₦airaland Forum

Kidnap is almost daily in Port Harcourt and environs just that many of them are not reported publicly. Some of the criminals operate in the Omagwa-Ubima-Elele axis. The Police really need to wake up urgently.

In July, when President Muhammadu Buhari jetted out to the United States on an official visit, Governor Tanko Al Makura was on board. Going by the broad smiles that lit his face during the photo ops that followed at the White House, it seemed apparent that the Nasarawa helmsman enjoyed his time in Washington.

He must have commuted on smooth roads, just as he was spared the ordeal of moving on driveways that end up damaging vehicles and wasting precious man hours of citizens going out for work and business. On the whole, Governor Al Makura, must have savoured the beauty and comfort of world class infrastructure provided by visionary governance. In fact, the governor must have taken these good things for granted. That is however not the experience of residents of Mararaba, the sprawling conurbation that shares its boundaries with the Federal Capital Territory. In Mararaba, getting these basics that make life a bit bearable, is like searching for the proverbial oasis in the desert.

Residents of Mararaba, this writer included, on a daily basis have to endure the indignity of navigating through terrible roads, which leave them stranded in traffic snarls for hours. The irony is that a number of the roads in question are not actually long stretches. So if there was serious and sincere governance, it would not require a lot of money to get them fixed. Modest efforts at governance, and a little push to meet citizens’ expectations could solve a number of the infrastructure challenges being encountered by people in the area.

Take the strategic Abattoir Road, which links the back end of Sanni Abacha Road to Karu on the FCT side of the axis. The severely dilapidated portion that causes traffic snarls for several hours during morning rush hours, is less than two kilometres in length. A proactive government does not need all the monies in the world to simply get its act together and fix this cause of daily inconvenience to citizens. For years, that stretch has remained in its terrible state, with the attendant monumental waste of time of commuters, and damage to vehicles.

However, beyond the question of road infrastructure, is the need to scrutinise Al Makura’s philosophy of governance, especially with regards to how he views Mararaba, when juxtaposed with the rest of Nasarawa State. There is no doubt that the economic and social vibrancy of Mararaba, even in spite of the clear neglect by government is a case of how Nigerians are capable of moving on with their lives in the face of lethargic governance. Taking advantage of comparatively cheaper rents and land, and its proximity to the FCT, there has been an upsurge of people in the Mararaba axis. The thinking that a lot of people would move out of the area after the dastardly Nyanya bombings of April 2014 has proved to be wrong. Many more working class people dodging the astronomically high property rates of the Abuja city centre are trooping to Mararaba for reprieve. Through sheer self-help, people have on their own opened up communities by building their homes, while hoping that someday government would wake up to its responsibilities. Street Governance Committees are springing up to fill the governance void. They hire vigilantes to provide security, and in some cases propose to build police posts to attract police presence.

With its pulsating nightlife, as would be gleaned from a restless population that moves round the clock, Mararaba is positioning itself as a hub of entertainment and the hospitality industry. The boom in the hoteling sector is suggestive of a middle class with disposable income to spare. Also, an informal business district is springing up, especially on the Nyanya-Keffi corridor, with no explicit input and direction from the Nasarawa State government.

No doubt, there are agencies, running around like headless chickens to get all manner of fees and charges from the massive surge of real estate development in the area. But like every such predatory effort, it is all about taking, there is no blueprint for giving back in terms of development. The results is that residents on streets like Zarma, Zamani, and deeper ends like, Angwar Albarka and Rugan Madaki navigate through gullies to get to their homes.

It is so bad that as they are building their homes, residents equally make elaborate plans to acquire SUVs to navigate the non-existent roads in these areas. Similarly, despite the remarkable improvement in electricity supply across the country, residents of Mararaba have not felt any reprieve because there are no sufficient transformers, as well as other equipment to make power supply better.

