fire!

Worshippers, who did not wear facemasks were on Friday prevented from entering the Jos Central Mosque to observe their Jumma’at prayers, Daily Trust reports.

Our correspondent reports that worshippers who wore facemasks were allowed entrance into the mosque but those without the facemasks observed their prayers outside the mosque.

*Kaduna markets, worship centres remain closed
*We may close worship centres again, FG warns

Our correspondent observed that there was proper social distancing among worshippers during the prayer session.

Earlier on Thursday, the mosque issued guidelines on how Friday service would be conducted, including the use of facemasks by all worshippers who must pray inside the Mosque.

Daily Trust reports that the Jumma’at prayer is the first since April when the state government closed down all worship centres across the state.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/worshippers-without-facemasks-prevented-from-entering-jos-central-mosque.html

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned Wednesday’s attack in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which claimed nine lives, saying the killings in the area were an indication that governments are failing the people.

The ACF in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, reminded local, state and federal governments that their primary responsibility as stated in the country’s constitution is to protect life and property.

* We’ve made arrests over Kajuru killings – Kaduna Police

It stated that the forum was alarmed with reports of yet another attack in Kajuru by armed bandits, adding that, “of recent, there have been repeated attacks on the people living in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The most recent attack left nine people in Angwan Tudu area of the LG dead on Wednesday, 3rd June, 2020.”

“This waste of life is uncalled for, and we condemn it without reservation.

The Kajuru community has lived together from time immemorial, and we do not see any reason why they should start killing themselves as they have been doing in the recent past.”

The forum called on Kajuru traditional and religious leaders to call their people to order, while urging security men to act swiftly by apprehending the murderers and bringing them to book.

“They should also increase surveillance in the area to preempt such attacks in the future,” the ACF further said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kajuru-violence-nigerian-govt-is-failing-the-people-acf.html

Colonel Anthony Nyiam (Rtd.) is one of the few surviving men among those who staged the late Major Gideon Orkar-led coup against the regime of a former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd.) in 1990.

In this interview, Nyiam, who hails from Boki in Cross River State, assesses the promises made by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government on national security.

The current APC government had made security as one of its cardinal campaign promises. How would you assess the Buhari led government in terms of security after five years in office?

I wouldn’t want to be political in responding to this question as it concerns national security. Therefore the question to address is, how much of those campaign promises made to Nigerians by the APC led government have been fulfilled after five years into office? I am afraid that in terms of speaking truth to the power that be, General Muhammadu Buhari is yet to keep his promise on security. As a General and Commander-in-Chief he has failed to fulfil the promise to secure every part of the country. For instance, when the innocent farming communities relied on Buhari’s promises, they were seriously disappointed such that his key supporter and, indeed mentor, General T. Y. Danjuma called on those being repeatedly attacked by AK 47 bearing mercenaries to resort to self – defence. Such is the sorry state of our national security under Buhari’s watch.

What would you identify as the major security challenges faced by Buhari led government and your take on its approach in tackling them?

Your question seems to imply that national security is about the only security challenge faced by the government. National Security includes the important aspects of the people’s security such as human security, the security of right to education, diseases prevention and control, national economic security. Some of the security challenges in my view stem from; political leadership failures arising from the lack of sincerity of purpose and political will on the part of leadership, and conflict of interest. An example is Buhari’s nepotistic approaches to the appointments of armed forces and other national security service chiefs; the extension of playing partisan politics even into the areas of national security. Also the absence of a functional Higher Command Structure, not to mention The Highest Command or Grand Strategic Level of the management of defence, and other national security crises. This is so much so that PMB is often dithering to the dangerous extent that reminds one of the reasons why “an army of sheep commanded by a lion defeats an army of lions led by a sheep.” There is also the extremely mutual distrust between the far northern Nigerian rulers, on the one side; and the leaders of the Middle Belt, South West, South-South and South East, on the other side. The distrust remains a wide-open door through which those who do not wish Nigeria well might enter and cause harm to the generality of Nigerians.

What’s your take on the welfare and conditions of officers and men of the Security Services with respect to boosting their commitment towards fighting the National Insecurity under the current government?

