₦airaland Forum

The National University Commission (NUC) has called for the review of a common grading system that would be generally acceptable among Nigerian universities.

The commission added that such grading system would facilitate inter-university credit transfer and student mobility both within and outside the country.

The proposed review, NUC disclosed, would not only facilitate curriculum design within the universities, it would foster inter-disciplinary collaboration and minimise duplication thereby enhancing understanding by the outside world of the grading system in Nigerian universities for the purpose of aiding the engagement of Nigerian university graduates.

Disclosing this yesterday at a one-day workshop on the review of grading system in Nigerian university held in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius A. Okojie, recalled that the commission abolished the Pass Degree from the graading and classification of degrees in the NUC in 2006.

According to him, “Under the policy, the minimum CGPA required by a student for graduation is 1.5. Unfortunately, when the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) documents were reviewed in 2007, the document did not take into consideration the technical implications of the policy thereby allowing individual institutions and disciplines to implement the directive discretionally.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/nuc-looks-at-uniforming-universities-grading-system/

It was a bad 77th birthday yesterday for one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae. He was abducted on his farm by yet unknown men.

Falae is the traditional ruler (Olu) of Ilu Abo, a village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

His farm in Ilado village, also in Akure North, is about 15 kilometres to his home on Oba Ile Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

His abductors, who attacked the over 200 workers on his farm, contacted his wife, Rachael, demanding N100million “within the next 24 hours”.

The police said the 1999 presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) had been having a running battle with Fulani herdsmen on his farm before yesterday’s incident.

It was learnt that Falae, an economist and technocrat, received a call that herdsmen had again invaded his farm.

He reportedly rushed to the farm where he was attacked and whisked away.

Reporters were barred from speaking with his wife.

Ondo police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the police had deployed 50 riot policemen, led by the Deputy Commissioner (Operations), Mr. Ishola Abdulahi, to Falae’s farm.

He said: “For now, I cannot conclusively say whether it is kidnapping or not. But what we learnt from his Chief Security Officer (CSO) is that the Fulani herdsmen came to attack them on the farm.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/chief-olu-falaes-abductors-demand-n100m/

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to maintain status quo and desist from arresting the Managing Director of Carlisle Properties, Mr. Kennedy Izuagbe, an associate of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The court also put on hold, the arrest of shareholders and staff of Carlisle Properties, believed to be owned by Saraki.

Izuagbe in an ex parte motion filed before the court, prayed it to stop the EFCC as well as its Director of Operations, Olaolu Adegbite, from further harassment and intimidation of the applicants by agents of the commission.

Counsel to the applicant, Efot Okoi, arguing the motion on behalf of Izuagbe and Carlisle Properties, said their intimidation was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void as well as a gross violation of their fundamental right as provided under sections 34, 35 and 37 under the 1999 Constitution.

Okoi argued further that until the hearing/determination of the motion of notice, the EFCC and its agents should be restrained from intimidating his clients, as well as carrying out any further arrest and detention of the applicants, their agents and associates.

Okoi also prayed for an order setting aside the letter of invitation from EFCC to Izuagbe and Carlisle Properties pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit before the court, adding that Izuagbe was only head of Internal Control at the SGBN and was never directly involved in loan approval.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/court-restrains-efcc-from-arresting-sarakis-associate-izuagbe/

Edo State Governor and Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on the management of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and related federation accounts issues, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the Managers of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) could not account for $700 million out of the $1billion contributed for the fund.

Oshiomhole who spoke to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday night claimed that records made available to his committee showed that only $300 million was left in the fund.

This is contrary to the claims made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji that the $1 billion seed fund had been invested and generated a profit of N15.7m into government coffers.

Oshiomhole however disclosed that the report submitted to his committee only reflected $300 million with the explanation that the money had been invested in the Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kaduna rail.

He however pointed out that the former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had earlier told the world that the Abuja-Kaduna rail was financed by a Chinese loan.

He said “I reported to the media that the Sovereign Wealth people in their report to us, which I have in black and white, showed clearly that they have only $300 million left in the Sovereign Wealth Fund account.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/oshiomhole-alleges-700m-missing-from-sovereign-wealth-fund/

In a bid to tackle crude oil theft and bring it to an end, the Nigerian Navy (NN) Thursday said it had acquired Israeli-installed mass civil surveillance system known as Falcon Eye.

This system, they said, would enable it monitor and track suspected crude oil thieves and other sea criminals within the country’s territorial waters.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture of officers’ long course organised by the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) QUORRA, former Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Francis Akpan (rtd), said the system would assist in monitoring, tracking and collating maritime activities to protect national interest.

He also said the Falcon Eye system would enable the force monitor the movement of vessels within the country’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea, and enable them to track such vessels and ultimately arrest them.

Speaking in the capacity of a guest lecturer at the ceremony, Akpan also said the system would analyse and share information with stakeholders to enable them have a better understanding of maritime security issues.

Stressing that maritime security is the responsibility of major stakeholders within the maritime community, he said:“The Falcon Eye will provide a centre where the activities within the exclusive economic zone would be monitored.