What rankles most is that Al Makura and his team have more or less overlooked the potentials of Mararba as an economic hub, if provided with fairly good infrastructure. The government, after providing the requisite infrastructure through creative approaches, would then be in position to get healthy revenues through property taxes, within the context of a win-win strategy. The spotlight must also be placed on Karu Local Government Area, which appears as lethargic as the state government, with regards to transforming the Mararaba axis.

In the vortex of governance, citizens in emerging economies like Nigeria expect their leaders to explore ways of replicating the beautiful things they see on trips to the advanced parts of the world. For residents of Mararaba in Al Makura’s Nasarawa State, his presence on the trip to the United States would be a colossal waste if he does not begin to move to deliver the gains of such exposure to the people. Mararaba has huge economic potentials, which a government with creative instincts can convert to a cash cow in a mutually beneficial sense. In these trying times, when oil money is no longer so easy to come by, the ball is in the court of helmsmen like Al Makura to take the initiative to make the difference.

Armsfree Ajanaku is Media Manager at Transition Monitoring Group (TMG). Twitter: @armsforreel
http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=169135

There was commotion at the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Saturday, as supporters of Governor Nyesom Wike, foiled an attempt by‎ armed operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS, to arrest one of the witnesses ‎that testified before the court.

‎Over 15 operatives of the DSS, stormed the tribunal which is conducting its proceeding inside the premises of an Abuja High Court at Apo around 11:30am Saturday.

While some of them positioned themselves at the entrance to the court, others mounted sentry at strategic positions within the high court premises.

Though the unusual presence of the armed operatives hyped tension within the court, people quickly rationalised that maybe they were brought to secure the proceeding of the tribunal in view of the multiple bomb blasts that rocked different parts of Abuja the previous night.

However, their mission became obvious immediately the first witness that testified before the tribunal yesterday, ‎Mr. Emannuel Philips, stepped out of the court room.

Mr. Philips who had told the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led panel that he is a ‎retired DSS Commander, was accosted by the armed operatives who told him that he was under arrest and made attempt to whisk him away in one of their vehicles.

On sensing ‎what was happening, some supporters of governor Wike quickly intervened and maintained that the witness would not go anywhere with the armed operatives.

The commotion that ensued outside the court premises attracted more supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who were inside the tribunal where another witness had already commenced his evidence-in-chief.

It took the intervention of lawyers yesterday to calm the situation, even as Wike’s supporters insisted that the DSS operatives should produce an arrest warrant that was issued against the witness by a competent court.

Eventually, the DSS operatives who were said to have stormed the tribunal yesterday at the behest of the petitioners- the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, freed the witness and he was escorted out of the court premises by both Wike’s supporters and some lawyers.

Nevertheless, it could not be confirmed whether he was eventually arrested as the armed operatives quickly followed the vehicle that took the witness, with their own convoy.

‎Similar incident had also occurred on Friday when attempt by plain clothed policemen to arrest an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Mr. Akuki Kenneth who also testified before the tribunal, was resisted by lawyers.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/rivers-gov-poll-armed-dss-officials-storm-tribunal/

It emerged on Friday that despite the perceived rapprochement between the Presidency and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a move aimed at splitting Saraki’s support base in the Senate and the House of Representatives has been flagged off.

Investigations by Saturday Tribune showed that the Code of Conduct Bureau, which keeps the records of public officers, has commenced the vetting of the records submitted by senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Investigations revealed further that the Bureau is concentrating on new Senators and Rep members while the files of former governors in the Senate is also being examined.

It was gathered that the leadership of the Bureau had set aside the forms submitted by Senators and members of the House of Representatives following the hype over their investigation by the CCB.

It was learnt that aside from keeping the files away from the prying eyes of the public, the Bureau has also commenced detailed scrutiny of the files to determine those that would be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

An alarm was raised last week, following the commencement of the trial of Saraki at the CCT but the Bureau, through its spokesperson, Iyabo Akinwale, insisted on Monday that the CCB was not specially investigating anyone.

When contacted, Akinwale said, “I am not aware of anything like that.”