The welfare and conditions of officers and men of the Armed Forces, and the other National Security Services, have, for years been yearning for improvement. One must confess that General Muhammadu Buhari has (as the C-in-C) has done a lot. The problems often come from some members of his kitchen cabinet who are preventing him from knowing the extent of corruption going on, in the name of fighting the North-East War. Hence, there is a need for the equivalence of Economic and Financial Fraud Commission (EFFC) to always monitor the processes of arms, and other national security equipment procurement. We may need to emulate the United States of America establishment of the Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces. The Inspector General of the armed forces has the training and skills for auditing financial transactions going on in the Ministry of Defence and ensuring that procurement processes are subjected to standard operating procedures. Also the C-in-C’s continuous retention of the armed forces chiefs stagnates the careers of the other senior officers and junior officers who need to grow up in the profession. This is a major cause of low morale. President Buhari has been prevented from doing what is necessary by those who are financially benefitting from the attendant scam. Lest we forget, most of the service Chiefs’ tenures have far exceeded their services run out dates (ROD) which is the mandatory 35 years of military service, and the additional discretionary extensions which are generally time bound.

In terms of manpower and equipment, would you say that the security services have fared better in the past 5 years?

There has been very little improvement of the levels of manpower. And when this happens, the additional employment has been tailored to favor PMB’s tribe people. That’s the simple truth. On the Nigerian Army force levels I have repeatedly demonstrated that the Nigerian Army Is, in terms of strength, only so in name. The Nigerian State hasn’t a full fledge field Army formation. A full fledge field army is universally made up, of 9 field divisions. By field formations we are referring to the military units that go into combat immediately they are so required. The Nigerian Army does not have up to 6 field divisions. We need to distinguish army divisions with responsibility for garrison functions from the battle field ready divisions. Whilst Nigeria has no more than 6 battle field ready divisions, Egypt with less than half of Nigerian population and gross domestic product (GDP) has nothing less than 27 field divisions. There are about one million Egyptian soldiers in a country of less than 100 million people. A comparison of this to Nigeria with less than 150,000 soldiers defending a national population of over 200 million shows clearly that we have not begun. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that there is so much insecurity in the land.

The APC had also pledged to liaise with the states to create community policing do you see a comment in this regard?

The much ado about one of the ways of bringing about effective policing, called ‘’Community Policing, is simply a deliberate and disguised mischief. The suspects of mischief here are traceable to the ranks of beneficiaries from the anomaly of having only a centralized Nigerian Police Force in a nation state that is supposed to be a federation. Policing is a state matter in most successfully governed federal system of government. For clarification, it needs to be known that whilst the word ‘Policing’ is a verb, the word ‘Police’ is a noun. The difference is in the fact that, for instance, ‘policing’ is a way of enforcing law and order in a community, while a police formation is a means of upholding the law. It should have become obvious from a proper usage of the terminologies, that no government can create “Community Policing”, as implied in your question. It’s high time the Federal Government realizes that State Police or local government or regional police, is inevitable. The benefits of having locally recruited police officers, and a Police Service that is primarily accountable to the locals it serves, are innumerable.

On a scale of 1 to 10 what score would you give to Buhari led government in the last five years in terms of its campaign promises of securing the country?

It is an open secret that President Muhammadu Buhari had, for some time now, been on, and off, what we in the army describe as “sick-leave”. For this and for the fact that the C-in-C suffers from short attention span discomfort, I would on compassionate grounds be excusing him from this modest performance evaluation report (PER). I would instead evaluate the one who has surreptitiously arrogated himself the position of the ‘Authority’ on National Security, and a behind the scene but within the villa operator. However, by virtue of the artful dodger’s interferences having never amounted to much, but the making of money for himself and his cohorts, I would score this covert operator a maximum of 2 out of 10, on the subject of National Security delivery.

As the Buhari led government marks yet another anniversary, what would you proffer as the way forward?

