₦airaland Forum

This is a good move..almost all privitization carried out by Obasanjo's regime was meshed in fraud and irregularities..I can't remember if any of the companies sold then is working and adding value to the Nigerian economy now..
If the next step of the government is to privitize the company again,the process should be modelled after what was done in the power sector..

The Niger Government on Thursday said President Goodluck Jonathan would flag off the construction of the multi-billion Naira Zungeru Hydro-electricity dam project on May 28.

The Commissioner for Information, Prof Mohammed Yahaya, told newsmen in Minna that the flag off of the project was part of the activities lined up for the president's one-day official visit to the state.

Yahaya said that the state government and its people
appreciated the gesture of the president for approving the execution of the project which had been on the drawing board for over 15 years.

``Niger Government appreciates what the president has
done. For 15 years, the project has been on the drawing
board.

``With the project, the state government will take its pride as the power house of the nation.``

He commended the Federal Government for the ongoing
dualisation of the Suleja-Minna high way.

Yahaya said the construction of the Zungeru dam would bring to four the number of hydro-electricity dams in the state.

``The state hosts Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji hydro electric
dams,'' he listed.

Source:https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=549345285118384&l=b4dd03fbe1&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FcO7I6aIk91&_rdr

ABUJA — CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi West), yesterday, said President Goodluck Jonathan has recovered the dead Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State from Global Steel Holdings Limited.

The move came six years after the company had remained non-functional.

Adeyemi noted that the development and bringing back the company to full operation will provide at least 10, 000 jobs, not only for Kogi State indigenes but also, neighbouring states.

Speaking to newsmen, the lawmaker, who said the Federal Government was in the process of negotiating the return of the Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, also in Kogi State, said, “The Federal Government has recovered the Ajaokuta steel complex from Global Steel and with that more than 10,000 workers would be gainfully employed.

“I think the return of this complex is worth celebrating. The government of President Jonathan is worth celebrating. They should be commended for recovering the complex. They have succeeded in recovering Ajaokuta without any attendant financial obligation whatsoever.

“This is a great achievement that deserves commendation, irrespective of political affiliation. The return of Ajaokuta will reduce unemployment and crime. By this singular achievement, it means this government has raised the hope for industrial development in Nigeria

“We got to know that Global Steel asked for $1 billion damages but the concession was illegal and unlawful. I want Nigerians to know that the Federal Government has been in arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce since the concession was terminated in 2007. The case started in 2008.

“The two plants have not been functioning since they were privatized and I want to let you know that the meeting that resolved the issue was held in Dubai between April 29 to May 1.

“Ajaokuta is at the heart of technological development in Nigeria. If we can get the complex back, then, it means Nigeria’s march towards industrialization has started on a good path. Return of Ajaokuta means that this will change the face of Kogi Stats and hopefully, the northern region”.

“The federal government may revalidate the concession with Global Steel. I’m happy that the main plant is back to Nigeria.”

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had been locked in arbitration with Global Steel Holdings Limited and Global Infrastructure Limited at the International Chamber of Commerce, London, for the return of Ajaokuta since 2007.

The legal tussle started in 2008 when Global Steel dragged the federal government before the ICC, even as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke led the federal government delegation.

Ajaokuta was thereafter sold to Global Steel during the administration of former President Olusegun under the privatisation Programme of the Federal Government then and after that, allegations of downsizing and asset-stripping came up before it finally shut down operations.

But President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have intervened and the federal government regained total control of the steel company and with this, Global Steel agreed to forfeit hefty $1b initially being demanded as damages allegedly suffered by the company while running the two plants.

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/jonathan-recovers-ajaokuta-from-global-steel-sen-adeyemi/

Make una beg MoDs to put this on the front page

Gboliwe: It is going on too in Owerri and Enugu too. I hear its a nationwide activity though but I am certain of these two towns

Where exactly can I register in Owerri..thanks

Please mods I suggest that this thread should make the front page
www.nairaland.com/1298371/presidential-intervention-ikeja-police-college
since when the rot was exposed it made to front page..it is also appropriate that we notify millions of nigerians that the rot has been reversed..Thanks

Information disemmination by government officials is poor..alot of people are not aware of this!!!...NIMC and NOA should carry out an aggressive public enlightenment campaign of these important process

GAR3TH: As good as this news is its doesn't solve any of the real problems that the police college has.

You can continue to paint the buildings with a new coat of paint, replace the roofs and plant flowers but who is to say in one year we will be back to were we were before, with another degraded police college.

The main problem with the college was not the infrastructure but rather the incompetent college administration leaders who were suppose to keep the college from degrading and failed.

Why are they all still in their positions after failing to live up to their responsibilities. Renovation of the college is good and I appreciate it but I do not like that the people who caused this did not get charged or fired.

