₦airaland Forum

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a deliberate plot by some individuals to rub his name in the mud through fictitious reports in various blogs and the social media.
He said the smear campaign was tagged, ‘Destroy the reputation of Tinubu and his relationship with Buhari’.
Tinubu said this in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Sunday Dare, on Tuesday.
He said most of those behind the act were aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party that had failed to recover from the defeat in the 2015 election.
Tinubu alleged that some of them were being probed for corruption and had decided to push him into the controversy to whip up public sympathy.
He said, “The individuals behind the plot are mostly scared PDP elements made frightened by the Buhari anti-corruption campaign. They direct this falsehood at Tinubu in the futile mission of trying to drive a wedge between the President and Tinubu to disrupt the progress being made against corruption and to destabilise the APC.
“But their PDP is already something by-gone, buried under the mass of its corruption and wrongdoing. They fight for a cause that has no cause. They are mercenaries of all the ills and defects that the people want excised from our body politic. Thus, we must do the people a public service.”
The former governor of Lagos State said he never granted any interview regarding President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to run for re-election in 2019.
He also denied reports that he partook in the $2.1bn arms scam.
Tinubu said he had a list of the blogs that were carrying the false news and would soon expose their sponsors.
He said, “In the last six weeks, the Tinubu Media Office has monitored the stream of false, distorted media accounts written against Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have learned that there is a concerted, wilful campaign tagged, ‘Destroy the reputation of Tinubu and his relationship with Buhari.’
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“As part of this ugly plot to cultivate the worst of lies against the national leader of the APC, several blogs and online sites recruited to launch this smear campaign have manufactured stories to advance this sinister plan to taint the public mind with gross lies disguised as news reports and interviews.
“Fallacious headlines such as ‘Reasons why I collected N9m-Tinubu’ and ‘I will not return N9m-Tinubu”. “I am afraid PDP will stop Buhari in 2019 – Tinubu,’ are being paraded. Try as hard as they can the creators of these false tales and misleading headlines will fail miserably.
“Their stories cannot stand up to the slightest scrutiny. They are patently false and we condemn in the strongest terms those involved in this anti-Tinubu racket.”
Tinubu said such a smear campaign was nothing but libel and would not be taken likely.
The APC leader said some of them had even gone as far as cloning the letter head of his media office, warning that those behind the campaign would soon be brought to justice.
He added, “While these fellows may think themselves cunning, they might have outwitted their very selves. In writing these stories, they have committed clear libel. In abusing the media office letterhead and name, their misrepresentations amount to forgery.
“They laugh now but walk on thin ice. Soon, that ice will break and they shall have nothing but the weight of their wrongdoing to blame for their predicament that will soon come.
“After identifying the bloggers and paid hatchet writers perpetrating these wrongs, the Tinubu Media Office is taking the step to alert the public to beware and be weary of hatchet writers, false prophets and paid bloggers. The Tinubu Media Office has the names and online sites recruited for this campaign and will not hesitate to make them know if they do not desist from their negative mission.”
https://www.today.ng/politics/71714/pdp-wants-to-destroy-my-relationship-with-buhari-tinubu

Two of the four Alpha Jets bought from the United States in 2015 by the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to enhance the operational capability of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to combat Boko Haram insurgency in the North East “could not be deployed to the theatre of operation before now due to the inherent weapon delivery deficiency hence its limited use for training purposes,” NAF said yesterday.
NAF Director of Public Relations & Information, Group Captain AK Famuyiwa, said yesterday in a statement that NAF in its bid for increased self-reliance, has successfully reconfigured the two “demilitarised Alpha Jets in its inventory that were hitherto acquired without weapon delivery capability.”
According to him, “The urgent need, in recent times, to commit more NAF platforms to OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE to enhance the success of the counter insurgency operation necessitated the Service to look inward to seek ways of achieving its drive for self reliance through research and development.”
Continuing, Famuyiwa said in the statement issued in Abuja: “The NAF had earlier looked overseas for assistance without much success to get the aircraft reconfigured for combat roles. A number of vendors invited to Nigeria to assess the platforms had concluded that it would be difficult or almost impossible to undertake the project since the Original Equipment Manufacturer had long closed down the production line. A few others who agreed to the possibility of having the aircraft reconfigured to carry munitions also submitted proposals for initial assessment fees ranging from $20,000 – $30,000 before they could come up with the actual cost of the project. Convinced that the project would work, the NAF consequently assembled a team of technicians to develop a feasible model for the project. The model worked on ground, and has since been mounted on the Alpha Jets, and test flown successfully. This feat is a major research and development breakthrough for the NAF and the Nation as a huge foreign exchange saver given that the project only cost about N400,000.00 compared to what would be required to have it done abroad.”
https://www.today.ng/news/national/71734/jonathan-bought-faulty-fighter-jets-for-boko-haram-war-naf

Top militant leaders, who have been causing havoc in the Niger Delta and major oil depots in the South-West, have laid out conditions under which they would stop the renewed bombing of oil installations and embrace peace.
According to reports, the militants said they would only drop their arms when the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, meets and negotiates with them.
The militants issued the position after a secret meeting involving their leaders from the Niger Delta and their counterparts in Alepo, Agric, Epe, Ikorodu, Itoki and Igbokoda areas of Lagos.
One of the top leaders, who gave his name as General Levi, said that they would not want to back down until the Petroleum Minister meets them and secures amnesty for their members to avoid being persecuted by security agencies.
The militant leaders also said after meeting with the minister, they would thereafter take over the responsibility of tracking and exposing those bent on causing further destruction to all facilities and meting our appropriate punishment to them.
They said they had been pleading for amnesty since the days of the President Jonathan’s administration but nobody took them into consideration and were ready to work with the new administration to bring about an end to oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta region and the South-West.
Levi said: “We are ready to drop our arms and denounce hostility with the government on the condition that the Minister of Petroleum will meet with us and hear our own side of the story. We are not against the government but we have genuine issues yet to be addressed by successive administrations in this country.
“We are ready to commence discussion and denounce association with this present situation. From now henceforth, we are ready to block any channel for anyone not to go through to bomb oil pipelines.”
The bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta commenced last week as militants blew up major oil and gas pipelines in the area.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/68117/militants-give-condition-to-stop-bombings-in-ndelta

The federal government is set to reorganise the railway sub-sector of the transport industry as a way of creating more jobs for Nigerians.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who stated this during the weekend, said the government plans to embark on what he called “massive railway infrastructure developments” this year, which will lead to creation of additional 250,000 jobs for Nigerians.
He promised that the Ministry of Transportation under his leadership would work to raise transport sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 1.41 per cent.
He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans for Nigerians, especially in the area of job creation can be actualised through the transport industry, which he said has the capacity to contribute more to the nation’s GDP.
While noting that Nigeria suffers the bane of inadequate transport infrastructure, Amaechi said the federal government would use opportunities that abound in the sector to build the economy in the way some countries such as South Korea and Singapore have done.
His words: “The railways have suffered significant neglect even though it is the cheapest mode of transportation. The current state of railway is an indication of severe neglect and it is a chaotic situation, with government spending without any return on investments.
“Government will focus on railway to encourage mass transit of and cargo freights by railway. The current government is planning massive investment into the standard gauge whose constructions will begin 2016, with the Calabar-Lagos coastal railway”.
On seafarers’ development, the minister expressed dismay that opportunities for sea time experience for cadets were lacking.
Checks revealed that since the Nigerian National Shipping Line Limited (NNSL) was liquidated in 1995, the lack of training berths have plagued Nigerian seafarers whose formal training remain incomplete until experience at sea is acquired.
Experts have also called on government to review Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) to ensure that all cadets sponsored by government are placed on vessels for this compulsory practical training.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/67729/fg-to-create-250000-jobs-in-railway-sector