I look forward for the formation of a dedicated and permanent National Security Threats Assessment Group (TAG) that produces comprehensive weekly, and quarterly, reports to the President and the National Security Council (NSC). I also advocate for the Presidential Villa’s in-house National Security Situation Room to be managed, preferably, by a two-star Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the C-in-C. The proposed position could be equivalent to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the President. Also there is the need for a dedicated “National Security Threats and Crisis Management Team” that is well informed by the proposed Threats Assessment group (TAG). Members of the crisis management team can carry out their brain storming sessions in the Aso Rock In-house National Security Situation Room. There is also need for well researched studies to back up Defense, and National Security, policy makers. Officials charged with National Security Strategy designs do need to go beyond Government own research institutions, to partner with appropriate Independent Think-Tank or Research Institute’s resource persons. This is one way of coming up with the most useful policy options for the President or his Ministers. The low morale of the officers, senior non-commissioned officers (SNOS), and the other ranks, arising from PMB regime’s style of appointments, posting, promotion, retirements and dismissal of officers and soldiers should also be addressed. Also to be looked into is the demoralizing impact on officers, and soldiers, who are posted to the war front to combat the Boko Haram insurgents that are better, armed and kitted.

Inter-Services Rivalry, especially between the army, and the air force, chiefs also needs to be examined. There is, therefore, the need for appointing a Chief of Joint (Armed Forces) Operations to head a statutorily established Joint (Armed Forces) Operations Command. The purpose shall be to give a clear point of responsibility to the so appointed three-star General. Finally, the number of manpower committed to the defence, and the homeland security of Nigeria, is insignificant; especially when seen in the context of the about 200 million people in Nigeria that need to be secure and safe. It is indeed, a shame that a country with such a heavy population, and large land-territory, has less than 150,000 soldiers for its defence.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-yet-to-fulfil-promises-on-national-security-col-nyiam.html

bad news

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday recorded 387 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, which increased the number of infections in the country to 9,302- out of which 2,679 cases have been treated and discharged with 261 losing their lives. NCDC on its official twitter handle said the new cases were spread across 13 states and the FCT, with Lagos accounting for the highest number of infections with 254 cases.

NCDC said that the new cases were reported in Lagos (254), FCT (29), Jigawa (24), Edo (22), Oyo (15), Rivers (14), Kaduna (11), Borno (6), Kano (3), Plateau (2), Yobe (2), Gombe (2), Bauchi (2) and Ondo (1). The country also recorded two deaths from the virus on Friday.

NCDC had said that while most of those who died were associated with co-morbidities, it found out that three out of four of those who had been discharged were without co-morbidities.

“This is consistent with the fact that risks are higher for those with other illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and other chronic non-communicable diseases. “There is general reduction in mortality trend and continuous improvement in recoveries as shown in discharges compared to the increase in number of confirmed cases. “Though not surprising, we are concerned about the increasing number of confirmed cases.

“This is because very high cases could seriously exceed the capacity of our health system to cope. “Routine cases may also suffer as a result,” it stated. NCDC said that after the COVID-19 test result had been communicated to effected persons, they should continue to adhere to preventive measures and guidelines. “If you test positive, please do not panic. “You will be transferred to an isolation centre for your health and that of those around you,” it said.

The agency said that majority of COVID-19 patients would show mild symptoms and recover. “The current national case management protocol is for all cases to be managed by a team of clinicians in an isolation centre to ensure optimal care and to prevent further spread of the disease,” it said.

Data from about 58,726 test on the coronavirus pandemic in the country, shows that of the confirmed cases, 68 per cent were males and 32 per cent were females. The most affected aged groups were between 31 and 40, making up 25 per cent of the total number of confirmed cases.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lagos-records-254-new-cases-of-covid-19-as-nigerias-confirmed-cases-near-10000.html

Preliminary findings from investigation carried out by the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has revealed that illegal abortion by unqualified medical practitioners has killed 200 women in Bauchi, as well as the cause of mysterious deaths in Azare and other local government areas in the northern part of the state.

The Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, who disclosed this yesterday at an interactive session organized by the Bauchi State Public Health Media Network, said the investigation had not been concluded on the development, but preliminary findings had revealed that the number of such deaths was about 200, adding that the number could be more at the end of the investigation.

Mohammed said the deaths resulted from unwanted and unplanned pregnancies by both married and unmarried women of childbearing ages who after becoming pregnant visited quack health workers to terminate the pregnancies.

He said the lack of understanding of the importance of child spacing as well as ignorance of what to do with such pregnancy had become a major problem to family health in the state.

