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Abuja – Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, said Nigeria`s unity could not be compromised and urged citizens to contribute to its greatness. Bishop Matthew Kukah
He stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a national dialogue organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy Democracy and Development.
The theme of session, which was the third in the series of national dialogue by the centre, was "Nigeria`s Unity and National Integration: Threats and Opportunities for National Development".
Kukah, who reacted to agitations by groups in the country, said that politics was strengthened by people having the capacity to express themselves.
He, however, said that in spite of feelings in parts of the country, unity remained the focus of the country and that it was the responsibility of all to make Nigeria great and envy of other nations.
"We cannot recover territory from Boko Haram only to surrender it to others; we are Nigeria and Nigeria will continue to remain.
"This country belongs to all of us and I think it is important for us to understand that while the protester must have his voice, the one in power must also have his voice.
"We are before the red sea; this may be Nigerian`s best moment. It is time for us to realise our collective venerability," he said.
The Bishop added that the reason everyone existed in the country was because there was a Nigeria, and said that while Nigeria could exist without us, we could not exist without the country.
He said that the challenge to all should be how to make Nigeria great, stressing that all stakeholders should work to ensure that.
He expressed regret that the patriotism of most public office holders ended as soon as they were out of office.
"Ministers become so patriotic when they are in office and I have seen them come down; no sooner had they lost their positions than their patriotism ended,'' he said.
Kukah decried the country`s present state and said that the political class should have seen it coming.
"The political class has no time to reflect; we fumble and fumble through problems and we just think that the problems will go away,'' he said.
He said that it was time that some contradictions in the country were addressed.
According to him, though we are in civilian administration, the country`s public space has been increasingly dominated by those trained to use monopolised and declared violence.
The cleric pointed out that Nigerians did not just decide to become violent but that there was a direct correlation between the movement of small arms and how armed robbers got arms.
This, he said, were some of the contradictions that led to the country`s present challenges, adding that some states lacked the capacity to address some issues of development.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, founder of the centre and Nigeria's former Permanent Representative at the United Nations, said that even the United States was still designing a perfect union for the country.
According to him, the idea was to keep working at it so that there will be less dissatisfaction and more gratification, and an assurance that we are moving in the right direction.
Gambari said that though personalities were important because they made a difference, leadership was key, and the Nigerian project was a project of all.
He explained that the objective of the dialogue was to come up with realistic implementable and innovative ideas that would move the country forward.
He said that the centre was poised to be part of national discuss, adding that it did not have to always agree on issues raised.
Gambari advised that consensus was not built by creating enemies, but by engaging persons with divergent views.
He said "from experience, parties to a conflict and disagreement stand their ground best when they are standing within a common ground".
He expressed optimism that panels at the session would come up with robust deliberation with actionable and viable recommendation for the country`s policy makers.
Abuja – The Federal Government on Wednesday allotted N400.5 million in its July 2019 and 2020 savings bond sales, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said. The allotment results were obtained from its website on Thursday in Abuja.
It said that N160.7 million was allotted at 13.38 per cent with 342 successful subscriptions to mature in July 2019.
It also said that N239.8 million was allotted at 14.38 per cent with 437 successful subscriptions to mature in June 2020.
The savings bond was introduced in March, targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and earn more income (interest) compared to their savings accounts with banks.
It is also expected to help finance the nation's budget deficit.
The bonds are debt securities (liabilities) of the Federal Government backed by its 'full faith and credit'.
Interests are to be paid at regular periods and principal repaid at maturity.
They have a tenure of between two to three years and a minimum size of investment of N5,000 and maximum of N50 million.
It is aimed at deepening national savings culture, diversifying funding sources for the government and providing opportunity to all citizens, irrespective of income level to contribute to national development.
It will also enable all citizens to participate in and benefit from the favourable returns available in the capital market.
The next offer will open on Aug. 7 and close on Aug. 11, the DMO said.
In another development, the DMO sold N105.96 billion worth of five, 10 and 20 year bonds, an amount less than the N135 billion it initially proposed to issue.
According to the auction results, it allotted N47.01 billion of the 10 year paper to mature in March 2027 at 16.25 per cent, while N55.05 billion worth of the 20 year bond to mature in April 2037 was sold at 16.25 per cent.
It sold N3.90 billion worth of the five-year paper to mature in July 2021 at 16.24 per cent, much lesser than the N35 billion initially offered by the DMO.