“Those who contravene such laws would be identified and the agency that is responsible to ensure that those who act with impunity are sanctioned would be in a position to act immediately.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/navy-acquires-israeli-surveillance-system-to-tackle-oil-theft/

In its renewed bid to ensure transparency in all commercial activities relating to petroleum operations in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has released the guidelines for the participation of local and foreign companies in the sale and purchase of the various grades of Nigerian crude oil.

The release of the guidelines is coming a few weeks after the corporation initiated measures to make the yearly Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs) between it and oil traders more transparent.

But while the latest guidelines are in relation to the sale and purchase of Nigeria’s crude oil, OPAs and oil swap agreements are only in respect of the 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day allocated to the NNPC for the country’s refineries.

Details of the guidelines for the sale of the country’s crude, which were published monday, requires companies that wish to participate to show evidence of yearly turnover of $750 million; a minimum net worth of $300 million; ability to establish an irrevocable Letter of Credit for the payment of any allocated crude oil, subject to the terms of the contract; and ability to pay an initial deposit of $2.5 million, representing three lifting deposits upon signing of the contract agreement.

Each participating company is also required to show “evidence of compliance with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Amendment Act of 2011 by inclusion of a copy of compliance certificate from ITF, where applicable”.

Each applicant should also provide details of facilities, markets and the volume of crude oil/products traded or processed over the last three years, and audited accounts for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

To ensure that each participant has a track record of performance, the companies must also show evidence of similar services carried out within the last five years.

The NNPC also made compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Act of 2010 a major consideration in the selection of participants, as evidence of Nigerian equity in any applicant gives it a competitive advantage, according to the guidelines.

Also to ensure that the guidelines comply with the Act, interested applicants are now required to submit “a detailed Nigerian Content execution strategy to the satisfaction of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), clearly setting out Nigerian content commitments for subcontracting in the areas of insurance and legal services, banking and financial services, and training and capacity building”.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/nnpc-issues-guidelines-for-sale-purchase-of-nigerias-crude/

Notwithstanding the sustainability of the country’s current public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, the acting Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr. Victor Muruako, on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set borrowing limits for the three tiers of government.

He said such demarcation would help to monitor when any tier of government borrows or about to borrow beyond its limits, warning that debts could get out of hand without proper checks.

According to him, where fiscal responsibility is practiced, limits are imposed on deficits, debts and expenditure while time limits for performing certain duties and obligations are further spelt out.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of a three-day workshop on the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 (FRA, 2007), Muruako also called for amendment of the act to allow for specific sanctions for infractions.

He disclosed that so far, the commission had ensured that agencies of government remitted over N366 billion operating surplus into the consolidated revenue fund (CRF).

The FRC boss said: “The reality is that once your line of duty does not entail arresting and detaining people on the prompt of mismanaging or embezzling public funds, you may need more than just programmes like workshop to plant your project and make an impact in the society today.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/frc-wants-buhari-to-set-borrowing-limits-for-all-tiers-of-govt/

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has given a 90-day ultimatum to the management of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) to commence full production at the facility.

WRPC has the capacity to process 125,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Kachikwu however said at the end of his inspection of the refinery and the adjoining Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) jetty and depot in Warri, Delta State, that he wants its management to ensure that the plant is streamed back to full active service within the deadline.

He noted that he will be ready to provide the management of the facility, the necessary support to enable them meet the target. According to a statement from the Group General Manager Public Affairs of the NNPC yesterday in Abuja, Kachikwu said: “So, whatever you need to do to get your refinery back on track please do it now because this is the time.
“It’s a 90-day fast-track programme and whatever you need me to do to make that happen, let me know.”
He equally enjoined the management of the plant to resuscitate the petrochemicals plant which was commissioned in March 1988 and said on the state of PPMC storage facility that he will end the era of the company relying heavily on private depots to store a bulk of its petroleum products.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/kachikwu-gives-warri-refinery-90-day-deadline-to-hit-full-production/

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has unveiled a biometric database monitor system to ascertain the locations of every corps member during their compulsory monthly clearance.

At the end of the clearance, the database will be loaded to the ‘cloud’ to the finance department and other departments in the NYSC secretariat so as to ascertain the number of corps members cleared from each local government in the country for payment of monthly allowance.

Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, stated this yesterday in Abuja while showcasing a biometric database monitor which are expected to monitor corps members nationwide.

He also disclosed that about six officials of the NYSC are currently being questioned for allegedly conniving with serving corps members to abscond from duty.

According to Olawunmi, those found guilty might eventually be sacked.
The biometric database monitor would henceforth be used to conduct monthly clearance of corps members starting from 2014 Batch ‘C’.

Olawunmi explained that the biometric clearance would kick off in Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this month, and would be extended to other states of the federation.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/nysc-activates-biometric-database-to-monitor-corps-members/

The Senate yesterday commended its members who operate under the aegis of The Unity Forum for withdrawing the suit they filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in which they sought to remove the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from office over allegations of forgery of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 used for the inauguration of the 8th Senate.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday struck out the case and terminated further hearing on the matter after the plaintiffs, who are members of the group loyal to Senator Ahmed Lawal who in turn lost out to Saraki in the contest for the Senate presidency, withdrew their suit.

