Troops kill 4 terrorists, rescue 61 abducted women, kids

By Kingsley Omonobi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFQmXAQJYa8

AS the military onslaught to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from the North East gains momentum, troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, backed by close air support by the Nigerian Air Force, have rescued 61 persons abducted and held captive by the insurgents along Bitta and Damboa axis.

The troops also in the process, cleared Boko Haram terrorists’ camps at Modupe 1, 2 and 3.

A statement by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said: “The rescued persons were mainly women and children and have since been evacuated” while four terrorists were killed in the operation.

“The fight against Boko Haram terrorists is continuing to maintain its momentum with the discovery and destruction of terrorists’ camps, weapons and equipment, while the terrorists have been fleeing, and abandoning their bases.

“In 25 Task Force Brigade’s area of responsibility, the troops were able to clear Boko Haram terrorist’s camps at Nwalemer, Mallemiri and Bale. Similarly in Gwoza axis, troops of 26 Task Force Brigade have also destroyed terrorist’s camps in Tripkwopta and Gidan Gachi yesterday.

“The troops, however, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried along their route of advance near Balazalla Dure that partially affected one of the leading vehicles. The troops also encountered an abandoned truck loaded with IEDs at Uvole village, which was blown up by them. The troops also recovered two dane guns in the Bitta and Gwoza area after an encounter with the terrorists at Langaran Fulani and also killed four terrorists, arrested one.

Facebook to train Nigerian Senators on use of application

Abuja – Senators are to receive free Facebook training, says the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Sen. Isa Galaudu on Thursday in Abuja.

Galaudu, in a letter sent to the senators inviting them for the event, said the training was in line with the promise of the leadership of the 8th Senate to utilise the social media.

“Senators and their aides receive training on use of facebook in line with the promise of the President of the Senate to ensure more representative legislature using e-parliamentary tools.

“This is a partnership between the Office of the Senate President and Facebook.

“Senators and aides who wish to participate in the programme should please email grsenatesocial@gmail.com with their full names.’’

The Facebook team, led by the African Head of Public Policy, will be in Nigeria at the weekend for the training slated for Monday.

According to the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Social Media, Bamikole Omishore, the training is at no cost to the senate as Facebook offered to conduct the training for free.

EFCC, Afromedia and Citizen Gobir

THE establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in 2004 marked a watershed in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. For the first time, Nigeria had all previous laws and enactments on different aspects of financial and economic crimes consolidated under one agency in order to achieve a seamless and co-ordinated detection, prevention and prosecution of financial crimes.

The EFCC is charged with enforcing the provisions of other laws and regulations relating to economic and financial crimes including the EFCC Act of 2004, Money Laundering Acts of 1995 and 2004 and Advanced Fee and Other Related Offences Act of 1995.

The others are the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act of 1994, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act of 1991 and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the EFCC has enormous powers. It actually needs to be empowered properly for it to acquit itself creditably.

In the last few years, Nigerians have come to appreciate the EFCC’s work. However, while the officers and leadership of the anti-graft agency have shown great professionalism and dedication in the discharge of their duties, the junior officers appear to be on the loose. Even cases of financial disagreement between business partners or friends that can be sorted out by simple arbitration are referred to EFCC operatives. Instead of handling such low profile cases with circumspection to preserve the dignity of those involved, these operatives behave in a way that thoroughly embarrasses those unlucky to be in their net and expose them to public ridicule.

Nigeria dominates the world

November 9th, 2015 has gone down in history as a day Nigeria produced two world champions in the games of juvenile football and scrabble. The Golden Eaglets defeated their Malian junior national team counterparts by two goals to nil at the Sausalito Stadium, Chile, to retain the trophy they won two years ago in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Across the world in the Australian city of Perth, Nigeria also produced Africa’s first world champion in the game of scrabble when Mr Wellington Jighere trounced an Englishman, Lewis MacKay 4-0 in the English Language World Scrabble Championship.

The two resounding victories came as a pep factor to a country whose citizens have lately been reeling from several socio-political and economic downturns, including the Boko Haram terrorism, the renewed pro-Biafra protests in the East and dwindling economic fortunes of the nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who had the honour of receiving the maiden world cup won by the Golden Eaglets as a military leader in 1985, was in the forefront of cheering and motivating these worthy Nigerian ambassadors before, during and after their gallant endeavours.

The Eaglets not only lengthened their victory run to five wins in 20 years, our own Victor Osimhen set a new games record of ten goals, thus carting away the Adidas Golden Boot, while team captain, Kelechi Nwakali, also won the Most Valuable Player of the tournament along with the Adidas Golden Ball.

Jighere, on the other hand, beat an Englishman to a game in the latter’s own language, thus showing that Nigerians are now masters of a language considered as the most influential in the world.

Abuja mass rail transit gulps N162bn — COREN

By Ediri Ejoh & Prince Okafor

THE Federal Government has so far spent over $823 million (about N162 billion) on Abuja rail mass transit.

President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN, Engr. Kashim Ali, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at a seminar organized by KPMG professionals, in partnership with IPFA International.

Abuja Rail Transit

Ali, who spoke on the theme “Unlocking Rapid Development of Transport Infrastructure in Nigeria and West Africa,” said: “The Abuja mass rail transit is over 70 percent completion, the total cost is $823 million and it is out for all to see.”

The COREN president who described the railway network as the best and viable option for transportation in the country, called for speedy action on the demolition of structures on the railway right of way, ROW, by properly demarcating the assets before it. He said: “The truth be told, we don’t haveANY OPTION than to develop the railway system because it eases travelling and a lot of goods are carried from the port to the hinterland and the best way to transport these is through such means.

“Vehicles carrying cement all over the road and destroying our way, all this can be transferred to a rail system. We don’t have an option for the country of our size and the kind of economy that we have, we must have a railway system that is the best option for mass transportation.”

On water transportation, Ali argued that the country’s waterways network was currently not where it should be at the moment, adding that the channels, route must be drained and distilled from time to time since it was capital intensive in nature.