He emphasized the need for adequate sex education for the girl-child by parents, particularly mothers, to reduce unwanted pregnancies, thereby reducing deaths from complications.

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/illegal-abortions-responsible-for-mysterious-deaths-in-azare-bauchi-govt.html

m

The Federal Government says with the bold and courageous leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria is marching surely and steadily to join the comity of great nations.

Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed said this in Abuja on Friday at a press conference to mark the first anniversary of the second term of the President Buhari administration. The minister, however, noted that “Change is never easy, and the birth of a new nation comes with pains.”

He said the federal government thanked Nigerians for their support and perseverance, reassuring them of its unrelenting commitment to making life more meaningful for them. Mohammed reeled out achievements of the present administration in major sectors of the economy, saying the president “is taking Nigeria to the next level of irreversible change for the better.”

Buhari He said though the COVID-19 pandemic might have briefly slowed down activities in the infrastructural sector, “work is set to resume in over 50 major infrastructure projects spread across 26 states. He listed the projects as including the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano Expressway, the Owerri Interchange, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway.

He said similarly, all was set for the commencement of road repairs in 92 locations across 24 states by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency. “Work has also continued on the laying of rail tracks on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge rail line, which has already commenced test-run,” he added.

According to him, as the second year of the second and last tenure of Buhari begins, the stage is set for the implementation of “the greatest agricultural revolution in the history of Nigeria.

“The unprecedented recent approval by the Buhari administration to inject $1.2billion in in-kind loan into the agriculture sector through the government-to-government bilateral loan from Brazil, with support from Deutsche Bank and the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Export Credit of the Islamic Development Bank, will revolutionize our agriculture at scale. “Together with the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, we will be briefing Nigerians on this project in the days ahead.”

On the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted that but for the right reaction by the administration, the situation could have been worse.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/may-29-birth-of-a-new-nation-comes-with-pains-fg.html

The management and distribution of palliatives to businesses and poor Nigerians, has been implemented across the country as fairly as possible. Mr. Laolu Akande, the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, made this assertion in Abuja on Thursday while speaking on a popular interactive radio programme tagged “Have Your Say”.

He also revealed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has constantly maintained a proper interaction with Nigerians in the implementation of its policies. According to him: “Let me say categorically that there is no such thing as selective sharing of palliatives by government, there is no such thing.

“The issue of the conditional cash transfers were also done fairly, we have the facts of this. We are targeting specific category of people – the poorest of the poor and that is why Mr President directed that he wants to do one million more households and that is in progress across the country.”

Continuing on the distribution of palliatives, Mr Akande noted that, “I want to assure Nigerians that everyone that is deserving of palliatives and have been targeted will be reached, if they have not been reached as at now, whether it is MSMEs or the poor people, it is the desire and plan of government that at a time such as this, people get the help that they need.

“A lot of what the Federal Government has been doing, working with the states has been to empower the MSMEs.” He added that the masses are being properly served through the numerous government programmes which remain a key strategy of the Buhari administration.

Speaking on how important feedback is to the administration, Mr. Akande said: “the whole idea of our partnership with FRCN to do this programme is what actually happened to Mr Alhassan. It is to bring governance to the people, and ensure that there is a constant interaction where we have feedback.

“To have ministers and heads of government agencies to come and speak to Nigerians, it was during one of such interactions on this programme that the FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, intervened to resolve a complaint that was brought to her attention. That is the real reason why we have this programme to encourage Nigerians to bring to us whatever feedback they have.”

Speaking on the synergy between the states through National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Government, in the reopening of the economy, the VP spokesman said efforts are underway to ensure a smooth reopening of the economy. He said: “The attempt is to ensure that going forward we can improve on coordination and synergy between what the Federal Government is doing and what the respective sub-nationals are also in terms of how to reopen the economy.

“NEC at its last meeting felt that the federation can do better if there is an official mechanism, an ongoing one that will be working with the Presidential Task Force that handles the Federal Government’s aspect of the COVID-19 response, particularly with the issue of reopening the economy.

