₦airaland Forum

taharqa: You guys are so SHAMELESS, it is almost Pathetic. National issues, you said? Oho! So corruption has 'National' and 'sub-National' issues NOW, abi?? And we must ONLY be concerned about d 'National' ones, faaa??..... DONKEY, we are talking about d spending of #170bn- #180bn to construct a 49km Road in yr name for a project that shldn't cost more than #30bn- #40bn (after which you wud continue paying Toll fees from yr nose from 3 Toll Plazas built in such a relatively SHORT stretch of Road UNTIL at least 'they' hv bn able to recover d #170bn they took from you to build it in d 1st place!!), and you are lecturing us about 'National' and 'sub-National' corruption(s)... #wherethehelldidtheseCLOWNScomefrom

taharqa: By d way @OP and 'Corruption Crusader', d LASG wud spend bw #170-#180bn to construct d 49km Lekki-Epe Rd, instead of about #30-#40bn. This is FACT; and there are at least 3 threads on d Politics section on this FRAUD and WASTE... Wonda why a Voltron like yrself hv not seen nor commented on it..

daz_york: So I'm now an Igbo man pretending to be Yoruba because I'm speaking out against childish politics?
Ok then. I have actually seen it all now.

Ucheosefoh: U dont stay in ur father's house and be condeming another mans house kindly pay a visit before u judge please for the sake of ur parents that waste money to send u to skul stop behaving like a ret@rded

daz_york: The whole thing is beyond ridiculous now and if Seun was not such a useless forum owner, he would have done something about it. Nairaland is where public sphere discourse in Nigeria takes place. It is unthinkable that the largest Black forum on the internet has discourses framed in tribal casts.

This is such a joke.

Awakulowo1: I don't know why my brother allowed himself to be used by this ibo woman. No Yoruba man or woman will pity you if the tables turn against you. We don't care if this case consume you.

By SaharaReporters, New York
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has ordered Aviation Minister Stella Oduah to appear before it by next Tuesday when its investigation into the armoured car scandal in the Ministry will come to an end.
The order came after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said Mrs. Oduah had left for Israel to sign a bilateral air agreement and would not return before Tuesday. Mrs. Oduah travelled out on Monday night ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan who set up a probe panel to investigate her within two weeks.
[b]The committee also confirmed at its ongoing investigative hearing in Abuja that there was no budgetary approval for the cars for the Minister. A proposal for the two cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was specifically rejected, it said, even when the agency proposed to buy them for N70million each.
It would be recalled that the NCAA said it received approval from the Minister to purchase the two cars at the considerably higher cost of N255 million.
In another stunning development, the committee said the NCAA had gone ahead and bought 54 vehicles when approval was given for only 25.
With reference to Mrs. Oduah’s testimony at the hearing, the committee declared that she must appear even if she has to arrive by chartered flight.
Members of the committee also dismissed aviation ministry officials, led by the permanent secretary, who was to represent the minister, saying they lacked relevance to the hearing. They said they would only accept a presentation from the NCAA whose director was present.
The chair of the committee, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, said the committee wanted independent presentation from the NCAA, making all others surplus to requirements.
[/b] Mrs. Oduah is being investigated over the controversial purchase of two armoured BMW cars for N255 million by the NCAA at her request. President Goodluck Jonathan who subsequently set up a three-man panel to probe the deal recently queried her.
Yesterday, it emerged that she will be with Mr. Jonathan conducting officisl business during his visits in Israel.
In the 2013 budget approved by the National Assembly, under which NCAA was supposed to have purchased 25 cars, the agency said they were needed to inspect airport perimeter fences.

BekeeBuAgbara: Oh! it was NCAA which has Captain Fola Akinkuotu as its D.G that requested for the cars not Princess Stella Oduah as was ealier reported by Sahalie reporters.

Why nobody is talking about Fola Akinkuotu?
Why do people leave the nyash that 'farts' to go knocking the innocent head.

The days some section of the country would use the media to kick Igbos out of office unnecessaryly is coming to an end.

3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in some cases replace obsolete ones.

Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a host of others makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles.

