Saturday, 13 August 2016
buhari salute victorious dream team
Buhari salutes victorious Dream Team
Published on August 13, 2016 by pmnews · No Comments
Dream Team 1President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday night praised the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian soccer team to the Olympics Games, which saw them flying over Denmark 2-0 to qualify for the semi-finals.
A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said an elated President Buhari urged the Dream Team to go for gold in the football tournament.
“Again and again, the unconquerable Nigerian spirit has come to the fore, showing that where there is a will, there’s always a way.
This was a team that was not given much chance, but which has now advanced into the semi-finals.
“Go for it. Go for the gold, and let the Nigerian banner be held proudly aloft once again on the global stage. We are almost there. Let’s go.”
President Buhari enjoined the Nigerian nation to pray and support the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics, “especially the soccer team, so that the rest of the world will know that even in the face of economic adversity, the Nigerian spirit remains resolute and lifted high.
“And this, we shall demonstrate in every sphere of our national life.’’
The dream team six defeated their opponents from Denmark, on Saturday evening by 2 – 0 at the end of the game.
Midfield meastro Mikel Obi, opened scoring for the team in the first half, while Aminu Umar sealed their victory in the second half, giving the Nigerians the semi final ticket against Germany
bring back corruption
Bring Back Corruption By Moses E. Ochonu
Nigeria is gripped by the familiar anxieties of an economy in distress. This escalating crisis has demystified a president once thought capable of astute, if not magical, economic management. In their desperation for respite, many Nigerians are now paradoxically yearning for the corruption that they and their leaders blame for their economic woes, but theirs is not a nostalgia for corruption per se but for a period in which, despite or because of corruption, the flow of illicit government funds created a sense of economic opportunity and prosperity.
BY MOSES E. OCHONUAUG 13, 2016
Nigeria is gripped by the familiar anxieties of an economy in distress. This escalating crisis has demystified a president once thought capable of astute, if not magical, economic management. In their desperation for respite, many Nigerians are now paradoxically yearning for the corruption that they and their leaders blame for their economic woes, but theirs is not a nostalgia for corruption per se but for a period in which, despite or because of corruption, the flow of illicit government funds created a sense of economic opportunity and prosperity.
During a recent trip to Nigeria I sampled the opinion of various segments of the Nigerian people to gauge their perspectives on the troubled economy of President Muhammadu Buhari, which just entered recession. One refrain I heard fairly regularly was “bring back corruption.” It is not an entirely new rhetoric. For months, Nigerians have been advancing this idiom on social media as a sarcastic rebuke of what they see as Buhari’s narrow, obsessive focus on corruption.
“Bring back corruption” mocks the logic making the fight against corruption the sole preoccupation of governmental while hardship stalks citizens who previously occupied safe economic perches, and while the government fails to ease the economic strictures and contractions caused by the said fight against corruption.
When the refrain first appeared in Nigeria’s dynamic political lexicon, its architects intended to use it to draw attention to the tension between fighting corruption, which Nigerians believe to be responsible for their economic predicament, and worsening economic conditions. It was meant as an indictment of Buhari’s singular focus on corruption to the detriment of sound economic management.
Many of those who invoke the refrain today do so half-seriously to make two points; first, to illustrate the primacy of economic survival and wellbeing above all else, including the fight against corruption; and second, to yearn for a return to the imperfections of the pre-Buhari era, when, in their reckoning, corruption was rampant but life was easier, cheaper, more livable.
“Bring back corruption” is profound beyond the awareness of those deploying it as an idiom of political critique. It underscores the paradoxical, often unacknowledged political and economic utility of corruption in Nigeria — the functional, instrumental entwinement of corruption in statecraft as well as corruption’s capacity to mediate the economic relationship between Nigerians and the state.
The Buhari administration’s feisty rhetoric on corruption ignores the ways in which governmental graft has been democratized in the polity, trickling down in the form of monetary flows, patronage, expanding volumes of business transactions, and general liquidity. The Nigerians I heard saying “bring back corruption” were not simply saying that they preferred the corrupt but more prosperous era of former president Goodluck Jonathan to Buhari’s less corrupt but leaner time, although their rhetoric signals that order of preference. They were not endorsing corruption either.
Without realizing it, they were making an insightful comment on how corruption is paradoxically, and contrary to conventional political rhetoric and anti-corruption jargon, the fuel of the Nigerian economy, sustaining everything from major real state transactions to the patronage economies of petty retailers. In Nigeria, the trickle down effect of governmental corruption is enormous. Corruption generates secondary and tertiary ripples and transactional economies that benefit even the pepper seller in the market.
Rather than simply being a vice that has invidiously infiltrated the institutions of the state, corruption has become integral to the patronage networks through which politics and governance are conducted. This is a controversial but important point to make. For decades, corruption was at the very center of the state, politically and economically. The circulation of illicit funds, which move stealthily from government to the private sector and back again through a convoluted loop in repeated circular flows, became the mainstay of the economy.
Historian Steven Pierce makes the point eloquently in his book, Moral Economies of Corruption, arguing that, to understand the history of statecraft in Nigeria, one must understand how corruption, in its various governmental iterations, has functioned as an arbiter in both adversarial and productive political engagements. Corruption is the recurring decimal in politics and governance. Rather than being an anomalous virus of politics, what we call corruption, Pierce argues, is integral to how the Nigerian state is constituted and reconstituted by political elites.
The corollary to Pierce’s argument tacks back to the “bring back corruption” meme. While corruption flourished unchecked in the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan, that corruption found its way in trickles to all the consequential corners of the economy, lubricating the sinews of an economy that depends, for good or ill, on the state’s revenue mobilization, spending, and leakage.
Nigerians who secured jobs and livelihoods working in or tending to the investments of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats didn’t care where the money came from. They were happy to have a job or to partake in the financial rewards of investments and projects financed by illicit money.
The concept of an economy nourished by illicit financial flows may be hard to grasp for many outside the Nigerian context but it is the crux of the Nigerian economic dilemma: you may have to undermine the economy in the interim by fighting the political graft that sustains it, in order to ultimately save it.
In Buhari’s Nigeria, the avenues of leakage are being plugged and corruption is being fought, however imperfectly, preventing the trickles that traditionally lubricate the economy. This has trapped funds, which usually circulate to power the economy, at the top of the state-dominated economic food chain. The non-circulation of corruptly acquired funds does not necessarily mean that corruption is not occurring. Rather, it indicates that corruption is now restricted to a small circle of people in government, who are too spooked and too discreet, given the current anticorruption measures, to release their illicit funds into the real economy.
Aside from sensational, multipronged investigations, high profile arrests, and multiple, ongoing prosecutions of corruption cases, the government has implemented a set of measures to keep illicit flows of government funds to a minimum. The most important of these measures is the Single Treasury Account (TSA), a policy instrument designed to centralize and domicile the funds of all federal government agencies in a single account at the Nigerian Central Bank, preventing the proliferation of multiple government accounts that are difficult to monitor, prone to abuse, and are the primary source of funds for lazy commercial banks feeding fat on government deposits.
