₦airaland Forum

naijaking1:
If suicide bombing becomes the vogue in Nigeria, maybe Nigerians ought to adopt appropriate methods of punishing the bombers even after they have died.
We should borrow a leaf from Israel: Once a bomber has been identified, instead of waiting for his kit and kin to call him a mythr, the government should go after every member of their family, bulldoze their house, freeze their bank account.
All these are done publicly to disuade potential bombers, and ensure that the family doesn't benefit one kobo from their wards cowardly act.

In Nigeria, this could be modified to include leveling the house of the emir of the town where that individual was raised, jailing his islamic teacher or teachers, and forcing the family to pay compensation to the familes of the affected.

Kobojunkie:
^^^ I don't think it is useless research at all. I think people need to be made to understand that some of the socializing they engage in on the net may actually be more harmful than they think. There are those who are constantly logged on to facebook and are willing to tell you that there lives are better for it. Yet when you observe their behaviour over time, you realize that they may really be in denial. Just take the internet away from one of those, for even a day, and man . . . .  demon go show up. ROFLMAO!!

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152807:foreign-firms-take-43-percent-of-nigerias-oil-revenue&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

Written by Abdul-Rahman Abubakar Friday, 20 January 2012 05:00

International Oil Companies (IOCs) receive a share of 43 percent of Nigeria’s crude oil production per day, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told the House of Representatives Committee probing the fuel subsidy regime yesterday.
Speaking when she appeared before the Rep. Farouk Lawan-led panel, the minister said it was wrong to equate government revenue by total crude production as it gets only about 57 percent while the oil majors take the balance.

According to her, “it is wrong to just do arithmetic by the crude oil production per day by the price and then say this is the revenue that government receives. We have joint venture agreements. Our percentage of the production has come down from 60 percent now to 57 percent and people should know this.”

She said the oil companies in joint venture agreement with the country deduct their share from source, saying “they even deduct their share before they get to us. We have to meet the joint venture agreement.”

With an oil production of 2.5 million barrels per day at $113 per barrel, the oil majors will receive over N18 billion from sale of crude per day while Nigeria receives about N25 billion per day.

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152794:boko-haram-arewa-youth-leader-urges-national-conference&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

Written by Yemi Bamidele, Ibadan Friday, 20 January 2012 05:00

National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima has called for a sovereign national conference to address the Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday at an interfaith symposium organised by the Shafaudeen in Islam Fidunya Wal’akhirat in collaboration with the Centre for Religious Tolerance and Cooperation, Shettima said, “Call it sovereign national conference, national dialogue or constitutional conference, we need to sit down together urgently to prevent Nigeria from crashing.

“We need a national conference that would make the centre less attractive and focus more on the empowerment of the local and state governments to ensure rapid transformation of the grassroots”, he stressed.

On the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country, Shettima said “no religion allows killing. Peace cannot be achieved without justice and equity.

Shettima, who regretted that the sect had been “hijacked by political rivals as against the original principles of its late leader, Malam Yusuf”, urged the Federal Government to curb the excesses of the sect.

Also speaking, the founder of the Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Professor Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke enjoined Nigerians to always be security conscious and “guard the gains of democracy jealously.”

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152834:breaking-news-bok-haram-claims-responsibility-for-kano-attacks&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8
Written by Auwal Umar, Hisham Habib & Sadeeq Aliyu, Kano; Hassan Abdul, Ronald Mutum; Hamza idris, Maiduguri Friday, 20 January 2012 18:01

The Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, known popularly as the 'boko haram', have claimed responsibility for the multiple attacks on formations of security agencies across Kano state.

Speaking by phone, spokesman for the group, Abul Qaqa, claimed that the attacks were in response to the refusal of the Kano state government to release some of their members who had been arrested in the state.

He said they were forced to resort to the attacks after an open letter they had sent late in 2011 to the Governor of Kano state, Mal. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero had gone unheeded.

Daily Trust earlier confirmed that the attack at the Zone 1 Police headquarters was carried out by a suicide bomber driving a Honda Civic.