Investigations, however, revealed that the files of former governors in the Senate have come under scrutiny, while that if newly elected senators and Rep members are also being examined.

A source said that the experience of the CCB has confirmed that newly elected persons into office have the tendency of making faulty and anticipatory declarations.

The source said that the powers of the CCB have been renewed through the Criminal Administration law which was passed under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The source said that the Bureau is already planning to operate under the auspices of the CCT Act and the Criminal Administration Act to ensure it barks and bite at the same time.

“The Bureau will not overlook infractions to the law just because some persons are making a noise in the media. A number of newly elected senators and former governors already have their files separated for further action. It is being vowed that some of those who are seen as making anticipatory declarations are not to be treated as having made mistakes,” the source said.

When asked why the focus is on members of the National Assembly, the source insisted that the Bureau should start from somewhere, adding that its officials believe they can now operate better with the Criminal Justice Administration Act.

Sources in Abuja also told Saturday Tribune that lawmakers from the North who are backing Saraki have come under intense pressure from the people who are already seeing them as working against the interests President Buhari.

Family members of some of the lawmakers are said to have started forwarding messages of threat to their lives to the lawmakers, who believe however that the Buhari-Saraki saga would end soon.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/saraki-ccb-fresh-move-against-senators-reps

I commend the military and I know that this kind of announcement is part of psychological warfare. However, I beg the military to reduce the announcements that 1 or 2 rag-tag terrorist or so-called commander or king pin has been killed. Focus on the fighting and let us know when you have Shekau for real. These agents of the devil are still killing hapless and innocent citizens even striking in places like Kogi State, which is far from the North East. I fear they are fleeing to other places and who knows where is next? Go after them and we will know without being told when the war is over or when you have gotten the guys that matter. I salute your courage and wish you the best.

As someone whose direct family member and a very personal friend were kidnapped recently, I am compelled out of personal conviction, holy anger (even madness if you like) and a sense of duty to Nairalanders and Nigerians to comment on this subject –I will manage to choose my words carefully and avoid sweeping generalization but pardon me if I err in presenting my views –it is not out of malice, mischief, or any disrespect to Nairalanders who may be Policemen. If you or anyone you know ever gets kidnap, I beg you NEVER to rely on the Police for rescue. The person kidnapped may be killed. I don’t even know where to start from, is it to talk of the case being bungled or the kidnappers being tipped off? Is it to talk of you being asked to pay ransom money which not get to the kidnappers in full and they will out of anger kill the hostage? In one instance, the wife of the kidnap victim had to pay five thousand Naira to fuel the Police vehicle that went to inspect the crime scene. In fact, when a victim was released recently, he said while he was in the kidnap camp, a Police Divisional Officer (DPO) was kidnapped and brought there! The only difference was that the Police took this one serious and threatened the local chief of the area and the DPO was eventually released. The kidnappers even told their victim that they were not afraid of anyone. After releasing their victim, they retained his vehicle but drove it freely to hand it over to their victim later –on Nigerian roads! No surveillance, no tracking, no technology to intercept kidnappers communications even when the kidnappers are frequently making calls to negotiate ransom? It’s a huge shame and disaster, a national calamity, a slap on our collective intelligence. Pray never to be kidnapped, live very low profile, be circumspect in your lifestyle and financial transactions. The change mantra needs to be extended urgently and radically to the Nigerian Police. Good night!

vowolabi:
So what's the outcome as regards the sms they sent

The sms is meaningless as it because ordinarily it is to say our passports are ready for pick up but in this case, we have since collected our passports. So even if the visa was ready, they have no passports to stamp it in. I wish them well.

Urbino:
Oh yeah I got to my destination Wuse at around 11:30am. Came back by air. Never again would I experiment travelling by bus

Thank God for safety. Avoid night road travel if you can.