Only in Nigeria will a gun be charged with murder while the killer walks away free.

I agree with you that those that caused this rot should be punished..but its unfair to rest the blame squarely on the current crop of management in the college..remember this a rot that has existed for decades...

sheyie2007: Primitive architecture again... I tire for this country o

Yea..in as much as the architecture might not be up to what is obtainable in Europe..remember this is a rehabilitation work..the spokesman of the army engineers summed it up this way..

“ We have opportunity to kit it to the standard you are
thinking of. But the question now, is, is it habitable? Is it
in a condition that you as a Nigerian will be comfortable
with? The answer is yes”.

Benaig: Cant BELIEVE that all ACN senators - including Tinubu's wife voted UNANIMOUSLY.
Whatever happened to their call on Senate to reject Emergency rule.
LAI Mohammed, Bola Tinubu, where are you?

Shame as you delight in playing politics with ALL situations no matter how serious.

I can confirm from THISDAY that Aunty Remi was actually absent in the senate yesterday..maybe Oga Tinubu sensed what was in the offing and stoped her from going to the chambers...

Eko Ile: Old wine inside new bottle. Whatever happened to the folks behind the rot and embezzlement.







Where was the transformation agenda before Channels blow alarm?



Yeye people... lmao

Oga what was shown by CHANNELS is a ROT that has accumulated for several years..the president cannot be everywhere at the same time...so that is why we need likes of CHANNELS and other media houses to EXPOSE THIS ROT which has been going on for DECADES..so that CORRECTIVE actions like this can be taken

Good job CHANNELS TELEVISION...this how journalism should be..the TRUTH with no BLACKMAILS...
Good job Presidency...Good Job army Corp of engineers...
Police make una maintain this facilities well ooo..since money for maintainance has been provided...

Presidential Intervention: Ikeja Police College Wears New Look

Few months ago, Nigerians woke up to receive with shock and disbelief, news of the decrepit level of decay at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos coupled with its deplorable state. The college located on Oba Akinjobi way, close to Arch Bishop V inning Cathedral never gave any passer-by the slightest inkling of its real state, until it was revealed by a television station in January, 2013.

The documentary by the television station captured the odious condition under which men and women were trained as policemen. This revelation was so shocking for a reputable institution that graduates policemen every year to degenerate into such deplorable state.

From the startling revelations, it was observed that the toilets, bathrooms, dormitories were so bad that the trainees resorted to urinating at the back of the buildings, thereby emitting acrid stench which is dangerous to their health. This resulted in the insurgence of mosquitoes which gain entrance unhindered into the dormitories through the damaged windows and doors.
In addition to this sorry state, was the college’s once Olympic-size swimming pool which became a breeding point for toads and other reptiles. The list of the deplorable state is endless, with the trainees forced to adapt to the condition without any choice.

But the good news today, is that the college is currently wearing a new look, as a result of its renovation which was at the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan. The president who paid an unscheduled visit to ascertain the level of the unspeakable rot in the college as reported, was shocked to his wits and immediately issued a four-month ultimatum to the Nigerian Army Corps Engineers, to carry out total renovation of the dilapidated buildings and infrastructures in the College.

During an inspection of the college last Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye and the Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar, the Commander, Army Corps Engineer, Major General Funso Owonibi disclosed that the renovation work was 95% completed, revealing that work would be completed and handed over to the Police, in two weeks.

Explaining further he said, “ We got a marching order to move in here to rehabilitate the affected buildings, 35 in all, and we mobilized immediately. Specifically from 8th of February, we started mobilization and after that, we started demolition and the end result is what you are seeing today.


As at the time we came, the buildings were in a very terrible state. Channels Television revealed the state to the whole world. But today you can see the level of transformation. We were given four months duration. We still have about one month to go. But in two weeks time, when we shall be handing over to the Police, we will still have two weeks left to the ultimatum. The job is more than 95 % completed. The final work has been completed but all that is left is the second round of coating and the additional work we are doing is what will keep us till that two weeks. For instance, we are doing land scalping.”

He, however, clarified that only one building was pulled down while renovation work was carried on others. Areas renovated, according to him, included the toilets, bathrooms, residential units, cafeteria, dormitories amongst others. The hostels, according to him, were fitted with fans, louvres changed to slid windows and roofs replaced.

“ There was a building that has structural defect and a new one was built. Furniture items like beds and wardrobes were built for trainees. We fixed 2000 beds. But we exceeded the initial specification where we felt it was appropriate. We sank five boreholes and rehabilitated three, “ Owonibi said.