The result is a cash crunch never before seen, a squeeze that has affected all sectors of the economy, and that, coupled with the government’s import and foreign exchange restrictions, has led to a loss of confidence and a drastic reduction in liquidity.
When Nigerians say “bring back corruption” they are thus decrying this cessation of secondary and tertiary benefits from the pipelines of official corruption. They are expressing a nostalgic longing for an economy in which corruption may have been the order of things but in which this corruption performed a functional, productive service to the economy by loosening and oiling its crevices.
Once you shut down the pipelines of monetary flows with origins in corruption, the logical outcome is an economy starved of its lifeblood.
This logical, unintended consequence of the war on corruption calls for a loosening of other avenues of monetary and transactional flows, such as the foreign exchange and import sectors, both of which, if managed intelligently, can generate increased domestic trade and arbitrage as well as patronage that would mitigate the squeeze caused by the disruption of illicit financial flows.
This is one of the biggest blind spots of the Buhari administration. In its righteous zeal to fight graft, the Buhari administration has not reckoned with how corruption, like it or hate it, had become the mainstay of the economy and how fighting it without easing restrictions in other corners of the economy would inevitably generate self-defeating outcomes and hurt the Nigerians the fight is meant to help.
Much of this failure to recognize a complicated, nuanced reality stems from the government’s determination to live up to a mystique of unflappable incorruptibility that Nigerians erected around Buhari, and which the president and his party leveraged to dislodge Jonathan and the PDP in last year’s elections. The elections are over. The president needs to free himself from the burden of an election-time persona that keeps him from governing realistically and effectively.
The “bring back corruption” meme illustrates the ways that governmental corruption has become instrumental to the quotidian transactional momentum of the Nigerian economy. It shows that serious efforts to fight corruption without a corresponding set of ameliorative and stimulative measures can be counterproductive, causing increased hardship and turning citizens against anticorruption measures, no matter how sincere the measures may be.
STOP THE BLAIM GAMES AND LET UNITE NIGERIA
Stop blame games, let’s unite to fix the economy, Sultan of Sokoto tells political leaders ON AUGUST 14, 20161:21 AMIN NEWSCOMMENTS By SIMON EBEGBULEM Benin-City SULTAN of Sokoto and the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has warned Nigerian leaders to stop what he described as the “blame game and face the reality” on the bad state of the nation’s economy. Abubakar explained that unless political leaders abandon their political affiliations and come together to fix the economy, Nigerians will continue to groan. He added that though things are currently difficult for the people, Nigeria is better than some industrialized nations facing crises in different spheres. He also urged political leaders in Edo State to avoid violence in the forthcoming governorship election, stressing that the people must be allowed to vote the candidates of their choice because “when you have something on ground, the people will compare the work and that of the other parties and make their choice”. Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Sultan, who informed the governor that he was in the state for the annual meeting of the NSCIA, said all hands must be on deck to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams. Responding, Oshiomhole, who expressed gratitude to the Sultan for his numerous counsel to Nigerian leaders, noted that “ part of the problems we face in Nigeria today is discrimination. The governor went on: “Every God fearing person will not resort to violence if he is concerned that every violence may lead to the death of somebody. “The crisis arising from unfair distribution of wealth between nations and within nations substantially explains some of the dis-functional responses by aggrieved citizens. It does not matter how they choose to describe their primary motive. The truth is if the world is a much better place, people will opt to live well rather than to kill another as a means of expressing their frustration”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/stop-blame-games-lets-unite-fix-economy-sultan-sokoto-tells-political-leaders/
STOP THE BLAIM GAME AND LETS UNITE THE ECONOMY
SULTAN of Sokoto and the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has warned Nigerian leaders to stop what he described as the “blame game and face the reality” on the bad state of the nation’s economy. Abubakar explained that unless political leaders abandon their political affiliations and come together to fix the economy, Nigerians will continue to groan. He added that though things are currently difficult for the people, Nigeria is better than some industrialized nations facing crises in different spheres. He also urged political leaders in Edo State to avoid violence in the forthcoming governorship election, stressing that the people must be allowed to vote the candidates of their choice because “when you have something on ground, the people will compare the work and that of the other parties and make their choice”. Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Sultan, who informed the governor that he was in the state for the annual meeting of the NSCIA, said all hands must be on deck to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams. Responding, Oshiomhole, who expressed gratitude to the Sultan for his numerous counsel to Nigerian leaders, noted that “ part of the problems we face in Nigeria today is discrimination. The governor went on: “Every God fearing person will not resort to violence if he is concerned that every violence may lead to the death of somebody. “The crisis arising from unfair distribution of wealth between nations and within nations substantially explains some of the dis-functional responses by aggrieved citizens. It does not matter how they choose to describe their primary motive. The truth is if the world is a much better place, people will opt to live well rather than to kill another as a means of expressing their frustration”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/stop-blame-games-lets-unite-fix-economy-sultan-sokoto-tells-political-leaders/
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WHAT I OWN NIGERIAN YOUTH
What I owe Nigerian youth — Buhari
August 13, 2016Cletus Ukpong
Buhari-US-Chamber-Commerce
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President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration would not forget the role young Nigerians played in the “historic election” that brought him to power.
“This government belongs to you,” President Buhari said on Friday in a message he sent to Nigerian youths to commemorate the International Youth Day.
Mr. Buhari, who described the youths as being the strength and future of the country, said his administration was committed to improving the quality of lives of young Nigerians, and also creating opportunities for them to achieve their dreams and ambitions.
“We are mindful of the fact that Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. Those young people are immensely energetic and talented, consistently blazing the trail in the arts, sports, business and technology. We are proud of what you have done and what you are able to do.
“We have launched a number of initiatives targeted at expanding the economic opportunities available to young Nigerians.
“N-Power, our job creation scheme, for which applications are ongoing, will employ 500,000 of you in agriculture, education, healthcare and technology.
“The Aso Villa Demo Day will soon bring 30 of the most innovative young Nigerians to the State House to showcase their talent in providing technology-based solutions to some of our most challenging problems.
“The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), part of our N500 billion Social Investment Programme, will provide soft loans to thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country. These are just some of the many initiatives we have designed and are implementing for you.”
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Lagos task-force raids Oshodi area, arrests 40 miscreants ON JULY 16, 20169:00 AMIN
Lagos task-force raids Oshodi area, arrests 40 miscreants ON JULY 16, 20169:00 AMIN NEWSCOMMENTS By Olasunkanmi Akoni Operatives of the Lagos State Task-force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit, have arrested 40 miscreants believed to be terrorizing residents, passersby and motorists in Oshodi area of the state. The suspected hoodlums were arrested during a special operation carried out at different hide-outs in Oshodi and environs. Chairman of the state task-force Superintendent of Police, SP, Olayinka Egbeyemi who said the arrest was based on the directive of Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni , added that 39 males and one female were arrested. Owoseni further directed that all those arrested be charged to Magistrate Courts, Ogba, Lagos. •Miscreants arrested in Oshodi He said the state Police Command would not relent until criminal activities were reduced to zero tolerance across the state. The commissioner disclosed that raiding of miscreants and hoodlums at different parts of the state particularly, Oshodi would be a continuous exercise to rid the area of undesirable elements. He however, warned parents and guardians to always monitor activities of their children particularly when they claimed to be coming to Lagos without any tangible means of livelihood or relations. One of the arrested miscreants who identified himself as Tajudeen Adeboye (mechanic) said he was invited to Lagos by a friend (Jelili). He said it was when he got to Oshodi that Jelili and his other gangs lured him into crime, picking pockets of innocent members of the public. Tajudeen Adeboye said averagely in a day he and his gangs make at least N10,000 to N20,000, saying it depends on what they found inside any bag or purse they snatched. He confessed that all telephones and other properties snatched like necklace, wrist watches among others were sold at cheap prices to their customers who come to them every night.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/lagos-task-force-raids-oshodi-area-arrests-40-miscreants/?