The five members of the Unity Forum who instituted the suit are Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Marafa, Ajayi Borofice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi.

A statement by the Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, commended members of both the Unity Forum and the Like Minds Senators loyal to Saraki for their maturity and sagacity.

Melaye said with the discontinuation of the suit, the plaintiffs and their supporters demonstrated that national interest was superior to individual and group interest.

He added that the development had put to shame divisive elements who wanted to ridicule the Senate.
Melaye said: “On behalf of the Senate, we want to commend the maturity of the Unity Group and Like Minds Group. We appreciate that by withdrawing the suit, national interest has overcome individual and group interest.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/senate-hails-withdrawal-of-forgery-suit-by-sarakis-opponents/

Governors have lost a chunk of their security detail as a result of the reorganisation of the functions of police officers and men.

Police security attached to the governors has been reduced to a maximum of 62 men – which is a unit – according to Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase.

Hitherto some governors had 150 policemen to secure them.

Arase, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said the police were worried that too many of their officers and men were doing jobs other than their core police duties, yet they were being promoted.

“When these people now have to be deployed from these special assignments back to their core duties, they may have lost touch,” he said.

According to him, that was behind the decision to withdrawal security from unauthorised persons who use police orderlies for personal aggrandisement rather than as a result of a real threat to their lives. Such people, he said, should find other ways to secure themselves.

He denied that policemen working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were recalled to undermine the anti-corruption crusade of the government.

According to him, policemen working in other agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), NAPTIP, ICPC and others, who had stayed more than five years, were recalled to be replaced with another set, if necessary.

He said the EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde requested the retention of some of them because they were on special assignments, which, he said, he agreed to do.

The Police Service Commission said last week that a special squad would be deployed on the highways and airports to stop policemen doing illegal guard duties.

Arase said deployment of policemen for guard duties had ensured that of the about 305, 000 policemen engaged by the government, only about 150,000 were available for core duties.

He added that 40,000 policemen across ranks were due to attend promotion courses which he would ensure as soon as funding is available.

The recruitment of 10,000 policemen as announced by the Federal Government would have to wait till next year when there would be budget for it, Arase said adding that only the best hands would be recruited to ensuring that people of integrity are hired.

He expressed his determination to build a data base crime investigation with the support of a $10millon grant from a foreign country.

“I assure you that I will leave the police better than I met it at the end of my tenure next year,” he said.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/police-cut-down-on-governors-security-detail/

He is known today as the author of peerless spy thrillers, but his expertise was hard won. In extracts from his memoirs, Frederick Forsyth reveals how he worked for the MI6 to spy on the Biafran government during the Nigerian Civil War.

Most people have a problem with the various organs of the British intelligence community, typified by a seeming inability to work out which is which.

There are three main organs. The least-mentioned is the biggest: Government Communications Headquarters, (GCHQ) based in a vast doughnut-shaped complex outside Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Its task is mainly signals intelligence.

Alongside GCHQ is the Security Service or MI5. Its task is in-country security against foreign espionage, foreign and domestic terrorism and home-grown treachery.

The one regarded as the more glamorous is the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), usually referred to by a title it renounced years ago as MI6. Those inside the SIS call it the Office; those outside use the phrase the Firm, and the staffers of the Firm are the Friends. Not to be confused with the CIA, which is the Agency or the Company, its staff are the Cousins.

There is often confusion between the Secret Service and the Security Service, but everyone remotely concerned is universally described by those on the outside with another misnomer, that of “spy”. The true spy is almost certainly a foreigner employed deep inside the clandestine fabric of his own country who is prepared to abstract his country’s covert information and hand it over to his real employers.

The go-between is called an “asset” and the full-time employee who runs him is his “handler”. There is the relatively new nomenclature of “spook” but I never heard the word “spy” used within that world. Only newspapers and television use it, usually wrongly.

In late 1968 I was sought out by a member of the Firm called Ronnie. He made no bones about what he was and we hit it off. There are times in your life when you meet someone and in short order decide that he is a thoroughly decent fellow and you can trust him. If you are ever deceived in this later, it is like a hot dagger.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/in-his-memoir-fredrick-forsythe-reveals-he-was-a-spy-for-mi6-during-nigerian-civil-war/

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps wishes to inform the general public, especially prospective Corps members, that the NYSC Management and other Stakeholders at the Batch ‘B’ Pre-mobilization Workshop have adopted the following Time Table for the Mobilization process for 2015 batch ‘B’ Corps Members. Highlights of Events In the mobilization Time Table are as follows:

