there and why I was handcuffed to the bed. She told me the policemen brought me there.

“One policeman, who was not among those who arrested me, came, took me away from the hospital and kept me in a cell at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). They said I was a cultist.

“ýI am not a cultist and I have never been one since I was born. I am not against policemen and their job. I want them to release me because I did not do anything. I want my phone and money abck. I remit everyday N5,000 to the owner of the seized bus. He has been calculating it since the incident occurred.”

Also, four policemen attached to Esigie Police Division have been arrested and detained at the Office of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5.

The four policemen faced an orderly room trial yesterday.

They were arrested after pictures and video of their brutality on a commercial bus driver, Kester Odosi, went viral.

Odosi was handcuffed to a police Hilux van and dragged on the ground until he fainted.

Zone 5 AIG Abubakar Adamu described the conduct of the policemen as unprofessional.

The police chief said such behaviour did not depict the ethics and core values of the police in good light.

He said the action violated the principle of democratic policing.

Adamu told reporters the Zonal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (ZCIID) had started full-scale investigation into the incident.

He said anybody found wanting would be sanctioned after the conclusion of investigation.

Senate orders NNPC to stop further capital expenditure
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/senate-orders-nnpc-to-stop-further.html

The Senate has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue generating agencies to stop further capital expenditure until they comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
‎It said that the agencies had violated the Act and gave them two weeks to submit their budgets in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the law.
‎The directive was sequel to a motion on “Non-submission of 2017 Budget by Public Corporations in Violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act” moved by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Na’Allah, at Wednesday’s plenary.
He said that the Act stipulated that government’s revenue-generating agencies should submit to their supervising ministers, estimates of revenue and expenditure for three years ahead.
Na’Allah said that the submission of the estimates, as contained in the Act, should be done not later than six months from the commencement of the Act and for every three financial years thereafter.
“It should also not be done later than the end of the second quarter of every year’’.
He said that non-compliance with the provisions of the Act amounted to an abuse of power and economic sabotage aimed at frustrating current economic measures being taken by the present administration to revive the economy.
He pointed out that the absence of penalties in the provisions of the Act had emboldened and encouraged the perpetration of infractions on it. The legislator stated that the Fiscal Responsibility Commission was failing in its responsibility in executing of its mandate, owing to complacency.
In his contribution, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, said “we are here talking about the responsibility of governance, there cannot be any hard responsibility than Fiscal Responsibility because that is the beginning of all evils.
“We must begin to ensure that we live by the laws we make for ourselves. If we say that ministers are supposed to send the estimates of various agencies under them with the Appropriation Act of each year that has to be done.
“I recall in 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari sent to this National Assembly the Appropriation Act for that year together with those estimates.
“But, in 2017, the ministers find it impossible to accompany the same Appropriation Bill with those estimates of the agencies under them.
“We cannot be going forth and back. I believe that this is time for us to insist under Section 88 that gives us the power of oversight that this has to be done.
“We make laws here for the good governance of this country and that is actually what we have to insist,” he said.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that the motion was at the heart of the fight against corruption.
“It is very important that some independent revenue agencies even exceed how much we get from oil revenue.
“So, this is a huge amount to our revenue line. We are talking about looking for money to fund projects, hospitals, education etc; this is where the source of the revenue is.
“And, I cannot see how we can continue in a society where we are fighting corruption, where people will be spending money without approval, without appropriation.
“It must stop; it will stop and is going to stop from now,” Saraki said.

Ex-Bayelsa PDP chairman assassinated
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/ex-bayelsa-pdp-chairman-assassinated.html

A former Acting State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State, Mr. Christopher Hobobo, has been assassinated.


He was reportedly assassinated in his residence on PDP Road, Yenagoa, the state capital.

Hobobo, who hailed from Agbere town in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state was allegedly stabbed to death by unknown assassins in the early hours of Wednesday.

The assassination of Hobobo is coming within one month after a similar assassination of a Yenagoa-based broadcast journalist, Mr. Famous Giobaro.

Hobobo’s gate was forced open by the assailants before gaining access to his sitting room, where they allegedly stabbed him several times in the chest.

It was learnt that his killers refrained from using the gun to kill the former acting Chairman of the PDP in order not to attract the attention of his neighbours.

It was also learnt that after the incident, family relations and friends, who thronged to the house as early as 7 am invited police.

A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ekeki Division, was said to have removed the deceased’s corpse amidst wailing from sympathisers and neighbours.

Two family members, Mr. Desi Tambrebofa and Mr. John Gidi, expressed shock over the manner Hobobo was brutally murdered.

They described the deceased as an easy going man, saying that the assassins had murdered sleep.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Amba Asuquo, who had visited the scene of the crime, assured the family members that the police would fish out the perpetrators of the crime.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

“Stay Off Politics,” Army Chief Buratai warns Nigerian soldiers as coup rumours spread

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has given a stern warning to army officials to stay off politics and politically related activities.

Mr. Buratai gave the order on Tuesday via a statement issued by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a brigadier general.

“This is to inform the public that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army, has received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. On the basis of that, he has warned such persons to desist from these acts”.

Although Mr. Usman did not disclose the “political reasons”, military sources had told PREMIUM TIMES that the Army hierarchy was disturbed by rumours of a coup being planned by junior officers.

A top military official told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Buratai, a lieutenant general, had even raised the issue with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and promised to nip it in the bud.

The concern may have informed Mr. Buratai’s decision to reshuffle the postings of top military generals last week.

The rumours worsened following President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent sickness that saw him travelling to London for further treatment, weeks after he spent over 50 days in London for medical reasons. Like in his previous trip, the president wrote the National Assembly transferring powers to his deputy, Mr. Osinbajo.

On Tuesday, the army chief warned all officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith.

“Any officer or soldier of Nigerian Army found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conducts such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame,” the army spokesperson said.

Nigeria has witnessed 18 years of interrupted democracy after the last military government relinquished power in 1999. The country in 2015 also witnessed its first ever opposition victory which saw the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party losing presidential and parliamentary elections to the incumbent All Progressives Congress.
Mr. Usman on Tuesday reiterated that the Nigerian Army will remain apolitical and respect the Nigerian constitution at all times.

Source: https://www.google.com.ng/amp/www.premiumtimesng.com/news/231436-stay-off-politics-army-chief-buratai-warns-nigerian-soldiers-as-coup-rumours-spread.html/amp

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