If truly, it was Fulanis that abducted Falae, then the fastest way to get him released or rescued is NOT through the Police but through the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. People who have access to the Miyetti leadership can engage them and they can explore/exploit their own networks to get him released unhurt and speedily. The group is close knit and know how to communicate very fast. Force rarely works with them as in, it has associated risk to the captive (Falae). I will advise use of lawful force ONLY after the captive has been rescued safely.

If truly, it was Fulanis that abducted Falae, then the fastest way to get him released or rescued is NOT through the Police but through the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. People who have access to the Miyetti leadership can engage them and they can explore/exploit their own networks to get him released unhurt and speedily. The group is close knit and know how to communicate very fast. Force rarely works with them as in, it has associated risk to the captive (Falae). I will advise use of lawful force ONLY after the captive has been rescued safely.

Apart from Senator Akume who is from the North Central zone and Remi Tinubu, no other names were mentioned but sources said other two rank­ing senators also from the South West are being con­sidered on APC shop list.

Feelers from Abuja reaching Kaduna, the sec­ond home of President Mu­hammadu Buhari revealed that, barring any ast min­ute change of plan, Saraki may be asked to resign or if he refused, may be im­peached on moral ground to concentrate on his trial.

National Mirror gath­ered that, Senator Ahmed Lawan who was anointed by APC as its sole candidate but lost to Saraki would emerge senate leader from the North East, since the Speaker is also from the zone.

One of the credible sources explained that, though Saraki and Dogara jettisoned APC’s ,earlier zoning of National Assem­bly principal officers which favoured the north which has both the Senate Presi­dent and Speaker but that under the new power shar­ing deal, South West zone may produce the senate president.

South East and South-South have no APC sena­tors and are already out of the new deal.

Meanwhile, one of the anti -Saraki’s groups, Northern Ethnic Nation­alities Unity Congress, NENUC, had called on the senate president to re­sign or face impeachment over CCT 13 count charges against him.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/apc-considers-akume-remi-tinubu-as-sarakis-replacement/

Muslims in Ekiti yesterday defied the directive of some of their leaders not to collect Sallah gifts from Governor Ayo Fayose, as they trooped to the government house in Ado Ekiti to collect the rams distributed by the governor for Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

This contravened the order earlier issued by Muslim leaders, under the auspices of League of Imams and Alfas, Ekiti State, which urged members to reject the gifts on the strength that their members were not adequately represented in Fayose’s appointments.

Though, another group had countered the League of Imams and Alfas for that action, describing those behind the attack as impostors, who were not known in Islam circle.

While distributing the rams to Imams and other top dignitaries, Fayose said he won’t allow himself to be dragged into playing politics with religion in the state.
The governor urged Muslims to prevent themselves from being used as instruments of politics by desperate politicians, who are bent on maligning his government at every slight opportunity.

In his words, “I won’t allow anybody to drag me into playing politics with religion. What I am doing today is a demonstration of love and support for the Muslims. I am not that kind of a leader who does things with religious interest.

“I will do same to Christians at Christmas exactly what I am doing to Muslims today.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/sallah-muslims-defy-leaders-order-collect-fayoses-rams-in-ekiti/

The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State has strongly condemned the call for the resignation of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki by those they referred to as desperate politicians and their agents, while also dismissing a statement credited to the Lagos APC Spokesman, Mr Joe Igbokwe, saying it was a clear act of impersonation.

The party said ”the attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has been drawn to a recent press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of our party, Mr Joe Igbokwe, wherein he claimed ‘APC does not want Bukola Saraki as the Senate President’, made litany of disjointed and false views and other unacceptable comments that are too awful to be quoted.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the party described Mr Joe Igbokwe as an impersonator on a mission to cause confusion within the APC family in the country.

“‎We wish to strongly condemn the statement as unacceptable and a clear act of impersonation. It should also be noted that Mr Igbokwe’s statement doesn’t represent the views of members of our party across the country. What Mr Igbokwe has exhibited is a clear act of impersonation. Is he the Chairman or National Publicity Secretary of our party?

