₦airaland Forum

I’m committed to the ideals of our founding fathers – Jonathan

Address to the Nation by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, on the occasion of Nigeria’s 51st Independence Anniversary

Fellow Compatriots,

1. On this day 51 years ago, the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national Green-White-Green flag, heralding the independence of our nation. The 1st of October remains a special day for us, for Africa, and indeed the world.

2. As we celebrate today, we remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of our great country.
3. That is the Nigerian spirit! For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today in the world.

4. Our citizens at home and abroad, are making their mark in all fields of human endeavour. These hard-working and committed Nigerians, remain a source of pride to us and a beacon of what is achievable, if we remain focused and determined.

5. I know that a great number of you are joining hands with me and the Administration, in the great task ahead.

6. I value all Nigerians. I see our youth who are looking for jobs and yet remain hopeful. I see the farmer, and fisherman, toiling everyday to earn a living. I see the teacher, working hard, to train our future generations, with much sacrifice. I see the market women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps to generate income for their children and families. I see our sportsmen and women training hard to bring glory to our nation. I see our resilience and commitment, as a nation, to defend our democracy and secure our future.

7. I see every single profession and vocation, making positive contributions to national progress. I value you all!

8. Together, we shall work for a Nigeria in which democracy and the rule of law are sacrosanct.

A country where corruption and its attendant vices, are banished. A country where human life is sacred and respected, and where the rights of the individual are protected.

9. Nigeria is a young entity in the comity of nations and yet in her 51 years, she has made significant strides in making her presence felt all over the world. Our diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts, in various parts of the continent, have helped to end conflict and avert crises. In sustaining global security, our intervention has been crucial to peace, progress and democracy for the citizens of the affected countries.

10. The journey to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the Civil War, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges. We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.

11. Today, as a nation, there is much for us to celebrate. We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit.

12. We celebrate our resilience and ability to turn adversity into hope. We celebrate our culture. For the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.

13. As your President, let me reassure all Nigerians that I remain resolutely committed to the ideals and dreams of our founding fathers. Let me also reassure Nigerians that I will strongly defend the peace and stability of our nation.

14. My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders.

15. We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.

16. I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.

17. All leaders and citizens, in every community, must therefore make peace the number one priority of their daily routine. This is because, without peace, no community can realise its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its members.

18. The current incidents of violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and tranquility in all parts of the federation.

19. Securing our peace and stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all.

20. Since I assumed office as the President of our great country, I have continued to focus my attention on the economy. I have taken several measures to address structural weaknesses which stand between us and economic growth and prosperity for all.

21. We are growing our economy, to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youths and enhanced prosperity for every citizen. This remains the main focus of my administration.

22. In a few days time, I shall launch an innovative competition for our young entrepreneurs to come up with ways to expand their businesses, create more jobs, and sharpen their business skills.

23. Now, it is very clear that without fundamental reforms in the key sectors of our economy, we will not be able to fully unlock our potential as a nation. We must manage our resources more prudently and efficiently. We must provide stable electricity to our citizens to help drive economic activity.

24. I call on our political leaders to put aside partisan politics, for united action towards the advancement of our nation. We must build together.

25. Because of the measures we have taken on the economy, our GDP is today one of the fastest growing in Africa. We are currently growing the economy at 7.8%. We expect to sustain an 8% growth rate and a better GDP in the medium term, on our journey towards realizing our Vision 20:2020 goal.

We shall strive to make this growth, job creating and inclusive.

26. Growth in agriculture and other non-oil sectors are crucial, to help diversify the economy and to generate much needed jobs. Agriculture remains one of the highest priorities in my government’s Agenda for National Transformation. We have set out clear, agricultural, transformation action plans and policy measures, to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, cassava, maize, sorghum and other staple foods.

27. Self-sufficiency in rice alone will save us the 356 Billion Naira that we currently spend annually importing rice. We will revamp the way we distribute fertilizers, taking government out of distribution of fertilizers.



28. We plan to reach 20 million farmers with private-sector distributed fertilizers over the next four years. We will improve the investment environment and incentives for the private sector across the agricultural value chains. Our agricultural transformation plan will generate 3.5 million jobs and an additional 20 million metric tons of food.

29. But we must all show pride in our farmers. We should eat what we produce. The increasing popularity of local products, like ‘Ofada Rice,’ ‘Badegi rice,’ and ‘Abakaliki Rice,’ attest to the fact, that the populace will readily embrace locally grown produce.

30. We must also take pride in our scientists. This week, Nigeria released eight new high yielding cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production, across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation.

31. We have put in place implementable programmes to transform our Nation from an importer of petroleum products, to the regional hub for exportation of value-added petroleum and petrochemical products. We are revamping existing refineries and building three new ones.