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/lagos-task-force-raids-oshodi-area-arrests-40-miscreants/?
Thursday, 5 May 2016
Crystal Palace Linked With MLS Sensation; A Good Deal?
Crystal Palace Linked With MLS Sensation; A Good Deal?
Crystal Palace are reportedly monitoring Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi ahead of the summer transfer window according to Yahoo Sports. The Nigerian forward has caught the eye of Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew with his impressive spell for Portland Timbers in the Major League Soccer. The 25-year-old has found the back of the net 36 times from 79 games for Portland Timbers till date setting a club record and also helping his side to win the MLS Cup last season in the process.
Adi is currently the joint top scorer in MLS this season with seven goals from nine appearances. The Nigerian played a pivotal role for Portland Timbers last season with 20 goals in all competitions. Adi earned his first ever senior call-up for Nigeria for their recent AFCON qualifiers against Egypt thanks to his good run of form of late but he is yet to make his debut for the African powerhouse.
Adi has done well in the United States after failing to make his mark in Ukraine, Denmark, and Slovakia previously. The 6 ft 4 inches forward is known for his aerial abilities, pace, and brilliant hold up play. The Nigerian is blessed with a brilliant intelligence to make good decisions in the final third. However, Crystal Palace might have to struggle to get a work permit for the Nigerian due to his lack of experience in European football and also at the international stage.
Adi's influence in the United States cannot be put into question but it is debatable if he can bring his brilliant form to the South London club across the Atlantic. Adi is highly unproven and would be a big gamble from the Eagles. Performances in Major League Soccer should not be the benchmark to judge players and Crystal Palace should avoid signing Adi if they are eyeing him as a first choice centre-forward to lead their attack.
Lack of profligacy from the strikers has been the biggest concern at Selhurst Park this season. Connor Wickham has managed to do a decent job of late but that is far from what the Eagles need on a consistent basis. The less we talk about the rest of the forwards at the South London club, the better it is. Crystal Palace must, at the very least, sign a 15-goal proven Premier League striker next season in order to come back with a stronger season.
A deal for Adi would be a shrewd piece of business by Alan Pardew if he eyes the Nigerian as a cover for the first choice centre-forward they sign in the summer. Adi might turn out to be a hit in the Premier League but to take a risk, when you are in no position to take a gamble on the department you need reinforcements to the hilt, is definitely not recommended!
NFF not in haste to name new Eagles coach
NFF not in haste to name new Eagles coach
I cannot say now and I think the question is meant for the technical committee.” He added, “And we need to understand some things; it is not about getting the coach, but is about getting the best for the country. “With a lot of experience we have had in the past from employment of coaches, we need to go to the root of the problem and take our time, solve the problem and come up with the best. “Right now we don’t have any urgency now, no qualifier no competitive games.
That is why we are trying to use the time to get the best for the country. All we want from Nigerians is to be patient. I am sure very soon we shall get the best for the country.” Speaking on the forthcoming Super Eagles friendly matches in France and Luxemburg, Akinwumi said the NFF was on course for the international friendlies. “As far as I know nothing has changed; the coach has called those he wants ready and there is assurance from federation, so we are on course for the games. “As we indicated we want to seize the opportunity to launch those young lads that we tag future Super Eagles and those who are coming to blend together and understand what it takes to have Super Eagles crest “So, we are on course; the plan is already on ground,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the latest FIFA Ranking released yesterday, Super Eagles are still marking time in the 67th spot globally and are 14th in Africa. FIFA said, “With no international “A” matches played in April, the May edition of the FIFA/Cola-Cola World Ranking provides a brief moment of security for teams eager to hold onto the top positions.” Accordingly, Argentina still on top as Philippines set new personal best, with Algeria still dominating Africa. The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on June 2.
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
Pius Ayinor
Super Eagles remain in the 14th position in Africa following the world ranking released by the football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday. The detail of the rankings indicates the Eagles remained in their previous position while still occupying the 67th position in the world.
Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt are the top five teams in Africa in that order. Nigeria’s next opponents in friendly matches planned for this month, Mali and Luxembourg sit in the 65th place and 146th place respectively in thelatest release.
In the global ranking, 2014 World Cup runners up Argentina lead the way. They are followed by Belgium, Chile, Colombia and Germany.
The next ranking will be published on June 2 and that should go a long way in determining how Nigeria would fare when the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw is made. Eagles did not play any match in April but are already lined up to play two games in May and June. The Nigeria Football Federation is trying to make it three within the period with the third game against South Africa.
In Abuja Nigeria Professional Football League sides Sunshine Stars of Akure and Giwa FC of Jos have been paired in the Federations Cup. Their fixture highlights the 2016 Fed Cup Round of 64 fixtures following the ceremony held on Thursday in Abuja. It remains to be seen if Giwa would honour their fixture having missed two games in the league already.
Rangers will face Akure City, FC Ifeanyiubah will do battle with Ebonyi United while Gateway United will tackle Kano Pillars for places in the Round of 32.
Cup holders Akwa United, 2015 finalists Lobi Stars and Enyimba will not feature in the early round of 64 as they were drawn bye to the next round.
No date and venue for the epic confrontation has been announced by the Nigeria Football Federation.
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
Pius Ayinor
Super Eagles remain in the 14th position in Africa following the world ranking released by the football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday. The detail of the rankings indicates the Eagles remained in their previous position while still occupying the 67th position in the world.
Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt are the top five teams in Africa in that order. Nigeria’s next opponents in friendly matches planned for this month, Mali and Luxembourg sit in the 65th place and 146th place respectively in thelatest release.
In the global ranking, 2014 World Cup runners up Argentina lead the way. They are followed by Belgium, Chile, Colombia and Germany.
The next ranking will be published on June 2 and that should go a long way in determining how Nigeria would fare when the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw is made. Eagles did not play any match in April but are already lined up to play two games in May and June. The Nigeria Football Federation is trying to make it three within the period with the third game against South Africa.
In Abuja Nigeria Professional Football League sides Sunshine Stars of Akure and Giwa FC of Jos have been paired in the Federations Cup. Their fixture highlights the 2016 Fed Cup Round of 64 fixtures following the ceremony held on Thursday in Abuja. It remains to be seen if Giwa would honour their fixture having missed two games in the league already.
Rangers will face Akure City, FC Ifeanyiubah will do battle with Ebonyi United while Gateway United will tackle Kano Pillars for places in the Round of 32.