Singer, Celine Dion’s husband, René Angélil, has passed on after a long battle with cancer.
Angelil who was Dion’s manager and mentor died at the age of 73, yesterday, Jan. 14 at his home in Las Vegas.
He is survived by their three children – René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy – and his adult children from a previous relationship, Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre.
https://www.today.ng/entertainment/66443/celine-dion-loses-husband-rene-angelil-to-cancer

A former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has distanced himself from the $2.1 billion arms scam.
Anenih, in a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said the N260 million traced to his account by the Commission was from former President Goodluck Jonathan, a refund for political expenses on behalf of the former president.
Anenih, in the letter, said he was not aware that the money was from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
He said he was only asked by Jonathan to submit an account into which the money he expended on a political assignment by the former president and candidate of the PDP for last year’s presidential election could be paid.
He said he was therefore not in a position to know which Office his account details would be sent for reimbursement.
Anenih said part of the assignment he undertook for Jonathan was the sealing of a pact with the Social Democratic Party for the party’s support for the former president’s presidential bid.
This involved Anenih releasing N100 million to the SDP, which was collected and acknowledged by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae.
Anenih attached a copy of his correspondence with Falae to the response he sent to the EFFC’s query on the controversial N260 million received from Dasuki’s office.
The letter by Anenih to Falae, dated January 26, 2015, established the agreement the PDP reached with the SDP for inter-party cooperation to support Jonathan’s presidential ambition.
The letter, entitled: “Inter-Party Co-operation,” and signed by Anenih in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP reads in part: “I write to sincerely thank you for your letter dated January 23, 2015, on the above subject matter.
“After due consultations with relevant stakeholders of our party, I am pleased to convey to you our decisions on the issues and to further inform you that the President and the leadership of our party have expressed delight and strong optimism to fully cooperate and work with the SDP in the circumstance.”
The PDP, through Anenih, also made a number of promises to the SDP on certain critical issues to which Falae’s party demanded explanation and commitment from both the PDP and Jonathan.
For instance, Anenih stated on the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference as demanded by Falae in an earlier letter: “Please be assured that the report of the National Conference will be implemented to the letter. We believe that having regards to the fact that the National Conference was a baby of the President, he is in a better position to implement it. And this is what he is doing.”
On the demand for “zero tolerance to corruption”, Anenih responded: “There is no doubt that our party, the PDP, and your party, the SDP, are on the same page on this issue. Apart from the fact that this administration has done more arrests, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of corrupt cases, the President has continuously laid emphasis on the need to develop an appropriate technology to comprehensively combat corruption and its vices.
“The approach, for example, has produced immense results in eliminating corruption that was associated with the distribution of fertilizers in Nigeria in the past.”
On “intensification of efforts to defeat insurgency” as demanded by the SDP, Anenih wrote: “It is the primary duty of Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens and secure the territorial integrity of the nation. This Government has consistently made efforts to deal with the challenges of Boko Haram who have established their operational base somewhere between some States in the North-East of the country and the boundary with some of our neighbouring African countries.
“Terrorism has become a global phenomenon and fighting it requires the co-operation of not just the entire citizens but the support of the international community. The President is working on this. In his recent visit to Borno and in a rally in Maiduguri few days ago, he assured the people that every inch of Nigerian soil currently under the control of insurgents will be recovered in no distant time.”
On “combating unemployment”, Anenih stated: “This is certainly a primary focus of this Administration considering the various programmes designed and implemented since 2011; programmes such as SURE-P, YouWin, Agricultural and Industrial transformation, including the railways that have generated massive employment opportunities for Nigerians. The President intends to sustain the tempo and improve on existing records.”
On “reduction of recurrent expenditure and increase in capital expenditure”, Anenih gave this explanation to Falae and the SDP: “This is an area that the President is not only ready to give a critical look at but he is also prepared to welcome new ideas and positive contributions from leaders of the SDP.”
The sixth issue raised by the SDP through the letter by Falae was on the “participation of SDP in the PDP Government”.
Anenih wrote: “Please be assured that the SDP will be considered as worthy participant in the Government and will be adequately consulted in this regards.”
https://www.today.ng/politics/64806/arms-deal-i-got-n260m-from-jonathan-not-dasuki-anenih-tells-efcc

There appears to be no backing down by President Muhammadu Buhari on his resolve to make anti-corruption and accountability the fulcrum of his administration as he issued fresh orders to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to account for funds that were stolen but recovered by the Commission.
In fact, the President also instructed the EFCC not to be distracted by negative comments from some quarters on its operations, especially as they affect some of those who have been named in the now infamous $2.1b arms scandal.
This is coming at a time when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP – which has had a few of its leaders arrested and detained in Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade – and the All Progressives Congress, APC, which is the ruling party, are trading words on the propriety or otherwise of the approach of the EFCC executing the anti-graft war.
According to Vanguard, sources in the presidential villa informed that the recent visits of the Chairman, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, to the seat of power, where he was said to have had audience with Buhari, may be a pointer to the seeming micro-management of the anti-corruption drive.
Although the source did not make full disclosures about what transpired at the private meeting between the President and Magu, it was made to understand that far from the allegation of tele- guiding the EFCC, “Mr. President wanted a very clear picture regarding accountability and the exact amount of funds already recovered from some of those who were said to be making refunds to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
It was learnt that Buhari’s express orders to the EFCC boss was to the effect that the funds already recovered must be accounted for.
Whereas this was not an indictment on the current leadership of the EFCC, It said it gathered that some of the issues that were already subjects of controversy even before Magu took over as the Commission’s boss needed to be sorted out.
Specifically, the activities of the EFCC regarding recovery of looted funds under Ibrahim Lamorde, the immediate past EFCC boss, were brought into sharp focus.
Buhari has vowed that all stolen funds would be recovered.
The present wave of arrests and interrogation is not unconnected with this drive.
Indeed, sources made it clear that since the EFCC, under Lamorde, made some recoveries and seizures from some looters (which included properties), there was need to account for “everything that went down”.
In fact, whereas Lamorde is out of the country, there are suggestions that he may “be made to come back to the country to properly account for recoveries and sale of properties that may have happened under his tenure”.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/63859/buhari-orders-efcc-to-account-for-all-recovered-stolen-funds

LOL @yomexp

Two men who conned a woman out of £1.6m (N464m) by using a fictional character to contact her on a dating website have been jailed.
The woman thought she was corresponding with a man called Christian Anderson, and she gave him money to fund a supposed business project.
The fake persona was created by Ife Ojo and Olusegun Agbaje, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud.
Ojo was sentenced to 34 months in prison and Agbaje to 32 months.
The victim of the fraud, a woman in her 40s from west London who cannot be named, struck up a correspondence with the fictitious Mr Anderson through Match.com.
She was persuaded to pay money to his “personal assistant” in order to help him complete a project in Benin so that he could come to live with her in the UK.
She then made assorted further payments, ranging from £25,000 for a police fine to thousands of pounds to free up inheritance money left by his mother.
Prosecutor Lesley Bates said the victim had borrowed money from friends and family, believing it would be paid back when Mr Anderson came to live with her
Ms Bates told Basildon Crown Court: “She [the victim] has since experienced stress, cries, is depressed and unable to trust people.”
Police identified Agbaje, 43, from Hornchurch, and, when they raided his home, found him with Ojo, 31, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
At Ojo’s home they found a laptop containing records of the victim’s conversation and a “seduction kit” including the poetry book For
My Soulmate and a dating manual called The Game.
John Femi-Ola, mitigating for Ojo, said his client was originally from Nigeria and had been introduced to the scam by Agbaje.
Simon Smith, mitigating for Agbaje, said his role was to provide a bank account and “the planning and sophistication of this crime was not his responsibility”.
The court heard the victim met somebody pretending to be Anderson in person once, describing him as “a handsome white man”.
The Metropolitan Police are still working to identify others involved, including the person who posed as Mr Anderson.
https://www.today.ng/news/world/63713/two-nigerians-jailed-in-uk-over-1-6m-scam

