A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to stop plans to raise a N309 billion bond to finance electricity generation in the country to erase recorded shortfall in projected power availability.
The senate said that the government should put the plan on hold pending conclusion of investigation into the matter by its committees on Power and Privatisation.
This followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Mustapha Bukar, which was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
Moving the motion, Bukar said that there was no need for the bond after the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) intervention in March to the tune of N213 billion through the Nigeria Electricity Sector Intervention (NESI).
He said that the shortfall in power generation had continued to escalate at the rate of about N15 billion per month which was equivalent to N500 million daily.
According to him, total shortfall as at Dec. 31, 2015 was N400 billion.
"Continued incidence of market shortfall is a disincentive for new investors to venture into the Nigerian electricity market.
"This implies that the projected generating capacity is an illusion. As a matter of fact, any increment in generating capacity would further aggravate and escalate the market shortfall," he added.
Bukar argued that the issuance of bonds would amount to not only spoon-feeding the operators in spite of their inefficiency, but at great cost to Nigeria.
The senate called on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately halt the raising of the bonds by Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
It mandated its committees to investigate the post-privatization performance of all the players in the power sector.
The committees were also directed to probe the companies' performance agreement, including the management and disbursement of any loans or bonds of agencies in the sector.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-To ensure that the Nigerian society was completely purged of corruption, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the anti-corruption war would be holistic and thorough to the extent that even the political associates and friends of President Muhammadu Buhari would not be spared.
Osinbajo who reiterated that the president had zero tolerance for corruption emphasized that he would never cover for his friends.
The Vice President spoke during a special interview session with some journalists at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.President Yemi Osinbajo at the opened the 46th Annual Conference of the Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA
He said: “The major drain on the country's resources. No one would be spared in the fight against corruption because, even the close friends of the President know that they will not be spared; he will not cover for them. Fighting corruption is a priority”.
Osinbajo also revealed that 200,000 unemployed graduates had been selected to be engaged by the federal government under the N-power jobs Programme.
He said that this was in fulfillment of campaign promises of the present administration.
“We expect that before the end of the month, we will engage 200, 000," out of the 500,000 unemployed graduates the Buhari administration plans to hire in the N-Power jobs programme.”
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Nsima Udo Ekere as Managing Director of the commission.
Other nominees who were approved were Adjogbe Samuel, Mene Derek, Frank George, Brambaifa Nelson and Sylvester Nsa.
The nomination of Ogaga Ifowodo, Uwuilekhue Saturday, Harry Dabibi, Benard Banfa, Yahaya Mohammed and Mustapha Dankadai was also confirmed.
Two other nominees, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse and Abdul-Kazeem Bayero from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Environment, respectively, were also accepted by the lawmakers.
However, the membership of the two civil servants on the board, according to the senate, will cease whenever they are transferred from their present ministries.
The chamber rejected the nomination of three members on grounds that their nomination contravened the NDDC Act of 2007.
The Act stipulates that only persons from oil producing communities could be appointed to such positions.
The rejected nominees are Olatokunbo Ajasin (Ondo), Donatus Eyinnah (Abia) and Igo Weli (Rivers).
A nominee, Sen. Osita Izunaso (Imo) declined his nomination, explaining that he was not from oil-producing part of his state.
During the debate, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe pointed out that Section 2(1) (b) of the NDDC Act stipulated that nominees for the board of the commission must be from communities where oil was produced.
The lawmakers rejected argument by Majority Whip, Sen. Sola Adeyeye, that a nominee should be cleared if he came from an oil-producing state and not necessarily the part or community in the state.
Chairman of the Committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi, informed the senate that the nomination of Ajisin was particularly rejected because there protest against it by people from the state.
He said that people from Ilaje area of the state stormed the venue of the nominees screening in 11 fully loaded commuter buses to protest Ajasin's nomination.
The Nigerian stock market on Tuesday sustained an upward trend with capitalisation appreciating further by N38 billion due to impressive third quarter results released by some companies.
The market capitalisation improved by N38 billion or 0.39 per cent to close at N9.629 trillion against N9.591 trillion posted on Monday.
Also, the All-Share Index rose by 109.32 points or 0.39 per cent to close higher at 28,034.32 compared with 27,925.00 achieved on Monday.
Market analysts attributed the development to investors' positive sentiments for corporate news in the market.
They said that investors were reacting positively to improved earnings released by some companies this quarter in spite of the present economic downturn.
NAN reports that some blue chips posted price appreciation which was led by Nestle with a gain of N25 to close at N825 per share.