“So, a group of Governors were picked from the various geo-political zones to ensure that whatever the Federal Government was doing, the states are aware and whatever the State governments plan to do, the Federal Government is aware and everybody work together.” He, however, noted that a lot of caution is being taken in handling the issue of reopening the economy.

“This is something that has to be done with a lot of care and this is the stage where we are, the Presidential Task Force working with the governors, just to ensure that we do it right and put in the necessary precautions because safety must come first – wearing of the face masks, social distancing, washing of hands,” the VP spokesperson offered.

Mr. Akande added that the President and Vice President have adapted to the changes in programmes and activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that both leaders have held several virtual meetings and interactions with different stakeholders since the lockdown began.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/distribution-of-palliatives-fair-not-selective-akande.html

Your opinion

Allow God to take control

Nice one...old pictures

Millions of Nigerians heralded his ascension to the presidency in 2015 as the coming of the Messiah.

It was all due to his reputation as the iron fisted military ruler 30 years earlier, known for a Spartan lifestyle, over concerned about societal discipline, who withstood a military putsch by his colleagues plus three years in detention, only to become the Nigerian political leader with the largest personal following since the First Republic, withstand the traps and inconveniences of being opposition leader for 13 years, and finally achieved the feat of defeating an incumbent Federal administration for the first time in Nigeria’a history.

From that point however, the glorious narrative ran into stormy weather like the Titanic in the icy North Atlantic gales. He has not yet hit the iceberg, but he has a lot of adroit renavigation to do. In five years as President, the widely anticipated Buhari magic did not quite go according to plan. For one, the political conditions are very different from his days as a military ruler. That time he was young, idealistic and tough as a door nail. He ruled by decrees that could supercede the Constitution and oust the jurisdiction of courts.

He could handpick and appoint ministers and state governors. He was assisted only by a 22-member Supreme Military Council. As civilian President however, Buhari found himself hobbled by a Constitution, by a fractious political party most of whose members do not share his vision, by an aggressive opposition that he cannot tame, by an assertive National Assembly and an even more assertive Judiciary, by independently elected state governors, by a transformed Nigerian economy and society in which the private sector is a much bigger player, and by a Vice President that he hardly knew. Yemi Osinbajo is a prickly lawyer, priest and university don a world apart from Major General Tunde Idiagbon.

Late General Tunde Idiagbon In the event, Buhari unfolded a leadership style that Nigerians did not expect. He kicked off his presidency with a mysterious Inaugural promise to belong to everybody and to nobody. It was not long before commentators said he belonged to a small cabal of associates.

Although every president since Shehu Shagari had been accused of being surrounded by overbearing and often unscrupulous aides, none was accused as much as Buhari of having a cabal around him. Unlike in 1984-85 when he arrested politicians en masse, made appointments, sacked officials, rolled out policies and enacted decrees with rapid fire regularity, Buhari quickly came to be known in 2015 for slow decision making. It took him three months to appoint an SGF and a Chief of Staff, three months to appoint military and security chiefs and nearly six months to appoint ministers.

He spent many months taking briefings from permanent secretaries. Many public corporations and agencies went without boards for years. It took two years to appoint ambassadors, and dozens of executive agency headships remained vacant for years. There was a slight improvement when he was reelected in 2019, but nothing of the kind that we see in the US, of cabinet secretaries and key officials nominated even before inauguration.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/five-years-of-buhari-a-style-and-record-all-his-own.html

Sokoto State Government, on Wednesday, said there was no time it received any report of Nigerien forces ‘straying’ into the state under the guise of coming to salvage the people of Nigeria from armed bandits.

The senator representing Sokoto East, Ibrahim Gobir, was recently reported to have said that the situation of bandits attacks in his state had gone bad that the people now get help from Nigerian Soldiers. But communities in Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas of Sokoto State have refuted the claim that soldiers from the Niger Republic have been the ones salvaging them from bandits’ attack, a statement signed by Muhammad Bello, the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to Governor Aminu Tambuwal disclosed.

Bello said the community leaders dismissed the claim when Governor Tambuwal led a delegation of the security chiefs in the state to the area. “Corroborating what they said, Gov. Tambuwal said that he personally confirmed the spuriousness of the claim after consulting a broad spectrum of stakeholders from the area and the security chiefs in the state,” he stated.