The Federal Government may have ordered security agents at the nation’s airports and borders to place embattled Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko, under arrest as soon as he is sighted.
It was learnt on Saturday, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had trailed the ex-customs boss to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
On Friday, at about 10am, EFCC operatives in two buses had stormed Dikko’s residence at Jabi in Abuja and conducted a thorough search.
Sources within the anti-graft agency said the search took several hours and only ended at about dusk. However, the agents did not meet Dikko at home.
The EFCC was reported to be looking for huge amounts of money, in dollars, believed to be stashed in a residential building owned by the former customs chief. It was not clear whether the EFCC had found anything incriminating in Dikko’s residence.
On Saturday, the EFCC had relaxed the siege on the residence of the former Comptroller General of Customs. But a senior official of the commission on Saturday said the EFCC had learnt that Dikko had travelled to Dubai. He said that the former CG of customs would be arrested on his arrival back into the country as security agents at airports had been alerted to do so.
The source did not give the reason for Dikko’s trip to Dubai. He also refused to speak on the specifics of the investigation or the reason for the high-profile raid.
It was also gathered that a high-powered delegation of top operatives of the commission was billed to travel outside the country for a mission connected with the ongoing investigation.
The source said, “The commission has information that the man is in Dubai. I can’t say precisely why he is in the UAE; you know that most of our leaders have one problem or the other, medically, which makes them travel out. But we have informed airport authorities in Lagos and Abuja to pick him up as soon as he arrives.”
When contacted, the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “I do not have any information on the issue.”
However, a relative of the ex-customs boss, Mohammed Usman, had on Friday alleged that the EFCC did not secure a search warrant before raiding the house.
Usman, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, said “The information I gathered showed that the operatives, numbering about seven, were in the house to carry out a search for documents.
“A team of about seven operatives of the EFCC in company with some armed policemen arrived at the residence at about 7am and have been in the house for the past five hours.
“From the information available to me, no search warrant was presented before the commencement of the search. As I speak to you, they are currently in my uncle’s bedroom carrying out the search in his absence.”
Usman also expressed misgivings that the operation was carried out in the absence of the former comptroller-general.
“The only people in the house at the commencement of this search and even till now are his children who are below the age of 18,” he said
The search, according to reports, might not be unconnected with the Federal Government’s investigation into revenue generating agencies, including customs and Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency.
The Muhammadu Buhari administration is said to be investigating these agencies over non-remittance of revenues into government coffers.
When Dikko was about to end his tenure, there were allegations of corruption against him by groups, which said he did not manage the Customs well.
One of the groups, the Nigerian Customs Transparency Initiative, had sent a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the EFCC.
It had accused Dikko of abusing his office, adding that some containers disappeared from some port terminals without trace during his tenure.
The NCTI also claimed that the conditions, on which the Customs, under Dikko’s supervision, spent N3.5bn to upgrade the service’s Internet facilities, were not transparent and must be investigated
But supporters of the former customs helmsman had said he introduced major reforms during his tenure. They added that the reforms led to increased revenue for the Federal Government.
Dikko was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 26, 2009. He retired from service on August 17, 2015.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/63888/fg-orders-arrest-of-ex-customs-boss-at-airport

Five arrested over alleged plan to attack Jonathan’s house in Bayelsa
Former President Goodluck Jonathan
Five persons have been arrested in Bayelsa State for an alleged plan to attack the house of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.
The suspects were said to have been apprehended in a hotel in Swali area of Yenagoa as they were perfecting strategies to unleash an attack on the former President’s house.
The names of the suspects, who are all males, were given as, Asupha Emeka, 34; Ebipre Ebebi, 25; Samuel Joe, 27; Okilo Matthew, 25; and Timiere Matthew, 25.
It could not be ascertained the motive behind the plot to attack Jonathan, however, it was learnt that the incident was part of the measures to create tension in the state ahead of the Saturday supplementary poll.
It was also learnt that the suspects were thugs loyal to a candidate of one of the frontline political parties in the state.
Confirming the arrest of the suspects, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, said their apprehension was based on a tip-off.
The spokesperson said, “On the January 6, 2016, at about 1500hrs, based on a tip-off, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Vice unit stormed a hotel premises in Swali community, Yenagoa, and arrested five suspects.
“The suspects are Asupha Emeka, Ebipre Ebebi, Samuel Joe, Okilo Matthew and Timiere Matthew.”
Though he did not indicate the name of the personality they were planning to attack, Butswat said the suspects were drawing a plan to launch an attack on a yet-to-be identified location.
He added that the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation and that investigation was ongoing.
However, a security source, who craved anonymity, said the planned attack on Jonathan’s residence was designed in such a way as to give the impression that the opposition was after the life of Jonathan.
He said, “The planned attack on Jonathan’s house was to give an impression of violence ahead of the supplementary election in the state. What the mastermind intends to achieve through that is what I cannot fathom.
“You know this is the time of politics when politicians design all manner of tricks, crisis and strategies to heat up the polity. This is one of those aspects of dangerous politics they are playing.
“The ringleader of this dastardly act, we learnt is a member of Jonathan’s party. The whole plot was contrived to give the impression that the opposition is the one responsible.”
https://www.today.ng/news/national/62483/five-arrested-over-alleged-plan-to-attack-jonathans-house-in-bayelsa

Impact Montreal striker and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba decided to retire from football, L’Equipe unveiled on Wednesday.
According to the French daily, the former Côte d’Ivoire international called his MLS side’s chairman to announce his decision.
Drogba is set to join Guus Hiddink’s backroom staff at Stamford Bridge, where he has won 14 major trophies as a player at the top of his career.
The 37-year-old also played for Le Mans, Guingamp, Marseille, Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray at club level, and competed at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire.
https://www.today.ng/sport/62431/chelsea-legend-drogba-retires-from-football

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday demolished the Owonifari Market at Oshodi which has been in existence for more than 40 years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had earlier closed the market to curb security challenges within Oshodi metropolis.
The demolition was directly supervised in the earlier hours of Wednesday by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.
Also on ground to supervise the demolition were the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KIA), police and some other top government officials.
A director in the Ministry of Environment, who is the head of the demolition task force, declined to comment when contacted by the NAN.
NAN learnt that the affected traders and shop owners had been relocated to the new Isopakodowo Market at Bolade Area of Oshodi.
NAN also reports that the state government had said in a statement that it planned to transform the market into an ultra-modern bus terminus with new bus shelters befitting a structured park in a mega city.
The demolition was completed at about 7:45 a.m.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/62228/lagos-govt-demolishes-oshodi-market