Cup holders Akwa United, 2015 finalists Lobi Stars and Enyimba will not feature in the early round of 64 as they were drawn bye to the next round.
No date and venue for the epic confrontation has been announced by the Nigeria Football Federation.
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
FIFA ranking: Nigeria still 14th in Africa
Pius Ayinor
Super Eagles remain in the 14th position in Africa following the world ranking released by the football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday. The detail of the rankings indicates the Eagles remained in their previous position while still occupying the 67th position in the world.
Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt are the top five teams in Africa in that order. Nigeria’s next opponents in friendly matches planned for this month, Mali and Luxembourg sit in the 65th place and 146th place respectively in thelatest release.
In the global ranking, 2014 World Cup runners up Argentina lead the way. They are followed by Belgium, Chile, Colombia and Germany.
The next ranking will be published on June 2 and that should go a long way in determining how Nigeria would fare when the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw is made. Eagles did not play any match in April but are already lined up to play two games in May and June. The Nigeria Football Federation is trying to make it three within the period with the third game against South Africa.
In Abuja Nigeria Professional Football League sides Sunshine Stars of Akure and Giwa FC of Jos have been paired in the Federations Cup. Their fixture highlights the 2016 Fed Cup Round of 64 fixtures following the ceremony held on Thursday in Abuja. It remains to be seen if Giwa would honour their fixture having missed two games in the league already.
Rangers will face Akure City, FC Ifeanyiubah will do battle with Ebonyi United while Gateway United will tackle Kano Pillars for places in the Round of 32.
Cup holders Akwa United, 2015 finalists Lobi Stars and Enyimba will not feature in the early round of 64 as they were drawn bye to the next round.
No date and venue for the epic confrontation has been announced by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Accident: 7 Kano students, driver buried amid tears
Accident: 7 Kano students, driver buried amid tears On May 6, 20164:58 amIn News by Femi AjasaComments 2 0 1 0 The seven Kano State students and their driver, who died on Tuesday while returning from Lagos after attending a national quiz competition along Iroko road, via Ibadan, Oyo State, were buried at the Tarauni Graveyard, Kano yesterday amid tears. Among those that attended the prayer conducted at the Emir’s Palace, Kano, around 9 am are: Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, members of the state Executive Council, other top government officials as well as parents and sympathisers. The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen, who prayed God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and Jannatul Firdaus (The highest Paradise). He also prayed God to give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Governor Ganduje had on Wednesday received corpses of the students and the driver, and described the incident as shocking to the Government and people of the state. He also described the deceased as heroes who were on a mission to do the state proud. He prayed God to grant them Jannatul Firdaus and urged their families to take solace in the fact that all mortals would inevitably die. The seven students and their driver died on Tuesday while returning from Lagos after attending a national quiz competition.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/accident-7-kano-students-driver-buried-amid-tears/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/accident-7-kano-students-driver-buried-amid-tears/
The demand for a new minimum wage
The demand for a new minimum wage
— 6th May 2016
Workers under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have called for an increase of the National Minimum Wage from the current N18,000 to N56,000. Making the demand at this year’s May Day celebration in Abuja on Sunday, the NLC argued that the increase had become necessary due to the current harsh economic conditions in the country.
Earlier, the National President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had condemned the payment of double salaries and pensions to some former governors, who are now senators and ministers, at a time that some state governors are unable to pay regular salaries to their workers. Many of these states have not paid their workers for several months.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion, assured the workers that the government will accord due consideration to the issues raised by the workers’ union.
However, in a seeming show of solidarity with Nigerian workers, the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiohmole, increased the minimum wage in his state from N18,000 to N25,000. We urge other state governors who can afford to do so to emulate the Oshiomhole example.
Labour’s demand for a new minimum wage has attracted divergent criticisms. This is on account of the deplorable economic situation in the country occasioned by the sharp fall in the price of crude oil at the international market and the current inability of most state governors to pay workers’ salaries and meet their other obligations.
Those who support an increase in the minimum wage, however, hinge their position on the premise that those on the bottom rungs of the civil service salary ladder are among the poorest civil servants in the world. They are of the view that the N18,000 minimum wage is not enough to meet the basic needs of workers and their families.
We sympathise with the Federal and State governments which have to contend with the clamour for higher public sector wages at a time when the revenue accruing into the national treasury has reduced significantly on account of the fall in oil prices at the international market. This is certainly not the best of times for this agitation by the workers, but then, the reality of the high cost of living in the country has made an increase in the minimum wage inescapable.
The need for junior workers to continue to keep soul and body together has made it necessary to increase their wages. Even though many states owe workers salaries, we believe that the salaries of low level workers can be increased if only we can check corruption and other wastages in the system.
For instance, a reduction of the humongous salaries and allowances paid to political office holders, as well as a downward review of the huge sums committed to “security votes” and constituency allowances, will leave more funds for payment of higher salaries to junior civil servants. Checking the unbridled corruption of the leadership class will also go a long way in making more funds available in the national treasury to fund the wage increase and other infrastructural projects which are long overdue.
With the inflation rate at double digits and the depreciating value of the national currency, it has become necessary to increase the minimum wage. It is shameful that many workers in the country have been emasculated, marginalised and impoverished through slavish wages. Compared with those holding political offices, Nigerian workers cannot be said to be getting a fair deal from the government.
Since labour has demanded an upward review of the minimum wage, the government should negotiate with its leaders to determine what the new minimum wage should be.
Let the federal and state governments dialogue with labour on this issue and come up with an acceptable living wage structure for the country.
To avoid the mistakes of past reviews, the federal and state governments should agree on the new minimum wage. All avenues for wasteful spending by state actors should be plugged to free more money for public sector wages and infrastructural development. Nigerian workers should not solely bear the brunt of government’s reckless spending and fiscal indiscipline. The age-long exploitation of the workforce must stop. Lack of fiscal discipline is why some state governors are unable to meet up with their workers’ obligations.
Beyond labour’s demand for a new minimum wage, there is the need to bridge the huge gap between the salaries of political office holders and other categories of workers in the country.
The government and labour should also realise that civil servants are only a small percentage of workers in the country. The National Minimum wage should, therefore, be enforced even in the private sector, where abysmally low wages are common fare.
Labour and the government must not forget the higher number of Nigerians who do not even have any jobs. It is necessary for government to increase its job creation efforts to bring more Nigerians into the labour force. Let government ensure the right of every Nigerian to employment through the creation of an enabling environment for job creation. Government should also address the problem of casualisation of workers in the country, especially by expatriate firms, and do something urgently to correct the anomaly.
We salute Nigerian workers for their invaluable contributions to national development and urge them to embrace dialogue and other peaceful initiatives in their efforts to get the desired increase in their wages.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion, assured the workers that the government will accord due consideration to the issues raised by the workers’ union.
However, in a seeming show of solidarity with Nigerian workers, the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiohmole, increased the minimum wage in his state from N18,000 to N25,000. We urge other state governors who can afford to do so to emulate the Oshiomhole example.
