₦airaland Forum

makzeze:
Jonathan has explanation to make.

DECEMBER 7, 2012 : IFEANYI ONUBA

Billions of naira of taxpayers’ money have been expended on the foreign trips of President Goodluck Jonathan despite his January promise to cut down on such trips.

This newspaper’s findings show that the President and his entourage have spent not less than N3.354bn on foreign trips since 2010.

Our correspondent learnt that in the first 11 months of 2012, the President had travelled out of the country at least 20 times, including his trip to Sierra Leone in October and the D8 Summit he attended in Pakistan in November.

In September alone, Jonathan travelled out of the country four times. He travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a two-day visit on September 1 for the burial of late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Nine days later, he went to Malawi and Botswana in a cumulative three-day visit for enhancement of bilateral relationships. The President ended the month of September with another trip to New York, United States for the United Nations General Assembly

From February, 2010 when he became the Acting President to December 2010, Jonathan spent N970.891m on foreign travels.

Although the 2011 budget was silent on the expenses for the President foreign travels, investigations showed that about N1.7bn was spent on foreign trips.

According to the 2011 budget, N1.145bn was budgeted for Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s foreign trips.

In 2012, N N684.74m was budgeted for Jonathan’s foreign travels and he had travelled out of the country 19 times.

Although the 2013 budget recently submitted to the National Assembly by Jonathan suggested that N2.6bn would be spent on his foreign trips next year, investigations have shown that much more than the quoted figure will be spent and is being spent judging by the expenses the country incurs during such trips.

The expenses incur include and are not limited to airfares for members of the President’s delegation who will travel on commercial flights, cost of procuring travel visas for them, estacodes for members of the delegation, fuelling of the presidential jets as well as other logistics.

Only the President and his very top aides fly on the presidential jets.

Industry source told one of our correspondents that airfare to and fro any European countries in the Economy category could vary from N110,000 to N150,000 per person depending on the timing and the destinations.

She added that for the Business class, the fare ranged from N600, 000 to N700,000 per person depending on the category of the Business Class (there are three categories), the timing and destination.

Prevailing exchange rate at the time of purchase is also said to be a factor.

The source added that corporate purchase like Aso Rock would do, could also attract discounts.

The President was said to have jetted out to different destinations in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and South America during his Presidency.

Jonathan, in 2011 alone, visited several countries including United States, France, Uganda, Australia, Ghana, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia among others.

The size of his entourage varies depending on the country he is visiting and the purpose of such visit.

While top aides and officials of the Presidential Villa are regular faces on such trips, ministries relevant to the purpose of his overseas trips also send delegations.

Lately, the President had also resolved to always go on foreign trips with two members of the National Assembly (one from each chamber) who serve on the committee related to his purpose of visit.

State governors are also on the entourage.

For example, an online news site, Saharareporters, had in June reported that Jonathan travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations’ Earth Summit with 116 government officials.

Although the Presidency faulted the number, it did not offer the exact number despite a request made by the news site.

The breakdown of the delegation was given as 25 personal aides, 18 aides of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, two members of the National Assembly, five ministers, two state governors, and 63 officials from the Ministries of Environment, Foreign Affairs, National Planning and Petroleum Resources.

When the President visited Brussels for the World Customs Conference in the same month, the same medium reported that he went with about 57 people, including 26 aides, three ministers, eight members of the National Assembly, and 20 other government officials.

The same month, Patience Jonathan was in Maryland, United States, to attend a UNESCO First Lady’s “Youth Infusion” Summit and was reportedly accompanied by 36 people: 18 aides, four wives of state governors, and 14 friends and associates.

Investigation showed that in September 2012, Jonathan jetted out of the country four times. He visited Ethiopia Malawi, Botswana and New York, United States for the UN General Assembly.

He had reportedly visited Trinidad and Tobago earlier with a 70-member delegation.

Jonathan had said in a national broadcast in January, “I have directed that overseas travels by all political office-holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.”

Reference:
Oga. They are still stealing as we speak. Yes, as we speak. And it will continue after the holidays. You need to get closer to the corridors of power. For some actors, nothing has fundamentally changed.

iamrealdeji:
That's why Jonathan said stealing is not corruption. He made mention of 9 cars in his compound like it's nothing and he's not ashamed of himself ole. Does Clinton or Buhari have 9 cars? His father in London for medical treatment,he pays someone that feeds his dogs,2 cooks? Who pays for that? Corrupt leaders that think stealing is not corruption. President Buhari is a democracy dictator. The military system is still so much running in his veins.

Firefire:
Thank God.

The action of the past administration in this matter is purely against the Anti-Money Laundering / combating the financing of terrorism regulations of CBN. AML/CFT REGULATION (2009).

How would an organized and sovereign nation stack money in suitcases?

“President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was forced to resort to the alternative market to obtain arms when western powers blocked every access to the formal arms market but the cash were seized both at the airport and in the bank”.

I understand the predicament of the then government in procuring arms, this does not warrant this approach of moving ‘raw-cash’ across countries.

We must learn from this and move forward as a nation.

