The signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law by President Muhammadu Buhari does not translate into automatic removal of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva has assured.
Sylva, in an SMS to The Nation by his Special Adviser on Media, Malam Garba Muhammad said: “We’ll engage you (reporters) on this at the appropriate time.”
Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) also holds the same view.
Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, said: “No minister will provide transitional regulations leading to removal of subsidies now.”
Sylva had earlier said once the bill becomes a law, subsidy would seize to be.
Also yesterday, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Mohammad Barkindo, said the new law would assist the nation attain 4 million barrels production per day.
Barkindo, in a congratulatory letter to the President, added the law ”will help harness Nigeria’s potential to achieve its programme of raising oil production to 4 mb/d and oil reserves to 40 billion barrels, while also drawing on the country’s vast natural gas reserves to provide clean and efficient energy.”
A part of the message reads: ”I wish to extend my congratulations to you on signing into law the PIB, which marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s oil industry and an historic achievement for your Presidency.
“With the stroke of a pen, you have inaugurated a new era for the industry following years of legislative efforts to strengthen the legal, regulatory, fiscal and governance framework of the petroleum sector.
“Mr. President, your signature on the PIB caps many years of important deliberations and detailed legislative work.
“I am confident the law marks the beginning of a new era of growth and prosperity that will be beneficial to the petroleum industry and ultimately to the Nigerian people.”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) also commended the President for signing the bill.
Its National Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi added that the new law would lead to the appreciation of the naira and lessen forex challenge in the industry.
THE Federal Government has commenced the implementation of new rates for vehicle number plates and driving licence across the country.
According to the Joint Tax Board, Nigerians will now pay N18,750 for standard private and commercial number plates against the old rate of N12,500.
Fancy number plate which was N80,000 is now N200,000; motorcycle number plate is N5,000 from N3,000 while articulated number plates (three plates) attract N30,000 from N20,000. For these rates, the minimum increase is 50 per cent.
Out of series number plate has also been revised to N50,000 from N40,000 while government fancy number plate is N20,000 against the former N15,000 rate.
Driving licence (three years) was raised to N10,000 from N6,000, excluding bank charges; licence for five years is N15,000 from N10,000 while motorcycle/tricycle driving licence (three years) goes for N5,000 from N3,000 while the one for five years attracts N8,000 from N5,000.
The decision was taken at the 147th meeting of the JTB, which held in Kaduna on March 25.
A letter by the JTB titled ‘Implementation of the revised rates for vehicles number plates and driver’s licence in Nigeria’, dated July 30, 2021 and signed by the board secretary, Obomeghfe Nana-Aisha, directed various federal and state agencies to commence the implementation of the rates.
Members of the JTB established by section 86 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act cap. P8 LFN 2004, include the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service as the chairman of the board; one member from each state and representatives of the Federal Road Safety Commission; Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Federal Capital Territory Administration; Federal Ministry of Finance; and Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The letter read, “You may wish to recall that at the 147th meeting of the Joint Tax Board held in Kaduna, Kaduna State on March 25, 2021, the board approved revised rates for the sale of vehicle number plates and driving licence in line with the recommendations of Appraisal and Technical Committee of the JTB.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Chairman, JTB, has approved Thursday, August 1, 2021, as the commencement date for the implementation of the new rates.”
Meanwhile, the FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, has dismissed a report circulating on social media that the agency was behind the hike, noting that the FRSC was not a revenue generating agency.
He also described as incorrect the report that the standard number plate was N55, 000.
The payment of all entitlements to the workers disengaged by the Kaduna State government formed the plank of recommendations from the 10-man Bipartite Committee that looked into industrial dispute in the Northwest state.
The panel set up by the Federal Government to resolve the face-off between the Kaduna State government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) submitted its recommended yesterday.
It recommended that the disengaged staff of the Local Government, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Primary Health Care Board and all those not paid, should be paid appropriate benefits.
Also recommended to be paid their due benefits are staff of the Kaduna State Development Company who were disengaged between 2017 and last year.
On July 10, the federal government inaugurated a 10-member committee to resolve the dispute between NLC and Kaduna State Government following the decision of the former to embark on a one-week warning strike.
The protest by the NCL was over alleged anti-Labour practices and sack of its members by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led administration.
The Committee, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Peter Tarfa, submitted its interim report yesterday to Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Chris Ngige.
Tarfa said: “There is also need for consultation between the Government and Labour in line with the prescription of the Labour Act and other relevant Labour statutes.
“There is need for mutual respect and confidence building between the social partners, especially on issues of collective bargaining.”
He further stressed the need to bridge the communication gap between the government and union leaders, which the panel observed triggered strike.” In terms of victimisation, tarfa said his committee recommended the re-issuance of letters to to override all the queries answered by nurses, who participated in the strike.
The Labour minister said the dispute could have been worse but for federal intervention, recalling that there has been no love lost between the Kaduna government and the NLC since the sack of teachers in 2017.
Ngige said: “It is the same matter we are handling. It is crystallising. In that one, teachers without requisite qualification were teaching children. We said no. We agreed on what should be done and it was done. “I advised labour to tell their members to get the required qualification to ensure quality education and it was done. In this case, it was redundancy.”
He described the submission of the report as a new dawn and a very important landmark in the history of his ministry.
The minister said the need to halt the government/Labour crisis to prevent possible conflagration and spread into other Northwest states informed the federal intervention.
Ngige said: “Just like President Buhari said, Kaduna is the home of retired Generals, former Ministers, Police Chiefs, retired Permanent Secretaries and who is who in old Northern Region, just like Enugu is for the old Eastern Region and Ibadan for the Western Region.
“The President said we should do everything to arrest the situation in Kaduna. It has not been easy for me and the Permanent Secretary.
“We were on our phones talking to the NLC and Kaduna State Government. We are happy that it has been brought under control. It could have been worse.”
Ngige thanked members of the committee, pointing out that it would have been made a bipartite committee of the state and the NLC, but the members decided to make permanent secretary the their chairman.
The minister said: “I listened to the report presented by the Chairman. You kept to the original terms of reference you were given during the inauguration of the committee three weeks ago. That helps the work and the employees and their leaders seeing what has been done, will know that there is no victimisation as alleged. You have shown transparency.
“Somebody cannot be working without the necessary certification. Somebody who is not a nurse and is found in a hospital must go.
“People who have disciplinary matters of fraud and misappropriation of funds, you have the right to disengage them under the omnibus of redundancy.
“If as government, you are spending all your money on personnel, it does not make sense. That money is for everybody in the state. It is for social, educational and capital infrastructure. I am satisfied.”
NLC Deputy President and panel’s Co-Deputy Chairman Najeem Usman Yasin thanked Ngige and Tarfa, expressing the hope for implementation of the recommendations.
