There has been power failure in Amuwo odofin LGA for the past 3 days now. Not even a blink or flash.
Since Ngeneukwenu is now the PRO for the various Power companies, i would appreciate it if he could explain what happened to the 4,285MWs. And also he should tell me when next will i have light.

Suspected militants, fleeing from the joint military aerial bombardments, killed two people and abducted at Ikorodu community in Lagos State. The military bombardment of the creeks along Ogun and Lagos states started on Thursday and continued yesterday. It was gathered that militants, who escaped from Ikorodu creeks, escaped into Yewa Phase 5 Estate. It was at the estate they kidnapped two persons and also allegedly killed two others. A vigilante, who did not want his name mentioned, explained that some of his colleagues, stationed at Ikorodu, called and informed him about the killing and abduction. He said: “Immediately we got the information, we mobilised and repositioned ourselves within the community. There were also some soldiers in our area. They were deployed to prevent reprisal attacks. My colleagues and I were unable to sleep because we did not want to take chances. We have increased our patrol of community since we started what I call ‘Operation flush them out.’ “One can never tell, but they might want to regroup and come back into the community. That was part of the reason we beefed up security.” When our correspondent visited the bombarded creeks at Arepo yesterday, a lot of clothes, adults and children’s shoes, cooking utensils and burnt animals littered everywhere. A resident of Arepo said the people were happy with the dislodgement of the militants from the creek. He said: “We were not informed before the operation started. When we heard of the explosions, it took some of us by surprise. The sound of the explosions made some of the residents to abandon their property and fled the community. We have been held hostage for many years in the community; but we thank God for artilleries deployed by the military into the creek. “My family and I were able to sleep with our eyes closed. The same thing is applicable to other residents; we can now all sleep well. Even some of us, who are landlords, missed the monthly community meeting for Saturday due to peace that had returned to the community. “We are appealing to the military to make the bombing a continuous process! We want these militants out of our community totally.” Narrating what the impact of the militants’ repeated attacks on the community, another resident said that a man, who used to produce sachet water, closed shops and left after he escaped being kidnaped last week. An 87-year-old woman, who also did not want her name in print, said the bombardments, meant God had answered her prayers. She said: “When I moved into this community in 2007, it was peaceful. Suddenly, everything changed. When the militants went on the rampage, my children advised me to move out of the community, so I would not be killed. I told them to leave me alone; that we are going to overcome them. “I went into prayers. I prayed that the militants should be flushed out. Now, my prayers have been answered. We can now sleep with our eyes closed.” It was, however, learnt that four militants, who were fleeing from the bombardment, ran to Igbo Olomu area of Ikorodu, into the hands of members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The OPC members engaged the militants in a gun battle at Yewa community and were able to facilitate the release of two landlords. These landlords had earlier been abducted by militants, while attempting to escape from the military. It was gathered that an OPC member was killed during the duel, but others arrested four suspected militants. The militants were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Owutu Police Station. The OPC members, from Ogbagba zone, said they responded to a distress call, that militants invaded Yewa area of Olainukan, where they kidnapped two people. One of the people they kidnapped was a landlord, identified as Mr. Daniel. The OPC members caught up with the militants, who had by then, relocated to part of the creek. The kidnapped victims were rescued. The militants were alleged to have regrouped and attacked the OPC men, killing Tunde Sogunro in another round of gun duel. An OPC leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “People have been saying that OPC people are not doing anything about the militants in Yoruba land. Now, we have lost our member. People should come out, to say that OPC rescued two people. The two people were kidnapped by militants. Nobody will come out now and say something about compensating Tunde’s family.” The OPC leader further expressed the readiness of the group to tackle the menace of pipeline vandals. He said: “We know the terrain more than the security agents. They need to invite us and discuss with us, before we can do anything.” The coordinator of the OPC, in the zone, Mr. Femi Atiku, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists. He said the arrest of the militants, was a communal effort by the zonal unit of the group.