32. We are effectively supporting the private-sector led construction of world scale petrochemical and fertiliser plants. This will for the first time in our history, result in effective monetization of our abundant natural gas resources while at the same time, creating over a million jobs.

33. Our potential is huge.

We have the requisite market volume.

We have a youthful, energetic, and hardworking population.

The structural and managerial bottlenecks, that have obstructed our economic growth, are being addressed, to unleash the energy and potentials of this nation.

To achieve this, I am determined to ensure that Nigerians have reliable electricity. Our economy will grow faster, and our hard working small businesses will thrive, when we finally fix the power challenges we face. We are fast tracking power reforms, to improve the generation and distribution of electricity.

34. Already, we are beginning to do things differently. I believe that integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service and fear of God, must be the hallmarks of leadership at all levels.

35. A nation is sustained by its institutions and systems. I have taken strong measures to improve on governance. It is in this regard, that I signed into law, the Freedom of Information Act. I will further strengthen all institutions, to ensure greater transparency, probity, and accountability at all levels.

36. Last year, I promised to restore confidence in our electoral system and pledged to deliver free and fair elections. To achieve that, we initiated some electoral reforms and strengthened INEC and other related agencies.

37. As a result, our April 2011 General Elections were adjudged by Nigerians and the international community as the most transparent and credible elections ever conducted in our country. Indeed, post-election petitions reduced by over 50%.

38. Let me assure all Nigerians of my resolve to lead our nation into a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous future for our children.

39. For the time has come to rise above ethnic and religious divisions;

The time has come, to unite against violence in all its ramifications;

The time has come to secure our peace and unite against suffering and deprivation;

40. I see a new Nigeria rising. A Nigeria, that is economically strong. A Nigeria that takes its rightful place of leadership in the world. A Nigeria that uses its diversity to reinforce its strength. A Nigeria we all can be proud of.

41. This is the Nigeria we need and this is the Nigeria we all must build.

42. As we celebrate today, let us resolve to build the Nigeria of our future.

43. I thank you.

God bless you all.

And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201110018193498

Jonathan lashes out at service chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan has lashed out at the top hierarchy of the security agencies over the way they have been handling the issue of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Investigations by SATURDAY PUNCH in Abuja on Friday showed that the President, at a meeting with service chiefs on Monday, expressed dissatisfaction with the management of information and intelligence reports on the sect.

The President was said to have noted that in spite of his warnings, the security agencies were still working at cross purposes.

It was however gathered that the security agencies had got a presidential order to fish out the foreigners, who assisted the militant Islamic sect to manufacture the bombs that had been detonated in several parts of the country to devastating effects.

It was learnt the President specifically took a swipe at the security chiefs for the poor management of an interview granted the African Independent Television by a self-acclaimed co-founder of Boko Haram, Mallam Aliyu Tishau.

Tishau, had in the interview, said he warned the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, before the June 16, 2011 bombing of the Force Headquarters.

His revelations, however led to a disagreement among the security agencies. The police, at a news conference on September 23, 2011, said that they released Tishau to a sister security agency.

Both the Army and the State Security Service, in a swift reaction, denied that Tishau was released to them.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Raphael Isah, had said, “I can say authoritatively that Tishau was never with the Nigerian Army. We may be compelled to demand from whoever is saying that Tishau was with the Nigerian Army to provide proof.”

But after their initial disagreement, the security agencies on Wednesday addressed a joint news conference, where they rationalised the release of Tishau.

The security agencies had stated that the security agencies in the country insisted in unison on Wednesday in Abuja that the self-acclaimed co-founder of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, Tishau, was released based on a court order.

The Director of Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said, “This news conference is therefore essentially to assure Nigerians that there is no iota of disunity or rancour with or between security agencies in the fight against terrorism despite the orchestrated speculations by a section of the media.

“It is necessary to put on record that the so called co-founder of Boko Haram, Mr. Aliyu Tishau, was arrested and detained by security agencies for questioning on his relationship with the terrorist group and was later released on the strength of a court order.”

Investigations showed that the joint news conference was the outcome of Jonathan’s meeting with the service chiefs.

A Presidency source said that Jonathan noted that in spite of his repeated warnings, the security agencies were not cooperating with one another.

The source said, “The President bluntly told the security chiefs that the Tishau issue was badly handled. He said they were washing their dirty linen in the public.”

According to the source, such disagreement on pages of newspapers will portray the agencies as incompetent.

He added, “I can tell you that the joint news conference was borne out of the President’s meeting with the service chiefs. If not, why should the security agencies, which have been trading blame, speak with one voice?

“In fact, Jonathan read the Riot Act to them, saying he would not hesitate to sack the service chiefs, if the agencies failed to heed his advice on the need for harmony among them.”

The Presidency source stated that the security agencies should begin a hunt for the expatriates who were assisting the militant sect to manufacture bombs.