Liu Xiaobo, Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a prominent dissident since the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, has died.Liu Xiaobo
He died on Thursday after being denied permission by the Chinese authorities to leave the country for treatment for late-stage liver cancer.
Liu, 61, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power" after he helped write a petition known as "Charter 08" calling for sweeping political reforms.
Mourning his death, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Liu a "courageous fighter for civil rights and freedom of expression", while the French and U.S. governments called on China to allow Liu's family to move around freely.
Already seriously ill, Liu, a thorn in the ruling Communist Party's side since he helped negotiate a deal to allow protesters to leave Tiananmen Square before troops and tanks rolled in, was moved last month from prison to a hospital in the northeastern city of Shenyang to be treated.
The Shenyang Bureau of Justice said in a brief statement on its website that Liu had suffered multiple organ failure and efforts to save him had failed.
Despite being given multiple forms of treatment his illness had continued to worsen, it added.
The hospital treating him confirmed in a separate statement the cause of death. Though allowed out on medical parole he was never freed, spending his final days in the hospital surrounded by security guards.
The leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee which, to Beijing's ire, awarded Liu the peace prize in 2010, said the Chinese government bore a heavy responsibility for his death.
"We find it deeply disturbing that Liu Xiaobo was not transferred to a facility where he could receive adequate medical treatment before he became terminally ill," said Berit Reiss-Andersen in an emailed statement.
China said at the time that Liu's award was an "obscenity" that should not have gone to a man it called a criminal and a subversive.
Carl von Ossietzky, a pacifist who died in 1938 in Nazi Germany's Berlin, was the last Nobel Peace Prize winner to live out his dying days under state surveillance.
In Germany, another Chinese dissident, said Liu Xiaobo's death is not only a very difficult moment for Chinese human rights activists, but also a testament to China's brutality.
Artist Ai Weiwei said on Thursday: "Liu Xiaobo was not a criminal," Ai told Reuters in his Berlin studio. "He was a writer, an intellectual and he used his life to find ways to make society better."
Asked whether the Chinese government had contributed to Liu's death by preventing him from receiving treatment for late-stage liver cancer abroad, Ai said: "China showed how brutal its society can be."
He added: "This is a very difficult moment for Chinese human rights defenders."
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday approved the immediate suspension of the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare for faking his kidnap which allegedly took place on July 5 along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State. Alleged suspects, Baale of Shangisha, Chief Yusuf Ogundare (right), with his brother and accomplice, Mohammed Adams (left), being paraded during a press briefing at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Thursday, July 13, 2017.
In a memo with reference number OLGAS.83/S./Vol.1 dated July 13, 2017 addressed to the Sole Administrator of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA and signed by the State's Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon Teslim Folami, Governor Ambode directed Ogundare to stop parading himself henceforth as the Baale of the community till further notice.
According to the memo, Folami said: "I am directed to convey the approval of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the suspension of Chief Yusuf Ogundare, Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect in accordance with Section 38 subsection 1 of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State which states that "the Governor may suspend or depose any Oba or chief whether appointed or after commencement of this law, if he is satisfied that such suspension of disposition is required according to customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace and good government.
"You are to communicate the decision to the chieftain to stop parading himself as Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect," Folami said.
Ogundare's suspension was approved by the Governor moments after the Lagos State Police Command paraded him alongside his younger brother, Mohammed Adams for conspiring to fake the alleged kidnap.
Adams, on the fateful day, reported the alleged kidnap incidence to the police.
Speaking while parading the two suspects, the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni said the Command on July 5 received the report of Ogundare's alleged kidnap, and immediately swung into action in collaboration with other security agencies especially the Department of State Service (DSS).
Owoseni said luck however ran out on Ogundare when he was apprehended by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Alausa area of the State on July 11 after he was dropped in a suspicious manner by a car which sped off immediately.
Giving details of how Ogundare was apprehended, Owoseni said: "On July 11 at about 10pm, a team of RRS patrol officers working around Alausa had sighted a vehicle drop a male adult in a suspicious manner close by Shoprite along the Secretariat road. The speed with which that car drove off attracted them to that spot and fortunately before they got to the spot, the car had taken off and a quick inquiry revealed that it was the Baale that was allegedly kidnapped.
"Immediately after while Ogundare was being debriefed, he sold a dummy that the kidnappers dropped him off but unknowingly to him, it had been found out that on the 5th of July, the day he was allegedly kidnapped in Lagos, investigation had revealed that he was driving around in Ibadan around Ashi; he went to Ilorin, he went to Iwo, he was just on a frolic.