Minister of Transport, Rotimi
Chibuike Amaechi, on
Tuesday listed the
importance of rail transport
for Nigeria’s ailing economy,
adding that previous
administrations did not show
the desired interest in the
rail transport system.
The minister spoke at the
commissioning of the dual-
rail standard of Abuja-
Kaduna rail transport
system.
Amaechi noted that it took 10
years for the project to be
completed, blaming previous
administrations for not
putting the needed efforts to
see to its success.
He said, “Former president,
Olusegun Obasanjo started
the project, it was partially
executed by the immediate
past president, Goodluck
Jonathan and completed by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The parts that were
inspected and commissioned
by President Goodluck
Jonathan, under the
directives of President
Buhari, the stations,
signalling, communication and
part of the drags were
completed by President
Buhari.”
“The locomotive and coaches
arrived in May, and between
June and July, we have
commenced fire offs. We
conveyed over 500
passengers per trip, twice a
day for a Month.”
The Minister, however,
thanked president Buhari,
the Chinese experts and
Minister of Finance, Kemi
Adeosun for their immense
support towards the
completion of the project.
He further pointed out that
the railway system will help
to resuscitate the ailing
economy, adding that
Agricultural produce, housing
accommodation will enjoy a
major boost.
He added, “The rail
transport system is meant to
reduce the problem of
housing as Nigerians who
work in Abuja may now
decide to live in Kaduna and
shuttle Abuja.
“It will also aid in
transporting Agricultural
produce
“The Abuja-Kaduna road will
now last longer as heavy
cargoes will now be
transported by rail,” he
concluded.

Three major revenue
collecting agencies of the
federal government have
shared a total of N142.6
billion between June 2015
and May 2016.
This is the cost of the
revenue collected by the
Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS), the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS) and
the Department of Petroleum
Resources(DPR).
In an investigation by the
Economic Confidential from its
published monthly Federation
Account Allocations, the
Federal Inland Revenue
Service raked in a total sum
of N85.94 billion between
June 2015 and May 2016,
which is four percent of the
total sum of its collection into
the federation Account.
It is followed by the Nigeria
Custom Service with the sum
of N35.78 billion which was
seven percent of the total
Revenue it collected for the
Federation, while the
Department of Petroleum
Resources got N20.88 billion
which is four percent of its
collected revenue within the
period under review.
The Economic Confidential’s
investigation further reveals
that the total cost of
collection of FIRS in the first
year of Buhari’s
administration which was
N85.94 billion is higher than
the combination of what NCS
and DPR received which
amounted to N56.66 billion.
Most of the highest cost of
collections shared by the
revenue collecting agencies
were made in 2015, while the
lowest disbursements were
made in 2016. For instance,
within the period the highest
cost of collection received by
FIRS was N23bn in July
2015; that of NCS was
N3.5bn in November 2015
and that of DPR was N2.5bn
in July 2015.
Meanwhile the lowest cost of
collections received by FIRS
was N4.2bn in April 2016,
that of NCS was N1.1bn in
May 2016 and DPR was also
N1.1bn in March 2016.
The three federal revenue
collecting agencies are the
beneficiaries of special
allocations from the
Federation Account of the
Cost of Collection as
incentives for their revenue
drive.
The Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) receives 7% of the
monthly revenue it
generates for the Federation
from import duty, excise
duty, fees, CET on Special
levy, Customs Penalty
Charges and Auction Sales.
The Federal Inland Revenue
Service (FIRS) receives 4%
of the monthly revenue its
generates from Value Added
Tax (VAT), Petroleum Profit
Tax(PPT) on Oil and Gas,
Company Income Tax,
Personal Income Tax and
other taxes and Department
of Petroleum Resources (DPR)
receives 4% of monthly
revenue it generates from
Royalties on crude oil and
gas concessions, rentals,
gas flaring penalties, among
others.
The collecting agencies do
not feature in the Federal
Government budgeting
process as their operations
are funded from the
percentages of the revenues
they collect for the
Federation Account.