Seplat followed with N17.50 to close at N367.51 and Presco gained N1.30 to close at N4.50 per share.
Zenith Bank chalked up 49k to close at N15.04, while Dangote Sugar grew by 15k to close at N6.50 per share.
On the other hand, Guinness led the laggards' chart with a loss of N3.83 to close at N76 per share.
Lafarge Africa trailed with 91k to close at N48.09 and Flour Mills dropped 30k to close at N20.70 per share.
UACN shed 25k to close at N20.80, while FBN Holding was down by 10k to close at N3 per share.
Similarly, the volume of shares traded closed higher as investors staked N2.72 billion on 234.19 million shares transacted in 3,335 deals.
NAN reports that this was against the 171.46 million shares worth N1.73 billion traded in 3,045 deals on Monday.
United Bank for Africa emerged the most traded, accounting for 83.06 million shares valued at N346.24 million.
Zenith Bank traded 18.93 million shares worth N282.46 million and GT Bank sold 12.72 million shares valued at N303.44 million.
FCMB Group exchanged 10.74 million shares worth N12.44 million, while Hallmark Insurance exchanged 10 million shares worth N5 million.
Embattled White House hopeful Donald Trump lashed out at “disloyal” Republicans in a ranting tweetstorm Tuesday, saying they are to blame if his faltering campaign comes up short.
Declaring himself unchained from party strictures, the bombastic real estate mogul publicly berated party big-wig Paul Ryan — the speaker of the House of Representatives — as a “weak and ineffective leader.”
“It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to” Trump tweeted.
Relations between the Trump campaign and party leaders have always been difficult, but they have soured considerably since Democrat Hillary Clinton began to pull away in the polls two weeks ago.Trump
The final straw for many elected Republicans was the emergence of a video in which Trump bragged about groping women. That prompted a string of disavowals and endorsement withdrawals.
Trump further alienated allies by bringing up unproven abuse allegations against former president Bill Clinton in a Sunday debate watched by tens of millions of Americans.
Trump’s angry response seems to have been prompted by Ryan suggesting fellow Republicans stop defending the party nominee and focus on limiting electoral losses in Congress.
In a conference call on Monday, Ryan told congressional Republicans “you all need to do what’s best for you in your district,” according to one person who listened in.
Trump began the two hour cyber outburst by claiming “polls” had shown him to be the winner of the debate.
In fact, most scientific polls showed voters believed Hillary Clinton to be the clear winner.
“Despite winning the second debate in a landslide (every poll), it is hard to do well when Paul Ryan and others give zero support!” Trump tweeted.
He followed up by saying: “Our very weak and ineffective leader, Paul Ryan, had a bad conference call where his members went wild at his disloyalty.”
Democrats “have always proven to be far more loyal to each other than the Republicans.”
– The gloves are off –
In an ominous sign for Republicans who are worried about losing control of the House of Representatives and the Senate and the survival of the party, Trump sounded a belligerent note.
“Disloyal R’s are far more difficult than Crooked Hillary. They come at you from all sides. They don’t know how to win — I will teach them!”
The latest Real Clear Politics polling average has Clinton ahead by 6.5 points across the country, and the latest polls show her ahead in a slew of must-win states for Trump.
Trump’s campaign has long had a no holds barred quality — he has accused Mexican immigrants of being rapists and Muslims of being a terror threat.
But the break with Republicans and the embrace of Bill Clinton’s women accusers — who he invited to attend Sunday’s debate — may signal the start of an even more vitriolic and personal campaign.
An unsparing Trump campaign ad released Monday showed Hillary Clinton when she had pneumonia last month, coughing at the dais and stumbling as she tried to get into her motorcade after a 9/11 anniversary ceremony.
“Hillary Clinton doesn’t have the fortitude, strength or stamina to lead in our world,” the narrator says.
Also Monday, Trump suggested to a mostly white audience in Philadelphia, which has a large African-American population, that the election may be “stolen” by “other communities.”
– ‘Accountable’ –
Clinton’s campaign will be eager to tether the whole Republican Party to Trump’s harsh message — which is popular with the party base but appears to have little appeal with the wider public.
“Somewhat of a civil war is breaking out in the Republican Party,” said Clinton communications director Jen Palmieri. “But I think that Donald Trump didn’t become the nominee of his party on his own.”
She accused elected Republicans of helping to “legitimize him,” adding “I think they have a lot to answer for and the voters I imagine will hold them accountable (in) House and Senate races.”