"And unknowingly to him as well that because of information that had gotten to security services that his younger brother and his wife were being questioned and were actually in custody because of some discrepancies that were noticed in the interaction they had with security agencies, and in furtherance of the synergy existing between the Police and DSS, we jointly compared notes and our findings were such that the act of the chief was despicable and amounted to crying wolf where there is none," Owoseni said.
He said while making reports, Adams had told security agencies that he was with the Baale at CMD Hotel when some people who claimed they wanted to buy land whisked them away and later dropped him, but investigation revealed that he (Adams) was not at any time in the hotel with the Baale but was only at the restaurant of the hotel, and after some minutes, he left, and the wife of the Baale actually drove the Venza car allegedly used to abduct the supposed victim into the hotel.
The CP added that after the suspects were confronted with the indisputable facts, they had no choice than to confess faking the kidnap.
The CP said immediately after Ogundare was allegedly kidnapped, Adams went to the community and called the town crier to order the whole community to close shops and markets should not open, an action aimed at inciting members of the community against the State Government.
He said the objective of the suspects was to falsely accuse the Oba of Shangisha as the brain behind the kidnapping, which they indeed did, as a vengeance to him being installed the Oba instead of Ogundare, and also embarrassed the State Government and as well as security agencies for arresting him (Ogundare) when he falsely displayed the plate number of Oba of Shangisha on his car.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem also demanded the unconditional release of the six children kidnapped from Igbonla Model College since May 25.
He said it was disheartening that while the State Government and security agencies were working round the clock to secure the release of the children, some unscrupulous persons deemed it fit to raise false alarm.
He said it was situations as this that prompted the Governor to sign the Anti-Kidnapping bill into law, assuring that the Government would not hesitate to prosecute anyone who runs fowl of the law.
He said Section 5 of the anti-kidnapping Law prescribes that "a person who overtly or covertly puts himself forward to be kidnapped or abducted by another for the purpose of extracting money or ransom, from another or for any other reason commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to fourteen (14) years imprisonment."
"Nothing can be more despicable and heinous than to raise false alarm where there is none. This is even more despicable when we consider the plight of these children that were recently kidnapped and are still being held by the kidnappers.
"Let me sound a very serious note of warning that we have zero tolerance for crimes against the State. No matter how high or low you may be in the society, you can be assured that we will bring you to justice if you commit a crime.
He also urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to go all out to ensure that the State remains safe and secured for residents and investors.
VOLKSWAGEN is recalling 766,000 vehicles of its core passenger car brand worldwide for a software update to their braking control systems. This is because the braking control system may not function properly in certain driving conditions, such as when the driver over-steers, under-steers or slams on the brakes.
The car maker is recalling 288,000 VW-brand cars in Germany over the issue with the withdrawn brands including the Audi and Skoda brands. The German recall impacts about 385,000 cars.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen representatives in Nigeria, Volkswagen Centre, has said that none of the affected models were sold in Nigeria. According to a Volkswagen Centre source, "Nigeria was not affected in the recall as the company has not imported any Volkswagen product in the last one year. We have not imported any Volkswagen model in the last one year or during the period covered by the recall," The source told Vanguard Motoring that if any of the models were brought into the country, they would have done the needful as a responsible organisation.
PORSCHE has seen an upwards trend in the first six months of this year: With 126,497 vehicles delivered worldwide, Porsche AG exceeded the record figure from the previous year by seven per cent in the first half of 2017. The Macan remains the main driver of this growth and the highest-volume model line.
•Porsche Macan compact Sport SUV
However, it is the new Panamera that has achieved the strongest percentage increase in the first six months of the year, with sales of the four-door sports car seeing a rise of 54 per cent. China has established itself as the largest single market, with a significant increase of 18 per cent to 35,864 vehicles.
According to Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing, the figures prove that the new Panamera has provided Porsche with a huge boost. "The enthusiastic response from customers has been overwhelming. The plug-in hybrid versions and the new Sport Turismo version of the Panamera will provide us with even more momentum", he explains. "The highly attractive products and unique brand experience that Porsche offers are the foundation of our success", Platen said.
Alongside the Panamera, the Macan recorded a double-digit growth in the first half of 2017: Deliveries of the sporty SUV increased by 11 per cent, reaching the 50,000 mark. Demand for the 718 Cayman and Boxster models and the Cayenne also grew. The Cayenne was the second most popular Porsche model line with 35,601 vehicles delivered.