Expressing satisfaction at the job he described as’ well done’, Special Adviser to the President on Performance,Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, explained that the purpose of his visit was to inspect the level of work done so far. “ The President visited here on 13 of January,when it was in a terrible state and he committed to fixing it. What is interesting is not just that he has fixed it but the speed with which he has fixed it. What we have done is to explore our internal resources using the expertise of the Nigerian Army Corps Engineers and they have demonstrated their capacity without any doubt. So, we are very excited about that.

“I feel good because if you go right inside the hall, you will see the pictures before and the pictures after. And if you are a Nigerian, you can’t but feel good. Something very fundamental has happened, as this is the first time in over 30years that this place is getting a face lift. This shows that the president’s transformation agenda is working,”Prof Monye stated.

Lamenting the poor maintenance culture of Nigerians, he however assured that funds would be made available annually for the maintenance of the college, with a view to preventing it from returning to its former state. Although he admitted that the college might not be like those obtained in the western world he expressed optimism that with the current measure taken by the president, it would reach the standard.

“ We have opportunity to kit it to the standard you are thinking of. But the question now, is, is it habitable? Is it in a condition that you as a Nigerian will be comfortable with? The answer is yes”.

Corroborating his view, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the president for his support, saying, “ we appreciate the President for the prompt action and attention given to the Police College and also thank the Nigerian Army Corps engineers for this work, speed and show of profes-sionalism. This is a demonstration of the level of concern and patriotism the president has for the Nigeria Police Force.”

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/presidential-intervention-ikeja-police-college-wears-new-look/

Gbawe: Is this not how you and your co-travellers came out to discredit the report that Alamco was in line for a Presidential pardon? Remind us again what happened in the end?

Just like you danced alanta when you and ur partners falsely reported that Christopher Kolade was resigning as Sure-p chairman...

I like the word UNIANIMOUSLY

The Senate unanimously approved the declaration.

The Senate on Tuesday approved the State of Emergency
declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in Adamawa,
Borno, and Yobe States.

The 100 senators present unanimously approved the
president’s declaration at a session of the whole house.

The Senate had earlier gone for closed door session to
debate the matter. At the end of the closed door session,
the committee of the whole Senate unanimously approved Mr. Jonathan’s declaration; with none of the senators present opposing it.

Only 72 senators were required (two-thirds of the Senate)
for the approval.

The House of Representatives is now required to approve
the declaration by two-thirds of its members.

Source:premiumtimesng.com/news/135300-breaking-news-nigerian-senate-approves-state-of-emergency.html

Finally these guys no get sense...pound them harder Nigerian Army

The NSIA stated this on Monday in Abuja.

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) on
Monday said it would open its investment portfolio with the
injection of $525million for the take-off of projects under
the Stabilization Fund and the Future Generation Fund
early next month.

NSIA is a savings fund established by the Nigeria Sovereign
Investment Authority (Establishment) Act 2011 and
financed by the Federal Government to build a savings and
investments base from the country’s hydrocarbon wealth.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Uche Orji,
said, at the maiden media briefing in Abuja to signal the
formal take-off of operations of the Authority, that the
investment is in line with the allocation formula and
guidelines recently approved by its Board for the three
Fund’s portfolio, consisting Future Generation Fund, the
Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, and the Stabilisation Fund.

According to Mr. Orji, the investment allocation formula
stipulates that the Future Generation Fund and the Nigeria
Infrastructure Fund would each get $325 million, or 32.5
per cent of the $1billion seed funding of the Sovereign
Wealth Fund (SWF), while $200 million, or 20 per cent
would go to the Stabilisation Fund, leaving a balance of
$150 million, or 15 per cent for future investment
opportunities.

While the Stabilisation Fund would start early June, Mr. Orjisaid the Future Generation Fund, which would start about
the same time, would continue till the end of 2013,
because of its diversified portfolio and complicated
processes. He added that the detailed review of the
possible investment areas to be benefit from the
Infrastructure Fund is ongoing.

He identified priority areas being considered under the
Infrastructure Fund portfolio to include healthcare,
transportation, water resources, power, and housing;
pointing out that the interest of the agency would be on
commercially viable projects that would help it earn good
returns on investment for Nigerians.

“Our focus is on investments that are both relevant to the
current needs of Nigerians and profitable and sustainable,”
Mr. Orji said. “We are ready to go anywhere to get the best deals for Nigeria.”

Source:premiumtimesng.com/business/135102-nigeria-sovereign-wealth-authority-unfolds-initial-200mn-investment.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nigeria-sovereign-wealth-authority-unfolds-initial-200mn-investment

The Special Forces in Borno State on Monday said about 120 terrorists have been arrested in Maiduguri, the state capital, as they organised a burial ceremony for one of their commanders who died in an encounter with soldiers.

Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, in a press statement disclosed that the arrested insurgents were in the custody of the Joint Task Force (JTF) where they were being interrogated.

He said the Special Forces had now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo, all in Borno state, after destroying all the terrorists’ camps sited in these localities.

The statement said that the troops were already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.

Brigadier General Olukolade said terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained by the Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations at the border.

He said during the raid on terrorist camps, the troops observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said it had observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas raided by the Special Forces and wished to state that the photographs were questionable as they did not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.

He said the story and pictures depicting Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries were doubtful.

More than 2,000 Nigerians living in border villages in Borno State were reported to have fled as a result of the ongoing military operations targeted at routing the insurgents from the area.

The fleeing villagers were said to have headed to the neighbouring Niger Republic.

“Most of the residents of border villages of Borno have fled to Niger. About 2,000 people from Abadan, Malam Fatori and other villages are now refugees in Difa, Niger Republic,” a top security officer told a national dailies.

The source said that the Joint Military Task Force was on the trail of the members of the Boko Haram sect, who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps on Thursday in Borno State.

It was learnt that residents of Maiduguri and other communities far from the border, who did not want to be caught in the cross-fire have also fled to some neighbouring states, including Kano and Bauchi.

Source:www.channelstv.com/home/2013/05/20/army-arrests-120-terrorists-during-burial-of-their-commander-in-maiduguri/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Hamzat categorically clarified that there was no
problem, though explained that people “may not see
the physical work at all for now. A bridge is not what we
can jump in there and start to build. Then, we will be
able to commence full work. But internally, a lot have
been going on. The preliminary work has actually
started.”

I hope you all accept the same excuse when FG says the same on similar projects like the 2nd Niger Bridge.....
GOOD ONE LAGOS STATE

Abati asked a very important question...WHEN LAST IN THIS ADMINISTRATION DID WE HEAR OF A COMPANY CLOSING SHOP...yet some people keep shouting unemployment is on the increase....

Abati asked a very important question...WHEN LAST IN THIS ADMINISTRATION DID WE HEAR OF A COMPANY CLOSING SHOP...yet some people keep shouting unemployment is on the increase...

I agree with Abati..the national budget should not be reduced to issues of personal vendatta..the same national assembly claiming that Arunma is not qualified for the job based on experienced whr the same one that cleared her on MERIT....
Every1 is a witness to the success been recorded in the Stock market in recent times...its high time the national assembly sacrificed their selfish EGO for national interest

In this interview, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Reuben Abati, speaks on the administration’s successes, but, more importantly, on the security situation in the country. Excerpts:

Your assessment of the performance of the Jonathan administration which you have put at above average has not affected the scathing criticism from Nigerians. Why do you think Nigerians are very critical of this administration despite the sterling performance as you have consistently said?

This being a democracy, there will never be a time when people won’t criticize government. The positive freedom that democracy offers includes the right to complain about everything including the weather. But even this must be done responsibly. Freedom does not mean the right to be irresponsible. Under the Jonathan administration, there has been real freedom. Nigerians have never had it so good. But what is bothersome is the tendency by some people to insist on promoting falsehood. I have read articles based completely on false premises, and even when the ignorance is pointed to the authors of such articles, they claim that this is a free country. Now, that is not the exercise of freedom. It is sheer irresponsibility.

Second, we have a President that is humble and accessible; focused and disciplined and a system that supports fundamental freedoms. In exercising their freedom, the people ask for more; they want more. Thus, expectations are high. There is a fast food mentality that has over-conditioned our conception of democracy. That is another reason why there is so much criticism. But democracy is not a fast-food recipe. It is a process, like putting a building together or bringing a child to life. And this government respects due process. Our own expectation is that people will come to understand this point in due course.

The good news is that the majority of Nigerians knows and appreciates the fact that this government has been very productive in delivering on President Jonathan’s transformation agenda. They are happy with what has been done in the agricultural sector to diversify the economy, create jobs and add value through a value-chain, business oriented approach to agriculture.

Are you sure they are happy with the value chain?
In the agric sector, this government has ended the season of tractor and fertilizer scam and re-energized the private sector and state governments, to take agriculture more seriously. Our aviation sector is different today. The airports have been upgraded, facilities for air traffic control, which used to be a major issue in the past, have been provided. International best practices are being enforced. The Jonathan administration has placed more emphasis on capital expenditure, resulting in massive investments in infrastructure.

Electricity supply has improved in many parts of the country; the power sector privatization process, abandoned by previous administrations has been revived, and there is every indication that in due course, the interest and commitment that this has generated among private sector investors will yield the desired goal of an effective, modern, and competitive electricity sector and market. At the moment, generation is up, distribution is up; things can only get better.