NYSC Mobilization Time Table For 2015 Batch B

2015 Batch B pre-mobilization workshop: 21st – 24th July, 2015
Briefing/Sensitization of final year students/prospective corps members: 4th – 14th August, 2015
Display of list of all approved programmes for institutions on NYSC portal for cross checking: 4th – 14th August, 2015
Collation of Prospective Corps Members’ Data by Corps Producing Institutions CPIs: 31st July – 21st August, 2015
Submission/Uploading of Senate/Academic Board Approved Result for Full/Part-Time Graduates and Revalidation Lists by CPIs: 24th August – 2nd September, 2015
Uploading of Corrected Lists by Corps Producing Institutions: 1st – 7th September, 2015
On-line Registration by Foreign and locally Trained Nigerian Graduates: 8th September – 9th October, 2015
Entertainment of complaints from Prospective Corps Members by the state Deployment and Relocation officers and NYSC Help Desks: 9th – 16th October, 2015

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nysc-batch-b-mobilization-time-table-for-2015/

Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) President Abu Gummel is optimistic that Team Nigeria will come good at the All Africa Games as President Buhari is sending off the team with a wish list: “Do not go below second place!” The NOC President revealed this at the unveiling of Team Nigeria kits for the Games and stated that he is hopeful it will be a splendid Championship for Nigeria as preparations are in order and prompt.

Gummel was visibly happy that the team’s kits by Peak from China particularly which was always a challenge is not an issue this time. He said: “My happiness is that the National Sports Commission (NSC) provided the kitting even before the departure for the Games. Because sometimes it is when you are at the venue that you get your kits. This time around you are carrying them with you. So, let me first and foremost congratulate the Director General and his team for a job well done. It is an excellent job. Which means we are moving like an aircraft. Action! Action!! Action!!! And all we need from you athletes is to retaliate. When you are in Congo it is action! Action!! Action!!!”

Gummel then informed the contigent of the Presidential order and wish list of President Buhari for the Team:

“The President has given a marching order that Nigeria must have the first or second position at the All African Games. The last time I was here, I was even saying we should try and maintain our usual position, third. But now it is no more. It is first or second. So, please let us go there and make this country proud. With the action that the DG put in front of him and with the way he is moving, we should give him all the necessary support. We should follow him. We should give him all the support. Because his success is our success.”

He reveals the secret he thinks will propel the Team to victory at the Games: “Jointly we have to work together. Jointly we have to go to Congo and go and make ourselves happy, make ourselves proud. So that we are proud that we are Nigerians. So that by the time we are coming back many people will be at the airport to receive us. So, please let us do our best and make the President of this country happy. And let us fulfil that march order he gave to us that we are able to achieve it. I believe by the grace of God we can achieve it.”

He equally praised the National Sports Commission for a job well done: “I am happy to see these kits, arriving at the right time, cleared, ready for presentation and they are excellent and the quality is good. By the time we are there now, I am sure many others wil start to envy you when you start wearing it. It is an excellent job that the National Sports Commission has ddone. So, National Sports Commission well done. And I want to wish us goodluck and success at the All African Games.”

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-orders-team-nigeria-dont-go-below-second-place/

The Senate on Thursday commenced a probe of unauthorised spending of N567 billion allegedly collected as tax by both the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) between January 2005 and July 2015.

The probe is the aftermath of a petition by a non-governmental organisation, Legislative Watch, sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki on August 13, 2015 and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

According to a document obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance which was presented to the committee by the petitioner, the average monthly tax revenue collected by the NCS is N2.5 billion. If the allegation is true, the total amount held back by NCS between January 2005 and July 2015 stands at N315 billion.

In the same vein, the document showed that the average monthly realisable revenue of FIRS is N2 billion, implying that a whopping sum of N252 billion was withheld by FIRS during the same period.
This put the total amount collected by both agencies during the period at N567 billion.

The Executive Secretary of Legislative Watch, Ngozi Ihuoma, alleged that the amount represented seven percent of tax collected which was paid to the NCS and four percent paid to the FIRS respectively during the period.

Ihuoma further alleged that the two agencies deducted the sum from the amount collected on behalf of the federal government without any recourse to the National Assembly for appropriation as required by the constitution.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/senate-probes-alleged-illegal-spending-of-n567bn-by-customs-firs/

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is insisting that the removal of subsidy would not lead to riots as witnessed in January 2012, stressing that over 90 per cent of Nigerians do not benefit from the subsidy regime.

Speaking in an interview yesterday on Arise Television, he also revealed the NNPC would explore third party financing to boost the capacity of the refineries to 80 per cent within a 12 to 18-month period.

“The truth is the over 90 per cent of Nigerians today are really not enjoying subsidy. Subsidy is likely in the big cities like Lagos and Abuja and mainly for the rich because the subsidy element does not trickle down to the hinterland and those who are poor,” he said.
Kachikwu, however, stated that rather than deal with subsidy in the sense of absolute removal in the way it is known, the NNPC would create ways to eliminate the perception of subsidy.

“Right now, for example, we have not removed subsidy but petroleum products are selling at market prices due to inefficiencies in the system and people are buying those products and avoiding queues.

“We have got to be intelligent about it; the truth is that as the oil price continues to drop, we are going to face the reality of our time, which is survival,” Kachikwu explained.

He stated that the NNPC cancelled the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs) with oil traders so as to have the opportunity to look at the contracts and make them more transparent for Nigerians to get better value than they are getting from the existing contracts.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nnpc-gmd-90-of-nigerians-do-not-enjoy-fuel-subsidy/

Dangote Cement Plc on Wednesday signed a $4.34 billion worth of contracts with China’s Sinoma International Engineering to build cement plants across Africa.