China executes man for murder of ‘one child’ officials: report

China has executed a man for murdering two birth control officials, state media said, in a case that highlighted tensions caused by the country’s recently abolished “one child” restrictions.

He Shenguo — sentenced to death for stabbing the officials to death in the southwestern province of Guangxi in 2013 — was executed on Thursday, the China News Service said.

Under regulations introduced in the late 1970s and suddenly abolished late last month, China limited most families to having one child.

Authorities used permits, fines, and in some cases forced sterilisations and late-term abortions to enforce the rules, sometimes brutally, especially in poorer provinces such as Guangxi.

He had “illegally fathered a fourth child”, and did not pay fines levied against him for fathering extra children, reports said at the time.

Officials responsible for enforcing birth restrictions denied his children essential documents allowing them to qualify for benefits, the reports added.

The angry father then staged the deadly attack in revenge, injuring four other people in the process, they said.

12 years of PDP cannot match what I did in 4 years — Audu

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC Prince Abubakar Audu has promised the people of Yagba West Local Government Area that he would end the alleged diversion of revenue meant for grassroots development.

He has also pledged to put an end to the alleged payment of only 25 percent of salaries to local government workers if elected. He accused the state government of diverting the revenue of the Local Government Councils into private pockets, Audu at a rally in Yagba West assured that an APC government will ensure that workers are promptly paid.

Audu said: “The PDP government has failed Kogi people. No good roads, no water, no healthcare, no salaries, yet, they are clamouring for re-election. Will you re-elect a failure? Will you re-elect the government that is stealing your salaries? Will you re-elect the government that has failed in giving you social amenities? Join hands with the APC to bring back the glory of our dear state.

“During my time as governor of the state, all of you saw what we did. What I did in four years could not be matched by the twelve years of PDP. They have destroyed all the legacies I created. They are only interested in embezzling the resources of the state. Vote them out on November 21 so that we can reinvent our state and bring development to our people”.

Also speaking at the rally, Audu’s running mate, Mr. James Faleke said Audu is key to the development of Kogi.

The rally was graced by party chieftains, state and federal legislators as well as party supporters.

Buhari to PermSecs: My govt won’t condone corruption, incompetence

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, issued a stern warning to the Permanent Secretaries and the entire civil service that his administration would not tolerate corruption, incompetence and excesses.

The president spoke while swearing in the 18 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Abuja.

He said: “I must, however, sound a note of warning. It is within public domain that ministers as chief executives of their ministries as well as other government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the civil service.

“Even where Permanent Secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.

“This administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence, and corrupt practices in any form. Permanent Secretaries are, therefore, advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all civil servants accordingly.

“I am sure the Permanent Secretaries and all other civil servants appreciate the fact that I have always considered the civil service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty. I, therefore, consider the service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.”

The President, who congratulated the Permanent Secretaries on their appointments, also tasked them on the financial prudence. He reminded them that the expectations of Nigerians from the government were high, restating his resolve to create jobs and diversify the economy.”

Meanwhile, 16 of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries took oath of office. They are: Ayotunde Adesugba, Taiwo Abidogun, Dr. Bukar Hassan, Mrs. Wakama Belema Asifieka, Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi, Mr. Sabiu Zakar, Mrs. Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi, Mr. Aminu Nabegu.

Others are Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo, Dr. Shehu Ahmed, Mr. Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu, Mrs. Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa, Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, Mr. Bassey Akpanyung, Mr. Louis Edozien and Dr. Ugo Roy.

However, two other Permanent Secretaries, who were absent at the inauguration, were said to have travelled out of the country on official assignment. They are Mr. Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele and Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.

Federal cabinet: Nigeria in good hands – Tinubu

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS—Barely 24 hours after the Federal cabinet was inaugurated, All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has assured Nigerians and the global community that the nation was being managed by credible personalities that will restore the glory of Nigeria.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode

This came even as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State launched the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road expansion and Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, operation with 434 buses for the pilot scheme.

The occasion was graced by prominent personalities led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and top government functionaries, traditional rulers,MARKET women, among others.

Tinubu told the large crowd at the launch of the bus scheme: “We will continue to develop this country to compete with the superpowers. When we started the urban renewal, they thought that we were lost and had no vision. But they do not know about the planning period that is required to modernize any decay in government.

“Today, it is applicable to President Muhammadu Buhari. The planning period that it is taking to re-engineer and re-design the governance of Nigeria was the same method they were blaming us for then.

“They called me ‘go slow’ and at that time, I was complaining about the paucity of funds.

“Oil was selling at about $11 per barrel and I said that we will be out of it soon and people said that I should go and do my plan and stop the lamentation.

“But my cabinet, including Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, were part of that dream and the vision for the mission to reclaim and redevelop Lagos State.”

Says Fashola ‘ll succeed

Tinubu said: “Leadership is about how many other leaders one is able to discover to do great things for the country. We deserve what we are getting in Lagos; success, continuity and good governance.

“For instance, Ambode did not lobby for the seat of Lagos, but we discovered him. I am now a great grandfather.

“You could see that when the announcement was made yesterday, Lagos State took the front seat in Fashola and we believe that he will succeed and many of them, too. Nigeria is now in good hands.”

Uroye lauds Okowa on road construction

The former transition committee chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, and chairman, Road Committee of Atori Layout, Tankers Park Road Ekpan, Mr Augustine Uroye, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for responding quickly to the plight of people leaving within and outside the layout by constructing the one kilometer road with concrete drainages at both sides.

He said: “The road was constructed within the first 80 days of his administration. It is a wonder to the people living in the area, because in the last five years, we have been suffering from the bad state of the road and all hope was lost especially with the bad economy of the state as we never expected that the road would be repaired so soon.”

Shell Graduate Programme 2015

Shell Graduate Programme 2015

At Shell, we’re developing all kinds of ideas to help meet the growing demand for energy. And we’re looking for ambitious students and graduates to help us do more.

Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, employing approximately 87,000 people and operating in more than 70 countries and territories. Our aim is to meet the energy needs of society in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally viable, now and in the future. Our focus on innovation and technology has made us a leading manufacturer, distributor andMARKETER of refined petroleum products and has us ranked amongst the top 50 most innovative companies in the world.

We are breaking new grounds in Africa and are looking for top talents who have expressed capacity, achievement and strong relationship skills to deliver on the global energy challenge.

Shell's core values are Honesty, Integrity and Respect in all its operations, is an equal opportunity employer and an advocate for diversity and inclusiveness.

Position: Shell Graduate Programme 2015

The Shell Graduate Programme is a development framework that enables new graduates to become fully independent Shell professionals in 2-5 years. At Shell, new graduates have access to an unparalleled range of roles and world-class training and development opportunities, including:

Leadership skills development

Networking, Coaching and Mentoring relationships

Learning curriculum (training, e-learning modules, accreditation) 

Who we’re looking for:

Workforce Graduate Trainee Recruitment 2015 / 2016

Workforce Graduate Trainee recruitment 2015 / 2016

Our client is an institution in the Financial Services Sector that is driven by operational excellence, advanced technology, innovation and professionalism.

Their continuous quest to revamp the financial services in Nigeria especially for small and medium businesses has led to the creation of career opportunities for young graduates with business acumen to fill the entry level roles that exist within the institution.

Workforce Group has been given the mandate to source for candidates in the North, South South, Mid-West, South East and South West regions of the country who meet the following selection criteria;

Bayelsa: The dialectics of defections

IT is election season in Bayelsa State. The cradle of the Ijaw nation and glory of all lands is astir. Election for the office of the Governor is due on December 5, 2015 with the incumbent Mr. Seriake Dickson staking an almost unassailable and unprecedented performance record for re-election for a second term of office while his political opponents are feebly realigning and awkwardly labouring to build a coalition of forces to oust the incumbent from the Creek Haven, the State’s coveted seat of power.

Some months ago , there have been spate of defections, the most notable being that of high ranking party members from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC). Among the defectors are, Senator Heneiken Lopokri, Chief Clever Ikisikpo, former senator representing Bayelsa East Constituency, Dr. Taria Tebepah, erstwhile chairman of NNDC, former acting governors of Bayelsa State, Hon. Nestor Ibinabo and Werinipre Seibarugu and Chief Timi Alaibe, former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), amongst others.

A pedestrian observer of Bayelsa politics may be tempted to imagine that Governor Dickson’s chance of re-election for a second term is doomed with the realignment of opposition forces, most of whom are without doubt political heavy weights and veritable stakeholders in the Bayelsa Project and the larger Ijaw national interest.

However, there is the need to properly discern the motives and motivations of these defectors as it will help us deconstruct their political objectives and enable the dispassionate observer of the Bayelsa political scene to come to terms with altruism of their mission and the futility of their mission which can best be described as dead on arrival.

A common thread that runs through the defectors is that they are associates and allies of Chief Timipre Silva, the former governor of the state who was controversially removed from office and whose tenure as a governor ordinary reminds the average Bayelsan of its wasted years and lost opportunities.

Majority of the defectors are people who came into prominence between 2007 and 2011 when Sylva was governor as such beneficiaries of his freewheeling largesse with public funds. They are therefore nostalgically yearning to latch on to the fortunes of their erstwhile benefactor as he bids to relaunch himself to relevance. They constitute a curious bunch of blind loyalists and political journey men who at best have little or no electoral value.

They won elections into the State and National Assemblies during Sylva’s tenure and bluntly refused to support Dickson’s candidature in the run up to the 2012 governorship elections. Their wrong-headed support for Sylva eventually turned out to be a mismatch to Dickson’s overwhelming coalition of goodwill which comprises of the then President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP machinery, party stalwarts and most importantly the good people and masses of Bayelsa who all saw in Dickson, the epitome of effective and compassionate leader the state rightly deserves.

Against these odds, Dickson coasted home to victory in the 2012 governorship elections and set out from day one to fulfil his covenant with Bayelsans by embarking on unprecedented developmental strides spanning across human capital development, building of critical infrastructure, initiation of welfare programmes, restoration of trust and ethical governance and winning the peace across the streets and creeks of the state and the larger Niger Delta region in general.

The major hallmark of Dickson’s governance is people-centred leadership which placed the interest of the masses at the heart of governance. It is critical to note that Dickson’s first term in office has been almost crises free, a feat which is a rarity in the previous era of governance and when viewed in the particular context of the combustive nature of the politics of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta area where there are always myriads of interests to contend with.

Breaking News: Supreme Court halts Saraki’s trial at CCT

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Supreme Court, this morning, stayed further hearing on the 13-count criminal charge pending against ‎the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

The apex court, in a ruling today, directed the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal to suspend the trial to enable it to hear and determine the substantive appeal that Saraki lodged before it.

This was even as the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, entered ‎an undertaking before the apex court that “no unusual step will be taken by the federal government”, in relation to the matter.

In their ruling, a five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court ‎led by Justices John Fabiyi, held: “It is imperative to state that all the parties, including the Code of Conduct Tribunal, should tarry a while to enable this court to determine the appeal before it.

File: Bukola Saraki in Court: Senate President Bukola Saraki at Code of Conduct Tribunal shortly after his lawyers walkout of the Court during court sitting in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

“In effect, further proceeding at the CCT should be stayed pending the hearing of the appeal. Hearing date will be communicated to all the parties”, Justice Fabiyi ruled.

All the other members of the apex court panel also concurred with ‎the lead ruling.

Saraki is in his appeal marked SC/852/2015, praying the apex court to invoke its powers and quash the 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the federal government.

Pro-Biafra protests: S-East Govs, Ohaneze’s meeting postponed

Biafra protesters

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.

Baring any unforeseen circumstance, the planned meeting of the South East governors, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo and other stakeholders, will now hold next Tuesday, in Enugu.

