₦airaland Forum

BFIGroup has threatened legal actions against the Minister of Mines & Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, and the Director General, Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, Alex Okoh, over their continued defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot Abasi.

The Executive Vice President/General Counsel of BFIG, Jimmie Williams, wrote to Messrs. Fayemi and Okoh alleging “extreme injurious falsehood” concerning their recent announcement of the signing of a fresh agreement with UC RUSAL to take over the plant.

On Sunday, January 21, 2018, Mr. Fayemi announced the signing of a “renewed Share Purchase Agreement, SPA” between BPE and the Russians over takeover plans expected to become effective in six months’ time.

The Minister’s spokesperson, Olayinka Oyebode, who issued the statement said the new agreement was signed by Mr. Okoh and the Chief Executive Officer/member, Board of Directors of UC RUSAL, Vladislav Soloviev, in Mr. Fayemi’s office.

Mr. Oyebode said other witnesses included the Minister of State in the ministry, Abubakar Bwari; Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nickolai Udovichenko; Managing Director of ALSCON, Dimitry Zavyaiov, and Head of Legal, UC RUSAL, Piter Maxsimov.

He said the agreement followed the approval of an out of court settlement of the lingering dispute over the ownership of ALSCON by the National Council on Privatization, NCP during its meeting of August, 2017 chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

In announcing the new agreement, Mr. Oyebode said the exercise “ends a decade of legal tussle with BFIG over the ownership of ALSCON.”

BFIG Counsel writes Fayemi, Okoh

But, in a letter on Wednesday, February 7, to both the Minister and BPE DG, Mr. Williams denied the Minister and BPE DG negotiated any mediated resolution of its outstanding disputes over ALSCON. He described their roles in the latest agreement signing as “extremely disrespectful and disturbing.”

During the agreement signing, the Minister was quoted as saying the Russians were “best placed to reactivate ALSCON”, while BPE DG reportedly commended him for his “commitment to ensure the success of the negotiation with the Russians.”

“As you are both well aware, there has not been any settlement involving ALSCON,” Mr. Williams said in his letter titled: “Publications of Injurious Falsehoods Against BFIGroup Corporation Concerning the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (“ALSCON”) Share/Sale Purchase Agreement.”

“Our (BFIG) litigation over the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s order is continuing, and the Minister has not negotiated any mediated resolution of our outstanding disputes,” he added.

He urged the Minister and the BPE DG to immediately retract their statements. Mr. Williams warned of serious legal consequences if they fail to do so. He noted that their “continued unimpeded publications of these false reports are extremely injurious” to BFIG.

“Please be respectfully advised that we will resort to additional legal processes, if we do not receive a positive response to our requests,” the BFIG counsel threatened.

No SPA to BFIG

In 2004, BFIG had emerged the preferred bidder for ALSCON with an offer of $410 million following the disqualification of UC RUSAL by NCP for submitting a conditional bid in defiance of the bid guidelines.

In line with the guidelines, a payment schedule approved during the May 20, 2004 pre-bid technical meeting of all parties was to apply. The preferred bidder to pay the initial 10 per cent of the bid price 15 working days after the signing of the SPA with BPE.

But, in the June 17, 2004 letter by BPE to BFIG, the privatization agency unilaterally altered the agreed payment schedule by demanding the initial 10 per cent of the bid price to be paid within “15 days of the receipt of the letter of notification as bid winner.”

BFIG said it sought for clarification from BPE on the discrepancy and was ignored. On July 9, 2004, BPE announced the disqualification of BFIG as the preferred bidder, alleging inability to pay for the initial bid price before the deadline.

BFIG went to court to enforce its contractual rights after BPE opened negotiations with UC RUSAL on terms to hand over ALSCON.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. On July 6, 2012, the sale of ALSCON to UC RUSAL was revoked and BFIG reinstated as the valid preferred bidder for ALSCON.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court issued “an order of specific performance” directing BPE to provide the mutually agreed SPA of May 2004 for execution to enable BFIG pay 10% of the accepted bid price within 15 working days from the date of execution of SPA.. The 90% balance was to be paid within 90 calendar days.

Apart from an order compelling BPE to accept payment of the 10% of the bid price from BFIG, the court gave a restraining order on the agency from inviting any further bidding for the sale and acquisition of ALSCON.

On October 8, 2012, ostensibly to carry out the Supreme Court order, BFIG said BPE sent to it a proposed 58-page SPA for review and approval pending execution.

The document covered a list of 17 key items, including financial statements, post-acquisition plan, liabilities, assets, gas sales and purchase agreements.

On October 24, 2012, BFIG said it revised and returned to BPE the SPA and requested for a meeting to discuss the details. BFIG said BPE ignored its request.

Rather, on January 29, 2013, BFIG said BPE sent an offer letter to “Purchase 77.5 per cent shares of the ALUMINIUM ‘SHELTER’ COMPANY OF NIGERIA, ALSCON, instead of ALUMINIUM ‘SMELTER’ COMPANY OF NIGERIA, ALSCON.

BFIG said the letter was accompanied by a 16-page SPA and not the one it reviewed and returned to BPE earlier.