He said the governor stressed the need for leaders of Isa and Sabon Birni areas and also that of the entire state not to play politics with the matters of security, health and development. This is just as it disclosed plans by the federal government to establish a new mobile police squadron in the area to nip in the bud activities of the bandits.

According to him: “A proactive partnership between the state government and that of the federal is in top gear as the latter plans the establishment of a mobile police squadron base in the beleaguered areas of Isa and Sabon Birni local government.” The governor commiserated with the people of the area on the recent killings and kidnappings by bandits.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-report-of-nigerien-soldiers-saving-sokoto-people-gov-tambuwal.html

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has expressed displeasure over the recent unfortunate disclosure of unauthorized official documents in the social media. She said on Monday in Abuja that those caught will be dismissed from the service. She lamented that those official documents being exposed, in some cases, are correspondence minuted on.

According to her, the development is embarrassing to the government and therefore not acceptable. A statement on Monday in Abuja and signed by the Director, Information, HOS, Mrs. Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, said this is contained in a circular issued by the HOS on 22nd May 2020. “Such irresponsible and reckless action is an act of serious misconduct with a penalty of dismissal from service as provided in Public Service Rules (PSR) Nos. 030401 and 030402,” she said.

She added that henceforth any public officer caught engaging in this act of serious misconduct will be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the PSR. Dr. Yemi-Esan, therefore, directed Permanent Secretaries to draw the attention of their staff to the content of the circular and the consequences of breaking the rules.

Recently, a copy of a speech delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic was reportedly leaked on social media, with the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, later confirming that the person responsible for the leak had been identified.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/civil-servants-risk-dismissal-over-unauthorized-circulation-of-official-information.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says professional competence, adherence to the principle of transparency and accountability informed the recent top management appointment executed in the first week of March. Dr Kennie Obateru, the spokesman for the corporation made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the corporation in March disengaged some of its staff and appointed new top management staff. The appointments elicited criticisms from some Nigerians and some Niger Delta leaders.

Obateru explained that the principle of federal character was also a factor in the progression of the newly appointees. He said many top management officers of the corporation were moved to new positions, while some were promoted based on their verifiable track records of performance.

“Some Chief Operating Officers, Group General Managers and Managing Directors of subsidiaries were affected in what some industry analysts described as the most objective placement exercise in the recent history of the National Oil Company. Topping the list of the changes, he said, was the re-deployment of the erstwhile Chief Operating Officer (COO), Upstream, Mr Roland Ewubare, to the Ventures and Business Development Directorate as COO. He said that under the arrangement, Ewubare, got an additional responsibility of business development, besides managing the group’s ventures.

NNPC spokesman said Ewubare’s position as COO Upstream was taken over by Mr Adeyemi Adetunji, erstwhile Chief Operating Officer in charge of Downstream directorate. He noted that Adetunji was a first-class Mechanical Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos and started his over 30 years career as a maintenance Engineer and later a project Engineer in Lever Brothers Nigeria Limited (Unilever).

Obateru said that the recent top management appointment also received affirmative action with the re-deployment of Ms Lawrencia Ndupu to the Downstream. He said that Ndupu was a Physicists and renowned explorationist and started her working career in NNPC in January 1986, adding that through the years, she has held many key positions.

Obateru added that Mr Bala Wunti, the erstwhile Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company was appointed as the new GGM of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS). “With a chain of experience spanning close to 30 years, Wunti who hailed from the North East, was the initiator of ‘Operation White,’ a system put in place to promote transparency and accountability in the distribution of petroleum products across the country. “The list also included Mr Lawal Sade as the new Managing Director of the NNPC Trading Company, a subsidiary of corporation.

“ Before then he was the MD of NIDAS, a shipping arm of the NNPC. Mr. Sade had been essentially a marketer in the last 20 years with impressive outcomes.” Obateru stated that the exercise kept in place Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, from the South-South, as Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing, a highly strategic position in the corporation.

The NNPC spokesperson explained that the new appointments depicted a leadership of the corporation determined on ensuring placement of square pegs in square holes. He said this was done while not losing sight of geographical spread, in respect of staffing. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nnpc-says-top-management-appointments-on-merit.html

Run away soldier! i will not take serious again!

Farming without input and modern farm tools? you are joking!

More than three months after inauguration as the governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri is yet to appoint commissioners. Gov. Diri marked his first hundred days in office yesterday after being inaugurated as the fifth executive governor of the state on February 14, 2020, after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Chief David Lyon of the APC due to his running mate’s certificate scandal.

Our correspondent reports that some of the commissioners who served under the immediate past Governor, Seriake Dickson, are still serving in their capacities under Diri’s government. For instance, Dickson’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, is still serving in the ministry with the new nomenclature of technical assistant to the governor on finance, Dickson’s Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Buma Sparow-Jack, is also still functioning in his office with the new nomenclature, technical assistant on security, among others. A civil rights activist, David West, queried the accuracy of the 2020 budget presented by the governor to the House of Assembly last month when there were no commissioners to prepare or defend the budget before the assembly.

The acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Alabrah, during a programme: “Democratic Watch” in a state-based radio, appealed to Bayelsans who were calling for the governor to form cabinet to be patient as the pronouncement would be made soon.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/100-days-after-gov-diri-yet-to-form-cabinet.html

* I never worked against project – Mohammed

* ‘Sacked official yet to receive letter’

The former Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Gur Mohammed, was sacked over the $2 billion (about N781bn) Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), Daily Trust gathered.

The document approving the sack, which was obtained by our reporter was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari. Mohammed was removed last week and replaced by Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, as the acting MD of TCN. The Minister of Power, Engineer Sale

Mamman, who got approval for the shakeup, was also empowered by the presidency to immediately nominate members of the TCN board and management team. The removal has generated a lot of controversy with a group staging protest. TCN has been without a board since 2014.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan approved a 17-member board under the chairmanship of late Engr. Haman Tukur in August 2013. Tukur and his team were inaugurated in September 2013, but he resigned as the board chairman in January 2014, in protest about the crisis that engulfed the power sector, particularly about the failure of the N3.85bn Manitoba Hydro International management contract for TCN.

No letters from SGF to affected persons But nearly one week after the minister of power removed Usman Mohammed as MD of TCN and installed Sule Abdulaziz, in acting capacity, none of them has been given a letter to that effect. Our reporters learnt that the SGF issued the respective letters, but sources close to the affected persons said no such letters had been issued to them to indicate the removal and subsequent appointment.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the ousted TCN boss said, “I have not received any letter to that effect and even the minister has not even called me to convey the removal.” An official at TCN who confirmed this, said the MD’s office lock had been changed and that the former MD could not remove his belongings as he was forced out while the acting MD was escorted into the office by security agents to assume duty.

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tcn-boss-fired-over-n781bn-siemens-power-deal.html

Photo: Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed is the sacked Managing Director/CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

Noise makers

Amen

Blitz4real:
Na just time e go take, last last everything go dey alright

Chai! this man no wish our country well

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Yusuf Buratai, on Sunday, said the Nigerian troops have killed 1,015 Boko Haram?ISWAP terrorists in the ongoing operation in Nigeria’s Northeast region which started on 12 April – about six weeks ago.

Buratai made this disclosure during a luncheon organised for the troops of “Operations Lafiya Dole” in Maiduguri on Sunday. He also said a total of 84 high ranking members of Boko Haram logistics and informants were arrested within the same time frame.

“We have put concerted efforts against BHTs and ISWAP,” he said, adding that:”We have severely dealth with the BH terrorists and ISWAP. “We have successful displaced major camps of the BHTs.

“We have killed 1015 terrorists and ISWAP in the ongoing operation in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state respectively. “We have also arrested 84 BHTs logistics and information suppliers in the ongoing operation which started 12 April, 2020,” COAS said.

He appreciated the efforts of the Nigeria Air Force, Navy, Police Force, Department of State Services, Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and hunters for the resounding success against the terrorists.

Earlier in the day, the Military had said it killed a total of 35 Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) and ISWAP criminals at several attacks encountered in Borno State between 11th and 22nd May this year.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigerian-troops-kill-over-1000-boko-haram-iswap-terrorists-in-six-weeks-coas.html

hmmm

Wasting of resources and time