The move would see the company expanding its frontiers to Asia by constructing a three million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) Cement Plant in Nepal and other 10 African countries. The new investments would cost $4.34 billion

The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who disclosed this at the signing ceremony of the new plants to be constructed in partnership with Sinoma, a construction firm renowned for construction of ultra-modern cement plants worldwide, assured Nigerians that the country would no longer be used as a dumping ground as the company now has the capacity to export 10 million metric tons of cement outside the country.

Dangote is currently in 15 African countries, including Kenya, Niger and Mali, which are new projects.

The company’s current total capacity stands at 48mmtpa, out of which Nigeria alone has the largest chunk of 29.3mmtpa.
The company will also today inaugurate its new plant in Cameroun with a total capacity of 1.5mmtpa

Addressing journalists yesterday after the signing ceremony, Dangote said: “We are not only building cement plants in Africa, we have gone far away to Nepal to build a three million metric tonnes cement plant capacity and by the time all these our new projects are completed in the next two years, Dangote Cement will have more than 70 million capacity, but we are not going to stop there, hopefully, by 2020, our targets is getting to somewhere around 100 million tons capacity. I can assure you categorically that Africa will not lack cement now and even in the future…Africa will be self -sufficient rather than being a dumping ground for other manufacturers of cement.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/dangote-chinas-sinoma-sign-4-34bn-deal/

The effort of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) Wednesday yielded the desired outcome as a group of investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Smart City Dubai, disclosed an ambitious plan to inject $10 billion into the state economy.

However, the governor gravely lamented the annual spending on rice importation, which he put at N300 billion, noting that the state could produce only five percent of rice its residents consumed per annum.

The figures were provided after the governor separately held high-profile meetings with the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sesan Hoy, and the group of Dubai investors at the State House, Alausa.

At the meeting with the Irish team, Ambode said it was quite unfortunate that the state consumed almost like N300 billion worth of rice annually, saying the state could only produce five percent of what it consumes per annum.

“We cannot claim that we are self-sufficient right now, but we have a plan to be able to let us feed ourselves at some point in time. One area that Lagos is really interested in is in the agro business. We have a population of over 20 million. We should be able to plan properly the food security of the state.

“We are looking for a situation where we would expand the potentials of our farmers and cross into other states and be able to produce staple products for the people of Lagos State. So if we have any partnership that can assist us in securing the future of our people in terms of agro business it will be highly welcomed.”

The Dubai investors include, the Head of Delegation of Smart City Group, Prof. Pat Utomi; the Managing Director of Smart City Lagos, Mr. Uzo Udemba and Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai, Mr. Jaber Bin Hafer, among others.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/dubai-investors-to-invest-10bn-into-lagos-economy/

The Federal Government yesterday said Nigeria spends N16 billion yearly on importing tomatoes.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, who puts the country’s domestic demand for tomatoes at 2.3 million tonnes, said the country only produces 1.8 million tonnes yearly.

Echono, who spoke at a workshop on “Development and application of post-harvest handling model for horticural Crops” in Abuja, added that 750, 000 tonnes of tomatoes is lost to post-harvest.

He said: “Horticultural crops, because of their delicate nature face tremendous post-harvest challenges. In Nigeria, specifically, tomatoes has the highest priorities with domestic demand of 2.3 million tonnes of fresh production annually, national production of 1.8 million tonnes, waste of over 750, 000 tonnes and an import bill of N16 billion to make up for shortfall in local production.

“Post-harvest losses have been estimated to range between five and 20 per cent for grains; 20 per cent for fish and as high as between 50 and 60 per cent for tubers, fruits and vegetables.”

Mr. Echono, who was represented by the Director, Agribusiness and Market Development, Engr. Jatto Ohiare, said N717 million is spent by the country in importing citrus.

Echono said the horticultural sector is faced with problem of processing and post-harvest handling, adding that 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost yearly.

He added that government is working with private sector to tackle post-harvest challenges.

He said: “Citrus has national production of 3.48 million tonnes, contributing about 29.71 per cent of the world’s production and 81.93 per cent of Africa’s total output. However, 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost annually as waste while an annual import of N717 million has been recorded.

“The government of Nigeria among other activities and in partnership with the private sector is tackling this through the establishment of the Staple Crop Processing Zones where horticultural crops processing plants are being built and associated clusters of producers identified and assisted with necessary inputs/infrastructures.

“The establishment of two export crop handling, preservation and conditioning centres.”

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nigeria-spends-n16b-yearly-importing-tomatoes/

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the Ministry of Aviation should commence work on the establishment of a national carrier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Binta Bello, monday inaugurated the committee on the establishment of the country’s flag carrier.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Bello charged members of the committees to pursue the assignment with all seriousness because of its national importance.

According to her, the inauguration of the committee became imperative in view of the interest shown by the president which prompted his marching orders to the ministry to immediately commence the process of establishing a national carrier.