Our sister newspaper, THE PUNCH, had on Wednesday reported that the security agencies were on the trail of the expatriate bomb manufacturers.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Onyeabor Ihejirika, had in the report confirmed that Boko Haram had been receiving training and funding from external sources.

Ihejirika had said, “It’s definite that the youth, who call themselves Boko Haram or terrorists, receive training and possibly funding from some foreign elements.

“This is evident from the type of weapons that we have captured from them and from the expertise that they have displayed in the preparation of Improvised Explosive Devices.”

The Presidency source stated, “The issue cropped up at the meeting. Although the President commended the security agencies for the arrests made so far, he directed them to go after the expatriates, who make bombs for the group.”

Investigations showed that the security agencies had been directed to intelligence gathering in order to identify various splinter groups in Boko Haram.

It was gathered that reports had shown that there were factions in the militant sect and government was determined to identify them. According to the Presidency source, the government believed that this would assist it in initiating dialogue with the group.

He said, “In spite of Boko Haram’s statement on Wednesday that it was not ready for dialogue, government is still determined to purpose it. The government will meet their legitimate demands.”

Boko Haram had on Tuesday said that it was not ready for dialogue.

It said it would continue the bombings across the country until its demands were met. It warned the media to stop treating Tishau as its member.

Its demands, according to its spokesman, Abu Qaqa, include the punishment of those who extra-judicially killed its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in the September 2009 uprising and the reconstruction of its places of worship, which were destroyed by security agencies in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The sect, which has been linked to Al-Qaeda splinter groups in Africa, is also demanding that the Sharia Islamic law be in operation in 12 northern states of the country.

Book Haram had claimed responsibility for the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations house in Abuja, a development which generated international outrage after the death of 25 people, mostly Nigerians.

Boko Haram, which came to prominence in 2007, means Western education is an abomination.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201110010483715

SGrace:
@OAM4J
Please can you send me the form? For female applicant, thanks. email s_oyewo@yahoo.com

Sorry, just seeing your post.

Sent!

Assuming Your State Was celebrating , Will you?

Will you fly the flag?

Wear  the national colours?

Meet/attend festivities at the  Embassy? If Any is planned.


Hang out with nigerians or simply go about your normal business?

Happy Independence to all Nigerians!

What do you wish for or hope to see in this new year both from the government and the governs?

[size=13pt]Why NNPC should be scrapped, by ex- NBA chief Agbakoba[/size]

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba yesterday urged the House of Representatives to consider  scrapping the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Agbakoba spoke while delivering a goodwill message at the inauguration of the 89 standing and special committees of the House. He said the country is being milked dry by a secretive NNPC and oil majors.

According to him, over N7trillion is lost to oil majors yearly.He said: ”NNPC is owing so much money, the question is why? Questions like do we need an NNPC in the first place should be asked. In my view, we don’t.  I will urge you to consider a law to scrap the NNPC.”

Agbakoba noted that over N7 trillion had been lost to the oil majors  through various means with the active connivance of the corporation. He identified areas of the loss as the 60-40 equity arrangement between the NNPC and the oil majors, which he described as a fraud.

The senior advocate said  no one knows what is being produced in the crude oil sector or at what cost it is being produced, adding that it is only when one knows the cost of oil (amount at which a barrel of crude is produced) that the revenue and production can be tracked.

He accused the oil majors of ripping off the country through huge legal fees to the tune of $1billion yearly and that they keep the proceeds mainly in foreign banks.  Agbakoba said the National Assembly has to operate from the point of knowledge if it is to become effective in its oversight and win the admiration of Nigerians.

But the  management of the NNPC disagreed with Agbakoba, saying  the corporation remains virile, strong and a veritable partner in the nation's quest for growth and economic development.

Corporation’s spokesman  Dr. Levi Ajuonuma described  Agbakoba' statement on the existing arrangements in the oil and gas industry, the supervisory role of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and NNPC as totally uninformed and unwarranted bar-room comment on the nation's premier revenue earner.

He said: "It is pertinent to remind Mr. Agbakoba that as far as the oil and gas industry is concerned, he remains an uniformed stakeholder. He even admitted as much before making those comments. He should have known better by limiting himself to whatever areas of expertise he claims to possess", Ajuonuma said.

"In today's global economic climate such disparaging comment on the Nigerian National Oil Company is also tantamount to an unpatriotic comment on Nigeria," Ajuonuma added.
He called on Agbakoba and his likes to make use of the Freedom of Information Act to acquaint themselves of facts before jumping to wild conclusion and irrelevances.

Former Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Yomi Ogunyomi, who delivered the main lecture titled: “Strengthening the effectiveness of committee system in the House,” said the constitution of over 80 standing committees was not an impediment to legislative workings.

Of the 85 standing committees, he said, only Appropriation met 27 times during the 2009/2010 legislative year. Majority met for just 10 times. Ogunyomi also said some committee failed to meet throughout the year while majority were found culpable of not having reports of their activities as against set rules.

According to him, committees also had 95 workshops, 112 Bills referred to the Committees and embarked on 30 foreign workshops while meeting the 181 days mandatory sitting in a year was a challenge.

The former Clerk noted that the current House must guide against pitfalls that bedevilled previous Assemblies.He listed role overlap, personality clashes, strong external influence and frictions over welfare matters as major hindrances to the functions of the committees.

He said autocratic nature of Chairmen of committees and problem of joint referral also added to the inability of the committees of the Sixth Assembly to perform to optimal level, adding that for the committees to function even at 10 per cent, political parties must refrain from nominating politicians that cannot perform legislative duties.

President of the Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye said there was the need for the National Assembly to gain the trust of the people through people-oriented legislations.
House Speaker  Aminu Tambuwal  assured the people that the committees will be efficient in its work.

“Let me again state that the operations and activities of the committees will be held to standards of efficiency, transparency and accountability, which are the same standards already defined to guide the House of Representatives.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/21388-why-nnpc-should-be-scrapped-by-ex-nba-chief-agbakoba.html

[size=13pt]October 1: FG denies being scared of Boko Haram[/size]

The Federal Government on Thursday denied speculations that it planned a low-keyed celebration of the nation’s 51st independence anniversary because of the fear of attack by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.


Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja described such speculations as “irresponsible”. He also chided the media for giving too much attention to the activities of Boko Haram, which he referred to as an “anti-state actor.”


Maku said, “Let me express my disappointment with one of the front page stories in one of the leading newspapers today in which it claimed that the Federal Government has stepped down celebrations in this year’s anniversary because of a Boko Haram scare.


“I think this story was the highest level of lack of responsibility on the part of the management and editors of the newspapers.


“Nigeria belongs to all of us, we must put the interest of this country first. The President has just signed the Freedom of Information bill into law as the sign of this administration’s commitment to the promotion of the Freedom of the Press.


“It is increasingly a matter of concern the way a few newspapers have been reporting the security challenges this nation has. In the first instance, every Nigerian is aware that even under the military regime, it was not every anniversary that this nation celebrated with a military parade.


“I know that under this dispensation, as a former Commissioner, I know that in several years, we never celebrated independence with military parade where school children will come out and engage in a march past.”


The Federal Government had announced that this year’s anniversary event would only feature a national broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan and an inspection of Guard of Honour inside the Presidential Villa. The announcement fuelled speculations that the government might have done so out of fear that the event could be bombed.


Maku said that contrary to the speculations, the government decided to make the anniversary low-keyed because it had organised two elaborate ceremonies in the last one year.


He recalled that the country held a huge celebration in commemoration of its 50th independence anniversary in 2010 as well as an elaborate presidential inauguration in May 2011.


He said that a lot of money, time and energy were expended on the two ceremonies with world leaders in attendance. This, he explained, informed the decision of the government to make the independence anniversary low-keyed.


He added that the thinking of government was that by 2014 when the country would be marking its 100 years of amalgamation, another elaborate ceremony could be held.


Apart from this, Maku also said that there was no law that made it compulsory that every independence celebration must feature military and schoolchildren parade.


“Even during military era, it was not all independence celebrations that featured military parades. Even during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, military parades were not held at every independence celebration. This is not the first time this kind of low-keyed celebration is being held,” he said.


He advised that when reporting issues bordering on national security, a minimum standard of national interest must be displayed.


While admitting that Nigeria is currently experiencing some security challenges, Maku said that the government was doing everything possible to overcome them.


Two explosions were recorded near the Eagle Square venue of the nation’s 50th independence anniversary on October 1 last year.


The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for the blasts in which 10 deaths were recorded.


MEND also on Wednesday issued a warning that it would again plant bomb “within and in the vicinity of the Eagle Square venue of the 51st independence anniversary.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109300553585

[size=13pt]States’ bond borrowing to hit N502bn in Dec[/size]

If all the relevant regulatory bodies give their approval, borrowing by state governments in the bond market will total N502bn by the end of 2011.


Already, nine state governments received approval to raise a total of N217bn from the bond market between April 30, 2010 and June 30, 2011.


In addition to this, the Kaduna State Government has also issued a N10bn bond.


With the planned bond issuance of N25bn by the Ekiti State Government and N250bn by the Rivers State Government, the figure is set to hit N502bn before the end of the year.


Ekiti State, for instance, is on the verge of beginning its N25bn bond issuance programme before the year runs out.


A source close to the government told our correspondent on Thursday that the issuance would commence next month.


The source, who did not want to be named because he was not permitted to speak on the issue, noted that already, almost all the paper work had been completed.


“We will be coming to the market to raise N25bn and we have received almost all the relevant approvals. We are looking at between three weeks and a month maximum to commence the issuance,” he said.


The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, said the bond from the capital market was a part of visualising the government’s industrial plans for the state.


He said that the bonds, when raised, would be used to address the eight-point agenda of the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.


Also, the Rivers State government, under the leadership of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said his administration plans to issue a N250bn bond in the capital market to fund major developmental projects.


The governor’s spokesperson, Mr. David Iyofor, said the bond would be used in funding specific projects, such as the Greater Port Harcourt City; the Port Harcourt Monorail project; and the new Rivers State University of Science and Technology Phase 1.


He had also added that the state planned to approach the capital market in October 2011, to raise the fund in two tranches of N100bn and N150bn.


“Already, the state House of Assembly has given the nod for the governor to go ahead and obtain the bond as such projects cannot be accomplished by sheer reliance on federal allocation and internally generated revenue that comes in trickles,” he said.


A statement obtained on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that nine states had received approvals between April 30, 2010 and June 30, 2011.


The Lagos State Government, which was the first to receive the approval within this period, is offering for subscription N57.5bn 10 per cent fixed rate, under the N275bn debt issuance programme for the 2010/2017 (Series 2).


The state, leading the pack in terms of volume and value, had raised N50bn in 2008 and N57.5bn in 2010, totalling N107.5bn in its first and second bond issues.


Also, Bayelsa State received the approval to raise N50bn from the capital market in June 30, 2010. The state issued an offer for subscription of N50bn 15.5 per cent Fixed Rate Development Bond between 2010 and 2017.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110930121437

[size=13pt]Naira drops to all-time low in inter-bank market[/size]

The naira weakened further against the United States dollar on Thursday as the persistent strong demand for the foreign currency only received limited supply.


After closing at N158.45 to the dollar on the inter-bank market on Wednesday, the naira fell to an all-time low of N159.75 to the dollar at the close of activities on Thursday.


This fall in the local currency persisted regardless of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s attempt to raise supply at its bi-weekly auction and after it allowed the naira to appreciate at the official window.


On Wednesday, the CBN sold $700m at 154.60 to the dollar at its bi-weekly forex auction, a figure which represented the apex bank’s highest single sale since the beginning of the year, and against the $703.05m demanded.


Reuters reported that traders were sceptical about the regulator’s intentions to defend the naira, which fell beyond a target band of N150 +/-3 per cent at the previous auction and currently sells at 0.06 per cent beyond the range as posted on the official window.


Analysts had told our correspondent that the apex bank would halt the naira fall, as they stressed that the CBN would not relax and watch the naira fall to a level that would increase pressure on the economy and the country’s foreign reserves.


“The CBN may not be meeting its target of + or – three per cent of N150 at the moment, but that doesn’t meant it would allow the naira to continue depreciating beyond what Nigerians can bear,” the Research Analyst with BGL Securities Limited, Mr. Femi Ademola, had said.


Reuters quoted a dealer to have said, “The market is watching to see if this was a one-off thing or the CBN would show seriousness in the subsequent auction in defending the naira currency.”


Another trader said there was tight dollar liquidity, with growing demand from importers stocking up for year-end sales.


“There is no dollar liquidity, yet demand remained strong so what we expect is that the naira will continue to depreciate until the next auction by the CBN on Wednesday,” the dealer said.


Traders had earlier speculated that the naira would hit N160 to the dollar following its downward trends which had persisted and had gone beyond the apex bank’s range at its official window.


Commenting on the possible slide of the naira to N160 per dollar, Ademola said, “I want to say that we don’t see that happening, and this is because you will discover that last month there were even some actions that the CBN took which quickly doused the tension at the dollar market.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110930258939

nku5:
Kindly move this where it belongs https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=771270.0.html

Thanks.

Congratulations My guy!

Welcome to the board!

ifyalways:
I'm not interested but I'd nominate just the same.lolz(dunno if they're intrested)

PhysicsPhd
Andre Uweh

And why are you not interested?

You are one of the top posters in this section and am sure u also have the time. I think u should offer yourself, time to give back

Justwise is d man we need here now in addition to Dis Guy


And please say yes Justwise.

^Am not sure if they now issue it at Force Hqrts Abuja, I only know about Alagbon Lagos. If you can get it in Abuja, fine.

It is a centralized system (or it should be) So you only need one police record certificate.

[size=13pt]NCC set to bar unregistered SIM cards[/size]

Except the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, changes its earlier decision, owners of unregistered subscribers identification module, SIM cards, may be barred by the close of business today, from receiving calls from their loved ones.

A source close to the commission told Nigerian Pilot last night that the sanction might also prevent them from making calls as well.