The bomber had succeeded in breaking through the gates of the building and rammed the car into the wall of a vocational centre in which wives of Police officer learn sewing.

The building is adjacent to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1. It was completely destroyed. According to one of the victims, he saw at least 3 dead bodies lying around.

At least 30 others suffering from varying degrees of injuries have been taken to different hospitals across the state. The whole area has been cordoned off.

Gunmen also stormed the headquarters of the State Police Command in Bompai and engaged the policemen there in a drawn out gun duel. Casualty figures are not yet known.

A second blast is said to have gone off at the SSS headquarters after a first blast caused the security agents to cordon off the immediate vicinity of their office.

There have also been reports of an explosion at a motor park along New Road in Sabon Gari area and another Police station at Yar'akwa along Zaria road.
This adds to the number of explosions and gun attacks which have been rocking the city this evening.

Earlier Daily Trust had reported the attacks on the Immigrations office at Farm Centre and the first and second explosions at the SSS headquarters along Sardauna Crescent.

Casualty figures from these sites are not yet known.

At the SSS headquarters, it is claimed that one of the attackers was killed and a second arrested in an earlier attack.

Other sources report more explosions and our reporters on the ground are compiling all confirmed locations.

According to an orange seller who was selling oranges close to the Immigration office when the attack on that office started, the attackers were two in number.

"I was peeling my oranges when all of a sudden two men walked to the building and began shooting at the immigration personnel there. I saw at least three of them fall before I ran for cover," he narrated.

It was after the shooting that the explosions began, he said.

According to our reporter, there was mayhem around Farm Centre at present with people running for safety and several car accidents resulting from the commotion.

A resident in Tarauni described a very thick dark cloud of smoke in the sky visible from his location to our reporter, most likely coming from the explosion at Yar'Akwa Police station, Zaria road.

Beaf:
Nothing bold can be expected from cowards, fork-tongued false prophets, and evil exploiters of the weak and poor in the name of tithes.
Bakare should keep to making "prophesies" that he himself contradicts like a clown.

[url]http://thestreetjournal.org/2012/01/the-rot-in-nigeria%E2%80%99s-petroleum-sector-how-marketers-swindle-the-federal-government/[/url]

By NewsAdmin on January 20, 2012


Though the battle for the reversal of the pump price of petrol to N 65 per litre has been won and lost, the resultant effects still linger on. With the commencement of the probe into the removal of the subsidy on petrol, many Nigerians expect heads to start rolling soon.

Street Journal’s investigations revealed that the fraud being perpetrated in Nigeria’s oil sector defies competent description. The whole structure has been eroded by corruption thereby leaving the Government at the mercy of corrupt marketers, fraudulent staff and even not so clean government officials.

Incidentally, many of those behind these shady moves that set the Federal Government back by billions of Naira on a daily basis are friends of the ruling class- some have even received national honours.

Street Journal’s investigation revealed that the Chief Executives of some the companies involved in the fuel subsidy scam that blew open recently own companies outside the country. They are the ones that obtain PFI (Pro Forma Invoice) for such companies to import petrol into Nigeria. As it is almost always the case, they build up margins in the PFI for onward importation of products. That way, it is ensured that both the company here and the one abroad make money.

It was discovered that one of the companies that has become a name in Nigeria’s oil circles, Fineshade Energy Inc. is owned by billionaire business mogul, Femi Otedola whose other company, Zenon bought AP over.  Running checks on the company, it was found out that the company situated in the United Kingdom claims it has annual revenue of $ 158, 472 while the staff strength was put at 2.

Though the scandal only blew open when the N 1.3 trillion figure was quoted as subsidy and the Federal Government could no longer cope with the burden, Street Journal found out that the country had been milked for years as members of the “Oil Cabal” have been sourcing money through various means in the sector. For instance, from way back in 2009, Femi Otedola had issued a directive that compelled AP (one of his companies) to source its petroleum products needs from Zenon Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, Fineshade Energy Limited and Platinum Fleet Limited at bloated rates. It was gathered that by the third quarter of 2009, AP was already indebted to the tune of about N 10 billion. Meanwhile, AP was also being owed N 15 billion by the other companies belonging to its Chairman. Findings revealed that Otedola might have gotten involved primarily in order to source for funds to pay up various debts that have mounted in a number of banks. Sources close to the Epe born businessman say his debts run into hundreds of billions.

It was also found out that in 2009, the amount that accrued to AP from the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency as subsidy on importation was N 32 billion. The amount was however allegedly forfeited as the company did not import but bought its products from other companies belonging to Otedola. In other words, the businessman’s other companies were importing on behalf of AP.

One of the things that caused friction between Otedola and Clement Aviomoh, AP’s Director of Finance was that the Chairman forced AP to use Zenon’s tank farm for the storage of its products. The products bought by AP were loaded into tank farms belonging to Zenon and Otedola’s other companies, so even AP trucks had to load from there.

Apart from overstating subsidy costs which the government ends up paying, it is an open secret that products are diverted. Even the Petroleum Minister confirmed that most of the petrol meant for Nigerians end up in Niger and Chad.

At a Board meeting to solve issues between AP’s Directors and the Zenon Chairman, three transporters, Nana Brothers Transport, Zaytun Transport and Kafura Enterprises were openly accused of diverting products estimated at N1bn.

Incidentally, the sharp practices in the oil sector are not limited to Otedola’s companies alone. Ifeanyi Ubah’s Capital Oil & Gas was believed to be helping Nigerians when it launched the Kero-Direct Scheme (KDS) late last year. The scheme which was launched in conjunction with the NNPC was aimed at supplying Kerosene directly to households through the use of ultra-modern mobile dispensing trucks belonging to Capital Oil.

Though officials of Capital Oil claimed the scheme recorded success in Lagos and some parts of the East, events have since proved that the company made much more gains than anyone ever imagined. The Central Bank of Nigeria recently issued a directive through AMCON, the Government owned asset managing firm has issued a directive that Capital Oil & Gas should pay back N 5 billion which the company received as “rogue” proceeds made from Kerosene subsidy or face prosecution.

Street Journal has also found out that at times, marketers inflate the quantity of the products they imported, just to make extra cash, and where documentation is inadequate, it is easy to get away with such practices. Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also confirmed recently that it is quite possible to “just forge documents and have them stamped without bringing in anything and collect the subsidy-PPPRA pays based on documents,” he stated.

It was also revealed that on a certain day, there were documents that twelve vessels offloaded at the Lagos Ports. Apart from being almost impossible, the same officer signed all the papers brought forward by the companies to claim subsidy. Yet no one deemed it fit to ask the officer why he chose to work extra hours or why the person that ought to relieve him did not come to work.

While the government has blamed companies for sharp practices, it has also been discovered that the Government itself might not be innocent in the scandal that has unfolded. The House of Representatives probe has also shown Nigerians the quality of leadership the country has. It was quite evident that not even the Petroleum Minister could state the amount of petrol used by Nigerians on a daily basis. While the Petroleum Minister said Nigerians use 35 million litres of petrol daily, the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency stated that Nigeria imports 59 million litres of petrol daily, thereby leaving an excess of 24 million litres which is not only unneeded but cannot be accounted for.

It might not also be wrong to conclude that the excess 24 million litres serves as “excess allocation” which the marketers smuggle to neighbouring countries for sale. The marketers have nothing to lose as they have already received subsidy on the fuel and will also be able to sell at prices much higher than what obtains in the home market.

And by the Minister’s calculation that N 76 is paid on every litre as subsidy, it means while it lasted, the government paid N 1.824 billion on a daily basis.

A startling revelation that indicted the government agencies was also made when the Customs Department disclosed that the NNPC imports petroleum products without valid documentation thereby making it easy for the products to be moved without being tracked. Where that happens, it is impossible to have accurate data on imported products.

The Government has resolved to get to the root of the matter and has given the job of auditing the Oil and Gas industry to Saada Idris & Co while that of the Solid Minerals sector will be handled by Haruna Yahaya & Co for N 226 million and N 137 million respectively.

Though this has been hailed in some sectors as a step in the right direction, most Nigerians are of the opinion that the auditors will not achieve anything new, and that is if the reports of the audit do not get swept under the carpet.

Mogidi:
You're wrong to posit the above bolded. In democracy you can only be removed if the electorate says so, permission and request does not come into play here.

BlackPikiN:
If only you knew who BlackPikin is in real life. You would stay a distance from me before making comments that may suffocate you.

Una go just dey come online dey beat una keyboard everytime.

I know say u go say who be this guy? na for your mind of course.

By Opeyemi Adesina

The Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. Mohammed Yerima has broken his silence over the heavy presence of military men on Lagos streets, saying it was requested and actively sponsored by the Lagos state government.

Although, the minister of Defence, Bello Haliru Mohammed, told newsmen on Tuesday that the military personnel were deployed by Federal Government to Lagos to safeguard lives and property in view of recently protests and national strike.

Yerima stated this in a four paragraph statement he read to journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. He noted that the soldiers were drawn from the same Operation MESSA, a security arrangement of Lagos State government made up of police and military personnel.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the unsubstantiated claims by a section of the public alleging that the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops in Lagos to halt the protest against the fuel subsidy removal.

“While the Defence Headquarters do not wish to join issues with any individual or groups regarding the matter, we wish to state categorically, in the interest of the larger society, that there is no element of truth in those claims.






“The soldiers seen on the streets of Lagos are still the same men of the special task force code named Operation MESSA set up and sponsored by the Lagos State government long before the fuel subsidy protests, for the purpose of supporting the civil police in protecting lives and property as is the case in many parts of the country.

“The men of the task force who are currently in Lagos have been there and were not brought from outside Lagos. They are members of the Lagos State Government sponsored Operation MESA and the demand for their withdrawal is therefore uncalled for”, he concluded.

But in a swift reaction, the Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, said the claim by the Nigerian Army was a blatant lie and there was no iota of truth.

He enjoined Nigerian Army to show the entire populace the proof that the Lagos State Government has a hand in the mass deployment of soldiers.

Ibirogba said the state government has nothing to gain in victimising its citizens, because they have constitutional right to protest without destruction of lives and properties, which was not obtainable during the 6-day industrial action in the state.

Rad1cal:
As a Rad1cal fellow, he should have tried those stunts here, no be to demonstrate for yankee  

anyone can do that, but it takes sheer rad1cality to try that here. Abeg make Sowore show, come do am for 9ja  

But the guy get yeye mind sha  

obowunmi:
Sowore was in Nigeria not too long ago and nothing happened.  

obowunmi:
Boys are NOT smiling.

BlackPikiN:
[flash=400,400]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoXye_BxN98[/flash]

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152742:boko-haram-arewa-youth-leader-advocates-sovereign-national-conference&catid=1:news&Itemid=2
Written by Yemi Bamidele, Ibadan Thursday, 19 January 2012 13:52

Worried by the raging resurgence of the Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalists, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima has declared that an urgent convocation of the Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is imperative to address fundamental issues confronting the country.

The Arewa youth leader bared his mind in Ibadan today on the occasion of the Ishrat 2012 Inter-faith symposium organised by the Shafaudeen in Islam Fidunya Wal'akhirat in collaboration with Centre for Religions Tolerance and Cooperation.

Alhaji Shettima, in his lecture entitled "Achieving Peace through Democracy - A Leadership Challenge" reiterated the crucial need for all segments in the country to sit down and dialogue.

"Call it Sovereign National Conference, National Dialogue or Constitutional Conference, we need to sit down together urgently to avoid Nigeria crashing," he said.

Commenting specifically on the recurring Boko Haram crisis in the Northern part of the country, the Arewa youth leader posited that "no religion allows killing".  He however maintained that peace cannot be achieved without justice and equity just as he decried in strong terms the role of those he tagged "the Northern oligarchy" in the crisis.

According to Alhaji Shettima, "the Northern oligarchy are not comfortable despite their abysmal failure to make the best use of their over 35 years of control of power in the country."

He noted with concern that the Boko Haram had been hijacked by political rivals as against the original principle of the group's late leader, Malam Yusuf advising that "the Federal Government should do everything possible to curb the excesses of the group because if it gets out of hand, it will be dangerous to contain."

Consequently, the Arewa youth leader re-emphasised the need for "a national conference that would make the centre less attractive and focus more on the empowerment of the Local Governments and the States to ensure the rapid transformation of the grassroots."

[url]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/33809-subsidy%3A-%E2%80%98nigeria-pays-daily-for-24m-litres-of-unaccounted-fuel%E2%80%99.html[/url]
By Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja3 hours 33 minutes ago


The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on fuel subsidy regime yesterday learnt that Nigerians have been paying for 24million litres of petrol that were smuggled to neighbouring countries on a daily basis.

This was revealed when the management of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) appeared before the Farouk Lawan-led committee.

PPPRA Executive Secretary Reginald Stanley said the payment and smuggling have been going on since 2006.

According to the agency’s figures, while Nigeria imports 59 million litres of fuel on a daily basis, only 35 million litres are consumed in the country.

Stanley said Nigeria pays subsidy on the 59 million litres imported on a daily basis.

According to him, until he assumed office, the system in place at the agency paid for all the fuel discharged. He said the discharged fuel from vessels and the volume consumed are two different things, because the country paid for the bulk.

“In the past, what was discharged was what was paid for. That is what I met on the ground,” Stanley said.

The PPPRA chief said the practice would soon end as he promised to introduce what he called “triple two system”. This, he said, would assist in tracking the volume of fuel consumed in Nigeria.

Stanley said the figures of consumed PMS since the beginning of the subsidy were arrived at through two different approaches of the actual or the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

He said: “In 2007, our GDP growth was 6.4. That was statistically sound, while in actual fact, what was recorded as our consumption on PMS was 26million litres per day as against 27million litres per day. The variance was very minimal.

“For 2011, the figure quoted 35million litres per day, while the GDP growth rate put it at 36.3million litres per day. So, the variance was also minimal. The projection for 2012 is 39.2 million litres per day. These figures cannot be faulted.

“Even if our GDP growth is driven by high crude prices, it means there will be more revenue for government to power its activities of infrastructural development and more macro-economic activities in the land.

“The apparent confusion was between what stock and consumption is. But based on what we have done, I think there is not much difference of opinion on the actual consumption vis-à-vis the stock. This is why we are advocating strategic stock, in case of supply shock in the event of glut.”

The PPPRA chief said he appointed an independent inspector, based on his experience in the oil sector, adding that there was no need for the Customs to verify the volume of imported fuel since no payment of duty is made on petroleum products.

Lawan bemoaned a situation whereby the consumption level of the country is known but certain people still import extra and pay subsidy on it. This is criminal, the lawmaker said.

He added: “Taking 2011, for instance, per day discharge was 59million litres and, consumption, from what was presented to us here, was an average of 35million litres per day. What that means is that there is a gap of 24 million litres per day being funded by Nigerians as subsidy that was not utilised by them.

“This, of course, amounts to overpayment; or, in order words, sharp practices, while we are paying for 59million litres per day instead of 35million litres per day. Someone, somehow, is being short-changed. That is, Nigerians, by 24million litres per day.

“The second implication of this is that smuggling is being encouraged by the system because if local consumption is 35million litres per day and we are paying for 59million litres per day, it means we are making available 24million litres per day for importers to smuggle out, because it cannot be consumed and this is on a daily basis for 365 days in a year.

“Moreover, it was being stated that we do not have enough storage capacity for this unaccounted for fuel that could possibly be used at the end of the year.”

NNPC Group Managing Director Austin Oniwon said at no time did he illegally take money out of the Federation Account for subsidy payment.

He said: “Let me put it on records that I have never taken money from the Federation Account. The same way this Act allows the NNPC to deduct cash call before the balance is paid into the Federation account, is the same way the Bill allows the NNPC to deduct subsidy before the balance is paid into the Federation Account.

“If we are not quarrelling about deductions of cash calls, which is allowed by the same law, I am always at a loss when I am being accused that I am touching the Federation Account.

“We don’t take money from the Federation Account. We take as provided for by the law. But the adequacy or inadequacy of what was provided for is a question I believe the Ministry of Finance will be able to talk about.

“So, I do not touch the Federation Account, I do not intend to touch the Federation Account and in a totally deregulated environment without subsidy, nobody would have any recourse to deduct anything at all.

“I only deduct what is authorised by PPPRA. Once they give me the certificate, after checking with all authorised inspectors and auditors, it is that value that constitutes what is deducted as per the Appropriation Act.

“I don’t go outside that. So, it is not for me to determine what is deducted from the crude’s value. Before I deduct, I write to the Minister of Finance that the PPPRA has approved it for me.

“That is the procedure I have been using and I believe that it is the same my predecessors used. I hope that everybody would join hands to ensure that we move towards a fully deregulated environment where subsidy is placed on production rather than consumption.”

On the differential between N360billion against N630billion claim as subsidy for 2008, Oniwon argued that NNPC at no time provided information to the Nigerian Extractive Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on its operation.

He said: “For NEITI, I don’t know how they arrived at that calculation. I have not communicated to NEITI; I never knew where the body got that figure from. I only heard the figure for the first time. We have that document for N630 billion. The N1.348 trillion was the reconciled figure between NNPC, PPPRA and Ministry of Finance.

He added that the corporation recovered N15 billion from oil marketers when the price of crude oil nosedived and the demurrage cost was built into the subsidy.

According to him, the amount paid as subsidy include the cost of five days demurrage and other cost elements on imported fuel based on the approval of the PPPRA Board.

Oniwon said: “It was the arrears of N250 billion for kerosene that was responsible. In the component of N1.3trillion that was presented, N250billion of that was for kerosene and there was kerosene arrears paid at different points, not stated in that document with you. The N1.09trillion was for PMS for the period under review, that is, 2011.

“Nigeria was declared a war zone by other exporting countries that forced vessels to pay high premium on insurance as well as on the vessels too. Secondly, the exchange rate to the dollar, whereby we buy in dollar and sell in Naira.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/balarabe-utomi-others-to-protest-against-soldiers-in-lagos-today/
January 19, 2012 by Agency Reporter 19 Comments

Prominent national leaders and activists in the country have decided to protest against the deployment of troops in Lagos and other parts of the country.

The protest, scheduled for Thursday (today) will be led by Prof. Ben Nwabueze, former Kaduna State Governor, Balarabe Musa; elder stateman, Tunji Braithwaite and Prof. Pat Utomi among other leaders.

According to a statement on behalf of the National Action Coalition of Democratic Forces by Dr. Wale Balogun of Citizen Forum on Wednesday, the leaders would storm the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, enroute Gani Fawehinmi, Freedom Park, Ojota to register their protest.

The protest march, which is to commence at 10am, is expected to attract Christian and Muslim communities, youth organisations, artisans, traders, students and workers.

Prayers will also be said at the rally for the repose of the souls of victims of fuel subsidy removal protests.

The protest tagged, ‘Enough is Enough’ will serve as a prelude to a series of mass action which is expected to culminate into major national rallies in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna Abuja, and other places.

The rally is expected to also feature former Finance Minister, Dr. Idika Kalu, Dr. Federick Fasheun, Mrs Ayo Obe, Ms Nike Ransome Kuti, Alhaji Shettimah Yerimah and Toyosi Akerele.

Others include Festus Keyamo, Femi Falana, Dr. Dipo Fashina, Dr. ArthurNwakwo, Olisa Agbakoba, Revd Moses Iloh, Dr. Lakin Akintola, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Nasseer Kurah, Mr. Collins Eselemo, Ms Funmi Iyanda, Olawale Okunniyi, Kola Oyeneyin, Ozoula Giwa Amu, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Yemi Adamolekun among others leaders of civil society groups.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=25295

Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Engineer Elias Mbam has said that the Federal Government overinflated the amount of money it spends on subsidising petroleum products.

Speaking when he appeared before the Rep Faruk Lawan-led House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on investigation of the subsidy regime yesterday, Engineer Mbam said the whole subsidy regime was shrouded in secrecy, fraud and corruption.

“We are not comfortable with the figures of N1.263 trillion because if you do little arithmetic by multiplying 35 million litres daily consumption and the N138 for nine months the amount is not up to N1 trillion.

“The management of subsidy is not clearly defined between the NNPC, PPPRA, finance and petroleum ministries; this has created doubt as to the true quantum of subsidy per litre and the total consumption in the country,” the RMAFC boss said.

Mbam further revealed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) illegally deducted from source the sum of N615 billion within the said nine months in contravention of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking earlier, Minister for Finance Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also said that the NNPC deducts its share of the subsidy before remitting proceeds of the sale of crude oil to the Federation Account.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the coordinating minister of the economy, said, “I want to say that many of the figures we have been giving are estimates. When we met with the Senate in October, we gave an estimate of N1.3 trillion. So, we are reconciling. So when we come back after having talked to our colleagues in NNPC, PPPRA, we should be able to give you accurate figures.”

In his submission, former RMAFC boss, Engineer Hamman Tukur told the legislators that subsidy does not exist at all, arguing that if the government insists that it exists, why did it ask Nigerians to pay?

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=25249
Aftermath of #OccupyNigeria Strike, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Thanks Protesters – “We rely On You”

Nigeria’s “Prime Minister” gleefully “thanked” Nigerians for their criticism and recommendations during the strike on her facebook page. After compromising labour leadership and forcing the occupy movement into a retreat under the jackboot of military occupation of the streets, Mr. President and his “prime minister” insulted Nigerians by asking them to be “vigilant” and “report acts of corruption, fraud and malfeasance anywhere you see such to us”, as if we are all blind and are yet to see any such malfeasance. In a country where a legislator goes home with 18Million Naira monthly while the average worker goes home with 18,000 Naira. Read on:

“My dear brothers and sisters,

I wish to use this medium to thank you all, particularly those that made meaningful and constructive suggestions on how to tackle the current problems of large-scale corruption in the downstream sector vis-à-vis the implementation of the deregulation policy.

In line with your overwhelming suggestions that government should tackle the persons responsible for misappropriating funds meant for the subsidy scheme, the President has directed that the EFCC commence an immediate probe and prosecution of all those who are found to have defrauded Nigeria through the fuel subsidy scheme.

We therefore urge you all to remain vigilant and continue to report acts of corruption, fraud and malfeasance anywhere you see such to us. I also implore you to continue sending us your suggestions on how we can move this country forward and make it the delight of other nations. As you well know, we do not have all the answers.

This government is sworn to be a far departure from what we have hitherto understood governance to be. We are committed to engaging the good people of Nigeria through various platforms and we are ready to listen to and act on your pertinent propositions.

Again, thank you all for your time and ideas. Please keep sharing them.

God Bless You!

God Bless Nigeria!

Best regards.

NOI

http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-plans-to-take-over-north-fg/
January 18, 2012 by Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja 4 Comments

The Federal Government on Tuesday alleged it had uncovered the motives behind Boko Haram’s bombings and killings in the North.

The Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bello, alleged that the dreaded sect was out to forcibly Islamise the whole of the North.

Mohammed made the claim during an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said if not for the sustained efforts of the military and other security agencies, Boko Haram’s attacks would have affected the whole of the North and even other states having borders with the North.

He also said the strong presence of the soldiers in the troubled areas reduced the killings and bombings in North-East.

He said, “It is a great achievement for our security services to restrict Boko Haram to the North- East.

“The agenda of the sect is not for the North-East alone; all the states of the North were to be Islamised and all the states around the area would have been affected.

“The killings have been reduced by the strong presence of the security forces and what is left is the root causes of the crisis.”

The ministers urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He also appealed to various segments of the society to work towards overcoming the security challenges posed by the group by volunteering information to security agencies.

Mohammed said the deployment of soldiers in the streets of some states was based on security reports that some people were capitalising on the protests to create anarchy.

He said that such people had sworn to continue with the protest after Labour had called of the strike to cause confusion and create the impression that the government was killing its citizens as was the case in Syria and the Islamic Maghreb.

He said with the security reports at its disposal, the government had no other option but to prevent people with evil intents to cause trouble.

