₦airaland Forum

Based on the recent debate among Vice Presidential candidates it is very clear that the economy is a major factor in the forthcoming election.
Looking at the pedigree of the two candidates who will do a better job as chairman of the National Economic Council? A role constitutionally assigned to the nation's Vice President.

What are the qualities of both men as far as this all important assignment is concerned?

Should Buhari/APC really learn from past administrations?
Based on the ranking by Transparency International which is currently 148 as against 136 under Jonathan.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday faulted the Presidency and the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, for their attacks of his personality based on parts of his book, “My Transition Hours,” they found uncomplimentary.

Jonathan, had in the book which was presented to the public in Abuja on Tuesday, indicted Shettima for alleged negligence in the events leading to the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 and also claimed that his administration fought corruption better than the present administration.


The book drew the wrath of the governor who described it as an elementary book of fiction while the Presidency urged Jonathan to stop playing the ostrich.


The former President, however in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, on Friday described the reactions that have trailed the book as a comprehensive plan to discredit it.


On the Presidency’s reaction, Jonathan’s spokesman said the Senior special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, towed a “revisionist path” when he claimed that Jonathan’s anti-corruption records could not be substantiated.

He said rather than grandstanding, the present administration should understudy the success nuggets of previous administrations.

He added, “Nigeria’s best ranking in TI’s corruption perception index still remains her placing in 2014, under President Jonathan, as the 136th out of all the countries ranked.


“This is far better than the last position recorded under the present government where Nigeria was ranked as number 148, a decline that took the nation 12 places backward.

“Rather than continue to raise a false banner of piety which apparently is no longer working, this administration would have served itself and the country better by understudying the success nuggets of its predecessors.


“Only then will they learn that Jonathan was able to do this through effective implementation of sound economic policies and institutional anti-corruption measures established by his administration.”

Eze said there was no doubt that Jonathan provided focused leadership on the economic front, through institutional and sectoral reforms which impacted positively on the fundamentals for growth.

Eze added, “Again, I urge them to bear in mind that no economy thrives where corruption is either rife or being concealed. So, those who rile and snap at Jonathan because he presented his scorecard in a book should provide their own numbers and statistics to counter his claim.


“In trying to do so, Nigerians would want to know what they have done about the high profile corruption allegations involving such individuals as Abdurahman Maina, Babachir Lawal, as well as sundry allegations of multi-billion-dollar sleaze involving such institutions as the NNPC, National Emergency Management Agency under this administration.”

He described Shettima’s reaction to the book as “a noisy but feeble defence” which he said ended up showcasing “a jaded ritual of chest-thumbing, rather than offer plausible explanations for the ignoble roles he played in worsening the Boko Haram tragedy in his home state. “


Eze said the governor had in the past four years, been living in denial and towing an evasive path he has beaten for himself.

He said, “What the governor may not know is that he is only walking the path of a villain.

“Once demand is made on him to explain why he deliberately ignored both the directive of both the Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council for governors to keep candidates in the affected locations out of harm’s way by relocating them to safer areas for their exams, he goes asking for the release of the report of Gen. Ibrahim Sabo-led facts-finding committee set up by President Jonathan.


“He probably thinks that challenging former President Goodluck Jonathan to publish the findings of the committee which, in any case, he is privy to, is a smart way of hiding his lapses.


“If it was bad enough that ignoring the directive meant deliberately exposing the girls and other school children to danger, it was utterly reprehensible that when the girls eventually got kidnapped the governor refused to cooperate with the Federal Government during the search and rescue effort.

https://punchng.com/jonathan-knocks-buhari-urges-him-to-understudy-pdp-ex-presidents-success-stories/amp/

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed displeasure over the hijack of his new book titled, ‘My Transition Hours’.

Soft copies of the new book have been shared several times on social media especially Whatsapp.

However, a scan through the book online, which is in Portable Document Format (PDF), shows that the book has been edited with some inaccurate information while some vital information contained in the real book have been expunged.


The virtual copy has 254 pages while the real book is 194 pages.

Some chapters are also missing from the online version which Jonathan’s camp claim is fake.

Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, urged members of the public to be wary of the misinformation contained in the online version of the book.

https://punchng.com/jonathan-kicks-as-pirates-hijack-new-book/

Perhaps the same scenario applies to other networks. If that is the case then those promoting cashless need a rethink.