The railway sector is alive again. The trains are moving, moving goods and persons from North to South, North to East, and West to North. When you consider the fact that the railway sector practically died and became a poster case for abandonment, inertia, and mismanagement, you’d appreciate what this administration has done. At the same time, the roads are being fixed across the nation. There is a total road network of 200,000 km in Nigeria. About 65, 000 of that is paved with bitumen; 54% of which belongs to the Federal Government. The Federal Government is working on its roads. The states and local governments must also do theirs otherwise the Federal Government will continue to get blamed for roads that do not fall under its care.

Industry, trade and investment is another area where this government is doing well. Investment flows into the country keep rising every day because there is renewed confidence in this economy. The capital market has stabilized; our economic outlook is good, with the economy growing at an average of 7% per annum, and in 2013, IMF has projected that the country may record up to 7.2% growth rate. In this case, we are talking about inclusive and real growth. When last did you hear of any company relocating to neighbouring countries? That used to happen in the past, not anymore.

The ports have been sanitized. I mean, sanitized, because duplication of agencies resulting in real terms in the duplication of artificial toll gates at the ports has been checked. The gain is measurable in terms of the growing efficiency of ports operations. Before this President assumed office, there used to be long queues at fuel stations, universities used to be shut down for months. That has changed. The fuel queues have vanished. School sessions have become regular. This is the case because someone has been working hard, relating well, and paying attention.

Our foreign relations is much better. President Jonathan’s diplomacy has strengthened Nigeria’s relationship with its neighbours, the rest of Africa and the world. Our national pride and honour has been restored. I must add that under this President, the integrity of elections has been achieved. Today, Nigerian elections are always considered free and fair. This is a major legacy achievement by President Jonathan.

When you try to transform a system and promote change, it is normal that people who used to benefit from the old, retrogressive system will protest. Those are the ones spewing scathing criticisms to use your phrase. Then you have members of the opportunistic opposition who have declared publicly that their main task is to discredit and pull down the Jonathan administration.

They should not be taken seriously because they have no useful ideas they are bringing to the table. Ignorance poses a big threat to democracy, and the most vicious brand on our shores is the thinking by opposition elements that the best way to play politics is to destroy the government of the day with any possible means. That is not politics; that is perfidy. Being in the opposition does not mean being congenitally contrarian. And that is why I find it instructive that the attempt by the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria to shoot down the President’s proclamation of State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states has been dismissed by many Nigerians as utterly irresponsible.

It is two years since President Jonathan assumed office and I am saying he has done very well, and he is committed to doing even more, and he enjoys the confidence of Nigerians at home and abroad. There are security challenges, yes, and that probably accounts for some of the criticisms, but the administration has demonstrated great resolve and confidence in dealing with the challenges.

The inauguration of the committee on dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect has not in any way affected the activities of the sect. Is the President discouraged by this development?

He is not discouraged. Rather, he has taken the decision to deploy all necessary and appropriate tools in concert with local and international stakeholders, to ensure that we all overcome the evil of terrorism that is threatening our well-being as a nation. Terrorism is a new kind of threat on our shores. Suicide bombing, nihilism, was something we thought impossible in Nigeria.

But here we are. It is also important to note that there can be no illusion of simplicity where the fight against terrorism is involved. Terrorists strike at will with deadly cruelty. Besides, in Nigeria, there are many sides to the terror, many factions within the group, and now they want to take over the country.

Government’s commitment is to get the factions to lay down their arms, government’s commitment is to enforce the rule of law and justice; government’s commitment is to beat terrorism. The overriding consideration is the peace, security, and stability of Nigeria. While the option of dialogue and peaceful resolution is being pursued, government will also not condone impunity of any sort, or the obvious attempt by terrorists to create and run an enclave within the Nigerian state. Hence, the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by President Jonathan.

If anyone is in doubt, the Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces has made it clear: this government will not tolerate any attempt to violate the sovereignty of Nigeria. Those who are willing to dialogue and lay down their weapons can approach the National Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on the Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria. The work of that Committee remains significant and relevant, and it is bound to be impactful.

In the South-South, the spate of attacks on oil facilities is on the increase despite the amnesty programme. This is even more worrisome because the President’s home state of Bayelsa has recorded most of these attacks. What is happening?

It is not true that there is renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta. If anything, the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta has been very successful. Thousands of Niger Delta youths have been sent for training in South Africa, Botswana, Europe and elsewhere. Over, 1, 000 of them, ex-militants just returned from South Africa.

In Botswana, I was there when President Jonathan met with a graduating class of ex-militants. Their former leaders, self-styled warlords have been reintegrated back into society. They are now gentlemen, not anarchists. President Jonathan’s focus is to create new role models among Nigerian youths and his administration has done a lot in that regard. The Almajiri Education Programme is one example. YouWIN is another example. There is also the Youth in Agriculture programme.