Labour’s demand for a new minimum wage has attracted divergent criticisms. This is on account of the deplorable economic situation in the country occasioned by the sharp fall in the price of crude oil at the international market and the current inability of most state governors to pay workers’ salaries and meet their other obligations.
Those who support an increase in the minimum wage, however, hinge their position on the premise that those on the bottom rungs of the civil service salary ladder are among the poorest civil servants in the world. They are of the view that the N18,000 minimum wage is not enough to meet the basic needs of workers and their families.
We sympathise with the Federal and State governments which have to contend with the clamour for higher public sector wages at a time when the revenue accruing into the national treasury has reduced significantly on account of the fall in oil prices at the international market. This is certainly not the best of times for this agitation by the workers, but then, the reality of the high cost of living in the country has made an increase in the minimum wage inescapable.
The need for junior workers to continue to keep soul and body together has made it necessary to increase their wages. Even though many states owe workers salaries, we believe that the salaries of low level workers can be increased if only we can check corruption and other wastages in the system.
For instance, a reduction of the humongous salaries and allowances paid to political office holders, as well as a downward review of the huge sums committed to “security votes” and constituency allowances, will leave more funds for payment of higher salaries to junior civil servants. Checking the unbridled corruption of the leadership class will also go a long way in making more funds available in the national treasury to fund the wage increase and other infrastructural projects which are long overdue.
With the inflation rate at double digits and the depreciating value of the national currency, it has become necessary to increase the minimum wage. It is shameful that many workers in the country have been emasculated, marginalised and impoverished through slavish wages. Compared with those holding political offices, Nigerian workers cannot be said to be getting a fair deal from the government.
Since labour has demanded an upward review of the minimum wage, the government should negotiate with its leaders to determine what the new minimum wage should be.
Let the federal and state governments dialogue with labour on this issue and come up with an acceptable living wage structure for the country.
To avoid the mistakes of past reviews, the federal and state governments should agree on the new minimum wage. All avenues for wasteful spending by state actors should be plugged to free more money for public sector wages and infrastructural development. Nigerian workers should not solely bear the brunt of government’s reckless spending and fiscal indiscipline. The age-long exploitation of the workforce must stop. Lack of fiscal discipline is why some state governors are unable to meet up with their workers’ obligations.
Beyond labour’s demand for a new minimum wage, there is the need to bridge the huge gap between the salaries of political office holders and other categories of workers in the country.
The government and labour should also realise that civil servants are only a small percentage of workers in the country. The National Minimum wage should, therefore, be enforced even in the private sector, where abysmally low wages are common fare.
Labour and the government must not forget the higher number of Nigerians who do not even have any jobs. It is necessary for government to increase its job creation efforts to bring more Nigerians into the labour force. Let government ensure the right of every Nigerian to employment through the creation of an enabling environment for job creation. Government should also address the problem of casualisation of workers in the country, especially by expatriate firms, and do something urgently to correct the anomaly.
We salute Nigerian workers for their invaluable contributions to national development and urge them to embrace dialogue and other peaceful initiatives in their efforts to get the desired increase in their wages.
Nigeria Claims to Rescue over 11,000 Boko Haram Hostages
Nigeria Claims to Rescue over 11,000 Boko Haram Hostages
The Nigerian army issued a press release on Wednesday announcing that it had rescued 11,595 civilians held hostage by the Islamic State-affiliated terrorist organization Boko Haram and asserting once again that the group is close to total defeat.
Nigeria has repeatedly asserted that Boko Haram has been “defeated,” though the group continues to stage suicide bombings, and the Nigerian military has been unable to rescue the over 200 girls kidnapped from the northeastern town on Chibok in 2014 — the abduction that made Boko Haram an international news story.Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper cited army spokesman Sani Usman as confirming the liberation of the over 11,000 hostages through operations that also included work by forces in neighboring Cameroon. About 10,000 of those freed were refugees saved by Cameroon traveling back into Nigeria. “In continuation of the clearance and mopping up operations of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in various parts of the North East geo-political region, troops have rescued no fewer than 11,595 persons held hostage by the terrorists within the last one month,” he claimed, adding that most of these have been moved to refugee camps throughout northeast Borno state. Borno is the home state of Boko Haram; most of the group’s remaining members are believed to be hiding in Borno’s Sambisa forest.
Among those recently freed is an 80-year-old man identified as Mallam Ibrahim Matuk. It is unclear why Boko Haram chose to keep him captive, as the group typically tends only to keep female or child hostages (most of the males under Boko Haram activity are boys kidnapped with their mothers or born out of the rape of female captives).
The liberation of these hostages is one of a series of army press release information promoting the image of Boko Haram as a desperate coalition of young men seeking to preserve a ruined terrorist organization. Among those embarrassing reports is one published Thursday by Nigerian newspaper Leadership, announcing the arrest of five men known to provide sexual performance enhancers to Boko Haram jihadists, including Tramol, Lamumol, and Viagra. The men were also caught peddling razor blades, Maggi soup packets, and shoes to the jihadists hiding in Sambisa.
While the Nigerian military continues to announce its progress against the jihadist group, many remain skeptical of the claim that Boko Haram is no longer a threat. April 14th marked the second anniversary of the abduction of the girls of Chibok, Borno, who remain in captivity. That day, Boko Haram jihadists released a video showing 15 of the girls, positively identified by their mothers. The girls appeared gaunt but in stable health and claimed to be well in the video. The military has not claimed to have any evidence that furthers the mission to rescue them in years.
A month after the two-year anniversary of the Chibok abduction, the leaders of the nations surrounding Lake Chad — Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger — will meet in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, to discuss a path forward for the fight against the terrorist group. The International Crisis Group, an NGO operating in the region, issued a report warning nations against preemptively announcing the success of any operations against Boko Haram, or the overall defeat of the group.
In a statement to the press, Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin reiterated that the government is “really committed to ensure that we clear them [from Nigeria] as soon as possible,” an implicit admission that President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims to victory against Boko Haram have been hollow. Buhari announced in December that “technically, we have won the war” against Boko Haram, vowing a new stage of operations focused on rescuing the Chibok girls, not necessarily fighting Boko Haram terrorists.
Yet Boko Haram have continued to stage suicide attacks. While their ability to raid villages in cars or on horseback has been severely diminished, they are using their captives as suicide bombers to terrorize markets and mosques near Maiduguri, the capital of Borno. The result has been that many northeastern communities have rejected rescued female captives, fearing that they have been brainwashed and have returned to their communities to engage in suicide bombings.
While the Nigerian government has established a rehabilitation facility for remorseful Boko Haram terrorists, no equivalent facility exists to reintegrate former Boko Haram captives into their communities.
Diezani’s $115m Largesse: EFCC Quizzes Ex-ministers Aminu Wali, Nurudeen Muhammad
Largesse: EFCC Quizzes Ex-ministers Aminu Wali, Nurudeen Muhammad
Diezani’s $115m Largesse: EFCC Quizzes Ex-ministers Aminu Wali, Nurudeen Muhammad
— May 6, 2016 3:40 am | Leave a comment
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have quizzed a former minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, and a former minister of state for foreign affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad, following their alleged involvement in the disbursement of $115million (about N23billion) by the former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke during the 2015 general elections.
