₦airaland Forum

[size=13pt]Britain joins fight against Boko Haram[/size]

By EMMA AMAIZE & KINGSLEY OMONOBI

ABUJA—Against the backdrop of increased terrorist attacks in the country and fears that the Boko Haram sect may have targeted the bombing of foreign embassies operating in Nigeria, the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd, yesterday declared that Britain was willing to provide intelligence and technological support in the nation’s fight against terrorism.

Mr Lloyd who disclosed this when he paid a visit to the Minister of Defence, Bello Haliru Mohammed in his office said the very close bilateral relations between Nigeria and Britain had made it imperative that issues of terrorism which are condemnable acts are tackled headlong together in the interest of the people of both nations.

He said that though Britain has always provided support in the areas of training for Nigeria’s military personnel, it has made it imperative for new pages of cooperation to be opened in providing modern technological devices and the advanced intelligence needed to tackle terrorism cankerworm.

The High Commissioner also disclosed that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), which is presently operating below capacity would be given British support and experience through the exchange of expertise and other required support to succeed in its quest to develop, manufacture and assemble arms and ammunition for the nation.

Defence Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed in his response, requested Britain’s support in Nigeria’s bid to become a permanent member of the UN security council explaining that by virtue of Nigeria’s contribution to peace keeping efforts worldwide, the country deserves to be at the security council.

Commending Britain for its support to the armed forces particularly as it regards training and capacity building of personnel, the minister reminded the High Commissioner that terrorism being a global phenomenon, required all hands to be on deck to fight it hence he called for greater cooperation between the two countries in this regard.

Dr. Bello further requested Britain to improve its trade ties with Nigeria and show example to other countries still dragging their feet toward investing and benefitting from the immense socio-economic and mineral opportunities that abound within the country.

Niger Delta militants volunteer to join forces with army

Meanwhile following uncovered intelligence reports that the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, had concluded plans to bomb some states in the Niger-Delta, South-East and South-West geo-political zones, militants in the Niger Delta, have volunteered to team up with the security agencies, especially the armed forces to repel the rebellious group.

Spokesman of the militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, “Captain” Mark Anthony, in an online statement, Tuesday, said the Israeli forces contracted by the government cannot provide adequate security and volunteered special security services for President Goodluck Jonathan and members of his immediate family because of the precarious security situation in the country.

The militant group specifically warned Boko Haram members to steer clear of Niger Delta in their own interest, saying, “If they ignore this warning, the counter reaction will be disastrous”.

Part of the statement reads thus: “We, on behalf of the good people of Niger Delta and Nigerians do hereby offer to partner with the federal security force, especially the army to give voluntary security services to President Goodluck Jonathan and his immediate family over the precarious security situation created by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram with suicide bombing at strategic locations in Abuja and other cities in the nation, thereby creating total insecurity”.

“This call for partnership becomes expedient, especially with the porous security network and backstabbing at high security quarters , which gave the feeling that the life of the President and his immediate family members is at risk.

“We show concern for the fact that the Nigerian security apparatus have been overtly cowed down by the activities of the Boko Haram. For us, President Goodluck Jonathan is a product of our intensified Niger Delta arms struggle and we will not claim not to know that the Boko Harram mission is to destabilize President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration or assassinate him, if they could have their way. God will not allow it to happen as emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan was through divine providence”, he added,

The militant group stated that, “The Boko Haram agitation is not anti-western education, but anti Niger Delta/Christianity and we will not continue to fold our hands and allow these devils in human faces to terrorize and kill innocent citizens at will”.

“We are aware that the government had offered the security of the life of President Goodluck Jonathan to Israeli police, but that is not enough as NDLF tested soldiers are still very visible to give the President the needed support/security as one of our own from any external force, if the enabling environment is given to us.

“We do not want anything to happen to the life of our President. This is because President Goodluck Jonathan is an exchange of lives of countless youths who died during the heat of Niger Delta agitation.

