enm:

My guy no vex annoyance for me but I just feel that you need this word of advice " stay of the thread" and if you can't just be peeping and assimilating the one you can and if need be contribute that is if you need clarification. Please no vex annoyance

Your above comment quoted above shows you know little about the two state, instead of letting those that know to run the thread so that some of us who want the truth and nothing but the truth you go about muddling things up. Please no vex annoyance for me na beg I dey beg ooh

Omo_Tier1:
To think a normal human being ever thought Akpakpava and Sapele road was okay before the lanes were expanded to six lanes is really worrisome! This goes to show you are a stranger in Benin City.

taharqa: Guy, there was absolutely Nothing wrong with Sapele and Akpakpava Rds b4 Oshiobaba's tenure. The only things Oshiobaba did on those Roads was to drive out those trading on the Roads, constructed side-walks and then divided the roads and planted flowers in the centre. There was absolutely nothing wrong with d said roads...

luvinhubby:
Blind enough to see the on-going GEJ transformation in Nigeria that you & your OPC APC gang have refused to see.....

phantonce: show us evidence or foroever remain silent,

Evestar200: where this roundabout was built

kubi240: na u be mumu

Evestar200: constructions of Two flyovers in Effurun and Asaba

luvinhubby:
Your response has already been thrashed before you posted it....

taharqa: Hehehehehe...Omo-tire the Overseas LIAR 'don see Oba', as those of us from Benin wud say . The guy was mainly posting ringroad and schools as d 'marvellous' things that Oshiobaba has done in Edo, lol..... By d way @Omo-tire, 50% of d funding for most of those schools you posted came from UBEC, an Agency of d FG ie GEJ; 20% came from d LG that Schools are locating in, whilst d State only provided 30%. I admit I like the new looks of d Schools, though..

taharqa: I hv practicali stayd in Benin most of my life, and I can testify that there is a VERY CLEAR diff with Oshiomohle compard to what obtaind in recent yrs; much more still needs doing though..

luvinhubby:
.......... that knows better than you do.
I am waiting.....!!

luvinhubby:
Anybody that exposes the lying hypocrisy of APC is a fool or drunkard, keep on deluding yourself, 2015 will speak for itself.
The poster you responded to has stayed in Benin for over two decades, you spent 4yrs within a confined school in the outskirts of Benin, who should know better?

adino:
You ranting rabies infested dog, Akpakpava roads extends to Agbor road which is an FG project. Both Sapele and Akpavava roads were never in bad state but expanded and beautified at different sections, while the FG did the major works the state did the beautification.
You foool, ranting to a thoroughbred Edo man with your little knowledge. I do not have time for ur types. I only have the time to flog you with a cane like the badly brought up mannerless brat you are.

Obi hails Oshiomhole, commissions school, road projects in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY - GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has commended his Edo State counterpart, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole over what he described as his commitment to transforming Edo State into a modern society.

Speaking at the commissioning of the reconstructed 24-classroom Eresoyen Primary School, with staff offices and modern furniture and the rebuilt 6-lane Akpakpava Road with street lights, walkways and underground drainage, Governor Obi told people of the community “I came here on the invitation of the governor. I can say it anywhere he is a man who cares. It is better to place your trust on a man you know. How many governors have visited your school. You know who cares for you”

According to the Governor: “those of you who know Benin five years ago know there is a difference now. It is better to place your trust on a man who cares. I am commissioning the new 6-lane Akpakpava road because of the commitment of the Governor to the people.

“Remain prayerful for the leaders of the country so that they can continue to use public money for the good of the people of the country,” he said.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole who noted the importance of education to the nation’s growth said Nigeria could only attain technological development if things are done right.

