₦airaland Forum

F[b]G indicts Obasanjo over N200bn ecological fund
• Delists 2 banks
From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Wednesday, November 11, 2009[/b]


The National Economic Council rose from a prolonged meeting in Abuja last night expressing dismay with the management of the ecological fund under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, pointing out that under the immediate past administration, about N200 billion of the fund was outrightly squandered.

The council headed by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan with the 36 state governors constituting its membership among others, said the amount was wasted on projects that were either non-existent, shoddily executed or were awarded without due process.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting in this regard said the council decided that due process must apply in the award of contracts from ecological funds and that the states where such projects are located adequately consulted henceforth.
The council, which according to him, was told that only N51.9 billion was left in the kitty of the ecological fund frowned at the past practice of awarding contracts for the execution of projects in the states without the involvement or input of state governments who invariably would take control of such projects.
The NEC directed that the Federal Ministry of Environment should continue to manage the ecological funds on behalf of the Federal Government but with adequate consultation and input of the state governments on the projects to be executed in their states.

The council equally dissatisfied by the deliberate refusal of two banks to disburse the N200 billion approved for farmers across the country as loans, approved the withdrawal of monies lodged with the banks and delisted them from the deal.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido and the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji, Ibrahim Shema said in their place, five other banks were approved to take over the disbursement of the funds immediately.

“Concerning the agric loan, government is not satisfied with the attitude of the two banks earlier appointed to disburse the funds to farmers and have consequently withdrawn the money from the banks. Five other banks have been appointed to take over the disbursement of the money. The banks include GTB, Finbank, Zenith and Union banks.
The council also adopted the blueprint for community sport centres in all the 774 local council areas of the country to provide facilities for local training and development of talents, adding that the centres, when completed, would serve as academy for breeding new sportsmen and women and personnel for the country.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/nov/11/national-11-11-2009-009.htm

I have always said it that, a bulk of financial fraud in Nigerian banking system, were manipulated by insiders. Soon, you will hear there is an ATM fraud team or racket in Nigeria. Most of them will be bankers.

N12.5m fraud: EFCC nabs banker
From AMOS DUNIA, Abuja
Wednesday, November 11, 2009


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an official of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Olajide Ogundipe, for defrauding the bank to the tune of N12.5 million. The bank had on September 4, 2009, petitioned the EFCC, alleging fraudulent withdrawal of money from the bank’s ATM in excess of N12 million by a staff of the Lokoja branch, Mr. Ogundipe. The bank had observed that some unexplainable entries were passed between one of its Assets Accounts and its ATM at its Lokoja branch.

In the course of investigation, EFCC operatives discovered that sometime in March, 2009, Ogundipe, who works at the Lokoja branch of the bank, posted a debit entry of N450, 000.00 to the Assets Account and credited the ATM with same value, which was subsequently taken out in bulk cash from the ATM machine after close of business.

Further investigation also revealed that several other similar entries in excess of N12 million were posted and subsequently withdrawn in the same manner.
Ogundipe, who confessed to the crime after his arrest, said he spent the money to sponsor his wedding in 2008. He explained that he made the withdrawals, usually a minimum of N500,000, each time he loaded the three ATM machines in Lokoja. “Thereafter, I would manipulate the posting to balance the account,” he confessed.


The Osun State-born banker, who said he joined FCMB in September 2008 after three years with a new generation bank in Abuja, said he never kept the stolen money in the bank but in his brief case at his Lokoja home and unknown to his wife who resides in Karu, Abuja.
After the confessional statement, Ogundipe promised to return the stolen money and made good his promise when his lawyer, Barrister Ibrahim Muktari, brought to EFCC an FCMB draft of N9,000,000 dated October 22, 2009. He had earlier paid N3, 500,000.00 of the stolen money.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court soon.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/nov/11/national-11-11-2009-005.htm

I hope it is not another of Nigerias kind of International airport.

This is a clear argument for and against the ban of Okada riding.

Amaechi, Understanding The Relevance Of Okada Riders (?)
Written by Odimegwu Onwumere


On 17th day of July, 2008, history was made in the city of Port Harcourt when the (hated?) Okada riders foiled the attempt of two minors’ kidnappers in the GRA phase of the city that went to school. This feat of the hero-okada men is attracting attention and thanks to the Nigerian motorcyclists association of Nigeria, especially the chapter in Port Harcourt. But since the motorcyclists achieved this conscious brevity and even by having one of their okada men injured by the pellet of the men of the underworld, a lot of questions now are being raised to be answered.

Rivers State residents were once thrown into shock when Governor Chibuike Amaechi made it open that Okada riding may soon be phased out; following a plan by the state government and private outfits to partner in a viable transport system that would make Okada operations unfashionable?