For us, suicide bombing or throwing hand grenade at public places is ‘ woman fight’, that is why while we were in the creek, we always alertëd soldiers of our pre-targets and our locations. And we did not throw any bomb at public places because such operations are devilish and satanic and are not part of Niger Delta struggle.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/britain-joins-fight-against-boko-haram/

[size=13pt]Swiss court orders retrial of Abacha’s son[/size]

GENEVA – Switzerland’s highest court has ordered the retrial of son of former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

Abba Abacha was given a two-year suspended sentence in June 2010 for taking part in a criminal organisation, and his assets were confiscated.

The retrial was ordered because he had been unable to get a Swiss visa to attend the trial.
The Federal Government lawyers believe Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998, may have stolen $2.2bn (£1.3bn).

After his father’s death in 1998, Abba Abacha and other members of the family controlled the funds.

Nigeria asked the Swiss government in 1999 to help it recover the money, much of which was thought to be hidden in Swiss banks.

Switzerland has so far handed back about $700m to Nigeria.

Abba Abacha was ordered to return $350m of illegally gained assets at his trial last year in the police court in Geneva.

But the Swiss Federal Tribunal annulled the sentence and ordered the retrial on the grounds that Abacha’s rights had been violated and because of procedural irregularities.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/swiss-court-orders-retrial-of-abachas-son/

Happy Birthday Sege!

Many Happy Returns!

[size=13pt]Nigeria to sell 70% of power distribution firms -BPE[/size]

NIGERIA plans to sell a 70 per cent stake in 11 power distribution companies to new investors, as part of the multi-billion dollar privatisation of its electricity sector, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the BPE said 10 per cent of the remaining shares would be offered to state governments where power plants were located, while 18 per cent would be sold through an initial public offering when the companies started operation.

The statement did not disclose how much it expected to receive for the stakes, but said the net proceeds would be transferred to the federation account for distribution to all the tiers of government.

The BPE said in June that it had shortlisted 525 bids for the next round of the privatisation process, adding that successful bidders would be required to pay $20,000 fee for each asset they wanted to buy and sign an exclusivity agreement before going into negotiations.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/28508-nigeria-to-sell-70-of-power-distribution-firms-bpe

[size=13pt]Eagles spokesman opens up on Enyeama[/size]

Worried about the misgivings or misinformation that may arise following the exclusion of Vincent Enyeama from the Eagles next two matches, team spokesman Collin Udoh wrote to put the facts straight this way:

To recap, after the team’s training session on the day of departure for Madagascar, Enyeama and Mikel expressed concerns about the team’s flight arrangements, saying they would have preferred a bigger plane which would have no need to stop over and refuel.

Siasia listened to them, then asked them if they wanted the team to change travel plans. Both players said no, that they were only expressing their feelings and that of other teammates who were not confident enough to speak out.

Siasia then informed them that arrangements had been made already and the team would fly out as scheduled.

At the time of depparture, both players, along with Mikel’s room mate Victor Anichebe, were nowhere to be found.

After waiting nearly half an hour, the coach directed the bus to leave without them, including assistant coach Simon Kalika who was trying to talk the players down.

Eventually, they joined the rest of the squad at the airport and flew to Madagascar.

At Antananarivo, Siasia then called a meeting to resolve the issue.

And this is where the current troubles stem from.

During that meeting, Siasia laid into Mikel, then Anichebe and the Enyeama.

Enyeama took exception to being singled out as the instigator, and being told that not only did he report late to camp, he had also been stirring trouble.

He protested. Vehemently.

According to him, he was the one playing peacemaker and he definitely hadnt been causing any trouble since he came in. Officials present, including NFF Executive Committee member Christopher Green, were displeased at the tone of his language in addressing the coach, especially in front of the group.

Long and short of this is, Green, the coach and his crew felt Enyeama’s tone was rude and insulting.

Enyeama, on the hand, believed he was just being honest and talking straight.

A decision was taken to leave him out of the match day squad unless he apologised to the coach. He did not, and he was left out.

The understanding was that he would then be restored for the game against Argentina.

However, the night after the Madagascar game, as the team prepared to leave for Bangladesh, Enyeama appproached the coach asking for permission to return to his club. It was a request that caught officials by surprise. Siasia was not happy about the player’s decision to leave, but granted him permission in order not to cause a fracture in team spirit that having a disgruntled player might cause.