According to a press statement signed by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Samuel Onwuemeodo, the meeting which was initially slated for Owerri, has been moved to Enugu, for strategic reasons.

“The expected meeting of the governors of the South-East states, the leadership of Ohaneze and other stakeholders, initially slated for this weekend in Owerri, at the instance of Governor Rochas Okorocha, to discuss the continued pro-Biafra protests across the South-East states and other neighbouring states, has been shifted to Tuesday, November 17, 2015”, Onwuemeodo said.

Okorocha’s image maker also explained that “the venue of the meeting has also been moved from Owerri to Enugu, which has been the traditional headquarters of the South-East states”.

Giving the reason for the postponement, Onwuemeodo said it was informed by the need for all those expected at the meeting to be in attendance.

“The South-East governors, Ohaneze leadership and others who will be at the meeting will deliberate on the pro-Biafra protests that had gained momentum in recent time and for the governors and other leaders to do what they are expected to do in the circumstance”, the CPS said.

FIFA approves five presidential candidates

Issa Hayatou, Acting FIFA President

FIFA on Thursday approved five candidates to stand in February’s vote to replace Sepp Blatter as president of world football’s governing body, but Michel Platini has not yet made the list.

The five who met the qualifications following a series of integrity tests were: Prince Ali Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale, a FIFA statement said.

The candidacy of Platini, the suspended head of European football who had been the favourite to succeed Blatter, will be examined once his 90-day suspension byFIFA’s ethics committee is over.

The only candidate to be disqualified after receiving provisional approval wasMusa Bility, the head of the Liberian football association.

“The Ad-hoc Electoral Committee did not admit the candidature of Musa Hassan Bility, in view of the content of the integrity check report relating to him,” the statement said.

FIFA said it had explained the reasons for disqualification privately to Bility, but it would not make the specifics public.

The race is thought to be wide open given Platini’s potential ethics violations, including a probe over a murky $2 million payment he received from FIFA in 2011.

Ministerial portfolios: So long, too long

By Chioma Gabriel

After a long wait, President Muhammadu Buhari finally assigned portfolios to 36 ministers who were, yesterday, sworn in, bringing to an end 166 days of President Buhari as sole administrator of the Nigerian state.

Buhari, who has hyped his commitment to ending corruption, slashed the number of ministries from 36 to 24, making some nominees only junior ministers.

He also took charge of the Petroleum ministry.

The assignment of portfolios to ministers was received with mixed feelings by Nigerians across social and political divides. Many expressed dismay that the President is taking charge of the petroleum ministry when erstwhile Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Managing Director, Ibe Kachikwu, could have handled the ministry.

President Buhari was perceived to have breached constitutional provisions that demanded that a minister of the Federal Republic should pass through senatorial screening especially when he already had his hands full as a president.

President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Water Resources Minister, Engr. Suleiman Adamu (5r) while other Members of Council watched in a group photograph shortly after the swear-in ceremony of the newly composed Federal Executive Council at the Aso Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 11/11/2015

According to a critic: “It is wrong for the President to appoint himself Petroleum minister. What interest has the President in the petroleum ministry which he thinks none of the ministers would achieve? The duties of the President are too challenging to be combined with a ministerial position. He came to power on a message and must live on it.”

The minister with the most challenging responsibility is perhaps Kemi Adeosun, a former investment banker and accountant who recently served as finance commissioner in Ogun State, and just yesterday emerged Finance Minister. She now has the task of reflating an economy whose fortunes are nose-diving, chiefly as a result of a free-fall in oil prices.

From economic indices, Nigeria’s GDP growth is currently running at just 2.35 per cent, while inflation is creeping towards 10 per cent and the Naira, the national currency is weak.

Adeosun has the responsibility to perfect all that concerns the economy.

And as the war against terrorism rages with a casualty of not fewer than 17,000 dead and at least 2.5 million homeless, retired Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali was assigned the Defence portfolio and is expected to end the war against terror by December as the President ordered.

Another big challenge was the appointment of former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, as the Power, Works and Housing minister while the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, got the Transportation ministry.

The combination of three porfolios of Power, Works and Housing is perceived as being too much for one minister to handle, and as such not in the interest of the nation as national challenges in the three sectors are too enormous to be supervised by one minister.

Deputy Majority Leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Solomon Akpulonu faulted the merger of the Power, Works and Housing ministries stating that the challenges facing each of the ministries are too enormous to be supervised by a minister and urged the President to reconsider his decision.

According to him, “when you look at the new Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, you will observe that these are critical sectors which are expected to drive the engine of growth of our economy. You talk of power, it keeps fluctuating. What do we say about the works sector where all the roads are dilapidated? It is the same with the Housing sector. I think the President made a mistake to have merged these hitherto separate ministries and now assigned only a minister to oversee it.

“He should reconsider the decision by assigning a minister of state to the ministry. Otherwise, Babatunde Fashola would need to be superhuman to achieve result in this new ministry. Buhari must be careful not to create another problem while trying to save cost.”

Fashola and Amaechi are both political heavyweights in Buhari’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party where Amaechi served as Buhari’s campaign manager during the last general elections .

Fashola is expected to re-enact his magic success in Lagos to the national stage.

Will he be able to do that?

The good thing though about assigning of portfolios to ministers is what the lack of their assignment has caused the nation. The lack of ministers since May had left Nigeria in political limbo and created uncertainty in the business world.

An uncertain investment climate and delayed spending decisions had enveloped Nigerian economy as economic agents await government clarity.

Before now, President Buhari was running Nigeria with just permanent secretaries, many of whom he fired Tuesday. The situation changed with yesterday’s assignment of portfolios to ministers who are made up of technocrats and political appointees from each of Nigeria’s 36 states.

With this new development, it is expected that a clearer picture would emerge of President Buhari’s government direction.

AMUNEKE: Before and after Chile

BY: JUDE OPARA, ABUJA

Amuneke hails Eaglets

Chief Coach of the team Emmanuel Amuneke could be said to be the happiest man in the country today courtesy of the superlative performance of his boys who, against all odds, conquered the rest of the world to defend the trophy the country won two years ago in Dubai.