Some big businesses seems to be ardent with strategies for con or outright fraud.
Also with all the push by the financial authorities for reduction in cash transactions some companies such as 9 Mobile are bent on discouraging customers from electronic payment.

Some weeks back I did an electronic recharge (using USSD) for my 9 Mobile line of 300 Naira (Three Hundred Naira), I subsequently made a call on the line for just 2 (Two) minutes. To my surprise, the call summary showed that 46 Naira was deducted from my line. This was clearly outrageous as the call rate on my line was 11 Naira per minute.

To be sure my line has not been move to a more expensive call plan, I immediately called customer care. The explanation I was given was that electronic recharge attracts a 5% bonus. Which means for my 300 Naira recharge I got a bonus of 15 Naira. So far so good.

Regardless of your call plan, the bonus given for electronic recharge is charged at 23 Naira per minute (about 40 kobo per second).

If you make a lengthy call immediately after electronic recharge, God have mercy on you, as the exorbitant rate of 23 Naira per minute will not only wipe out the bonus but will also apply to your main balance. There in lies the fraud.

On probing the customer care agent further, I was told to avoid the exorbitant call rate I should opt for paper recharge instead of electronic recharge. Gbam!!!

My posers for 9Mobile are:
Why give me a bonus, I did not ask for and for which I was not informed only to apply an exorbitant rate to both the bonus and my main balance?
Why should I have to be out of pocket because I decided to recharge electronically?
Is it not possible to apply the exorbitant rate to just the unsolicited bonus and charge my main balance with my regular call rate?

The only sensible option is to recharge with paper voucher.

I find this interesting perhaps an indication the blame game is over and the present administration is settling down to serious work that will improve the lot of Nigerians.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, September 6, said the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, initiated by the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was retained by the current administration because of the positive effects it had on solving graduate unemployment across the country.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, administration said that 41,000 graduates had benefited from the programme, with over 35,000 already exited and have secured jobs.

This fact was revealed by the GIS Project Director, Ministry of Finance, Dennis Chukwu in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Chukwu said many of the graduates had also secured credit facilities and grants to expand businesses they established with the GIS stipends, giving the breakdown of the beneficiaries to include 68 percent male, 31 percent female, while the vulnerable had one percent.

Chukwu, who was represented by Mrs Memunat Usman, said the programme had been able to give hope to many young school leavers that would have been roaming the streets. Chukwu said: “As a government, we can boldly say that the purpose of setting up the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, which is for unemployed graduates to acquire employable skills is being achieved.

“However, as long as thousands of graduates still remain unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of the scheme to absorb more applicants.”

According to him, the career development and entrepreneurship skills training are designed to help the beneficiaries answer the question of ‘what next’ and begin plans for the future.

He noted that the skills and experience the beneficiaries acquired through the GIS had placed them in a better position to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Source http://www.thebriefng.com/2016/09/07/jonathans-gis-successful-fg-admits/

Please send details to stanbuzim@gmail.com

Waiting for the Nation newspaper...its only a matter of time everybody's eye will become clear.

Hope they are not looking to raise funds to pay the balance of their fine from Nigerian investors...coming after 15years of doing business in Nigeria.

Telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has said it will list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2017.
The company said in a statement on Thursday that the listing was part of a settlement arrangement with the Federal Government.

“The Board of Directors has resolved to proceed with preparations for a listing of MTN Nigeria on the NSE as soon as commercially and legally possible, and has established a management task team with the responsibility to guide the company towards a listing,” it said in the statement.
“At present, MTN Nigeria is targeting that the listing takes place during 2017, subject to suitable market conditions.”
The statement was signed by MTN Nigeria’s Public Relations and Protocol Manager, Mr. Funso Aina.
‎The telecoms firm said it had appointed Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited (together with its affiliates, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Standard Advisory London Limited) (collectively “Stanbic”) and Citigroup Global Markets Limited (‘Citi’) as Joint Transaction Advisors and Joint Global Coordinators, with Stanbic acting as Lead Issuing House.
It added, “A full syndicate including Nigerian receiving agents, Nigerian receiving banks and other advisers would be appointed in due course, as appropriate.
“The proposed listing would be subject to suitable market circumstances and conditions and the appropriate approvals from relevant regulators and other stakeholders.”


http://punchng.com/breaking-mtn-list-nigerian-stock-exchange/

Dear Nairalanders,

Some months back the Ogun State Governor announced availability of land for agriculture at the rate of N5,000 per hectare for interested persons at the last Ogun Investors Forum.