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated this early this year, at the state transport summit. Hear him: “I was ready to ban commercial motorcycles in Rivers State, even today, if we find viable alternatives to Okada.”

The governor believed that the odds of the commercial cyclists outweigh the advantages. His word, “Because of the many deaths associated with motorcycles, robbery on bike, broken limbs and permanent disabilities….”

When the statement was made, people at the summit, the participants, were abashed by the image okada as a means of transportation in Nigeria creates for the country in the eyes of the international community. To them, they saw the image Okada riding creates as an embarrassment as if Nigeria is so poor that it can’t provide clean transportation means for her citizens. They believed that before the coming of bikes, the country moved very well with taxis.

While many in that summit saw the need why okada should be banned, many participants had different opinion; they did not hide their voices to say that the system provided job opportunities to scores of Nigerian citizens. And that making them jobless in one fell swoop would create some social problems. While this went on, observers noticed that many people abrogated that concept and asked that Okada riders should look elsewhere for livelihood when the time comes.

In many quarters, some people say one wrong thing about Okada riders or another. And many Nigerians feel that the ban on Okada riding in Nigeria would be the honest thing that the government can do for its citizenry? They believed that the number of Okada riders as a form of public transport in Nigeria needs to be seriously reduced? They believed that Okadas are dangerous, a nuisance to other drivers, flaunt traffic laws, and that they were sure all Nigerians know people who have been seriously injured as a result of Okada?

However, others asked that if Okada was going to be banned in Port Harcourt then was the commissioner for transport or the government providing any viable alternatives? To these people they saw the idea of banning okada in Rivers State without provision for jobs for the operators as, "action without thinking". While that raged on, many Nigerians saw the idea and characterized it as an idea that seems to have a hold on the vast majority of Nigerian leaders all to just put on a show.

When the news was making the rounds in the Garden City, in May 26, this year, the commercial motorcyclists (okada) took to the streets of Port Harcourt, protesting government’s proposed ban of the cyclists on 35 major roads and some streets of the city. While this was experienced, scores of residents were caught unawares and they had to trek long distances to their places of businesses or abodes, like when the immediate ex-Governors before Amaechi introduced dusk to dawn curfew. Some of the residents were drenched, because it rained in the early morning in some parts of the city of that day of the protest. Okada officials meant it and they mobilized their members and planted them at strategic places to stop all commercial cycles from plying the streets and the major roads and not to carry people.

The Okada officials were saying that the reasons the government gave for banning the Okadas were not valid because even in civilized societies there are still criminals and accident is a character of human existence. They said that the government did not consult with the union before going ahead to ban them plying the roads of Port Harcourt. They cited Calabar, (Cross River State), that the government of Rivers State was supposed to emulate how commercial cycling has been properly organized instead of banning them. They even said that they were ready to join hands with the government to organize the operation of Okadas in the city because they also generated revenue for the state. They regretted that if the government was to tow the line of banning them, that it was creating unnecessary unemployment and deliberately sending people to the labour market and also opening the way for more criminals to flood the state. They also admonished the government following its announcement a few weeks ago before the protest that it was constrained by the high rate of okada-related crimes and accidents in the state and environs, prompting the need to check the vices by fixing the time of their operations to between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. as an act of giving a dog a bad name.

Just two days after the protest by the Okada riders took place, precisely on 29th May 2008, the governor Amaechi-led government paraded kidnappers arrested by the Rivers state Police Command at a stakeholder’s forum of the state in Government House.

Among those that were paraded was a 70-year old man who allegedly connived with his son to abduct some children in the state. (He was not an Okada rider). This was after governor Rotimi Amaechi in his opening remark had condemned kidnapping, saying it makes nonsense of agitation by the region for attention. At hearing this, visibly, governor Amaechi was angry. He wondered why the criminality of abduction in the state and the link between the abducted children and problems of under-development in the Niger Delta.

Hear the Governor: “Kidnapping is becoming an industry. Kidnapping is beyond the issue of Niger Delta struggle. They have bastardized the struggle with kidnappings. We are losing sympathy both at the local and international levels. Those doing it are doing it at the expense of others".

Nigerians can’t forget in a hurry that the keynote address presented by Chairman, Committee on Transport Summit 2008, Mr. George Fubara Tolofari, said challenges in the transportation system includes surmounting the ineffective intra-marine transport services. He asserted that the absence of functional mega parks and jetties, the unplanned location of bus stops, the clogged waterways occasioned by abandoned wreckages, the deficient enforcement of road/marine rules and regulations were all the problems. Tolofari also said that the traffic situation in Port Harcourt had reached crisis dimensions and several many hours and lives are lost to traffic congestion on a daily basis. Did he say to Okada only?

Hear him: “This has had adverse implications for economic development and industrial growth of the city and the state at large. There is the need to examine the existing network of roads in the state, the condition of other existing infrastructure in the transport sector”.

