₦airaland Forum

This showcases a clear picture of misplaced priority on the part of Nigeria Police Force.... especially amidst subsisting challenges ranging from murder of kwara state commissioner of police to infrastructural deficiency and corruption. What reputation and legacy is the NPF building especially for the nigerian youths and populace at large.

Indeed and of a truth,we lack effective and efficient policing in this country, the NPF needs overhauling of its entire system, if a governor and chief security officer cannot get justice, a state commissioner of police was killed and his aides injured....then the hand writings are clearly on the wall and we need to prophet to tell us that the Federal government need to do something about ineptitude in the Nigeria police force...before the situation becomes a free for all. A force charge with protection of live and property, and cannot protect itself,... then the one million question is can such force protect and champion the cause of the ordinary Nigerian, of course, the answer is capital NO. If the police can cover up and try to muddle investigation into the murder case of a sitting governor's aide.....then what more else cant they not do......its really a situation that calls for serious national emergency and review because day by day, the rot in the NPF is getting messier and alarming.

of course no one expect the Iranian authority to come out and openly admits to embarking on espionage activities in NAIJA..... for the daily reported that no response has been articulated by the government of Iran, NOW..another report says Iran denies. Anyway, let security forces just be on guard and be up and doing because the western and Arab world do not wish African countries any good,(that at least one can see from US plot to make its predictions that Nigeria will break up by 2015 come to pass by all. means)

How can a single politician bring in 30 to 40 candidates as alleged out of above 300 people that were recruited....i guess there is an element of propaganda,even though it is legitimate thing and a practice around the world for high profile government functionaries but the allegation of allotting about 25% OF TOTAL RECRUITMENT in the SSS to a single top politicians is far way too spurious. No thanks to the reporter, he can make further findings to seek the veracity of the recruitment process at the headquarters of the SSS rather than misinforming and misleading the public.

Yes oooo, all we want in naija is improvement and betterment in standard of living of nigerians, infrastructural development, economic and political stability that will chart our part to lofty heights and make us the envy of nations around us. I pray for you Oga GEJ and give you thumbs up.......Nigerians are running mouth now yanfuyanfu.....when obj dey dere....if he had done a little bit things would have been much better, than making us start virtually afresh...MCTHEWWWWW

Chei!!! i can sense american conspiracy here oooo and all hands have to be on deck to ensure the progress and indivisibility of our dear Country. You know it's the same people that predicted that by 2015 Nigeria will break up, am beginning to see them walk and tailor their activities to ensuring the realization of their evil prediction. This conspiracy will not stand and will never come to pass. In the words of IBB a week ago, he said as Nigerians we must ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY. All said and done, Power generation has improved in the country and just last week, the vice president held a meeting with stakeholders in the power sector and Contractors handling transmission of power that Mr President has given a marching order that they should complete all contracts involving transmission of the power generated by the end of 2013 or be sanctioned. we all live in Nigeria, and we know how bad power supply was before now, in fairness there is improvement and one cannot just expert things to change overnight. As an evidence, in my area at Ojo/Alaba/Iyana Iba/ Volks area, power supply is far better than what it used to to be.

@ Poster........i quite no less concur with your submission......religion/ divinity is central to the existence of man, especially in a multi religious country such as ours. No responsible citizen let alone a self acclaimed social crusader should now joke with a sensitive issue that envelopes the being of man moreso considering the tension the country is witnessing security-wise as a result of Boko Haram insisting that the country should be islamized. El rufai simply goofed big time and people like him can further chat the course of turning Nigeria into a mono religious country if given the chance....we need to open our eyes and act wisely.

[quote author=the_ripper2]Close ur mouth, wetin d guy talk na true, SSS then parade Oshiomole aide "alleged" killers and coincidentally, dey wear d same cloth Madala suspects wear, all 5 of dem. Now story don change to say na police kill the guy. Naija police na fraud abeg. I believe thief pass dem.[/quote]Your level of thinking is very shallow and its shows that more of pple like you around will spell doo for a nation.... how on earth can you critize and condemn your working security agencies when they are working and unravelling kidnappers..... if they sit back and nothing is done, it's your like that will still go about wagging your tongue loosely about these same secuirty agencies...... if you know you are capable and up and doing why didnt you come up will better ways of handling policing....USE YOUR HEAD BROOOO

Akshow: Its only in Nigeria that a suspect is locked up without being proven guilty. I can bet anythin that one or more of these guys are innocent. Before you know What is happenin them go murd them with a proper trial

you had better bury your head in shame for this thoughtless submission of yours.....kudos to the nigeria's security for a well done job.....Nairalanders and Nigerians at large should beware of people like dis poster....he might likely be one of them...MCTHEWWWWW

The pint sized mallam has committed sacrilege.......though he later came back to tender apology which is after- thought and follow up the ensuing criticisms by pious and well meaning Nigerians who held their God in high esteem. El rufai's attitude portrays a man whose is intolerant, unstatesman-like and someone who cant govern or lead a multi-religious society like ours (Nigeria), if the desecration he tagged a joke were to be made on Prophet Mohammed or Muslims...... I stand to tell you that there will have been series of rampages and protests and breakdown of law and order in the Country by now. You don't toy with a man belief or God....that is far way too expensive to be called a joke.....this man has really shown to us that he wont stop at anything to achieve is illicit aim.

The idea of hiding under the mask of social crusade or civil liberty organisatons to settle scores or for self aggrandizement defeats the original purpose and goals of such missions and perhaps become an aberration when the approach is self seeking and selective, that is targeted at certain characters or personalities in the society. Though it patriotic and fair to give room for checks and balances between the led and their leaders for proper accountability and efficiency within the system. The kangaroo approach of Dino Melaye overtime underscores ulterior motives in the ways he goes about carrying out his purported anti corruption network...one who comes into equity must come with clean hands.