The quiet achiever prior to the beginning of the championship was highly vilified by some Nigerians who, among other things, accused him of selecting players on sentiments. Some even went ahead to label him a bribe taker who only selected players whose parents paid huge sums of money. That story went viral especially on the social media andindeed there was intense pressure on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sack the former FC Barcelona winger before the Chile party.

CONFIDENCE

Another person that should rightly be in cloud Nine is the president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick who stood his ground to allow Amuneke to continue with his job. If the reverse was to be the case, those who are on a daily basis looking for ways to vilify him would have seen another golden opportunity to call him a failure. They would have said that his tenure has not brought anything good in terms of trophies after the failure of the Super Eagles to be at the last edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Many would have called for his head if the team had crashed out at the early stages of the championship even at the quarter finals. The hawks were already waiting for that to happen but fortunately for the coach he triumphed.

In fact NFF president, Amaju Pinnick shortly after the team defeated Mexico 4-2 to qualify for the final openly revealed how he suppressed the pressure from within and outside the NFF to send Amuneke packing. In fact some media houses had boldly written that the former Super Eagles left winger was not going to be on the bench for Nigeria at the championship.

The ‘Amuneke must go’ campaign started after the team went for the African edition of the championship in Niger republic where they finished third after losing to Mali in the semi finals. There was heightened concern over his future as his antagonists went to town with the story that if they could lose to Mali, then it would be a disaster waiting to happen at the global stage.

The spurious allegation of bribe taking was indeed strange from what was witnessed at the team’s training camp before they jetted out for their training tour in Argentina. Anybody who had visited the team during their training session would attest to the fact that Amuneke never showed any favoritism to any player.

Buhari sacks permanent secretaries

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA -A gale of retirements may have swept across the federal civil service as president Mohammdu Buhari may have concluded plan to relieve about 17 Permeant Secretaries of their duties.

This is coming ahead of the swearing in of the ministers-designate on Wednesday.

Some of the permanent secretaries led by the new Acting Head of Civil Service of the federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, held a closed door with the president at the presidential villa.

It is not yet known what transpired at the meeting but feelers said that the president may have communicated the development to them.

Most of those affected were those senior to the acting Head of Service.

It was gathered the development brought tears to the Oyo-Ita at the meeting as she felt for the Permanent Secretaries

More details soon....

NNSG to Buhari: Implement confab resolutions now to end nat’l drift

The Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement fundamental resolutions of the 2014 National Conference that were adopted by the delegates, as a way of restructuring the country to avert the imminent national drift towards “madness.”

Goodluck-Buhari

File Photo: Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan handing over reports of the 2014 National Conference to President Muhammadu Buhari

In a statement signed yesterday by its Executive Secretary, Tony Uranta, the group said that Nigeria could still suffer the 2015 Bogey if it refuses to begin restructuring now.

The statement reads in part: “In recent times, very important voices from the north have come out loudly in support of restructuring!

“In an article titled: ‘The State Of The Nigerian Nation,’ by Alhaji Ahmed Joda, like former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar, at the recent LEADERSHIP Governor of the Year award ceremony, lent a ringing support to the drive towards true federalism.

“Wrote Joda: ‘Our country has passed through difficult times, including a civil war and has survived. We must, however, not ascribe the fact of our survival to anything like military might; rather it was because ordinary Nigerians overwhelmingly desire to live together in one united country but under some acceptable arrangement.

“It is clear from all we are passing through that there is a sufficient body of opinion around the country that the present arrangement is not adequate and needs to be discussed further.’

“In his own remarks at the Awards on September 18, 2012, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, not only called for true federalism, he regretted not supporting former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme’s earlier call for the creation of six semi-autonomous regions affirming that Dr Ekwueme obviously saw what some of them did not at the time.”

The group noted that the Southwest, North-Central, South-East and South-South have been spearheading the campaign for restructuring for decades, saying that now that Arewa chieftains like Joda and Atiku have admitted to the urgent need to embark on this pressing national exercise, President Buhari must recognise that the North-West and North-East strongly desire restructuring also.

Itsekiri nation disowns calls for creation of Biafra Republic

By Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—THE Itsekiri ethnic nationality of Warri, Delta State, has dissociated itself from the calls for creation of a Biafra Republic out of Nigeria as being drummed by some Igbo interest groups in the South-East.

The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, expressed the group’s concern over the Igbo agitation yesterday in a statement by its Chairman, Pa Johnson Ayomike and Secretary, Edward Ekpoko.

The body is disturbed that the proposed Biafra Republic as widely reported in the social media includes the whole of Delta State.

The statement stressed: “We recall with pains the day the defunct Biafran Army invaded Warri and Benin in the then Midwest Region on August 9, 1967. Never again will the Itsekiri tolerate such invasion. The Itsekiri nation is committed to the unity of Nigeria and will do all it can to promote and protect it as one indivisible country. As Major General Philip Effiong said on January 14 1970, the Republic of Biafra ceased to exist. We, the Itsekiri, wish it to be eternally so for the peace and development of our great nation.”

RADIO BIAFRA: Group slams protesters in Enugu

By Francis Igata

ENUGU—A pressure group in Enugu, known as,”Concerned Citizens of Enugu State,CCES,” has condemned the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOB,over the continued detention of their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnadi Kanu, who was arrested at the Lagos Airport.

The group described the recent protest by the pro-Biafra group in Enugu as illegal, unacceptable, anti-democratic and an adventure that was capable of undermining the unity of the country and the existing peace and tranquility.

A statement by the group’s leader, Chief Jeremiah Udeh said: “We, the Concerned Citizens of Enugu State,CCES, condemn in its entirety the unlawful approach of violent protests adopted by the so-called IPOB in promoting its course.

We do not and will not encourage any unlawful act that will be inimical to the peace and unity of the country and the tireless efforts of the present administration in Enugu State to advance development in the state.