Clinton herself will revive the Clinton-Gore 1992 White House ticket on Tuesday, campaigning in Miami with her husband’s vice president Al Gore.
Gore has been largely absent from politics since he lost the 2000 race in Florida to George W. Bush.
His comeback in the Sunshine State is likely to focus on the “high stakes of November’s election” and climate change, which Gore has spent his post White House years working on.
Clinton will have another potent surrogate out on the campaign trail Tuesday when President Barack Obama travels to Greensboro, North Carolina.
Ado-Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, Tuesday declared that his administration’s Six-Point Agenda focusing on empowerment, development of agriculture, infrastructural development, education, science and technology, health and security has been faithfully implemented.
The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mrs Modupe Alade, in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on activities of the government in the last two years, said his administration has lived up to expectation as one that is labelled ‘Government of Restoration’, two years after coming into office.
Mrs Alade, who was flanked by top government officials, said the achievements of the government could be seen in great improvement in performance of students from the state in public examinations, as well as the provision of social amenities despite lean resources.
“Restoration has come for the education sector under the Ayodele Fayose administration with the record breaking score of 96.48 percent performance of Ekiti Senior Secondary three students in the 2016 National Examinations Council exams, to emerge an enviable first position in Nigeria,”she said.
The SSG said the feat was achieved by religiously implementing the recommendations of the Education Summit organised by the state government in September 2015.
“These crystalised in the progressive performance chart of students in public examinations from 29th position with an average 58 percent in 2014 to 18th position with an average 74.5 percent in 2015 and now to the enviable position of first in 2016 with a percentage score of 96.48 percent for the first time in the history of NECO.
“Performance in the West African School Certificate Examinations also gives reason to cheer from 25 percent in 2014, to 37 percent in 2015 and now 42 percent in 2016. While for the School of Nursing, it has been a consistent 98 percent pass in 2015 and 2016. And for the School of Midwifery, it has been all time high of 100 percent score in 2015 and 2016 in national examinations conducted by the National Council of Nurses and Midwives,” she said.
Mrs Alade added that economic recession notwithstanding, the state government embarked on and executed a lot of projects across the state.
She listed them to include dualisation of roads in Ado, Ikere, Emure, Efon, Ikole, Ise, while a flyover is being built in Ado-Ekiti.
While soliciting support for Governor Fayose, the SSG stated that the administration would not leave any project abandoned, saying before embarking on any project, the administration always ensured that the fund to execute it was already on ground.
Students of University of Jos whose unmarked examination scripts were burnt on Saturday are to rewrite the affected papers.
The Registrar of the institution, Mr Monday Danjem, announced this in a statement issued in Jos on Tuesday.
The fire, which lasted for six hours, gutted the university's library complex which equally housed the faculties of social science and management studies.
Danjem said the examinations had been rescheduled to a date to be communicated to the students by their respective heads of departments.
The registrar said the remaining examinations would resume on Tuesday while all examinations scheduled to take place on Monday, Oct. 10, have been rescheduled.
He said some of the examinations were earlier postponed to enable management assess the level of damage done by the fire.
Vice Chancellor Sebastine Maimako described the disaster as "very shocking and devastating.
"It is a major drawback that is really terrible for the university", he had told newsmen after visiting the scene on Sunday.
The President, Masters Energy Group, Dr. Uche Ogah has denied reports making the rounds that he has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over an oil deal with one Bridget Adeosun that went awry.
Uche Ogah
Addressing journalists, yesterday, Ogah described the report as "false, wicked and fabricated".
He said, " I was neither arrested, detained, nor under any investigation for any criminal charge whatsoever. The EFCC has a process of inviting anyone under investigation, either in writing or by inviting you through other means. That has not been done, as you can see me physically here".
Recounting the genesis of the misunderstanding with Adeosun, Ogah said the woman met him sometime in 2011 through one member of his Staff for financial assistance in the procurement of import license for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to him, he insisted on going through legal and other due processes in the alliance with her.
“The transaction was properly executed. I spent N1.8 billion and made a loss of N10 billion. This transaction took place in 2011. She never argued or refuted anything from that day until when they paid us interest on foreign exchange differentials. She rushed to the DMO to claim the N51million interest. We stopped her at the DMO with an injunction," he explained.
Ogah further added that despite the fact that the woman has dragged him to five police stations and the EFCC since then, he had always floored her; a situation he believes is responsible for her frustration.