MODS: FRONT PAGE PLS

GEJ is infact a listening president.....Nigerians should not relent, lets support this administration with our constructive criticisms.

Information posted on goldmyne.tv website has revealed that Nollywood actress, Bisi Ibidapo Obe is now a proud mother of a bouncing baby girl. The bundle of joy, they said, arrived early this morning.

For those who might be getting angry and wondering: of what use is this piece of information to Nigerians, some months ago news of the Nollywood actress’ pregnancy hit the media waves and that the man allegedly responsible – a former member of the National Assembly – has refused to accept the pregnancy.

The person in question, Honorable Dino Melaye, happened to be one of the most vibrant lawmakers in the House of Representatives during his time at the National Assembly. Melaye also has a history of human rights activism and social work.

Therefore, the allegations of his impregnating an actress and then denying any such thing pose a significant threat to his reputation, especially if found to be true eventually. Dino Melaye is a married man, and his wife has taken his side in the controversy that surrounded the pregnancy story.

So, fingers crossed, now that the bundle of joy has arrived, Nigerians would, naturally expect to hear more on this emerging Nollywood episode!
http://www.informationnigeria.org/2012/11/bisi-ibidapo-obe-delivers-bouncing-baby-girl.html

This attribute of GEJ being a listening president is infact commendable, first, the re-awarding of lagos-ibadab express way, second, the reatification of manitoba contract and now the sack of the DG BPE, Bolanale Onagoruwa. This will infact put other non-performing members of his cabinet on their toes and make them sit tight and key into the realisation of the president's goals.

With regards to objective analysis, some of the reports of these so called international organizations are tilted towards disintegrating Nigeria knowing fully well that the country is a big brother in sub Sahara Africa.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has instructed Nigerian missions abroad to ensure that henceforth, the issuance of visas does not exceed 48 hours.

He made this known at the signing of “Performance Contract” with Heads of Nigerian Missions in the United States of America at the Nigeria House in New York.

Ashiru stressed that the contract will be referred to during appointments and promotions in the future, adding that the government would no longer tolerate delay of visas to investors and visitors.

He said, “All heads of Nigerian Missions abroad would be required to enter into this contract with me so that Nigerians in Diaspora can be better assured of improved service delivery in a manner that justifies the huge investment in the operations of Nigerian missions abroad.”

“Heads of missions are to hold their individual officers accountable for the delivery of agreed outcome such as the number and timeliness of visas and passports issued, the periodicity and quality of reports that are rendered, among other deliverables.”

“I need not stress the imperative need for heads of missions and their officers to continually justify the trust reposed in them by Mr. President on behalf of the Nigerian people.”

The minister further warned that any officer who cannot live up to the highest standard of efficient service delivery, would find it difficult to operate in the new environment that the ministry sought to create.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/11/13/issue-visas-within-48-hours-fg-directs-foreign-missions/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday in Abuja told former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme that he was already close to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said this while congratulating the former vice-president on his 80th birthday.

By becoming an octogenarian, Obasanjo said Ekwueme should know he was becoming an old man.

Friends and well-wishers had elaborately marked Ekwueme’s birthday in Abuja and other major cities in the country.

Obasanjo spoke at the conference on Party Politics in Nigeria and Lobbying, the Lobbyist and the Legislature, organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies.

Before Obasanjo spoke, Senate President, David Mark; his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, and the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, had congratulated Ekwueme on attaining 80.

Obasanjo, who shared one of the sessions of the conference, later told Ekwueme that attaining 80 was a sign that he (Ekwueme) was moving to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said, “The only octogenarian on the high table, and I don’t think there is even another person on the other side of the table, even in the hall (that is up to 80 years).

“My brother and friend, and I think the Senate President regards you as a true democrat; I will join the others in congratulating you on your recent crossing of the bar.

“But let me just warn you that crossing the bar or becoming 80 something, you are getting nearer the departure lounge.

“I will get into the car park with you, but I won’t go into the departure lounge with you.”

His comments elicited laughter from the audience, including Ekwueme, who in a hushed tone, spoke with Obasanjo.

No one, however, heard what Ekwueme told the former president.

But Obasanjo replied him in pidgin, “As we come, na so we go go,” which literally means that those who came to the world first would be the first to die.

While Obasanjo was born on March 5, 1937, Ekwueme was born on October 21, 1932.

http://www.punchng.com/news/youre-close-to-departure-lounge-obasanjo-tells-ekwueme/

STRONG indications have emerged that the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, has agreed in principle to a conditional early retirement from service, Nigerian Tribune was reliably informed on Monday night.

Following a complicated judicial intervention in his suspension, the National Judicial Council (NJC) at its last meeting on October 18, 2012, resolved on early retirement for him with full benefits, including when he was supposedly on suspension.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, who doubles as the council’s chairman, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukthar and her deputy, Justice Mahmud Mohammed were asked by the council to communicate the decision to him.
A Senior Advocate, who belongs to Salami’s camp revealed to Nigerian Tribune that Salami had given conditions for calling time on his career before the original October 14, 2013 date, when he would clock the mandatory 70 years.

It was gathered that the proposal from the judiciary leadership was for Salami to tender his early retirement notice, withdraw his pending suit challenging his suspension before being reinstated to office for three months.

At the expiration of the said three months, the council would simply accept his retirement.

The source, who confirmed that Salami had agreed to spending three months and calling it quits, noted that the untenable aspect was the proposed tender of retirement notice before resuming office, querying why it should not be the other way round.

When Nigerian Tribune raised the issue of trust considering Salami’s acknowledged strong personality, the source noted that it was for the judiciary leadership to trust him, since he had already shifted ground on the matter by agreeing in principle to the proposal.