In fulfillment of his electoral promise, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday signed the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund Bill into law, just as he promised to work hard to address unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development.
The Governor, who also signed the Lagos State University Bill into law, described the two bills as very significant and crucial to the realization of his administration’s policy objectives.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode said the establishment of the Employment Trust Fund was in line with keeping faith with the promise he made to the people during the electioneering campaign.
He said: “One of our campaign promises was to establish an Employment Trust Fund. Today, we are fulfilling this promise with the official signing of the Bill formally establishing the Employment Trust Fund.
“This bill will address the challenge of unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development. As I sign this Bill today, an annual contribution of N6.25billion will be injected into the Fund by the State Government for 4years totaling N25billion.”
Governor Ambode also said a Board of Trustees made up of core professionals would be announced in due course to manage the Fund, adding that more information on the operations of the Fund would be unveiled in due course.
On the LASU bill, he said it was also a demonstration of his commitment to actualise the dream of the founding fathers of the institution, adding that he remained committed to raising the standard of academic excellence to a level comparable to other citadels of learning in the world.
While appreciating members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the favourable consideration of the two Bills and their speedy passage, Governor Ambode said the desire of his administration was to see LASU develop and churn out young professionals who will lead Nigeria to greater heights in the near future.
Earlier, Governor Ambode, while inaugurating a new board of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, restated the commitment of his administration to deepen democracy and rule of law, especially by carrying out periodic review of obsolete laws in the state to bring them in tune with current realities for relevance and effectiveness.
The Governor said such periodic review was important, especially to his administration in achieving the goal of creating an enabling environment for investors, entrepreneurs and making Lagos globally competitive.
While alluding to the fact that all modern and civilized societies thrive on the qualities of laws which regulate and guide the actions of government, organizations, individuals and institutions, Governor Ambode charged members of the Commission to hit the ground running by expediting action on the creation of electronic portal that is aimed at providing access to laws of the State online from anywhere in the world.
“This is a major project which the new Board has a responsibility to deliver in record time. It is very vital to the success of our drive to attract investors to our State,” Governor Ambode said.
The Chairman of the newly inaugurated board is Prof. Gbolahan Ellias (SAN), while members are Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh, Demola Sadiq and Tola Akinsanya.
The Executive Secretary is Ade Adeyemo.
Speaking earlier at the inauguration, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said the past board was inaugurated on March 12, 2012 and was dissolved by Governor Ambode on June 15, 2015 in accordance with the provision of the law establishing the Commission as amended in 2012.
Responding, Ellias, who spoke on behalf of other members, thanked Ambode for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would do all within the confines of the law to executive the mandate fearlessly and conscientiously.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/61863/ambode-signs-n25bn-employment-trust-fund-lasu-bills-into-law

EFCC to quiz Okonjo-Iweala, others over vehicles purchased for Niger Republic
In NATIONALJanuary 3, 2016The Nation0 comments
EFCC to quiz Okonjo-Iweala, others over vehicles purchased for Niger Republic
Ex-Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
A second round of investigation into the $2.1billion arms deals is to be commenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tomorrow.
Top of the probe agenda is how the Jonathan Administration spent €3,654,121million to purchase security vehicles for the Republic of Niger in October 2013 and April 2014.
The cash was withdrawn from the ONSA account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25.
The commission is also seeking to verify whether or not the vehicles were bought and under what diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation.
It was gathered that it would require finding out from the Republic of Niger if there was such assistance from Nigeria.
The agency plans to quiz a number more public figures including Minister of Finance in the Jonathan administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, some ex-Service Chiefs and serving military officers in connection with the $2.1billion arms deal.
Some suspects may be taken into custody in the process,sources hinted yesterday.
The EFCC,it was gathered, is through with the first phase of the probe of the arms deals which led to the arraignment of ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and 10 others.
The interrogation of the likes of Dasuki and the others now facing trial or about to be arraigned seems to have convinced the agency of diging deper than originally planned.
A top source said: “We are beginning the second phase of the ongoing investigation of the $2.1b arms deals on Monday. From the preliminary findings, the scandal is mind-boggling.
“We are going to question more high-profile serving and former public officers, including a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the release of some funds.
“We want the ex-Minister to shed more light on how about $322million was disbursed to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).
“Some serving and former military chiefs will have to respond to issues which we have already isolated for clarification.”
The source said investigators have already obtained the list of military equipment which were bought and the inventory by the Armed Forces.
“This explains why some serving and former military chiefs will need to come and assist our investigators,”he said.
“Some of the companies which supplied these equipment have been contacted too.”
On the purchase of security vehicles for Niger Republic,the EFCC is said to have established that the money by ONSA on the purchase of vehicles for Niger Republic was withdrawn from the ONSA account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25,
The commission is keen to confirm whether or not the vehicles were bought and under what diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/60564/efcc-to-quiz-okonjo-iweala-others-over-vehicles-purchased-for-niger-republic

The Nigerian Army has alerted the public to plans by Boko Haram, to “use beggars to cause mayhem, conceal explosives in bundles of firewood to be placed in crowded and strategic areas within Maiduguri and environs.”
The disclosure was made in a statement signed by the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustapha Anka. The statement was, however, sent to New Telegraph by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman.
It reads: “The attention of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been drawn to terrorists intention to use beggars to cause mayhem, conceal explosives in bundles of firewood to be placed in crowded and strategic areas within Maiduguri and environs.
“Additionally, the general public should be wary of terrorists’ plan to deceive the populace by way of shouting “Boko Haram” to create panic in order to lure unsuspected members of the public for maximum casualty during and after the new year celebrations.
“The command wishes to remind the general public to be extra vigilant during and after the New Year celebrations as the ban on bangers and fire crackers is still in force…”
https://www.today.ng/news/national/59808/boko-haram-to-use-beggars-firewood-to-cause-mayhem-army

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has donated various items, including food stuff and clothing, to the less privileged in the South West zone of the country.
A statement by the Coordinator of the Buhari Osinbajo Support Organisation, Femi Olunfunmilade, on Thursday, said the gesture was meant to ensure that the less privileged in the society also enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mr. Osinbajo hails from Ikenne in Ogun State.
The statement said beneficiaries of the vice president’s gesture include SOS Village in Owu Ikija; Eruobodo Motherless Home, Ijebu Ode; orphanage in Bashorun area of Ibadan managed by the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria and the Lepers’ Colony in Akure.
Others are Abiye Motherless Babies Home, Osogbo; Jamaa Taawuun Motherless Babies Home, Iwo and Widows of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ijebu Ode.
“The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has opened his hands of generosity to motherless babies’ homes and lepers’ colony in an effort to ensure the joy of Christmas and happiness of the New Year are extended to the needy in our midst,” the statement said.
Mr. Olufunmilade, who coordinated the visits to the homes, said items such as rice and other foodstuff were given to the beneficiaries.
He said apart from giving them the items, the beneficiaries were told that both President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Osinbajo loved and cared for them.
Mr. Olufunmilade said those charity homes not reached presently should not feel unloved as they would be remembered in future outings.
He further requested Nigerians to pray fervently for the Buhari administration to succeed in all areas of its interventions, while enjoining each citizen to work for qualitative change in their respective fields.
“This is the minimum that should be done to support the administration, which offers Nigeria a rare opportunity for breakthrough,” he said.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/59843/osinbajo-donates-to-motherless-babies-lepers

Fellow Citizens,
Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of CHANGE in our beloved nation.
I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.
When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring CHANGE.
I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.
In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE you voted for during our historic presidential election.
Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people.
One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror.
I commend our Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria over the past few years. However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.
This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.
There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.
We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to promote job creation. Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.
So too is our confidence in God.
I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
https://www.today.ng/politics/59633/new-year-nigerians-will-begin-to-experience-our-efforts-in-2016-buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to sack and prosecute any of his 36 ministers found culpable of any act of corruption.
Speaking while fielding questions from journalists during his maiden Presidential Media Chat which was broadcast live on television, on Wednesday, Buhari, who said he had been a democrat since 2002, added that he would never tolerate any shade of corruption.
Stressing his administration’s zero-tolerance for corruption, Buhari said he was careful not to choose anyone that would embarrass his government on account of corruption as minister.
The President said he would take responsibility for any of his ministers found wanting for corruption, stressing that he did not pick anyone being tried for corruption as a minister.
He said, “I have been a democrat since April 2002. I don’t think I picked anyone that will embarrass my government. But if you have got any evidence against any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have.
“I don’t think I picked anyone that has a case in court on corruption; tell me one out of the 36. I know that I have never appointed anyone that is in court for corruption. I don’t think I would have deliberately made that kind of mistake.
“If anyone is caught, I will not only sack but I will ensure that the case is taken to court.”
Commenting on the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok community of Borno State on April 15, 2014, Buhari said there was no intelligence report to show if the girls were alive and in one place.
“I am working with Niger, Cameroon and Chad. There is no firm intelligence where those girls physically are and in what conditions they are, but what we learnt from our intelligence is that they (terrorists) kept on shifting them around so that they are not taken by surprise and get freed.
“And a whole lot of them are not in one place and we don’t know how many divisions they (Boko Haram) have and where they are. There is no intelligence to say that the girls are alive and in one place. That is the honest truth,” the President said.
He disclosed that some perceived leaders of Boko Haram wanted to negotiate with the Federal Government, adding, however, that the government insisted on establishing the true leaders of the sect before agreeing to negotiate the release of the girls and on what terms.
“We want to ensure that they are complete; 209. Although some of the parents are rather desperate; they would rather see their (girls) graves than the conditions some of the children are reported to be in.
“We are still keeping our options open, that if a credible leadership of the Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them without any precondition. We have made this absolutely clear but while they are keeping the girls, they should not assume that we will not keep fighting,” Buhari said.
Expressing the possibility of placing a ban on the use of hijab, a veil worn by Muslim females, the President said the covering could be outlawed if Boko Haram continued to use hijab-wearing girls for bombing.
“If you go to Maiduguri, especially motor parks, people with bomb detectors are put there (hijab). Banning the hijab is not enough but it would have to be banned if this continues because it is about the safety of people. The indoctrination is something else. If people do not mind taking their lives, then it is very serious,” he said.
Commenting on the refusal to honour the bails granted a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari said both personalities could jump bail.
He said, “Technically, if you see the kind of atrocities that these people committed – I am very sorry to say this in public – against the country; if they jump bail! The former President just wrote to the Governor of Central Bank to give N40bn to so, so and so person and then he (Dasuki) goes to court and you give him bail and ask him to go and see his doctor in London when you have two million IDPs, half of whom do not even know their parents! What kind of country do you want to run?
“And the one that is being called Kanu; do you know he has two passports; one Nigerian, one British and he came to this country not using any passport? Do you know he brought in sophisticated equipment into this country and was broadcasting for Radio Biafra? Which kind of government do you want to have? You want him to be granted bail to go away? That is treasonable felony and I hope the court will listen to the case.”
On the recent bloody clash between the Shi’ite group and soldiers in Kaduna, the President confirmed that the President of Iran spoke with him on the matter.
He said he had explained to the Iranian President that Nigeria has a system of investigation.
Buhari said as the incident occurred in a state, he would wait for the report of the investigations conducted by the state government and the Army before taking a position on the matter.
He ruled out the possibility of the Federal Government setting up its own panel of enquiry on the matter.
The President, however, gave a hint that he was not comfortable with the conduct of the Islamic group when he wondered, “How can a group create a state within a state?”
He added, “The military that was involved too has a tradition of investigation. And I, as the head of Federal Government, I have to wait for official report before I can come out as the head of the Federal Government and make a statement.
“So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their own reports of inquiry. The police, the SSS, though they are not directly involved, also they are doing their own constitutional role of finding out the cause of the matter.
“But all I know is that whether it is the police, the military, the civil authorities, where there is evidence that lives were lost and property destroyed, there is a standard way of investigation; it depends on how serious it is.”
He recalled how some residents of the state addressed journalists recently and narrated the ordeals they have been passing through in the hands of the members of the Shiite group.
Buhari restated that his government was in possession of documents that showed that the nation’s crude oil was lifted illegally and proceeds from the illegal transactions lodged in personal accounts.
He said in due time, the administration would approach the courts, appealing to Nigerians to exercise more patience.
He said, “We have some documents where Nigerian crude oil was lifted illegally and the proceeds were put into personal accounts instead of the Federal Government’s account and, of course, we have started going to court.
“We got evidence and we are taking the people to court and whatever is in the court, we will not comment until we see what they do with the documents we present. They are terrible cases of corruption and we can only appeal to Nigerians to be patient.”
He insisted that some of those who looted the nation’s treasury had started returning parts of their loots but said he preferred to be silent on the details for now.
“Money has been recovered but the fact that whatever we recovered, we have to end up in court because Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by submissions made to them in terms of documentation, including the bank statements where it was lodged; how it was lodged; whether it is petrol, money from NNPC or money from Customs, or money directly from the Central Bank.
“When we do that, Nigeria will be better,” he said.
The President added that he turned down a N400m bill to buy new cars for the Presidency, adding that he would meet with the National Assembly on the report that the lawmakers were planning to buy new cars for themselves aside their transport allowance.
Buhari stated, “For all I know, the first time, I turned down a N400m bill for cars for the Presidency. I said the vehicles I am using are good enough for the next 10 years.
“As for the National Assembly, we are having problems with them on the TSA, everybody has to subject himself to the TSA as long as federal money is involved.
“But I turned down about N50bn for vehicles, I think I have to hold a closed-door meeting with them and I think they have not bought them yet.
“I can’t see the National Assembly spending more than N40bn to buy cars on top of transport allowances they collected. I have to revisit this story. They get N100bn for their allowances.”
The President disagreed with certain arguments that the people of the Sout-East (Igbo) are marginalised on the national scene, wondering in which of the areas were the Igbo marginalised.
He added, “We have Boko Haram and then Biafra. Help me define the extent of marginalisation. Who is marginalising them? Why? How? Do you know? The constitution says there must be a minister from each state. Who is the Minister of Petroleum? Is he not Igbo? Who is the Governor of Central Bank? Is he not Igbo? Who is the Minister of Labour? Who is the Minister of Science and Technology? Who is the junior minister of education?“
https://www.today.ng/news/national/59273/buhari-ill-sack-and-prosecute-any-of-my-ministers-found-to-be-corrupt

He may have been ditched by Chelsea just before Christmas but it looks like Jose Mourinho isn’t going to be struggling to pay the gas bill for too long, with job offers flooding in from around the world.
Among those offers is a tantalising proposal from Brazilian team Ibis Sport Club, who currently ply their trade in the second division of the Pernambuco regional league.
Ibis pride themselves on the fact that they are semi-officially the worst team in the world, having set a world record for most matches without a win (55) back in the 1980s.
As such, the team want Mourinho to come in and revitalise their fortunes, offering the Portuguese a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract in return.
According to the scanned image circulating on social media, the contract includes a monthly food hamper, win bonuses and a wage increase every time Ibis are heavily beaten.
Further proving that they take the whole ‘worst team in the world’ thing deadly seriously, there is also a clause that states Mourinho would be automatically sacked should he manage to secure promotion.
Sounds like a win-win (or should that be a lose-lose?) deal to us!
https://www.today.ng/sport/59467/mourinho-offered-job-by-worst-team-in-the-world-after-chelsea-exit

Ericsson Nigeria has admitted that a contract employee working with it was actually responsible for the Radio Biafra transmitter installed on an MTN mast in Enugu.
In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Johan Jemdahl, the firm said it had confiscated the transmitter and had notified the authorities.

The statement reads: “[b]Illegal FM transmitting equipment was discovered connected to an outsourced MTN mast, managed by Ericsson, in Enugu in Eastern Nigeria. The equipment was immediately confiscated and the authorities were notified. A contractor to Ericsson has subsequently been taken into police custody after his involvement was discovered. He has been discharged from his contracted responsibilities with Ericsson.

“Ericsson views this incident in an extremely serious light. It is the result of a violation of its process that permits access to its mast sites. As a result, Ericsson has initiated immediate action to foil any similar attempts. All mast sites in Enugu and Port Harcourt regions have been audited while FM scanning was conducted. Critical attention was given to all high masts and sites located in mountainous areas, i.e. locations attractive for illegal activities. In addition, the Site Access Process will be reviewed for all employees and third parties.

"We sincerely regret the unfortunate incident, which violates our code of business ethics and code of conduct, contracted responsibilities as well as our company’s values.”[/b]

An MTN source had disclosed that the engineer, David Nwawuisi, “was able to install the transmitters because he worked with Ericsson Nigeria Limited, one of the companies to which the telecommunications firm outsources the maintenance of its base stations.”

MTN owns 12,000 base stations across the country, and Huawei, a Chinese networking and manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, is the other company that is responsible for the maintenance of these base stations.

However, Nwawuisi, who is currently standing trial with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is a field maintenance engineer with the Swedish technology company.

The MTN source, who did not wish to be mentioned, said Nwawuisi’s role was to grant access to IPOB engineers to mount the transmitters on MTN’s masts under his care.
“The transmitters, which were used in boosting the signals of Radio Biafra allegedly transmitted from London, the United Kingdom, were discovered by the security agencies on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states,” one of the sources said.

According to him, the second suspect, Benjamin Madubugwu, helped with the installation of the transmitters in Anambra State, also in concert with IPOB engineers.

Both men were contacted by Chidibere Onwudiwe, a suspected IPOB member, for the job, according to court papers filed by the Federal Government.

https://www.today.ng/tech/59292/ericsson-confiscates-radio-biafra-transmitter-on-mtn-mast

The country is targeting an annual income of over $700m (N138bn) from the export of cashew nuts by the year 2020.
The National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tola Faseru, who disclosed the figure at this year’s annual cashew logistics meeting, noted that the government and all stakeholders in the cashew value chain were making efforts to raise the production from the current 180,000 metric tonnes yearly to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2020.
Faseru added that the meeting, which had in attendance exporters, shipping companies and freight forwarders, was aimed at addressing all the challenges that cashew export faced in 2015 and prepare for the next season, which starts in February, in order to pave the way for a hitch-free export process.
According to the NCAN president, Nigeria will export 6,400 40-feet containers of cashew monthly in 2016, adding that the aim was to increase these to 20,000 40-feet containers by 2020.
“Cashew is Nigeria’s second largest non-oil foreign exchange earner, with a production volume of 180,000MT and an annual income of $250m. The crop has been earmarked as one of the five agro-industrial products among 13 products for diversification and it accounts for 200,000 jobs,” Faseru said.
He added that 85 per cent of Nigeria’s cashew was currently being exported to Vietnam and India, while the country was also exploring the market for cashew kernel, shell and liquid exports.
https://www.today.ng/business/58964/nigeria-targets-n138bn-annual-income-from-cashew-export

Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, said at the weekend that the money meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram but which went into private pockets “is blood money.” This is even as he said two local government are still being controlled by Boko Haram.
Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA), is facing trial for allegedly diverting security funds meant to equip the military to fight the insurgency in the North-East. Other prominent Nigerians are also being prosecuted for their roles in the arms deal (aka Dasukigate).
Hosting Mr. Ladan Salihu, the Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRSC), in Maiduguri, Shettima said the “arms scandal” is a crime against humanity.
According to him, “the revelations from Dasukigate have shown that some sections of the northern political class and their children were all involved in this massive crime against humanity.
“This is blood money. What is the difference between all the revelations and the blood money (blood diamond) in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Congo? The money meant to prosecute the war on terror was inhumanly diverted while thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed,” Shettima said.
He called for speedy trial of the suspects. The governor also said the security situation in his state had improved.
“Six months ago, all the entry points into Maiduguri were inaccessible except to Kano,” he said.
“Months ago when I raised the issue of Boko Haram insurgency, I was called names and vilified, but I had to dare the tiger. I told the world what we were going through then in Maiduguri.
“I know by speaking out, I would face dire consequences, but I had the mandate of over six million people of Borno State to tell the world what was happening,” the governor said.
He noted that it was impossible to move 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri because Boko Haram had encircled the town.
“Twenty local government areas were under Boko Haram but thank God today, only two are not completely accessible, that is Abadam and Mobbar,” he revealed.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/58087/dasukigate-is-blood-money-shettima

Nigerians abroad, mostly students, on Saturday took to the streets to protest against Deposit Money Banks’ proposed ban on naira-denominated debit/credit cards for dollar-denominated transactions when users are outside the country.
The ban is to take effect from January 1, 2016.
The banks will not allow their customers to use naira-denominated debit/credit cards locally for transactions denominated in forex.
This means that bank customers will not be able to use their cards to buy products from foreign e-commerce sites like e-bay and amazon.com in which payments are made in forex.
Different photographs of placard-carrying protesters had gone viral on the Internet on Saturday, in which the youths stated that they needed the payment cards to survive.
Various websites and blogs that published the photos, however, did not give the details of the protesters’ location.
In one of the photographs, a lady who held a Nigerian flag had displayed a placard that read, “My father is a successful palm wine tapper. He is not a corrupt thief. We need our naira ATM (card).”
In another photograph, a male youth had also said in his placard, “CBN Governor, why? Can you not advise Buhari? We need our naira ATM cards to survive.”
Another held a placard in another photograph which also read, “My father is not a politician or government thief. He is only a businessman. I need my naira ATM (card).”
The Nigerians in the Diaspora also protested against the slashing of transaction allowance of their dollar-denominated debit and credit cards.
In a group photo, a lady said, “Nigerian students abroad need their naira MasterCard (ATM) to survive,” while a man who wrapped himself with Nigerian flag wrote on his placard, “$1000/month on ATM/POS/online does not cover hospital bills.”
According to findings by our correspondent, Ecobank Nigeria Plc has reduced its limit from $50,000 to $5,000, with a maximum of $500 monthly and $100 daily expenditure.
Skye Bank Plc, in a notice to its customers via email, also slashed its international card spending limit from $50,000 to $12,000 annually, a maximum of $1,000 monthly and $100 daily.
Wema Bank Plc also slashed spending on its payment cards from $50,000 to $10,000 annually, $1,000 monthly and $100 daily.
Although other banks have yet to confirm their new international card spending limits, findings by our correspondent revealed that the new limits for most of them ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 annually, and $500 to $1,000 monthly.
The DMBs in the country are said to be recording unprecedented foreign exchange bills, owing to heavy and frequent use of payment cards by their customers who travel abroad.
https://www.today.ng/business/57635/nigerians-abroad-protest-against-naira-debitcredit-card-ban

Former Senate chief whip, Senator Rowland Owie, has appealed to Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari to douse the tension in the coun­try caused by the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by directing the Department of State Services to release him.
He also urged the President to dialogue with the group, and discountenance allegations that IPOB is a militant organization.
His words: “I urge President Buhari to release Kanu, the leader of the IPOB now and dialogue with them. The Presi­dent should not listen to palace jesters who are telling him that they are militants like Boko Haram. They are not. While the Boko Haram leadership is not visible, the IPOB leadership is visible. Buhari should act now. A Bini parable says the King that folds his hands while his palace is burning ends up being a tenant.
“Late former President Umaru Yar’Adua dialogued with Niger Delta militants and peace was achieved. Former President Goodluck Jonathan tried to do that with Boko Ha­ram but he was frustrated by the facelessness of its leadership. So I don’t see anything wrong if President Buhari dialogues with this group of people so as to find lasting solution to the problem.”
Owie further said: “I wish to remind President Muhammadu Buhari that every elected Presi­dent in Nigeria becomes a pris­oner of palace jesters around him and becomes isolated from realities outside Aso Rock. President Buhari should open the prison door now and come out and face the realities. Yes as John Adams said, ‘Power al­ways thinks it has great soul and vast views beyond the compre­hension of the weak and that is doing God’s laws.’
It would be recalled that few weeks ago, massive street protests by members of IPOB had locked-down the South East and other major cities in the South South states with significant Igbo population, for several days until Igbo elders stepped in to sue for peace. This resulted in the suspension of the street protests while legal ef­forts were intensified to secure the release of Kanu through the due process of law, although the DSS frustrated and circum­vented court orders granting the IPOB leader bail.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/57652/ex-senate-chief-whip-urges-buhari-to-release-ipob-leader-kanu

Residents of Zaria, Kaduna State yesterday called on the Federal Government to urgently ban the Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky-led Shiite movement in their communities for allegedly unleashing untold hardship on them in the last 20 years.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the spokesperson of the affected Zaria communities, Idris Mohammed Baba alleged that the Shiites had held the people in Zaria and Sabon Gari local government areas hostage with impunity, adding that the sect is running a parallel government in the country.
The communities also said that the Shiites had in May 2015 declared 24 youths persona non grata for challenging their activities in Gyellesu community where Zakzaky resides.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of Shiite followers in Zaria, Baba said: “My experience with Shiite followers is disastrous and terrible, at a point Shiite boys threaten to kill me.”
He continued that “There is one notorious Shiite boy call Ali. He is the leader of El-Zakzaky’s notorious boys who accompany him anywhere he goes.
“We are happy over military action against Shiite’s movement in Zaria because we have fresh air now blowing in our areas.
“Before, we can’t grant interview to the world about Shiite’s activities, but now we are sleeping with our two eyes closed.
“As a community, we wrote letters to the governments about ungodly activities of Shiites but no single action was taken. We no longer report Shiites to police because they will never honour police or security invitation.
“These Shiites are authority unto themselves; they don’t respect authority, security and so on.
“We are Muslims but we discovered that Shiites activities are contrary to Islam. They carried dangerous weapons openly molesting innocent people in our areas. Human rights groups should also look into our pains by Shia sect”
Alhaji Saidu Garba, one of the Gyallesu’s elders, who also spoke, said, the once booming economic activities in the area have been crippled due to the activities of Shiites.
According to Garba, “After, El-Zakzaky was released from detention in 1999,he came and settled in Gyallesu since then there is no peace in our area.
“We thank Allah for touching the heart of government and the military to liberate us from Shiites untold hardship.
“Shiites killed many of our people who challenged their activities,we buried them and we cannot talk to the world because of their threat.
“We were living like slaves in our own land which Shiite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky came and met us. We residents of Gyallesu are calling on the Federal government to ban Shiite movement in our community and Kaduna state as a whole. Government should put a stop to Shiites’ ungodly activities in our area,” he said.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/57504/zaria-residents-urge-fg-to-ban-el-zakzaky-led-shiite-group

Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has confirmed the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha, as the Chief Justice of the State.
The new Speaker of the House, Adams Dabatorudima, announced this after a debate and vote by the state lawmakers during an emergency plenary which took place at about 7 pm on Wednesday.
The confirmation of Okocha by the state lawmakers followed a letter from Governor Nyesom Wike requesting for the assembly’s approval to confirm her as the substantive Chief Judge of the State.
The governor obviously sought the lawmakers’ approval for the confirmation following the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt which on that Wednesday set aside the decisions of the Federal High Court, which earlier rejected Justice Okocha’s nomination as chief judge.
The Appeal Court later granted Governor Wike the authority to approve her appointment as the Chief Judge of the state.
Lawyer to the National Judicial Council (NJC), James Mmuo, who commented on this, also said that with the judgment so far, the State Assembly is entitled to confirm Justice Okocha’s appointment as the Chief Justice while Governor Wike gives final approval.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/56679/rivers-assembly-confirms-daisy-okocha-as-chief-judge

Amid the worsening scarcity of foreign exchange in the financial market, there are indications that more banks in the country may soon emulate Standard Chartered Bank and completely stop the international usage of naira debit and credit cards by their customers.
Standard Chartered Bank had, in an email to its customers, stated that with effect from January 1, 2016, it would no longer enable their naira debit and credit cards for international use.
The lender attributed the move to the limited foreign exchange supply in the market, adding that it was a temporary measure until market forex liquidity is restored.
The Standard Chartered Bank’s announcement came on the heels of reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, at a meeting last Friday, advised banks to limit usage of cards abroad by their customers based on their individual reserves and capacity to secure dollars, especially for those without foreign affiliates.
Following the decline in the foreign reserves occasioned by the oil price slump, the apex bank had, in April, cut the amount individuals could spend abroad with their naira cards to $50,000 from a limit of $150,000 per annum.
However, since the Friday meeting with the regulator, several Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have written to their customers either further reducing the amount individuals can spend abroad using their naira cards, or imposing restrictions on such usage.
Last week, Wema Bank and Skye Bank sent emails to their customers stating that they had cut the amount individuals could spend abroad to $12,000 annually.
Similarly, in an email to its customers at the weekend, Keystone Bank announced that it had imposed restrictions on the usage of Mastercard (naira debit card) for cash withdrawals in African countries and China. It, however, stated that Point of Sale (PoS) transactions would still be allowed anywhere in the world including African countries and China.
The bank also said customers were required to inform it before usage of the debit card overseas.
Significantly, in advising customers that international transactions on all naira denominated cards will now have a monthly transaction limit of $1,000, Zenith Bank also stated that customers requiring transaction spend above the limit should obtain a dollar debit card by opening an individual domiciliary account funded by electronic transfer.
A bank executive, who did not want to be named, said that the scarcity of forex in the financial market was beginning to take its toll on banks as many lenders were no longer keen on opening Letters of Credit (LCs) for their customers.
The source predicted that many banks were likely to tow the path of Standard Chartered Bank in the coming days and stop the international usage of naira card.
He said: “Most banks will soon stop their customers from international usage of naira cards. This is because you can’t keep providing for what you don’t have.
“The problem is that there is no dollar in the system at the moment except in the black market. We spend $2 million to $3 million every month settling naira card bills. Where are we expected to be getting the dollars from since the CBN banned us from accepting dollar cash deposits?”
The bank executive explained that whenever a customer travelled out of the country and paid for purchases in dollars using the naira card, the customer’s bank in Nigeria would have to source the dollars to settle the obligations to the overseas’ merchant.
He revealed that the forex scarcity was responsible for the lingering fuel crisis in the country, pointing out that many banks were no longer guaranteeing LCs.
The continued decline in oil prices has impacted the CBN’s ability to defend the naira. The naira plunged to 274 to 280 to the dollar on the parallel market after the CBN cut dollar supplies to Bureaux De Change (BDCs).
Last Wednesday, the apex bank cut the amount of dollars it sold to each of the 2,270 BDCs that participated in the forex sale to $10,000 down from the $30,000 sold weekly.
Quoting an unnamed source, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Monday that the CBN had banned the use of credit card overseas.
Meanwhile, travellers and aviation experts have expressed divergent views on the restrictions on the use of naira card overseas.
Managing Director of IRS Airlines, Mr. Yemi Dada, said that the restrictions were in order because government was trying to strengthen the naira and protect the national reserves.
He said: “CBN has brought up the policy to redeem the value of the naira. I know this will not go well with some Nigerians, but the CBN has the power to do it.
“Many Nigerians travel abroad and spend their annual savings within one month in the name of holidays.”
But criticising the new limit, a former Assistant Secretary General, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, described the policy as discomforting.
He said: “I travel out often to get items for my trade. Besides, I spend money on vacations using a naira debit card.
“So, with this new limit on debit card, how am I going to keep up with my business and personal foreign exchange needs while I am overseas? I wish the implementation of the policy could be re-adjusted if possible to help businessmen.”
https://www.today.ng/business/56550/more-banks-to-end-usage-of-naira-creditdebit-card-abroad

Katsina state government has resolved to set up a commission of inquiry to recover N47 billion allegedly looted by the immediate past administration of Ibrahim Shema and key individuals within the administration from the state account.
The state Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Ahmed Usman El-murzuq, told newsmen yesterday that the setting up of the commission of inquiry was part of recommendation of the state executive council.
Usman said the looted fund was a discovery of various committees set up to investigate activities of ministries and parastatals.
He said about N33.3 billion is to be recovered from individuals that served under the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs
The justice commissioner said N99.9 million will also be returned to the state treasury by officials of state primary education board that served between 2011 and 2015.
He said the committee set up to look into the activities of the board within the period discovered illegal diversion of 35 contract money awarded for construction of primary schools.
Usman maintained that the former special adviser on girl-child education, Hajiya Bikisu Kaikai is to return about N850 million transferred from state account to her personal account.
El-murzuq further revealed that about N4 billion is to be recovered from the past immediate general manager of State Road Maintenance Agency (KASROMA), Jamilu Umar and other principal officers of the agency.
He vowed that all necessary steps would be taken to recover the looted funds within shortest period of time.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/56428/shema-others-to-refund-n47bn-to-katsina-govt

The office of the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is set to be scrapped, it has been gathered.
A top source who gave the indication said the scrapping of the NNPC GMD office, which will take effect as the New Year opens is part of ongoing measures to unbundle the corporation to make its operations more effective and result oriented.
The competent source said functions of the office of the GMD will accordingly be handed over to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who in turn reports to President Muhammadu Buhari who doubles as the Petroleum Minister.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of State, Dr Kachikwu was the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, appointed by President Buhari.
Until his appointment, Dr. Kachikwu was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil (Africa).
Dr. Kachikwu is a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School. He also holds Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School.
He started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank before moving on to Texaco Nigeria Limited from where he joined Exxon-Mobil.
Kachikwu has already been mandated to execute the unbundling process to prepare the ground for the scrapping, the source said.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly insisted on need to cut down the cost of governance to eliminate waste and achieve speedy service delivery.
It would be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan created a new office of Deputy Group Managing Director of the NNPC.
The then special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, who announced the new office has named the appointment of Bernard Otti, the then Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts) as the new occupier of the office.
Under Jonathan’s arrangement, Otti, combined his role as Deputy Group Managing Director with his responsibility as Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, of the corporation.
The creation of the new office was a departure from the usual structure of the executive management of the NNPC, which usually have a group managing director at the top of the pyramid, with groups executive directors in charge of the eight directorates of the corporation.
The eight directorates included those for Exploration & Production; Refineries & Petrochemical; Engineering and Technical; Gas & Powe; Commercial & Investment; Corporate Services; Finance & Accounts and Business Development.
According to Abati, the creation of the new office was in furtherance of efforts by the Federal Government under Jonathan to transform the NNPC into a commercially-driven entity.
He said the new office of Deputy GMD was expected to help strengthen the corporate governance structure of the NNPC as well as help ensure value for money and returns on investment increasingly become key factors in all operational decisions.
Peoples Daily had reported that the Federal Government was set to carry out the final phase of the restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The restructuring would result in the Corporation being unbundled into four components, while about 1,100 of its staff in Headquarters would be eased out.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwuwith Kachikwu, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC stated this while speaking at a town hall meeting in Abuja.
He said that he had received President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to begin the final phase of the restructuring of the NNPC.
” The unbundling process would see the NNPC broken down into four key components, namely: the upstream company, downstream company, the midstream company, which is gas and power marketing, and the refining group holding company”, Kachikwu said.
According to the minister, a major aspect of the restructuring plan would be in making the Headquarter operations cost effective by reducing over half of the present 2,200 Headquarter staff and re-assigning them to subsidiaries with a view to making them more effective.
However, in at press briefing later same day, Kachikwu denied saying 1, 100 staff of the NNPC would be sacked.
Kachikwu also said that the Federal Government is considering and developing new models of financing of the oil and gas industry because it no longer has the resources to fund the sector.
“The country does not have the sort of resources to continue to fund the oil industry. As we go upstream, we are going to begin to see a lot of innovative financing mechanism to provide funding for the oil industry.”
On the country’s refineries, the minister said the final decision on the fate of the refineries would likely emerge in January 2016. Adding that, this would be followed by the adoption of a price modulation mechanism that would see the Federal Government setting a price ceiling of between N87 and N97 per litre for petrol.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/56382/nnpc-gmd-office-to-be-scrapped

The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged persons who allegedly collected money from the former National Security Adviser Colonel Dasuki Sambo (rtd) to return it.
Governor Oshiomhole was speaking on Sunday at a rally of the All Progressives Congress held in Benin City the capital of Edo State.
He requested that the monies allegedly looted from the $2.1 billion Abacha loot meant for arms purchase should be returned.
At the rally, prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, including two former members of the Federal House of Representatives and their followers, decamped to the APC.
Governor Oshiomhole also said that President Buhari had been able to prove that there were no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
https://www.today.ng/news/national/54791/oshiomhole-calls-for-return-of-alleged-looted-arms-deal-money

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) will begin an indefinite strike action from December 24 to protest the sack of over 2,000 staff teachers.
The National President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, explained in Abuja yesterday that the universities’ councils employed the affected staff from 31 universities for more than 10 years.
He said further that the directive to disengage the staff schools’ teachers emanated from a circular purportedly written on behalf of the Minister of Education and signed by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Fayemi E. O. dated April 21, 2015, with an attached memorandum and report from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, dated March 5, 2014 and February 2014 respectively.
The directive asked agencies that had been funding the personnel costs of staff primary schools in the federal budget to stop the practice with immediate effect.
SSANU said that as a corollary to the above directive, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission through a circular dated August 27, 2014, directed that personnel/teachers of schools affiliated to institutions and agencies like staff schools should on no account be included in the nominal roll of such institutions.
Ugwoke said December was given as a deadline for the removal of personnel/teachers of university staff schools from the payroll of government, adding that the implication was that the category of workers numbering over 2,000 from over 30 universities would be thrown into the unemployment market.
While announcing the commencement of indefinite strike from Thursday, December 24, SSANU said that university staff schools “are integral part of the university system, established as welfare and municipal services for scholars and staff.”
https://www.today.ng/news/national/54086/ssanu-begins-indefinite-strike-dec-24