Inquiries at the State Ministry of Agriculture showed that there is a long list of charges besides the amount stated by the Governor. The rate for some of the charges to be paid were not even stated, according to Ministry officials the rate will be determined after application and some fees/charges have been paid. Knowing the nature of government things, the whole thing looks suspect.

If you have applied and obtained agriculture land in Ogun State recently kindly share your experience for the benefit of others.

Thanks in advance.

Dear Nairalanders,

Some months back the Ogun State Governor announced availability of land for agriculture at the rate of N5,000 per hectare for interested persons at the last Ogun Investors Forum.

Inquiries at the State Ministry of Agriculture showed that there is a long list of charges besides the amount stated by the Governor. The rate for some of the charges to be paid were not even stated, according to Ministry officials the rate will be determined after application and some fees/charges have been paid. Knowing the nature of government things, the whole thing looks suspect.

If you have applied and obtained agriculture land in Ogun State recently kindly share your experience for the benefit of others.

Thanks in advance.

If true oher MDAs should get ready as the treatment will be applied across board.
To our esteemed civil servants welcome to a brand new world.

Change is here.

It beats my imagination why GEJ never awarded oil blocks during his five years as President even common marginal field. perhaps the man is not as greedy as some are seeking to paint him.

The presidency is intensifying efforts to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to mediate between the federal government and militant groups in the Niger Delta.

TheBrief was reliably informed that President Muhammadu Buhari believed that the warring militants will listen to Jonathan, the immediate past president and a respected son of the region.


“The ministers are unhappy over the directive because they are at the mercy of the Minister of Finance Buhari and JonathanIt was gathered that earlier efforts by the presidency to nominate ministers from the region, especially, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, was rejected by the militants.

“The government had earlier reach out to the militants but they rejected Amaechi as a mediator in the proposed dialogue. Other ministers from the region, including the Minister of the Niger Delta, were rejected by the militants,” a top source in Aso Villa disclosed to TheBrief

According to the source, during the closed door meeting held last week, Buhari asked Jonathan to speak to elders in the region to calm the Niger Delta Avengers, as well as reach out to the militants that the FG is willing to listen to their demands.

Jonathan had reportedly demanded that the Nmilitary should be withdrawn tactically from the troubled Niger Delta zone to assure the militants of government’s readiness to talk.

source
http://www.thebriefng.com/2016/06/07/presidency-mounts-pressure-jonathan-mediate-fgmilitants-talks/?ct=t(Your_Exclusive_Brief_7_06_20166_7_2016)&mc_cid=4a8b6687fb&mc_eid=6630453c14

please send the report/investment plan to
stanbuzim@gmail.com

Continental Transfer Technique Limited (CONTEC), an Indian firm, has hijacked a sensitive national security project – the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card – which was supposed to be managed by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), according to Punch Newspapers.

Apart from controlling the sales of the residence permits to foreigners, each of which goes for $1,000 (about N250, 000) and is valid for two years, the company has also sidelined the NIS and it is the sole manager of the project.

The CERPAC project was for the automation of the issuance of residence permit (Green card) as well as Aliens Registration (Brown card) to expatriates who are either residing or working in Nigeria or visiting for long periods (that is beyond 56 days) and seamen who stay ashore beyond 28 days.

Punch findings indicate that the contract was awarded to CONTEC in 1999 by the Ministry of Interior on a build-operate-and-transfer basis and it took off in May 2002 after installation of equipment and systems by the contractor.

Investigations by our correspondent indicated that the project should have been handed over to the NIS in 2006, but this was not done as the firm had refused to train immigration service officers on the nitty-gritty of the project and had been using its own workers ever since.

Apart from controlling the production of the vital security cards, CONTEC also excluded the immigration service in the sale of the security document, according to sources.

The implication of this, according to NIS officers, is that the firm can unilaterally issue the CERPAC cards to foreigners and illegal migrants who may pose a security threat to the country.