I didn’t get contract, oil block, anything from Jonathan— Edwin Clark

By Charles Kumolu

ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has dismissed insinuations that he betrayed former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, by reportedly saying that the ex-President lacked the political will to fight corruption, noting that he was maliciously misconstrued.

Clark

Clark, who was criticised by some associates of the former President over the statement, also denounced claims that his decision to quit partisan politics was provoked by the ex-President’s defeat at the polls.

In a 3,902-word letter, the former Minister of Information exonerated himself from the various allegations of betrayal levelled against him, adding that close associates of the former President and some party leaders sold Jonathan out.

He further defended the former leader’s anti-corruption record, noting that his attempt to probe former Heads of State, who were fingered in high profile corruption cases, was frustrated by some officials in Jonathan’s government.

His words: “My statements on President Jonathan and my quitting partisan politics were wickedly, sensationally presented.

“It must be admitted that President Jonathan was very willing to fight corruption, but he believed that due process should and must be followed otherwise he could have initiated investigations into the scandals of Halliburton, Siemens and other serious alleged corruption charges levelled against some former Heads of State and other prominent Nigerians.

Some Igbo fanatics are making things difficult for Nigeria – Tofa

By Olalekan Bilesanmi

Alhaji Bashir Tofa is a businessman and politician. He came to limelight when he contested the 1993 presidential election with the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, in an election adjudged free and fair, but annulled by the military. Abiola was believed to have won the poll. In this interview, Tofa thinks the level of corruption in the country is sickening and, as such, believes that President Muhammadu Buhari is on the right path as he fights the ill head-long irrespective of the hues and cries that the fight is selective. 

Tofa

He takes a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, for its condemnation of the Federal Government and the judiciary over the on going election tribunal judgments, saying only fools make accusations without proof.

What is your impression so far about the Buhari government in the light of the confirmed ministers?

I think, on the whole, President Buhari has done well and that is expected. Anybody who enters a house and just begins to live in it without checking the structure and the leakages and doing something to do some repair, that house may collapse on him if it is structurally deficient. President Buhari now knows more about the condition of the house,he is making some repairs, strengthening some pillars, blocking some leakages, and can now be said to be ready to settle down and do what is needful. Hopefully, the ministers will be given their portfolios by mid-November; they will quickly move to their ministries, examine things, review the draft budgets for their ministries; a final budget will be agreed upon by the Executive Council and presented to the National Assembly – all before the end of December. Hopefully, the National Assembly will not waste time, knowing the poor state of the nation.

Gbaramatu kingdom not part of Biafra, community leaders warn

The leaders of Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, have warned that Gbaramatu kingdom is not part of Biafra.

Elder Dickson Agagha, who spoke on behalf of the leaders at a meeting in Warri, insisted that  Gbaramatu kingdom will never be part of Biafra, saying that any son or daughter of the kingdom making such a move to include Gbaramatu in Biafra will fail.

They also appealed to all youths in the kingdom to remain law-abiding, expressing hope that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will address the neglect and marginalisation of Gbaramatu kingdom by immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

“The five years of Jonathan as President actually brought pains

‘Pro-Biafra protests not in the interest of south-east people’

By Chidi Nkwopara, Peter Okutu, Francis Igata, Godwin Oghre & Ugochukwu Alaribe

OWERRI—IMO State Governor and Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha, is currently arranging a crucial meeting with other governors in the South-East, over the growing agitation by protagonists of Biafra.

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, shut downMARKETS in Aba, Abia State, in continuation of its three-day one million protest march calling for the release of their detained leader and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Okorocha

Similarly, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, said it had mobilized over 2,000-members for a peaceful protest in Ebonyi State.

Governor Okorocha in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, and other stakeholders in the geo-political zone, were also being invited to talk and agree on how to check the activities of pro-Biafra groups in the area.

“The meeting is expected to take place this weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Already the Governor has begun to make all the necessary contacts to ensure that all those expected to be at the meeting, would be in attendance”, Onwuemeodo said.

It will be recalled that Okorocha had earlier, while taking exception to the pro-Biafra violent protests in some of the South-East states and few other neighbouring states, disassociated the governors and leaders in the South-East states from the MASSOB protest, describing the whole exercise as “embarrassing, disturbing, counter-productive and to a large extent, distracting”.

According to Governor Okorocha, the pro-Biafra protests could not be in the interest of the south-east people but were only sending wrong signals to the rest of Nigerians.

“It has become increasingly necessary for the governors in the zone, Ohaneze leaders and other stakeholders in the area to meet, to call a spade, a spade”, Okorocha said.

The Governor also said that “at the end of the Owerri meeting, the governors and other leaders will take a common position and will also invite the leaders of the pro-Biafra groups for a meeting, to let them know the socio-economic and political implications of their activities, including their demand for sovereignty in a united Nigeria”.

Chief Okorocha insisted that the governors and leaders in the zone could no longer sit and watch the whole situation degenerate, even as he also noted that the Igbos as a people cannot afford to have its own kind of Boko Haram.

He wondered why the pro-Biafra apologists kept quiet all these years only to resume their protests and activities this time and few months after the new administration in the country came on board.

Markets shut in Abia as over 30,000 sympathisers protest

In Aba, Abia State, members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, shut down markets in continuation of its three-day protest march, calling for the release of their detained leader and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The protesters in several groups, with each numbering no fewer than 5,000, marched through Azikiwe, Cemetery, Asa, Faulks, Aba-Owerri and Osisioma Ngwa from where they forcefully closed all the markets in the city.

According to them, the one million protest march was an attempt by the group to draw the attention of the international community to alleged injustice being visited on their leader who had been detained for over two weeks now.

According to them, they chose not to be violent because the “price has already been paid by our forefathers and the price we are going to pay for the sake of Biafra is exactly what our director (Kanu) is paying for at the moment.”

However, security agents including soldiers and policemen were on hand, to ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the protest to loot property.Vanguard observed that as early as 8am, some of the protesters had marched around the popular Azikiwe road and warned shop owners to lock up or face the wrath of the group, while another group visited the Ekeoha Shopping Centre to ensure that the order was not flouted.