Diezani was said to have disbursed the said $115million through Fidelity Bank Plc. The bank’s managing director/ CEO, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, and other suspects are being detained by the EFCC over the matter.
The two ex-ministers were still being quizzed by EFCC operatives at press time and were yet to be granted administrative bail.
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY also gathered that investigations into the said $115m laundered by Diezani had so far unravelled how a total of N5, 097,064,000 (N5.1bn) was disbursed and received by representatives from seven states in the North West zone of the country.
A reliable source at the EFCC also confided in LEADERSHIP that “a total of N1,356,620,000 was received by two beneficiaries from Kano State, in which N950 million was received by Ambassador Aminu Wali while the balance of N406,206,000 (N406m) was received on behalf of the late Kano State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi, by one Sani Isa who is a retiree of INEC, Kano State.
The source added that the ex-ministers and other suspects collected these monies from Fidelity Bank after due certification of various means of identification as requested by the bank.
The source further said, “I can authoritatively tell you that one of the representatives from Jigawa State, who was the former minister of state, Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad, received N500million out of N750million disbursed to Jigawa State.
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY also learnt that the representatives from Kano and Jigawa states, including former officials of INEC, had been taken into EFCC custody and investigations are still ongoing to ascertain who collected the balance of N250million.
Other states in the North West zone were said to have benefited through their representatives from the N1billion largesse.
… Agency arrests Cross River PDP Chairman over receipt of N500m
Meanwhile, the EFCC has arrested the Cross Rivers State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ntufam John Okon, over his alleged receipt about N500million from Diezani largesse.
Okon was arrested yesterday in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, for allegedly collecting the said N500million as his share of the booty. He was said to have collected the money on March 26, 2015 at a branch of Fidelity Bank in Calabar.
The money was said to have been placed in the transit account at the corporate headquarters of the bank, but cash was allegedly made available to Okon at the Calabar branch of the bank.
Okon is still in EFCC’s custody and would be charged to court soon.
Diezani was said to have disbursed the said $115million through Fidelity Bank Plc. The bank’s managing director/ CEO, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, and other suspects are being detained by the EFCC over the matter.
The two ex-ministers were still being quizzed by EFCC operatives at press time and were yet to be granted administrative bail.
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY also gathered that investigations into the said $115m laundered by Diezani had so far unravelled how a total of N5, 097,064,000 (N5.1bn) was disbursed and received by representatives from seven states in the North West zone of the country.
A reliable source at the EFCC also confided in LEADERSHIP that “a total of N1,356,620,000 was received by two beneficiaries from Kano State, in which N950 million was received by Ambassador Aminu Wali while the balance of N406,206,000 (N406m) was received on behalf of the late Kano State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi, by one Sani Isa who is a retiree of INEC, Kano State.
The source added that the ex-ministers and other suspects collected these monies from Fidelity Bank after due certification of various means of identification as requested by the bank.
The source further said, “I can authoritatively tell you that one of the representatives from Jigawa State, who was the former minister of state, Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad, received N500million out of N750million disbursed to Jigawa State.
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY also learnt that the representatives from Kano and Jigawa states, including former officials of INEC, had been taken into EFCC custody and investigations are still ongoing to ascertain who collected the balance of N250million.
Other states in the North West zone were said to have benefited through their representatives from the N1billion largesse.
… Agency arrests Cross River PDP Chairman over receipt of N500m
Meanwhile, the EFCC has arrested the Cross Rivers State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ntufam John Okon, over his alleged receipt about N500million from Diezani largesse.
Okon was arrested yesterday in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, for allegedly collecting the said N500million as his share of the booty. He was said to have collected the money on March 26, 2015 at a branch of Fidelity Bank in Calabar.
The money was said to have been placed in the transit account at the corporate headquarters of the bank, but cash was allegedly made available to Okon at the Calabar branch of the bank.
Okon is still in EFCC’s custody and would be charged to court soon.
Ambode and his light up Lagos project
Ambode and his light up Lagos project
— 6th May 2016
I hardly ever single out governors or specific persons whenever I write except on few, rare occasions. My focus, most times has always been on issues. I am making an exception today, to write about the Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode.
The decision to write about the Lagos governor came on Tuesday. I had left the office very late. And immediately I hit the road, I was confronted by a vista that was unlike what I used to see at that particular time and at that particular axis, the Charity Osodi, Toyota bus stop and the airport road areas. I saw a different Lagos. A lagos that I knew as an undergraduate, visiting Lagos on few occasions at that time. Lagos of well-lit streets, which endeared that city to me and which made me swore that come what may, I would live and work in that city. The idea of a city paved in gold or a land full of milk and honey was clearly not a major consideration, the major consideration was the cosmopolitan nature and the beauty of street lightning of Lagos at the time.
I recall that during one of my visits in one particular year, my late brother had taken me along the airport road and had shown me the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) and said it was the residence of a former head of state. I never doubted him. The road was well lit and there was so much light towards the airport. It was in later years that I realized that he was actually catching fun at my expense.
But street lights in Lagos eventually became a thing of the past. Street lighting became a rare phenomenon. It’s not as if the poles were not there, but they were just there to decorate the roads until Fashola came and tried to light up a few areas. His effort, though not perfunctory, was also not a state policy, not until Ambode came.
Indeed, a time it was during the Raji Babatunde Fashola administration that we all thought there would never be another administration to surpass Fashola’s giant strides in Lagos. Indeed, I said then that Fashola’s tenure would be a benchmark for any other person that would come after. But as it is now, that conclusion, with benefit of hindsight, was rather hasty.
Thought still young, the Ambode administration is breaking the mould. With the way that administration is going, it is set to completely surpass the Fashola legacy. With the beginning of the Ambode administration, one would not have believed that possible. I recall that shortly after the administration was inaugurated, it was trailed by a whole lot of criticisms. Nothing was happening and people started questioning the capacity of Ambode to govern Lagos. This worsened when armed robbery incidents escalated with many losing cars to hoodlums. The situation was not helped when there was a policy mix up with the state traffic agency, LASTMA leading to a return to the chaotic Lagos traffic. London-based The Economist magazine wrote a scathing diatribe saying that the governor, within a short period had rolled back the achievements of his predecessor.
A year after that, the story is different. Ambode is in his strides and he is weaving magic lights all over Lagos. His operation light up lagos is impressive and if what would set his first term apart is the lighting project, then Lagosians would have been better served.
From Apapa-Oshodi road, Lagos- Abeokuta expressway, the third mainland bridge and so many other roads that one does not believe would ever be lit, are now enjoying street lights. Night life with its attendant economic benefits has gone up a notch. It is now possible for one to drive around streets in Lagos without remembering to put on the car headlamp. The governor is quoted as saying that when the light up project is completed, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would begin night operations, thus effectively making Lagos a 24-hour mega city.
But I have fears, what are the plans to sustain this? Would this continue for the next three years in the life of this administration and or another four years if the governor gets a second term. The governor also seems to understand that it is important to sustain what he started, hence, he is said to have put together an advisory team, headed by the Deputy Governor, Mrs idiat Oluranti-Adebule and the charge is to make light available to the people for both domestic and business use.