What is happening at the moment in the Niger Delta are isolated, episodic, and opportunistic cases of criminality including crude oil theft or occasional protest. It is not an insurgency. You have on one hand, militants who failed to take part in the amnesty programme all through Phases One to Three, who have now suddenly woken up and are insisting that they must be accommodated outside the original framework. Then, you have the greedy, attention-seeking “Na my brother dey there” noisemakers who just want to be noticed. And the crude oil thieves. Now, crude oil theft is a serious matter; because it is economic sabotage and an assault on the Nigerian state. Government is dealing with that decisively.

Some people have said that the crisis in the People’s Democratic Party is an indication of the people’s frustration with the President. How will you react to this? Secondly, why is the President fighting the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as people have alleged?

There is no connection between the politics within PDP and what the people feel about President Jonathan. Every political party has its own internal dynamics. The PDP as a political party can and will resolve its own internal issues. As a political leader and as Nigeria’s Head of State and Head of Government, President Jonathan’s focus is on service delivery, performance and progress. I am sure that people are able to differentiate between intra-party politics and the very business of governance. And surely, there is no political party anywhere that does not have its own internal issues to deal with. Secondly, the allegation that President Jonathan is fighting Governor Rotimi Amaechi is wrong. There is no rift between the President and the Governor. Amaechi himself has said that much publicly.

The insistence by the president to retain Arumah Oteh, the DG of SEC has created an impasse on the passage of the 2013 budget. Is Oteh so irreplaceable that the country’s budget would be put on hold because of her?

There is no impasse as far as I know over the passage of the 2013 budget. The 2013 Budget is not on hold; it has been passed by the National Assembly and it is already being implemented. I think both the Executive and the Legislature must be commended for ensuring that the 2013 Budget was prepared and passed early. Considering what used to happen in the past, that is indeed commendable.

I am aware that both arms of government had agreed to look into some grey areas and take care of these in a supplementary budget that is now being considered. But nothing has been put on hold. What the Jonathan administration has introduced and has been able to achieve is to make the budgeting process open and transparent, so much that today even masons and motorcyclists pretend to be experts in budget analysis. I like the idea of people taking ownership of something as fundamental as the Appropriation Act, but we must beware of beer parlour economists taking charge.

There are big and serious issues involved. The budgeting process cannot become an instrument for vendetta. It cannot be reduced to the level of personality conflicts. That will amount to a reductio ad absurdum. Arunmah Oteh was head-hunted for the job of Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2010, her appointment was endorsed by the National Assembly on the basis of merit and the excellent credentials that she brought to the job. She is one of the very many high-fliers in President Jonathan’s team of the best and the brightest and she has acquitted herself very well.

She met a Stock Exchange that had been reduced to a penny stock market and a source of fright for local and international investors. She has rescued that market from the decline slope; she has strengthened it, and reorganized and rebuilt confidence in it. Our stock market is becoming bullish again, it is on the rebound, investors are streaming back in large numbers. That should be rewarded not opposed just because some people don’t like Arunmah’s face. She has a very pretty face by the way, and a sharp brain. Those who are gunning for her head should adjust their lenses.

The leader of one of the groups in Niger Delta, Asari Dokubo, has sensationally asserted that there would be no Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan is not elected in 2015. Some people have alleged that he is speaking the mind of the President, that is why he has neither been called to order nor arrested. How do you react to this?

I speak for President Goodluck Jonathan. The last time I checked, I was still his official spokesman, not Asari Dokubo. And I can tell you that President Jonathan has not issued any formal statement with regard to the 2015 general elections, other than to state that he remains focused on the assignment that Nigerians have given him and that the time has not yet come for 2015 politics. INEC has not issued any directive on it. The political parties have not either. When the time is ripe, he will make his position known.

Are you with me? I can also tell you that President Jonathan who is an exponent and champion of the one man, one vote, one woman, one vote, one youth, one vote electoral principle will never play the politics of threat and intimidation. He believes in Nigeria and the right of Nigerians to choose their own leaders. For him, politics is not a do or die affair. It is an opportunity to serve and make a contribution. He sees leadership as a privilege not a birthright. As for Asari Dokubo, I stand by my earlier comments on him. You’d have to google that, because I don’t want to waste precious saliva.

In the next few weeks, this administration would be two years. Some Nigerians have argued that their electoral investment has not been worthwhile because of the myriads problems that have remained unsolved. They cite the increasing insecurity, unemployment and corruption as some of the areas that this government has failed. Would you say Jonathan has met the expectations of Nigerians?