Green made it clear the matter had gone beyond Siasia and would be taken up by the NFF, as he was present through the entire episode.

Last week, Vincent did the right and honourable thing, by tendering a public apology, in which he stated that he would call the coach to personally appologise. Sadly, that call did not come through.

I was told that up until the list was sent to the Technical Committee, if the coach had received a call from Vincent, he would have been included in the squad.

That, my friends, is the true, albeit abridged, situation.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/eagles-spokesman-opens-up-on-enyeama/

[size=13pt]Siasia’s list for Guinea, Ghana[/size]

Samson Siasia has left goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama out of the Nigeria squad to face Guinea in the final match of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Siasia-and-boys.jpg

The Lille man will also not be involved in a friendly against Ghana three days later in London.

There were recalls however for Kalu Uche, Osaze Odemwingie and Ekigho Ehiosun.

And to join the squad against Ghana is new call-up Ugo Ukah as well as Under-23 star Nnamdi Oduamadi.

The squad

•Austin Ejide

•Dele Aiyenugba •Chigozie Agbim

•Joseph Yobo

•Taye Taiwo

• Chibuzor Okonkwo

•Elderson Echiejile

•Efe Ambrose

•Dele Adeleye

•John Mikel Obi

•Joel Obi

•Fengor Ogude

•Kalu Uche

•Obinna Nsofor

•Ahmed Musa

•Osaze Odemwingie

•Ike Uche

•Emmanuel Emenike

•Peter Utaka

•Chinedu Obasi

•Brown Ideye

To join the squad in London

•Gege Soriola, •Emmanuel Ekpo

•Nosa Igiebor,

•Ugo Ukah

•Nnamdi Oduamadi.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/siasias-list-for-guinea-ghana/

SAKUR:
I was banned yesterday YYYYYYYYYYY?because in my opinion I did nothing wrong I only post a news headline I think will be interesting to alot of people on this forum.

Sorry About it. You were mistakenly banned by the anti spam bot that mistook the the power generation story for spam. You were not the only one banned for posting the story, I and others were banned too.

Again sorry about the ban.

[size=13pt]Eguavoen wants Euro training camp[/size]

Olympic team coach Austin Eguavoen has proposed a European training camp for his squad ahead of the final phase of their Olympic qualifiers.

Turkey and Portugal are the two countries proposed by the former international defender when he meets with the NFF Technical Committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

“This qualifying series is more of a championship and we are leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that we pick a ticket to London 2012,” Eguavoen said.

The proposed Euro trip will be the final leg of five-week preparation for the eight-nation qualifying tournament, with the first phase being camping with domestic league players.

“Plans are on to have the team camp in either Portugal or Turkey; this is one of the decision the Federations technical committee would be considering,” Olympic team media officer Arafat Aliu said.

Eguavoen also plans to arrange friendly games between his Under-23 side, and as yet unnamed European countries during the Fifa match free days this year.

Eight teams will participate in the elimination tournament to be held in Egypt from 26 November to 10 December.

The qualified teams are hosts Egypt, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/eguavoen-wants-euro-training-camp/

[size=13pt]Dangote, Cameroon sign $115m cement deal[/size]

The Republic of Cameroon and Dangote Group yesterday signed a $115 million investment agreement for the construction of a composite cement production plant, which will result in the production of 1.5 million metric tonnes of cement in Douala, Cameroon annually.

The $115 million agreement, which the company described as the first tranche of a $700 million long-term investment projection in Cameroon’s various real sector arms, was signed by President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Prime Minister and head of Government of Cameroun Philémon Yang at a ceremony in the East African country.

Other Cameroon government officials who signed parts of the agreement include Minister of Commerce, Mr Mbarga Atangana, Minister of States for Transport, Bello Bouba Maigari, Governor of Douala, Mr Francis Fai Yengo and Director General of the Cameroon Ports Authority Mr Dayas Monoume Jean Marcel.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/dangote-cameroon-sign-115m-cement-deal/

[size=13pt]Justice is bought and sold in Nigeria – NBA President[/size]

The President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, on Monday said there was evidence that justice was bought in the country.