BFIG said the attempt to execute the SPA was stalemated, as it was not interested in acquiring the shares of the ‘ALUMINIUM SHELTER COMPANY OF NIGERIA’.

Frustrated, BFIG said on February 13, 2013 it decided to sign and return to BPE the copy of the SPA it has earlier reviewed in line with the Supreme Court order. But, BPE’s refused to countersign.

BFIG filed an enforcement action at the Federal High Court, Abuja to compel BPE to fully comply with the Supreme Court order.

On September 30, 2014, Justice Abdu-Kafarati ruled that BPE should “forthwith take full control and possession of ALSCON from anybody, including UC RUSAL et al. and prepare same for handover/transfer to (BFIG).” But, BPE ignored the order.

In 2015, Dayson Holdings Limited, the special purpose vehicle used by the Russians to bid for ALSCON, filed an appeal seeking an injunction to restrain the enforcement of the judgment.

Although the injunction was granted, Dayson was given seven days to file its processes. But, it abandoned the case, thus foreclosing any attempt to sign any SPA until it was vacated.

Fayemi’s defiant posturing

In April 2017, Mr. Fayemi visited ALSCON based on the misinformation by BPE that BFIG failed to sign the SPA because “it was broke.”

During the visit, Mr. Fayemi assured the Russians of government’s commitment to “free the complex of any encumbrances”, regardless of the pending Supreme Court rulings.

Although the Minister made efforts to get an out of court settlement over the crisis, BFIG said such efforts ignored the terms and conditions ordered by the Supreme Court.

For instance, BFIG Chief Executive, Rueben Jaja, said on August 2017 he was invited to a meeting Mr. Fayemi presided, with Mr. Okoh, and other officials in attendance.

During the meeting, Mr. Jaja said Danba & Associates Limited, led by its Chairman/CEO, Saadina Dantata, who claimed to be UC RUSAL’s agent, presented a proposal for BFIG to accept to relinquish its legal rights to ALSCON on the strength of the Supreme Court ruling of July 6, 2012.

Mr. Jaja said BFIG rejected the proposal and offered to refund to UC RUSAL what it paid for ALSCON as a condition to sign the SPA. He said the Minister rejected the offer.

On August 28, Mr. Jaja said the group later sent through Mr. Okoh an offer of $35 million, consisting $20 million initial payment, plus another $10 million spread over 20 years “in the spirit of an amicable settlement.”

Sanctity of Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed

On November 8, 2017, Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama ruled in the case filed against UC RUSAL for interfering in its contract with BPE reaffirming the sanctity of the Supreme Court order of July 6, 2012 as the most viable option to resolve the lingering crisis over the sale of the ALSCON.

Following the ruling, BFIG said Dayson holding returned to the Court of Appeal, Abuja to file legal processes to reactivate the request for an injunction it abandoned in 2015.

But, BFIG said 48 hours to the Court of Appeal ruling on the application by Dayson on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, BPE decided to sign the renewed SPA with UC RUSAL to pre-empt the court’s decision.

In his ruling, Justice A. D. Yahaya chided BPE and its allies over their “continuous attempt to frustrate a specific and clear order of the Supreme Court to execute its judgment.”

Consequently, Justice Yahaya vacated all injunctions that constituted a restraint to the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling on ALSCON.

Minister, BPE keep mum

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Minister for his comments on the threat by BFIG over the controversial agreement with the Russians, he did not respond to mails and text messages sent to him on Thursday.

But, his spokesperson, Mr. Oyebode sent a short response urging the reporter to direct his enquiries to BPE.

“Thanks for your enquiry. You may wish to get across to BPE for further enquiries on the transaction,” Mr. Oyebode said.

The BPE DG did not equally respond to mails and text messages sent to him. But, BPE spokesperson, Emeka Anwoh, promised to send a response initially by 11 a.m. on Friday after conferring with his principal on the issue. But, by the time of publication of this report by 11 p.m. he was yet to send the response.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/258352-alscon-bfig-writes-fayemi-threatens-legal-action-rusal-takeover.html

It's hard to be an investor in Nigeria. You think a project will start then boom a half a decade goes by and nothing. Dredging rivers are just on bottom of to do lost for now.

The death of Yar’adua was a great loss to many of us in Kogi State, though we had hope that President Jonathan will complete the project due to the fact that he was the heroe’s Vice President, unfortunately the reverse was the case.

Some persons, even before the dredging commenced, bought lands in commercial sizes to build warehouses and create jobs. They did forecasting the business future of the state if the dredging was done, but all these thought and dreams where now shipped out the state.

The General Manager,

National Inland Waterways Authority,

(NIWA),

Lokoja, Kogi State.

Sir,

What Happened TO The Dredging Of River Niger in Kogi State?

The dredging of the River Niger in Kogi, the host State to the National Inland WaterWays Authority (NIWA) cleared the doubt of many Kogites as to why no major inland waterways activities happening in the state. To some of us, it is like a cassava farmer who buys cassava to eat after the farming season, hence it was  thing of joy when the then late President Umoru Musa Yar’adua decided to dredge the river. The death of Yar’adua was a great loss to many of us in Kogi State, though we had hope that President Jonathan will complete the project due to the fact that he was the heroe’s Vice President, unfortunately the reverse was the case.