He revealed that the former Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase hurriedly took the case to court on the eve of his retirement, adding that he wrote to the new IGP Ibrahim Idris, two weeks ago demanding that the case be re-investigated, vowing that he will never succumb to the Adeosun’s blackmail.
He also said that he was aware that his political detractors were using Mrs. Adeosun.
Ogah said his efforts so far, even through Adeosun’s church to make her see reasons has not yielded fruits, vowing that he will continue to play along with his good conscience on the matter.
Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday relaunched their 400 million euro ($443 million) bid to modernise their Bernabeu stadium paid for by an Abu Dhabi investor.
The project, less ambitious than the previous version blocked by the courts, includes the creation of a 6,000m2 public garden alongside the stadium, will be financed by Abu Dhabi-based sponsor IPIC, who will be given naming rights.
“It will be a spectacular transformation of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, which is one of the icons of our city and which we want to make one of the best stadiums in the world,” said club president Florentino Perez during a press conference at the Town Hall.
Perez added that investment company IPIC will pay for the refurbishment, due to begin next year, in its entirety in return for the stadium carrying the company’s name, although it will still also carry the name Bernabeu.
The new stadium will be furnished with a retractable roof without losing any of the 81,000-seat capacity.
The agreement comes around a year after the Spanish courts blocked an original 2014 project plan, which included the enlarging of the stadium plot onto public land in order to build a hotel and shopping centre.
The shopping centre will now be included within the existing stadium while the hotel is no more than a “possibility”, according to Perez.
The original stadium was inaugurated in 1947 before being renamed in 1955 after iconic former president Santiago Bernabeu, who died in 1978.
It has already undergone several makeovers since the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Real’s great domestic rivals Barcelona have also announced plans to remodel their Camp Nou ground.
That too will cost 400 million euros and will include a retractable roof while also increasing the capacity from 99,000 to 105,000.
Real’s cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid will for their part move to a new 73,000-seat stadium in the summer of 2017, leaving behind the 55,000-capacity Vicente Calderon stadium, which is set to be demolished and turned into a park.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has disqualified thirteen presidential candidates from contesting this year's elections, while only qualified four candidates.
EC Chairman, Charlotte Osei, on Tuesday in Accra named the qualified candidates as John Mahama of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Akufo-Addo of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ivor Greenstreet of the Convention People's Party (CPP), and Jacob Osei-Yeboah, an independent candidate.
She said that the nominees have been excluded from the 2016 race as presidential candidates for violating various aspects of the electoral laws of Ghana.
Osei added that the reasons include fraudulent signatures, absence of required number of signatures, and improper filling of nomination forms.
She added that some of the fraudulent information provided by the nominees would be followed up by the police for possible arrest and prosecution.
Ghana goes to the polls on Dec. 7 to elect a president and 275 Members of Parliament.
Abuja – Panelists at the ongoing 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) on Tuesday in Abuja advocated formulation of clear policies and incentives for companies as means of generating employment in the country.
These were the views of some panelists who spoke at the Plenary on Roundtable with the Vice President on Job Creation, Skills and Employment at the summit.
One of the panelists, Jay Ireland, General Electrics based in Nairobi, said formulation of clear policies on how to create jobs would help to address unemployment.Osinbajo
Ireland said that government should have consistent policies that would work and the policies that both government and private would be accountable for.
He said that continued training of personnel would also help so that the unemployed could learn from those already working in the companies.
"We should make companies invest locally and hire locally and build up their supply chains which will have multiplier effect
"Big companies drive small companies so we need big companies if we do that we will continue to increase employment,'' he said.
Aliko Dangote said that providing incentive for companies would motivate them to create jobs or provide opportunities for industrial training.
He, however, urged the government to focus on real sectors of the economy to create jobs, saying that the economic recession was a lesson for the country to implement its diversification drive.
He also said that his company would be able to make fertiliser available by 2017 through the good policies of the Federal Government.
"I think by the end of next year, people who are going to sell fertilisers, you will buy it cheaper than what you were buying it now
"We will be begging you to buy it, there will not be scarcity of fertiliser anymore; we have three million tonnes of capacity coming into the country by that time,'' he said.
Also, Alhaji Abubakar Baguda said that the country needed political will to implement some of its policies on job creations.
"I have mentioned political will; we are not alone, other countries are competing with us.
"Just two weeks, there was disapproval by the U.S. that there was a complaint by World Trade Organisation (WTO) against China, that rice, wheat and corn subsidy in China was distorting the market.
"They are distorting the market particularly those of America, wheat and rice farmers since it created WTO by countries again conducts of others.