While underscoring the establishment of a national carrier, Bello said it was not only justified by economic considerations, but also strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potential.

The committee, which has a former Managing Director of Discovery Airlines, Captain Muhammad Abdullahi, as Chairman, is charged with reviewing previous consultants’ submissions and recommendations on a national carrier.

She said: “The committee must expand it searchlight by reviewing the report on the failure of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other failed private airlines.

The committee also has the mandate to consult widely with stakeholders on the establishment of a national carrier, including interested international partners on setting up a national carrier on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy.

The permanent secretary also charged the committee to invite the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to determine the debt profile of domestic airlines to serve as a guide in its recommendations, and to develop the optimum model for a national flag carrier for the country.

Responding on behalf of other members, abduction, regretted the issues that led to the collapse of the defunct Nigeria Airways and promised that they would develop an economically robust model that would stand the test of time and meet the aspirations of Nigeria as a nation.

The committee has four weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
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Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/fg-inaugurates-cttee-on-national-carrier/

Acting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s instruction, the National Security Adviser, Mr Babagana Moguno has set up a committee to probe the procurement of hardware and munitions in the Nigerian Armed Forces from 2007 to date.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the armed forces.

Adesina said the committee would specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.​

Accordingly, NSA has appointed AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd.) as president of the investigative committee.

Members of the committee include Rear Admiral J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (rtd.), Brigadier-General L. Adekagun (rtd.), Brigadier-Genera;l M. Aminun-Kano (rtd.), Brigadier-General N. Rimtip (rtd.), Commodore T.D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (rtd.), Air Commodore I. Shafi’i, Colonel A.A. Ariyibi, Group Captain C.A. Oriaku (rtd.) and Mr. I. Magu form the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while Brigadier-General Y.I. Shalangwa will serve as secretary.

Adesina said the establishment of the investigative committee was in keeping with Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-orders-probe-of-weapons-procurement-since-2007/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is to mediate in the unfolding political situation in Guinea Bissau on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari yesterday named Obasanjo as special envoy on the crisis following the dismissal of Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira and his cabinet by President Jose Mario Vaz.

Obasanjo embarked on the first leg of his mission by consulting with the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Macky Sall of Senegal in Dakar on Thursday.

The consultation was in progress when Pereira was replaced as Prime Minister by Baciro Dja.

President Buhari appealed for calm and asked the authorities in Guinea Bissau to exercise utmost restraint and ensure the maintenance of law and order as efforts continue to resolve the current crisis.

The Guinea Bissau government and the military, according to him, should ensure respect for constitutional order, sanctity of life and safety of citizens, and avoid taking any further action capable of threatening the fragile democratic institutions recently established in the country.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr.Femi Adesina, said the President’s intervention was in line with true African solidarity and brotherhood.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-names-obasanjo-special-envoy-to-guinea-bissau-crisis/

A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi challenging the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to probe his administration.

Governor Nyesom Wike constituted the Justice George Omereji-led commission to probe the alleged sale of the state’s assets by the Amaechi administration.

Justice Simeon Amadi, who delivered the verdict yesterday, said the commission of enquiry was not meant to probe Amaechi’s personal activities but to examine the actions of the former administration as they affected the residents.

Wike, according to the judge, was empowered to establish the judicial commission of enquiry to probe the actions of the former government.

Justice Amadi said no law prevented a state government from finding out how its resources were utilised.

On Amaechi’s position that the 30 days for the sitting of the commission would deny him fair hearing, Justice Amadi said the period for the commission’s sitting did not breach Amaechi’s right to fair hearing.

The judge noted that since the former governor had not filed a memorandum before the commission and had not appeared before it, he could not complain of not getting a fair hearing.

He said the 30 days for the commission of enquiry was not sacrosanct, adding that the period could be extended.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/court-approves-probe-of-amaechis-govt/

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi‎ said Friday that NYSC has trained over 400, 000 corps members on Skill Acquisition since 2012.

The DG dropped the hint in Abuja while hosting the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Musa Yusuf in his office, where he stressed that the scheme had been doing a lot as far as skill acquisition was concerned.

According him, “we started that programme since 2012, and since then we have trained over 400,000 Corp members in various skill acquisition programmes, we are talking about twelve skills set, so, sometimes I get surprised when people suggest NYSC should engage in skill acquisition, and we have been doing that and we are still going to do more.”

The DG revealed that NYSC was partnering with international bodies, adding that in a couple of weeks from now that a special training would be organised in NYSC camp in Kubwa.

Yusuf stated: “We are partnering with organisations that focuses on property development under the sponsorship of the world Bank, where we want to improve the skills of corps members who might be involved in all sectors of property development that is going to start from any moment from now.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nysc-trains-400000-corps-members-on-skill-acquisition/

The ongoing structural reforms in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has again received the backing of the United States government and members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

The US in expressing its support for the reform of the state oil company, pledged its readiness to work with the new management of the NNPC led by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as its Group Managing Director (GMD) in achieving the federal government’s reform agenda in the country’s oil and gas industry.

A statement from the NPPC on Thursday in Abuja, conveyed the support of US for the reform.

The statement which was signed by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Ohi Alegbe, quoted the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, to have said the US would be willing to provide all necessary support to the new NNPC management to realise the objectives for which the government called them up for.

Entwistle had paid a courtesy call on Kachikwu and he noted that though the job of the GMD of NNPC is about the most challenging job in Nigeria, the US is however convinced that Kachikwu has the skills, training and requisite experience to lead the oil and gas industry in Nigeria towards the path of growth and sustainable development.

His country’s pledge of support was also accepted by Kachikwu who reiterated in the statement, the determination of the new NNPC management to implement the spirit and letter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s reform agenda in the petroleum industry.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/us-ipman-backs-nnpc-on-reforms/

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said it will prosecute the Vice Chancellor of Madonna University and two other senior officials in relation to a case where some students were tortured on suspicion of being members of cult groups.

NHRC’s Executive Secretary Professor Bem Angwe said yesterday his commission might prosecute the officials if they failed to honour a fresh invitation to appear before the commission.

The commission, on August 10, invited officials and authorities of the Army for two separate incidents of torture.

While the Army authorities were invited for the inhuman treatment meted out to a civilian in Nyanya, Abuja, by a soldier, and requested the culprit be identified, the university officials were invited for the torture of two students, Stanley Okoye, a 23-year-old final-year Civil Engineering student and Ga-Lim Aondofa Lord.

Prof Angwe, who spoke in Abuja after receiving a team from the Army, said the vice chancellor had refused to appear on the excuse that the matter was in court, and that the commission should allow the court to handle it.

He said although the commission had issued the VC and his officials fresh invitations to appear on August 25, the commission believed the university authorities failed to appreciate the powers of the commission.

“The victims and their parents were here yesterday, but the vice chancellor and the two officials did not come. We received a letter from the vice chancellor, who said the matter is in court and that believes the Human Commission should allow the court to determine the case.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nhrc-may-prosecute-madonna-varsitys-vc-others-for-torturing-two-students/

The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday urged the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the anti-graft agencies to recover ‘dirty money’ and punish perpetrators of financial crimes.

He said virtually all the problems which could be associated with Nigeria stemmed from money laundering.

Ribadu said all monies from criminal activities must be identified, adding that:
“Nothing destroys like allowing criminality to thrive.”

According to him, terrorism and money laundering are largely responsible for the country’s underdevelopment.

The former EFCC boss further stressed the need to follow and identify money movements as “even clean money can be used to finance terrorism.”

Speaking in Abuja at the opening the second Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financial Terrorism Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop with the theme: ‘Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing (ML/TF) Risk from Virtual Currency and Non-Profit Organisations’, he called on Buhari to take institutions like the EFCC seriously.

He said to effectively fight money laundering and terrorism financing, it was important to strengthen the enforcement regime.

Ribadu recalled that within the first six months of his tenure at the EFCC, over N200 billion was recovered from the financial industry while $75 million was returned to victims of the advanced fee fraud otherwise known as ‘419’.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/ribadu-wants-culprits-of-money-laundering-punished/

Former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday asked Nigerians to prepare for the 2016 National Census, noting that their preparation would prevent manipulation of figures.

He gave the advice at a book presentation in Lagos, citing that the last population head-count was fraught with gross manipulation, which defeated the purpose of providing authorities with useful data.

However, the frosty relationship between the two former governors of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu and Mr. Babatunde Fashola was glaring yesterday, as the launch of the three books on Fashola was boycotted by Fashola’s former boss and APC chieftains from the South-west Bola Tinubu.

As Chief of Staff to former Governor Bola Tinubu in 2006, Fashola recalled that the census exercise was deliberately rigged and was the reason the government could not adequately plan for its population or project growth.

He said the population size “has changed from 160million to 170million and sometimes we now hear of 180million. But given the type of people that we are, and with the people who did our last national census now owning up that figures were falsified, the onus is on us to get it right in 2016.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/fashola-cautions-against-manipulation-of-2016-census/

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has accused operators of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) of not complying with its directive to deactivate all unregistered subscriber identity modules (SIMs). Also to be deactivated are those that suffered one irregularity or the other in the course of SIM card registration.

The NCC has threatened to sanction the telcoms.

According to the NCC, from about 38.78 million SIM cards found to be defective in terms of improper registration details, including poor finger prints, no facial information and other biometric challenges, only about 10.7 million have been deactivated.

Its Head, Compliance and Monitoring Team, Efosa Efosa, who spoke with reporters in Lagos yesterday, said all the operators failed to comply with the directive on the deactivation of improperly registered SIM cards.

He accused MTN, the dominant operator, of failing to comply with the directive, while Airtel, Globacom, and Etisalat partially complied, he said.

The chief enforcer recalled that in September last year, NCC sent 38.78 million subscriber lines that had registration hiccups to the telcoms and directed them to normalise the registration by re-registering the affected subscribers.