Security issues which come with night life has also been tackled headlong with provision of vehicles and equipment to the police.
But that is not the only thing that is happening, new roads are equally being constructed but this should extend to inner roads. I had cause to visit Okota at a time and I left that community with the conviction that they do not have any motorable, inner road except the main Okota-Festac road which has just been completed.
Another major thing the administration needs to look at is the menace that Okada riders have constituted. They take up a large segment of the road where ever they are. They are a major nuisance, weaving in and out of traffic without any concern for their safety or that of their passengers. They are also said to aid crime, giving information to armed robbers. Some have equally engaged in unsavory activities like kidnapping and rape.
My suggestion is an outright ban, instead of restricting them to a few roads. People have argued that crime would escalate if this was done, but the fact remains that they have constituted a major danger to the larger majority. Most of them can take up vocational training if they so desire. This could be at the government’s expense. Some states have banned them and the heavens have not fallen. The earlier the government does this, the better.
The decision to write about the Lagos governor came on Tuesday. I had left the office very late. And immediately I hit the road, I was confronted by a vista that was unlike what I used to see at that particular time and at that particular axis, the Charity Osodi, Toyota bus stop and the airport road areas. I saw a different Lagos. A lagos that I knew as an undergraduate, visiting Lagos on few occasions at that time. Lagos of well-lit streets, which endeared that city to me and which made me swore that come what may, I would live and work in that city. The idea of a city paved in gold or a land full of milk and honey was clearly not a major consideration, the major consideration was the cosmopolitan nature and the beauty of street lightning of Lagos at the time.
I recall that during one of my visits in one particular year, my late brother had taken me along the airport road and had shown me the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) and said it was the residence of a former head of state. I never doubted him. The road was well lit and there was so much light towards the airport. It was in later years that I realized that he was actually catching fun at my expense.
But street lights in Lagos eventually became a thing of the past. Street lighting became a rare phenomenon. It’s not as if the poles were not there, but they were just there to decorate the roads until Fashola came and tried to light up a few areas. His effort, though not perfunctory, was also not a state policy, not until Ambode came.
Indeed, a time it was during the Raji Babatunde Fashola administration that we all thought there would never be another administration to surpass Fashola’s giant strides in Lagos. Indeed, I said then that Fashola’s tenure would be a benchmark for any other person that would come after. But as it is now, that conclusion, with benefit of hindsight, was rather hasty.
Thought still young, the Ambode administration is breaking the mould. With the way that administration is going, it is set to completely surpass the Fashola legacy. With the beginning of the Ambode administration, one would not have believed that possible. I recall that shortly after the administration was inaugurated, it was trailed by a whole lot of criticisms. Nothing was happening and people started questioning the capacity of Ambode to govern Lagos. This worsened when armed robbery incidents escalated with many losing cars to hoodlums. The situation was not helped when there was a policy mix up with the state traffic agency, LASTMA leading to a return to the chaotic Lagos traffic. London-based The Economist magazine wrote a scathing diatribe saying that the governor, within a short period had rolled back the achievements of his predecessor.
A year after that, the story is different. Ambode is in his strides and he is weaving magic lights all over Lagos. His operation light up lagos is impressive and if what would set his first term apart is the lighting project, then Lagosians would have been better served.
From Apapa-Oshodi road, Lagos- Abeokuta expressway, the third mainland bridge and so many other roads that one does not believe would ever be lit, are now enjoying street lights. Night life with its attendant economic benefits has gone up a notch. It is now possible for one to drive around streets in Lagos without remembering to put on the car headlamp. The governor is quoted as saying that when the light up project is completed, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would begin night operations, thus effectively making Lagos a 24-hour mega city.
But I have fears, what are the plans to sustain this? Would this continue for the next three years in the life of this administration and or another four years if the governor gets a second term. The governor also seems to understand that it is important to sustain what he started, hence, he is said to have put together an advisory team, headed by the Deputy Governor, Mrs idiat Oluranti-Adebule and the charge is to make light available to the people for both domestic and business use.
Security issues which come with night life has also been tackled headlong with provision of vehicles and equipment to the police.
But that is not the only thing that is happening, new roads are equally being constructed but this should extend to inner roads. I had cause to visit Okota at a time and I left that community with the conviction that they do not have any motorable, inner road except the main Okota-Festac road which has just been completed.
Another major thing the administration needs to look at is the menace that Okada riders have constituted. They take up a large segment of the road where ever they are. They are a major nuisance, weaving in and out of traffic without any concern for their safety or that of their passengers. They are also said to aid crime, giving information to armed robbers. Some have equally engaged in unsavory activities like kidnapping and rape.
My suggestion is an outright ban, instead of restricting them to a few roads. People have argued that crime would escalate if this was done, but the fact remains that they have constituted a major danger to the larger majority. Most of them can take up vocational training if they so desire. This could be at the government’s expense. Some states have banned them and the heavens have not fallen. The earlier the government does this, the better.
Edo 2016: Between A Governor And His Deputy
POLITICS
Edo 2016: Between A Governor And His Deputy
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Posted: May 6, 2016 at 3:30 am / by Augustine Adah / comments (0)
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ISAAC OLAMIKAN
BENIN- It started as a rumour but it thereafter metamorphosed into a canon fodder whose impact, whenever it eventually lands, could run against the course of peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness.
The issue is the raging cold war between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and his deputy, Hon. Pius Odubu.
As events keep unfolding, many political analysts are asking if the ‘war’ can still be described as a cold one. Also residents of Edo are asking ‘Who are those fuelling this crisis and who are those benefitting from it?’. About two weeks ago, the grapevine was flooded with the report that a closed door peace meeting was held with the aim of reuniting the warring parties in the internal strife that many fear may snowball into an electoral tragedy for the APC in the September 10 governorship election if not well managed beforehand.
What is interesting about the whole issue was how details of what was supposed to be a ‘closed door’ meeting became a topic of discussion in many open spaces in the state barely a few hours after the meeting was held. The highlights of the leaked details of the ‘closed door’ meeting according to unconfirmed reports was that the meeting which was meant to resolve the internal crisis plaguing the party turned out to be the opportunity Comrade Oshiomhole allegedly used to expose some salient issues that has been at the core of the cold war between him and Odubu.
The governor is reported to have revealed that if not for some backbiting and character assassination that were been practiced by some of his aides against his deputy, there really would not have been any problem between them. Some of his revelations were quite shocking and unbecoming. Barely 48 hours later, Hon. Odubu came out to refute the allegation that he was plotting to kill his boss through diabolic means.
A few days thereafter, the deputy governor officially told the populace about his intention to succeed his boss by September 10. Like it ordinarily ought to be, many of those who support his ambition were on hand to exhibit their loyalty and to be counted. Barely a few hours later, the gist filtered into town that more than a dozen of those who are political appointees of the governor and who were conspicuously present at the flag-off were given the booth.