"If we have this clarity or policy direction, it will enable us to conform and compensate for those distortion that are coming from outside,'' he said.
He said that NAFDAC had a news conference last week on the quality of rice coming into the country through the land border.
He said that the agency concluded that huge percentage of rice coming into the country was not fit for human consumption.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said that the government had formulated a framework on job creation in the country.
" What can be done is to continue with this engagement, tilling the issues and try to address the issues.
"We are engaging all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that are facilitating trade; they have to encourage business and promote it.
"This is the only way to create jobs; it is not from government alone.
"The Federal Government and states are very focused on creating jobs and improve environment for creating jobs,'' he said.
R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Chief of Staff, Mr. Olukunle Ojo during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), with Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I (middle) and former Minister of State for Defense, Chief Demola Seriki (left) during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader, Lagos Central, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), exchanging pleasantries with Senator Oluremi Tinubu (left) while Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (right behind), watches during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday.
As the Nigerian Military prepares to storm Boko Haram's remaining locations in the Sambisa Forest, the Nigerian Air force has intensified the bombardments of the camps of the terrorists, killing scores in the process.
The attack, according to sources, rattled the insurgents, who had hitherto believed that their locations were unknown to the Air Force.
The operation code-named 'Forest Storm', involved the deployment of fighter aircraft such as the F-7 Supersonic attack jets, surveillance aircraft and Mi-35 helicopter gunships.
Director of Air force Public Relations, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, who confirmed the 'round the clock' bombardment, disclosed that the strike would continue until the terrorists locations in the forest were sufficiently degraded.
“We will leave no stone unturned until we accomplish our mission to flush out the bad elements,” the DOPRI said.
He said, "The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in past one week, has successfully struck a number of Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) locations, including their logistics bases within the Sambisa Forest.
"The air interdiction missions were conducted day and night using a combination of combat platforms comprising F-7Ni fighter aircraft, Alpha Jets and Mi-24V helicopter gunship.
"The latest air strikes against the Boko Haram terrorists are fall-outs of 'Operation Forest Storm' launched by the NAF on 2 October 2016 to further degrade the capability of the BHT elements within the Sambisa general area in order to create the enabling environment for own ground forces to continue their operation.
"From Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), it appears the insurgents are low on logistics as no vehicle was seen moving.
"Furthermore, Battle Damage Assessment showed that the entire operation was a success even as human intelligence confirmed that a number of the insurgents were killed."
By Michael Eboh State governors and entrepreneurs, Tuesday joined in the condemnation of the high interest rates charged by banks in the country, accusing the banks of frustrating the development and growth of the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the ongoing 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the governors and entrepreneurs stated that with the current rates, farmers have been forced to struggle to access with access to funds to finance their expansion plans.
Specifically, the Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun lamented that banks are not supporting state governments in their quest to develop agriculture and make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production.
He said, "If we walk our talk, and if we have the much-needed finance, of course, we will employ so many youths. But the truth is this, all the banks, they are not supporting us. At 12 per cent, how can anybody break even with that? We have to subsidise it and reduce it to nine per cent. "Even now, farmers are asking for six and for them to get it right, it must be like that. Aliko Dangote
"Also, let me appreciate what the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is trying to do now. It has just N5 billin which are trying to access. If we are able to get, of course, we will increase what we are doing."
Also speaking, President, Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, disclosed that it is not easy to do agriculture at 12 per cent interest rate.
He lamented that Nigeria is the only country in the world that has a population in excess of 50 million that is not sufficient in everything it consumes.
He said, "We need to look at how we can do a major revolution in terms of participating in agriculture. If we do the right thing, even the target of three million jobs in the next two years is too small for a population of this magnitude."
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took side with the banks, stating that with the rate of government borrowings, there is no justification for the banks to cut the interest rates.
He said, "There is no question at all that there is an issue with funding, and that is fairly complicated. On the first place, on the account of government borrowing, it becomes a bit difficult for the commercial banks to lend at below inflation and even possibly, below the Treasury Bills rate.
"That is why in a short term, intervention funds are what we think might work. So we are looking at intervention funds in agriculture, so we have the Anchors Borrowers' Programme; we are resuscitating the Bank of Agriculture, recapitalizing it, and we expect that the bank and a few other banks would be able to provide some cheap funds for agriculture.
"Also, when you look at what the banks are experiencing, to expect the banks to lend at 12 - 10 per cent is going to be very difficult, having regards, especially to government borrowing, which is something we have to look at long term."
Away from agriculture, Osinbajo said the Federal Government is trying to raise N1 trillion to enable it intervene in mortgage financing.