Secretary to the Kaduna State Government Balarabe Abbas Lawal also thanked the minister for his intervention, reassuring that they came with the sole aim of finding a lasting peace in the state.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, said his father, Emmanuel Abiodun before his death had advised him to respect the civil servants, pay them regularly and ensure that pensioners get their gratuities.
Abiodun who described the demise of his father as “painful and a great loss to him and his family”, said he broke down in tears when he received the news of the death of his father.
The governor’s father died last week Tuesday after he was rushed to a hospital abroad.
Abiodun, who just came back from abroad, disclosed this when he received Remo traditional rulers, members of Ijebu-Remo Unity Forum, Labour Union leaders, NANS leadership and other prominent personalities during a condolence visit to his Family House in Iperu-Remo.
He also said his late dad had urged him to respect the civil servants, pay pensioners regularly and treat teachers well.
The governor said he has scrupulously kept to that advice.
He said, “When I assumed office, my dad told me to be faithful to the oath of office I took, he said I should respect the civil servants, pay them regularly and ensure that pensioners get their gratuities and all will be well.
“He also asked me to treat teachers well, you know that was his constituency, he told me to pay workers on time, before the last day of the month”.
Abiodun further noted that his late father was a humble man who lived for his family and community. He said, “My father lived for his family and community. We are a well-knitted family. I have always feared a day like this. My father was a humble man.
“I am greatly pained by his death, but slowly coming to terms with the fact that he is no more. He had a humble beginning, but a glorious end.”
The governor, however, urged the people of the state to live a humble life and serve humanity, the virtues, which he said would leave a lasting legacy on the mind of the people after their demise.
Recounting his experience with his father while growing up, Abiodun said he never saw his father got angry, but would always discipline his children when they misbehaved.
He said, “People say I am humble. Of course I will be when my parents, especially, my father was a very humble man. This is because of my upbringing. I learnt to follow his lifestyle and footsteps,” he noted. Earlier in his remarks, Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said that late Pa Abiodun was an astute administrator and a great teacher who impacted positive values in the lives of younger ones.
He said the passing of the governor’s father must not be signposted with mourning, but expression of joy for a life well spent.
He added that “even at a very old age, his faculty was still intact”.
Speaking of behalf of Ijebu-Remo Unity Forum, an elder, Daudu Teslim, maintained that late Pa Abiodun was meticulous in his deeds.
Uprangers11: One day the people will really get tired of all dis shit and knw that the real enemy ain't me and u but did fools,very very stupid set o people ooh...BUT on that day ehn,we no go knw hausa òr southern kaduna or delta igbo or ijaw but we will be speaking one language.....Very very soon ooh!!!!And they knw a day like that will that why they are scared,very scared ooh
…reveals commission, NCC, telcos committee okayed e-transmission capacity …obtains GPS coordinates of 176,846 polling units for seamless results’ uploading •Inside: Faces of 52 senators who voted against e-transmission of poll results
Despite the rejection of electronic transmission of election results by the National Assembly in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, the use of the technology will be feasible in the deepening of democracy in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission said on Saturday.
The commission premised its optimism on the fact that its joint committee made up of telecommunication stakeholders had revised the system and concluded that electronic transmission of results was practicable.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye, expressed these views in an interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja.
According to him, INEC was committed to deepening the use of technology in the electoral process and had many times demonstrated it through the creative, innovative and strategic deployment and application of technology in various aspects of the electoral process with the goal of limiting human interference in the electoral process as much as possible.
Okoye said, “INEC has the capacity to transmit election results from the polling units to the Registration Area Collation Centres to the Local Government Collation Centres, the various state, federal and senatorial district collation centres, and the state and national collation centres.
“The Joint Technical Committee constituted by the commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission and made of telecommunication operators met on March 9, 2018, and the consensus was that the requirements for the electronic transfer of results proposed by INEC is practicable. The meeting, therefore, agreed that the solution that INEC wants to deploy is possible.
“We have the assurance of the service providers that they have provided similar technological solutions to other agencies and have the capacity to deploy technology to cover a few blind spots.
“The commission will continue to pilot different solutions bearing in mind that technology is dynamic and can limit human interference in the electoral process. The commission wants broad powers to deploy technology and is not in favour of a particular solution being written into the law.
“The commission is a creation of the constitution and the law and its powers are derived from the constitution. The constitution has also given the National Assembly the power to make laws but such powers must not be in conflict with and or at variance with the provisions of the constitution.
“We will continue to implement the provisions of the Electoral Act to the extent of its consistency with the constitution, as the constitution is the fundamental law of the land. The commission will continue to build integrity and trust in the electoral process.
“The commission has piloted and continues to pilot various electronic solutions that will improve the integrity of the electoral process. Presently, all the registered political parties upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates electronically.”
Okoye stated that domestic election observers and the media applied for accreditation to observe and cover elections electronically and that henceforth, political parties would submit the names and photographs of their polling agents electronically.
He said, “The commission uploads Form EC8A, being polling unit results to a central viewing portal. Since 2020, the commission has been uploading these results from different parts of the country.
“The commission has used and will continue to use the existing technology to upload the results from polling units. The commission has uploaded results from polling units in Southern Ijaw with its difficult riverine and difficult terrain. The commission uploaded results from areas that are only accessible through human carriers.
“The commission uploaded results from conflict areas. The commission uploaded results from all geopolitical zones. Presently, the commission has obtained the GPS coordinates of all the 176,846 polling units in the country and expanded voter access to the polling units.
“Currently, the commission is carrying out part of the continuous voter registration exercise online, while the physical registration of voters will be done using INEC Voter Enrolment Device that will capture the fingerprints and facials of registrants.”
The House of Representatives had on Friday passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, maintaining the controversial Clause 52(2) as presented amidst protests, especially by members of the minority caucus.
The clause gives the Independent National Electoral Commission the discretion to determine when, where and how voting and transmission of results will be done.
After the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, criticised the proposed electronic transmission of election results, saying it was not feasible in the country for now.
“I want to use this opportunity to talk to people out there … We all want electronic transmission of results, but based on the information from experts, it is not as easy as it sounds. We must get our electoral process right and when the time is right, we can come back and amend the law.
“So, I don’t think that electronic voting is feasible right now. What we have been talking about is electronic transmission, and from what we have been told today (Friday), we need to do more work so that everybody’s vote will be counted,” he said.
The Senate also had on Thursday passed the long-awaited Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 after division among its members on the electronic transmission of results.
After voting, the red chamber ruled out the possibility of having results transmitted electronically when it voted that the NCC, with the National Assembly’s approval, would determine whether INEC could transmit results electronically or not.
Many Nigerians criticised the National Assembly for the non-acceptance of the electronic transmission of election results.
Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, faulted the Senate’s decision to grant the NCC the power to determine the electronic transmission of results.
He described the Senate’s decision as “unconstitutional,” saying the mode of conducting elections and the transmission of votes should be left with INEC.