4.With regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles (including BMW Security Vehicles), the following due process was observed:

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/24625-n255m-armoured-cars-jonathan-probes-oduah-•sets-up-3-man-administrative-panel.html

.... We only approved 27 utility vehicles, not 2 BMW armoured cars —Reps spokesman
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the Committee on Aviation only approved about 27 utility vehicles for the NCAA in the 2013 budget, not two BMW bulletproof cars as reportedly claimed by the agency.
The spokesperson, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, added during the budget defence, NCAA had made request for the purchase of armoured vehicles, a request the committee turned down.
According to him, “during the 2013 budget defence, NCAA requested for the purchase of security and armoured vehicles, but the committee rejected it.
“It was after that the NCAA made another request for the purchase of utility vehicles without specification and numbers of such vehicles, and we had to ask them (NCAA) to go back and itemise the utility vehicles they wanted to purchase.
“When they returned, they listed Hiluxes, Corrollas as utility vehicles they wanted for their operations and, of course, it was approved.
“So those utility vehicles are in the list, they are about 27 items, that was what we approved. The BMW is not there. It is not security vehicles. What we approved is utility vehicles. That is the issue, that cannot be said to be the same approval.”

Asked to be categorical whether the party was going to boycott the conference, Mohammed said, “There is no issue of boycotting. I have put it clear to you: this is diversionary.

“If it is a clear or meaningful national dialogue, we will participate, but this isn’t. The President himself has said whatever is discussed will be subjected to National Assembly. So, what you are having is a constitutional amendment.”

2ru-talk:
Is APC even relevant in the proposed dialogue? This is not an inter-party affair but a regional affair. I am tired of these desperadoes who want to assume power at all cost.

The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its committee on aviation to investigate the alleged refusal for foreign airlines to use the Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano by the aviation ministry.
The House also directed the committee to within one week investigate the purchase of N225 million cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the minister’s personal use and report back.
The aviation minister Stella Oduah is said to have turned down request by Qatar Airways to fly the Kana route.
Adopting two motions moved separately by Minority Whip Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) and Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano), the House expressed dismay on how the aviation minister had been conducting her activities in recent weeks.
The House also directed the committee to look into the renovation and remodelling of MAKIA with a view to ascertaining the possible breach of the contract agreement and present a report in eight weeks time.
On the controversial purchase of two BMW cars for N225 million, the committee is to establish “whether it is correct that the purchase was made; authorised by any appropriation law and whether NCAA has been complying with FRA on IGR.”
It will also find out “whether the minister is entitled to such vehicles under any law in Nigeria”.
In his motion, Osagie lamented that “given the poverty and unemployment ravaging our people, it will be absurd, unthinkable and indeed unpatriotic for an agency of government to connive with its political head to incur such expenditure simply for the comfort and safety of one public officer.”
Rep Matthew Omegara (APC, Imo) who is a member of the aviation committee disclosed that the provision for the purchase of the two cars was “clearly deleted during the ministry’s budget defense” and wondered how they were bought.
Rep Madaki disclosed that blocking Qatar Airline from landing at Kano airport has “frustrated business activities in the North generally.” He said the ministry had earlier this year denied four foreign airlines - Emirate, Turkish, Etihad and Skyeline - their applications to use MAKIA.

caption:
President Goodluck Jonathan
By SaharaReporters, New York
Nigeria’s main opposition political party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) today announced its rejection of the National Dialogue being organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The position was taken at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC in Abuja.  It was attended by six governors.
Speaking after the meeting, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed declared that Mr. Jonathan has lost focus and the credibility required to organize that kind of conference.
“What we see today is that this government has lost focus, it has lost credibility, it has lost control of the economy, security, corruption has attained uncontrollable proportion and at this point in time, this government lacks the credibility to organise a real meaningful national conference.
“In any event, we see this thing as nothing but a diversion and what are we talking about a national conference for when even the President himself has said that the outcome of that conference would be subjected to the approval of the National Assembly?”
Mr. Mohammed pointed out that in effect, the aim is a constitutional amendment rather than a national conference.  He said the APC would not be a party to it, stressing that it is not an issue of boycotting.
“I have put it clear to you: this is diversionary. If it is a clear, meaningful national dialogue, we will participate, but this isn't. The President himself has said whatever is discussed there will be subjected to National Assembly. So, what you are having is constitutional amendment."

Aviation Minister Stella OduahThe Ministry of Aviation has blocked Qatar Airlines from flying the Kano route, Daily Trust learnt lately.
This makes it the fourth foreign airline to be so barred from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Qatar Airlines had applied to be permitted to fly to Kano and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Daily Trust has learnt.
Earlier in the year, the ministry had blocked three foreign airlines - Emirates, Turkish and Etihad - from extending their commercial flights to

Abuja and Kano, apart from Lagos where they currently operate.
Though Qatar Air officials declined comments, documents obtained by Daily Trust show that Qatar Air had sought additional landing permits from

Nigerian aviation authorities to extend its flight operations from Lagos to Kano and Abuja since the past four months but the ministry declined the request, and instead advised it to consider flying to Enugu and Port Harcourt airports as alternative entry points in Nigeria.
Joe Obi, the media assistant to the aviation minister said he had no comment to make on the matter.