According to him, the future of Nigeria does not depend on the quantity of liquid minerals. What defines a failed nation from a successful one is not only a function of natural endowment but the quality of the human capital.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/obi-hails-oshiomhole-commissions-school-road-projects-in-edo/#sthash.mOohsuz2.dpuf

BY ladidi01

Edo State Governor inspects State Project

Monday, April 12, 2010 | Main News | 0 Comments


Determined to ensure that Projects embarked upon by the various Contractors handling Projects in the State meet specifications, Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomole went on inspection to identify extent of work done so far. Galaxy News Correspondent Gabriel Ordia reports that, Governor Adams Oshiomole went round some parts of Benin metropolis, to inspect the extent of work done by the various Contractors handling Projects and was convinced and lauded the Contractors on the effort of work done. The Governor who in accompany of his Works and Environment Commissioner visited the High Court, where work is almost at completion stage. He also inspected the Water Fountain Project s around Kings Square Airport Road, Akpapava road, Sapele road where road Construction work were ongoing. Comrade Oshiomole while inspecting sites in Benin-City, which is now a Construction site, by many were applauded by Edo people who watched with consternation. However, the Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Hon. Clem Agba, while revisiting Government commitment, stressed that the inspection is a routine, one that will ensure that the various Contractors meet specification and deliver on time. Hon. Agba said that most work currently been intensify is the side drains, that will take flooding and erosion problems in the City and further give the State the needed beauty

MakeMusicMoney: ccording to Richard Sklar, an American political scientist who authored the the book “Nigerian Political Parties”, Mallam Umaru Altine who hailed from the old Sokoto Province of the defunct region of Northern Nigeria and who served as President of the Enugu Branch of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons(NCNC) was elected the first Mayor of Enugu in 1956.
In my humble opinion, this again goes to show the kind of very elevated and futuristic politics played by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and the most sincere proponent of Nigerian national unity of all time. It is a testimony to his impeccable credentials as the ultimate Nigerian that during his time in office, a Mid-Westerner and incumbent Oba Erediauwa of Benin (then Prince Solomon Akenzua) and a Northerner, the late Abdulaziz Atta, the Gowon-era Secretary to the Government of the Federation who died in 1972, both served as Permanent Secretaries of the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service.

Chylo:

Haba Monseiur Garri, the guy was an orphan putting up with this cousin na. Just try and put urself in his shoes, he was probably completely dependent on him for many things and would be unlikely to fight back.

ckkris:

Sauce is GARRI & oil soup

Oduah’s N255m car scandal: We’re searching for those who leaked story – FG

October 19, 2013 by Rasheed Bisiriyu Udeme Ekwere Kunle Falayi, Gbenro Adeoye, Bose Obasa Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja



The Federal Government has begun a manhunt for the whistleblower that broke the story of the two BMW armoured cars bought for Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

The cars, valued at N225m, were purchased for the minister by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, disclosed this at a press conference at the head office of the Federal Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Friday,

He said the Federal Government was concerned about how the information got leaked to the public, noting that whoever leaked the information committed a criminal offence. He explained that the agency had begun moves to uncover the person[s] that leaked the information to the public.

He said, “I am not saying that this particular information should not be put in the public domain. But how it was obtained is the concern. If somebody breaks into an office and makes copies of official documents, then the break-in has become criminal.

“So we are in the process of trying to find the source of this leakage and I am very concerned about it. Because this information may look trivial but there are other information that we have that are confidential and it is only fair for us to respect the confidentiality of information. I am not saying that they broke into our office, but they obtained the information illegally.”

The visibly terrified Akinkuotu said he was stunned to see the documents in the open, stressing that the information were leaked illegally.

He said he was “shell shocked that government information and particularly information from the civil aviation authority has gotten into public purview in an illegal manner. It is criminal! However, what has been done has been done, but I think when such information is gotten, you should have come to the agency to ask. We are not shy to take your questions.”

Akinkuotu stated that Snowden of the United States ran away after leaking confidential information, adding, “He (Snowden) went on the run after putting such information in the public domain. The sources of the leak I don’t know, but yesterday, I issued a circular to all staff on this issue. I will read a little part of the circular: ‘Without prejudice to the nature and the purpose of this act, you should know that leakage and ultimate publication is a matter of great concern to the authority.’

NCAA had purchased two vehicles valued at a whopping $1.6m said to have been delivered to Oduah in August this year. The armoured vehicles, BMW 760 Li, were bought from Coscharis Motors Limited in Lagos.

An online news medium, SaharaReporters, had reported on Tuesday that the armoured vehicles were delivered to the minister in August.