According to him, with the intervention, developers would be expected to build houses to the specifications of the Federal Government, so that with a monthly payment of N30,000, Nigerians can own their own homes.
Also, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, noted that the thinking that recession would go away tomorrow would not happen, adding that Nigerians should it as an opportunity as opportunities abound across the country.
Conversely, responding to the accusations of the banks, Group Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, disclosed that the bank is committed to the development of every sectors of the economy, especially the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises sector.
He noted specifically, that a single subsistence farmer will not be able to get loans from banks, adding that unless they form a cluster, that is when accessing cheap loans would be possible.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday disclosed plans to recruit at least 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers to boost security across the State, with new recruits expected to earn at least N25, 000 monthly with other allowances.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall Meeting, held at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, said the neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which he signed into Law on August 15, 2016, was part of efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing in the State.
"There is a law that has just been passed which is the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, 2016 and in line with the resolution taken by the House of Assembly yesterday, we would go all out to make sure that this agency is activated and all our neighborhoods will be covered, and then centralize with the State Government with all the necessary equipment and resources to ensure that we establish what we call community policing and that is the way to go.
"We will rebrand Neighborhood Watchers and re-equip them to the level that each Neighborhood Watchers in all the Local Governments will have their vehicles and necessary equipment to complement security. We are also working on employing additional 5,000 Neighborhood Watchers in all our Local Governments and they will be paid by us, while the basic salary for the entrance level will be N25, 000 per month," the Governor said.
The Governor also disclosed that the State Government would roll out all its empowerment programmes next week.
He said the programmes targeted to assist youths, artisans and the needy become self reliant have been provided, hence beneficiaries would start getting support from the last quarter of the year.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader, Lagos Central, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode's administration, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday
"We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500m Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter," Governor Ambode said.
Speaking on the budget performance of the 2016 budget, Governor Ambode disclosed that the State's budget performance for January to September performed at 69 per cent as against 65 per cent for the same period in 2015.
He said a total of N166.8billion has been spent on capital projects this year, a figure, he said, was more than double the N53.6billion spent for the same period last year.
Governor Ambode said the State generated a total revenue of N97.3billion in the last quarter with an expenditure of expenditure of N110.2billion, noting that the cash reserve of the State has remained positive.
The Governor also disclosed that a total sum of N55billion was expended on capital expenditure in the last quarter.
According to him, the last quarter witnessed a lot of activities from the delivery of massive road infrastructure across the Local Governments in the State as well as the promulgation of the anti-Land Grabbing Law, aimed at making life easier for property owners and a boost in investment activities that will enhance the growth and development potentials in the State.
He expressed optimism that despite the recession, the State's economy would remain on a strong and sound footing if capital expenditure spending is increased.
"In this quarter, we will concentrate more resources on capital projects. We will put money in the hands of our local contractors and through them stimulate and reflate the economy. Immediate payments will be made to contractors handling health sector and education sector projects within the next two weeks," Governor Ambode assured.
Speaking on some projects outlined for the next quarter, the Governor said that plans have been concluded to transform the Yaba Bus Park with the provision of modern bus shelters replica of the ones erected at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
Governor Ambode also assured that the road rehabilitation projects ongoing at Adetola Street and Brown Road in Aguda, Surulere as well as Olajuwon and Biney Streets in Yaba would be completed before the end of the present quarter.
He said with the completion and delivery of the first phase of the 114 local government roads last month, the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas would commence within the next three weeks.
"We have commenced a multi-faceted development that will change the face of Lagos Island. We have installed new bus shelters at Tafawa Balewa Square and before the end of December, various projects will be commenced within the National Museum axis, Onikan to Tafawa Balewa Square, and from Lagos House Marina and Freedom Park. By the time we complete these projects, Lagos will become a major tourist destination in West Africa," the Governor said.
Also speaking during the interactive session at the event witnessed by captains of industries, party chieftains and members of the diplomatic corps, Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, lamented the suspension of a bill seeking special status for Lagos by the Senate, but expressed optimism that the bill would still become law in the nearest future.
He said: “The suspension of the bill sponsored by our amiable daughter and wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is unfortunate but it is better and advisable to let these people know that this is not a matter of quarrel but a question of time. It will definitely happen.”
The monarch, who recalled the history of the agitation for special status for Lagos, urged the promoters of the bill to go back to drawing board and do their home work well before representing it for consideration and passage.