President Muhammadu Buhari
has said he was removed
from office 31 years ago
because he was planning to
purge the military hierarchy
of corruption.
Mr. Buhari, who has not
spared the military even in
his ongoing anti-corruption
war, said senior military
leaders, led by former
military president, General
Ibrahim Babangida and
General Aliyu Gusau,
removed him in August 1985,
to save themselves from his
wrath.
In an exclusive interview
published in the current
edition of The Interview
magazine, Mr. Buhari
challenged Messrs Babangida
and Gusau to tell the truth on
why they carried out the
coup against him.
“I learnt,” he said, “that
Aliyu Gusau, who was in
charge of intelligence, took
import licence from the
ministry of commerce which
was in charge of supplies
and gave it to Alhaji Mai
Deribe.
“It was worth N100,000, a
lot of money at that time. I
confronted them and took the
case to the Army council in a
memo…I wanted Gusau
punished.”
In a statement on
www.theinterview.com.ng, the
Managing Director/Editor-in-
chief of The Interview, Azu
Ishiekwene, said, “This is
one edition that won’t let
sleeping dogs lie.”
Mr. Babangida had told The
Interview in its December
edition that there was
nothing in the memo which Mr.
Buhari said he submitted to
the Army council.
“Don’t forget that I was one
of Buhari’s closest aides. I
was the chief of army staff.
So, I had an important
position, an important role to
play within that
administration. I don’t think it
had to do with a memo,” Mr.
Babangida said.
But in a tone which revealed
that the past may neither
have been forgotten nor
forgiven, Mr. Buhari
challenged Messrs Babangida
and Gusau to come clean on
why they removed him,
asking The Interview to
choose whose story to
believe.
He also fielded questions
about his health, the 2016
budget, the pace of his
government, former
President Goodluck Jonathan
and why Babatunde Fashola
was handed three ministerial
portfolios.
The edition also features
interviews with Liberian
presidential hopeful, Winston
Tubman, and retired Justice
Dahiru Saleh, the
controversial judge whose
court nailed June 12.
And in an interview which
indicates that the battle for
2019 could be well and truly
underway, pharmacist and
rotarian, Mike Omotosho,
reveals his ambition for the
Kwara State Government
House.
His road map would give
rivals sleepless nights, Mr.
Ishiekwene said.

To successfully end
the killing of farmers by
allegedly Fulani herdsmen
and adequately protect
farmlands for massive
cultivation, the federal
government is contemplating
engaging the services of
officials of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence
Corps, NSCDC.
Minister of Agriculture, Audu
Ogbeh made the disclosure
while fielding questions from
newsmen after Wednesday
meeting of the Federal
Executive Council, FEC
meeting chaired by president
Mohammadu Buhari at the
presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ogbe said that he was in
talks with his counterpart at
the Ministry of Interior to
work out the modalities.
He recalled the ordeal of the
former Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, Chief Olu Falae in
the hands of the marauding
herdsmen, saying that it was
one experience that had
scared farmers and agro
investors.
The Minister said that the
development had also
affected bumper harvest of
most staple and essential
food items which could be
produced locally.
He said: "I had a meeting
with the Minister of Interior.
We were looking at security
situation in agriculture.
Sometime last year, some
gunmen went to Olu Falaye's
farm, a Nigerian in status, in
age and ranking and took
him away and marched him
around, forced him to trek 10
kilometers, even carried him
on their backs. Many more
farmers are coming in
including foreign investors
and to stand the risk of
being subjected to this kind
of humiliation, we are talking
with Ministry of Interior that
we have to put measures in
place.

Royal Dutch
Shell's Nigerian division has
lifted a force majeure on
Bonny Light exports, it said
on Thursday, following
restoration of production into
Bonny Terminal.
The lifting of the force
majeure took effect from
09:00 a.m. Nigerian time
(0800 GMT) on Thursday, the
company said in a statement.
The company had declared
the force majeure on Bonny
Light exports on May 11,
following the closure of the
Nembe Creek Trunk line
(NCTL) for repairs after a
leak.
(Reporting by Harshith
Aranya in Bengaluru. Editing
by Jane

’Femi Asu

The price of kerosene, used by majority of Nigerians for cooking, has risen to as much as N300 per litre in many parts of the country, with many depots in Lagos not loading the product.