He said while the government appreciated the rights of Nigerians to protest and the rights of Labour to go on strike, it had a responsibility to ensure effective maintenance of law and order and ensure the safety of Nigerians.

The minister also urged the media to report acts of violence and criminality against the society with caution to avoid playing into the hands of criminals in desperate need of publicity to achieve set objectives.

He added, “When you report criminal or acts of violence conveniently, you end up glorifying criminality thereby making more and more people to key into criminal activities.

“I think the media should always aim at condemning any tendency that is not in the overall interest of the people. How to do that is well known to you.”

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/34517-subsidy-removal-well-do-better-next-time--jonathan
Written by Leon Usigbe Wednesday, 18 January 2012

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to handle the issue of subsidy withdrawal better next time and in a way that would not cause much suffering to the people.

However, he believes that the crisis following January 1, 2012 hike in fuel cost has left the country stronger and better.

Speaking while hosting members of the Diplomatic Corps in the Banquet Hall of  the State House, Abuja on, Tuesday night, he also said that Nigeria's democracy was strong and could not be toppled by any interest.

Jonathan, who regretted the inconvenience that might have been suffered by the diplomats during the period of the nationwide strike, assured that the incident  “has even made us stronger and, indeed, better.”

According to him, “we promise that we will continue to grow from strength to strength and the incident of last week, we have put them behind us and we are moving forward. We will not experience that kind of situation again.

“We will make sure we work hard to ensure we will not experience that again.

“We appreciate your understanding. I know some people must have come to you and send all kinds of messages to your various governments. I believe that you know that the position of the government is the best for the people.

“The government will ensure that while adjusting the pump price, we will not do it in a way that will bring suffering to the people.

“We know we were misunderstood. Prices couldn't have gone up that way but that is a human society and is a human factor.”

Jonathan, who expressed  his appreciation and that of the government and people of Nigeria over the goodwill messages from the diplomats, also thanked them for their various roles.

Speaking on the challenge of the Boko Haram sect, the president, who recalled that even the United Nations (UN) Building in Abuja was not spared by bombers, said Nigeria would continue to maintain cordial relationship with the Diplomatic Corps and their countries.

He said: "Nigerian government is totally committed to the maintenance of peace and order in line with UN Charter.

“We believe that all citizens of the world should live freely and peacefully wherever they find themselves. We will work with you and all your countries and organisations to make sure that the world is a place where all of us will live without fear or favour.”

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/34513-borno-jtf-detonates-bombs-in-maiduguri-arrests-6-boko-haram-members
Written by James Bwala, Maiduguri Wednesday, 18 January 2012
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The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order in Borno State has commenced the detonation of five Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which it uncovered  at Kaleri ward of London Chiki in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Speaking on the issue, the Field Operation Officer of the JTF, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, advised residents to temporarily vacate the area and come back after the detonation.

He also urged residents of Maiduguri not to panic as a result of the ongoing detonation.

The Field Operation Officer also said that the task force had arrested six high-profile suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, following tip-off by residents of the area, adding that, the arrest was a great achievement in recent times and an evidence that the people had started cooperating with  the security outfit to fish out those terrorising Maiduguri and its environs.

A resident who did not want his name in print  told the Nigerian Tribune that they had been living in fear in the past two years while killing and maiming of innocent citizens by Boko Haram members continued unabated.

He stated that while many people had been forced to relocate to safer areas, they had been emboldened to give information to  JTF, leading  to the arrest of some of the assailants.

Beaf:
Your post is quite self contradictory. It is strange for anybody to come out swinging against corruption and the lack of opportunities (enabling environment), yet have as their target, the very first President to actually begin streamlining the Nigerian structure for true federalism, business opportunities and the stifling of corruption (as amply demonstrated with the subsidy removal).

Anyone observing such a strange battle, as waged by the self-proclaimed representatives of the people (who just happen to be failed politicians), would quickly conclude that something very unhealthy was brewing and advise that it be sharply nipped in the bud. Thats why the tanks are out in Lagos.

Nchara:
Look deeper and thou shalt know.