“For anyone who was tempted to doubt our claim that the case against the Senate President is not an anti-corruption driven case but a politically-motivated prosecution aimed at undermining the person and the office of the Senate President, it is now clearer. Mr Igbokwe’s recent vituperation against the person and the office of the Senate President is part of the script designed by desperate politicians to pull down the Senate President at all costs.

‎”Again, we wish to unequivocally and categorically condemn, reject and dismiss the call for the resignation of Senate President Bukola Saraki by sponsored faceless groups and bought souls as out of place and politically-sponsored.

“Kwara APC also reiterates that with the collective resolve of Nigerians for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria with utmost regard for principles of separation of powers and the independence of the legislature coupled with the uprightness of the judicial system, this satanic plot against the Senate President is doomed to fail.”, the statement read.
http://dailypost.ng/2015/09/22/sarakis-ordeal-igbokwe-is-an-impersonator-kwara-apc/

What I find interesting is the support of his Senate colleagues across regions, religions and political parties. Ah! Did I see even the likes of the former Sokoto State Governor who is a core APC and core Northern Senator there? Ah, then it is not an easy, straight forward fight? Next few weeks will be interesting in the Senate and in the polity I think.

Choi! So Saraki is still the Senate President and will likely supervise the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees afterall? or do we postpone submission of ministerial nominees till after the new date of his trial?

Thank God for safety. I once travelled by night from Abuja to Port Harcourt with Chisco and it was a very unpleasant/scary experience. Never hope to do it again except if its an emergency or life and death issue. Generally wont advice night travel especially along some notorious routes except if its really unavoidable.

Where is everyone? Any updates? 12 weeks (nearly 3 months) after my family applied for Schengen visa to Netherlands via the Belgian Embassy, we got sms last Saturday saying our application had been processed! The big irony is that 2 weeks or more before that, I asked a friend to withdraw our passports directly from the Embassy and he did -so I really wonder what these guys are up to. It looks like they are simply not organised. They returned our passports and 2 weeks later, they are sending sms?

Anyone with independent confirmation and additional insight on this story?

It is well.

Any update?

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the new Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali (retd.) to rid the service of corrupt officers.

The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that as part of measures to carry out Buhari’s directive, the CG of Customs had demanded files of top officers of the service.

Investigations showed that the President specifically posted Ali to the NCS because of its poor image on corruption.

It was gathered that Buhari took his anti-graft war to the Customs also because of the dwindling revenues from oil which is the country’s major source of income.

A top officer of the Presidency, who confided in The PUNCH, noted that Customs ranked among the most corrupt government agencies in the country.

A survey by the CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the McArthur Foundation had in 2013 ranked Customs among corrupt Federal Government agencies.

Other corrupt agencies mentioned in the survey included the Police, Nigeria Immigration Service and the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

It was also gathered that Buhari reasoned that for the government to meet its obligations amid short-fall in its revenues, there should be transparency in revenue generating agencies.

The Presidency official, who spoke with The PUNCH, identified the fact that the Federal Government had not met its revenue target in 2015.

For instance, a look at the 2015 budget shows that the government is targeting gross federally collectible revenue of N9.78tn to be shared by the three tiers of government.

The figure, when spread over a 12-month period when the amount is to be generated, translates into monthly revenue of N815bn or N2.44tn per quarter.

But figures obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance showed that between January and May this year, the country was only able to generate the sum of N1.74tn as gross revenue.

When the actual N1.74tn revenue is compared to the budgeted target of N4.07tn that should have been earned within the five-month period, it translates into a revenue shortfall of 42.5 per cent or N2.3tn.

A breakdown of the actual revenue revealed that the sum of N416.04bn was generated in January, N401.46bn in February while the months of March, April and May had N315.04bn, N282.06bn and N324.96bn respectively.

It was gathered that a mass purge was imminent in the Customs as part of efforts to carry out the President’s directive.

Investigations showed that fear had gripped men and officers of the service, who had been feeding fat on government revenues.

