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
By Imanuel Jannah ABUJA – A 4yrs old pupil, David Jacob, has been killed in a sub-standard nursery and primary school located in Kado/Life camp area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The deceased was said to be having his meal in the company of his classmates when the walls of their classroom crashed on them. The rubbles of the collapsed classroom indicate that the blocks of the school were made of mud.
Vanguard gathered that the school was among the 500 private schools initially closed down by the FCT administration but most of which their proprietors chose to break the law and re-open for operation.
An official in the FCT administration, Ayuba Didam, said: "The owners of the school are Mr. and Mrs. Ogbonna Uba. They have been arrested and presently in police custody. Prosecution will eventually ensue."
As at the time of filing this report, other pupils who sustained various degree of injuries are receiving treatment at the Gwarimpa General Hospital while the corpse of late David has been buried.
By Benjamin Njoku & Iyabo Aina As Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, organisers of the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant installs another Miss Anambra today, in Akwa, the state capital, following the sudden removal of the reigning queen, Chidinma Okeke, there are indications that trouble looms ahead as the embattled ex-beauty queen has alleged a threat to her life for wanting to unravel the mystery behind her dethronement.
Miss Okeke was dethroned after the allegedly sex tape video of herself and friend hit the internet.
The dethroned queen called for a press conference Thursday, to unravel the circumstances surrounding her predicament, but the forces behind her ordeal are said to be spiting fire, warning her against the consequences of what she wants to do.
However, the ex-beauty queen day morning took to her Facebook page to raise alarm following the threat to her life. In her post, wrote, "Good morning all. This is Chidinma Okeke, Miss Anambra 2015, considering the need to make the world know the truth about the trending scandal and what we have been going through before, then and now I decided to address a world press conference at the NUJ press centre Awka today. But from the moment I made public this intention I have been under siege of threats by my black- mailers and traducers.
They are seriously threatening to shoot me at the press conference if I ever open my mouth to say real truth about the ugly episode. My life is under serious threat if they succeed in killing me today the world already know my traducers the truth is unearthed."
Meanwhile, tongues are wagging that some power brokers in the Anambra Broadcasting Service, organizers of the pageantry are behind ex beauty queen’s ordeal.
According to an unconfirmed online source (Secret Reporters), Chidinma has been having an affair with one of the top management staff of the organization.
Troubled started after she refused to cooperate with the said ‘oga’, who wanted his other friends to also have a taste of her. She was said to have been threatened, and could not bear the pressure any more, hence she decided to surrender the Kia car and her crown.
Recall that the video released late last week, showed the Nigerian pageant winner in an explicit scene with another woman, who at first was not identified.
Okeke spoke out immediately after the video began spreading on social media, saying that the video was actually another person and blaming what appeared to be her appearance on trick photography.
The attention of the management of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, organisers of the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant has been drawn to a video with lurid contents purportedly showing former Miss Anambra, Miss Chidinma Okeke (Miss Anambra 2015).
However the organizers of the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant, Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, released a statement condemning the act.
"We wish to make the following clarifications –
"The said Miss Chidinma Okeke who is allegedly linked to the lurid content in circulation has served-out her term as Miss Anambra 2015 and handed over the crown in line with the terms and conditions of The Miss Anambra pageant.
"We condemn in clear terms any amoral behaviour/ conduct as suggested by the alleged lurid content in circulation and do not condone such. "It is on record that The Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant has been a platform to empower Anambra women and celebrate our rich culture and heritage.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday said that the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers was a major challenge to the Nigeria Police Force.
Idris made the statement when members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
He said that kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, terrorism, militancy, economic sabotage and religious extremism were other security challenges confronting the police.
He said that the police had handled 108 kidnapping cases in June, 111 in July, 84 in August and 77 in September.
He noted that kidnapping had become a trend in the country where young persons were actively participating.
The I-G said that the existing 300,000 police workforce was inadequate to effectively police the country.