Face-off over CONTEC’s incompetency
According to the contract agreement, the company was supposed to produce 900,000 CERPAC cards at the profit-sharing formula of 60 per cent for the Federal Government, 30 per cent for CONTEC and 10 per cent for the ministry for operational expenses.

But the firm failed to meet the target as it was producing only 37,000 cards per annum instead of 300,000.

Punch reported that the Federal Government had attempted to take over the project in 2007 following the inability of CONTEC to meet the production targets of 300,000 residence permits and 200,000 aliens’ registration certificates annually, but the move was resisted by the firm which demanded N5bn pay off.

Minister Calls for Revocation of Contract Agreement
In 2009, the then Minister of Interior, Godwin Abe, wrote a letter to then President Umaru Yar’Adua informing him about the need to review and possibly revoke the contract with the firm.

In the letter dated February 17, 2009 and obtained by our correspondent, Abe narrated how the CERPAC project was awarded to the detriment of the nation. He stressed that those who signed the contract agreement with the firm “did a disservice to our country as it was heavily skewed in favour of Messrs CONTEC.”

Abe further explained that he arranged for a meeting with the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Andoaaka, adding that he was accompanied by the Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, Comptroller-General of Immigration and Director, Finance & Accounts and the legal adviser.

At the meeting on April 17, 2008 with CONTEC, the minister stated that the sum of N3.67bn was offered as exit option to the firm, adding that he also offered to pay off the company the sum of N1bn.

Moro Turns Blind Eye, Inks New Deal
Findings indicate that past interior ministers had turned blind eyes to the anomalies observed in the contract as pointed out by Abe in his letter to Yar’Adua.

For instance, rather than address the discrepancies in the CERPAC project, the immediate past Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, awarded a new project to CONTEC in which he awarded a higher percentage of the profit to the company against the Federal Government.

Investigations reveal that Moro approved the award of an e-Pass biometric project to CONTEC on behalf of the NIS without advertising it for competitive bidding in violation of the Public Procurement Act.

http://www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/news/indian-firm-takes-over-nis-job-hijacks-sensitive-national-security-project?utm_source=Verified+List&utm_campaign=cf215f417c-January_91_9_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a560bb15f8-cf215f417c-47912765

Exploit200:
Op you're the cause of this argument, how can you compare a country like Nigeria whose currency was once the most valued in the world after pounds with a country like Mozambique who we can feed.
It totally pointless.
Are you saying that Mozambique is better than Nigeria?.

There is nothing wrong comparing any two countries regardless of the size of their economies. The post was just to highlight that other countries are implementing similar policies with that of our government in view of the global economic downturn.

I think Nairaland should allow Ops the opportunity to delete or remove their posts once comments degenerate into a verbal brawl or mudslinging.

Happy New Year!

Found this interesting. Its not only Nigeria that is taking measures to conserve her forex resources.

MOZAMBIQUE plans to limit the use by its citizens of credit and debit cards abroad to help stem foreign exchange outflows and protect the southern African nation’s economy, which has been ravaged by a slump in commodity prices.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2015/12/28/mozambique-to-limit-credit-cards-use-abroad/

Good luck to the former action Governor.

Finally the list of "noise makers" has now been submitted by the "class captain" to the "prefect". Hurray!!!

It not just the time taken but the humongous difference is cost....SMH

Interesting facts about Addis Ababa and Lagos light rail projects.

Addis Ababa / Lagos
Cost == $475Million / $1.2Billion
Length == 34km / 27km
Time to Complete == 4years / 7years (projected)
Year Awarded == 2011 / 2008 (Construction began 2010)
Contractor == China Railway Eng. Corp (CREC) /Chinese Civil Eng. Constr. Coy (CCECC)
Population == 5Million / 20Million
GDP == $50Billion (Ethiopia) / $100Billion (Est.) (Nigeria - $535B)


Ethiopia has managed to deliver Sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern light rail project which opened in the capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, and in the process, beat Lagos whose own rail project remains four years behind schedule.

Ethiopia’s rail project was delivered on time, despite its being longer than the Lagos – Badagry rail line currently under construction.

Addis Ababa’s two line 34-kilometre system was built by the China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and cost $475m, 85 percent of which has been covered by China’s Exim bank. The Lagos Light Rail Project or Blue on Badagry Expressway, was to have 13 stations from Okokomaiko to Marina via Iddo for a total of 27 kilometres.

The contract was awarded to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) at the cost of $1.2 billion in 2008, and was to be delivered in 2011. Survey work took one year between August 2009 and August 2010 while construction began July 2010.

The work is being implemented using the public and private partnership (PPP) model, whereby the state builds the infrastructure and the private sector provides the rolling stock and management. However, the project has not worked out according to the plan.
The 2011 deadline was missed, even though the State government got a loan to fund the project.

Source
http://businessdayonline.com/2015/09/addis-ababa-beats-lagos-to-light-rail-as-construction-delays-mount/

I find this difficult to believe. I just hope it is not true.

Mr. Amaechi had written to Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in the United States that the alleged $757 million Dollars domiciled in an account in his name; was authorized by him in error; from a Rivers State Government Account with Access Bank Plc. The former governor’s letter reveals that a similar letter was also written to a bank in Switzerland; stating that a similar authorization was made in error. The letter stated that the said transfers to both banks were for the purchase of security Helicopters, payments to a foreign company to combat malaria in Rivers state by using helicopters to spray mosquito insecticides, and for the purchase of an official residence for Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in America. The letter further explains that, the payments for the security helicopters, and mosquito insecticides to fight malaria were made through other sources, after the funds had already been transferred abroad. He reminded the bank that the Rivers state law on his severance package, provides for an official residence for a former governor; of which he chose to have his residence in America.

The former governor said that, this law was later amended to have his official residence built in Nigeria, after the funds had already been transferred to Bancorp/Minnesota Account. Mr. Amaechi said these changes were the reasons he communicated the consultants for purchase of security helicopters, his official residence in the U.S and the Insecticide companies not to access the funds; since they have been paid through other sources.
On receipt of the governor’s letter by the Bancorp Bank, the bank has written to the Federal Government of Nigeria to repatriate the said funds to Rivers State treasury. Investigations further revealed that President Buhari is not disposed to this request to repatriate the said funds without a trial of the former governor; to ascertain the governor’s alleged errors in these transactions. ” Why would it take Christiane Amanpour of CNN, to remind Amaechi of such errors of over N80 billion Naira public funds in two different countries, and why in his name ?” Queried the Presidency.
Recall that Christiane Amanpour accused the former governor of Rivers State; Mr. Rotimi Amaechi of stacking the sum of $757 million dollars (N80 billion Naira) in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in the United State.

http://naija247news.com/2015/08/amaechis-757m-loots-in-uss-bancorp-bank-buhari-seeks-probe/

Few will argue the fact that our nation’s constitution is less than perfect.

Unlike other nations whose presidents are elected on the basis of simple majority either in the popular vote or the Electoral College, the Nigerian constitution provides for a second requirement to be met before a candidate is declared winner. In addition to overall majority, a candidate is required to win at least 25% of the vote in at least two thirds of the 36 states.

While it is hoped that a clear winner emerges come March 28, the probability of a deadlock is quite high due to the two-horse race the presidential election has turned into this time around.

Where no clear winner emerges a possible scenario could be
- President Jonathan has overall majority but unable to meet the second requirement
- General Buhari with minority vote meets the second requirement of 25% in at least two thirds of the 36 states.

The probability of the above scenario is high due to the political structure of Nigeria; 17 states in the South viz a viz 19 states in the North. Furthermore General Buhari has cult followership in North giving him some edge in terms of spread and ease of meeting the second requirement. The South West vote will certainly be split between the APC and PDP considering the increased focus by President Jonathan on various groups in the region in an apparent push for votes.

If the above scenario plays out, the constitution mandates INEC to conduct a run-off election within seven days. This will be very daunting not just for INEC but also for voters.

If the above scenario plays out and INEC struggles with or bungles the run-off then there will be a case for constitutional amendment of the time to conduct run-off election or the cancellation of the requirement for 25% votes in two thirds of the 36 states.

Got Diamond Bank text that branches will be closing by 2pm while Access Bank will close by 1pm - CONFIRMED

So plan your day.

While some banks have sent text messages to their customers about early closure tomorrow 31st December in anticipation of the New Year holiday, others have not bothered. Worst still is the fact that most banks have opted for 2pm some have set their closure at 1pm.

I consider those closing earlier than 2pm not being considerate enough perhaps not customer friendly enough

Do you know the time your bank is closing tomorrow and do you consider it customer friendly?