The PUNCH reliably gathered on Friday that the new Comptroller-General had started scrutinising files of top officers of the service and petitions written against some employees.

Investigations revealed that any Customs officers with queries pertaining to proven cases of corruption in his file would be shown the way out.

It was learnt that Ali, in implementing this mandate, was determined to shore up revenues accruable to the Federal Government.

Investigations showed that the new Customs boss would also work on petitions written by members of the public against some officers.

Some of the petitions, it was gathered, dealt with illegal sales of seized goods by officers of the service.

A top officer of the NCS, who confided in The PUNCH, said that there had been complaints about illegal sales of contrabands.

He said that money accruable from sales of goods went to private pockets, adding that they were not gazetted before being sold.

“There are petitions bordering on corruption. The new helmsman has asked for files of all officers. Reorganisation is inevitable in the NIS and those who are corrupt would be shown the way out,” he stated.

It was also gathered that the new comptroller general would look into violations of rules and regulations on clearance of goods as well as false declarations and misapplication of tariffs.

When contacted, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that crux of Buhari’s anti-corruption war was that anybody that corruptly enriched himself would be prosecuted.

When asked to explain Buhari’s directives to Ali on corruption, he said, “I will answer your question with a question: should we allow a corrupt officer to continue staying in the system?

“The crux of President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign is that anyone found to have corruptly enriched himself should be dealt with according to the rules, and the individual must face prosecution. The campaign is only meaningful if officials indicted for corruption are made to face trial.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/corruption-ali-demands-customs-officers-files/

Jesusloveyou:
so she is right to secretly put her immediate family there, is she d owner of dss, that has be problem of Nigeria, one family wil just occupy every offices, those without connection, should just remain poor.

I fully share your views my brother. I am only saying her action is not unusual in the DSS at all as is being portrayed. Several cases are like that in DSS.

otr1:
They do it...in 2013.
Secret recruitment is nothing but corruption.
And DSS is not alone in this.

If they did it, which I am not doubting you, it still isnt DSS standard practise. I dont support nepotism but for DSS, there is nothing new about so-called 'secret' recruitment. Public adverts are the exception not the rule. Ask any DSS officer not a Nairalander!

Good people, http://lagoscrusade.com/
5-8pm on event dates: Join the live webcast of the ongoing Lagos City-wide Crusade being organised by Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

http://lagoscrusade.com/

The 20-day crusade event began on 8th September and continues around Lagos till 27th September.

The crusade is in the series of power-packed ministrations of Pastor Kumuyi which has taken him to many states, geo-political zones of the country and outside the shores of Nigeria in the recent times.

otr1:
You're a liar

Sorry sir. He is NOT a liar. DSS normally doesnt advertise publicly. Even its jobs are discussed on Nairaland and other fora, the source is usually informal like man know man. They may be exceptions but they rarely do that. Have a blessed weekend sir.

bigerboy200:
K
So hw do they put out vacancies? Just curious

They send signals to their various commands and traditionally, it is by word of mouth or personal recommendation of their staff. Those who are informed of how it works won’t deny this -you often find someone whose dad or mum worked there, to also work there. Of course, they also spread the information informally. They may be exception, but don’t publish in Newspapers normally! Also, Ogar as PRO was a rare deviation as in; DSS also did not really have designated PROs in the open media space. You'll notice, the new management has also gone back to the old format more or less -just issuing statements. Infact, back in the NSO days, they rarely issued public statements.

LockDown69:
i think Their recruitment process wasn't legit, but again I believe it's a waste of government resources to dismiss this significant number. We will wait for what the DSS will have to say about this move.

DSS will not say anything about it publicly. There is more to what is going on and to what we read about in the media. This is a public forum and not all can be said here. There is a time for everything. No further comments!

OrlandoOwoh:
While those people remain outside the DSS, owing to the training they've had, the security agency will be watching them closely.