The Governor, who also spoke on the issue, commended Senator Tinubu for her courage to push for the bill, while also lauding the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for his magnanimity in allowing the bill to be presented on the floor of the Senate.
He however expressed optimism that the bill would be reactivated and represented again, saying that the success of the bill was in the overriding interest of Nigerians.
ABAKALIKI-A Senior Advocate and Professor of Environmental law, Prof. Amari Omaka yesterday stressed the DSS has no powers to make such form of arrests under the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Prof Omaka who lectures in the Law Faculty of Ebonyi State University said even though he does not support any form of corruption by any individual at any level, the manner in which the war against corruption was being pursued particularly in recent times called for concern among well-intentioned Nigerians.
“The manner in which the Directorate of State Services has gone about these arrests leaves much to be deserved because I know as a legal practitioner of my standing that there are ways of disciplining erring judges.
“So to me, it is a desecration of the highly-honoured judicial system for a DSS to go into their houses to arrest them without any recourse to due process, he said stressing that at the level of the Supreme Court judges, if any of them were invited to come and answer questions on allegations leveled against them, naturally, the person would honour such”.
Prof Omaka who is the first and only Senior Advocate from Ebonyi suggested that rather than arrest judges, the proper thing would have been for the DSS to pass through the Chief Justices of the relevant courts of the state to produce whoever it is that has any case against them.
Ngwuta, Okoroand Ademola
“But for you to go at the dead of the night to arrest judges is the height of assault because people can’t even believe they are law enforcement agents. It is so ungodly and leaves much to be deserved. And I think it is quite embarrassing to desecrate the hallowed chambers of this country all in the name of fighting corruption”, Prof. Omaka alarmed.
He insisted that the action smacks of nothing than disrespect for the Independence of the judiciary.
The erstwhile Dean of EBSU Law faculty further maintained that under the law, there is a time limit within which to carry out legitimate actions by law enforcement agents and such is often between the hours of 6am and 6pm except if the person is evading justice.
“At that point you can get a warrant to arrest that person. But then is it even the duty of the DSS to execute a warrant? We have the Nigeria police and in the first place, it is not the responsibility of the DSS to arrest persons whether they are criminals or not. It is the job of the police to make such arrests and not that of the DSS particularly at that time we ‘heard’ the arrests were made”, Prof. Omaka said.
He called on the Federal Government to be civilized in the fight against corruption as the rule of law spells due process and civility.
“That is why am in all force with the NBA at the national that they should all be unconditionally released and let them face the due process of prosecuting those who have erred in law no matter how high or low they are. It is quite embarrassing if somebody can go to the apex court and begin to arrest people. That means nobody is safe”, he stated.
“In fact, what catapulted him from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and to the Supreme Court was his integrity.
Although any person can change any day and am not holding brief for him, but until the contrary is proved, some of us are afraid that they may be some witch-hunt somewhere”. Ends
A cross section of women in Lagos on Tuesday commended members of the House of Representatives for planning to make antenatal services free and accessible.
Some of the mothers, who spoke in separate interviews, lauded the initiative, while others suggested that government should ensure free medical services for women in all aspect.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives on Oct. 6, called on government at all levels to make qualitative ante-natal services free and accessible.
The call followed a motion by Rep. Aishatu Dukku (APC-Gombe) on the need to address high rate of maternal mortality in the country.
Dukku expressed worries over claims that Nigeria was the next country after India with the highest maternal mortality rate in the world.
Mrs Chinyere Jack, a banker, said the initiative by the lawmaker was good.
"It is a good idea because it will allow every mother the opportunity to access healthcare services.
National Assembly
"At this time of recession, government needs to take good care of women because they are always at the receiving end of everything whether good or bad,'' Jack said.
Mrs Ndidi Iheme, a fashion designer, also said the idea was pleasant.
"It is not a bad thing although some government hospitals have been rendering free services, but not in all cases.
"Government should compel private hospitals to also do the same; their charges for antenatal ranges between N15, 000 and N20,000,'' Iheme said.
Mrs Chinwe Amos, a petty trader, said it was a good development.
"It is a good development but government needs to do something beyond just making antenatal services free.
"Mothers and in fact every woman needs to be paid a stipend at the end of every month whether married or unmarried, we should be appreciated,'' Amos said.
Mrs Nta Ita, a human resource officer, also urged government to make education free for women.
"Education for women should be free because even when the lawmakers plan eventually comes to fruition some women will still not see the need to attend.
"This will also help to prevent child death,'' Ita said.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Tuesday, justified the arrest and detention of judges by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, saying “no one is or should be above the law”.