The medium reported that documents in its possession showed that the transaction for the purchase of the two BMW cars started in June, but the request for the delivery of and payment for them was fast-tracked between August 13 and 15, 2013.

The transaction involved the NCAA, First Bank of Nigeria, and Coscharis Motors Limited, according to the report.

The two black BMW 760 Li HSS vehicles had chasis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044, and were reportedly delivered to the NCAA on August 13, 2013. They were received by two store managers, F. Onoabhagbe and Y. A. Amzat, who is also the agency’s head of transport.

Since the report, Nigerians have expressed anger over the purchase with stakeholders calling on the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate the issue.

There were also reports that the vehicles’ costs were grossly inflated and a waste of the nation’s scarce resources especially in a sector that is poorly funded and which had recorded a series of air crashes in recent times.

But the NCAA boss stated that the purchase of the vehicles followed stipulated due process, adding that the prices of the cars were high probably because it was bought from a company which had no competitors in Nigeria.

.The agency also said other factors might have contributed the high price, but maintained that the vehicles were purchased for operational purposes. Explaining what may have made the vehicles expensive in Nigeria, Akinkuotu said three factors should be considered.

He said, “First, each car that you buy nowadays has a customised aspect to it and this may impact on the price. The other factor is what I call the environmental situation. Yesterday, a gentleman from Britain met me and said the fares in this country on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are high. And he wondered why the situation had continued, but he said it was because Nigerians could afford it.

“So the other aspect in this particular context is what I will call the monopolistic situation on these cars. Coscharis, as far as I understand, is about the only guy that sells BMW of this nature in Nigeria. If he is the only one selling, then you must buy from him if you want the car and he can name the price. So those are factors that may have resulted. But mind you, I am not holding brief for this.”

He went on, “I do not know how much the cars cost and I cannot relate or answer the question on the actual cost of these cars. But were they budgeted for? Yes.”

The DG said aviation was a global industry and the NCAA, the regulator of the industry in Nigeria very often played host to dignitaries from international civil aviation bodies.

He said it was internationally customary to convey the minister and these visiting foreign dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria.

He said, “It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of the delegation is the sole responsibility of the host country. The vehicles are therefore in the pool of the NCAA for these special assignments and are available at the NCAA office and can be shown to you.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to express their dissatisfaction with the agency’s action.

The External Relations Manager for most automobile firms including CFAO Motors, Dr. Oscar Odiboh, said the price of the new vehicles was outrageous, describing it as an embarrassment to those operating in the nation’s automobile industry.

“It dents the image of the automobile industry because we are being branded as people who fix ridiculous prices for their products,” he said.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Auto Manufacturers Association, Mr. Arthur Madueke, said it was needless to have ordered for armoured cars abroad when such facility was available locally.

“One of our members, whose factory is located in Ode Remo, Ogun State, has the competence to armour any vehicle at competitive prices and has received the approval of necessary authorities including the ministry of defence,” he said.

Also aviation experts are of the opinion that the whole transaction was fraudulent and ridiculous.

President, Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore, said that the prices quoted for the armoured vehicles were on the ridiculous side.

He said, “By the information that I have at my disposal, I can categorically say that a single armoured vehicle cannot be more expensive than N40m. the amount of N225m which was quoted as the prices of the two vehicles was definitely outrageous.

“Well, in my opinion, it is fraud, the whole thing is just fraudulent, and it is rather unfortunate.”

Also, reacting to the issue, the Assistant General Secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur, said that the N225m quoted for the procurement of the vehicles was exorbitant.

He expressed surprise that he ministry officials could expect Nigerians to believe such lie adding that it was important for the necessary government agencies to step in to address the issue.

He said, “That price that they have stated cannot be right, they have inflated the price. It is obvious that there is something wrong somewhere, and we hope the relevant agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will step into the matter and do a thorough investigation.

“The fact remains that there is a lot of corruption going on in the sector. Now, we are just talking about the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, we have not yet talked about other agencies such as the NEMA, FAAN, NIMET and others.

“All the funds that were said to be spent on restructuring the facilities of the airports for instance, we have not seen much to show for it, the Kano and Kaduna airports have been abandoned, the terminals in the Lagos airport still leak during rains, toilets are not working well, among other things. And so, corruption is entrenched in the system.”