The DSS and others have too much to do now -chasing intel on Boko Haram, militants etc. I guarantee you that they dont have the resources to adequately monitor those sacked.

kkkp:
Hmm 65 trainee officers.. No advert , nothing they just employ their relatives.. Carry go baba

My dear brother, DSS does not advertise jobs in newspapers. It is a secret service and thats how it has always been.

Two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari announced him as the new Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, former military Administrator of Kaduna state, Col. Hameed Ali, rtd, assumed duty as successor to Abdullahi Inde Dikko who retired from the Service only recently under controversial circumstances.
A statement by Customs spokesman, Wale Adeniyi yesterday announcing Ali’s assumption of duty described him as Comptroller-General of Customs.
According to the statement, Ali in his maiden meeting with the management of the Service restated his mandate to undertake reforms and re-structuring to enhance the capacity of Nigeria Customs Service generate more revenue. He charged Customs Management to work with him to deliver on the mandate given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Specifically, Adeniyi quoted Ali as saying that, “the mandate he has given me are three basic things: go to Customs, reform Customs, restructure Customs and increase the revenue generation, simple. I don’t think that is ambiguous, I don’t think that is cumbersome. It is precise and I believe that is what all of you are here to do.”
He pleaded with the Management not to see him as a stranger in the Customs Family, noting that his mission in Customs is to help build and strengthen the Service. He solicited the support and loyalty of all Officers and Men in his collective approach to make Nigeria Customs a better service.
Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller General covering duties for CGC, John Atte, while handing over, gave him a brief history of the Service and assured him of unquestionable loyalty of Officers and Men to work towards suppression of smuggling, increased revenue collection, facilitation among others, in the interest of the nation.
The retired military man who arrived the Zone 3, Wuse, Abuja headquarter office of the Service 11am yesterday was received by top Customs officers led by the DCGs. Ali, dressed in mufti and accompanied by a retinue of security details was reported to have temporarily rejected the job for purely professional reasons until some close associates of the president prevailed on him to “give it a go,” said one federal government official.

CG or Sole Administrator?
Although Adeniyi’s statement addressed Ali as Comptroller General, officers and men of the Service were not sure yesterday as to his correct portfolio and hence, mission at Customs House. In other words, staff of the Service who had expressed mixed feelings from the point of his appointment remained in dark over the role of Alhaji Ali who stormed the Customs premises in a black Babanriga with cap to match.
While some wondered why he assumed office and inspected guards without the conventional Customs uniform, others who spoke anonymously to Nigerian Pilot were of the view that the earlier pronounced Comptroller General who only spent 20 minutes in office days after he was appointed CG could be working as sole administrator after all.
“We don’t really understand what is happening. The normal thing is that any CG is expected to put his uniform. I think the indication is that he may actually become a sole administration.
“…We here are still watching to see what happens in days to come. He has been appointed to head us and there is nothing much I can say,” one of the senior ranked officer confided in Nigerian Pilot.
Another senior officer who didn’t want his name on print remarked, “He is somebody we have not met before. Someone we don’t know. We are hopeful that definitely he is going to cope on the former CG has done.
“We cannot really comprehend his actions or reactions but whatever thing he does, we know that his going to do a nice job. You know he was appointed by the president, since he has not been in the profession.
“So we still believe that there are some areas where he can really cope and there are some areas where he needs people to advise him on what to do. He is on appointment so you can’t say that he will not perform but before he takes any decision, he will receive the advice of the management and know how to do all things but we are quite sure that he came for the betterment of the service.”
Said one middle rank Customs officer on the matter, “I am confused; not only me; we are many. Is he here as Sole Administrator or CG? He gave assurances to the management not to see him as an outsider, but he really is an outsider. “The annoying thing is that the appointment of Col. Ali contravenes the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA, which does not allow for an outsider to head the Customs either in the guise of sole administrator or Comptroller General. It is like the case of a blind man coming to lead a one eyed man.”
Veteran maritime journalist, Elder Asu Beks, who is also the publisher of Shipping World magazine, pointed out that if President Buhari insists on appointing Ali to take over Customs either as Comptroller-General or Sole Administrator, then the former military man should acquire some basic training in Customs procedures.
“The maritime community is worried with recent developments in the Customs Service. Nobody has a problem with Col. Ali. But for him to come and take over the Customs either as Sole Administrator or as CG, he should first go for an intensive six-month refresher course at the Lagos or Kano Customs training school,” Asu said.
He continued, “In that six-month period, Buhari should appoint an acting Comptroller-General from the crop of professional officers available until Col. Ali concludes his training and is ready to assume the sensitive task entrusted to him. If this were the army, it would be practically impossible for a civilian to be appointed as head over serving officers in flagrant disregard for the existing hierarchy protocols governing the Armed Forces.”