The source said the SIM cards registration, which is expected to officially end today throughout the country, would enhance national security and protect the telecom consumers, and therefore, solicited support of all stakeholders towards the realisation of the exercise.

NCC had earlier spoken about the benefits and challenges of the exercise at the 44th edition of its Consumer Outreach Programme held at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, adding that in spite of the challenges presented by the project, it had a wider benefit for the country and its citizens.

Director of consumer affairs of the commission, Mrs Mary Uduma, who represented the executive vice chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, had earlier appealed to all stakeholders in the state to embrace the SIM card registration exercise, as the commission was doing all within its powers to ensure that every person living in the country was adequately protected.

“We have a mandate to ensure that all users of telephones in Nigeria are registered to ensure that there is an indentity behind every telephone that is on the Nigerian network, and the commission has done proper sensitisation across the country to ensure that no subscriber will have any excuse not to register his or her SIM cards within the period announced by the commission,” she said.

Uduma said the NCC was aware of the challenges faced by the service providers as well as the commission during the exercise such as illegal charges for registration by unscrupulous and corrupt SIM registration agents, epileptic power supply for equipment, mis-recording or improper capturing of data as well as limited number of SIM registration centres.

She listed some other benefits of the registration to include quick recovery of lost SIM cards and possibility of implementing number portability for the subscribers, which will allow them to retain their choice numbers while migrating to another network that may offer them better service at reduced tariff.

By Peter Jones Ailuorio, Lagos

http://www.nigerianpilot.com/?q=content/ncc-set-bar-unregistered-sim-cards

[size=13pt]Senate probes NITEL, NIPOST[/size]

The Senate has commenced investigations to unravel what may have contributed to the collapse of government -owned telecommunications NITEL industry in the country.
Against the backdrop of NITEL’s ordeal which started with the privatisation of the company by the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE to PENTASCOPE, the Senate President David Mark at plenary in Abuja yesterday, ordered a probe into the collapse of the organisation, with a vow that those culpable must be prosecuted.

Giving the directive at the inauguration ceremony of the newly constituted Senate Committee on Communication yesterday, Mark, who frowned at the magnitude of the fraud that had led to the collapse of NITEL and its subsidiary agency, E-MTEL, despite attempts by government to make the public telecom industry viable through privatisation, directed the committee to unravel the mystery behind the collapse of the industry.

“Make sure that you investigate and bring to book all those who contributed in burying NITEL, NIPOST and E-MTEL .We cannot fold our hands and allow these huge investments to rot away when those who rendered these companies dead walk around our streets freely unmolested,” he maintained.

The federal government, Mark said, should put all necessary structures to reactivate NITEL, NIPOST and E-MTEL to break the monopoly enjoyed by private telecommunication providers, which he also charged to render modest services to their increasing subscribers.

The Senate president further directed the committee to step into the industry and roll out legislations that would ensure that the service providers did not take undue advantage of the masses by arbitrarily increasing the cost of their services.

He wondered why telecommunication service providers should insist that users of their services must thumb-print in the process of registering their subscriber identification module, SIM cards, stressing that the idea was not proper.

Mark, who also inaugurated Senate Committees on Capital Market , Co-operation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Culture and Tourism and Defence, urged the newly constituted committees to brace up and inject a new life into the ministries and parastatals under their supervision, to meet the Transformation Agenda of the Federal government.

By Ignatius Okorocha

http://www.nigerianpilot.com/?q=content/senate-probes-nitel-nipost

[size=13pt]Govt partners Julius Berger on roads’ construction[/size]

OSOGBO— GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, has expressed the readiness of his administration to partner construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in the area of road construction.

The governor spoke in Osogbo during a partnership meeting with a team from the construction company, led by its Head of West Division, Mr. Wolfgong Loesser.

Aregbesola directed the leadership of the Ministry of Road and Transport to conduct the team round the critical roads in the state for the team to ascertain the best approach to them.

Addressing the team, the governor said that his dream was to have the best for the state in terms of road construction and provision of infrastructural facilities.

Hence the need to partner the company, being a reputable construction company in the country.

He said that the team should be shown critical roads like Osogbo-Iwo Road; East Bypass among others that could assist commerce, socialization and support growth of the state.

Aregbesola emphasized that he deliberately invited the company to the meeting, challenging them that it would be wrong of them to concentrate only on Lagos without considering other states, especially in the Western area of the country, being a contracting firm which any government should struggle to partner with.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/govt-partners-julius-berger-on-roads-construction/

[size=13pt]Confusion, as robbers raid 2 banks in Ilesa[/size]

ILESA, Osun State, was thrown into confusion, on Wednesday, as robbers raided two new generation banks and wounded several people, while an unconfirmed report said two people were killed.

The robbers, who arrived the banks around 10.00 a.m were said to have come in a Toyota Sienna car, shooting sporadically into the air to scare the people away, just as it was reported that they used dynamite to break the security doors of the bank where they operated.

The robbery incident, which occurred barely a week that four banks were robbed in Iwo, also in Osun State, caused commotion in the state, as banks in Osogbo shut their doors against customers, while people were prevented from making any transaction.

The robbery operation was said to have lasted for 40 minutes. Though while the robbers were trying to escape, mobile policemen from the state police command were said to have engaged them in a gun duel.

According to an eyewitness, the bullets fired by the police were said not to have effect on the robbers, probably because they had charms on them.

The policemen, it was reported, had to retreat when they ran out of bullets, a development that gave the robbers an advantage to escape with their loots. The tyre of the vehicle through which they came was said to have been deflated with bullets, but they still managed to escape with another vehicle snatched at gunpoint.

Those wounded in the incident as a result of stray bullets were taken to Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa, were they are receiving treatment.

While confirming the robbery incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Solomon Olusegun, said he was yet to receive full details.

However, members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) were said to have pursued the robbers and traced them towards Akure road.

In another development, the state police command has said its men are on the trail of the robbers who killed a policeman and broke into four banks in Iwo, last week.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Olugbemileke Taiwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, on Wednesday, that although no arrests had been made, the police were close to making a breakthrough.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/28919-confusion-as-robbers-raid-2-banks-in-ilesa

I do not think so.
People are already scared and nervous about more possible BH attacks.

He is such a cute boy!

Congratulations! Enyojo.

May God keep and bless him.

League Shocker! Baribote inherits over N100m debt, N17m credit


Chief Victor Baribote yesterday met the media in Lagos and showed that he may run a transparent and possibly dynamic league which which could improve the lot of the Nigerian player.

He made public the statement of bank accounts of the League Board for all to know how much that was left in the coffers as he resumes as chairman of the new board.

Baribote felt that there was nothing to hide and that Nigerians needed to know how rich or poor their League Board is, their prospects, aspirations and challenges.

He summed up by saying that the league belonged to Nigeria and that the clubs hold the authority which his board would always respect and actually comply with. He said that his board would try to be professional in implementing the decisions of the owners of the league, the clubs. That is how he plans to run the league.

Financial consultants to the board were with him. And going by their records, the Nigeria Premier League, as at September 21, had a total of N17,572,814 (Seventeen Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Two, Eight Hundred and Fourteen Naira) in their Zenith Bank and ETB accounts. This is the amount that the new board would take off with. Members of the media found this amount ridiculous and wondered how he would run the league successfully with such poor resources. Of course, there are debts but Baribote hopes to hang on until the league attracts sponsors. There’s also periodic payment of money from broadcast fees the worth of which they really don’t know since the past board involved an intermediary. Supersport, the cable television in question, has also never disclosed the true amount of the broadcast fee to the League Board. They pay directly to an agent who in turn pays the board.

Baribote hopes to be briefing the media on their balance sheets from time to time and would do everything possible to respect future sponsors of the league and ensure their visibility and other benefits that should accrue to them as sponsors.

The other major thing Barbote emphasized was the need for a collective effort to make the Nigerian league vibrant.

“I have resumed as chairman of the league and this is time for reconciliation, a time for the league to move on, a time to rebuild. I am not ready to witch hunt anybody. I’m ready to build and it is a job for all of us. If I fail, Nigeria has failed. I hope not to fail.

I just felt that the public should know what they have in their league, what we met in our account which is what we are taking off with. I don’t want to go further because the board will still meet in Abuja and we will work collectively because the clubs will be involved in everything that we shall do. We will involve them.”

Asked if the frictions about elections would not continue he said that the clubs elected him and he did not envisage from the majority of the clubs since he became chairman courtesy of their mandate.

One of the challenges of the new board is to find sponsors for the league. They have N100m loan from the past board to settle. The loan was taken from GTB. Globacom sponsored the league to the tune of N690m before they pulled.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/league-shocker-baribote-inherits-over-n100m-debt-n17m-credit/

Oceanic Bank shareholders approve ETI acquisition deal

BY PETER EGWUATU

LAGOS – Shareholders of Oceanic International Bank Plc (troubled bank), yesterday, approved a proposed acquisition deal with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated,ETI, to restore the bank to required capital adequacy and liquidity levels required by Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN.

The shareholders of Oceanic Bank are expected to get one new ETI shares in exchange of 14 Oceanic Bank shares after reduction of the bank’s paid-up share capital.

At a court-ordered Extra Ordinary General Meeting,EGM, the shareholders consented to all the proposal brought before them by the Board of  Oceanic Bank.

Specifically,  11, 953,093,175, votes in favour of the reorganisation deal, representing  99.98  per cent of the entire shareholders present at the meeting, while 1,000 votes against the reorganisation scheme, representing 0.02 per cent.

Chairman of Oceanic Bank, Apostle Hayford Alile, who presided over the court-ordered meeting, commended the shareholders for approving the scheme of arrangement, stressing that the reorganisation of the capital between Oceanic Bank and holders of its fully-paid ordinary shareholders entails reducing the entire paid-up share capital of the bank from N11,110,684,684,606.50  comprising 22,221,369,213 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to zero, through the cancellation of every fully-paid, issued, and outstanding ordinary share of 50 kobo each in the paid-up capital of the bank.

At the meeting, Managing Director /CEO, Oceanic Bank, Mr. John Aboh, said: “The proposed acquisition is the best that has ever happened in the Nigerian banking industry, as holders of  Oceanic Bank shares so cancelled shall receive one ordinary share of US$0.25 and 0.428 preference shares of US$0.1032 in ETI credited as fully paid for every 20 ordinary shares o 50 kobo previously held by them in Oceanic Bank prior to effective date.

This means that Oceanic shareholders will get one ETI shares in exchange of 14 Oceanic Bank shares. When one consider the price (N1.15) at which the Oceanic Bank was placed on technical suspension on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), You all will agree with me that it is a fair deal.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/oceanic-bank-shareholders-approve-eti-acquisition-deal/

Ex-militants ground traffic over unpaid dues

Niger Delta militants, who renounced violence during the Federal Government sponsored amnesty programme, disrupted traffic and commercial activities in Delta State on Tuesday over unpaid allowances.

The tension in the usually peaceful Osubi Community of Okpe Local Government Area of the state was palpable as the protesting ex-militants barricaded the very busy Osubi-Eku road.

They demanded the payment of their two months allowances, which they alleged had been diverted by the management of the amnesty programme.

The demonstrators, who expressed frustration at the turn of events, stationed a lorry loaded with bags of cement across the road, thereby causing severe vehicular traffic hold-up.

The residents of the area quickly locked their houses and shops even as policemen at the trade fair centre looked on helplessly at the protesters, who were not willing to speak to reporters.

But a resident of the area, craved anonymity, explained that the ex-militants had been residing in a hotel in the area, adding that they barricaded the road during rush hour to drive home their message that they had been abandoned by the authorities.

The security operatives, who stormed the scene, were helpless as the rioters threw pebbles and sticks at them, causing them to beat a retreat.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the demonstration, observed that two armoured personnel carriers had been stationed at the place to disperse the protesters.

It was learnt that when the security agents initially deployed could not withstand the demonstrators, the authorities immediately. It was the arrival of the armoured vehicles that eventually made the ex-militants beat a retreat.

Traffic flow was restored by soldiers later as the object of obstruction was pulled away from the road.

The details of the ex-militants’ grouse that took part in the protest could not be ascertained as they were visibly angered by the non-payment of their allowances and were not willing to speak with anybody.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109284454485

Commission submits gang-violation report to minister

Tuesday in Abuja said it had concluded investigation into the gang-violation of a female student.

It said the report had beensubmitted to the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi.

The commission added that it met recently with the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd), and urged him to direct the police to investigate the matter.

A statement by the NHRC’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Mr. Muhammad Ladan, quoted the Acting Executive Secretary, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah, as welcoming the progress recorded in the investigation of the gang violation.

The commission also urged the police to “conclude their own investigations quickly and arraign the suspects before a court of competent jurisdiction.”

It called for adequate police protection and a comprehensive medical examination of the victim, whom, it claimed, would have been exposed to sexually transmittable diseases and unwanted pregnancy.

The NHRC said, “Police protection and medical care for the victim as well as diligent prosecution of the suspects are critical issues to be addressed at this point. The gang violation is cruel, dehumanising and unacceptable. It is a primitive act of violence against womanhood and those involved in this dastardly and beastly act should be made to give a full account of their action.”

The NHRC also flayed the initial dismissive approach by the relevant authorities in the matter without a thorough investigation, describing it as “embarrassing.”

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, on Monday urged the Abia State Government to ensure that the men who violated the student were brought to book.

Ogunye, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, noted that the government held it as a duty to Nigerians to ensure that justice was done in the matter.

He said, ‘‘Abia State has been a bastion of all sorts of criminality where kidnapping and demand for ransom take place. But the government in the state has to assure Nigerians and the international community that the state is not where anything can happen. It will be a hard sell to say the people (rapists) could not be arrested.”

He added that the police had enough clues to apprehend the suspects based on their names or aliases as obtained from the video and the photographs posted on the Internet.

According to him, the police should commence a full scale investigation into the matter.

Ogunye said the victim, when identified, should be greatly consoled for, according to him, she had been psychologically bruised.

‘‘She can be moved from the university to another place or sponsored abroad to continue her education. Otherwise, she cannot live normally in that state. There must be justice for her and the society at large,’’ he said.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110928341217