Shalom!

barcanista:
I am not like you. I've never called the north "born to rule" because my personal ethics forbids that irrespective of my position on certain issues. And I am on the side on patriotic cause. I will never tolerate or support evil irrespective on the perpetrator, likewise will I not stop supporting the oppressed irrespective of tribe or religion. Take your tribal talks elsewhere.

barcanista:
If the D-G SSS Lawal Daura is not aware of the siege in Col Sambo Dasuki's private house, his family home in Sokoto and the house of his friend Fadile, does that mean that Buhari secretly operates a parallel SSS apart from the SSS that we all know? This is becoming more interesting.

Lalasticlala Ishilove Obinoscopy

chukwudi44:
You do not interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake~Napoleon Bonaparte

Sai Baba carry on Nigerians are behind you

efilefun:
Barcanista come and defend this now cuz you were just spewing dust in the previous thread like you work with the military

himkers:
I will do the Agbero after ur child completes his. Useless thing

himkers:
If 'ur' 8yr old son is as intelligent as you claim, then u've got to ask the mom who his real father is. It's very important

himkers:
eediot.

Firefire:
God bless the VP

himkers:
[size=15pt]who send am?? mstewww [/size]

keep that your support or better still, take it, fold it and shove it deep into ur daughter's 'swimming-poll' cvnt

sweetgala:
Naira is the currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Nairaland serves the informative and social interests of Nigeria and Nigerians , if you choose to exclude yourself from that fold and intend to preach secessionist propaganda and hateful, divisive message I would advise you seek out the multitude of Pro-biafra blogs, Radio Biafra London and many separatist groups available on Facebook and such social media.

There is neither interest nor value in your message to any Nigerian, Nnamdi Kanu has provided an adequate channel for link minded biafrans to air their opinions; despite the attempt by the Nigerian authority to block the broadcast it still lives and I'll advise you make use of such a channel while it is available, many people have contributed effort to establish that facility make correct use of it.


I'll advise Mr Osewa to review the NL policy to bar any use of nairaland a tool idealised for unity as a venue for secessionist propaganda or divisive discuss, there is no Ooduwa republic , no Arewa republic , no Biafra within Nigerian territory.

Onemansquad:
lukin 4 change bt am sori pmb is not dat type of leader

mrvitalis:
Please what we want a just simple
Drag river Niger for us and the onisha port
Second Niger bridge
Deep sea port in either river or akwa ibom
Two more international airport
Enugu port Harcourt Road
Enugu onisha road
Port Harcourt owerri Road
Allow geometric to sale there power
Coal power plants in enugu
An NLNG in Imo state
That what we need and I don't feel we deserve less

ignis:
This probing is turning to another thing ... When will Tinubu, Amaechi, Rochas and Atiku be probed?

ignis:
Buhari is being very partial. ..

aljharem:
Good move

Sack the tribalistic bastard

ECOTERRORS:
he is fine

ECOTERRORS:
Onye aworo akwu si na akwu na ta afo

ECOTERRORS:
Japhet Omojuwa has lost out again, Daura President appointing my yoruba folks into *talk talk* position while the Northerners are getting juicy appointments.

Change Indeed

Wildrage:
Balanced and open minded assessment of Dele's narrative of his encounter with Mr President, wish I could share in your magnanimous optimism, but knowing the major players in APC, their combative approach to national discourse, penchant for propaganda, I will urge a large dose of caution before giving this govt the benefit of doubt. Never in our checkered history have we had a govt so tardy in its approach to governance, directionless and purposeless with every steps so far taken. From the inaugural day pronouncement of relocation of command centre to Borno state, even before adequate consultation with security personnel, the flip flop on the removal of rd blocks, the acrimonious election of NASS principal officers and the recent directive that pegged dollar at N160 for religious excursion, it's been one gaffe after the other. They came in with no clear cut blueprint save some potpourri of unattainable objectives. Since taking over, all the narrative has been all about lowering our expectation rather than inspiring hope about what's achievable.

Dele momodu is a well known "alright sir" journalist so his invitation by the president and his account of what transpired should be construed from the perspective of his antecedent. He is not only a Card carrying APC member , but one of the loudest vuvuzelas in the well orchestrated campaign of calumny against the last administration. There are many objective, serious minded journalist out there if Buhari is willing to showcase his new found tolerance and reception for dissenting views. Dele has been an unapologetic "Famzer" to the likes Amaechi, Saraki and any politician willing and able to butter his bread

The alleged ultimatum to the electricity companies is also a stupid propaganda by a directionless govt. You can give what does not exist, if the capacity to generate was not there, the ultimatum is futile. It's a known fact that generation improves during raining season when the tide at the hydro dams are usually high, if nothing is done to complement the existing capacity btw now and the dry season we would surely be back to where we were

Franchise21:
U just allowing tribalism take over ur common sense. I know u re from d East n we know d Northerners have poor English accent bt dat doesn't mean he can't speak English. Ur Ex-President dat has a doctorate degree, wat did he achieve? Don't b a tribalistic or religious bigot. Am also from d South, so for ur info, don't quote me

Dharniel:
Not a big deal. I think you should listen to Vladimir Putin the president of Russia or Kim Jong-un the president of North Korea when they speak or give public addresses, then you'll know buhari's english is better. The fact that buhari has a poor accent doesn't mean he can't speak good english.
PDP followers just be hating on buhari anyhow.

Ride on baba.
#sai_buhari...

kernel504:
BBC, Sahara Reporters and The Presidency are reporting Biafra and you are busy crying, sorry.