He said that the country was far behind the UN standard of one policeman to 400 persons.
Idris said that the Nigeria police needed more than the 10,000 men being recruited to bridge the manpower gap.
"We need to increase the strength of the rank and file.
"We also need more than the 10,000 policemen being recruited, but it is a gradual process,"he said.
He said that inadequate funding and manpower had been the bane of the police, adding that adequate funding was needed for the police to effectively discharge its mandate.
On welfare of policemen, Idris said that the police wanted to exit the present pension arrangement to enable it support its men after service.
He said that the management had written to President Muhammadu Buhari to allow police retirees to have access to health insurance scheme after retirement.
Idris said that if adequate funds were allocated to the police, it would perform optimally.
Sen. Abu Ibrahim, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said the committee would consider the request of the police force.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja stressed the need for a new culture of transparency and efficiency in the nation's oil and gas industry to improve oil and gas production in the country.
The President stated this at the public presentation of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources' 7 BIG WINS, a short and medium term priorities to grow Nigeria's oil and gas industry between 2015 and 2019.
He stated that an efficient oil and gas industry would ensure that agriculture, solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy were supported to grow and contribute more to the nation's economy.
He added that the nation needed a virile and efficient oil and gas industry to take care of its foreign exchange requirements and also help to explore the frontier basins, improve local refining capacity and build sustainable partnerships with the oil producing communities.
"There is also a dire need to instill a new culture of transparency and efficiency in the industry, streamline operations along best practices by championing and implementing strategic reforms at every layer of the industry.
"If we are able to plug the leakages, and tighten loose systems that characterised this industry in the days of high oil prices, we are convinced that we can do even more with the little that we are getting at the moment than we did even in the time of plenty.
The President said that the petroleum industry remained critical to the Nigerian economy of today and the future, in spite of the current challenges.
"The golden era of high oil prices may not be here now, but oil and gas resources still remain the most immediate and practical keys out of our present economic crisis.''
He said the oil and gas remained a critical enabler for the successful implementation of the nation's budget as well as the source of funds for laying a strong foundation for a new and more diversified economy.
According to him, this is a national imperative and a core thrust of his administration's economic policy.
The president reiterated his administration's determination to resolve the socio-economic and security challenges in the Niger Delta region.
He, therefore, reassured that government's resolve and capacity to work with all stakeholders to restore normalcy would guarantee success in the Niger Delta region.
"As you are aware, recent developments in the Niger Delta have temporarily limited our oil and gas production and supplies.
The president congratulated the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and his staff for their foresight and vision to transform the oil and gas industry.
According to the president, the oil and gas road map reflects the vision and aspiration of his administration for the oil and gas sector.
He urged all stakeholders in the sector to deliver on the expectations contained in the Petroleum Industry Roadmap.
The President, therefore, appealed for the support and cooperation of the media, local and foreign investors and other critical stakeholders in the oil and gas industry "as we seek to consolidate CHANGE in this very important sector of our national economy''.
The minister explained that the 7 Big Wins to grow the Nigerian oil and gas industry was aimed at developing a stable and enabling oil and gas landscape with improved transparency, efficiency and stable investment climate.
He expressed the hope that the ongoing reform in the sector would provide huge investment opportunities in infrastructure development, oil and gas facilities, operations and maintenance across the value chain.
"We can decide today to face the current challenges and build our economy using our bountiful gas resources.
"In just a few years, we can see Nigeria if we work hard to be the latest exporter of petroleum products rather than importers, something that will act very dramatic in terms of foreign earnings, reduce the pressure on our foreign reserve.
"We can begin to work on creating thousands of jobs that will be of great benefit to the host communities.
"We can begin to attract investment and make Nigeria a citadel of investment destination in Africa and we can begin to take our rightful place in the comity of nations and develop policies that are essential to move the industry forward."