Our correspondent gathered that the supply of kerosene by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation through its subsidiary, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, which marketers largely depend on for the product, has reduced in recent weeks.

Out of 36 depots surveyed in Apapa, only one, Index, was loading dual purpose kerosene as of Friday.

Strong indications also emerged that despite the recent liberalisation of the fuels market, many marketers had yet to start importing kerosene as they continued to focus on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

In Lagos, a number of filling stations did not have kerosene to sell on Tuesday, while some of those that had the product were selling for as much N220 per litre, especially in Ikorodu.

With the non-availability of the product at many filling stations, roadside vendors were selling 4.5 litres of kerosene for between N1,200 and N1,400.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent, “It is not only kerosene; it is also affecting diesel. Diesel is now being sold at between N185 and N200 per litre as against N105-N110.

“The reason is not far-fetched; the System 2B of the PPMC has collapsed and that has been the system that has been maintaining the supply chain of the PPMC for a while. For the past one month now, the headquarters of the System 2B, which is Mosimi, has not been loading a single litre. So, they are not pumping to Ejigbo, Ibadan, Ilorin and Ore.

“Depots in Apapa rely on getting the PPMC products to their tank farms. Instead of the depot owners in Apapa to supplement the supply from the government, they are busy waiting for the PPMC products. The major oil marketers and DAPPMA are not bringing in diesel or kerosene; those who have access to the available supply are capitalising on the scarcity to maximise their profits.”

Korodo said the prices of kerosene and diesel would continue to go up if they were not being loaded at the PPMC depots.

He said some of the marketers had refused to get involved in kerosene importation because of foreign exchange constraints.

“Government needs to revisit its so-called deregulation and ensure that there is a strict compliance by the major and independent marketers,” Korodo said.

A source, who is an official of an independent marketing outfit that has a depot in Lagos, said, “One major issue is that of all the depots in Lagos; I don’t think there are more than three that have kerosene now.”

The National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, said, “Everything has to do with supply. If there is short supply, definitely, the price will go up. That is the problem.

“Marketers concentrate more on the importation of PMS. But now that the market has shown that there is short supply of kerosene, I expect marketers to shift attention to kerosene.”

The Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, PPMC, Mr. Justin Ezeala, had yet to respond to phone calls and a text message sent to his mobile telephone line as of the time of filing the report.

The Niger Delta Avengers on
Monday night dealt another
blow to the nation’s oil
sector by blowing up two
manifolds operated by the
Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company at
Batan Community in Warri
South West Council Area of
Delta State.
Two other trunk lines
belonging to the Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation in the area were
also destroyed by the
militant group.
Also, an oil well operated by
Chevron Nigeria Limited at
Makaraba village of
Gbaramatu Kingdom was
attacked last night.
Sources identified the oil well
as Chevron well 10.
The Batan attacks were
carried out at about 10:35pm
and 11:20pm on Monday
night.
It was gathered that of
Chevron took place at a
similar time.
Details of the incidents are
sketchy but military and
community sources confirmed
the attacks.
More to follow…