I believe I had answered this question much earlier. But you must have your reasons for bringing it up again and my well-informed, categorical and affirmative answer is yes. The only new thing perhaps is your pointed reference to unemployment and corruption and I will deal with the issues quickly. First, on the matter of insecurity, you must have seen that Nigerians are quite happy that President Jonathan is taking a very decisive step in that regard with the declaration of a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and the signal that no form of impunity will be tolerated in any part of Nigeria.

President Jonathan is committed to solving the problem of insecurity, just as he is solving inherited problems in other sectors of the economy: agriculture, aviation, education, infrastructure development, aviation, industry and so on. The combined effect of these efforts is to further open up the economy, deepen its absorptive capacity and create opportunities for job seekers. Once the economy continues to grow, it opens up access for skilled labour automatically. In addition, there are specific schemes for job creation: YouWIN, the Graduate Internship Scheme under the SURE-P and the youth empowerment programme in agriculture. There is also a specific emphasis on entrepreneurship promotion from curricular review to that critical school to work intersection that is central to development dynamics.

What of allegations of corruption?
Corruption! There has been so much misinformation and blackmail on this subject. To say that the Jonathan administration is not fighting corruption is a wrong-headed expression, which I have no doubts attracts very easy donor funding and so, that attracts so many opportunists. You just have to shout corruption as many times as possible for you to become a saint, and also smile to the bank. Don’t be fooled; some of the people claiming to be holier than thou are the most corrupt elements in this country and one day, they will get their come-uppance. The hypocrites aside, President Jonathan’s position is that corruption is inimical to national growth and development, worse still, it amounts to economic sabotage.

Through a well-articulated reform agenda, the Jonathan administration is waging war against corruption in the power sector, in the civil service, at the ports, in the downstream sector of the Petroleum industry, and more importantly in politics through the administration’s emphatic insistence on the integrity of electoral processes, this has been empirically proven in all the elections conducted under President Jonathan’s watch. After two years in office, President Jonathan deserves commendation. He has shown great resolve and resourcefulness and has led us all with a good heart, conscience and a result-oriented, productive strategy.

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/govt-will-not-condone-impunity-of-any-sort-abati/

Lia(er) mohammed tunder fire that your stinkin mouth...must u criticize everytin??...oh I forgot you also called the president names when the issue of flood a NATURAL DISASTER took place..its your habit sha

* Vows to drag FG to ICJ over Baga massacre
By Michael Olugbode

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Tuesday said the North
had decided not to play second fiddle in 2015 as the
position of the president rightly belong to the region and
the mistake of 2011 where the politicians were allowed to
trade away the right of the zone would not be tolerated.

The elders also said the North should be counted out of any arrangement that wouldn’t delivery the presidential ticket to the region, insisting that they will not accept anything short of the position of president.

This is coming even as the region threatens to drag the
federal government before the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) on Baga the incident where 185 persons were reported killed during the confrontation between soldiers and the Boko Haram sect.

At a separate meeting between Borno State Elders Forum
and the state Governor, Kashim Shettima, the NEF
revealed that a team of Lawyers had been put in place to
visit Baga town and come up with findings that would
determine its decision, saying if any organ of government
is found guilty, it will be dragged before the ICJ.
The forum said it was so much interested in the Baga
massacre and anyone who found to have given the order
which led to the killings would be take to the ICJ for
genocide.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Alhaji Ango Abdullahi who stood in for the Chairman of NEF, Alhaji Maitama Sule, said the killing of innocent civilians in Baga town was unacceptable pointing out that the necessary findings must be made to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Abdullahi, a former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello
University (ABU) and founding member of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), said the forum had already
commenced mobilisation of all northerners to have a
consensus candidate who would protect and project the
interest of the North ahead of the 2015 presidential
election.

"The NEF has no political party and no candidate, our party is the people of the North, so join us in this fight to take back power in 2015.

“We are not happy that the North is not playing active role in the present day. That is why we decided to bring
together our surviving elders. We resolved that something must be done, that the North ought to do more than it is currently doing in the affairs of the country. You know the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is a socio-cultural group but in the current situation in this country, we need more than a socio-cultural group to address our challenges and that is why we came with the formation of the NEF. Our group believes that any discussion that will not bring back power to the North in 2015 is not in the interest of the north and its people," Abdullahi said.

He accused the northern governors and others political
bigwigs from the region for voting massively for President
Goodluck Jonathan, describing their actions as a "stupid
mistake which should not be allowed to repeat itself in
2015.

"We now know where the lapses are and we are going to
tackle the governors of the northern states. We have the
population and all it takes to produce the next president of this country.”