The statement came just as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, warned corrupt judges in the country to resign immediately.


The NBA President and the Acting CJN spoke at a special court session to mark the beginning of a new Legal Year 2011/2012, which held at the main auditorium of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.


In his address at the event, Daudu also expressed concern at the contradictory judgments being delivered by the panel of justices of the various divisions of the Court of Appeal on election petitions.


He also attributed the rise in cases of assassinations, and terrorism in the country to the inability of the judiciary to deliver clear, unquestionable judgments.


Bemoaning the sad state of Nigeria’s judicial system, Daudu noted that there was a growing perception that justice could be bought in the country.


“There is a growing perception backed up by empirical evidence that justice is purchasable and it has been purchased on several occasions in Nigeria,” Daudu said.


He added that the impending conclusion of the sitting of electoral petitions tribunals, when the various panels would deliver their judgments, would present even more critical challenges for the judiciary.


Daudu said, “We are reaching the point in time where accusations of corruption in the system will be at its loudest.


“The Court of Appeal is beginning to deal with interlocutory appeals and some final decisions in some governorship disputes.


“Already, the strain or effect of the over-balkanisation of the intermediate appellate court into numerous divisions by way of conflicting decisions on very serious matters in the electoral process is beginning to be felt.


“An example is the Court’s decision on the matter of initiating pre-hearing session which is a prelude or condition precedent to the actual hearing of an election petition.”


Reacting to Daudu’s statement, Lagos-baged lawyer, Femi Falana said, “He (Daudu) has spoken the mind of the generality of Nigerian lawyers. The monetisation of justice in Nigeria has reached a very, very disturbing level. But I think the NBA has done enough of condemnation of the criminal phenomenon. The bar must now proceed to fish out those among our judges and lawyers who are destroying the judiciary.


“The NBA will need a judiciary monitoring committee in each of its branches that will report corrupt judges and their agents and touts among lawyers and other members of the public.”


Earlier in his address at the event, the acting CJN urged judges to live up to their code of conduct or resign their appointments.


Musdapher stressed that, under his leadership, there would be zero tolerance for corruption in the system.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110920340365

[size=13pt]Electricity generation now at 4,242MW, highest ever – Nnaji[/size]

The Federal Government said on Monday that the country had attained an all-time-high power generation of 4,242.7 megawatts.


The Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, announced this in Abuja even as his counterpart in the investment and trade ministry, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, also said the Federal Government had sealed a N240bn energy and housing deal with European investors.


Nnaji, who spoke at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Towards Stability in Power Sector”, held at State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, said the country had also reduced the incidence of system collapse in the power sector significantly.


The power minister said, “On Friday, September 17, 2011, Nigeria attained the highest quantum of power ever. We achieved 3,982.7MW. This figure does not include the 260MW maintained as spinning reserve, which is used for system stability. I am glad to report that all the 3,982.7MW now produced in Nigeria goes into the national grid without difficulty. In other words, the attained generation is now 4,242.7MW.


“Nigeria used to experience an average of four system collapse every month, that is, almost 50 system failures annually. Much as we have reduced the failures in the last one year, our goal is to reduce them to zero. I must add, however, that some of the failures are caused by factors beyond our control, like a sudden shortage of gas supply to a power generation facility.”


The former President Umaru Yar’Adua administration had failed to deliver on its promise of attaining a 6,000MW target in 2009. The highest the government achieved in August 2010 was 3,800 MW, the highest figure till then.


Nnaji said there were credible reports of a noticeable improvement in power supply in many parts of the country and that the country was expecting an additional 10MW from the Delta Power Station in Ughelli, Delta State, this month. He added that another 120MW will be added later this year, bringing the quantum of power being expected from the plant to 470MW.


“This improvement will still leave us with a shortfall of 430MW because the station’s installed capacity is 900MW. From its sister power station in Sapele, we are expecting an additional 100MW this year, raising supply from this station to 252MW. Still, there will be a shortfall of 768MW because the installed capacity of the station is 1,020MW.