A prosecution witness,
Ibrahim Mahe, has said that
only retired Col. Sambo
Dasuki, a former National
Security Adviser (NSA), can
explain the $40 million
pipeline contract awarded to
OnePlus Holdings Limited.
Mahe, the prosecution’s
principal witness, made this
known when he testified in a
Federal High Court, Abuja, on
Monday.
He said that Azibaola Robert,
cousin to former President
Goodluck Jonathan, stated
this while being cross
examined by defence
counsel, Mr Chris Uche (SAN).
The witness, who recently
retired as permanent
secretary, Special Services
Operations, in the office of
the NSA, told the court that
he paid Oneplus $40 million.
He said the money was paid
out of a $600 million special
security fund sourced from
the Nigerian National
Petroluem Corporation
(NNPC).
Mahe, who said he served
for only eleven months in the
office of the NSA; also
admitted that some other
firms got security contracts
in excess of $40 million while
others got for less.
He admitted that the office of
the NSA maintained Naira,
Dollar and Euro security
accounts.
He said that prior to crediting
the account of OnePlus with
the $40 million; at least nine
officials in the office of the
NSA endorsed the payment
warrant.
The witness said he paid
OnePlus based on the
conviction that the firm’s
security contract met due
process requirements as
presented on the memo to
him by the NSA.
Mahe said that the office of
the NSA was not in the habit
of advertising security
contracts.
He said that for security
reasons, certain security
contracts could be given
codenames.
The witness denied being
part of any bidding process
for the procurement of
security gadgets.
He said that his
responsibility only entailed
disbursing monies already
approved for security
contracts.
Another prosecution witness,
Olabode Farinuola, told the
court that he received a
letter from the EFCC to
furnish them with account
details of OnePlus Holding
Ltd.
Farinuola, who said he was a
Compliance officer with Zenith
Bank, said this while being
led in evidence by the
prosecuting counsel, Mr
Sylvanus Tahir.
“On Jan. 22, we received a
letter from the EFCC on
investigation activities on
Oneplus holdings on the
domiciliary account.
“They requested for account
opening documentation, the
statement of account and a
certificate of identification.
“The bank responded on
Jan. 29, forwarding the
requested documents.”
The judge, Justice Nnamdi
Dimgba, adjourned the case
till July 6, July 7, July 19 and
Oct. 20 for cross examination
of the second prosecution
witness and continuation of
trial.
Roberts and his wife Stella
were arraigned by the EFCC
on a seven-count charge
bordering on money
laundering totalling $40
million.
They both pleaded not guilty
to the charges. (NAN)

Boko Haram struck Dile
village in Askira-Uba local
government area of Borno
State torching some buildings
and stole all foodstuffs and
livestock in sight.
It was gathered that the
insurgents who shot
sporadically during the siege
on the village met an empty
village as all the residents
had fled into the hills and
surrounding bushes.
A drunkard, a son of the late
village head (Lawan) was
however not too lucky as he
was too drunk to flee when
others were and was caught
by the insurgents who woke
him up from his deep slumber
before shooting him dead.
A resident of the town,
Clement Satumari, who spoke
to our correspondent on
phone, said the insurgents
invaded the village in their
numbers about 7pm on
Friday and shot all through
the night.
He said the villagers were
lucky to have detected that
some people were laying
siege to the village and were
waiting for nightfall to launch
an attack.
He said this made everyone
to flee into the surrounding
hills and bushes before the
insurgents could launch an
attack.
Satumari said immediately it
was dark, the insurgents

My Dear President, Ramadan Kareem with hope that you are enjoying your weekend break at Daura. The Almighty God will continue to replenish your vigor to pilot the affairs of this great nation to the desired destination. Your dream of a country that "our children and grand children will be proud of" will be achieved in our lifetime. Mr. President, most of your supporters, including me, never saw you as infallible before rooting for you during the election. We were aware of your humanity and like any mortal, you are capable of making mistakes. What we saw was your integrity and discipline, both of which are scarce in our clime especially among the ruling elites. We recognized that our country was drifting fast into oblivion and a strong character was needed to bring it back to the path of progress. I can, like many of your ardent supporters, say that our decision was right and you have not betrayed our confidence. With various revelations of official profligacy and effort for restitution from various quarters, even your most vicious critics will give you credit in their closets. Your effort to bring back sanity into the completely insane society that ours was turning to is laudable. This brings back the memory of 'War against Indiscipline' during your first coming. It's important to note that most of the ills attributed to you during campaigns and after about your previous public services was most often not about your personal conduct but about the conducts of your close aides and associates. Many of your close aides and associates were on record to have acted in manners that contradicted your character. Your silence in most cases on this atrocities was interpreted as tacit approval. This may not be the case, but your trust in allies is sometimes godlike. You tend to give unfettered freedom to trusted aides to point of ridiculousness. This weakness of yours is coming to fore once more. Some of your aides and trusted associates may have been taking advantage of this weakness. It's true that your adversaries may target your aides and associates when they can't get to you and that's why your aides would have to live above board. Various allegations have been labeled against your aides in recent past, some against your closest associates. Many of these allegations may not be true but your ability to address this issues in open and transparent manner will go a long way to reinforce the fact that it's no longer business as usual under your leadership. The issue of illegal employment was first labeled against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Children of the high and mighty were alleged to have been employed illegally. Despite the cry by Nigerians, nobody has been punished and there is no record that the employment has been terminated. The CBN case was yet to died down when the case of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) came up. This issue also fizzle out without anybody brought to book. Because these first two cases were not punished, the Prison service also have the audacity to do the same thing. If recruitment into Nigerian Police and the Npower program can be advertised and every eligible Nigerian allowed to compete, what stops employment into these seemingly lucrative agencies from been made open? Your dream of an egalitarian society cannot be achieved if everybody cannot aspire to be whatever he/she aspires to be. The Late Malam Aminu Kano said "Nigerian will know no peace until the son of a nobody, can become somebody, without knowing anybody". One of your major achievement since your assumption of office is your unrelenting onslaught against corruption. You rightly said in different forums that "If we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill us". This is the reason corruption allegation against your aides and associates should be closely looked into and treated in a prompt and transparent manner.

The Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation (SGF), Babachir
David Lawal on Wednesday
said the trial of the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki and
his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu
for forgery was not a trial
for the Senate or the
National Assembly as a body.
In a statement he personally
signed, Lawal said that a
case of forgery is usually
preferred against
individuals, pointing out that
such case of certificate
forgery led to the
resignation of the former
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Salisu
Buhari.
Noting that bringing the
National Assembly as a body
into the new court case is
unwarranted, he said that
such action can only be for
other purposes and reasons
outside the investigation and
legal proceedings.
He said: “Since the
arraignment of the President
of the Senate, Senator
Bukola Saraki and, his
Deputy Senator Ike
Ekweremadu before the
Federal High Court on
Monday, June 27, 2016, the
two leaders of the Senate,
have issued two separate
press statements conveying
messages that are far from
being complementary to the
person and government of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Senator Saraki in his
statement clearly insinuated
that Mr. President is not in
control of his administration
and that a cabal now runs
the federal administration. On
the part of Senator
Ekweremadu, he insists that
President Buhari is exhibiting
dictatorial tendencies that
can derail our democracy.
“From their statements, the
two leaders of the Senate
also gave this erroneous
impression that by their
arraignment, it is the entire
Senate and indeed, the
Legislative Arm of
Government that is on trial.
“They want the public to
believe that their
prosecution is utter
disregard by the Executive
Arm of government for the
constitutional provisions of
separation of powers and
that preferring the forgery
case against them is a
vendetta exercise.
Since the case is in court, he
said that the Judiciary should
be allowed to do its job.
He stressed that the case
only involves the four
accused persons.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday charged Islamic clerics to intensify prayers for a better and progressive Nigeria.
He made the call during breaking of Ramadan fast with religious leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recalling his last meeting with the scholars during the last Ramadan period in 2015 and similar meetings with Christian clerics before the Ramadan period, the President said the meetings were useful and meaningful as various developmental ideas were offered on how best to move the nation forward.
He said: “I’m very pleased we have actually met. Before the Ramadan I met our Christians brothers, from all over the country and exchange ideas with them.
“I’m very pleased, we realized that this is our problem, the country’s problem is our problem. Nobody will solve it for us. We pray very hard to God. We work very hard and let us continue that way.
“I believe the riches God endows unto Nigeria, we will realize, our children will realize and our great-grandchildren will realize.
“If we have problems, this is the only country we have. I said it more 30 years ago. We quickly go out, we go to pray in Saudi Arabia, we go maybe to other developed countries, but this is home.
“This is where God put us and we have to stay here and pray many times per day for God to guide us so that we can leave a better country to the next generation.”
He urged the religious leaders to continue to preach the virtues of peace, tolerance and understanding among their followers to ensure speedy transformation of the country.
The Chief Imam of Zone 3 Juma’at Mosque, Imam Tajudeen Mohammad, who spoke on behalf of the Islamic clerics, reiterated the determination of the clerics to continue to pray for peace and rapid development of the country.