Malami, who had on Monday, shunned a valedictory court session the Supreme Court held in honour of one of its retired Justices, Suleiman Galadima, broke his silence on the matter after he inaugurated an Expert Review Committee on implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Asked about his view on the raid and subsequent arrest of seven superior court Judges, including two Justices of the Supreme Court, Malami said: “Was there an allegation of crime? Was there relevant provision of criminal procedure responsible for investigation?
“Is there an allegation of corruption? If there is, no body, no matter how highly placed will be spared.
“The right to investigate has not been taken away from the constitution. The allegation boarders on criminality and no one is or should be above the law.
“Neither the judiciary or the executive will be exempted from investigation”, the AGF stated.
It will be recalled that operatives of the DSS had within the weekend, clamped down on seven judges accused of complicity in acts of corruption.
Aside Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, both of the Supreme Court, other judges arrested and detained by the DSS were Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.
They seven judges were subsequently granted administrative bail, preparatory to their formal arraignment in court.
However, the National Judicial Council, NJC, which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is currently holding an emergency meeting at its headquarters in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the AGF, in a keynote address he presented at the inauguration of the Committee, said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would put adequate facilities in place to ensure that recovered loots are profitably managed.
He said: “No doubt, the extant review focusing on Chapter II and V of UNCAC relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and assets recovery, is both necessary and timely at this time of the annals of country when endemic can systemic corruption has created a great disconnect between our nation’s wealth and the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria is a state-party to UNCAC which is the first global legally binding international anti-corruption instrument.
“Fortunately, the objectives of UNCAC is in absolute synergy and harmony with one of the cardinal objectives of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is to fight corruption in all its ramified manifestations including adopting effective preventive measured against corruption, recovery of stolen assets and putting in place systems and processes to profitably manage the stolen but recovered assets.
“It is thus necessary that members if this Committee understands the important task of nation-building which is about to be committed into their hands.
“Your contributions will no doubt translate into massive political goodwill and will snowball into successes in place setting as it relates to the fight against corruption.
“Let me emphasise that the guiding principles of the review is non-adversarial, non-punitive and not aimed at ranking state parties”.
Members of the Committee were drawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Bureau of Public Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, among other agencies.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has said that the clampdown on the nation's judges by the Department of State service, SSS during the weekends portends a threat to the nation's democracy.
Okowa gave the statement in Asaba on Sunday during a Thanksgiving mass to kick-off the 2016/2017 legal year of the state judiciary. Represented by his deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Okowa described the invasion of the judges' homes as an act of intimidation against the judiciary, adding that the action was a threat to democracy and the rule of law. He however cautioned the nation's security apparatus to operate within the confines of the law. The governor also charged the judicial officers to desist from acts that will defame the hollowed chambers of the profession lauded the judiciary for its immense support to democracy and his administration, and pledged to continue to create the enabling environment for the judiciary to operate.
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku, Most Rev. Michael Elue, charged judicial officers to seek divine assistance from the holy spirit in the dispensation of justice. Bishop Elue sued for the independence of the three tiers of government, calling on the judiciary to remain the hope of the common man by living above aboard.
The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Umukoro, reassured that the judiciary is committed to dispensation of justice to all manner of persons in the state without fear or favour.
“We shall observe the judicial oath and do justice to all manner of men and women without fear or favour. But to those who may be dissatisfied with our judgements, decisions or rulings, I dare say that name-calling, unsubstantiated allegations and hasty petition writing should be slowly adhered to," Umukoro advised.
While thanking judges, lawyers and other judicial workers for their hard work during the past legal year, he lauded the executive arm of government for its continuous support of the judiciary, and thanked all Deltans for having faith in the judiciary.
By Daniel, Northern Region Editor After being detained for close to a year, there were indications last night that, President Muhammadu Buhari, is no longer comfortable with the continued detention of the former National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
A top aide of Buhari, who dropped the hint in Abuja, said that Buhari had already given instructions to the relevant organs handling Dasuki's corruption case to take steps to recover the huge cash allegedly mismanaged by him and thereafter free him. "I can tell you that the President is not comfortable with the continued detention of Dasuki despite the offences he allegedly committed against Nigeria and its people," the aide said.
"The only condition Mr. President has asked Dasuki to fulfil is to refund the huge sum of public funds which were allegedly diverted under his watch as the NSA.
"And I want to tell you that we have the approval of Mr. President to release him (Dasuki) from detention as soon as he brings the money," the official said.
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