However, details of a Bilateral Air Services (BASA) negotiation meeting between Qatari officials and Nigerian aviation officials held between June 24 and 25, 2013 in Doha on review of the existing BASA agreement obtained by Daily Trust indicate that the Qataris presented two options to the Nigerian side to be granted additional landing permits in Kano and Abuja.

The meeting comprised 10 representatives from each side with the Nigerian delegation led by Mrs. Precious P. Mbukpa while the Qataris were led by Mr. Saleh Abdullah Al-Haroon, the director of Ari Transport Affairs department of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.

The first option involves the adoption of an open skies policy which will provide unlimited passenger, freight and cargo services with full freedom traffic rights on any immediate and beyond points while the second request was for 21 weekly frequencies to Lagos and 14 weekly frequencies to both Kano and Abuja.

However, the Nigerian delegation led by Mrs. Mbukpa, a deputy director in the aviation ministry rejected the request, arguing that the existing BASA agreement between Nigeria and Qatar made provision for the designated airlines to operate 14 weekly frequencies to Lagos but instead, asked them to reduce the 14 weekly flights to Lagos to seven while the other seven should be routed to Kano.

“The Nigerian delegation informed the Qataris that additional frequencies could be grated to Qatar Airways on BASA rights if they operate to Enugu and Port Harcourt as entry points,” the document read.

“We asked for 39 additional landing permits apart from the existing 14 which we operate on the Lagos route to enable us extend flights to Kano and Abuja, making it 49 weekly flights into Nigeria but the Ministry of Aviation denied us the permission and instead they asked us to go to Enugu and Port Harcourt. But we told them that we accept the offer of Enugu and Port Harcourt as additional entry points only for future use”, an official of the Qatari embassy in Nigeria said.

During the meeting in Doha, it was equally agreed that the Nigerian delegation communicate with their Qatari counterparts after further consultation with their principals within a period of 90 days as the deadline but the Qataris said they were yet to be communicated to the by the Nigerians.

The Qatari official who does not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the issue said, “How can we be asked to reduce our 14 weekly landings in Lagos to seven and take the remaining seven to Kano? We were categorical in our request that we need additional 39 slots, 21 in Lagos and 14 to Kano and Abuja each. But they are telling us that if we agree to go to Enugu and Port Harcourt, the permission could be granted.”

further embarrassment.
A female minister is said to be leading the campaign as she sees this as an opportunity to get even with Oduah.
It was learnt that a female minister, who allegedly bought a private jet, has been angry that Oduah was the prime suspect in an embarrassing publication involving the leasing of the jet at outrageous sums per trips made by top government officials.
Investigations also revealed that the release of the documents on the purchase of the two vehicles was likely the fallout of infighting among female ministers in the President’s cabinet. .

chima12: Moderators have forgotten how to close threads.thesame topic is now on multiple threads and nothing to done to correct that trend.