Shop owners who had already opened for business were seen hurriedly closing their shops. The two groups later converged at the ever busy Azikiwe/ Asa road junction causing a heavy gridlock as they marched through Faulks to the Ariaria International Market where they had Saturday warned traders not to open for business yesterday.

MASSOB mobilizes 2,000 for Ebonyi protest

In Ebonyi, MASSOB, yesterday, said it had mobilized no fewer than 2000 members for a peaceful protest in the state.

In a statement, the factional leader of the group, Uchenna Madu, said in Abakaliki that the body was protesting indiscriminate arrests and detention of its members by the federal government.

‘It is high time the ministers come on board’

Nigeria will finally get a new government on Wednesday after more than five months of waiting, when President Muhammadu Buhari assigns formal roles to 36 ministerial nominees approved by parliament.

Buhari is scheduled to make the announcement from 10:00 am (0900 GMT), bringing to an end 166 days in which he has effectively been in sole charge of Africa’s leading economy and most populous nation.

The inauguration was scheduled to take place at his official residence,ASO Rock, in the capital, Abuja.

Buhari’s primary focus since coming to office on May 29 has been the fight against Boko Haram Islamists and launching an anti-corruption drive.

But the lack of ministers has given a sense of political limbo and created uncertainty in the business world.

“Nigeria’s nature as a political economy has been emphasised in the absence of a cabinet,” Michael Famoroti, editor-in-chief of Nigeria business, economy and finance analysts Stears, told AFP.

“Political stasis has bred economic stasis, through cargoes stranded at ports, an uncertain investment climate and delayed spending decisions.

“Too many parts of the economy have stalled as economic agents await government clarity,” he said in an email.

I didn’t push my stepson down the storey building – Housewife begs

By Esther Onyegbula

THESE are, indeed, trying times for 34-year-old mother of four who was arrested for allegedly pushing her stepson from the third floor of their apartment at No. 40, Oluwole Estate, Ogba, Lagos. Her ordeal started Thursday, last week, after her 14-year-old stepson, Rahman, was found reeling in pains at the basement of their three-storey building. While the woman and her husband were shocked at the wound he sustained, relations of her husband rather thought otherwise.

Mariam Musa

They suspected foul play and wasted little time in inviting the police from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIIB, Panti, Yaba, to arrest their brother’s wife accusing her of masterminding the ugly incident.

My hands are clean

Denying the allegation, the full-time housewife who identified herself as Mariam Musa, told Crime Alert: “I was arrested because my stepson accused me of pushing him from the window of our apartment located on the third floor after he jumped out of the window himself.

How could I possibly push the boy (Raman) from the window? I am surprised that he said I pushed him from the window when he jumped off himself. He was five years old when he started living with us. God in heaven knows he jumped out of the window himself.”

She continued; “I was a caterer before I got married 11 years ago, but since then, I have been a full-time housewife. On Wednesday, at about 6am, I woke my stepson and my children up to get prepared for school. Later, my son Abudulakim, came to meet me in the kitchen and informed me that his stepbrother was not in the house.

Missing N5,000

“When my husband, Umaru, woke up, he found out that Raman, my stepson, had collected his N5,000. Throughout the day, we searched everywhere for Raman.

My husband even called his brother, Abubakar (Raman’s uncle) to know if Raman was at his place but he said no. Luckily, Abubakar called back at about 5pm and said that they had seen Raman. That night, at about 9:30, my husband and I went to my brother-in-law’s place to fetch him back home.

Police arrest 252 cultists in Delta

Commissioner of police in-charge of Delta State, Alkali Baba Usman is, no doubt, facing a herculean task. Aside the incessant criminal activities of cultists in major areas of the state, he is also saddled with the onerous task of checkmating the nefarious activities of not just other criminals but, the recent uprising amongst some agitators for the creation of sovereign state of Biafra. 

From all indications, he has lived up to expectations and is poised for an onslaught against all forms of crime and criminality in the state. He spoke with our Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie, recently, in Asaba. Excerpts:

INTRODUCTION: Cultism has become a social dilemma. Some refer to it as a religious or social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices. The group owes uncommon allegiance to their leaders. The struggle for influence, hegemonic supremacy, control and protection among cult groups is the fundamental and primary cause of the skirmishes and orgy of cult related killings and maiming of perceived enemies.

Suspected cultists arrested in Asaba.

Another factor that has prompted cultism is land speculation and speculators. There is also clannish behaviour, these are people who, for the sake of vengeance, gather and unleash attacks on people.

In Delta, we have taken the war against cultism to their camps. We have had diligent clamp down on cults in different locations.

In Oghara, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad raided cult hide outs and arrested 48 members. At Agbor, another cult hot-bed, about 9 cultists were arraigned recently and are facing the wrath of the law. At Jesse, about 13 members of Sparrows Junior Eye, SJE, were arraigned in July, 2015.

SupremeVikings

More so, at Ibusa, cult members engaged a SARS team, threw stones at their Hilux van and damaged the back and front windscreen. At the end, two of them were nabbed. As a follow up, the command monitored and arrested 33 male and 2 female members of Supreme Vikings confraternity also at Ibusa. At Okwe, we nabbed 9 suspected Aiye 1977 A.S,H. Dodorima cultists during their meeting.

Investment in Nigeria’s oil, gas industry is down by 20 per cent – Chevron boss

Lagos – Mr Ali Moshiri,, the President of Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production, has said that the total investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, which stood at 20 billion dollars in 2014, has dropped by 20 per cent in 2015.

Moshiri disclosed this in Lagos at the 33rd annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE). Moshiri that said Nigeria accounted for 20 billion dollars out of the 600 billion dollars investment in the global oil and gas industry in 2014.

In Africa, Moshiri said, Nigeria was the top producer of liquid hydrocarbon and number three in gas production. He said that the country’s position in gas was because of lack of gas infrastructure and not because of the level of its gas resources.