The minister announced that President Buhari would be meeting stakeholders from the Niger Delta and oil producing areas as part of efforts to achieve lasting peace in the areas.
The highlights of the event are the multimedia video documentary as well as presentation of the 7 Big Wins by President Buhari.
The Buy Rats Make Money'' initiative by the Lagos State Government is environmental friendly and safe for humans, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Phosgard Fumigants Nig. Ltd., Oluwasegun Benson, has said.
Benson, whose company is partnering with the state government in the project made the assertion on the sidelines of the flag off of the exercise at Obalende Market on Thursday.
The vector control programme had no side effect on the market women, adding that evacuation of the dead rats would be done by its officials.
"The scheme is environmental friendly and safe. We have distributed flyers on how the market women will go about it and how it works.
"What we do is to have the fumigation when the market is closed, that is from dusk to dawn. What the market women will only come to see are dead rats.
"They will not realise anything untoward, the only evidence are the dead rats which we have warned them not to pick with bare hands. They should pick them with hand gloves.
"We will be on ground to evacuate the dead rats and bury them. We are not going to incinerate them but we'll rather bury them.
"Dead rats decompose to sand within six months,'' he said.
Benson said that the exercise would be done monthly around the markets so that the rats are not given room to breed until the environment was fully safe from the vectors.
"The programme has to be monthly because rodents have a life cycle of a month. If we say we want it quarterly, that means what we are doing will be counterproductive.
"We don't want any breeding place for these rodents in our community again, so, the campaign will be rigorous to ensure that we live in a safe environment.
"In the light of this, we are also looking forward to having environmental champions who are to compete on having the best record in this effort aimed at a vector-free environment.
"We want each local government to produce champions which will show what they are contributing to make the environment safe. This will encourage many others to follow suit,'' he said.
Benson appealed to corporate organisations to support the government's initiative aimed at improving the health of the society.
"I want to appeal to corporate organisations to see this initiative as a programme meant for all and not for one.
"Environmental protection is the business for all and we must all rise to do our part not only for government alone. The private organisations should leverage on government good intentions.
"We have also met with the market women on the buy rats programme and also the token to be paid for the exercise which is pocket friendly.
"The exercise is almost free because the token paid will also be returned through the "Buy Rats Make Money'' offered,''
A Witness, Richard Ihediwa, told a Federal High Court on Thursday that embattled Olisa Metuh, solely funded publicity activities during Jonathan's re-election campaign.
Metuh, a former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being tried for alleged N400 million money laundering.
Ihediwa, who was Metuh's Personal Assistant on Media, disclosed this while being led in evidence by the defence counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
He said that it came to a point that the 'situation room' was not funded by the party, and Metuh decided to pick up the burden and funded the activities of the publicity team from his pocket.
The witness said the financial status of the publicity arm was so bad that it got to a point that they could no longer pay companies that ran adverts for them.
He told the court that it was so bad that he contemplated resigning his position because the work load was too much for him to carry.
"But Metuh begged and asked me to understand that the office was not funded.
"That was when it was decided that extra hands be hired but he (Metuh) said he will pay them from his pocket.
"The nature of our schedule was so tight that I literally broke down because of pressure of work. I couldn't cope because I was alone.
"I told Metuh I would not be able to continue except he hired other professionals.
"He reminded me that funding was an issue in the party and said he had severally made a case to the national working committee to no avail.
"He pleaded I should continue but I said I couldn't under such conditions."
The witness further told the court that when he sought to know why his boss was using his personal funds for the party, he explained that he didn't want to fail as a publicity secretary.
"He went ahead to buy laptops, cameras, video cameras and was the one paying the monthly allowances of the five new media aides he engaged.
"As I speak, the party has not refunded him that money."
The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, adjourned the case till Oct. 31 for continuation of trial.
A Kaduna State High Court has sentenced the immediate past Sole Administrator of Kaura Local Government, Mr Ibrahim Baba, to seven years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretence.
The court, presided over by Justice Tukur Mu'azu, did not give the convict an option fine, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, Baba was arraigned by the EFCC on Jan. 7, 2016 for swindling one Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim of Rahusa Investment Ltd., Kaduna, through a shady gas supply contract.
He was said to have committed the crime sometime in 2011.
The court heard that the victim paid the convict N1 million for the supply of five trucks of gas at the rate of N200,000 per truck.
But after the payment was made, the victim neither received the product nor got a refund, the statement said.
The Federal Government says that within the next three years, it plans to borrow $29.96 billion from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
The other international financial agencies it plans to borrow the money from are Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and China EximBank.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun gave details of the loan in Abuja on Thursday in a statement by her Special Adviser, Mr Festus Akanbi.
It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday forwarded a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of 29.96 billion dollars to execute key infrastructure across the country between 2016 and 2018.
Buhari said the borrowings will target projects across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.
Other sectors, he said, included poverty reduction through social safety net programmes, governance and financial management reforms, among others.
According to the statement, out of the total amount, Federal Government will take 25.8 billion dollars and states 4.1 billion dollars.
A further breakdown shows that 18.3 billion dollars will be spent on infrastructure development, with 14.6 billion dollars going to federal projects and 3.7 billion dollars going to state projects.
The projects billed to benefit from the loans are the Mambila Hydro Electric Power Project, which will get 4.8 billion dollars and the Abuja Mass Rail Transit project, phase two getting 1.6 billion dollars.
Also, 3.5 billion dollars is slated for the completion of the Railway Modernisation Coastal Project from Calabar to Port Harcourt-Onne Deep Sea Port segment.
About 2.4 billion dollars will go to the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernisation project; 1.3 billion dollars is specifically for the Lagos-Ibadan segment and 1.1 billion dollars will go to the Kano-Kaduna segment.
Also, 4.5 billion dollars will go to acquire Euro bonds; 3.5 billion dollars will be dedicated to the Federal Government budget support.
The reports says 2.2 billion will be sunk in education and health projects at state and federal levels.
Similarly, 1.2 billion dollars is set aside for agriculture projects at both levels and 200 million dollars is for economic management and statistics.
ABUJA – IN a bid to deal with the menace of oil spillage particularly in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government had unveiled new technology that would aid in rapid response to oil spill and prevent the further degradation of the environment.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Aisha Mohammed explained that the modelling technique would help determine the direction of oil spill in the maritime environment.
Mohammed disclosed this at a two-day National Workshop on Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling in Maritime Environment in Nigeria, in Abuja.
Represented by Director-General of NOSDRA, Mr. Peter Idabor, the Minister attributed the increasing level of oil spillage in Nigeria to illegal bunkering activities, artisanal refining, oil theft and armed militancy.
According to her, “The use of oil spill modeling techniques in predicting the direction of movement of spilled oil in the marine environment is quite a laudable innovation. Although it is difficult to accurately predict or simulate actual events, this tool presents a very valuable opportunity for both oil spill preparedness and response activities.
United States Consulate and Polish Embassy in Lagos have expressed readiness to support Nigeria's Nollywood industry, according to the President, Eko International Film Festival, Mr Hope Opara.
Opara told newsmen in Lagos on Thursday that they were ready collaborate with the relevant bodies in the country to promote Nollywood as well as Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and tourism.
According to him, such collaborations will help to develop and promote Nigerian films locally and internationally.
"It is important that we know that every film depicts a synopsis of what must have happened in certain areas.
"When you watch films from other countries you are already stepping into their culture and traditions and the same thing applies when people from other climes watch Nollywood films in their countries,'' he said.
Opara said there was also a growing interest from Israel, France and India in working with the Nollywood industry in promoting film exchanges.
He said this year's Eko International Film Festival had received and featured many films from the United States, Poland, India, Israel and France that depicted things about their countries.
On the state of the industry, Opara said the industry deserved more attention and support from the Federal Government than it was currently enjoying.
"Governments (state and federal) are currently not doing enough in supporting and promoting Nollywood films abroad.
"Government needs to know that Nollywood is contributing to Nigeria's economy apart from providing jobs for youths.
"We need to see film as an instrument for promoting cultural exchanges and tourism across the world.''
Dethroned Miss Anambra, Chidinma Okeke has cried out that those who are behind the release of the sex video that made her give back her crown are threatening to kill her if she reveals their identity.
In a released statement, she claimed the plan is to shoot her at a press conference she intends holding in Awka to clear the air on how the video came out and those behind it.
A Makurdi Magistrates' Court on Thursday remanded a cleric, Elijah Ebimone, in prison for allegedly abducting three girls and turning them to sex slaves.
Ebimone, 32, is facing a two-count charge of abduction and causing miscarriage, punishable under Sections 274 and 233 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue State, 2004.
The Magistrate, Mrs Theresa Wergba, ordered the remand of the accused and adjourned the matter till Dec. 28 for further mention.
Her action followed the application for adjournment made by the Prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Suende, who said that investigation by the police was ongoing.
Suende told court that a team of detectives led by Insp. Attai Sule, attached to the State CID, Makurdi, received information about the activities of the cleric on Oct. 20.
He said that the detectives immediately launched an investigation into the matter and arrested the accused.
The prosecutor said that Ebimone, who claimed to be a prophet, had been abducting young girls and using them as sex slaves.
He said that the cleric went all the way to Delta last June and abducted one Victory Mieturda, Dolor Dinah and Esther Young and brought them to Makurdi.
Suende said that the man had deceived the girls' parents into believing that he was assisting the girls to travel to Ukraine to seek greener pasture.
"However, they got to Makurdi and he turned them into sex slaves impregnating all of them at different times and also causing them to miscarry the pregnancies,'' the prosecutor said.
When the case was called, the court did not take the plea of the accused because it lacked jurisdiction.
By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA – THE Senate on Thursday passed the Code of Conduct (amendment) bill, 2016, with the National Assembly taking over power to appoint staff of Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal from the Presidency.
With the current amendment proposals to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and if finally passed into law and assented to, powers of the Presidency to make rules and regulations for the bodies would automatically be transferred to the National Assembly.
It would be recalled that criticisms have trailed the CCB and CCT being under the direct supervision of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The passage on Thursday means that the heads will now be reporting to the National Assembly.
The House of Representatives initiated Bill which was also approved by the Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday, also reduced tenure of Chairman and members from serving until they are 70, to a term of five years.
The first term of five years in office was however subject to renewal for one further term only, making a total of 10 year so in all.
Another major amendment to the Act is the human face, where observed non-compliance or breach of the provisions are settled between the CCB and the defaulter without going to the tribunal.
“Provided that where the person concerned makes a written admission of such breach or non-compliance, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary.”
There is an amendment to the Act that the membership should increase from three to nine, with a compulsory quorum at every sitting, just as this is contrary to the past, when only the chairman could adjudicate over cases.
Although, actual amendments to the Act were done by the House of Representatives and passed on May 31, the Senate concurred with the House and passed the bill on Thursday.
In the amendment, the Bureau will first invite the person suspected of falsely declaring his asset for clarification before taking the person to the Tribunal.
Section 4 (2) was also amended to substitute the word "President" with "the National Assembly" as the one to appoint members of staff of the Bureau and exercise disciplinary control over them.
Section 1 (4) was deleted and replaced with: "The Chairman and members shall serve for a term of five years subject to renewal for one further term only.
"(E) upon complaint(s) of any breach or where it appears to the Bureau that there is a breach of the provision of this Act, any person concerned shall be given particulars of such non-compliance or breaches to explain before any reference to the Tribunal."
Recall that the Upper Legislative Chambers had previously stepped down the consideration of the bill owing to the public outcry that followed the move.”
"There is a serious problem as to whether Nigerians will be able to feed themselves, considering the rate at which prices of goods are going up.” says Mrs Ayanu Olatoyinbo, a trader at the Folashade Boundary Market on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Mrs. Olatoyibo and other traders, Thursday, lamented the continued drop in daily sales in the last three months due to low patronage from customers, a trend that is the direct result of inflation.
The traders told newsmen in Lagos that the development was a fall-out of the rising cost of food items, which had led to low patronage.
Mrs Ayanu Olatoyinbo, one of the traders, said that a 25-litre gallon of palm oil, hitherto sold for N7, 000, was now going for N17,000.
"Everything is so expensive. The 50kg bag of rice that was sold for N6,000 early in the year is now N18,500.
"The 25-litre measure of vegetable oil, which sold for about N7,000 at the beginning of the year, now goes for N14,000.
"Government should come to our aid; there should be plans to ease the difficulties Nigerians are facing because if there is hunger, the people will not be happy,'' Olatoyinbo said.
A bulk orange seller, Mrs Abike Yusuf, said the traders were facing the challenge of high cost of transportation of fruits to other markets in the metropolis from the Mile 12 Market.
Yusuf said the transport operators were making a lot of money at the traders' expense, charging them exorbitantly.
"The cost of fruits has increased tremendously if you compare it to last year.
"Around this time last year, a large basket of medium-sized orange sold for between N1,500 and N2,000; it now goes for N3,500.
"Same goes for watermelon, depending on the size. It ranges from N300 to as high as N600 for sizes that would ordinarily be sold for between N200 and N300.
"Now, the major challenge is that transporters are now charging us too much per trip, from either Mile 12 Market, Oshodi, or from Ifo in Ogun, " Yusuf said.
NAN checks at the market earlier in the day, indicated that sales were halted as traders were clearing their surroundings, in line with the Lagos State Government's directive on sanitation.
Markets in the state remain closed every Thursday from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., to observe the sanitation at the markets.
The Iyaloja of the market, who simply identified herself as Mrs Ibrahim, said that traders were duly punished if caught selling between those hours of sanitation.
Ibrahim said the wastes generated were promptly cleared by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) twice daily at 10.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to revive the nation’s economy will not yield positive results unless the fight against corruption is also intensified.
Speaking at the 2016 Annual Lecture of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said that is why the government is tackling both issues simultaneously.
Lai Mohammed explains ‘Change begins with me campaing’
”And that’s why the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture launched a Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption on 18th January 2016…with a view to alerting Nigerians to the evils of corruption and carrying them along in the efforts by the government to tackle the menace,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed described as appropriate the topic of the lecture, ”Fighting Corruption and Growing a Sustainable Nigerian Economy”, saying it could not have come at a better time, ”as this Administration is stepping up its anti-corruption fight while also seeking to bring the economy out of recession and put it on the path of sustainable growth”.
”It is also noteworthy that the topic for this 2016 lecture incorporates two of the three cardinal programmes of this Administration, which are the fight against corruption and the revamping of the economy to create jobs and provide wealth. The third priority, of course, is the fight against insecurity,” he said.
The Minister said there is a direct correlation between corruption and economic growth, noting that corruption stifles economic growth in many ways, including by discouraging foreign investment, reducing tax revenue and preventing infrastructural development.
”In other words, in countries where you have a high level of corruption, there is reduced economic growth and, of course, higher poverty level. That’s why the Berlin-based global civil society organization, Transparency International, said corruption, especially public sector corruption, is about so much more than missing money. It’s about people’s lives.
”It is therefore not a surprise that the countries that have consistently scored high marks in the Annual Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International are also the countries that have also managed to grow a sustainable economy,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed noted that, having recognised corruption as the biggest threat to the economic and political development of any country, the Federal Government will not relent in its efforts to tackle the menace of corruption to a standstill.
”The Buhari Administration, since its inauguration, has left no one in doubt regarding its commitment to ridding Nigeria of corruption, as captured poignantly in President Buhari's statement that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
”We are very much aware that the fight against corruption will not be easy. Fighting entrenched corruption can sometimes be a very lonely road to travel in our part of the world, where a true community of genuine corruption fighters are assailed from every side by unwary recruits of the looters among us, in our communities, places of work and worship. We also know that corruption is fighting back, fastly and furiously. But with uncommon commitment and determination, we will win the war against corruption,” he said.
Denmark is committed to supporting Nigeria to diversify its economy from the over-reliance on crude oil to other viable and sustainable sectors, Amb. Torben Gettermann has said.
Gettermann, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said Nigeria should be exporting finished products to the West African countries.
"What we would like to see and what we do see and where we want to help as much as possible is in the diversification of the economy.
"Nigeria should make factories that can produce products not only for the local markets in Nigeria but also to export.
"This is because, that's the way you can really make a change in the way people see Nigeria," he said.
According to him, Denmark does not have natural resources but still produces and exports to other countries.
"We don't have raw materials; we have some oil but that has almost come up from the ground, I think we have about 10 years oil left.
"So what do we have in Denmark? We have our brain, we have our education, we have people who come up with new ideas and we live on export.
"If we don't export, we will not exist. So we have an export that is huge compared to our size but that's important.
"Agricultural products, hi-tech, pharmaceuticals, you name it; all of these form part of the basis of our exports, which basically is our survivor."
According to him, Nigeria should also learn from Denmark by exporting finished products and not just raw materials.
"We will like to see Nigeria exporting all kinds of high quality good that could meet the consumer needs not only in West Africa but around the world.
"Go out; fight the market for your products. That is what we want to see in the diversification of the Nigerian economy and that's where we want to help."
On the Denmark-Nigeria trade volume, Gettermann said that the Embassy was formally inaugurated in Nigeria in 2014 and that the economic ties between the two countries were growing rapidly.
He said that the volume of Danish export to Nigeria in 2015 was about two billion Danish Krona, while the import from Nigeria was about five billion.
"We were paying so much on buying so much more from you. So we have an imbalance.
"You export more to us than we export to Nigeria, which your government should be happy about. So that counts in your favour.
"But right now, we have, unfortunately, seen downturn both in terms of import and export," he said.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu on Thursday in Abuja said that the new road map for the oil and gas sector tagged `7 Big Win ' will bring about massive development in the sector.
The Minister at the Launch of the programme said that the major focus of the road map would be on Niger Delta and security.
The programme would also focus on Policy and Regulations, Business environment as well as investment drive.
Others, include Transparency and Efficiency, stakeholder Management and International coordination, Gas revolution and refinery and local production capacity.
"The 7 Big Wins expected to grow the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry is aimed at developing a stable and enabling oil and gas landscape with improved transparency, efficiency, stable investment climate and well protected environment.
"The ongoing reform in the sector presents a new dawn for Africa and we are excited about it.
"It shall provide huge investment opportunity in infrastructure development, oil and gas facilities , operations and maintenance across the oil and gas value change,'' he said
According to him, the effort requires innovative thinking, new ideas, technology and partnership among various stakeholders.
On major issues such as Niger Delta and security, he said the road map would focus majorly on improving security and ensuring environmental safety in the oil producing areas in Nigeria.
This, he said would go a long way to increase the National Crude oil production as well as attract the much needed investment and infrastructure development in the region.
Kachikwu noted that reviewing oil and moribund policies, gazetting new ones and entrenching robust fiscal instrument were also key in achieving the road map.
"The road-map provides a workable plan which will ensure that adequate infrastructure is put in place to ramp up National crude oil production to a target of about 2.8 to 3 million barrel per day.
"Restructuring and revamping of the parastatals by instituting transparency and efficiency at all level of operation will enable us drive profitability and accountability.
Kachikwu further said that deploying a potent communication strategy, building and maintaining robust relationships with stakeholders within and outside the petroleum producing communities would help the sector meet its target.
He added that another major focus of the road-map would be to upgrade the nations refineries and increase local production capacity with the objectives to reduce importation of petroleum production by 60 per cent in 2018.
The minister said that the country was expected to be a net exporter of petroleum products and value added petrochemicals by 2019.
The National Judicial Council (NJC), at its next meeting is to consider a request seeking its nod for live broadcast of proceedings in Nigerian courts, the secretary of the council has said.
The secretary, Mr Halilu Danladi, stated this in a reply to an Abuja-based Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), which made the request recently.
"I have been directed to inform you that your request will be considered by the council at its next meeting scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3.
"The outcome of the deliberation will be communicated to your office,'' Danladi stated in the letter dated Oct. 21 and addressed to the Executive Director of CASER, Mr Frank Tietie.
CASER had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the NJC seeking the council's approval for court proceedings to be relayed live to Nigerians.
The civil rights advocacy group had told the CJN that opening up the courts to Nigerians would enhance greater transparency in the country's justice delivery system.
In its first letter dated Feb. 26, CASER said the request was necessitated by "rising public consciousness of the role of the courts in ensuring justice, public order and stability of Nigeria.''
On Oct. 20, the group wrote the CJN again, noting that the recent allegation of corruption against some judges had underscored the importance and urgency of its request.
"CASER is convinced that live media broadcast of court proceedings will debunk corruption and help in sustaining the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria.
"Live broadcast of court proceedings in Nigeria has its foundation in the constitutional provision of Section 36 (3) and (4).
"The section expressly provides, in general terms, that court proceedings in Nigeria shall be held in public, and CASER believes that nothing can be more or less 'public' than that.''
The group told the CJN that it had resolved to seek judicial interpretation of Section 34 (3) and (4) on the matter, should he refuse to consider its request.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – A star witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Alade Oluseye Sunday, Thursday, narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja, how he helped an ally to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, to move about N1.2billion, prior to the 2015 general election.
Sunday, who is the Branch head of Zenith Bank in Akure, said the fund which was moved in two tranches, was stuffed inside Ghana-must-go bags.
The witness said he was among the team that evacuated the money to the bank with a bullion van after it was flown to the Akure airport in a medium sized aircraft by Senator Musliu Obanikoro.Agbele and Fayose
He said: “The driver that drove the bullion van on that cash pick-up engagement was Olaolu Omotosho. I do not know the registration number of the aircraft but the colour is metallic grey.
“I was able to recognise Senator Musliu Obanikoro since the appearance resemble his picture that I used to see on the television or newspaper, but I cannot recognise the third person that came out of the aircraft with him.
“The cash was packed inside several sacks popularly referred to as Ghana-must-go sack. The aircraft that brought the second tranche of the cash was of a smaller size when compared with the aircraft that brought the first tranche. The sacks were many and as such I cannot remember the number”.
The bank official, who is the first prosecution witness, PW-1, was led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu.
Almost three-quarters of Eurowings flights were cancelled on Thursday after the cabin crew of German carrier Lufthansa's budget airline walked off the job.
"Some 400 of the airline's 550 scheduled flights were cancelled as a result of the strike organised by the cabin crew union UFO which began on Wednesday.
"Some 40,000 passengers were affected by the action, which was part of a dispute over salaries.
"Only 15,000 passengers were able to fly as planned,'' Eurowings said, adding that there are cancellations and delays at all of Germany's major airports except Frankfurt and Munich.
German media reported on Wednesday that the talks between UFO and Lufthansa had collapsed in spite of the fact that the airline had offered an average pay increase of 7 per cent.
However the union said that it had never received the offer.
"Eurowings is offering customers free cancellations and changes to their booking,'' it said.
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