“We have a programme to recover as soon as possible lost capacities at Egbin, Kainji and other places. The 760MW Kainji hydro station, built in 1968, has never been overhauled. But some of its units which are out of use are now undergoing rehabilitation. Coupled with the scheduled inauguration of some plants being built under the National Integrated Power Project, we are optimistic of achieving the target of 5,000MW this year and hit 6,000MW in 2012,” he said.


Also, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a consortium of Swiss and European investors for the investment of N240bn ($1.6bn) in the power, petroleum and housing sectors of the Nigerian economy.


Aganga confirmed the development during the signing of the first phase of the MoU with the representatives of the consortium in Abuja.


The group, comprising Seagas Services Limited and Oceanmar Services Limited, was led by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Affairs and Investments, Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Behgjet Pacolli.


Aganga said that the Ministry of Trade and Investment would work closely with the Ministries of Power and Petroleum to facilitate the investments, adding that the Federal Government was committed to supporting genuine investors to invest in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.


He said, “We have held discussions with the representatives of Seagas Services Limited and Oceanmar Services Limited, about the investment opportunities in Nigeria. We have agreed on investments in a few areas such as housing, building a factory for gas infrastructure for the manufacturing of gas pipelines.


“We also discussed the possibility of investing in the area of power, building of refineries and housing construction.


“After a number of discussions, we are signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the estimated sum of $1.6bn to be invested in some of these areas. Specifically, the money will be invested in refinery, power and housing,” he said.


President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, blamed the unstable power supply experienced in the country on poor pricing. According to him, Nigeria has the lowest electricity tariff and that is why it has poor power supply. Jonathan also said that a new monthly bill of N11bn had been approved for Power Holding of Nigeria’s workers by the government.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110920253318

[size=13pt]I will expose, expunge, banish corrupt Judges – Ag. CJN[/size]

…Canvasses broad overhaul of the judicial system

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Monday, re-iterated his resolve to extricate the judiciary from what he termed “prevailing iniquities”, stressing that “henceforth, there shall be zero tolerance to judicial corruption or misconduct.”

The CJN who made this declaration during a special court session that was held at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Monday, to mark the beginning of the 2011/ 2012 legal year, insisted that “it is very important to ensure that those who abuse the privilege of judicial authority are exposed, expunged, banished and punished.”

He said: “I feel it is necessary at this point, to strongly advise that those who cannot sustain true allegiance to their judicial oaths and abide by all the demands of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers to bow out immediately. I urge you to realise that there is no middle ground and no space on the bench for those adjudged to be unworthy arbiters of truth.

“As I have admitted on previous occasions, the extent to which prevalent societal currents have also engulfed the judiciary, demands great concern. Judges and the judicial system must remain politically neutral and rise up to safeguard our fledging democracy. We must deflect the tides of impropriety and immunize the entire judicial system against all identified iniquities.

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Dahiru-Musdapher.jpg

“As its stands today, it appears that the society we serve is not entirely satisfied with our performance. Hard as it may be to accept, we feel it is less important to focus on whether this assessment is fair or not. The important thing is for us to transparently come to terms with the prevailing realities, accept the gap in expectations and do our utmost to bridge it.

“I strongly believe we can succeed by adhering to the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as contained in sections 13 to 24 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Section 23 provides that: “the national ethics shall be discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self reliance and patriotism”, it is of fundamental importance that in the adjudication of any matter that is placed before us particularly those dealing with the interpretation of the constitution and other statutes, to bear these principles in mind.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/i-will-expose-expunge-banish-corrupt-judges-ag-cjn/

[size=13pt]FG, EU sign N240bn power, refinery deal[/size]

By Favour Nnabugwu

The Federal Government has signed a whopping N240billion ($1.6billion) investment deal with European Union, EU on power, and refinery.

The deal was sealed in Abuja, Monday, with a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between the federal government and a consortium from EU.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga during the signing of the first phase of the MOU with the consortium led by the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Affairs and Investments, Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Behgjet Pacolli.

According to him, “We have held discussions with the representatives of Seagas Services Limited and Oceanmar Services Limited, about the investment opportunities in Nigeria”

“After a number of discussions, we are signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the estimated sum of $1.6billion to be invested in some of these areas. Specifically, the money will be invested in refinery, power and housing”.