The car contract was not listed in the budget and was not openly tendered for, in violation of government laws
If Nigeria’s anti-corruption authorities would, for once, punish violators of federal budget and procurement laws, then aviation ministry officials involved in a scandalous purchase of two armour-plated BMW vehicles at an inflated cost of N225 million, would be facing charges leading from three to 10 years in jail.
PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today that the multimillion contract that has sparked anger across the country was never listed or approved in any government budget as required by law, neither was it openly advertised or bided for.
The contract was not listed in the budget by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the agency compelled by the minister to make the purchase; and was not listed by the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN or Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
The ministry’s own budget too, had no plan to purchase any car for the minister, or other officials.
Spending public funds on unbudgeted projects attracts three years in jail and a fine of N100, 000 the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences law stipulates.
Also, contracts involving public funds without due procurement processes- basically open advertising and bidding- draws a minimum of five years, and a maximum of 10 years in jail, the Public Procurement law says.
A spokesperson for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, Folu Olamiti, said the anti-graft body would make its position on the matter known later. A representative for the Bureau of Public Procurement, said the “law was clear” on this case. He did not want to be named because he was not authorized to speak.
After its initial denial of a contract that has shocked a nation with majority of its population poor, the ministry of aviation, on Sunday, admitted that two reinforced BMW sedans had been purchased for Mrs Oduah at the total cost of N255 million, a sum enough to deliver at least five of such cars.
Joe Obi, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, said the cars were to protect Mrs Oduah from “imminent threats” bred by the minister’s purported radical reforms in the aviation industry, the Punch newspaper reported.
“When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria,” Mr Obi said.
“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles.”
Mr. Obi did not elaborate on the processes leading to the procurement of the cars, whether it followed due process or not; or why the minister chose to mandate an agency under her supervision to deliver the cars, or still, why the contract was directly awarded to Coscharis Motors-the company that supplied the cars- in breach of government procurement laws.
But PREMIUM TIMES has confirmed that the agency’s budget, which is not usually open to the National Assembly for appropriation, had no provision for a car, or more, for the minister.
This paper has also established why the aviation minister, Mrs Oduah, possibly opted for the NCAA, out of the six offices under her regulation, to bankroll the exotic vehicles.
NCAA’s secrecy
Of the six offices under the ministry, NCAA is the only fully self-sustaining organization with no kobo provided by the government for its operation.
All the funds used by NCAA are internally-generated, from charges on airlines, passengers and fines etc, as stipulated by the Civil Aviation law, setting it up. The FAAN and NAMA, are also as revenue generating agencies.
Government agencies under such arrangement, illegally spend their revenues without the approval of the National Assembly, and usually refuse to disclose their budgets.
Although believed to be in hundreds, offices officially listed by the government in the Fiscal Responsibility Act as revenue-generating total 31. They include big spenders such as Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
With the title, comes a somewhat self-imposed privilege of maintaining secret budgets, in the belief that since they source their own funding, they should not be appropriated for.
That claim has irked Senators and House of Representatives members for years, and the lawmakers have repeatedly threatened not to pass federal budget until the 31 agencies make open their spending proposals yearly.
The legislators accuse the agencies of violating the constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which makes it mandatory for all spending be approved by the National Assembly.
The two arms of the National Assembly are currently pushing amendments to compel the 31 agencies to make their budgets public.
It is the secrecy that has predictably helped NCAA and others spend freely with little or no oversight, lawmakers say, making the NCAA the likely choice for the controversial and unapproved car purchase contract.
Between 2009 and 2012, the agency raised N35.3 billion, and spent all of that on its internal needs, according to the National Assembly Budget and Research Office.
The research office predicted that NCAA will raise N10.6 billion in 2013, and if allowed, will fritter all on operational cost.
The cars purchased for the minister came from the 2013 revenue.

Chino72: I am sure you will commit suicide when the Onitsha Port becomes operational any moment from now. The concessioning of the Port is at its final stage. One of the reasons for bringing the Naval Base to Onitsha is in preparation to the full blast take off of the Onitsha Port soonest. Naval Base will provide the needed security along the channels of Onitsha River Niger and its surroundings and protection of the city itself for Port operations, business and investment to thrive.

FreeGlobe:
some folks should should just admit I'm their biggest nightmare on nairaland. Anyways I just wanted to know the type of Naval base they want to build with 1.2 billion, will it have barracks and other facilities. This is a welcome development nonetheless

The Presidential Advisory Committee on national dialogue, stakeholders interactive session was held on Friday in Akure, the Ondo State capital with absence of representatives from Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun states at the session
The stakeholders are mainly from the hosting Ondo State. The session started far behind schedule and also witnessed a low turn out of the people.
Earlier, a group, the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) had staged a protest at the entrance of the venue of the event calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the representation to the proposed national conference should be drawn from various ethnic nationalities in the country.
The group opined that in order to save time and tax payers money, each geo-political zone should hold its own conference and come up with its resolution, which will be taken to the national conference for adoption.
Besides, the group said the present 36- state structure should be abolished, calling for the restructure and institutions of the government devolved into six regional federation.
ONAC said each region should be empowered to create states or countries on it own, stressing that the South west region be made up of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Yoruba speaking parts of Kogi, Edo and Itsekiri part of Delta State.
Besides, the group also called for the abolition of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), saying in its place should reflect the Federal character of the country with a three tier system of small federal, stronger regional or state and community police structure.
It opined that the South west region should have control over sea ports, air ports, all natural resources on land, sea (Offshore and onshore), including but not limited to oil and gas with 15 percent of net earning to the federal government for it to be able to discharge its duties to the federation.
In his opening address, governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko said it is not an accident that Ondo State was kicking the stakeholders interactive session, stressing that the state has been at the forefront of politics in Nigeria.
He described the calling for the conference by President Jonathan as a right step in the right direction, assuring that Ondo State people are solidly supporting the conference.
The chairman of the event, Femi Okurounmu apologised for starting the meeting behind schedule saying, they were on courtesy visits to the Deji of Akure and Governor Mimiko.
He assured the people that their suggestions and opinions will form an important basis for the proposed conference.
In its memorandum, the Arogbo Ijaw community said the prediction that Nigeria will break up in 2015 is a reality.
The Arogbo Ijaw who are Jonathan’s kinsmen said that setting up of the committee is a great foresight and a meaningful attempt to preserve the unity of the country.