Looming reorganisation
Nigerian Pilot learnt that Ali’s stint in the Customs would “come with a massive reorganisation,” said a presidency official. According to him, “Mr. President has given Col. Ali specific mandate to clean up that place. Yes, the Customs has been a major revenue source for the government over the years; it could have contributed double or triple of what it currently files as returns to government if not for the corruption in the Service.”
He said that Ali would reorganise the “officers and management of the Customs, including the zonal commands where everyone knows there has been brazen looting by officials of the Customs.” He mentioned all the Zones of the Service especially, the Ports Operations unit at Tin Can Island port and the country’s border posts as well as the airports as areas that Ali will “concentrate his attention on.”
He would not confirm however if the reorganisation would cost any officer of the Service their jobs.
It would be recalled that Alhaji Ali’s appointment August 27 came as a shock to entire Customs staff few days after Deputy Comptroller General John Atte was made Acting CG.

Customs Organisation kicks
Already, Ali’s appointment as Comptroller General of the NCS may have sailed into trouble waters, as the world Customs Organisation, WCO and Customs agents among other stake holders voiced their opposition to the appointment.
Feelers from outside the country show that WCO may also not be comfortable with the appointment of a retired Col, to direct the activities of the Service.
A source indicated that the WCO has already subtly kicked against the appointment saying that installing an unprofessional man as CG could set the organisation back. The body could suspend Nigeria‎, if the country remains adamant.
Also, Licensed Customs Agents under the aegis of International Freight Forwarders Association of Nigeria, IFFAN, who flagged off the opposition condemned Ali’s appointment stressing that Customs Service tasks, though paramilitary in nature, was still of a technical and professional nature that even a crack military officer may not be able to perfectly perform.
Stating this in Lagos, the IFFAN Director of Publicity, Mr. Ossy Ezeweiyinya lamented that the appointment genuinely portends great danger, not only for the revenue collection drive of the customs service, but also for the consummation of the laudable on-going reforms and growth of the Service.
“Though sound, the retired Col. is not a professional”, the body reasoned, highlighting a point for which an Enugu based lawyer has presently dragged Buhari to court for, positing that the Court should call Mr. President to order.
“The position of my association is that we have been taken five steps backwards now, we need a professional as CG.
“If you want to fight corruption, you cannot use an outsider who knows nothing about revenue collection, I don’t know what a retired army officer can do here, if it is discipline I can say it’s okay, but we are talking about revenue collection and cargo facilitation,” Ezeweiyinya stated further.

- See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/confusion-col-ali-rtd-takes-over-customs/#sthash.aGqcUNFH.dpuf

MISSNORA:
Tot he was among doz dah said Jonathan would win

Never and never. Pastor Kumuyi has never preached politics or endorsed anyone. If you read anything contrary in the media or Nairaland, it is either he was misquoted, the report was slanted to make story, or it was outrightly false.

Nature8:
Kumuyi don dey do politics..

I think the caption does not do him justice. He is a very apolitical Pastor and all I see is him calling for prayers and collective resolve to tackle the evil of corruption. I dont read him saying Buhari or anyone politician/political party alone will do it. God bless you.