Meanwhile, the law firm of human right activist and Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, urging it to investigate the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah for fraud and extortion.

In the petition signed by Samuel Ogala, made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the law firm described Oduah’s case as an outrageous prodigal action.

The petition states, “Apart from the fact that the said threat to the life of the minister was never reported to the police, the extortion of the sum of N255m from the NCAA, a parastatal under the Ministry of Aviation, is fraudulent in every material particular.

“Specifically, the said sum of N255m was not appropriated by the National Assembly while the officials of the NCAA who authorised the expenditure of the sum of N255m exceeded their approval limit.”

Falana’s firm knocked the minister for abuse of office and threatened to approach the court to compel EFCC to investigate.’’

N255m car scandal: Reps’ panel indicts Oduah, NCAA

November 7, 2013 by John Ameh, Fidelis Soriwei, Sunday Aborisade and Kamorudeen Ogundele











Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah
Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah


There were indications on Wednesday that the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation had established some infractions against the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The committee is investigating the controversial purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority allegedly for Oduah at a whopping N255m.

However, she testified before the committee, which is chaired by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and denied that the cars were bought for her use.

The panel ended its public hearing on the transaction on Monday.

Oduah was expected to appear before the Senate on Wednesday but could not because of the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Findings by The PUNCH indicated that the Onyejeocha –led committee might lay its report before the House on Thursday (today).

It was gathered that after deliberating on records before them, members of the panel had established some infractions against the minister and the NCAA.

Sources close to the committee confided in The PUNCH that “at least four issues are no longer disputable.”

According to findings, one of the issues is “extra-budgetary spending”, while the second is “approval beyond ministerial limit.”

It was learnt that the committee also established a case of “violation of public procurement procedures.”

Similarly, the panel confirmed that “indeed, N255m was spent to buy two bulletproof BMW cars and the use of waivers meant for EKO Games to import the cars.”

One of the sources told one of our correspondents that the committee tried to remain focused on its core mandate and not to veer off into other allegations that might have been levelled against the Ministry of Aviation.

The source said, “Some infractions have been established, no doubt.

“The recommendations of the committee will follow glaring issues that came up during the public hearing.

“For example, it has been established that while the National Assembly approved N240m for the NCAA to buy 25 vehicles this year, it spent over N643m to procure 54 vehicles.

“That is a case of extra-budgetary spending.

“We have heard the minister admitting that she acted on a proposal for lease financing of N564m.

“Whether she was not properly guided as she told the committee or not, what is clear is that the figure is above the N100m that a ministerial board can approve.

“What role did the Bureau of Public Procurement play in this transaction? No role at all; another infraction.

“The BPP came here to testify and they told us that there was no communication between them and the NCAA over the transaction.”

A member of the committee, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, confirmed that the report could be laid on Thursday(today).

“The report should be laid in plenary tomorrow (today). We are presenting it,” he stated.

Oduah however did not appear before the Senate on Wednesday as she sought a last-minute permission to attend the weekly FEC meeting.

Oduah had been summoned by the Senate to explain her roles in the October 3 plane crash in Lagos and her role in the purchase of the controversial bulletproof cars.

A source told one of our correspondents in Abuja that the minister sent “a last-minute letter to the Senate leadership on Tuesday evening, requesting another date because she needed tto attend the FEC meeting”

Our correspondent learnt that Oduah’s request was granted but was directed to appear on Thursday(today).

Immediately after the FEC meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, whisked the embattled minister off from the Presidential Villa.

Sensing that State House correspondents might be waiting to engage her on the car scandal, he quickly engaged her in a discussion as they walked to where the SGF parked his Sport Utility Vehicle .

From, there both of them were driven away through the Service Chiefs Gate.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has interrogated five top officials of the NCAA over the N255m car scandal.

A top official of the commission, who made this known, said the NCAA chiefs arrived at the commission’s office in Abuja at 2pm.

It was learnt that they were asked to write statements on their involvement in the scandal and thereafter asked a few questions.

The source, who did not want his name in print, said that the NCAA chiefs were allowed to go at about 4pm.

He said the commission would also look into some transactions by the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria.

The source said, “The commission interrogated a team from Coscharis Motors on Tuesday. We have quizzed five top officials of the NCAA.

“The commission is not stopping with the NCAA, our investigators will also interrogate some officials of FAAN.”

When contacted, the Head of Media of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the EFCC would also interrogate officials of some of the agencies in the aviation sector.

Oduah okayed purchase of N255m bulletproof cars – NCAA

October 25, 2013 by John Ameh, Olusola Fabiyi, Friday Olokor and Leke Baiyewu



The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that the Ministry of Aviation approved the controversial purchase of the N255m bulletproof cars for Ms Stella Oduah.

The Director of Aerodrome in the NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkem-Akonam, made this known during the committee’s public sitting in Abuja.

Nkem-Akonam, who handled the transaction as the acting managing director of the NCAA, had made spirited efforts to defend the purchase.

He told the committee members that since “Leased financing, not direct financing, was adopted to procure the vehicles,” the agency breached no law.

When asked if leased financing was not a commitment that the NCAA would still pay for the vehicles, he said it did not mean that it was extra-budgetary spending.

Facing a barrage of questions from the committee members, he later said the NCAA got approval from the Aviation ministry.

• BPE faults NCAA, says it wasn’t contacted

But, the Bureau for Public Procurement faulted him when it disputed the claim that the contract for the cars followed due process.

An official of the BPP, who represented the Director-General, Mr. Ayo Aderigbigbe, told the committee that no ministry had powers to approve any expenditure above N100m.

“A ministerial tenders board can approve expenditure of N100m and below, but if it is above N100m, it must go before the Federal Executive Council,” he explained.

The BPP official also surprised the committee members when he disclosed that the agency was never contacted by the NCAA over the car purchase.

He said, “We have nothing to forward to the committee on this matter. We have no information on the purchase of the two vehicles or the contract in question.”

The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Fola Akintuotu, had earlier told the committee that he was not in charge of affairs when the transaction took place.

He said he assumed duties on August 14, after the expenditure had been done.

But there was a mild drama when the committee asked him whether the earlier explanation of the minister’s aide (Joe Obi) that the cars were bought because the life of Oduah was in danger was correct.

“I can’t speak for the SA(Special Adviser) to the minister,” he responded.

Again, he was asked whether a minister was entitled to the type of protection the cars were meant to serve.

To this, he said, “I believe that is a hypothetical question and I cannot answer it.”

• Minister can’t cut short visit to Israel

Oduah, who had earlier been summoned by the committee to appear before it on Thursday, was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. George Ossi.

He explained that the minister could not attend the sitting because she was already in Israel when a letter inviting her reached the ministry.

According to him, the letter dated October 17, got to the ministry on October 22.

He said, “The minister had already left the country. She transmitted a scanned copy of her reply from Israel.

“She is leading the Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

“She cannot cut short her visit to Israel because they will most probably sign the BASA on Monday (next week).”

• N1bn committed to cars by NCAA

Fresh facts emerged during the committee’s sitting on how the NCAA made a commitment of “over N1bn” to procure vehicles for security and operational purposes this year without appropriation by the National Assembly.

The agency bought 54 vehicles for N643.1m under “Leased Financing” entered into with the First Bank Plc. These included the controversial N255m bulletproof cars.

The total budget approved by the National Assembly for NCAA’s vehicles this year is N240m.

The National Assembly’s figure (N240m) is for 25 vehicles, excluding the two bulletproof cars.

The Aviation committee, which worked on the budget of the agency, had rejected the NCAA’s request to buy the bulletproof cars.

The NCAA later side-tracked the National Assembly to seek the approval of the Ministry of Aviation to purchase the cars.

More revelations indicated that the NCAA applied to buy each of the bulletproof cars at N70m.

However, it later opted to pay N127.5m for each car, totalling N255m for the two.

This brought the “extra-budgetary” expenditure of the NCAA on vehicles this year to N643.1m.

The committee discovered that the N643.1m was a loan taken from the First Bank Plc and excluded interest, charges and other costs built into the terms of the agreement.

A member of the panel, Mr. Mohammed Wudil, said, “What has come to light is that, if you calculate and include all the charges, the NCAA has committed about N1bn of public funds to these vehicles.”

• 1999 Constitution breached—Panel

The committee, which is headed by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, said the “NCAA clearly committed an illegality and breached the 1999 Constitution by spending without appropriation by the National Assembly.”

The committee later ruled that Oduah must appear unfailingly on Tuesday.

“Our ruling is that the minister must be here on Tuesday,” Onyejeocha said. She directed the NCAA to also appear on Tuesday with all its bank statements.

• APC, TMG caution FG

The All Progressives Congress and the Transition Monitoring Group have warned against any attempt by spin doctors in the Ministry of Aviation to use politics as a cover-up for the car scandal.

In separate statements in Abuja on Thursday, the APC and the TMG asked the government to get to the root of the matter and penalise those involved in it.

The APC, in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was most unconscionable for anyone to blame the opposition for the widespread outcry against “the monumental corruption and abuse of office engendered by the scandal.”

Mohammed said the opposition, in particular, should not be blamed for the justifiable indignation of most Nigerians to the scandal, as “Yakubu Dati, who goes by the title of ‘coordinating spokesperson for the Aviation Ministry’ tried to do in his winding postulation on the scandal.”

He added, ‘’What Dati and his co-spin doctors tried to do is to play on President Goodluck Jonathan’s insecurity as far as 2015 elections are concerned.

“This is very insulting not only to Nigerians but also to the President himself, and it will not sell. After all, attempts to blame the opposition for the lingering ASUU strike has also failed.

“In any case, what is the business of a public servant, who is supposed to be apolitical, about whether a President is re-elected or not?”

Mohammed said Jonathan had again failed to live up to expectation by allowing clowns to seek to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians in the name of defending the indefensible.

He wondered why Jonathan would engage in a diversionary and exculpatory strategy of setting up a panel to investigate the scandal, when there were statutory bodies empowered by law to do so.

Mohammed said, ‘’There is precedent on how to handle such a matter. In case President Jonathan has forgotten, his then boss, President Umaru Yar’Adua(late), sacked Adenike Grange and Gabriel Aduku, Minister of Health and Minister of State for Health respectively, for spending part of the ministry’s unspent budget.

“The Permanent Secretary and other top officials of the ministry were also suspended when the issue broke out. No panel was set up before this action was taken.”

Also, the TMG said it was shocked at the shameful and embarrassing transaction and acquisition of the armoured cars for Oduah.

It said it was even more shocking that at a time like this when Nigerians had been calling on Jonathan to sanction the minister, he found it comfortable to make her a leading member of his entourage to Israel on pilgrimage.

The TMG, in a statement by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, and Publicity Secretary, Eddy Ezurike , said it was “not at all surprised at the rash response by the minister to the purported ‘query’ issued her by the President.”

It added, “Given our governance system, it may well be the person issuing the query is the same person providing answers.”

The TMG urged the anti-corruption agencies in the country to quickly investigate “this financial and executive recklessness” in the aviation sector

In Lagos, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders described the probe panel as diversionary.

The Executive Chairman, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that the panel was meant to divert the attention of Nigerians from the issue at stake.

He said, “The panel is just another attempt to sweep the scandal under the carpet. Nigerians now know better that the probe panel is a way to douse the heat that has followed the revelation of Oduah’s shenanigans in the Aviation sector.

“The panel itself is another way of wasting the scarce resources and man-hour that could have been deployed into doing something more meaningful. All these diversionary panels make a mess of President Jonathan’s purported fight against corruption.”

I Bought Armoured Cars Worth 255 Million Naira Because My Life Was In Danger, Says Aviation Minister

Posted by: daniel on October 17, 2013



Stella--Oduah-0310After an initial denial by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Datti that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, purchased two armoured BMW cars worth N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her spokesman has come out to explain that indeed, the cars were purchased for the minister.




According to her Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Joel Obi, threats to Ms Oduah’s life over reforms in the aviation sector and the general insecurity in the country, led the Ministry to purchase the automobiles which cost tax payers a whopping N127. 575 million each.