One of the victims, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, told Independent from a hospital bed that his problem with the governor started when he advised him to soft-pedal on showing open support for any of the aspirants seeking for the party’s gubernatorial ticket. He stated that about a week later the governor revealed his choice as successor and thereafter started witch-hunting those he perceived as not in support of his anointed candidate. On Saturday, April 30, when Odubu went to do the formal flag-off of his campaign in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state which incidentally is the homestead of Comrade Oshiomhole he allegedly escaped assassination while addressing the party delegates inside the party secretariat in the town. According to reports emanating from his camp, he was the target of unidentified gunmen who shot at him.
The bullets meant to either kill or maim him were said to have been lodged in the body of one of security details with about four others seriously injured. Some 24 hours later the government refuted the plan to assassinate claim by Odubu through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua. In it’s allegation the Odubu camp had alleged that there were subterranean plots to stop the delegates from attending the meeting with Odubu.
However, the government claimed that the fracas was a fallout of the internal crisis in the Odubu camp, adding that the Odubu team imported truck loads of miscreants to the event. On another parallel, an eye witness, one Mallam Yakubu Momodu, the youth leader of the APC in the local government, stressed that Odubu triggered the attack on himself. According to him, “members of the deputy governor’s convoy arrived at the party secretariat and took over all the available space. By the time we mobilized the delegates back to the secretariat the whole place had been taken over by the large campaign team of Odubu. “We all left when we waited and the campaign people did not come. But when we heard that they had come we went back to meet them. “The delegates he came to see were now prevented from gaining entrance into the small hall with his security aides blocking the main entrance.It was in the midst of the pushing and shoving to enter the hall that a policeman attached to the convoy of Odubu fired some shots to scare people away.One of the shots hit a party member who came for the meeting which resulted in pandemonium,†he narrated.
- See more at: http://independentnig.com/edo-2016-between-a-governor-and-his-deputy/#sthash.vRfFOdvq.dpuf
declining oil prices
—Stakeholders On May 6, 20163:49 amIn News by IkennaComments 18 0 1 0 By Clara Nwachukwu & Sebastine Obasi, Houston, Texas Indigenous companies operating in Nigeria, yesterday said that declining oil prices may derail the local policy of the federal government as international oil companies, IOCs continue to defer or cancel their capital projects. 
Buhari Speaking at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, taking place in Houston, Texas, they advocated for low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets, elongating lives of assets through proactive local supports, cost effective implementation of projects and utilizing local resources to reduce the overall cost. According to them, there should be cost reduction of operations and projects through local capacity development, indigenous working assets acquisitions, developing local expertise, low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets and elongating lives of assets through proactive local expertise. Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, said there is need to leverage on existing in-country capacity, adding that Nigeria should vigorously focus on reserves and production growth, which has been on the decline. According to Okoroafor, if the country can leverage on proven Nigerian companies and in-country capacity building, proper implementation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development will significantly drive down the cost of doing business in the oil industry and cushion the effects of the low prices. “The industry has operated under the local content Act regime for six years now. There is the need to take a closer look at the implementation strategy to ensure it is delivering the desired value to various industry stakeholders in particular and the Nigerian populace in general, proper implementation of local content will lead to massive economic transformation of our great nation”, he said Also speaking, the Acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Daziba Obah, said that with the right support and environment, indigenous companies are in a better position to provide services and processes at much lower cost without compromising standards. He explained that there will be much more cost savings if operators develop increased project management capabilities to manage projects. “Operators will save costs by optimizing existing facilities and improving maintenance efficiencies” he said. Also speaking, Mr. Emeka Ene, Managing Director of Oildata Energy Group Limited, said there is need to develop the steel sector for local production of steel billets, coils and plates, so as to save indigenous companies from the declining crude oil prices. Ene added that government should accelerate gas infrastructure along gas corridors to ease availability of gas in oil and gas parks, oil and gas free zones and other manufacturing locations supporting oil and gas activities. “There is need to engage relevant agencies to foster cordial and seamless working relationship with respect to expatriate quota and issuance of work permit. There should also be a periodic industry-wide capacity audit of local companies to establish current capacities and embark on gap closure interventions. Research and development clusters should be encouraged to promote the development of home grown technology,” he said. The Chairman, PETAN Conference Committee, Mr. Ranti Omole, said that based on the belief of indigenous companies, the association is partnering to reduce cost of operations and projects in Nigeria through increased local patronage. According to him, “The industry has been undergoing challenging and turbulent period for the past two years due to low prices of crude oil and low demand. This has resulted in severe adverse consequences in the industry as well as on the economy of many oil producing nations including our country. This has led major players in the industry to rationalize their operations, seek efficiencies and cost saving measures to ensure profitability and survival of their businesses.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/declining-oil-prices-threat-indigenous-companies-stakeholders/
Buhari Speaking at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, taking place in Houston, Texas, they advocated for low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets, elongating lives of assets through proactive local supports, cost effective implementation of projects and utilizing local resources to reduce the overall cost. According to them, there should be cost reduction of operations and projects through local capacity development, indigenous working assets acquisitions, developing local expertise, low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets and elongating lives of assets through proactive local expertise. Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, said there is need to leverage on existing in-country capacity, adding that Nigeria should vigorously focus on reserves and production growth, which has been on the decline. According to Okoroafor, if the country can leverage on proven Nigerian companies and in-country capacity building, proper implementation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development will significantly drive down the cost of doing business in the oil industry and cushion the effects of the low prices. “The industry has operated under the local content Act regime for six years now. There is the need to take a closer look at the implementation strategy to ensure it is delivering the desired value to various industry stakeholders in particular and the Nigerian populace in general, proper implementation of local content will lead to massive economic transformation of our great nation”, he said Also speaking, the Acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Daziba Obah, said that with the right support and environment, indigenous companies are in a better position to provide services and processes at much lower cost without compromising standards. He explained that there will be much more cost savings if operators develop increased project management capabilities to manage projects. “Operators will save costs by optimizing existing facilities and improving maintenance efficiencies” he said. Also speaking, Mr. Emeka Ene, Managing Director of Oildata Energy Group Limited, said there is need to develop the steel sector for local production of steel billets, coils and plates, so as to save indigenous companies from the declining crude oil prices. Ene added that government should accelerate gas infrastructure along gas corridors to ease availability of gas in oil and gas parks, oil and gas free zones and other manufacturing locations supporting oil and gas activities. “There is need to engage relevant agencies to foster cordial and seamless working relationship with respect to expatriate quota and issuance of work permit. There should also be a periodic industry-wide capacity audit of local companies to establish current capacities and embark on gap closure interventions. Research and development clusters should be encouraged to promote the development of home grown technology,” he said. The Chairman, PETAN Conference Committee, Mr. Ranti Omole, said that based on the belief of indigenous companies, the association is partnering to reduce cost of operations and projects in Nigeria through increased local patronage. According to him, “The industry has been undergoing challenging and turbulent period for the past two years due to low prices of crude oil and low demand. This has resulted in severe adverse consequences in the industry as well as on the economy of many oil producing nations including our country. This has led major players in the industry to rationalize their operations, seek efficiencies and cost saving measures to ensure profitability and survival of their businesses.”Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/declining-oil-prices-threat-indigenous-companies-stakeholders/
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