He further said, “We have agreed on investments in a few areas such as housing, building a factory for gas infrastructure for the manufacturing of gas pipelines.

Aganga said that the Ministry of Trade and Investment would work closely with the Ministries of Power and Petroleum to facilitate the investments, adding that the Federal Government was committed to supporting genuine investors to invest in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

He added, “We also discussed the possibility of investing in the area of power, building of refineries and housing construction.

“It is the desire of the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Trade and Investment, to attract Foreign Direct Investments into Nigeria, create jobs, generate wealth and enhance the economic growth of the country.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/fg-eu-signed-n240bn-power-refinery-deal/

@South East

I cant believe you made me laugh this hard. Funny as hell.

Whao!

See Adelebos (grown up women) acting like teenagers in love. Does it get better like good wine?

Erm. . . Jk, can you explain to me in much more details what exactly you did that made Mr Jk shouted "Christ" and started speaking in tongues?

[size=13pt]Crisis looms, Labour rejects planned hike in fuel price[/size]

TUC to shun talks with govt today

NLC Acting President turns down invitation

Governors allege abuse of fuel subsidy, seeks removal


THE Federal Government may soon be faced with civil and industrial unrest alongside other challenges confronting the country as the Labour movement yesterday threatened to reject the proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Already, the President-General of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, has said the union will not be a part of the negotiations, which begin today between Labour and the Federal Government on the move to hike the price of a litre of petrol to N150.

It was not clear last night who will lead the NLC team to the talks, as one of the deputies of the union’s hierarchy, Kiri Mohammed, now deputising for the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said he had rejected the assignment to participate in the parley.

Mohammed said he had gone to Dutse, Jigawa State where he works at the pension board. In his absence, the lot falls on either Promise Adewusi or Joe Ajaero who are the other deputy presidents.

Also, governors of the 36 states of the federation are poised for another showdown with the Federal Government over the latter’s continued deduction of huge amount of money from the Federation Account for fuel subsidy.

In their renewed opposition to the policy, the governors said at the weekend that it was no longer relevant because ordinary Nigerians meant to be the major beneficiaries of the scheme had been sidelined.

The governors further said that the Federal Government is violating the provisions of the Constitution and an earlier agreement they reached on the matter by persistently deducting money for fuel subsidy from source in the Federation Account.

Niger State Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, who made his colleagues’ position on the matter public in Osogbo, Osun State at the weekend, said the government was breaching the agreement the parties reached that the deduction be stopped.

Aliyu lamented that the deduction, which the governors challenged in court, still continues despite an out-of-court settlement sought by the federal authorities on the matter.

And against the backdrop of allegations by organised Labour that the government has increased fuel price and removed the controversial subsidy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday that the policy was still in place.

Its Group Public Affairs Manager, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma told The Guardian that the government was yet to do away with fuel subsidy.

He said the government is still consulting with all the stakeholders to ensure the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products would be done when it is prudent to take the measure. According to the pricing template of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPA) as at August 15, 2011, the landing cost of a litre of petrol is N129.21; the margin for transporters and marketers is N15.49; the expected pump price is N144.70; while the official pump price is N65.

This means that the government pays N79.70 as subsidy on each litre of petrol.

With about 32 million litres of petrol consumed daily in the country, the government pays about N2.6 billion as subsidy per day.

Esele alleged that government is broke and is desperately looking for where it can get cheap money to finance its projects without first pruning its re-current expenditure.

He said somebody requested him to attend the meeting, “but we (TUC) will not attend. I also know that government is proposing N150 pump price per litre of petrol. We ask how do you do that? There is no infrastructure in place and the recurrent expenditure is as high as 70 per cent. Even a businessman does not run recurrent expenditure of more than 40 per cent talk less of the government of a country. They are quick to announce salary payment as reason for this jerk up, but I ask how much is paid on salary yearly?”

He said the government pays only N11 billion on salary yearly with the new minimum wage to its workers.

Isele asked how much is spent to maintaining ministers, special advisers, senior special advisers, ambassadors, governors, commissioners and National Assembly members yearly?