“The decision of the Senate to subject INEC constitutional power to conduct elections to the Nigerian Communications Commission and National Assembly is patently unconstitutional. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 78 of the Constitution provides that ‘the registration of voters and the conduct of elections shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission.’
“In the Third Schedule, Part 1, F, S.15: INEC has the power to organise, undertake and supervise all elections. The constitution further provides that INEC operations shall not be subject to the direction of anybody or authority.
“Unquestionably, the mode of election and transmission are critical parts of the conduct, supervision, undertaking, and organisation of elections in Nigeria. Of course, the National Assembly has the power to flesh out the legal framework but that has to be consistent with the Constitution,” [/b]Tambuwal said in a statement.
[b]Lawan disappointed me over electronic results transmission –Ifeanyi Ubah
Meanwhile, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the forthcoming November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, said he staged a walk-out from the Senate chamber on Thursday due to the attitude of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Ubah, who is representing Anambra South Senatorial District, is one of the 28 senators who abstained from the physical headcount over the electronic transmission of election results.
He stated this on Saturday in a statement titled, ‘Putting the record straight on electronic transmission of election results: My standpoint.’
He said the Senate President frustrated his efforts to raise a point of order over the controversial issue.
He said, “In line with parliamentary practice, I walked out of the Senate chamber in protest to register my displeasure; hence my absence during the voting session.
“Before walking out of the Senate chamber, I didn’t fail to tell the Senate President how disappointed I was by his action. It is my earnest belief that the use of technology in elections can significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of electoral conduct in Nigeria.
Ex-INEC boss, dons knock Senate for rejecting e-transmission proposal
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Lai Olurode, has also described the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 as half-hearted and would not do the public much good.
Olurode, who is also a former Head, Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
He said the condition attached to the approval for electronic transmission of election results which mandated the INEC to get approval from the NCC was a way of eroding the autonomy of the electoral commission.
Olurode said, “The first thing I can deduce is that the National Assembly is still not comfortable with overhauling the whole Electoral Act in a way that will make further transparency of our electoral process visible and possible.
“In summary, it is like Nigeria will still continue to go through electoral ordeals, the waiting time for harvesting result is so much and sometimes, people sleep at collation centres for days because they are waiting for results from one remote part of the country.
“Therefore, for me, what they have done is a half-hearted amendment that will not serve the public good as much. Let me say this to the credit of the National Assembly, a wholesale electronic transmission of results for the whole country is dangerous. If the transmission becomes impossible for reasons of difficulty because the machines are not cooperating, the whole country will be held to ransom. There will be apprehension and trepidation.
“A party will believe because we are winning and that is why they are failing in transmitting the results electronically and that can set the country ablaze. But you cannot give with one hand and take with the other hand.”
Olurode[b] said he preferred the first amendment which stated that INEC might transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable. [/b] The second amendment which would now mandate the electoral commission to first go to the NCC and come back to the lawmakers for ratification to transmit results was like placing obstacles in the way of credible polls, he said.
Also, a Professor of Political Science at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Lanre Olu-Adeyemi, faulted the passage of the Electoral Amendment Act Bill by the Senate which asked INEC to seek clearance from the NCC and the National Assembly before deploying electronic transmission of results.
The don said the action of the senate was unconstitutional and not good for the democracy of the country.
He said, “The INEC is properly constituted by law to have the power to conduct elections in Nigeria. The law gives all powers concerning the election to INEC, which also includes the power to transmit and announce the final results of the election.
Also, a Political Science Professor at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Femi Omotoso, said for another government agency to determine INEC’s duty would pose problems for the smooth conduct of elections.
He said, “I am afraid politics is blindfolding us for us not to see the benefits derivable in some of these things which can take us to the desired end. As it is now, the electoral system will still remain the same whereas there is a need for us to improve every now and then so that we can have free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
In his submission, the Head of Political Science Department at the University of Jos, Dr Major Adeyi, maintained that the rejection of electronic transmission of election results was an “unholy way” of discrediting government investment in Information and Computer Technology.
According to him, the action by the Senate was “a setback to the electoral process in Nigeria.”
He said, “This action again will expose our electoral process to the democratic world that the giant of Africa is still crawling in the field of technology. If the globalised world is moving towards embracing ICT and promoting election management to my mind, the rejection of electronic transmission is an arrogant display of ignorance, and it is a process that will build confidence among the citizens and election managers.
However, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Bunmi Ayoade, stated that although the electronic transmission of election results was good, he warned that the idea should be jettisoned if the country would not be able to meet the technology demands of transmitting the results.
He said, “I honestly believe that transmitting election results electronically is good and worthwhile. It saves time, but you need to have the gadgets and the preventive measures to be able to cope with it.
NASS has murdered democracy –Ozekhome
A constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), also slammed the National Assembly on Saturday for rejecting the electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a national tragedy.
While accusing NASS of murdering democracy in Nigeria, Ozekhome regretted that the concept of democracy was no longer in practice in the country.
The lawyer faulted the NASS’ action while delivering a special lecture at the 2021 graduation ceremony/prize-giving ceremony of the Pacesetters School in Abuja.
He said, “The national tragedy in the last two days at the National Assembly is for the sole interest of politicians in order to rig elections.
“Why did we choose to kill electronic voting when across the world, even in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are using it? You are even now making INEC to be no longer independent.”
Media chiefs in the country have said the media won’t be deterred by the directive of the Federal Government that the media should not divulge “details” of the activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in their reports.
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah; the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo; and the Executive Director, Centre for Media Law and Advocacy, Richard Akinnola; made this known in separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH on Friday.
According to them, the media reports activities and does not create events.
They advised the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to tackle the security challenges in the country and desist from its attempts to gag the media through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
The media veterans were reacting to a directive by the National Broadcasting Commission that television and radio stations in Nigeria should not “glamourise the nefarious activities of insurgents” during their daily newspaper reviews.
Broadcast stations in Nigeria review newspaper headlines daily before their breakfast shows.
But the NBC, in a letter dated July 7, 2021, issued to television and radio stations, stressed the need for “caution” by broadcasters while reporting security challenges in the country.
The letter titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, was signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah.
A copy of the letter obtained by Saturday PUNCH, partly reads, “Headlines of most newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.
“The commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by; “Not glamourising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc.
“Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.
“Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.”
According to Global Conflict Tracker, the insurgents have killed nearly 350,000 innocent women, children and farmers in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, amongst other volatile places, since 2009.
On the other hand, the information minister has in recent times attempted to muzzle the press in Nigeria by prodding the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act, one that has been fiercely opposed by media stakeholders who described the move as an information blackout akin to the infamous Protection Against False Accusations Decree, otherwise known as Decree 4 of 1984.
Reacting, NGE President, Isah said he agreed with the NBC that broadcast stations should not glamourise the activities of insurgents but stated emphatically that the government could not tell the media how to tailor its reports.
Isah said, “The NBC said broadcast stations should not glamourise terrorist activities which I agree with but I have a problem with the issue of ‘don’t report details of attack’. I don’t know what the NBC mean by that. If there is an attack and certain people die, are you saying that I should not report it? If there is an attack and 20 students are kidnapped, are you saying that broadcast platforms should not report the number?
“I have not seen any media house report details of a planned operation by the military on bandits and terrorists. The media does not do that for security purposes and I don’t think we will ever do that.
“The government cannot tell us how to do how report. This is why we are clearly against the Nigeria Press Council Act.
“The media does not create events; we report events. If there is a terrorist attack, we will report it. In fact, if we don’t report it, that means we are not doing our job. We will not stop doing that, we will not stop reporting events despite the threats.”
Also, NUJ President, Isiguzo told our correspondent that the NUJ would ensure that the media space was not compressed in Nigeria under any guise.
He said, “This latest directive must be reviewed by the commission. The NBC must also ensure that its actions are in line with international best practices and must conform with time-tested models from other nations.”
Akinnola also described the NBC directive as obnoxious and a subtle attempt to gag the press.
Akinnola said, “It is quite unfortunate but it is difficult to gag the Nigerian Press going by its history, no matter the extrajudicial means. It is not possible. If the military failed, there is no way any government will succeed.
“The government has failed in the aspect of insecurity and this is a subtle effort to cover the inadequacy of the government.”
Also, the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project kicked against the NBC directive, and asked the government to withdraw the directive.
SERAP in a statement posted via its official social media handle @serapnigeria urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to withdraw the order.
“We urge President Buhari to instruct the NBC to immediately withdraw its illegal order to TV and radio stations not to divulge “details” of the activities of terrorists and kidnappers in their reports. “We’ll sue if this sweeping gag order is not immediately withdrawn.”
The Federal Government on Thursday appointed a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega and former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as Chairmen of the Governing Councils of the University of Jos and Bayero University, Kano respectively.
Their appointments followed the re-constitution of the Governing Councils of 19 Federal universities and four inter-university centres by the Federal Government.
Here is a list of the newly appointed Governing Council Chairs of Universities:
1. Dr Sonny Kuku, University of Benin,
2. Malam Adamu Fika, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
3. Malam Abidu Yazid, University of Ilorin,
4. Sen Udoma Udo Udoma, Bayero University, Kano,
5. Prof Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, University of Abuja,
6. Chief Ikechi Emenike, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
7. Ballama Manu, University of Maiduguri
8. Prof Anthony Gozie Anwuka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efurun, Delta state
9. Prof Attahiru Jega, University of Jos
10. Sen Jack Tilley Gyado, Federal University of Technology, Owerri
11. Barr Njideka Bernedette Nwachukwu, University of Uyo
12. Gen Martin Luther Agwai rtd, University of Calabar
13. Alhj Bashir Dalhatu, Modibo Adamawa University
14. Ibrahim Ida, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
15. Peter Okebukola, National Open University of Nigeria
18. Amb Dr. Godknows Igali, Federal University of Technology, Akure
The government also presented the new Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who performed the inauguration exercise at the National Universities Commission (NUC), accused some Governors of hijacking the process of appointment of Vice-Chancellors for Federal Universities because of his (Adamu’s) lack of interest in the selection processes of new VCs for the institutions.
Adamu noted that vested interest are responsible for the unimaginable crises in the selection processes of VCs for many Federal Universities, saying this meddlesomeness has led to unnecessary friction and tension in the universities.
The Minister asked the Governing Councils to take charge and exercise their rights and not to allow outside influence in the selection process of new Vice-Chancellors of their respective institutions.
Adamu warned the Council members that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the visitor to the Federal Universities, will not hesitate to dismiss any Council found to be corrupt or incompetent.
He commended President Buhari for approving their appointments, saying he had to literally beg some of them like Prof Jega and Sen Udoma to accept their appointments.
Udoma, who spoke on behalf of Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Governing Councils, assured the Minister they would approach the assignment with all sense of responsibility and not disappoint the Federal Government for the confidence reposed on them.
2scorehigh: In your own opinion, what is the worst university course for someone to study?
Worst in the sense that you will not advise anyone to go for the course.
Worst in the sense that even if you are paid so well to do the course, you will gladly refuse/reject the offer.
Worst in the sense that if you have the power to delete the course from school curriculum forever, you won’t waste any time in doing so...
If you ask me, I'd say it's Microbiology.
Your opinion though. Thank God I studied Microbiology, had Masters in it. Now I'm a Senior Scientific Officer with federal agency. without MCB I won't get the appointment. Now I'm a public officer and a level 10 officer with a pay on CONHESS 09. I'm running my MPH now courtesy of MCB as my background.
My brother not about course but about the purpose of God for your life. I'm a living testimony of MCB and a proud one indeed.
The Senate on Wednesday passed 2021 Supplementary Budget of N982, 729,695,343.00 representing an increase of N87billion of the request presented to it two weeks ago by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari had proposed N895,842,465,917.00 but the Senate Committee on Appropriation in its report presented by the Chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau, increased it to N982,729,695,343.00
The breakdown of the budget showed that N123,332,174,164 is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure while the sum of N859, 397,521,179 is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure.
Buhari had said that the amount is needed[b] to fund the COVID-19 vaccine programme and health related expenditures for treatment of additional 50,000 patients under the Nigeria Comprehensive AIDS Programme in states.[/b]
He said part of the money would be used to procure additional equipment captured in this year’s capital expenditure on defence and security to combat security challenges across the country.
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)
The agency currently distributing covid-19 vaccine
kizsis: I will like to know how much is the basic salary for federal government parastatals and if you are given an opportunity which of the parastatals would you go for?
A lawyer to Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, has demanded N500m from the Federal Government for the losses incurred by his client after officers of the Department of State Services raided his residence.
The DSS operatives on Thursday stormed the Ibadan, Oyo State, residence of the activist, who had been advocating Yoruba Nation. The services later issued a statement confirming the raid, disclosing that two Igboho’s aides were killed and ammunition allegedly retrieved from his residence.
In the letter titled, “Illegal gang grossly unconstitutional invasion of Sunday Igboho Residence,’’ signed by the lawyer, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN) of Chief Yomi Alliyu & CO, on Saturday, he demanded N500m as reparation for damage done by the DSS’ officers to his client’s exotic cars which included Mercedes Benz G-Class and 2019 Lexus car.
The solicitor also stated that during the house invasion, the DSS carted away €1,000, N2m, expensive jewellery worth millions, travel documents, amulets, Igboho’s iPhone 12 and phones of about 15 others living in the house including those killed by the officers and other yet-to-be-identified belongings.
He added, “We hereby demand that the Federal Government orders an investigation into the actions of the various security operatives led by DSS that raided Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s house with a view to sanctioning them and release all the innocent people arrested and compensate the families of those murdered. Our client should also be paid N500m as reparation for damage to his exotic cars that include Mercedes Benz G-Class and 2019 Lexus Car. We also demand a public apology.’’
The lawyer further said that every Nigerian was aware that in Igboho’s open crusade for the creation of Oodua Republic, he always preached peace and warned his followers never to resort to violence.
He said, “He always said that It is God and alale” that will fight for Yoruba Nation. We can boldly say that as people who followed his campaign, but not necessarily supporting dismemberment of Nigeria, that no casualty has ever occurred wherever such rallies were carried out. This must have been done in more than 20 Yoruba towns and cities as at date.
“No demand to enter was made but rather they shot their way into the house allegedly killing seven people though DSS spokesman admitted killing two people which involved an old imam that used to lead Muslim occupants in prayers and observing Tahjud at the time of the barbaric raid. A lady among the invaders was allegedly shouting, “If you get him gun him down.”
He also alleged that the operatives were disappointed that they couldn’t allegedly find a single gun or ammunition in his client’s house, hence arrested two police escorts of Igboho’s guests and added their “guns to those harvested from their armoury to make members of the public to believe that our client keeps militia or as stated by them, he is about waging war on Nigeria. Will this be with his mere amulets? People who know our client of over 20 years will testify that Igboho Oosa does not carry gun on his person!’’
Investigations, forensic analysis ongoing –DSS
In his reaction on Saturday, the DSS said it stood by its statement on the items recovered from Igboho’s residence after the raid.
The Spokesperson for the services, Dr Peter Afunaya, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH said, “The statement by the services suffices. The statement also said those arrested would be charged accordingly. There would be court action.”
On whether the DSS would react to the statement on the items taken away from Igboho’s residence, Afunaya said “the services statement suffices. Investigations and forensic analysis are ongoing. There would be court action.”
A commander of the Eastern Security Network, the paramilitary arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Emeoyiri Benjamin, has stated his roles in some bloody attacks allegedly carried out by the group in Imo State.
The 28-year-old suspect dubbed Onye Army also explained how he and his gang members fortified themselves with charms prepared with heads of 10 young girls abducted in the state.
Benjamin was apprehended recently by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team deployed in Imo.
Narrating his criminal escapades, Benjamin said that he joined ESN in 2020 and was trained in a camp for two weeks.
He said that he participated in the attacks on Owerri Correctional Centre, Imo Police Command headquarters, Orlu Police Station and the country home of the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
Several inmates escaped during the prison break, while a policeman was killed in the governor’s residence in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state, and vehicles vandalised.
He said the group attacked Uzodimma’s house to avenge the killing of one Ikonso, who he described as a top ESN commander.
Benjamin stated, “I am from Uzombe town in Uguta, Imo State. I was in the village in 2019 when one John approached me. He knew I had been looking for a military job without success so he advised me to join IPOB. I was attending IPOB meetings in Orlu every Sunday. I attended the meeting until November 2020 when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu formed the ESN.
“I volunteered to join the ESN and I was trained with many others from different parts of the country in a camp close to the Niger Bridge. Before I went to the camp, I was living in a church in Orlu owned by Nwachukwu. While at the camp, we were given military training and our phones were seized from us.
“After our training we were given boots and uniforms and asked to go back to our various state commanders. My state commander was the late Ikonso. We were not given any money. When I got back to Imo State, I reported back to the church which served as one of our camps at that time. Then, we got an order that there shouldn’t be any police or military checkpoints in the South-East. All the ESN state commanders asked their fighters to comply with the order. I also obeyed the order because I have taken an oath.”
Benjamin said they first attacked a police checkpoint in Orlu during which a policeman and two of his members were killed in a gun battle.
He explained that policemen busted their camp in Orlu and they relocated to Anambra State, where they continued attacks on police stations and checkpoints.
He added, “Ikonso, one Engineer Mike and Temple organised the attack on the Owerri Prison and Imo State Police Command headquarters. We stole 50 police rifles. We were over 100 fighters who went for the operation but on our way back, some soldiers attacked us and many of our fighters were killed.
“We carried out a few other attacks on security formations in Imo and Anambra states before Ikonso was killed in his residence. After his death, we burnt the governor’s house and killed a security man.”
The suspect said they had killed 30 persons so far in vengeance of Ikonso’s killing and attacked Orlu Police Division to free their members detained at the station.
He said, “We went in 10 vehicles. We tied white and red clothes on our bodies for protection against bullets. We prepared the charms with the heads of 10 young girls.
“Temple and Mike came up with the suggestion to use the girls for the charms and we abducted them in Imo State. Unfortunately, before we got to the Orlu Police Station, a police armoured vehicle attacked us and killed 12 of our fighters and injured four others.”
The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, 2020 is a law in the making, which seeks to introduce far-reaching reforms in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It was first presented to the National Assembly in 2008.
2. What are the major objectives?
The bill aims at establishing good governance, best practices, and ease of doing business in the industry by clarifying roles and responsibilities of officials and institutions, enable frontier exploration, mandate improved environmental compliance, and transform NNPC into a commercially viable enterprise.
3. Why do we need the PIB?
The PIB is necessary because almost all petroleum-related laws, including the Petroleum Act of 1969, had been belated for decades. In other words, they are no more relevant and competitive globally. With the advancement in technology, the volatility of oil prices, climatic changes influencing the driving forces of the global economy, it has become imperative to review extant laws to bring them in alignment with current realities.
4. What are the regulatory institutions to be expected?
The bill proposes the Upstream Regulatory Commission for upstream operations, including the granting of petroleum exploration licenses. A petroleum exploration license shall be for three years and may be renewable for an additional period of three years subject to the fulfillment of prescribed conditions. The PIB also provides for the establishment of the Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority for midstream and downstream operations. But the president has been advised to go for only one Commission with many departments, using the example of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, as an example.
5. What about the Host Communities Development Trust?
The PIB further provides for the creation of a Host Communities Development Trust. The oil operators, described as settlors, are obliged to incorporate a trust for the benefit of the host communities and shall make an annual contribution, based on a certain percentage of their yearly operating expenditure.
6. What are the environmental concerns in the PIB?
As a condition for the grant of a license or lease and prior to the approval of the environmental management plan, all licensees or oil companies are required to make financial contribution to an Environmental Remediation Fund for the rehabilitation or management of negative environmental impact with respect to the license or lease. Financial contributions depend on the size of the petroleum operations and the level of environmental risk that may exist.
The regulator will apply the Fund towards the rehabilitation, remediation or management of negative environmental impact only when the licensed operator lacks the capacity, or is unable to undertake the rehabilitation or management of any negative impact on the environment effectively.
7. Why did previous administrations fail to pass the PIB into law?
The previous administrations failed to pass it into law because of many factors, especially politics, sectional interests, and lack of political will.
8. Why has it become possible to pass it?
It was more enhanced by a combination of factors, including the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, host communities and oil and gas operators. Unlike the past when community issues were widely condemned, the conversation about Host Community Trust Fund shifted to community representation, the structure of the fund, and equity stakes.
9. What should the public expect in the coming weeks?
The public should expect the House of Representatives to conclude work on the PIB, which will be followed by a joint session of the Senate and the Representatives to review it, before the PIB goes to president Buhari.
10. So, when will it eventually become an Act, and what impact should be expected?
It is now certain that the PIB will become an Act this year. It will bring about the restructuring of institutions, attracts local and foreign investors, and enhance transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry.
NewFolm4: The Soka Ibadan residence of Yoruba Nation Agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho was raided in the early hours of Thursday by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:00am.
The media page of Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr Olayomi Koiki, in a live feed monitored by The Nation, alleged some men adorning military uniforms carried out the attack
It was observed Igboho’s vehicles, including his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, some valuable properties including furniture, and windows were destroyed.
Bullet holes were found in cars parked in the premises while blood stains were seen at the premises.
It was also alleged that some persons in the house including a close ally of Igboho identified as ‘Lady K’, were whisked away.
It was learnt Igboho was not at home during the attack while some alleged he ‘mysteriously’ disappeared.
The Soka Ibadan residence of Yoruba Nation Agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho was raided in the early hours of Thursday by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:00am.
The media page of Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr Olayomi Koiki, in a live feed monitored by The Nation, alleged some men adorning military uniforms carried out the attack
It was observed Igboho’s vehicles, including his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, some valuable properties including furniture, and windows were destroyed.
Bullet holes were found in cars parked in the premises while blood stains were seen at the premises.
It was also alleged that some persons in the house including a close ally of Igboho identified as ‘Lady K’, were whisked away.
It was learnt Igboho was not at home during the attack while some alleged he ‘mysteriously’ disappeared.
Goodness10: if Nigeria government can arrest this man in United kingdom and can't arrest fulanis killing farmers in this country means the government is scam.
maak400: Arresting freedom fighters and leaving bandits, and boko haram to roam freely. Some foolish southerners are happy that Kanu is arrested, and also praying that Igboho be arrested, don't worry your premium tears is loading for all of you, we're all in this together.
THE All Progressives Congress has opened talks with three Peoples Democratic Party governors with a view to winning them over, The PUNCH has learnt.
Our correspondent gathered in Abuja, on Monday, that the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee has begun talks with three PDP governors namely: Okezie Ikpeazu, his Enugu State counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi and Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.
A top-ranking member of the party, who spoke in confidence for fear of retribution said, “The Zamfara State, Bello Mattawalle, is already in the kitty. We expect at least 18 of our governors to attend his home coming to Gusau tomorrow (Tuesday).
“After him, we are expecting Governor Ikpeazu to follow. Talks have reached an advanced stage. You know will be concluding his second term by 2023 and of course, he would want to remain politically relevant. Details of conditions are still being worked out by both parties.
“The other governors have sent emissaries and talks are progressing. Recall that we extended the membership registration/ revalidation exercise. We did this to accommodate some of these people.
“We expect that they and their supporters will take advantage of our ward, local government and state congresses to get a foothold in the party, the APC is a party for all Nigerians.”
In response, Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, in an interview with one of our correspondents dismissed such talks.
He said, “It is unfortunate that we have a ruling party that has completely lost focus. The APC is one political party that came to power using propaganda and still thinks it can sustain itself using the same means.
“They wish to have all of our governors in their midst because they are not performing, but Nigerians know the difference and cannot longer be deceived.”
Attempts to get a reaction from the Abia State Government were futile. When contacted, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, declined to comment. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary was also unreachable.
Recall that Okozie recently reiterated his resolve to remain with the PDP because according to him, it was the party that brought him to power.
Efforts to get Governor Ugwuanyi’s reaction were unsuccessful as he could not be reached for comment. His Media aides could not also be reached for reaction and their phones rang out.
Meanwhile, the PDP has cautioned the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mattawale, members of the State and National Assemblies against leaving the party.
This was contained in a statement titled, “Zamfara: PDP Cautions Matawalle, NASS, SHoA Members Against Defection,” which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, on Monday. The party cautioned its legislators in the State and National Assemblies against taking actions that contravene constitutional provisions.
Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP categorically cautions Bello Matawalle to know that his plans amounts to a decision to vacate office as no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the PDP through the ballot box, as already established by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the standing judgment of the Supreme Court.
“The PDP hopes that Bello Matawalle as well as members of the National and State Assembly from Zamfara state will take caution.
The party also announced the dissolution of the State Executive of the party. The decision is in line with the provision of Section 29 (2)(b) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended).
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has thrown his weight behind the calls for power devolution and regulation of social media.
Gbajabiamila also explained that President Muhammadu Buhari did not honour an invite by the House last year over insecurity in the country because some members believed it amounted to setting a bad precedence.
He gave an indication that the bill seeking amendment to the electoral law would be passed by the House before July 16.
The Speaker spoke during a chat with youths monitored on Channels Television and Television Continental (TVC) yesterday.
Gbajabiamila, who noted that Nigerians had yet to determine the type of restructuring they desired, however admitted that power devolution was important because many items on the Exclusive Legislative list could be transferred to states.
He said: “Most people have come to understand that the government is top-heavy with 64 items on the Exclusive list. The form of devolving power is restructuring itself. Everybody talks about restructuring, but nobody has been able to talk about what restructuring is.
“As far as I am concerned, the outcome or end result is what is important. In devolution of power, what people are saying is to empower the states more. In doing that, you empower the local government so that people can feel government.
“ In a real federal structure, the federating units are the ones that basically come together and submit some power to the centre.
“But in this case, it is 64 items and I have never seen a country where you has 64 items or that many items on the Exclusive list. There are so many things in the Constitution that the central government have no business getting involved in.
“When you devolve power to the state, revenue mobilisation will give more money to the states because you will reduce the responsibility on the Federal Government. We hope that with this Constitutional amendment, we can do some significant changes that will reduce the burden on the Federal Government and send the responsibility to the states where they belong.
“We are not just going to have cosmetic changes to the Constitution because that will not get us anywhere. The changes have to be far-reaching enough to define us as a people. We hope to reshape the constitution in such a way that states are real federating units, more independent and more autonomous to the centre.”
Gbajabiamila described social media as a double-edged sword that needed to be regulated
He said: “I am glad that the issue of social media regulation has come to the fore with Twitter’s suspension.
“It is important that like everything in life, there has to be regulation. We know that social media is perhaps the most potent instrument that can be used for the good and can also be used for the negative. While we welcome the good, we must not paper over the bad or the evil. That is my position about social regulations.
“We must strike a balance where people’s right to free speech is not D upon. But where your right to speech ends that is where the other person’s right to protection begins. Everybody has a right and you cannot, because of your right to speech destroy me and nothing comes out of it. Many more democracies that we all look up to, are already in the mood of regulating social media.
“The National Assembly has been contemplating regulation for a long time and each time they do, people kick and when you ask why they say freedom of speech.
“It is a delicate balance, but it is something that we need to do as responsible people. We have a responsibility to protect every single citizen of this country and that is what government is supposed to do.”
Responding to a question on what the House has done about the security situation in the country, Gbajabiamila said: “We have done a lot.”
He added: “We have passed several motions and have gone to do something that I almost historic when we invited the President to address the House on the security situation.
“But unfortunately, some people thought it was a dangerous precedent. The President was very determined to come and address the House and a date was fixed. But at the end of the day, we didn’t have that opportunity.”
The speaker warned that “when we start playing politics with security, then we will have a problem.”
•Mandate South-South governors to set up common security outfit to fight banditry •Militant group Avengers returns, threatens attacks on oil facilities, politicians
The South South geo-political zone has raised the ante in the agitation for the restructuring of the country, handing down a three-month ultimatum to the federal authorities to start the process of giving Nigeria a new lease of life.
Niger Delta leaders emerged from a meeting in Port Harcourt late Friday asking the federal government to convene a national dialogue for the purpose of charting a new course for the country.
Almost simultaneously, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) announced its return to the creeks ahead of launching what it called Operation Humble to destroy targeted oil installations in the region.
The Niger Delta leaders, in a communiqué at the end of a South-South zonal conference in Port Harcourt, said the dialogue they are advocating should draw its membership from all ethnic groups to chart a new course for the country.
The conference had as its theme, “Restructuring: imperatives for sustainable development, unity and security.”
They spoke of an urgent need for the devolution of powers to the states and vowed to resist oppressive and repressive tendencies against the Niger Delta region and its people.
They appealed to the Federal Government to stop selling their resources to the Chinese and others.
The stakeholders, who came from the nine states of the region, threatened to actualise their freedom if nothing happened at the expiration of the ultimatum.
The communique was read by prominent Niger Delta activist and President of Agape Birthrights Development Initiative, Ms. Ann Kio-Brigss.
The communique: “We the people of the Niger Delta hereby give the Government of Nigeria a three months window within which to cordially address our concerns towards re-federalising the polity, by convening a national dialogue of the representatives of the ethnic groups in Nigeria to chart a new course for the country.
“At the expiration of this three months window, we the people of the Niger Delta will commence the process that will guarantee our freedom and progress.
“Our people should mobilise all human resources to see that fiscal federalism and devolution of powers are included in the constitution. There should be internal justice amongst us- charity begins at home.
“We the people of the Niger Delta hereby reaffirm their commonality, unity and oneness despite our multi-ethnic diversities.
“The Niger Delta people, who are the breadwinners of Nigeria, demand to be heard and fairly treated with equity by the oppressive Nigerian state, and by extension, the insensitive Nigerian political class, as the only basis for peaceful co-existence.
“We the people of the Niger Delta demand restructuring, with the states as the federating units and devolution of more powers to the states.
“We the ethnic nationalities of the South-South affirm the right of peoples to self-determination and to fully control their resource to stop and put an end to further deprivation and despoliation of their environment which they have suffered in the last 60 years.
“The people of the Niger Delta will take all lawful measures to develop an agenda for freedom and liberation and development of the region.
“The Niger Delta ethnic nationalities hereby demand that the governors of the South-South immediately set up security outfits in their respective states and network with each other in the region to protect our territories against terrorists, criminals, land grabbers and other criminals who often operate as bandits and kidnappers.
“Niger Deltans demand that the governors of the South-South region immediately set up community based defence forces in all local government areas of the South-South.
“The ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta demand the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately discontinue the selective appointments, posting and deployment of mainly non- Middle-Belt and Southern Nigerian security officials to the Niger Delta to oppress our people.
“The Niger Delta demands equal representation, control and headship of all relevant security and military organisations in the country. The Niger Delta demands and expresses the desire for a provision in the Nigerian constitution for the exercise of the inalienable right to self- determination through a referendum in line with international laws.
“The Niger Delta demands total ownership rights to lands, natural resources, seas and waters by communities wherever such are located in the region.
“The Niger Delta has resolved to put an end to all oppressive and repressive tendencies by the Nigerian State against our region and warns that we shall no longer tolerate same from other nationalities.
“The Niger Delta people demand immediate environmental remediation and clean-up of Niger-Delta which has been deliberately devastated by crude oil exploration and exploitation.
“The Niger Delta governors should as a matter of extreme urgency take the issue of food security as to prevent the starvation of our people in the event of any food blockade.
“The Niger Delta governors are to ensure protection of the flora/fauna and take interest in general environmental protection, including endowments above or beneath the soil for sustainable development.
“The Niger Delta people demand that the federal government desists from selling out our resources to the Chinese or Sukuk promoting countries, to secure any project.
The Niger Delta People demand their enjoyment of the right to own and bear arms for self defence as law-abiding citizens. The selective grant of firearms licences is hereby condemned and denounced. This is necessary considering the present state of insecurity in Nigeria.
“The people of Niger Delta demand the establishment of State Police in their respective states.”
The Port Harcourt meeting came 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and promised to follow the lead of the National Assembly to implement the wishes of Nigerians on restructuring.
Buhari said he would not hesitate to endorse any move by the National Assembly on restructuring.
“As soon as they finalise the process, necessary action would not be delayed on my part,” he told the Professor Benjamin Okaba-led delegation of the INC.
Only penultimate Saturday, the President had branded agitators of restructuring and secession as mischievously dangerous and naïve.”
“You are telling us to dissolve a system and call for an obscure conference to come and discuss how we can move forward as a nation, that can never be done and no country will agree to that,” Buhari had said in a message to the launch of the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari Peace Foundation in Zaria, Kaduna State.
He added: “Those who are discussing restructuring, my question is that what are you going to restructure?
“If you ask many Nigerians what are they going to restructure, you will find out that they have nothing to talk about.
“Some of them have not even studied the 1999 Constitution. The 1999 Constitution is almost 70 to 80 per cent 1979 Constitution.”
Niger Delta Avengers returns with Operation Humble to cripple economy
In a separate statement, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) said it was staging a return to the creeks to launch Operation Humble designed to destroy targeted oil installations in the region.
The statement was posted on NDA’s website.
It threatened to hit political actors collaborating with the Federal Government to “undermine the interest of the Niger Delta.”
Stakeholders had warned the Federal Government and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of the consequences of reneging on their pledge to constitute a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the end of June.
The month ends on Wednesday.
The NDA said that it suspended its Operation Red Economy‚ which bled the Nigerian economy into recession about four years ago not because it was lazy but for the love it had for the people and out of respect for the voice of the elders of the Niger Delta region.
Although NDA made no mention of the NDDC board issue in its latest statement, it hinged its decision on the underdevelopment of the region and the undermining of the collective interests of the people of the region.
The NDA, after a meeting of its high command, said it had lost confidence in all socio-cultural groups like the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the elders and “the bunch of so-called ex-agitators frolicking with the government at our detriment”.
It said: “This operation shall be coded Operation Humble aimed at bringing down targeted oil installations in the Niger Delta capable of humbling the economy into permanent recession. This mission is also targeted at political actors who are collaborating with the Nigerian government to undermine the interest of the Niger Delta people.
“There is no doubt that the Nigerian government has continued to pay deaf ears to our demands and the rising challenges in the country because the pipelines that crisscrosses our lands are left untouched, allowing dollars to flow into the federal treasury on a daily basis for mismanagement.
“We shall spare no single oil installation within our range of strategic targets marked for destruction in the coming days and we bet the Nigerian Government will be humbled to return to the drawing board and chart an all inclusive course by the time we are done with our action plan.
“Members of our strike teams across the Niger Delta are commanded to be on red alert awaiting precise strike plans as mapped by the high command of the NDA.
“The high command of the NDA has promoted and appointed one of our finest operatives, Field Commander Tu-ere aka Queen of the Creeks to the rank of Brigadier General. She is an experienced field agent who before now was the head of the counter intelligence unit of the NDA, using her connections with top government and security officials to deliver on her assignment”.
The statement added: “She was part of our elite Strike Teams that attacked and took down the Chevron Valve platform on the 4th of May, 2016; the Shell Forcados 48-inch Export line on the 3rd of June, 2016; and the Exxon Mobil Qua Iboe 48 Crude Oil Pipeline on the 11th of July, 2016.
“Brig. Gen. Tu-ere is the first female to ever attain this level and it is solely out of merit, and is placed in charge by the High Command of the NDA to execute operation humble to the letter.
“As a gender friendly organisation, we are using this avenue to encourage other female operatives within the rank and file of the NDA to be inspired by the rising profile of the Queen of the Creeks and never to deter in delivering on our mission of liberate our people and God given resources from the shackles of the oppressive Nigerian Government. We advise other female operatives to emulate her and be dedicated to our mission at all times.
“Conclusively, we wish to state unequivocally and in simple terms that we are back with operation Humble; with the aim of humbling the economy into permanent recession and political players from the Niger Delta extraction to political retirement.
“Our Strike Teams 01 – 09 and all other formations are to regroup and remain on red alert awaiting further command.”
Navy: we’re not aware of any threat to attack oil facilities
Contacted on Saturday over the Niger Delta Avengers’ threat, the Nigerian Navy said it was not aware of any such statement.
But it said it was battle ready for groups threatening to carry out attacks on critical oil installations in the Niger Delta region or any other part of the country.
The Director of Information Nigerian Navy, Commodore Suleiman Dahun, told The Nation that the Navy was well positioned to protect all oil installations in the country.
“I’m not aware of any such threat, but you can be rest assured that the Navy is positioned to deal with any threat to peace and order,” Dahun said on the phone.
Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio said on Tuesday that Nigeria could not afford to have crisis in the South South now on account of its economic importance to the nation.
Akpabio told reporters after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, that he was doing his best to ensure peace, especially in the Niger Delta, because of its strategic economic importance.
He also said he had fast-tracked action on the constitution of the NDDC board and that the names of nominees would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly.
Akpabio, however, said the ongoing field forensic audit to the commission must be completed as the outcome would serve as a guide to the board’s operations.
According to him, the audit report should be turned in by the end of next month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it will challenge the victory of Delta North Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, who was recently discharged and acquitted of alleged fraud to the tune of N322m on June 18, 2021.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday.
“We will be taking Senator Nwaoboshi’s case before the Court of Appeal,” Uwujaren said during a brief telephone interview with one of our correspondents.
This comes just as the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), personally welcomed Nwaoboshi to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Besides, the Niger Delta Development Commission had last year accused Nwaoboshi of using 11 companies as fronts to secure a N3.6bn contract from the NDDC and failing to execute the contract, an allegation which the senator has denied.
In 2018, Nwaoboshi was arraigned by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in Lagos for N322m fraud involving two of his companies.
Nwaoboshi and the two companies – Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electrical Ltd – were arraigned for acquiring a property, Guinea House, on Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos for N805m. The EFCC alleged that N322m out of the N805m was part of the proceeds of fraud.
However, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said the EFCC relied on hearsay as evidence.
One week after his acquittal, the lawmaker, who is a former state chairman of the PDP, was welcomed by the President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The statement read in part, “President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja welcomed Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to the APC after he left the Peoples Democratic Party, saying ‘you are welcome to the progressives’ family.’
“Senator Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North District, Delta State, was presented to President Buhari and the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee at the State House by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.
“The Deputy Senate President said Senator Nwaoboshi’s decision to join the APC clearly shows that the effort of the CECPC was yielding fruit. The senator was warmly welcomed by party members.”
Why Nwaoboshi defected to APC –Investigation
Meanwhile, an investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that Nwaoboshi dumped the PDP for the APC to perfect his ambition of running for the deputy governor of Delta State in 2023.
Nwaoboshi announced his defection when he met with President Buhari at Aso Villa on Friday.
The lawmaker was said to have been accompanied on the visit by Omo-Agege, who hails from Delta Central and is said to be eyeing the governorship seat.
Nwaoboshi’s defection is coming two days after the state PDP suspended him from the party for one month over anti-party activities.
According to the PDP, the action became necessary against the backdrop of the recent “romance with an opposition party, APC, verbal recklessness and unprovoked utterances of Nwaoboshi which the state PDP Working Committee views strongly as totally unacceptable and disturbing.”
The lawmaker was also said to have been embroiled in verbal attacks against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he succeeded at the Senate in 2015.
Nwaoboshi had recently rated Okowa’s government as poorly performing compared to his predecessors, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Meanwhile, Okowa on Thursday replied to the lawmaker, who he described as “a stranger”. The governor said Nwaoboshi should not be pitching him with his predecessors.
Reacting to his defection, the PDP in Delta State dismissed the claims that Nwaoboshi defected as he had already been suspended.
The party, in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, said, “We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi had already been duly suspended by the state Working Committee of our party following his recent romance with an opposition party, his verbal recklessness, and unprovoked utterances against the person of His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State.
“Those unbecoming attitude of the senator exposed him as indecorous and lacking discipline which the PDP cherishes so much. The party had to quickly rise to the occasion by treating him like a mad cow in the china shop and manage his exit through suspension so as to save the soul of the PDP in the State.
“His inevitable exit, therefore, has left a wave of joy in the party as faithful and loyal party members see the move as good riddance to bad rubbish.”
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