According to the source, “This is what I tell you about the bias and double-face approach of the judiciary leadership. Why can’t they trust him that he would send his retirement notice to the council after resuming in office? At least, he has agreed to the three-month in office before retirement proposal, so why can’t he retire when in office. If they can’t trust him, why should he also trust them that the whole arrangement would not change after tendering his retirement notice before resumption in office.”

The source, who is also embittered over the rejection of Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as a Justice of the Court of Appeal by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, further slammed the judiciary leadership over what he called “convenience arrangement to issues.”

According to him, “when Salami was reinstated, they said he could not resume office because the matter was subjudice. Is the issue no longer subjudice now that he is being asked to resume and retire? Are the cases no longer in court now that they are looking for a way out of the crisis? When it is convenient for them (judiciary leadership), they say one thing, when it is the other way, they say another thing.

Why should they think that he (Salami) would renege on the agreement when reinstated? What is the assurance that they also would not renege on the agreement if he gave in to the demand of retirement notice first.”

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dalhatu Adamu may be serving the final three months as the head of the intermediate court.

He is on the fifth term which has given him 15 months as the acting head of the court, following Salami’s suspension on May 18, 2011.

The current three-month period ends on November 22, 2012 which is the date that the NJC had fixed for its emergency meeting.

A source in the know told the Nigerian Tribune that the twin issues of Court of Appeal headship and Jombo-Ofo’s controversial appointment and disqualification as a justice of the court, would dominate issues at the meeting.

The council’s last meeting for this year has been reportedly scheduled for December.

Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa who heads the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, is reportedly tipped to replace Adamu as the most senior justice of the court.

Adamu came under fire during the last council meeting, especially his alleged inability to give off-hand the number of the judges of the Sharia Court of Appeal, when reportedly asked by the CJN.

The CJN and Adamu served at a point in their careers, at the Ibadan division of the court.

He was later excused from the council meeting when Salami issue was to be discussed and reportedly disappeared from the meeting venue before the conclusion of the said meeting, even when he was reportedly being sought for.

Alleged maladministration and corruption issues had kept hovering over his leadership in the last 15 months, with justices and staff of the court being allegedly owed salaries and allowances.

The Chief Registrar of the Court told the Nigerian Tribune during a chat that the court received its allocation late from the NJC, which led to the delay in paying the justices. http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/lead-stories/50806-salami-agrees-to-retire-gives-conditions-

Few hours after a purported spokesman of Boko Haram, Abu Muhammad Abdulazeez, announced that the group was ready for a ceasefire, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State says it has evidence that the sect was planning fresh attacks on “soft targets”. The JTF revelation cast doubts on the authenticity or otherwise of the claim of the new Boko Haram’s spokesman. A statement by Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, JTF’s spokesman, said, ”Information available to the JTF Operation RESTORE ORDER indicates that Boko Haram Terrorists are plotting to attack government officials, civil servants, politicians and other law abiding citizens in Borno State. “The JTF wishes to alert members of the public on the latest plot and advise these categories of Nigerians to be aware of people within their environment and restrict movements particularly during the hours of night.

“Members of the public are therefore reminded to report any suspicious movement, persons or groups to the Task Force through the following JTF Hot Lines for further action: 0806 4174066, 0708 5464012, 0815 4429346”.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news/180292-boko-haram-planning-fresh-attacks--jtf

As part of measures aimed at  promoting local fish production and enhance competitiveness of the local markets,s Lagos State Government has concluded arrangement for the hosting of maiden seafood festival in the country.

 The festival is scheduled to hold on 10 November, 2012 at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island,

 The festival, with the theme: Lagos Seafood Festival: Boosting the Potentials of the Fishery Industry is expected to serve as catalyst for seafood production in Lagos.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, disclosed this yesterday, in Alausa, Ikeja, saying the festival was one of the strategies of the state to realise its food security objectives.

The commissioner, who also spoke about the strategic plan of the state government to achieve one million metric tons of fish in spite of the fact that the present capacity was just 125,000 metric tons, a huge gap from 650,000 metric tons currently needed by the state.

 He acknowledged that the multi-nationals no doubt pose serious threat to the local production but expressed the state determination to boost production of seafood. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/lagos-boosts-local-fish-production/

JAILBREAK is not new in Rivers State.  The other time militant inmates made frantic efforts to escape from the Port Harcourt Prison, using a ladder. Five of them succeeded.   This happened on August 7, last year.

The state had also recorded one during the reign of Dr Peter Odili as governor of the state. So not many were surprised at the Saturday incident at the Federal Prison, Ahoada East Local Government Area where four inmates allegedly escaped.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that security operatives got hint of the plot by the inmates to escape so they were on red alert. A security source told VM that they had expected it the previous Thursday but the inmates did not make real the plot.


Detainees in a holding cell at the prison
So security men had relaxed but remained vigilant. VM gathered that the inmates had been grumbling over what they considered congestion in the various cells.  They said facilities at the prison had been completely overstretched because of the congestion.

They had reportedly complained to the management of the prison but nothing was seemingly done.  The failure to respond to the complaints and grumbling of the inmates, a source said, fuelled their plot to organise a jailbreak.

A source within the prison also told VM that the inmates were not happy that Chief Judge of Rivers State and his counterpart in Bayelsa State had not visited the Federal Prison for some time. Usually such visit comes with the hope that some of the prisoners could be pardoned. According to the source, the prisoners felt they were deliberately being ignored by the two states. So to attract attention they had to organise a jailbreak.

It was not clear why they chose the sallah period to execute their plot but VM gathered that the inmates felt it was probably a time that security could be relatively relaxed in the area.  The sources said they had secured outside assistance for the jailbreak. But unknown to them security operatives were already on red alert.

The source said that was why it was not difficult to quickly mobilise to foil it.

 

How inmates went about the plot

VM gathered that some of the inmates came back from fetching fire wood and water that

Saturday evening. When they were asked to move into their various cells, the source said they refused. And suddenly there was tension in the whole prison yard.  Some of the inmates allegedly forced open the cells of those on Awaiting Trial.  This further heightened the confusion.

They said security operatives quickly mobilised to the area and started shooting sporadically.  Two of the prisoners who were among those trying to escape through the ceiling allegedly died from gunshot injuries. Eleven others sustained bullet wounds while four successfully escaped.

It was not clear how the four who escaped made it in spite of the heavy shooting and presence of security operatives.  But a source who lives very close to the prison said he was told that they were “spiritually fortified” such that bullets could not penetrate their bodies. “I was told they had local charms that made it impossible for bullets to penetrate them.  You know these guys acquire all kinds of protective charms,” the source told VM.

VM also gathered that the prisoners broke into the office of the Chief Warder and disappeared with some documents.   They also reportedly vandalised the prison’s clinic. Another source said the plot by the prisoners to escape would have been very successful if security men had not stormed the place early enough.

According to the source, the heavy presence of security men discouraged involvement of external hands the inmates had mobilised to help in the jailbreak process.  “When their external collaborators saw the timely arrival of security men they became afraid and ran for dear lives”.

Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Ahoada, Mr. Aderibigbe Lawal could not be reached for comment on the development. But confirming the escape of the four prisoners, the Minister of Interior Affairs, Mr Abba Moro, said effort was on to re-arrest them.  The Minister who spoke through his Special Assistant, Mr George Udoh, in Abuja, said those injured had been treated and brought back to the prison.

“The Nigerian Prison Service, NPS, is seriously on top of the situation as the agency is working hard to restore peace to the area. We want to appeal to the general public to cooperate with the government in its bid to transform our prison service. The public should also not hesitate to make available vital information to the security agencies to get rid of crime in our society,” he said.

Also, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the death of two prisoners, saying that they died of fatal injuries from bullet wounds.  “Around 1700hrs (5 pm) on Saturday, inmates of the Federal Prisons, Ahoada attempted breaking out unlawfully from custody. Ahoada Police Area Command swiftly mobilised to the scene and together with other security agencies, cordoned off the entire perimeter of the prisons.

“Consequently, the escaping inmates retreated to the confines of the prisons. Two of the inmates that tried escaping through the ceiling were shot at, to prevent their escape and were fatally-wounded (killed) in the process. The situation has been brought under control.”

At the time of this piece, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area where the prison is located, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, said peace had returned to the area as people were going about their businesses. Chief Ikegbide who spoke through his Press Secretary, Mr Blessed Oyaghiri, condemned the attempted jailbreak just as he lauded security operatives for the timely response.

Security was still heavy around the prison at the time of this report.  People were seen discussing the development in groups in Ahoada East local government area when VM went round the town.


http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/boko-haram-picks-buhari-to-moderate-talks-with-govt/

Islamic sect Boko Haram yesterday opted for dialogue with the Federal Government, picking former military leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as mediator.

Buhari contested last year’s presidential election on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) against President Goodluck Jonathan.

Boko Haram also proposed Saudi Arabia for the talks, which the government had for long suggested to ascertain the sect’s grievances.

Others, it suggested as mediators are Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Mrs Aisha Alkali Wakil and her husband Alkali Wakil.

Boko Haram named Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, said to be the next in command to its leader, Abubakar Shekau, as leader of its team to the talks. He will be joined by Abu Abbas, Sheik Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheik Sani, Kantagora and the detained Mamman Nur.

Ibn Abdulaziz, who spoke in a tele-conference with reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State, also called for the arrest of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, but gave no reason for the demand.

He also asked for compensation for families of killed Boko Haram members and the release of those in detention.

In a swift reaction, the Presidency welcomed Boko Haram’s change in position, reiterating its commitment to peace and Justice.

A statement last night by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati reads: “Yes, I have seen the story in which the Boko Haram is reportedly declaring a ceasefire and the opening of dialogue. I think it is important to restate the position of government in this matter.

“The Federal Government is committed to peace and security for the benefit of all Nigerians. If what the proposed ceasefire is intended to achieve are the objectives of peace and security, then it is a welcome development.

“Don’t forget that President Jonathan had made it clear that if the people behind Boko Haram are ready to come forward, and table their grievances, then government will be willing to listen to those grievances.

“There have been attempts before now, by concerned persons to reach out to the Boko Haram through back channels, in response to government’s call that all efforts should be made to resolve the problem. I suspect that this latest development may be related to that.

“Definitely, government is determined to ensure peace, peace, and peace, and protect the rule of law, and at the same time, see that justice is done where wrongs have been committed.”

Despite a shift in its hardline position, Boko Haram’s command and control structure remains a mystery.

Abdulaziz, who spoke on its behalf yesterday is unknown to the media.

Ibn Abdulaziz said: “We are not actually challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security (forces) who are killing our members, children and wives.”

“We are highly offended but if this government is sincere, everything (the attacks) will come to an end. We want to dialogue but government must show sincerity in its handling of the situation.”

The call came through the channels that Boko Haram usually communicates with reporters, but not from its spokesman who uses the nom de guerre Abul Qaqa in such calls. Ibn Abdulaziz, who claimed to speak on Shekau’s behalf, did not call for the implementation of Shariah law across Nigeria, a long-term demand of the sect.

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/boko-haram-picks-buhari-to-moderate-talks-with-govt/

President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the ongoing criticism on his person over his alleged position over the land grab between Bayelsa State and rivers State.
There has been a contentious issue between Rivers and Bayelsa states over allegations of land grab and oil royalties Which the Community elders under the Umbrella of Kalabari National Forum, on Monday, cried out that the president had devised a major means to manipulate in favour of Bayelsa in order to cede Kula, Soku, Ehem-Sargama, Idama and Abose Rivers communities with large oil deposit to Bayelsa.

This, they had expressed via a protest that was led by a former Minister, Alabo Graham-Douglas in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairman of Akukutoru Local Government Area Traditional Council of Rivers State, Emmanuel Awoyesuau-Jack, said: “The self-explanatory effort was perceived to assuage the initial provocation of the Rivers State government. While Rivers State government patiently awaited the promised correction, of the error-laden 11th edition of the Administrative map of Nigeria, which ordinarily should have redressed the acknowledged fundamental misrepresentations, the RMAFC surreptitiously released all revenue accruing from Soku Fields and Wells, previously kept in an Escrow Account, to Bayelsa State without recourse to Rivers State.”

But the president through his Spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, had denied the allegation, accusing Rivers State of the ongoing complications in the matter.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in some newspapers today about a protest staged by the Kalabari National Forum and some monarchs in Abuja, in which the so-called protesters accused President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of interfering in a boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states.

“The protesters alleged directly and through innuendoes, that there are plans to cede five Rivers State oil communities to Bayelsa with the connivance of various Federal Government agencies under the watchful eyes and supervision of his Excellency, Mr. President whose home state, most ingloriously, is the direct beneficiary.

“We consider these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate, considering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest. The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies.

Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes. In this particular case, the dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states predates the Jonathan administration, and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and other relevant agencies, long before now. The matter has never at any time been brought before either the President or the Vice President. The school-boy style protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail. We find the motive deplorable.

“It is all the more surprising that a man of Alabo-Graham Douglas’s stature, a former Minister who ought to know what is right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the President and his Ijaw kinsmen.

“We advise the Kalabari National Forum, its members and hidden sponsors, to avoid the temptation to instigate conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states, who are both of the same Ijaw stock. The statutory agencies assigned the responsibility of resolving boundary disputes should be allowed to do their work.

“President Jonathan appeals to the good people of Rivers and Bayelsa to refuse to be dragged into the politics of conflict being orchestrated by individuals pursuing a hidden agenda.

“The Federal Government, under President Jonathan’s watchful eyes and supervision, remains committed to the promotion of fairness and justice in the interest of all parties concerned.
http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/31/you-instigate-people-me-jonathan-reacts-allegation-land-grab/

Federal Government has decried the poor supervision of some of its basic education projects.

Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, expressed government’s disappointment while inspecting work at the Federal Government Special Girl Child School, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday.

He    urged the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission to improve on its monitoring and evaluation to achieve the desired result.

Wike regretted that the quality of job carried out by the contractor under the supervision of a UBEC consultant had fallen below  government specification.

The minister said, “What has happened here today is the reason why I insist on personally monitoring projects to know their status. I am not happy with this job. The UBEC consultant and the official who commenced the takeover process must be sanctioned.”

He said the government would not condone shoddy execution of basic education projects.

Wike, who also paid a courtesy call on Governor Tanko Almakura, called on state governments to improve their surveillance of State Universal Basic Education Boards to avoid the diversion of books meant for the less privileged.

Almakura said the Federal Government’s investments in education were necessary to entrench development across the country.

He commended the minister for embarking on an on-the-spot monitoring of projects. http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-decries-poor-supervision-of-ubec-projects/

If you have followed closely the Bisi Ibidapo Obe Vs Dino Melaye scandal, you will recall Bisi mentioned that actress Lola Alao introduced her to Dino Melaye then later went behind her back to date him afterwards. Following Bisi's claims, Lola reacted to the allegations in a soft-sell interview recently where she claims that Bisi is using the pregnancy thing to blackmail Hon. Dino.

Hear what she said, "Bisi should leave me out of her pregnancy mess. How can an adult like her not know who impregnated her? Is Bisi a small girl, that I Lola, will now carry and give Hon Dino to date? It is sad that she has dragged him into this mess. Is she the first actor or actress that Dino will help? Why is she making a deal out of meeting Dino? Dino has been my friend for years and was even at my movie premiere several month back where he donated N10million. I wish to state categorically that I have never dated Dino, I am not dating him and can never date him because he's like a brother from another mother. It is quite unfortunate that Bisi is scandalizing Dino this way. Everything smacks of blackmail to me. Maybe she thinks since Dino donated N10million at my launch , she can scandalize him and make some money off him. I leave her to her conscience."

Reacting to this, one of the friends of the Ilesha born actress, Bisi, we contacted for Bisi number responded and said thus, "Lola is a misguided old fool who doesn't know what she wants. She actually sold Bisi to Dino because we hear that Dino actually paid her well when she took Bisi to him. The Juju she is using on Dino will soon vanish because this is not the first time she would be alleged of such. And for all the nonsense she said in City People, we can't blame her, it's the same Juju she used on Dino that she used on Seye Kehinde, the publisher of the magazine. She is such a useless girl who has used herself to get to the top and she doesn't want anyone to be like her. It's a pity."

This is a serious case o. God please intervene

http://nigeriafilms.com/news/19370/24/bisi-ibidapo-obe-dino-malayes-pregnancy-scandal-la.html

The federal government said it has spent about N100 billion on school books. Minister of Information Labaran Maku said this at 52nd Anniversary Lecture organised by the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers (CIPPON) in Lagos. He said this was exclusive of other printing products.
He emphasized the need for the development of the nation’s printing sector, saying it will prevent perennial capital flight and keep trillions of naira within the nation’s economy.

Maku, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Publications, Mr. Olufela Oshunbiyi, said there was the need to assist the printing industry with “a deliberate soft loan policy” by the Bank of Industry to stimulate investment in the sector.

He added that a National Printing Industry Fund could also be created for easy access by investors.

He said: “I believe the EFCC and ICPC should have and demonstrate greater interest in the coordination and development of the nation’s printing industry in order to enhance and catalyse the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said his ministry’s new strategy was to pursue a policy framework that would mobilise foreign direct and domestic investments for growth in the critical sectors, including the printing industry.

Represented by Steven Amase, the junior Minister said government is coming up with an option of first refusal to indigenous companies in any local billing.

According to him, a bill to this effect is already at the National Assembly, adding that when passed, members of CIPPON stand to benefit immensely from it.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/business/179923-fg-spends-n100bn-on-school-books

Billyonaire: I dont regret casting that Vote for GEJ. Delivery before deadline is unheard of in Nigeria's history.

you are right dude

Against expectations that the firm being backed by a former Head of State,  Gen, Abdusalami Abubakar, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, will get at least two of the biggest power distribution companies in the country, it has been given only the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

The company had led other bidders for the Eko, Ikeja and Ibadan distribution companies, considered to be the biggest and most commercially viable in the country, when the bids were earlier opened on October 16, 2012.

However, the National Council on Privatisation on Monday, in approving the outcome of the financial bid opening for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s successor generation and distribution companies, named Integrated Energy as the winner for the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company with NEDC/KEPCO approved as the reserve bidder.

Significantly, the consortium being backed by the Ekiti, Delta, Edo and Ondo State governments to acquire 60 per cent stake in the Benin Distribution Company, Southern Electricity Distribution Company, was disqualified for submitting two different bids in violation of the rules.

Instead, the company went to Vigeo Power Consortium.

One of the rules guiding the privatisation process states that no company can be allowed to win more than two bids.

In addition, no company will be allowed to win both the Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies, which collectively generate about 45 per cent of the total revenue of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Instead of giving the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to Interstate Electronics Limited, being promoted by business mogul, Mr. Emeka Ofor, which emerged the top bidder by offering Average Technical, Commercial and Collection loss reduction of 21.62 per cent, NCP awarded the company to Kann Consortium Utility Company Limited.

The Eko Distribution Company went to West Power & Gas, which came third behind Integrated Energy and New Electricity Distribution Company Consortium, while Honeywell Energy Resources International Limited, which came fourth in the bid opening round, was approved as the reserve bidder.

For the Enugu Distribution Company, Interstate Electrics Limited was named as the preferred bidder, while Eastern Electric Nigeria Ltd was approved as the reserve bidder.

For the Ikeja Distribution Company, New Electricity Distribution Company/KEPCO emerged as the preferred bidder, while Vigeo Power Consortium was approved as the reserve bidder.

The Jos Distribution Company has Aura Energy Limited as the preferred bidder.

Sahelian Power SPV Limited was named as the preferred bidder for the Kano Distribution Company; 4Power Consortium emerged as the preferred bidder for the       Port Harcourt Distribution Company.

For the Yola Distribution Company, Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Limited was named as the preferred bidder.

However, the bidders that offered the highest amounts of money for the electricity generation companies were approved as the winners.

With the approval, the highest ranked bidder for each of the companies is required to post an additional bid security (Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee) in the form of a Letter of Credit or bank guarantee for 15 of the transaction values within 15 business days of notification by the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

The approval was given at the sixth meeting of the NCP for the year, presided over by its Chairman, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Chairman, NCP Technical Committee, Mr. Atedo Peterside, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

He said the NCP approved Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited with a bid of $132m as the core investor in Geregu Power Plc.

He said the council also approved Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, which offered an annual fee of $50,760,665.18 and a commencement fee of $257m as the preferred bidder for the concession of the Kainji Hydro Power Plc.

According to Peterside, the NCP also approved North-South Power Limited, which offered an annual fee of $23,602,484.87 and a commencement fee of $111,654,534 as the preferred bidder for the concession of Shiroro Hydro Power Plc.

He said, “The privatisation body also approved that Transcorp/Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/PSL/Thomassen, with a bid of $300,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Ughelli Power Plc.

“NCP also approved that Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, with a bid of $252,000,000, as the reserve bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Ughelli Power Plc.

“NCP approved that CMEC/EURAFRIC Energy JV Consortium, with a bid of $201,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Sapele Power Plc.

“NCP approved that JBN-NESTOIL Power Services Limited, with a bid of $106,500,000, is the reserve bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Sapele Power Plc.”

Peterside added that given that Amperion was the preferred bidder for Geregu Power Plc,  the council also approved that Feniks Electricity Limited would be the reserve bidder for Ughelli Power Plc, subject to its bid being revised to match the reserve price.

He said having cleared the NCP approval hurdle, the highest ranked bidders for the generation and distribution companies would be required to post an additional bid security in the form of a Letter of Credit or bank guarantee for 15 per cent of the transaction values within 15 business days of notification from the BPE.

Peterside said the preferred bidders’ bank guarantee should be from a Standard & Poor’s or Moody & Fitch “A” rated foreign bank with a correspondent bank in the country or a Nigerian bank rated “A” by a rating agency approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and be valid for 21 days after the stipulated proposal validity period or any extended proposal validity period.

He explained that the designated preferred bidders would be invited for negotiations with the BPE.

He said, “Within 15 business days after signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the Performance Agreement, whichever is earlier, or at a mutually agreed earlier time, the bidder shall make a down payment of 25 per cent of the share purchase price.

“Within six months after signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement or the Shareholders’ Agreement, whichever is earlier or mutually agreed upon time, the bidder will be required to pay the outstanding 75 per cent of the share purchase price to complete the transaction.

“Upon receipt of payment, the preferred bidder’s bank guarantee will be returned to the bidder within a maximum of four weeks.

 “After the completion of payment, the handover of the successor company to the preferred bidder will conclude the transaction.”

On the opposition of some state governors to the choice of the preferred bidder for Benin distribution company, Peterside said nobody had been able to make a specific allegation of wrongdoing against the NCP, adding that the exercise was transparent.
http://www.punchng.com/news/abdusalamis-company-loses-lagos-power-firms-gets-ibadan/

The city that never sleeps resembled one that clearly does.

Even Lady Liberty seemed to doze yesterday as she faded in and out of view, shrouded in mist swirling over the whitecaps of New York’s harbour as Hurricane Sandy crept closer to the city. On land, streets that normally are jammed at the start of the workweek were nearly deserted save for emergency workers and gawkers who couldn’t resist watching the rivers, the harbour and the sea rise around them.

“I don’t think the flood is really going to get all the way to our apartment,” Nicholas Martin said hopefully — and a bit uncertainly — as he stood at the end of a street that drops off into the harbor, in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. He sipped a cup of coffee and watched water rippling in from the harbor and spreading over the street. It crept up the side of a brick warehouse on the avenue, and around a telephone pole, tiny waves rippling in the wind.

His friend, Malinda Brown, said the pair had briefly considered evacuating but opted to stay put, convinced they would be safe. They weren’t regretting their decision, at least not yet. Farther up the street, though, others apparently had had a change of heart. Three people hastily piled suitcases and bundles of belongings into a pickup truck and drove off.

With Sandy’s full impact still several hours away, sporadic blackouts were beginning, from New Jersey to Connecticut. On suburban Long Island, 54,000 people were without electricity by midday. More than 52,000 people had lost power in New Jersey, and 25,000 were in the dark in Connecticut.

The morning’s high tide sent water washing over some oceanfront boardwalks, parking lots, residential avenues and heavily traveled thoroughfares. Speed limits on bridges were reduced to as low as 20 mph as winds picked up. The gusts proved too much for a construction crane atop a building in midtown Manhattan, at 7th Avenue and West 57th Street. It toppled over and was left dangling in the wind, dozens of stories above the streets, prompting officials to close off the area. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Officials in Manhattan closed large sections of FDR Drive, which skirts the eastern edge of the island, because of flooding. On Manhattan’s southern tip, in Battery Park, workers piled additional sandbags after the harbor surged over the walkway along the water.

The evening tide was expected to be far higher, and the one after that — early Tuesday — higher yet. The Holland Tunnel linking Manhattan to New Jersey, and the Hugh Carey Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel that connects lower Manhattan to Brooklyn, were closed because of potential flooding, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city would face a second day of virtual shutdown Tuesday.

Schools were to remain closed, Bloomberg said, and the New York Stock Exchange would also stay dark. Subways were expected to remain closed as well.

“You can look outside and say, ‘Oh, this is not bad.’ That’s correct, but it is going to be,” Bloomberg said as he pleaded, yet again, for the roughly 375,000 New York City residents living in flood-prone areas to heed mandatory evacuation orders.

The city set up more than 70 emergency shelters to accommodate people who had no friends or relatives to stay with, but only about 3,000 people had registered at the centers.

That number seemed likely to rise, if the scene at Seward Park High School in Manhattan was anything to go by. As Sandy neared landfall and as rain began pelting streets nearly devoid of the usual signs of city life, people began streaming into the shelter, pushing suitcases and hampers filled with belongings and often leading small children by the hand.

“I expect a big rush later,” said Don West, deputy chief of the Community Emergency Response Team, as two women accompanied by three children checked themselves in. Cots — 900 of them — filled the school’s two gymnasiums and lined the second-floor hallways. At least 450 had filled up since the shelter opened Sunday night. “I don’t know where the overflow goes,” said West.

In the school’s auditorium, evacuees sat like bored students at an assembly, watching a small TV blare more Sandy updates as they busied themselves with Sudoko games and crossword puzzles.

Lillian Ward sat on a blue cot inside a gymnasium, hopeful that Monday would be her last of two nights there. Ward lives in one of the city’s 26 public housing developments in mandatory evacuation zones, and she left after the city warned that it would shut off hot water and power — including elevator service — in those buildings to ensure people left.

“They came and knocked on everybody’s door Sunday,” said Ward, who felt she had no option: She lives on the ninth floor of her building and didn’t want to be stuck there in the dark, having to climb the stairs to her apartment.

Yanira Lassalle also had no choice but to come to the shelter. That’s because she was living in a nearby homeless shelter, which ordered everyone out Sunday.

“I’d rather be at the other shelter. At least we have our own rooms there,” said Lassalle, gazing out across a room full of mainly women and children. She was skeptical about the storm’s potential impact, even as the sky darkened outside. “If it was going to be that bad, it would’ve been bad already,” she said.

Ward disagreed. “I’m not taking any chances. I just want to wait it out,” she said.

 http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/hurricane-sandy-lashes-new-york/

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that a comprehensive report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chaired by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, be presented to him this week. And his office has fixed 2 November as the date for the formal presentation of the report at the State House Abuja.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, stated this in a statement he issued in Abuja on Monday.

Abati said the directive was in furtherance of the administration’s commitment to transparency in the petroleum sector.

The presidency’s reaction came as controversies and suspicions mounted over whether the report, already submitted to the oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, would be swept under the carpet.

Abati on a radio programme in Abuja today debunked reports that government wanted to set up another committee to review the Ribadu report. He said such review would only arise after the submission of the report to the government.

The committee was set up in February to, among other tasks, verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes and royalties) due and payable to the Federal Government. It was also asked to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owed, and to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators.

Though oil minister, Diezani Alison Madueke claimed last week that she had only gotten a draft copy of the report, leaked parts of the 146 page report, tagged final, have been in wide circulation.

And what the report catalogues, does not edify Nigeria’s oil sector .

For instance, the committee has found that a total of $183m in signature bonuses paid by oil companies to the federation is missing.

The panel also found that Nigeria may also have lost $29billion in the last decade in the sweet-heart gas deals with major oil companies, such as Shell and Total, just as crude oil theft is reaching an alarming level of 250,000 barrels daily at a cost of $6.3billion a year.

The panel, set up by the oil minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, on the orders of President Jonathan, examined the oil industry between 2002 and 2012.

The report said that Ministers of Petroleum Resources between 2008 and 2011 handed out seven discretionary oil licences, but that $183m in signature bonuses was missing from the deals.

Three of the oil licences were awarded since the current minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, took up her position in 2010, according to the report.

“I have not given any discretionary awards during this administration,” Alison-Madueke told Reuters, although she added that the President had the right to do so instead of using bids if he saw fit.
“That is entirely up to him,” she said.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil exporter, shipping more than two million barrels per day, and is also home to the world’s ninth biggest gas reserves and one of its largest Liquefied Natural Gas export terminals.

The report provides new details on the nation’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which has enriched its elite and provided the oil majors with hefty profits, while two thirds of the people live in poverty.

Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke told Reuters last week she received the report just last month, some months behind schedule but that it was a draft and the government was still supposed to give input. However, the one seen by Reuters was labelled “Final Report.”

The report concluded that oil majors Shell, Total and Eni made bumper profits from cut-price gas, while Nigerian oil ministers handed out licences at their own discretion. This, while not illegal, did not follow best practice of using open bids. Hundreds of millions of dollars in signature bonuses on those deals were also missing, it said.

“It said the gas revenue losses accrued in dealings with Nigeria LNG (NLNG), a company owned by the parastatal Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as well as Shell, Eni and Total. The price at which feedstock gas was sold to the NLNG “seems too generous, compared to prices obtainable on the international market”, the report said.

“The estimated cumulative of the deficit between value obtainable on the international market and what is currently being obtained from NLNG, over the 10 year period, amounts to approximately $29 billion.”
Shell said the company could not comment as it had not yet seen the report. Total and Eni, which are both investors but not operators of NLNG, also declined to comment.

The report alleges international oil traders sometimes buy crude without any formal contracts, and the state oil firm had short-changed the Nigerian treasury billions over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates.
There was no suggestion that the oil majors or traders had done anything illegal, but the report highlighted a lack of transparency in their dealings in a nation rife with graft.

It also said foreign oil firms had outstanding debts.

Addax, now a unit of China’s state-owned Sinopec, owes Nigeria $1.5 billion in unpaid royalties, part of a $3 billion black hole of unpaid bonuses and royalties owed by oil firms.

Shell owes Nigeria’s government 137.57 billion naira ($874 million) for gas sold from its Bonga deep offshore field, the report said, while oil majors owed $58 million between them for gas flaring penalties. They were also not adhering to newer higher fines.
The probe also said Nigeria was the only nation to sell all its crude through international oil traders rather than directly to refineries, adding that such trades were often opaque.
It said some international oil traders who were not “on the approved master list of customers” had been sold crude oil “without a formal contract” so little could be obtained about the details of these deals, which can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

“This logically will serve to reduce margins obtainable on sale of crude oil,” the report said.
But Alison-Madueke disputed this, saying there are no informal contracts and there is “an official tender put out every year”, which can be seen by the public in newspapers.

The state oil firm gets an allocation of 445,000 bpd of crude oil to refine locally but it has been selling itself this oil at cut-down prices, a practice which cost Nigeria $5 billion in potential revenue between 2002-2011, the report said.

“NNPC buys at international rates,” Alison-Madueke retorted.
The report said the NNPC made 86.6 billion naira over the 10-year period by using overly generous exchange rates in its declarations to the government. There was no sign of the money.

Among the report’s recommendations were that parts of NNPC be reorganised or scrapped, an independent review of the use of traders be set up and a transparency law be passed requiring oil companies to disclose all payments made to Nigeria.

U.S. regulators put new rules in place in August that will require U.S.-listed oil and gas companies to disclose payments they make to foreign governments like Nigeria.

Ribadu’s probe was among several committees set up following a week of nationwide strikes against a rise in fuel prices in January, which morphed into a campaign against oil corruption.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/29/corrupt-oil-sector-jonathan-asks-for-ribadu-report/

It was unlimited joy for the people of Ijebu in Ogun State yesterday when the Senate President, David Mark assured them that the creation of more states by the National Assembly was still on course.

Mark said this at the 2012 annual Ojude-Oba celebration at Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, adding that states creation would bring governance closer to the people, assuring them of his support for the creation of Ijebu State.


He said “I have received the delegation from the (Ogun) State who are the main committee members for creation of Ijebu State. I’m here to say one thing that I’m fully in support of the creation of Ijebu State.

“Let me make my point clear: where I stand in politics is never in doubt. I support the creation of Ijebu State. I support the creation of (more) states in

this country. And the National Assembly must work towards that.

“When we create states, it is not because we cannot live together but because we want to bring governance closer and nearer to the people.

“A lot of people desire and deserve to feel a sense of governance in this country and when we create states, that is what would happen.”

Responding on behalf of the people, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona expressed his unreserved gratitude for the support they have so far received from the Senate President, adding that it was time Ijebu state is created.


He said “It is the only province that existed since 1975 that is yet to be converted to a state, while other provinces had been divided into two or more states.”

The monarch and the Governor of Ogun State,Ibikunle Amosun commended the Chairman of Globacom for bringing many innovations to the festival, thereby turning it to a world-class carnival which has attracted people from across Nigeria and the rest of the world.

The festival was attended by senators, captains of industries and other political bigwigs

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/29/i-support-creation-ijebu-state-david-mark-2/