He noted that the North was responsible for its present
political and economic woes and that if urgent steps were
not taking by all stakeholders from the region "to take over power in 2015, the north may never have the opportunity to be in power in Nigeria again.

"This crises is the fault of the northerners, with due
respect, we derelict in so many ways, we allowed Obasanjo to come into power and he dealt with us severely, but we can still change things in 2015. It is better late than never. The North must rediscover itself as soon as possible.”

He said the North had the population to continuously
dominate the politics of the country by producing the
president and said it was unfortunate that the region can
be push aside.

Abdullahi said should the North decide to be independent
country with a population of 90 million, it will still be the
largest country on Africa.

He equally said it was arrogant for a section of the country to refer to the North as beggars and not contributing any resources to the commonwealth of the nation, arguing that at a point in the past, it was the resources from the North that was spent on the eastern and western regions, and was used in exploring the nation's oil.

Meanwhile a member of the Borno Elders’ Forum, Alhaji
Bulama Mali Gubio, had accused the North at the peak of
the Boko Haram crisis for abandoning Borno State to its
fate, saying it is unfair for NEF to come out now and start
preaching the unity of the northern region after so many
lives have been lost.

"At some point, I do not consider myself a northerner or
even a Nigerian because of how we were so abandoned to our fate," he said.

Shettima had promised to work closely with the forum to
further project the interest of the region pointing out that
"the North has no business begging any one for power
and even if the North which has 90 million population, it
will still remain the largest in Africa."
He said with the North having two-third of the nation land
resources, it should be at the fore front of everything “for
land is wealth and the most valuable of all resources.”

Source:www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nef-the-north-will-not-play-second-fiddle-in-2015/147506/

Brillant analysis!!!!!!... you just hit the nail on the head..the situation is a very knotty one..we pray God to give him wisdom to navigate tru dis murky waters...

@Mods..pls put this write-up in the frontpage

I was thinking this SUNDAY was going to end witout a press statement coming from LAI MOHAMED...but alas he didn't disappoint me...

This Niger Delta people sef..you guys are crying for the East-West road to be completed..now contractors mobilize to site and you go and kidnap them..why shooting yourself on the foot??

The Federal Government is set to deliver 40 housing units
to the Odi community in Bayelsa State, 14 years after it
was annihilated by Nigerian troops on the orders of formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo following the killing of some policemen by a group of dissident youths in 1999.

The housing units comprising two and three-bedroom
detached bungalows being handled by the Ministry of
Niger Delta Affairs, and already at the last stage of
completion will be ready for use by the beneficiaries in July.

Inspecting the project, Saturday, Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, said the houses would be given out to the poorest in the community through a very transparent process.

The minister disclosed that the housing units are being
replicated in the nine Niger Delta states, adding: "We want our citizens particularly those in this region to feel the impact of their resources and the families that will get the buildings will be transformed.

“When Odi was destroyed; there was a presidential
directive to assist the community with some buildings.
When the initiative came up, there were agitations from
other states so we took a uniform decision that we should
build 40-housing units for each of the nine states of the
Niger Delta.

“Unfortunately, there were no budgetary provisions in
2012, very lean provisions in 2011 and so contractors
stopped work. But this year, we have been able to squeeze some money to enable contractors complete these housing units so that we can give them indigenes to use,” he said.

Orubebe, who also inspected construction work at some
sections of the East-West Road, particularly the flag off of
the very critical Okoso Bridge in the Bayelsa axis,
expressed joy that the bridge had already been completed, reassuring that the December 2014 timeline for thecompletion of the East-West road remains sacrosanct.

While calling on the youths in the Niger Delta to maintain
the peace in order to allow the contractors work
assiduously for the completion of the road, the minister
pointed out that the development aspirations of the people can only be guaranteed under a peaceful atmosphere.

The minister regretted that but for the kidnapping of
engineers working at the Okoso Bridge; the work would
have been completed much earlier.
“As I speak to you, two of engineers supervising work here are still in the hands of kidnaps and we are appealing to those holding them to please set them free. There is no way the Federal Government can develop this area without peace.”

The Managing Director of Setraco – the contractors
handling some sections of the road – Said Kalaf disclosed
that 11 of the workers have so far been kidnapped since
work commenced on the road in 2009.

“The morale of our workers is down and we are just doing
our best the kidnap and killing of our expatriate workers
have broken the company’s back bone. We are here to
develop the area and we are hoping they will allow us to do that,” he said.

Source:www.thisdaylive.com/articles/14-years-after-invasion-fg-builds-40-houses-for-odi/147292/

I hardly comment on all this core political topics..but this one simply cannot be ignored..
BAKARE made those statements and he didn't make them under duress..the words where strong and now here he is making a HUGE u-turn..simply a HYPOCRITE!