Today, Nigerians could see the importance of the okada riders Governor Amaechi government have banned not to ply 35 roads and streets in the capital city of Rivers State. He has even expressed this by the reward of N7.5 million his government has given to the 4 gallant okada men who foiled the attempt of the minors’ kidnappers in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt on 17th July, 2008. The government had also given them Hiace bus and promised to foot the hospital bills of the okada man shot by the miscreants.

And observers understood that when Rivers State government does something worthy of note or substantial they keep people informed. Until then please no more of this government banned okada. Is there no government commissioned pit toilet in mile one? Etc.


http://www.mynaijanews.com/content/view/1860/228/

Nigeria 2009 will ever be remembered for some things e.g a match was played for two days. National Stadium turns river after first match. Now, cat appears in Ijebu-ode stadium. Calabar halts match for almost an hour due to heavy down pour. Kano flood lights fails during a match etc.

Wonders shall never end!. During the match between the Swiss and the Italians, a cat ran into the pitch , while the game was on. Immediately the cat left, the Swiss scored a second goal, and almost immediately their captain earned a red card. It was a mixed blessing for the Swiss. Did the cat contribute anything to the match. Was it another Ijebu-ode wonders!. Please I need response.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread!.

stop this thread.

Tell me why these idiots will not support deregulation (more money to the elite), so that they will buy more of such cars at the expense of the common man.

chidichris:
@selingel,
ok. thanks for that, as i promise to be careful.
pls in case u see soludo, tell him one of your friends(me) said, he (soludo) is a very big idiot.

Do not say I didn't caution you oh!. Anyway, I have delivered your message. He said I should tell you, he will get back to you, when he collects his "change" from the kidnappers!.  

chidichris:
@selingel,
ok. thanks for that, as i promise to be careful.
pls in case u see soludo, tell him one of your friends(me) said, he (soludo) is a very big idiot.

Do not say I didn't caution you oh!. Anyway, I have delivered your message. He said I should tell you, he will get back to you, when he collects his change from the kidnappers!.

ikennahill:
that is a welcome developement,it will ease stress on the only bridge accross river Niger,it will make the new river niger seaport more viable,it will make trade between lagos and onitsha sweet and easy.Traders will rush to osha,nnewi,ekwulobia,. passengers will travel at ease ,so during festivities people will not need cars much again,they will just fly from anypart of naija to osha,and plot their route from there.

Delta still need airport too and competition is good,when the hausa riot started in osha as reprisal to the one in north hausa people ran to Delta and had their settlement there,they form a market there called hausa market,but after a while many of them started coming back to osha,the hausa market in Asaba still dey and asaba people still dey go osha,some still buy from the market in asaba.
Happy PETER OBI understand the politics  of time and i tell u he has done nobel.to attract govt,private investents in anambra state

What a way to apply diplomacy!

BILLION$:
How many police officers and security personnel is govt willing to deploy after this ban. Because the state would surely need it for the crime that will be unleashed thereafter.

When I hear lame govt programs like substituting 120,000 unemployed okada riders with 250 drivers it makes me sick. Of what effect will this have? Is it feasible to run drive-training schemes for okada riders after the ban, how long will this take, how many will genuinly gat a cab, HONETLY.

The Okada transport business is one of the private business sectors in Calabar (which is a civil service state) why on earth will government want to pinch revenue accrued to citizen (by hard work) in this sector by deploying govt owned taxis which ultimately the funds will be embezzled or mismanaged.

This govt should look for more innovative ways of improving the real sector and bringing more business and industries to the state instead of all these policies that are not directly beneficial to livelyhood of it citizens, and even take food of the tables of common citizen and put them in the accounts of lofty political thugs and thieves.


Another big joke is "all in the name of keeping the town clean and modern" NA CLEAN WE GO CHOP?

I hope the govt will listen to this!.

Why did they postponed their kangaroo judgement? What do they take Nigerians for?

morpheus24:
I smell another SA Versus Naija coming on again

Is it a football match?

TheSeeker:
I have said it, times without number, that Soludo kidnapped his own father just to scoop sympathizers.

Haba!.

selingel:
Nobody hates Ibori like me, but stop this thread, except there is no more rules on this forum!.

Stop this thread.

selingel:
Nobody hates Ibori like me, but stop this thread, except there is no more rules on this forum!.

Stop this thread.

selingel:
Nobody hates Ibori like me, but stop this thread, except there is no more rules on this forum!.

Stop this thread.

selingel:
Nobody hates Ibori like me, but stop this thread, except there is no more rules on this forum!.

Stop this thread.

Nobody hates Ibori like me, but stop this thread, except there is no more rules on this forum!.

Stop this thread.

Stop this thread