Mr. Obi affirmed that when the minister came on board with her reforms, which included reversing some concessions and agreements that were not in the interest of the people and government of Nigeria, “a lot of entrenched interests felt that they had been dislocated from the sector. The minister began to receive series of threats to her life, but because of the general lack of security in the land, she did not want to raise an alarm but kept it quiet and then decided to protect herself. So those vehicles were purchased in response to the general state of security in the land and the personal threats to her life because of the giant steps she has taken to reposition the sector.”

He further added that several times, the minister had been trailed and that there were clear and present dangers to her life but they were averted or neutralised.

On the huge sums expended on the vehicles, Mr. Obi argued that they were special purpose vehicles, even as he noted that they were bought in the name of the Minister of Aviation and not in the name of Stella Oduah.

“Normally, you don’t buy one utility vehicle but you buy two at a time because you must have a back-up for public officials. The level of exposure which came with her job warranted the purchase of the vehicles. As a private citizen, she never had these vehicles,” he added.

It would be recalled that an online news portal, Saharareporters, had first broke the news to the world when it claimed that it had obtained documents which showed the paper trail of the transaction involving Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), First Bank and Coscharis Motors.

But Mr. Datti, in his denial of the report said it was all “rumours” suggesting that it was even politically motivated.

“I don’t respond to rumours… [and] as we approach 2015, people are bound to make up all sorts of stories,” he was quoted as saying just as he argued further that “This is a woman (Mrs. Oduah), who is successful and established. A woman that made her mark in oil and gas, who owned trucks, barges, and so on. What is two cars?”

-LEADERSHIP

Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah Acquires $1.6 Million Bulletproof Vehicles | See the Interior & Exterior of the Car
Posted on Thursday, October 17th, 2013 at 4:03 PM
By BellaNaija.com


Stella Oduah's BMW Car - October 2013 - BellaNaija Exclusive014

That’s a lot of Benjamins for two rides.

The Ministry of Aviation has confirmed reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority purchased two bulletproof cars worth $ 1.6 Million - N 256,264,417 (256 Million Naira) – for the Nigerian Minister of Aviation,. Stella Oduah. Punch reports.

Sahara Reporters who was first to report the news claimed that it had documents in its possession that the transaction for the purchase of two black BMW 760 Li HSS cars began in June, but the request for the delivery and payment for the cars fast tracked between August 13 and 15 2013.

Joe Obi, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Media said in a telephone conversation with the Punch reporter that the cars were purchased for security reasons.


“Yes, it is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the honourable minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector.

When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of the concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria.

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 some imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles.

It should be noted that these vehicles are not personal vehicles and were not procured in the name of the honourable minister; they are utility vehicles and are for the office of the minister, and if she leaves the office, she will not be taking the vehicles along with her.” he said.

kettykin: The money for the Vehicle could have bee used to build more than 600 bungalows that would solve the perennial shortage of accommodation in Lagos but one man decided to waste that colossal amount to buy bullet proof cars that would secure only him , i don't judge him in anyway the people i really blame are the double mouthed Hypocrites like Femi Falana, Fani Kayode, Wole Soyinka who would shed crocodile tears over a little slip of another person but will not bat an eyelid over their own misfortune

Viewing this topic: bigboss80s(m), ba7man(m), banki(m), taharqa

(Go Up)

Idoma Likita: if deployed well, the tricycles could be put to good advantage!
Instead of Uniformed Men manning them, the NIS should give the Tricycles as Hire Purchase to Trusted Indigenes of Border Crossings with the Promise that every passenger ferried should be totally scrutinised and profiled for any hint of terrorist activity.
This Men should be paid Stipends and Appropriate Oversight should be Initiated!
Within months, Terrorist Activities would Reduce!
NB: 80%
of all Tricycle Operatives in Bangkok are Intelligence Officers!

The police in Ogun State have arrested a 37-year-old man, Kayode Olubunmi, for allegedly flogging his cousin to death on Christmas Day.
Olubunmi was said to have allegedly flogged 20-year-old Haruna Adeoye to death for eating up a bowl of cooked rice earlier given to him (Olubunmi) by a friend.

Ucheosefoh: u are laughing what else did have to other than laugh like mumu