He alleged that what they call constituency project is a fraud and “yet the government is not interested in plugging all these leakages but interested in removing fuel subsidy. We will resist that unless there is infrastructure for the people.”

Esele stressed that government is not coming to the negotiation table with something new saying, “they are not coming to the table with any new idea and therefore nothing new to discuss.”

Before the move to increase fuel price, the NLC had scheduled a rally in Abuja for Thursday to protest the state-of-the-nation.

Mohammed while announcing plans for the protest at the weekend in Abuja, said: “In the midst of mass suffering despite our huge natural resources and income, it is provocative for the government to want to further increase the price of petrol. In fact, this will tantamount to cruel injustice against the Nigerian people.

“The primary motive for this planned price increase is the insatiable greed of some politicians to get more money to squander; they see an increase in fuel prices as easy way to access more of the country’s wealth. There is also the calculation to render the new minimum wage worthless by embarking on a hyper inflation-inducing project like the astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products.”

The governor said if Abuja believes in fuel subsidy, it should restrict the deduction to its own share of the Federation Account.

He described the deduction as unjustifiable, saying the governors had discovered that it was a calculated attempt to enrich a few individuals at the expense of most Nigerians.

Aliyu queried: “Why should people circumvent the law of the land with impunity? It is part of official corruption. The rule says everything that is generated in the Federation Account should be distributed in accordance with the formula that is on ground. But it is surprising that people still deduct from the source before the distribution. If the NNPC or any other person wants to deduct from the Federal Government allocation, it is alright but you cannot deduct from the source because the issue had been resolved.

“We have discovered that what they call subsidy is no more subsidy to Nigerians but a few elements are profiting from the exercise and so we agreed that the deduction should stop. My position and I think is the position of other governors is that we have decided it must stop and it should stop,” he said.

The governor said good governance is an antidote to corruption, stressing that his administration makes graft in the public sector a serious offence that might affect the career progression of offenders.

“By personal disposition, people know that if I get you with corrupt tendency, you are in trouble. If you think I’m also involved, there are other ways that I can be challenged. So openly, I confront anybody and that has permeated down the system and like I talked about transparency anytime money is released, we will let the world know and how the government intends to utilise available resources.”

Aliyu said the major problems facing the state government are ghost workers, inflated emolument with the names of retired officers or those who had died still reflected on the nominal payroll.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61567:crisis-looms-labour-rejects-planned-hike-in-fuel-price&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[size=13pt]Boko Haram releases video of Abuja UN suicide bomber[/size]

The violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Sunday released videos of the suicide bomber that carried out the August 26 attack on the United Nations’ building in Abuja.


Agence France-Presse reports that the two video clips show the suicide bomber pleading with the members of his family to “understand” why the UN building must be bombed.


A spokesperson of the sect who reportedly called the news agency after it had obtained the tapes said the man in the video was 27-year-old Mohammed Abul Barra. Boko Haram had named Barra as the man who drove a bomb-laden Honda Accord car into the UN office.


Barra, said to be a panel beater said the bombing was carried out “to send a message to US President, (Barak) Obama and other infidels.”


Other portions of the videos referred to the UN headquarters as a “forum of all the global evil,” and offered praise for Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader killed by US special forces in Pakistan.


The AFP reports that though it could not confirm the authenticity of the videos, they have all the markings of previous videos released by the sect.


The sect had claimed responsibility for the UN building attack in which 23 people died and about 116 others were injured. The powerful blast brought down parts of the structure, where about 400 UN personnel worked, and blew out the windows of nearby buildings.


The AFP report says, “He (the bomber) is seen holding an AK-47 automatic rifle, with two other people leaning against the wall. The softly-spoken man wears a striped shirt, a turban and what looks to be a suicide vest.”


The videos, analysts believe, suggest an increased sophistication in the activities of the sect said to be founded in the late 1990s in Maiduguri, Borno State, with the objective of fighting for the establishment of Islamic Sharia law in the country.


Boko Haram activities have jerked up since June 6 when it successfully attacked the Nigeria police headquarters in Abuja. A lone bomber had in a manner resembling the attack on the UN building drove an explosives-laden car into the car park of the Louis Edet police headquarters and detonated the explosives, killing himself and one policeman. Thirty vehicles were completely burnt by the fire that resulted from the bombing. About 70 others were substantially destroyed.


Members of the sect had also launched attacks on military facilities, police barracks and drinking joints, mainly in the northern part of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.


The sect also allegedly sent e-mails to some universities in the country threatening attack recently. Boko Haram roughly translates to “Western education is sin.”


There are fears in official circles that the sect now operates in alliance with foreign and international terrorist organisations.


Meanwhile, the Borno State government said that the four suspects arraigned in a customary court in Abuja last Friday for alleged complicity in the UN building blast were “junior” members of the sect.


Prosecutors told a Magistrate Court in Abuja last week that the four men, Salisu Mohammed, Yunisa Mukaila, Danzumi Haruna and Abdulsalami Adamu, were responsible for the attack on the UN building.


The court had ordered that the suspects be held in custody till November 3 for court appearances but. Zanna Usman, the spokesman for the Borno State governor, said, “Those being tried are not big guys but field operatives. The leaders are the ones who plan operations for the members to execute.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109192134445

[size=13pt]Nur killed OBJ’s host Fugu – Security sources[/size]

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Fugu.jpg

Mamman Nur, the wanted mastermind of the United Nations’ House bombing in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, last August, is said to be behind the killing of Mallam Babakura Fugu.

Nur, who was declared wanted by the Directorate of State Service, DSS, is said to harbour another faction of the dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect.

Vanguard also has information that one Ustaz Mote who reportedly grew up in the Fugu family house, was used for the assassination of Fugu.

Ustaz Mote is said to be an ardent foot soldier of Nur.

Mallam Fugu was killed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Saturday while Security agents are on the trail of the killers.

Vanguard has been informed that the Nur group suspects that the recent wave of arrests of its members by the DSS was “facilitated by the late Fugu.

The Nur group, it was learnt last night, is said to also believe that Mallam Fugu “may have entered into an alliance with the state.

“That alliance”, the source continued, “may also have yielded pecuniary benefits for Mallam Fugu and may have been a source of envy by the other faction of the sect”.

Meanwhile, the spiritual leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, is said to have condemned the killing of Fugu.

According to him, “it is immoral and a further injustice on the Fugu family which has every right to seek persecution without recourse to the group”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/nur-killed-objs-host-fugu-security-sources/

[size=13pt]Nigeria to establish World class Cement Plant next year[/size]

By Favour Nnabugwu
Nigeria will next year establish a world class cement plant, Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga has said. Aganga told journalists in Abuja weekend during an interactive session with Commissioners of Commerce and Industry in the country that the establishment of the cement plant would not only create job opportunity for the Nigeria teeming youths, but would as well strengthen  the nation’s economy.

The minister though emphasized on closer collaboration with other ministries and relevant agencies, said this will fast track the transformational agenda of Mr. President on the nation’s development.

In his words: “I want to emphasis here that rather than being jack of all trade, we must focus on areas where we have comparative advantage and develop them to  world’s level. About 95 per cent limestone is used in cement production and this we have in abundance in this country. That is why the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that come next year, Nigeria will establish the largest cement plant in the whole world.”

He also said Nigeria has comparative advantage in the area of iron ore for mining, coal, gold, oil and gas, and of course, agricultural and agro allied products.

While emphasizing  the need for collaboration among the three tiers of the government, Aganga enjoined relevant agencies and parastatals to work together with the ministry to achieve this feat.

“Mining is one area the world economic leaders are making it big right now. My ministry is already collaborating with Japan and other countries abroad in ensuring that our iron ore minerals are adequately explored. We are working with the ministry of agriculture, mineral resources and others in ensuring that within the shortest time, Nigeria will be great producers of all these resources.

“I have said this before and I can make bold to say it again that we can not achieve this great feat alone. That is the essence of this meeting where we will put heads together to ensure that things work out.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/nigeria-to-establish-world-class-cement-plant-next-year/

^Reported. Should be unbanned soon.