Even during campaign, he promised us that the water will be dredged. He finished his first term and during that tenure what we saw were heavy duty trucks moving the equipments meant for the dredging out of our dear state, hoping that they are going to bring bigger equipment, till date we are still waiting for those equipment that never returned.

With the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, a man I have continuously voted for all my life, I had the believed that those machines will be brought back to site and the dredging will continue but as at the time I am writing this letter, none has returned and no body is talking about it.

Were the equipments sold? Where they relocated to other states? Why where they relocated to? All these questions and more no one have been able to give us answers to them but I know that your capable office will do justice to this questions in the interest of the development of Nigeria.

Sir, the dredging would have opened Kogi State for industrial growth and a ring state bordering over 9 States Nigeria would have generated a enough revenue from that dredging.

Some persons, even before the dredging commenced, bought lands in commercial sizes to build warehouses and create jobs. They did forecasting the business future of the state if the dredging was done, but all these thought and dreams where now shipped out the state.

Sir, I know there are lot of technicalities involved, technicalities that only your office can explain. I urge you to do justice for posterity purposes, so that history will vindicate you from this man’s inhumanity to man.

If the dredging was completed today many our youths would have been gainfully engaged.

The big Question in the heart of many Kogite is, why was the dredging of River Niger in Lokoja stopped?

Thank you sir believing that we shall have answers to our questions and the big question especially.

Esteemed regards.

Comrade A.A. Ismaila

Organization Secretary,

National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter.

08061265674.

Source: http://kogireports.com/open-letter-to-niwa-what-stopped-the-dredging-of-river-niger-in-kogi-state/

The Police Service Commission, PSC, said that more than 150,000 police officers were attached to VIP’s and unauthorised persons in the country.

Nigeria currently has about 400,000 police officers.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 directed that police personnel attached to unauthorised persons and VIPs in the country be withdrawn and deployed to confront the security challenges in the nation.

The Chairman of the commission, Mike Okiro made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, in Abuja.

“We cannot afford to have more than half of the population of the Police in private hands,” he said.

He said that the commission in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force, had commenced the implementation of the withdrawal of police officers, but the exercise was stalled due to lack of fund.

“We could not sustain the enforcement of the order on the withdrawal of policemen attached to unqualified persons in the country because of lack of fund.

He expressed disappointment at the practice where persons who served as ministers for over 10 to 15 years still go about with police security.

Mr. Okiro said that the nation cannot be battling with shortage of manpower in the force while majority of these officers would be in the service of few privileged Nigerians.

The chairman said that that the number of police officers in the country was inadequate for the population, hence the request for the recruitment of more policemen.

He said that issue of paucity of fund had been one of the problems hindering the recruitment of more policemen for enhanced service delivery.

“The Nigeria police Force is underfunded and not only in the area of manpower.

“The issue of funding is very strategic to the Nigeria Police Force. If you want to police Nigeria as it should be, the entire budget of Nigeria cannot be enough for that,” he said.

The chairman said that the Police Trust Fund bill before the National Assembly if passed into law would go a long way to address the issue of funding for the police.
(NAN)

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/258286-police-cant-withdraw-officers-vips-unauthorised-persons-official.html

He can't impose cattle colony. It's same reason courts can't over turn the anti open grazing bans in Benue or Taraba. The land use act still sucks.

By Davies Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT – President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday disclosed that he does not have the constitutional powers to create cattle colonies in any part of the country under the Land Use Act of 1978.

Buhari, however, assured that his administration is committed to laying foundations on which and egalitarian and progressive Nigerian, where every citizen can realise their full potentials without let or hindrance, could be attained.

Buhari, however, assured that his administration is committed to laying foundations on which and egalitarian and progressive Nigerian, where every citizen can realise their full potentials without let or hindrance, could be attained.

The president, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the South-South Zonal meeting of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, NCBSG, explained that said provisions of the Land Use Act gave powers to state governors and local government chairmen to control land in their domain.

The President, who spoke through his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, mentioned that before independence there were cattle routes in the nation.

He said: “Before Nigeria was formed as a country, we had cattle routes running from Chad, Niger and others down to the Atlantic. When Nigeria became four regions, we had cattle routes in each of the regions.

“When Nigeria created states, each of the states made laws to regulate rearing of animals. In 1978, under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as head of state, March 28, I think I am correct, the Land Use Act was made. Under the Land Use Act, the President of Nigeria has power to control lands in Abuja only.

“Under the Land Use Act, each state governor, under Section 2 of the Land Use Act, land in urban areas of each of the state of the Federation shall be vested on the governor. Now, subsection 1(2b) says land in the rural areas shall be vested on the local government chairman of that area.”

Buhari noted the commitment of his government to fight corruption prompted its actions in tackling theft, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, adding that his administration has diversified the nation’s economy for sustained growth.

“Not only did we ease out of an inevitable recession in record time, our revenue profile, our foreign reserves and foreign investments are all on the rise again; and we have paid mobilized contractors back to project sites across the country, including the South-South Zone,” he added.

Meanwhile, the former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, in his address noted that Buhari had proven to the people of South-South and South-East geopolitical zones that he is a friend and not an enemy.

Nwuke, a chieftain of APC promised the President that the people of Niger Delta would vote him for second tenure if he contests.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/dont-constitutional-powers-create-cattle-colonies-buhari/

imhere:
A lecturer with a diffrence, my very good friend Dr. Mfon Udoh, always passionate about fish farming.
Keep the good work up

I've read a lot of his stuff. I will direct his suggestions to relevant politicians in state and federal government. They brag about fish production on Ibom Deep seaport website and Akwa Ibom state website but don't seem to have policy on improving it. A simple email can get these guys to work considering it's election season.

It's weird certain people were calling Obaseki a coward for banning night grazing. Apart from making herdsmen leave community are they going to be forced to pay double for crops? This is basically a state grazing reserve.

The illegal mining provisions are should be passed ASAP because of the environmental damage and unsafe working conditions they subject children to.

Front Page: lalasticlala

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has directed traditional rulers to collate data on herdsmen operating in the state for easy identification and maintenance of peace.

Mr. Umahi, who gave the order on Friday in Abakaiki at a meeting with traditional rulers and miners in the state, noted that the data should include herdsmen’s names, location and contact phone numbers of their leaders.

The governor remarked that the decision was reached after series of meetings with security agencies, various committees and representatives of herdsmen in the state.

“Traditional rulers should hold constant meetings with the herdsmen so that they can identify those from Niger Republic and other areas that foment trouble.

“We have been living in peace with the herdsmen for several years but still maintain that there would not be movement of cattle from one area to another in the state.”

He urged the traditional rulers and other concerned authorities to agree on grazing locations with the herdsmen where they would be restricted for their grazing activities.

“I will provide amenities such as water in such locations because the state government does not have the resources for ranching.

“When the grasses in such areas finish, you should arrange for another location for grazing because we would not tolerate cattle eating or destroying crops on our farmlands.

“Trouble is inevitable but we can handle them maturely through the various committees on herdsmen in the villages, communities and state levels,” he said.

Mr. Umahi warned that henceforth, anybody that killed herdsmen’s cows would make double payments with the herdsmen collecting one part and the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, collecting the other.

“The herdsmen will be severely warned if they destroy farmers’ crops and when such persists after investigations, the herdsmen would be forced to leave the community.

“We want to put such restraining measures to prevent cattle rustling because the cows are dear to the herdsmen while the crops are dear to the farmers.

He noted that existing mining laws in the state would be reviewed to make illegal miners to get jail term of five years for engaging in such activities.

“We would send the bill to the House of Assembly as it would also become illegal for traditional rulers or town unions to lease mining sites without government’s clearance,” the governor said.

Samuel Okoronkwo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, noted that the ministry had intensified efforts to check the activities of illegal miners, especially those from neighbouring Imo and others states.

“We have also sensitised traditional rulers, town unions and other stakeholders to engage the government in mining activities in their areas to enable government to generate the accruing revenue.’’

The chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council in the state, Charles Mkpuma, pledged that traditional rulers would collaborate with the government to check illegal mining activities.

A miner in the state, Basil Igboke, noted that mining business was capital intensive and appealed to the government for financial assistance to support miners.

(NAN)

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/258144-ebonyi-governor-authorises-local-chiefs-create-cattle-grazing-areas.html

Front Page: lalasticlala

mrvitalis:
Over pampering of our business would make them ever dependent

Let the price keep rising the opportunity would become more clear to more people to join the business

I can agree with your point. The state does have a role on two fronts being infrastructure like fishing terminals and electricity, safety from sea robbers and securing our territorial waters from illegal fishers in Ocean. I don't like idea of over subsidizing their business because when you start t never stops.

The main disadvantages to these local fisher men have is they still use tiny canoes to fish. If credit was easier to get maybe they could go buy bigger vessels. I would say something between under 9 meters. It's gets a bit expensive after that. The other thing to consider is processing these fish.

docadams:
Blue3k don't take a bullet for another person. I know why I posed the question to the mofo that qouted me.
Your source is questionable. I am beginning to suspect you because the HOR didn't even put the issue to debate during their charade of constitunal reform.

https://leadership.ng/2017/07/22/wont-consider-state-police-bill-reps/.

You think GEJ mentioned state police in his confab or the confab considered state police in its report. OK. Whichever. But where is the confab report now?

How can my source be questionable when link you posted confirmed my source? Anyway it simply didn't make cut. They may take issue up again like devolution of power. Constutional Adment process is painfully slow since it will have to go get approved by state assemblies.

Jonathan failed not passing anything in his confab. He had his party in both houses. There's not much to say about confab now. The nass can simply pick and choose stuff they want to pass.

The House had in September 2016 passed the bill titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) to provide for the Establishment of State Police and to Ensure Effective Community Policing in Nigeria and for other related matters’ for second reading

“We are not considering the Bill on State Police at the committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, the over 20 items we are working on didn’t include State Police. We cannot solve all the problems at the same time, what we have agreed to treat at the committee level are the items we considered in Lagos”, he said.

When asked if the legislature would consider it since state governors have set up a committee to that effect, Namdas said, “They are state governors, they can exercise their executive powers on this matter but at the legislative arms of government, we are not likely to consider it. We will leave it for another constitution review committee, maybe for the 9th Assembly to handle”, he stated.

The Akwa Ibom Government has been advised to close ranks with the fishing communities for the purpose of ensuring increased sea food production in the state. 
A lecturer in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Dr Mfon Udoh, gave the advice in his office while commenting on the possibilities of bringing down the current high cost of fish and crayfish in the state. 
Udoh emphasized the need for the state government to procure synthetic nets, fibre boats with engines and other essential fishing inputs for onward distribution to fish farmers at subsidized prices. 
The fishing inputs, he said, should be given to the fishermen at 30 per cent cost while the state government should bear the burden of 70 per cent to serve as an encouragement for them to put in their best. 
While calling for the provision of storage facilities in the fishing communities for the preservation of fish and crayfish, Udoh stressed the need for government to establish migrant schools and provide them with teachers for education of the fishermen’s children. 
The lecturer also called for a strong policy framework by the state government to regulate the size of nets used by the fishermen in their fishing expeditions to ensure safety and regeneration of some species of fish in the high sea. 
He frowned at the application of tinny nets on fishing expedition as it could lead to massive extinction of certain species of fish in the high sea, advising that such practice should be discouraged for a better future to be guaranteed. 
Udoh also called on fish farmers in the state to constitute themselves into cooperative societies to enable them to draw down credit facilities from financial institutions for the purpose of improving on their business. 
Commenting on the operation of aquaculture in the state, Udoh specifically advised the intending operators to always request for the supply of post fingerling and as well seek for professional advice to guard against being duped by people of questionable characters. 
He recalled with regret how somebody who was interested in developing fish pond was defrauded by being supplied with 20,000 tadpoles of toads in the place of fingerlings at the cost of N30.00 each, advising those interested in setting up fish ponds to have passion in the business of aquaculture to ensure success. 
Describing aquaculture as a serious and non-contract business venture, Udoh advised those wishing to establish fish ponds to first of all embark on market survey to guard against loss in the process of supplying the products to customers. 
He called on the officials in the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sufficiency to assist in enlightening the public in the process of establishing fish ponds in addition to sourcing for ready market as an encouragement for fish farmers to contribute to increase fish protein content in the state. 
The university lecturer declared the resolve of his professional colleagues in the university to assist the state government and interested members of Akwa Ibom public in the establishment of fish ponds that would stand the test of time in the development and growth of aquaculture in the state.

Source: http://www.pioneernewsonline.com/news/university-don-counsels-aksg-on-fish-production

docadams:
Kindly provide your proof of such clamouring since 2016 or forever remain silent

Here I'll help you out. I think Jonathan did mention state police in confab.

greencard:
which one is "night grazing" ??

ayam not understanding

It's similar to the ban done in Ekiti. Ekiti limits time, place, and carrying arms. Only Benue and Taraba did a complete ban. Confused people on Nairaland seem to unaware of this fact. This is why they can praise Fayose but condemn Obaseki in same breath when they have same law.

The law forbids movement of cattle by herdsmen and owners of goat in the Ekiti after 6 p.m.

“No cattle or other ruminants shall by any means move in the night. Movement shall be between 7am and 6pm”, a section of the bill reads.

Link

The Edo State Government has banned night grazing and the carrying of guns by herders in the state. It has also set up a seven-member committee in each of the local government areas in the state to check clashes between herders and farmers.

According to a statement on Thursday by the spokesperson to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, the committees will include the chairpersons or heads of the LGAs, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), representatives of State Security Service and four representatives of communities.

These decisions were announced after a meeting of Governor Godwin Obaseki with heads of Hausa/Fulani communities from the 18 LGAs in the state.

Mr. Obasaki said the state government would release the report of clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state to the committees for review.

“The committees will ensure the registration of all the Seriki Fulani in every community across all the local government areas and the Seriki Fulani will liaise with everyone rearing cattle in the area.”

According to the governor, another committee to be headed by him will include the State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service in the state, the Commander of 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and other members drawn from communities across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“Every three months, we will meet with representatives of the local government committees to review and examine the progress being made in resolving the herdsmen/farmers’ clashes in the state,” the governor said.

“A special team made up of the Police, Army, Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the state will carry out random patrols and search operations. Any herdsman found possessing firearms will be arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms as a cattle rearer does not need an AK 47 to herd cattle.

“We will not accept anyone with firearms and anyone found with arms will face the law. We need information to succeed in this fight and information is vital to the police and other security agencies. We assure you of your safety.

“We have placed a ban on night herding; nobody should herd their cattle at night. We have also placed a ban on hunting activities by people from other states in the name of hunting,” Mr. Obaseki said.

The Chairman of the Hausa Community in the state, Badamasi Saleh, requested for protection of “sources of security information, as most members of the communities find it difficult to volunteer information to the security agencies as they fear that their identities would not be protected.”

Usman Abdullahi, representing the Hausa/Fulani community in Edo Central Senatorial District, pledged the cooperation of his people with the state security agencies “to fish out any member of their communities who engages in criminal activities.”

https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/02/DSC_3438.jpg?zoom=3&w=600&h=260&crop&ssl=1

Abdulkareem Ibraheem, representing the Hausa/Fulani communities in Edo South, urged the state government to provide the necessary logistics that will aid the task of the monitoring committees in the various local government areas.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Johnson Kokumo, thanked members of the Hausa/Fulani community and assured that with their support, clashes between herdsmen and farmers would be checked in the state.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/258030-edo-bans-night-grazing-carrying-arm-herders.html

Front Page: lalasticlala

I cut the full speech btw. I do agree with this proposal of decentralized police. It's for the best considering it would spread cost among different tiers of government. Then it can gives ability for police to specialize. Assuming the legislature amends constitution the federal police can operate more like FBI if it wanted to.

The border needs to be secured like the vice president said. I don't think slot of these foreign herdsmen even come through authorized check points. The Naval lake chad base will be helpful.

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA- PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday threw his weight behind state and community policing in the country if the present security challenge across the country must be addressed in all its ramifications.

Declaring open a two- day Summit on National Security Organised by the Senate in Abuja, President Buhari said that every Nigerian deserves the protection of his life and property.

Represented at the event by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, President Buhari who admitted that there were instances where security agencies failed to properly and urgently respond to security issues, however listed some basic challenges that are presently affecting a full secure Nigeria.

The Vice President who noted that the police as currently structured was too defective to address the growing insecurity in the country, said that there was the need for the number of Police personnel to be increased drastically, just as he cautioned stakeholders in the country not to allow the present insecurity challenge assume religious dimension.

Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki at he event said what was required at the moment to nip in the bud, cases of Killings, kidnappings, mayhem and general lawlessness by the Executive, was a leadership that would dounce the flames and reduce the tension in the land.

Saraki who noted that Nigeria needed a leadership with the political will, said that the Executive cannot solve the problems alone, adding that all hands must be on deck to address the problems, adding that Killings in the land are intolerable cycle of hell that must be broken and cannot be the new normal.

Saraki said, “What our country needs at this time is leadership that will work to douse the flames and reduce tension in the land. It is essential that we lower the barriers in our actions and rhetoric, and refrain from playing politics with a crisis situation in which Nigerian lives are being lost, tragically and needlessly, on a regular basis.

“To the Executive, I say this: you cannot do it alone – and this is why we are all here to join efforts. It is all hands on deck. No one person, organisation or arm of government can single-handedly tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity. The Constitution makes it clear that the safety of lives and property of citizens is the responsibility of government. We in government must therefore do everything in our power to ensure that Nigerians are safe from harm, and their livelihoods and belongings protected.

“Permit me to observe that those who are in this room have the capacity to bring about a change in this situation, to end the violence and bring succour. We have the capacity. But, do we have the political will? I daresay political will is what is required; and it is my hope that we shall marshal it as a legitimate instrument against this problem. Indeed, there is no reason why that should not be the case. This is not a Summit to trade blames – in no way is this a blame game. Neither is it convened so that any person or entity can take credit. We just want solutions. Solutions only. That is all Nigerians require of us.

“We are here because, in the face of escalating threats to the peace and security of our dear country, it becomes necessary to put heads together, share ideas and map out strategies to see us out of the current predicament.
“The coming together of the Executive and Legislative arms of government for this discussion about security, is a pointer to the seriousness of the situation, and our determination to tackle the problem. The Summit is also unique, because never before have we had such an inclusive platform for appraising security-related matters in this country.

“If I may provide some background: it will be recalled that the Senate had, on 30thof November 2017, inaugurated the Ad-Hoc Committee on Review of Security Infrastructure in the Country. This came about, because we were increasingly concerned at the spate of crises and insecurity in many parts of the country, and knew that we needed to do something about it. The Committee had a broad mandate; to look into the problem and prepare a report outlining a different approach for dealing with the issue.”

Speaking further Osinbajo said “The first is that the nature of our security challenges are complex and nuanced. Securing Nigeria’s over 923,768 square kilometers and its 180 million people, requires far more men and materials than we have at the moment. It also requires a continual re-engineering of our security architecture and strategies. This has to be a dynamic process. For a country our size to meet the 1 policeman to 400 persons UN prescribed ratio, would require nearly tripling our current police force, far more funding of the police, military and security agencies is required.

“Secondly, we cannot realistically police a country the size of Nigeria centrally from Abuja. State Police and other community policing methods are clearly the way to go.

“Thirdly, we must intensify existing collaboration with our neighbours in the Chad Basin, especially border communities to prevent the movement of small arms, and disarming armed pastoralists and bandits who go through our borders day after day.

“Lastly, we must avoid the dangers of allowing these conflicts to harden to religious or ethnic conflicts. This is the responsibility of political, religious and all other parts our leadership elite in Nigeria.”

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/buhari-backs-state-community-police/

Front Page: lalasticlala

Desyner:
That's one thing we are good at all over Nigeria. Ignoring natural resources and focusing on oil earning. If that state depends on IGR to run such won't be the case.

Yeah it's not even the only fishing terminal in country. I don't know fate of the others in Lagos and rivers. We are importing fish while illegal Chinese and Russian fishers take fish.

Fun facts:

• Akwa Ibom accounts for 20% of all Nigeria’s fish/seafood landed by tonnage

• Nigeria's imports 1.9 million metric tonnes of fish at an estimated cost of USD625 million.

• Nigeria's annual fish demand estimated at 2.7million metric tonnes

• Artisanal fishing, aquaculture and industrial captures estimated at about 800,000 metric tonnes, accounts for only 30 per cent of the total annual fish demand.

Link 1
Link 2

Fun facts:

• Akwa Ibom accounts for 20% of all Nigeria’s fish/seafood landed by tonnage

• Nigeria's imports 1.9 million metric tonnes of fish at an estimated cost of USD625 million.

• Nigeria's annual fish demand estimated at 2.7million metric tonnes

• Artisanal fishing, aquaculture and industrial captures estimated at about 800,000 metric tonnes, accounts for only 30 per cent of the total annual fish demand.

Link 1
Link 2

ScorpioMoon:
They should provide me with 2 acres of land to build them a gorgeous lighthouse and pier .I will build and donate it to them.

I thought light houses were going out of style considering modern technology like GPS are readily available. Hey if you wanted to build it just for fun nobody would object.

ScorpioMoon:
The Ibeno beach and coastline needs at least one or more piers. That's why you like USA,Sweden,Australia,Canada,Norway,Germany,etc. you think it happened by chance?No, it was designed that way by a mind . This is the better method

The piers are cool but there's always more. My favorite beach I've been to was St Thomas. The rum was nice and beach was fun.

bump

The ice machine would be useful considering I don't think these guys have resources for bigger vessels. The could just use a big cooler though to keep fish. Then get more ice there's after haul.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsdeBorNq8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_nWUgJMBaA

Does anyone on this forum fish for fun?

What a funny set of people. The article was posted june 14 2016. There's 130 days left till they need to execute on threat.

Blue3k2:
sounds like a plan. If the state government isnt interested the local government should hop on the opportunity. The state has plenty of fish in it's waters ranging catfish, barracuda, blue marlin, squid, sardine, croaker, shrimp, prawn, crayfish, snappers and oysters. One issue I know is some fishers are still using cannoes for commercial fishing.

The next thing I'll bring up is the sea robbers around the area. In order to have successful commerce sea robbers will have to be dealt with. There's a few stories about them robbing and raping women along with stealing catches.

Front Page: lalasticlala

By Chioma Onuegbu

EBUGHU — RESIDENTS of Ebughu community, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have called on both the Federal and State Governments to breathe life into the only Fishing Terminal in the area allegedly forsaken over 15 years ago.  When Niger Delta Voice visited the terminal, last operated in 2001 by management agent, Eskor Marine, weeds had overtaken the dilapidated buildings and equipment.

https://cdn.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Fishing-terminal1.jpg
•Quay collapsing due to erosion and lack of maintenance.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has not leased the terminal established in 1985 to another management for about 15 years now. The terminal provided onshore services to fishing vessels, underwater and repair and maintenance.

Ice-making machines

Youth leader in the area, Mr. Eteka Iyahakwa, appalled at the development, said: “This terminal has cold room facilities and ice-making machines that assist fishermen to store large quantity of fish before selling to their customers. But all those equipment are all dilapidated because the place has been abandoned.” Iyahakwa, former secretary of Akai Village Council, urged the federal and state governments to bring back the project and create massive employment opportunities for the people.

2-year notice to develop or handover land

Similarly, Godwin Okon Ante, youth president of Akai Ebughu, where the facility situates, lamented the abandoned project has adversely affected fishing business in the area, urging the state government to take over the project or help the federal government to revive it.

Ante added, “Since this fishing terminal was abandoned about 15 years ago, business is not booming again here. In fact, the anglers now sell their fishes at the high sea. Our youths that liked the fishing business are discouraged because this place is no longer working. It has also affected our community in many other ways.

“Apart from slowing down fishing business, we no longer get the small remittance from vessels that come in and which serve as source of revenue to the local government area. Even white men were living in our communities when this terminal was still working.

“I believe that if this place becomes functional again, we will not be talking about youth unemployment, which is why we need government to come and revive the place and we want to use this opportunity to say that we are going to take back our land if they do not come to revive it. We are giving government just two years or we take back our land,” he said.

Get a viable investor, not lease

Another resident, who simply identified himself as Etim, said the best way to ensure sustainability of the project was outright sale to a viable investor and not leasing it out.

“I believe that the place be sold out completely to a viable investor. The federal government has been leasing it out to management agents and that did not work. The Indians were here. After that, Mid-farm came, and then Eskor Marine took over and after six years, they left and so on. But if it can be revived and sold to a company that can manage it well, I believe that will be better,” Etim said.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/aibom-community-bemoans-abandoned-fishing-terminal/#disqus_thread

sounds like a plan. If the state government isnt interested the local government should hop on the opportunity. The state has plenty of fish in it's waters ranging catfish, barracuda, blue marlin, squid, sardine, croaker, shrimp, prawn, crayfish, snappers and oysters. One issue I know is some fishers are still using cannoes for commercial fishing.

The next thing I'll bring up is the sea robbers around the area. In order to have successful commerce sea robbers will have to be dealt with. There's a few stories about them robbing and raping women along with stealing catches.

Ps: who wouldn't love a lobster and shrimp dinner every so often.

The need for Akwa Ibom Government to take over Ebughu Fishing Terminal and construct more jetties for the purpose of improving on the fish content of the state has been stressed.
 A lecturer in the Fisheries Department, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Dr Mfon Udoh, made the assertion in his office while reacting to the high cost of fish and crayfish in the state, the abundant water resources notwithstanding. 
Udoh called for the taking over and reactivation of Ebughu Fishing Terminal and construction of more jetties by the state government to serve as an encouragement to fish farmers to operate at optimal level. 
Being an aquaculture expert, Udoh attributed the dearth of standard jetties and storage facilities for boats to berth and preservation of fish as the militating factors for high cost of fish and crayfish in the state. 
He emphasized the need for research collaboration between the state government and the university authorities on the possibilities of improving on fish content of the state for a better future to be guaranteed. 
His words: “The state government should charter professionals to assist in the production of fish. Government should put in place a good and sustained policy to enhance increased fish production in the state.” 
“Government should buy fishing gears and the correct size of fishing nets for sales at subsidized prices to fish farmers in addition to providing them with other forms of incentives,” he declared. 
Udoh pledged the willingness of the university authorities to cooperate with the Akwa Ibom Government in the realization of fish protein content of the state.

Source: http://pioneernewsonline.com/news/aquaculturist-makes-case-for-ebughu-fishing-terminal

MIKOLOWISKA:
it will worsen as long as ppl run from farm

I dont think more eople farming is answer. From what I understand the main occupation in the north is farming since they are an agrarian society yet the rank lower than all the other regions. Mechanized farming and allowing people to import is solution.

This thread going to be fun. We have flame war starting soon. Funny how these government NBS/UN stats are believed no question but others wont be.

Front page: lalasticlala

It always amazes me how NE has less poverty in these indecies than NW. Some needs to explain why regions that produce the food do worse in these stats. I believe it's because southern regions can import more and generally have more disposable income.

Front Page: lalasticlala

https://i66.tinypic.com/zwnuhx.jpghttps://i65.tinypic.com/2is82ft.jpg
https://i66.tinypic.com/333aall.jpg

Despite concerted efforts to curb the menace, malnutrition among children under five years is worsening in Nigeria, a new survey has revealed.

The fifth round Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5) also shows that malnutrition in under five children living in rural areas is higher than those in urban areas.

The survey was carried out in 2016/2017 by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), is in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) as part of the global MICS programme.

According to the report, underweight prevalence (children who are too thin for their age) increased from 24.2% to 31.5%, stunting prevalence (children who are short for their age) increased from 34.8% to 43.6% while wasting prevalence (children who are too thin for their height) increased marginally from 10.2% to 10.8%.

Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or absorb the right amounts and types of food and essential nutrients. Globally, it contributes to nearly half of all child deaths — that is more than three million children each year.

In same development, Nigeria still ranks third highest in childhood mortality in the world, after India and Pakistan, despite a nationwide drop in infant mortality rate from 97 per 1000 live births recorded in 2011, to 70 per 1000 live births in 2016 to 2017.

The MICS5 report also revealed that the probability of a child dying between birth and fifth birthday, dropped from 158 per 1000 live births in 2011 to 120 per 1000 live births in 2016 to 2017.

Earlier, the head of nutrition division, federal ministry of health, Chris Isokpunwu, said that the country needs N279.54 billion ($912 million) to address malnutrition in all states for five years.

The amount, according to him represents what is needed to be invested by all, including private, government and donor partners for the next five years and it will help save 123,000 lives each year, while it will also prevent 890,000 children from stunting, which is one of the manifestation of malnutrition in children.

In the middle of 2017, Aliko Dangote Foundation pledged to expend $100 million (about N36billion) to reduce the prevalence of under nutrition by 60percent in the worst affected parts of Nigeria.

In 2016, the Federal Government approved N4billion to tackle malnutrition in North-east Nigeria.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/257431-malnutrition-worsens-nigeria-despite-govt-private-sector-efforts-report.html

Front Page: lalasticlala

Desyner:
Mismanagement killed them all and is still alive today.

I feel Nigeria should act more like Australia in economic policy. The have similar strength like resources without population issue. My favorite companies on list are Nigerian National Shrimp Co. Ltd., Bendel (51 percent) and Nigerian National Fish Co. Ltd., Bendel (66 percent). Even 30 decades after we dont produce enough fish to meet our demand. We could be fishing more of credit was easier to access for boats and sea robbers/porates weren't an issue.

Fish farming is growing bit by bit though.

Lol this why you don't let state run things. State run corporation are generally inefficient compared to private sector. This article is boring but the list is great.