In the figures, MTN had 18.6 million unregistered and improperly registered SIMs, Airtel had 7.49 million, Globacom-2.23 million, while Etisalat had 10.46 million, totaling 38. 78 million SIMs that had issues.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/sim-deactivation-ncc-may-sanction-telcoms-for-non-compliance/

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has impounded no fewer than 1,293 vehicles and also penalised 1,402 offenders within three weeks.

The commission observed that majority of the drivers were operating without driver’s licence while offences such as lane indiscipline, rickety vehicles and overloading accounted for some of the offences for which the violators were prosecuted.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, who stated this at a press briefing monday in Abuja, noted that 826 offenders were arraigned before the courts out of which 753 were convicted with option of fines.

He explained that the FRSC would sustain the enforcement of road safety ethics through multi-dimensional approach, adding that the corps had stepped up training of haulage vehicle and tanker drivers.

Oyeyemi explained that the focus of the operation was unlatched and unsecured containers, lane indiscipline, overloading violation and licence violation.

He said: “Within the three weeks that we have sustained the operation, a total of 1,402 offenders have been apprehended with 1, 981 offences booked by our patrol men across the country.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/frsc-impounds-1293-vehicles-in-three-weeks/

The Senate yesterday constituted a 12-man committee to probe the management of funds allocated to the power sector since 1999 by the administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee chaired by Senator Abubakar Kyari has four weeks to conclude its assignment.

The decision to probe the management of power sector allocations since 1999 was the fallout of a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, on the disconnection of Maiduguri from national power grid.
The Senate therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national grid.

It also urged the federal government to complete the Mambilla power project with a view to improving electricity supply in the country.

The Senate further condemned the inability of TCN to provide continuous and uninterrupted power supply to all parts of the country.

Ndume expressed concern that Nigeria, with the population of over 150 million, boasts of producing ridiculous 4, 600 mega watts whereas South Africa with the population of 52 million produces as many as 40,000 mega watts

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/senate-to-probe-obasanjo-jonathan-over-failed-power-projects/

The committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) to investigate the discrepancies between the revenue generated from crude sales and the monies remitted to the Federation Account under the Goodluck Jonathan administration has ordered a forensic audit of all government revenue generating agencies.

Briefing journalists on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, who spoke on behalf of the committee, said KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) had been appointed to undertake the audit.

He said that the committee could not rely on the forensic audit report submitted by PwC on NNPC late last year because it was limited in scope, and decided to extend the audit to all revenue generating agencies of the federal government.

Oshiomhole said PwC’s report solely covered the allegation made by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that the revenue from crude oil sales between January 2012 and July 2013 (over a 17-month period) was not remitted to the Federation Account.

Oshiomhole disclosed that PwC admitted to the committee that it could not do a thorough job because two critical agencies for the probe – CBN and NNPC’s exploration and production subsidiary, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) – did not make submissions during its audit, a fact highlighted in the PwC report when it was made public early this year.

Before taking the decision to appoint the audit firms, Oshiomhole said the committee received briefings from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies.

“We have decided to appoint two audit firms – KPMG and PwC – to carry out a forensic audit of all these agencies. The federal government will decide what to do with the findings.

“Some of us are not accountants and two of my colleagues who are accountants were unable to understand the way these agencies operated their accounts.

“We don’t know how long it will take, but they must do it within a time frame and must be very thorough and exercise best professional judgment.

“PwC said some organisations did not cooperate with it and so could not do a thorough audit. That was due to the political environment prevailing then.

“But now the present administration is conducive. Buhari is willing to provide the enabling environment.

“KPMG said it refused to participate because the environment was not conducive,” he said.

Oshiomhole explained that all the affected agencies were expected to pay all revenues generated by them into the Federation Account in line with the constitution but that many of them have not been compliant.

Asked if the committee has the powers to appoint audit firms, he said: “NEC is created by the constitution. NEC set us up. Whatever we do, is derived from the express mandate of the council.”

Some of the affected agencies are the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among many others.

Oshiomhole, who appeared to be calm and temperate while briefing journalists, said the probe was not a witch-hunt but was being undertaken to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the growth of the country.

He said all over the world, countries are run on taxes and that Nigeria was just fortunate to have oil, adding that the federal government must also ensure that taxes are collected properly just like it is done in other jurisdictions.

He said: ”It is more about tomorrow, not about yesterday. Nigeria cannot continue to be run like before. We want to lay the foundation for the country to be built on.

“We will do what all civilised countries do, that is, government agencies are run in a constitutional manner. The president’s intention is very clear.

“This is how to give the ownership of the country to the people. When Nigeria is properly run by taxpayers’ money, the country will be more accountable to its people.”

NEC, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, had at its 58th meeting, set up a four-member committee to scrutinise the accounts of NNPC and the Excess Crude Account (ECA) managed by the last administration.

The probe was meant to unravel the N3.8 trillion not remitted to the Federation Account by NNPC between 2012 and May 2015, as well as $2.1bn said to have been withdrawn from the ECA without NEC’s approval.

Zamfara State Governor Abdulazeez Yari, Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, and Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel were initially appointed members of the committee.

However, at its last meeting, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was coopted into the committee.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/kpmg-pwc-to-audit-revenue-generating-agencies/