“But when you talk about investment, total industry investment in 2014 was about 600 billion dollars and Nigeria had around 20 billion dollars . After the price crash, there is tremendous reduction in global investment. Moshiri said Nigeria had tremendous capacity and resources to produce far above the current two million barrels of crude oil per day, but added that much investment would be required.

He said 20 billion dollar investment would be required yearly for the country to replace its current production levels.

Moshiri said many projects were locked up in Nigeria because of cost citing the Bonga South West project as one of the them. He said the current slump in crude oil price was as a result of “ much inventory in the oil market’’.

Moshiri said between 2014 and 2015, about four million barrels of crude oil per day were unconventionally introduced into the market which led to this development.

In his speech, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode Nigeria currently maintained an economically unstable energy trade balance, in which the country exports virtually all the crude oil produced and import substantial part of the petroleum products consumed in the country.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo, also argued that the country had under-utilised other energy sources such as Bitumen, Coal and non-carbon-related energy sources.

“Therefore, the challenge before us is to determine how we as a nation can adapt to these emerging scenerios in global and national oil and gas, so that we take advantage of them and shape them to our advantage,” Ambode added.

Buhari swears in Ministers

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA–President Mohammadu is presently performing the inauguration ceremony of his ministers-designates in Abuja.

Already, four persons had taken their oath of office.

They are Okechukwu Emelema(Abia), Alhaji Mohammdu Bello (-Adamawa ), Sen. Udo Udoma( -Akwa Ibom) and Chris Ngige (Anambra State).

Others to follow

Details later

Reforming the health insurance scheme

SINCE it was established in 1999 via Decree (now Act) 35 of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been tasked with the overall goal of enhancing access to quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians. This scheme eventually saw the light of day 27 years after it was first mooted in 1962 as the Lagos Health Bill. But since it became operational in 2005, the scheme has not been on track to meet its primary target of providing universal coverage

for all Nigerians by 2015. Its poor implementation has not justified the years of spadework invested before it became a reality. For many years now, the state of the health system in Nigeria has been in jeopardy. Even after 55 years of independence, Nigeria still ranks low among the World Health Organisation (WHO) member nations. But health insurance in Nigeria remains fraught with a lot of problems. Apart from being operated strictly with the government’s contributions, the NHIS has not enssured that every Nigerian has access to good health care services. 

Today, there is little or no protection of individuals or families from the financial hardship of huge medical bills. Many individuals have no faith in the Scheme, while a number of corporate bodies have withdrawn from it. Treatment from accredited hospitals is often questionable.

 While consumers often accuse healthcare providers of being too profit-conscious, many hospitals complain of non-payment of the bills of patients treated by them. Clients also moan that many diseases are not covered and they are given substandard drugs. The nation’s healthcare system deserves urgent reformation. What Nigerians need is a universal healthcare system which will increase coverage, reduce maternal and child mortality, while increasing life expectancy of the generality of the citizenry. 

Reforming the health insurance scheme

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — NATIONAL President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said yesterday that five months after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, Nigerians were yet to feel the change mantra. This came as Julius Berger Nigeria Plc announced plans to downsize its workforce due to government’s indebtedness to construction companies in the country.

Buhari during campaign

Kaigama, who spoke while addressing construction workers at the 10th Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, CCESSA, in Abuja, said government should know that the change mantra of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was not just going after corrupt officials.

According to him, for the change mantra to be meaningful in the country, there should be job security in the companies and security of lives and property. He said it was only when these were done that Nigerians would know that change had started. He also said security should not be left to security agencies alone as everybody had roles to play in ensuring that lives and property were protected. Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria limited, Engr. Detlev Lubasch, noted that going by the present economic realities in the country and the huge indebtedness construction companies were facing, such companies were unable to meet up with their financial obligations. Lubasch, who was represented by a staff of the Human Resources unit, Moses Anietie, said: “Comrades, our industry is in dire straits, occasioned by non-payment for ongoing and already completed jobs.

“As you all know, the construction industry is majorly engaged by the governments: federal, state and local, with little patronage from corporate entities and private individuals. In view of this, any distortion in the income equilibrium of our major clients will definitely affect the income and cash flow of the construction companies “As a consequence of this, construction companies are unable to sustain the existing structures in terms of meeting its obligations to staff and subcontractors. lt, therefore, became imminent that there must be staff reduction as well as other cost saving measures.

In his welcome address, the national president of CCESSA, Comrade Augustine Etafo, advised President Buhari to keep to his campaign promises and guard against appointing persons of questionable characters into his government.

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CBN restates stance on BVN for forex transactions

ABUJA — The CBN has said that the Bank Verification Number, BVN, requirement for foreign exchange transactions posed no security risks to the bank accounts of those purchasing forex.

Customers besiege banks as BVN registration deadlines expires

Spokesman of the bank, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azu, said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that the excuses by critics of the policy were unfounded and that the requirement would therefore stay.

Below is the full statement: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently mandated all banks and licensed Bureaux de Change (BDCs) operating in Nigeria to provide Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as part of the requirement for the sale of foreign exchange to their customers.

“It has, however, come to our notice that some customers are reluctant in disclosing their BVN to authorised dealers and buyers because of claims that there are attendant risks to the disclosure.

“It is, therefore, imperative for the bank to make the following clarifications:

“The adoption of BVN as a condition for the purchase of FOREX is expected to reduce the incidence of multiple purchases, round tripping and illicit transfer of funds, facilitate enforcement of authorized limits of forex sales to end users, sanitize the retail segment of the market and engender policies that will facilitate better allocation of the forex, based on genuine demands.

“The BVN is neither a payment instrument nor an account number and, therefore, could not be used to access any account by unauthorized users. The banks, BDC operators and even regulators use the BVN to validate the identity of a customer using some biometric information such as fingerprints and photograph obtained at the point of enrolment.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the provision of BVN by customers at the point of forex purchase or for any legitimate banking transaction with any of the above named institutions does not attract any security risk. Rather it protects the customer against identify theft.”

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief