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"Our programmes are structured to ensure that a pregnant woman does not die due to her inability to access quality services during pregnancy and childbirth, that a child is not lost from preventable diseases, that communities are not overburdened with endemic diseases, and that community linkages are harnessed and promoted." – Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.
WITH less than 100,000 qualified medical doctors to a population of about 180 million, oil-rich Nigeria has one of the worst doctor to patients ratio in the world. This explains, in part, why Nigeria is among the seven countries with the lowest life expectancy in the world, averaging just 54 years. For perspective, countries like South Sudan and Afghanistan, ravaged by war in recent years, have higher life expectancy rates than Nigeria.
Nigeria also has the 7th largest infant mortality rate in the world, as well as one of the highest maternal mortality rates. If the statistics are disheartening, the reality is even more depressing. A typical 70 percent of health budget is spent in urban areas where about 30 percent of the population resides. Thus, there is a conspicuous absence of health facilities in many rural communities across the country. Where any exists, the absence of a qualified health professional or lack of drugs and other essential medical supplies hamper service delivery.
With a population of 6.4 million, Kaduna is the third most populous state in Nigeria and the situation of public health system there is hardly any deviation in from the trend observed in the country. As at 2013, only 40 percent of the over 1,000 primary health centres in Kaduna were functioning. A general lack of political commitment to health development coupled with poor funding, corruption has led gross inequity in the distribution of health facilities and personnel.
Today however, that trend has been completely reversed. A change in political leadership in the state eighteen months ago ushered in a new regime under Nasir El-Rufai. In a clear departure from the old, and rather retrogressive, style of administration, El-Rufai's healthcare reforms in Kaduna is built on a foundation of solid policies. In an environment where the construction of a handful of hospitals counts as major achievements, El-Rufai has ditched mediocrity for excellence by instituting remarkable reforms with wide-reaching impact in Kaduna's health sector.
Just three months into El-Rufai's administration, the Primary Health Care Under One Roof Bill was signed into law. Essentially, the law permits the state to operate its primary healthcare activities on the same platform. The law also enables the transfer of workers in primary healthcare centres from local councils to the state civil service.
It is not uncommon for governments to bridge social welfare gaps by introducing subsidies. Unfortunately, however, subsidies schemes are often fraught with corruption and gross mismanagement. Kaduna State has managed to subsidise healthcare in such an efficient manner that other states in Nigeria should certainly learn from. For example, patients pay as little as N20,000 for dialysis treatments that cost as high as N200,000. This was achieved by supplying eight dialysis machines to four hospitals.
The sum of N180 million was committed to routine immunization through the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to ensure no child eligible for immunization in Kaduna is missed. Also, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS selected Kaduna as the best performing state in Nigeria. Kaduna State won the prize because its hospitals counselled and tested 84,000 pregnant women for HIV during the period and referred everyone that tested positive to a treatment facility.
The decision in April to transfer all doctors, nurses, drugs and equipment at the Government House Clinic in Kaduna (used by the Governor and other top officials) to Dantsoho Hospital in Tudun Wada (used by the public), effectively eradicated the culture of privilege in Kaduna's public health system. Policies like this make Kaduna the pacesetter in healthcare reforms in Nigeria and worthy example for not just other states but also the federal government to emulate. Kaduna's people-centric and cost saving government house clinic policy contrasts sharply against the federal government's decision to allocate 2 billion for capital projects as the State House Clinic in Abuja, an amount which far exceeds the combined allocations for capital projects in all teaching hospitals in the country.
To reduce maternal and infant mortality rate in Kaduna State, the El-Rufai administration re-engaged 800 retired nurses and midwives after a gap analysis revealed huge personnel shortage. This move has boost service delivery at primary health centres across the state and made quality and affordable healthcare accessible to people at the grassroots.
In Kaduna State, pregnant women, children under five years and the elderly have access to free health services at state-owned facilities. To widen the net of coverage and ensure all residents of the state have access to healthcare without incurring out-of-pocket expenditure, the El-Rufai administration approved the establishment of a Contributory Health Scheme. Under the scheme, a pool of funds contributed by residents will be supplemented with funds from the state coffers and the federal government through the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Thus, the financial barriers to healthcare that often exclude the poor and vulnerable will be removed. The corruption that often trails bills payment and out-of-pocket expenditure by patients at government hospitals will also be completely eradicated. This contributory model of universal healthcare coverage has proven to be successful in more advanced economies and is also being considered by Lagos State.
In what could be considered a leap towards stronger primary healthcare services in rural communities in Kaduna State, the government signed a strategic partnership with UK Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The four-year partnership will no doubt transform the primary healthcare system in Kaduna State and advance ongoing efforts in polio eradication, routine immunisation, family planning and maternal and child health services.
The biggest ever refit of public healthcare infrastructure in Kaduna State is the recent partnership agreement signed with global corporate giant, General Electric. Under the agreement, 278 healthcare facilities in Kaduna State will be equipped and units of relevant medical technology including ultrasound, heart monitors, neonatal incubators and anaesthesia machines will be made available to medical professionals into the hands of our health workers.
The partnership, which includes a training package for the healthcare professionals and a three-year equipment maintenance agreement, is poised to deliver a comprehensive solution to the healthcare challenges in the state, including maternal and infant mortality, communicable illnesses and the problems caused by the growth of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Governments at state and federal levels in Nigeria often focus on projects as a vehicle for healthcare delivery. As such, emphasis is placed solely on building hospitals, even when such are not properly equipped and capacity gaps are not bridged. This explains why major health indices in Nigeria remain poor despite billions budgeted annually for health, in addition to donations from international organisations.
The Kaduna State approach of blending sound policies with strategic partnerships to birth meaningful projects is on course to deliver at least one refitted hospital in each of the 255 wards in the state. This is in addition to 23 well equipped and staffed general hospitals. With all these in place, all residents of Kaduna are assured of comprehensive and affordable healthcare coverage for the years ahead.
This innovative approach should no doubt be a model for other states desirous of accelerated development in healthcare services.
Mr. Ibrahim Jato, a public finance expert, wrote, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
IN the next few days, President Muhammadu Buhari, will commission NNS UNITY, the newly acquired Offshore Patrol Craft, OPV, from China.
This is the second China-built OPV to join its sister OPV, NNS CENTENARY earlier commissioned. Both of them are expected to join the fight against all forms of illegalities in the national offshore oil and gas installations.
The remarkable thing about the forthcoming commissioning ceremony is that, along with the China-built OPV, Mr. President will also commission several home-designed-and-built ships, boats and other crafts by the Naval Dockyard Limited in Victoria Island and Naval Shipyard Limited, Port Harcourt.
In my forthcoming book titled Wisdom of the Admirals, there is abundant evidence of how the prescient thoughts and proposals by the admirals of old could make the nation self-reliant in ship building and other maritime arts, if acted upon.
That the Nigerian Navy is now in a position to build some class of ships for protecting the nation's territorial waters has not happened by accident. The founding admirals and their friends foresaw the needs to be able to, build, maintain, repair and refit ships in this dockyard.
In the 60 years since the inception of the Nigerian Navy, we have acquired ships from many ship-building nations. The early ships came by transfer from the United Kingdom.
Subsequently, the going gets easier. In the 70s, Nigeria started acquiring ships for the National Shipping Lines. The period also coincided with the Festac 77 fever when Nigeria lavishly hosted the Black World.
The Nigerian National Shipping Lines which started operations with four second-hand vessels in 1959 had increased its fleet to 15 vessels by 1971. Additional 19 Combo vessels were ordered, with the first of the new ships delivered in 1976/77.
This was a time when Nigeria seemed to be on the move to becoming a sea power in military terms, and maritime power in international trade. The Nigerian Navy ordered many capital ships, a missile-capable frigate, corvettes, fast attack craft, mine-countermeasure vessels (MCMVs), and landing ships, among others. These ships were acquired from the UK, Germany, France, Italy and other foreign shipyards. But something was out of sync.
By the time these ships were delivered, logistics nightmare had been created, especially in terms of maintenance, repairs and refit facilities. This is where the ownership and effective operation of dockyards, which the founding admirals, in their wisdom, foresaw way back in 1964, come in.
Today, the Nigerian Navy seems to have found an ingenious way to minimise the negative impact of the current recession on its operations by looking inward to renew its fleet through local shipbuilding in its dockyard.
And in doing so, the Navy hopes to serve the needs of the nation and ultimately reach out to West and Central African navies, maritime organisations, as well as oil and gas industries with the products of research and development at its Naval Dockyards in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The story of the NN vision to design and build home-grown ships and crafts started many years ago. When the founding admirals acquired the Naval Dockyard over 50 years ago as a strategic asset from Elder Dempster Shipping Lines, they were guided by five strategic considerations:
1) That a well-equipped, well-funded and well-managed dockyard is one of the essential ingredients of an effective navy, through regular maintenance, repairs, refit and fabricating of some spare parts;
2) That the Navy needs to build small patrol craft and boats required in large numbers, to protect the nation's maritime assets, with the possibility of marketing them to navies in the sub-region;
3) That the Navy and the nation should work towards self-reliance in shipbuilding in view of disappointments sometimes experienced from Nigeria's traditional suppliers in times of critical needs;
4) That in times of cash-crunch as the nation is experiencing now, the Navy will be spared the problems of availability, affordability and maintainability by having home-built platforms;
5)That the growing cooperation among African navies, necessitated by the need to fight common enemies like sea pirates, poachers, crude oil thieves as well as numerous illegalities at sea require standard patrol craft now being designed and built by the Naval Dockyard;
To realise the five strategic objectives, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, embarked on a massive development of the Naval Dockyard at Wilmot Point, Victoria Island, Lagos and the acquisition of a Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt.
The result is that from 1990s, the Dockyard and the Shipyard in Port Harcourt, which have been organised into Limited Liability Companies, started to do for ships with defects what hospitals do for people who are ill.
Today, the Naval Dockyard Limited has transformed from ship maintenance to ship building. The first of its home-grown technology, a Seaward Defence Boat,SDB, NNS ANDONI, was commissioned in 2012.
A sister ship of ANDONI class, already named NNS KARADUWA is expected to be commissioned towards the end of November 2016 by President Buhari.
At the same ceremony where the ingenuity of the Nigerian Naval Dockyard Limited and the Nigerian Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt, would be acknowledged, the new Offshore Patrol Craft, NNS UNITY, recently acquired in China will also be commissioned.
Also to be commissioned is the ocean-going tug, NNS CDR E UGWU built by the Naval Shipyard Limited, Port Harcourt. The Naval Shipyard Limited had earlier built a ferry NNS SAOKA LAFIA.
While we celebrate the modest achievements represented by the expected commissioning ceremony, the government and people of Nigeria should remember that in spite of the many security challenges on land, the sea will continue to be Nigeria's centre of gravity for a very long time to come.
We should see the sea area we occupy in national survival terms. Whether you call it the South Atlantic, the Gulf of Guinea, or our immediate territorial waters and EEZ.
This is a challenge to the executive and legislative arms of government and to the Navy itself. Government should devote more resources to meet the short and long term needs of the Navy.
Mr. Olutunde Oladimeji, is a retired Commodore of the Nigerian Navy.
By Yinka Odumakin FIDEL Alejandro Castro Ruz took his final breath on November 26, 2016 taking along with him our beloved Fred Agbaje,Lagos-based activist Lawyer;and bringing closure to a long era.
He was born on August 13, 1926, near Birán, in Cuba’s eastern Oriente Province as the third of six children.With early education in private Jesuit boarding schools, Castro grew up in wealthy circumstances amid the poverty of Cuba but was infected with a sense of Spanish pride from his teachers. Right from tender age, Castro showed he was intellectually gifted, but he was also something of a troublemaker and was often more interested in sports than studies.
He attended Colegio Dolores in Santiago de Cuba and then El Colegio de Belén in Havana, where he pitched for the school’s baseball team as well as played basketball and ran track. After his graduation in late 1945, however, Castro entered law school at the University of Havana and became immersed in the climate of Cuban nationalism, anti-imperialism and socialism, focusing his energies more exclusively on politics and increasingly passionate about social justice.
Early political moves
In no time,he travelled to the Dominican Republic to join an expedition attempting the overthrow of the country’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Though the coup was foiled before it got started, the incident did little to dampen Castro’s passion for reform, and he travelled to Bogotá, Colombia, the following year to participate in the anti-government rioting there.
Meanwhile ,Castro married Mirta Díaz Balart, who was from a wealthy political family in Cuba. They had one child, named Fidel, in 1949. The marriage exposed Castro to a wealthier lifestyle and political connections. At the same time, however, he developed an interest in the work of Karl Marxand became intent on running for a seat in the Cuban congress. But in March 1952 a coup led by General Fulgencio Batista successfully overthrew the government and the upcoming election was cancelled, leaving Castro without a legitimate political platform and little income with which to support his family.
Batista set himself up as dictator, consolidated his power with the military and Cuba’s economic elite and had his government recognised by the United States. In response, Castro and fellow members of the Partido Ortodoxo organised a group they called “The Movement” and planned an insurrection. On July 26, 1953, Castro and approximately 150 supporters attacked the Moncada military barracks outside of Santiago de Cuba in an attempt to overthrow Batista. However, the attack failed and Castro was captured, tried, convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. His brother Raúl was also among those imprisoned. While incarcerated, Castro renamed his group the “26th of July Movement” and continued to coordinate its activities through correspondence. He and his compatriots were ultimately released in 1955 under an amnesty deal with the Batista government, and he travelled with Raúl to Mexico, where they continued to plan their revolution.
In Mexico, Castro met with other Cuban exiles, as well as the Argentinian rebel Ernesto “Che” Guevara, who believed that the plight of Latin America’s poor could be rectified only through violent revolution. He joined Castro’s group and became an important confidante, helping to shape Castro’s political beliefs.
On December 2, 1956, Fidel Castro returned to Cuba aboard the boat Granma with little more than 80 insurgents and a cache of weapons near the eastern city of Manzanillo. In short order, Batista’s forces killed or captured most of the attackers. But Castro, Raúl, Guevara and a handful of others were able to escape into the Sierra Maestra mountain range along the island’s southeastern coast. Over the course of the next two years, Castro’s steadily growing forces waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government, organising resistance groups in cities and small towns across Cuba. Castro was also able to organise a parallel government, carry out some agrarian reform and control provinces with agricultural and manufacturing production.
Castro’s campaigns
Beginning in 1958, Castro and his forces mounted a series of successful military campaigns to capture and hold key areas throughout Cuba. Combined with a loss of popular support and massive desertions in its military, Castro’s efforts finally led to the collapse of Batista’s government, and in January 1959, Batista himself fled to the Dominican Republic. At the age of 32, Castro had successfully concluded his guerrilla campaign to take control of Cuba.
A provisional government was quickly created, with Manuel Urrutia installed as president and José Miró Cardona as prime minister. It quickly gained the recognition of the United States, and Castro himself arrived in Havana to cheering crowds and assumed the post of commander-in-chief of the military. In February 1959, Miró suddenly resigned, and Castro was sworn in as Cuba’s prime minister.
Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis
THE year 1961 proved to be critical in Castro’s relationship with the United States. On January 3, 1961, outgoing president Dwight Eisenhower broke off diplomatic relations with the Cuban government. On April 14, Castro formally declared Cuba a socialist state. Three days later, some 1,400 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the remote Bay of Pigs in an attempt to overthrow the Castro regime. The incursion ended in disaster, with hundreds of the insurgents killed and more than 1,000 captured. Though the United States denied any involvement, it was revealed that the Cuban exiles had been trained by the Central Intelligence Agency and armed with American weapons. Decades later, the National Security Archive revealed that the United States had begun planning an overthrow of the Castro government as early as March 1959. The invasion was conceived during the Eisenhower administration and inherited by President John F. Kennedy, who grudgingly approved its action but denied the invaders air support in the hopes of concealing a U.S. role in the effort.
Rise to power
Castro however was able to capitalise on the incident to consolidate his power and further promote his agenda. On May 1 he announced an end to democratic elections in Cuba and denounced American imperialism. Then at the year’s end, Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist and announced the Cuban government was adopting communist economic and political policies. On February 7, 1962, the United States imposed a full economic embargo on Cuba.
In the wake of the Bay of Pigs incident, Castro intensified his relations with the Soviet Union by accepting further economic and military aid. In October 1962, his increasing reliance on Soviet support brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Hoping to deter another U.S. invasion of Cuba, Castro and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Khrushchev justified the move as a response to U.S. Jupiter missiles that had been deployed in Turkey. However, an American U-2 reconnaissance plane discovered the base construction before the missiles were installed and President Kennedy responded by demanding the removal of the missiles, with orders for the U.S. Navy to search any vessels headed for the island.
It took 13 anxious days of secret communications between Khrushchev, Kennedy and their agents for the Soviets to agree to remove the missiles in exchange for the United States’ public agreement not to invade Cuba. The Kennedy administration also agreed to secretly remove the Jupiter missiles from Turkey. Both leaders saved face and gained some admiration for restraint. Castro, on the other hand, was humiliated: Both superpowers had completely left him out of the negotiations. Furthermore, the United States was able to persuade the Organization of American States to end diplomatic relations with Cuba, in response to Castro’s “shameful” actions.
Cuba Under Castro
But Castro wasn’t shamed for long. In 1965, he merged Cuba’s Communist Party with his revolutionary organizations, installing himself as head of the party. Within a few years, he began a campaign of supporting armed struggle against imperialism in Latin American and African countries. In January 1966, Castro founded the Organization for Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America to promote revolution and communism on three continents. In 1967, he also formed the Latin American Solidarity Organization to foster revolution in select Latin American countries.
In the 1970s, Castro continued to promote himself as the leading spokesperson for Third World countries by providing military support to pro-Soviet forces in Angola, Ethiopia and Yemen and other countries .
Meanwhile, the U.S. agreement not to invade Cuba did not preclude attempting to topple the Castro regime in diverse ways. Castro was the target of numerous CIA assassination attempts (an estimated 638 in all, according to Cuban intelligence), ranging from exploding cigars to a fungus-infected scuba-diving suit to a mafia-style shooting. Castro took great delight in the fact that none of the attempts ever succeeded and was quoted as saying that if avoiding assassination attempts was an Olympic sport, he would have won gold medals.
Castro’s regime was credited with opening 10,000 new schools and increasing literacy to 98 percent. Cubans enjoy a universal health-care system, which has decreased infant mortality to 11 deaths in 1,000 (1.1 percent). He however suppressed many democratic rights .
He lifted Cubans to greater heights and defied imperialism for long because he had his people behind him.Now that he has exited at 90 his words during his 1953 trial rings true:
"Condemn me. It is of no importance. History will absolve me."
Economic affairs received a lion share of N295.84 billion in the Lagos State proposed 2017 Budget of N812.99 billion.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, made this known while giving a sectoral breakdown of the budget estimate at a news conference on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had earlier on Tuesday presented the 2017 Budget proposal to the state House of Assembly for approval.
The budget, tagged: "Golden Jubilee Budget" is N150.4 billion higher than the 2016 Budget which stood at N662.58 billion.
The 2017 Budget has a capital expenditure of N512.46 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N300 billion.
The capital and recurrent ratio of the budget stood at 63:37.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), handing over the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016
According to Ashade, works and infrastructure , tourism, agriculture and transportation are some of the components of the economic sectorial group.
The commissioner said that the budget would be funded from a total revenue estimate of N642.849 billion while the balance of N170.150 billion would be funded through a N100 billion Bond Issuance Programme and a combination of internal and external loans.
He said that N205.85 billion was earmaked for general public services representing 25.32 per cent of the budget while N36.43 billion was allocated to public order and safety, representing 4.48 per cent.
Ashade said that roads and infrastructure got N138.249 billion while N51.37 billion was earmaked for transportation.
He said that environment was allocated N56.31 billion, representing 6.93 per cent, health, N57.29 billion representing 7.05 per cent cent, and education, N92.4 billion representing 11.37 per cent of the budget.
The total allocation to housing and community amenities was N50.290 billion while N9. 457 billion was earmaked for sports development, according to the commissioner.
He said that the state government proposed N4. 795 billion and N20. 247 billion for agriculture and food security, and tourism, respectively.
On security, law and order, Ashade said that N31. 242 billion was earmaked to address security challenges, and related issues.
He said that the government also earmarked N11. 006 billion and N6. 177 billion for science and technology, and commerce and industry, respectively.
Abuja – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday inaugurated the Campaign to end Child Marriage and the Strategy Document 2016 to 2020, pledging the Federal Government's commitment to ending child marriage in Nigeria.
At the ceremony, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja, Osinbajo directed all government agencies to cue into the campaign in order to right the wrongs done to the womenfolk in the past.
He said there was both the need and urgency to deal with the issue of early marriage which was clear and compelling.
He stated that there is a correlation between child marriage and poverty.
"My presence here today underscores the fact that as far as the federal government is concerned, the campaign is not just for the Ministry of Women Affairs alone.
"It is a task for every department of government; our position is clear: `No Child Marriage'.
"Every nation is endowed by God with resources and talents and human capital it needs for that society to live in abundance, peace and prosperity.
"The talent he gives a nation include men and women; in some woman somewhere God has probably planted the cure for Sickle Cell Anaemia or Fibroid – ailments that mainly affect black people.
"If God has planned that women should only be capable of producing children, He would not have bordered to give them the intelligence to be scientists, law professors, medical experts and technology innovators.
"We as human beings must not bury the talents that God has already provided.''
According to Osinbajo, the country has made significant progress in the struggle to change child marriage as the Child Rights Act is one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in Africa.
He said that being a legislation the states had competence they should pass similar legislations on their own and observed with satisfaction that no fewer than 24 states had already done so.
He noted that the country along with other African states in 2014 joined the campaign to stop child marriage in the continent.
He noted that the campaign had succeeded largely with the initiative of the day being part of the campaign.
Osinbajo, however, noted that laws and institutions could only be effective as the societal beliefs and customs allowed.
"Good laws or right rules especially on societal matters largely depend on societal consensus of buy-in otherwise the laws will not be enforced or only be haphazardly enforced.
"The battle is now for the minds of men and women who for one reason or the other still believe that child marriage is right.
"Unfortunately, their views cannot be ignored or waved aside.
"They must be understood and rebutted by the overwhelming case for the healthy, happy and prosperous future of girls and nation that suffers the loss of their talents and skills,'' he said.
The Vice President said there must be persuasion through constant advocacy until the last t vestiges of the practice of child marriage were removed.
He said government must take concrete steps to encourage girl-child education adding that policies which support pregnant and married girls to continue their education should be pursued.
Osinbajo also suggested the removal of unnecessary admission protocols to ensure true realisation of free and compulsory education.
He said it was gratifying to note that some states already established special schools and centres for continuing education for women and girls especially those whose educational pursuits were interrupted.
Accordingly he urged the states yet to provide such centres to do so without delay in order to reintegrate those who dropped out of school.
He said: "it is never too late to continue education.
"Regardless of the reasons that girls are not in school it is the responsibility of leaders to ensure that opportunities are available for them to have a re-start.
"All obstacles in the part of enrolment, retention, completion and transition for girls in education must be removed.
"This is the only way we can begin to right the wrongs that have been done to these forgotten girls and women.
"This is the surest way of unleashing their abundant potential and enable them to overcome challenges and make meaningful contributions to their immediate families and the development of the nation.''
Osinbajo thanked the ministry for the initiative and expressed hope that it would yield more results.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the manner in which it carried out its probe of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
Delivering judgement in a N50 million fundamental rights suit filed by Ajumogobia against the EFCC, the trial judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, urged the EFCC to be professional in the discharge of its duties.
It will be recalled that Ofili-Ajumogobia, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is seeking among other things, an order of the court declaring her continued detention by the EFCC as illegal.
While noting that the EFCC was vested with powers to arrest and detain any citizen suspected to have committed an offence, Hassan said that such powers must be exercised with caution.
The judge questioned the rationale behind the revocation of the administrative bail granted to Ofili-Ajumogobia by the EFCC on Oct. 22, when she did not pose a flight risk.
He said: "The respondent should have exercised restraints in revoking the bail earlier granted the applicant; there was no evidence that the applicant is a flight risk.
"The respondent is hereby counselled to be professional and to always exercise caution and restraints in the exercise of its powers''.
Hassan, however, disagreed with Ofili-Ajumogobia that the remand order obtained by the EFCC from a magistrates' court on Nov. 10 was unlawful, illegal and a violation of her fundamental human rights.
According to Hassan, the remand order was issued by the Magistrates' Court pursuant to Section 264(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The judge also refused to make any order as to the applicant's request for bail from the EFCC's custody, following her arraignment on Nov. 28, before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court.
"The issue of the applicant's bail from EFCC's custody has already been overtaken by the event of her arraignment at the Lagos High Court and her subsequent release on bail by the court.
"The applicant's lawyer is also at liberty to challenge the continued detention of the applicant by the respondent after the expiration of the magistrate court's remand order.
"However, in the light of the recent event in this matter, this suit is hereby struck out,'' the judge held.
The EFCC had on Nov. 28, arraigned Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla, on a 30-count corruption charges before an Ikeja High Court.
They had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and had since been granted bail on self recognition by the court.
Ado Ekit – Prices of foodstuff were forcefully reduced at markets in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by a taskforce led by the President of the Market Women's Association, Chief Omowaye Oso.
The team visited the Oja Oba and the Bisi Egbeyemi markets, both in the state capital.
Oso ordered the stoppage of foodstuff sold at exorbitant prices, after which, she personally sold to buyers at lower prices.
Buyers had accused the sellers of deliberately selling at excessive prices on the excuse of the non-appreciation of the American dollar.
Some of the commodities forced to sell at reduced prices included garri, beans, local rice and palm oil.
Consequent, a measure of garri, which used to sell for N200 was reduced to N100.
A 20-liter container of palm oil which sold at N22,000 was reduced to N15,000, while a measure of local rice, which initially sold at N500 was reduced to N400.
Oso said she had henceforth ordered that small measure of Okro and locust beans be sold at N20 as against N50.
She said the raid was supported by the state government and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe.
"Both the Ewi of Ado Ekiti and the state government are concerned about the exorbitant prices of goods and services in the town.
"The cost of goods, especially foodstuff, is too high in Ado Ekiti, whereas, as the state capital, prices of goods and services should be the cheapest here.
"The market men and women should have mercy on the poor because things are too expensive here, unlike other towns and villages in Ekiti State.
"It is very unfortunate that market women in other communities don't want to sell at their places anymore; they now bring their wares to Ado, believing they will sell at twice the price of what they sell in their communities.
"As the Iyaloja, one of my responsibilities is to ensure price control of goods and today's exercise shall be a continuous one and shall be repeated in all markets in Ado.
"It is unfortunate that 20 liters of palm oil which sells at N14,000 in Ikole is being sold at N22,000 in Ado, but we have sold it at N15,000.
"Ado is now developing a bad reputation for high prices of goods and services, but we will not allow this to continue; the Kabiyesi has said he does not want hardship for the people of Ado.
"We will continue to carry out our raids until our market women comply and anyone who cannot comply, must look elsewhere to sell her wares.
"If you can't sell your palm oil at lower prices, don't bring it down to Ado again," she said.
NAN reports that buyers at the market and other residents commended the market raid, describing it as a respite to the poor and hungry people.
Nigeria Professional Football League club, Rivers United have entered the third phase of their pre-season exercise ahead of the commencement of the 2016/17 football season.
The first phase commenced in Port Harcourt on November 1 with the 'Pride of Rivers' playing a handful of test matches against local sides while the coaches concentrated on bringing the players up to speed from a physical perspective.
On Sunday, November 20, United kicked off their second phase of pre-season in Abuja with priority put on physical work with technical manager, Stanley Eguma gradually introducing his philosophy to the new arrivals.
The club was involved in four test games in Abuja, against City Strikers (4-1), Abuja Selected FC (2-0), Abuja Football College (2-1) and Adala Football Academy (4-0) winning all, scoring 12 and conceding two goals.
Rivers United
Next up for the Port Harcourt club is the 2016 Shehu Dikko Annual Football tournament in Kaduna.
The tournament runs from November 30-December 5 with matches slated to hold at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Wikki Tourists FC, FC Ifeanyiubah, Niger Tornadoes and Katsina United are four other NPFL clubs expected to take part in the pre-season tournament in Kaduna.
Eguma says the tournament in Kaduna will help him ascertain the level his charges have reached after a month a pre-season as well as sharpen their competitive edge ahead of the start of the new season.
"We have not really gotten there (to our desired level) but I am very impressed with the way the boys have responded to our methods.
"I hope they continue on this path but I must state here that we cannot draw any conclusions on anything at this stage of the season.
"I however know that we have very good crop of players and I hope we can create a good team out of what we have," Eguma told the club's official media
Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the 2017 Caf Champions League.
By Anayo Okoli. UMUAHIA — A group, South East Solidarity Movement (SESM), has described Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayoshe’s call on the National Judicial Council to sack Justice Okon Abang over some of his judgments as "as reckless and idiotic".
Governor Fayoshe was quoted as saying that the nullification of Justice Okon Abang's judgments in Abia matter and Ondo PDP case by the Court of Appeal showed that Abang "is representing the interests of some cabals".Fayose
According the group, in a statement signed Barr B. E. Ekwem and Mr. George Iruke, the group's National President and National Secretary, respectively, noted that "in as much as we will not hold brief for Jimoh Ibrahim and the Ondo PDP, it is pertinent to inform the general public of the differences in two suits and their judgments, in as much as we do not want to preempt the outcome of the matter from the Supreme Court which is subjudice".
The group explained that the suit of Ondo State talked about the replacement of candidates of their party by INEC while the judgment of Abia State was purely based on misinformation to his (Ikpeazu's) party, the PDP and INEC.
The statement further noted that "it is also pertinent for the general public to understand that the judgment of Abia State given by Justice Okon Abang has no business with forgery, but misinformation given both to the party, PDP and to INEC by Gov Okezie Ikpeazu".
"This is an indication that Abang's judgment is very authentic. The documents which the court perused and which the judgment of Okon Abang were hinged on were all supplied by the defendants and therefore rules out the claims of forgery as naively stated by Fayose.
"In the light of above, we summit that the Fayose's call for the sack of Justice Okon Abang is frivolously, malicious, laughable, reckless and idiotic. We therefore urged the general public and the NJC to discountenance it".
South Africa on Wednesday begins a major clinical trial of an experimental vaccine against the AIDS virus, which scientists hope could be the “final nail in the coffin” for the disease.
More than 30 years of efforts to develop an effective vaccine for HIV have not borne fruit, but for the first time since the virus was identified in 1983, scientists think they have found a promising candidate.
The new study, known as HVTN 702, will involve more than 5,400 sexually active men and women aged 18-35 in 15 areas around South Africa over the course of four years.
It is one of the biggest clinical trials involving the disease ever undertaken and has revived hopes in the scientific community of a breakthrough in the battle against AIDS.
“If deployed alongside our current armoury of proven HIV prevention tools, a safe and effective vaccine could be the final nail in the coffin for HIV,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the US National institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is taking part in the study.
“Even a moderately effective vaccine would significantly decrease the burden of HIV disease over time in countries and populations with high rates of HIV infection, such as South Africa.”
Condoms are at the frontline of efforts to prevent the spread of HIV, which is mainly transferred through the sexual fluids and blood of infected individuals.
A small number of people, mainly in developed countries, use virus-suppressing drugs as a preventive aid, although the exact level of protection this offers is not clear.
– Specially adapted –
South Africa was not chosen by accident. The country has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world — 19.2 percent according to the UN AIDS agency — with more than seven million people living with the virus.
Each year some 2.5 million people around the world are infected with HIV, which has killed more than 30 million people since the 1980s, according to a study presented at a conference in South Africa in July.
The vaccine has been adapted for the HIV strain prevalent in southern Africa from one used in a trial of 16,000 people in Thailand in 2009, which reduced the risk of infection by more than 30 percent for three-and-a-half years after the first jab.
The safety of the “South African” vaccine has already been tested successfully over 18 months on 252 volunteers. The new study aims to test its effectiveness as a virus-killer.
Vaccines work by priming the body to respond with germ-fighting antibodies whenever a virus or bacteria invades. But the AIDS-causing virus is stealthy and quick to mutate to avoid being targeted.
“The results obtained in Thailand are not good enough for a roll-out (…) we have set the minimum bar at 50 percent” lower risk, Lynn Morris, head of the HIV virology section at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD), told AFP.
South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa told parliament earlier this month that “scientists expect the (new) vaccine to be at least 50 percent effective but hope that it will be much higher”.
– Results to take years –
Even if the new vaccine proves effective, experts warn it is vital to remain vigilant in the fight against HIV.
“A highly efficient vaccine would be a game-changer but the results of these trials will take years,” Morris said.
“We must continue to use other HIV prevention tools to reduce the number of new HIV infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young women, who continue to be most heavily affected.”
According to UNAIDS, half of the 36 million or so people with HIV around the world have access to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), a figure that has doubled in five years.
Thanks to these treatments, which keep the virus in check and increase the lifespan of HIV-positive people without curing them, average life expectancy in South Africa has risen from 57.1 years to 62.9 since 2009, according to authorities.
The new trial is being carried out by the US National Institutes of Health, the South African Medical Research Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.
DSS sting operation: I’m satisfied with the operation – AGF, Malami By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – THE Attorney General of the Federation AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Tueday said that the sting operation carried out by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, between 7th and 8th of October, was constitutional and that he was satisfied with the operation.
AttorneyGeneral of Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
The AGF who appeared before the Garba Datti-led House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the arrest of Judicial officers told the committee that he approved the operation based on the plethora of petitions before him on some corrupt practices of some judicial officers.
He explained that the action was carried out in accordance with Section 15 sub-section 5 of the Constitution which stated that all institutions of government and indeed public officers operating in the country were barred from corrupt acts and that the three arms of government, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary should take steps to abolish all forms of corrupt practices.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that 40 per cent or about 14 million people globally are not aware that they are HIV positive.
This is contained in a new WHO progress report released ahead of the 2016 World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.
The report said that lack of an HIV diagnosis is a major obstacle to implementing the organisation's recommendation that everyone with HIV should be offered Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
It said that more than 18 million people with HIV were currently taking ART and a similar number were still unable to access treatment.
According to it, the majority of these people are unaware of their HIV positive status.
To address this, the world's health body has released new guidelines on HIV self-testing to improve access to and uptake of HIV diagnosis.
It said that: "HIV self-testing means people can use oral fluid or blood-finger-pricks to discover their status in a private and convenient setting.
"Results are ready within 20 minutes or less.
"Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics.
"HIV self-testing is a way to reach more people with undiagnosed HIV and represents a step forward to empower individuals.
"It is also a way to diagnose people earlier before they become sick, bring services closer to where people live, and create demand for HIV testing.
"This is particularly important for those people facing barriers to accessing existing services.''
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, said: "Millions of people with HIV are still missing out on life-saving treatment, which can also prevent HIV transmission to others.
"HIV self-testing should open the door for many more people to know their HIV status and find out how to get treatment and access prevention services.
"WHO recommends they receive information and links to counselling as well as rapid referral to prevention, treatment and care services.''
Prices of foodstuff were forcefully reduced at markets in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by a taskforce led by the President of the Market Women's Association, Chief Omowaye Oso.
The team visited the Oja Oba and the Bisi Egbeyemi markets, both in the state capital.
Oso ordered the stoppage of foodstuff sold at exorbitant prices, after which, she personally sold to buyers at lower prices.
Buyers had accused the sellers of deliberately selling at excessive prices on the excuse of the non-appreciation of the American dollar.
Some of the commodities forced to sell at reduced prices included garri, beans, local rice and palm oil.
Consequently, a measure of garri, which used to sell for N200 was reduced to N100.
A 20-liter container of palm oil which sold at N22,000 was reduced to N15,000, while a measure of local rice, which initially sold at N500 was reduced to N400.
Oso said she had henceforth ordered that small measure of Okro and locust beans be sold at N20 as against N50.
She said the raid was supported by the state government and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe.
"Both the Ewi of Ado Ekiti and the state government are concerned about the exorbitant prices of goods and services in the town.
"The cost of goods, especially foodstuff, is too high in Ado Ekiti, whereas, as the state capital, prices of goods and services should be the cheapest here.
"The market men and women should have mercy on the poor because things are too expensive here, unlike other towns and villages in Ekiti State.
"It is very unfortunate that market women in other communities don't want to sell at their places anymore; they now bring their wares to Ado, believing they will sell at twice the price of what they sell in their communities.
"As the Iyaloja, one of my responsibilities is to ensure price control of goods and today's exercise shall be a continuous one and shall be repeated in all markets in Ado.
"It is unfortunate that 20 liters of palm oil which sells at N14,000 in Ikole is being sold at N22,000 in Ado, but we have sold it at N15,000.
"Ado is now developing a bad reputation for high prices of goods and services, but we will not allow this to continue; the Kabiyesi has said he does not want hardship for the people of Ado.
"We will continue to carry out our raids until our market women comply and anyone who cannot comply, must look elsewhere to sell her wares.
"If you can't sell your palm oil at lower prices, don't bring it down to Ado again," she said.
Buyers at the market and other residents commended the market raid, describing it as a respite to the poor and hungry people.
Battle of driving between sexes appears to have been won by women, according to a survey.
Female drivers outscored males not only in in-car tests but also when observed anonymously using one of the UK’s busiest junctions – Hyde Park Corner.
But another part of the survey – from Privilege Insurance – found only 28% of women reckoned they were better drivers than men, with only 13% of men thinking women were superior behind the wheel.
A sample of 50 drivers faced in-car assessment while 200 were watched at Hyde Park Corner. Marked on 14 different aspects of driving, women scored 23.6 points out of a possible 30, while men managed to chalk up only 19.8 points.
On one of the categories – tailgating, just 4% of women but 27% of men drove too close to the vehicle in front.
People’s views on their driving skills differed dramatically from their actual skills. When asked if they thought they drove at the appropriate speed for the situation, 84% of men claimed they regularly did, which was in contrast to the 64% that actually did.
Nearly half of men approached hazards too fast, compared with only a quarter of women, while more than half of men drove through an amber light when it was turning to red, compared to just 14% of women.
Just 1% of women, but 14% of men, cut into traffic dangerously, while 24% of men, but only 16% of women, admitted to using hand-held mobiles while at the wheel. More men than women also admitted not indicating if they thought there was no one driving behind them.
On courtesy on the roads, women had the edge too, with 39% always polite to other drivers, compared to just 28% of men. The non-driving part of the survey involved 1,383 drivers.
Driving instructor Neil Beeson, who organised the tests for Privilege, said: “I was quite surprised by the results, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons.
However, it’s possible that women have retained the information better. What this report shows is that men need to give their female counterparts their due when it comes to driving. The facts don’t lie.”
Abuja – The House of Representatives, on Tuesday raised alarm over what it called, "the spate of land grabbing by foreign companies in guise of investing in the country's economy.
The House raised the concern, following a motion under matters of urgent national importance moved by Rep. Sani Zorro (APC-Jigawa), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.
Moving the motion, Zorro had alleged that Messrs Lee Group, a Chinese company, planned to seize 15,000 hectares of farmland in Jigawa. Zorro said that a lot of people had been displaced by foreign companies under the pretext of investing in Nigeria.
He said that he was disturbed by the land-grabbing activities by Messrs Lee group in many states in the North, the latest being its incursion into Jigawa. The law maker said that it was a ploy by the company to forcefully acquire over 15,000 hectares of farmland.
According to Zorro, the development will dispossess more than 10,000 peasant farmers of their farm lands in over 35 farming communities in Gagarawa Local Government of his constituency.
"The company plans to grow sugar cane against the will of majority of the people who own farmlands.
"There is tension and threats of breakdown of law and order in the area, consequent upon the company's audacity to proceed with an illegal compensation since Tuesday, Nov.10.
''This is in spite of a law suit and stiff resistance by owners of the farmlands.
"We cannot build our nation if we continue to elevate the citizens of other nations above our own citizens," Zorro said.
The lawmaker said that as public office holders, they had the duty to protect lives and property of the citizens of the country.
He, therefore, urged the authorities and the Jigawa government to resist any intent of dispossessing Nigerian citizens of their land and resources.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, while ruling on the motion, referred it to the House Committee on Judiciary for advice on the next step to be taken on the matter.
By Ben Agande Abuja-The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has warned the former chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to stop parading himself as chairman of the party or risk being jailed for contempt of court.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the spokesman of the party, Dayo Adeyeye said there are subsisting court rulings which asserted that Sheriff can not lay claim to the chairmanship of the party and such rulings have not been appealed against.
“We wish to state categorically that in consonance with Judgement of various Courts, which Ali Modu-Sheriff and his team of confused travellers have not bothered to appeal, the former Borno State Governor is not the Chairman of our Party, the PDP.Sheriff-Makarfi
” His consistent claim to the office is a continuation of the their plans to sustain mayhem in our Party, but nature and fair justice have taken care of his desperation.
“We wish to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the Judgement delivered by Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court, which states clearly that Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff was never and is not the PDP National Chairman.
“It is instructive to note that Senator Modu-Sheriff and his team of circus performers have not deemed it fit to appeal the Court Judgements. It is tripartite in law that a Judgment not appeal is binding on the defendant.
“The Courts have spoken, and their pronouncements are binding. However, those who wish to spend the rest of their lives behind prison bars may continue to utter heresy against the Court. We hope their children would be proud to bear the family names of convicts.
“It is also morally wrong to accuse the National Caretaker Committee of being the reason why the Party is facing challenges in terms of unfavourable election results especially in Edo and Ondo States. Everyone knows who the real enemies of PDP are.
“We won’t also forget in a hurry the ignoble role Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim played in scuttling our campaign for the Ondo Election. We also know those who pushed him forward for the hatchet job” he said.
Adeyeye said the call by sheriff and his supporters on the National Caretaker Committee to self disband is “uncharitable and unconstitutional”.
“If they have any shame, they are the ones that should quietly disband. But honours can’t be expected from impostors” he said.
He said despite the claim by Sheriff and his supporters, “the Natonal Caretaker Committee has not called for their expulsion against the claims they are making, the time for that has not come. But the rain of vengeance will not hang forever in the clouds.
“The Natonal Caretaker Committee wish to appreciate all loyal Party members, urging them to keep the faith as the Appelate Courts will do justice to the various appeals pending before it at the appropiate time; to put an end to the antics of these enemies of progress masquerading as members of our Party” he said.
By Michael Eboh Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Tuesday, lamented the low usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, also known as cooking gas, in Nigeria, while he disclosed that the Federal Government spent $1 billion on kerosene subsidy in 2015.
Using current Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, exchange rate, the $1 billion spent on kerosene subsidy translates to about N310 billion. Osinbajo stated this at the 'Domestic LPG Implementation Stakeholders Workshop’ in Abuja, organized by the Office of the Vice President, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG.Osinbajo
Osinbajo explained that in spite of the fact that Nigeria's total domestic LPG grew from a low of 50,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) to approximately 400,000 MTPA in 2015 due to NLNG's intervention, Nigeria's per capital consumption of 2.5 kilogrammes (KG), however, remains low compared to its peers in Africa.
He said, "The low level of LPG consumption in Nigeria has resulted in heavy dependence on kerosene and firewood as primary domestic cooking fuels in majority of approximately 36 million Nigerian households.
"This reliance on kerosene and firewood has substantial economic effect. Government has had to take in huge subsidies, with over $1 billion spent in 2015 on kerosene subsidy. A significantly high rate of deforestation continues to be recorded as over 95.76 million metric tonnes of firewood was used in 2015."
According to him, the low consumption of LPG was irrespective of the superior health, environment and energy costs of LPG over other competing fuels, such as kerosene.
Furthermore, in what appears to be an irony, Osinbajo stated that most of the LPG produced in Nigeria, today, is exported, while he declared that despite the huge export and the fact that our consumption level is low, over 40 per cent of our domestic consumption in 2015 was imported.
He maintained that the huge importation of LPG for domestic consumption impacts negatively on the country's foreign exchange outlay and also limits domestic supply of LPG.
The Vice President further disclosed that LPG has considerable benefits, which include the fact that it is more cost-effective; and provides better health benefits than firewood and kerosene, both of which has been identified has the cause of more than 50 per cent of over 93,000 deaths.
He added that the Federal Government is considering a number of interventions in the LPG industry that would among others lead to a significant reduction in the rate of deforestation and create millions of direct and indirect employment opportunities for Nigerians.
In addition, he said, "As part of this administration's commitment to grow the domestic LPG industry, an inter-ministerial committee on the expansion of domestic LPG in Nigeria has been set up, and I have the privilege of chairing that committee.
"This committee would oversee the implementation of identified interventions under the domestic LPG expansion framework, starting with the conversion of additional four million households to LPG use as cooking fuels within two years, progressing to 10 million households over five years and eventually converting additional 21 million households over 15 years, by addressing the challenges inhibiting market penetration."
Also speaking, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, highlighted the need to culminate all the various gas and LPG policies with the regulatory framework that would boost the business environment.
He added that a successful implementation of the intervention strategies would require an investment of up to $25.2 billion over the next couple of years, adding that the investment would be used in providing infrastructure among others.
Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr. Tony Attah, stated that to unlock the potentials of the LPG industry, the Federal Government should intervene by removing fiscal and regulatory bottlenecks necessary for creation of a conducive business environment for private sector investment in all segments of the value chain.
According to him, an aggressive and well-coordinated market expansion strategy should lead to the growth of the Nigerian LPG market at annual growth of up to 32 per cent from the current level of 400,000mtpa to over three million mtpa in five years.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to review the current price template for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with a view to reducing the price to N70.
This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Abubaker Fulata titled "Urgent Need to Review the Petroleum Price Template". Moving the motion, Fulata expressed dismay over the circulating rumour of a possible hike in the price of petrol in the country. Although the rumour was denied by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Fulata said it was coming at a time when the nation is going through difficult times.
According to him, the hard times are occasioned by dwindling revenues, high inflation rate, unemployment and general fall in the standard of living of many Nigerians.
The lawmaker noted that the current template for the price of PMS could be reviewed downwards without affecting the profit margin of marketers and transporters.
The review would also contribute to reducing the current inflationary trend in the economy. "I am aware that the current cost of freighting PMS stands at N109.1, Lightering expenses N4.56, Nigeria Ports Authority charges N0.84, NIMASA charges N0.22, Financing N2.51 and Jetty put charges at N0.60.
"Storage charges N2.00, retailers margin N6.00, transport allowance N3.36, dealers margin N2.36, bridging fund N6.20 and marine transport average put at N0.15 bringing the total cost to N137.81," he said. He further informed the House that the landing cost of PMS remained at N119.74, while the distribution cost and margins of marketers stood at N18.37.
"Thus, the total of both the landing and distribution costs is N138.11, while marketers are allowed to sell the product within the range of N140 and N145 per litre.
Fulata further noted that over 90 per cent of the current price of PMS in the country is accounted for by transport related charges at N124.34 out of N138.11. According to him, foreign vessels charge higher for lifting the PMS because Nigerian carriers which were supposed to lift 50 per cent of the products lack the capacity to do so.
He faulted the NPA's inability to dredge the ports despite collecting N0.84 for every litre of petrol thereby costing Nigerian users the sum of N4.56 for every litre of petrol they buy.
"Bridging is supposed to be an annual event only when refineries are carrying out their turn around maintenance which should not exceed three months. "However, due to the fact that pipelines linking the various depots have been vandalised or in a state of disrepair, bridging has remained a permanent feature of the oil industry in Nigeria,'' he said.
He said that if the pipelines linking the various depots and refineries could be fixed and secured, the bridging fund could be reduced to N2.00 per litre instead of the current N6.20.
"Also a realistic template would bring down the price of petrol to N70.04," he added.
The House therefore urged the NPA to dredge all harbours within a period of one year to enable ships dock in them. House also set up an ad-hoc committee to interface with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources on the review of the price of PMS and such related matters and report back within weeks for further legislative action.
Governor Ambode at the Lagos State House of Assembly presenting the 2017 Budget estimate.
See Photos below…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), handing over the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016
R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Adebowale Sanni during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), delivering his speech during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. With him are Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (behind) and the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Adebowale Sanni (left).
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode delivering his speech during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. With him are Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (behind).
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, addressing the Lagos House of Assembly; members of the State Executive Council; Party Chieftains and other dignitaries during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), exchanging pleasantries with Chairman, APC, Lagos State Chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale and a Party Chieftain in Lagos Mainland, Hon. Wale Oshun during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, addressing the Lagos House of Assembly; members of the State Executive Council; Party Chieftains and other dignitaries during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
Reaction from around the world to the plane crash in Colombia carrying the Brazilian top-flight team Chapecoense among the 81 on board:
“Brazilian football is in mourning. It is such a tragic loss. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. Rest in peace.”
– Brazilian football legend Pele
“Sadly those lads, who were on the way to becoming a force in football, took the wrong plane.”
– Argentine great Diego Maradona(FILES) This file photo taken on November 23, 2016 shows Brazil’s Chapecoense players posing for pictures during their 2016 Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg football match against Argentina’s San Lorenzo held at Arena Conda stadium, in Chapeco, Brazil. A plane carrying 81 people, including members of a Brazilian football team, crashed late on November 28, 2016 near the Colombian city of Medellin, officials said. The airport that serves Medellin said that among the 72 passengers and nine crew were members of Chapecoense Real, a Brazilian football club that was supposed to play against Colombia’s Atletico Nacional Wednesday in the South American Cup finals. / AFP PHOTO
“This is a very, very sad day for football. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. FIFA would like to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the fans of Chapecoense, the football community and media organisations concerned in Brazil.”
– FIFA President Gianni Infantino
“My deepest condolences to all the families, friends and fans of Chapecoense”
– Argentina and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi
“Pray for my teammates please.”
– Chapecoense striker Alejandro Martinuccio, who missed the trip due to injury
“Our thoughts are with Chapecoense and everyone affected by this tragedy and their families. We are speechless.”
– Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid captain
“Deeply affected by Medellin’s plane crash. I shared locker with Cleber Santana and it’s difficult to reveal how I feel. A huge hug.”
– Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who played with Santana at Atletico Madrid
“My prayers and my solidarity for the survivors, families and friends of Chapecoense in this sad time.”
– Colombian striker Radamel Falcao
“We are deeply shaken by the accident concerning the club of our old player Cleber Santana. Our condolences to the families. Rest in Peace.”
– Atletico Madrid, whose former player Santana was club captain at Chapecoense
“The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with Chapecoense and all those affected by the tragedy in Colombia.”
– Manchester United, who lost eight players in February 1958 as their plane crashed on take off from Munich airport
“Real Madrid expresses its sorrow at the tragic air crash involving the Brazilian club Chapecoense and extends its condolences to relatives and friends of the victims. At the same time, wishing an early recovery for the survivors.”
– Real Madrid
“All our support and solidarity is with the victims and the families affected by the Chapecoense Real tragedy in Colombia.”