The US market ranked behind the Chinese market during the reporting period with 27,568 deliveries. In Germany, the sports car manufacturer remained at the record level achieved in the previous year. With 15,474 units, vehicle deliveries to customers increased by one per cent.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – MINISTER of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachukwu and the Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Thursday clashed at the Senate Public Hearing over alleged planned concessioning of PortHarcourt Refinery.
Ibe Kachukwu and Wale Tinubu
Though Wale Tinubu also denied ever making any remark in the media on alleged concession of Port Harcourt refinery to the oil company by the federal government, but the Petroleum Minister accused him of jumping the gun even by his submission that the refinery has been packaged for Oando's rehabilitation.
The Minister who appeared before the Senator Abubakar Kyari, APC, Borno North Senate Ad -Hoc Committee on the Planned Concession of the Refinery for a one day public hearing, however disowned the Oando boss over statements credited to the former which implied that his company has been granted concession for the Port Harcourt refinery”
With the hearing, strong indications emerged that the concession of the Port Harcourt refinery was still shrouded in confusion as Ibe Kachikwu denied the alleged concession plan, just as he said that a technical committee set up by the government to undertake the review was coming up with a holistic investment figure enough to fix the nation's refineries, even as the minister vehemently denied making all remarks credited to him on alleged planned concession as reported by some dailies .
The Minister however reiterated that there was no plan to concession, privatise or sell the refinery, for which an estimated $300 million would be required for repairs.
Speaking further on the state of the refinery, Kachikwu who noted that $ 300 million would be required to repair it, said that it was better to engage the company that built the refinery in the first instance for its repairs, due to the availability of spare parts and knowledge of the configuration, adding that the country’s refineries were being run and maintained by Nigerian engineers, and acknowledged that there was the urgent need for constant retraining of the engineers.
After accusation and counter accusation between the Senate and federal agencies handling the nation's oil refineries on alleged move to concession the Port Harcourt Refinery yesterday, both parties settled for revamping, rehabilitation and maintenance of the refinery along with others through what they termed, sourced financing from private oil firms.
The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria in collaboration with BudgIT, a local NGO, on Wednesday launched Report Yourself, a web-based platform that leverages citizen engagement to fight corruption in Nigeria. The partnership to promote Report Yourself also includes the Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption (RLAC) working group and Nigerian law enforcement agencies.
This anti-corruption initiative is funded by the United States Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and was developed by BudgIT.
"I hope that Report Yourself starts a new movement in citizen engagement and I hope every Nigerian who is affected by corruption will feel empowered to share their experiences. The tide will turn against the culture of corruption when Nigerians recognize that they must fight as one to stamp out this scourge that has hampered development and stifled prosperity," he said.
Report Yourself offers Nigerians the means to instantaneously report corruption, bribery, and graft with the option of filing an official compliant with the Nigerian Police Force Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit.
During the event, participants received a guided demonstration of the Report Yourself platform, in addition, religious leaders, members of law enforcement, and civil society representatives renewed their commitment to fight against corruption.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday commended efforts by an indigenous company, Rite Foods Limited – producers of Bigi sausage roll and beverages – for setting up a multi-billion naira investment in Ogun.
Osinbajo, who visited the firm in company of Gov. Ibikunle Amosu and the Chairman of the organisation, Dr Sulaimon Adegunwa, expressed satisfaction with the facility.
Osinbajo said the investment was an example of the hard work and commitment to entrepreneurship by Nigerians.
"This is a great enterprise. The products are all over the country and are doing very well. I am very happy with what is happening here.
"This is a classic example of a Nigerian spirit of hard work and entrepreneurship. This is excellent work and what we expect in every state."
Commenting on the challenge of power supply facing the company, Osinbajo said the issue would be addressed soon.
"We have a few issues such as power; we hope to resolve it," the Acting President added.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Rite Foods Limited, Mr Seleem Adegunwa said the company had continued to maintain its standard despite the economic challenge facing the country.
According to him, Rite Foods, which has spanned three years of operations, has engaged 3,000 workers locally and internationally.
Adegunwa said that the coming of the company to the community had brought unprecedented economic growth to the area, and reduced crime rate.
He said that the company had directly and indirectly, contributed to the economy locally in the state and Nigeria at large by increasing the internally generated revenue.
""It will also improve the exchange rate as final products when they are exported," he said.
The MD also said that virtually all the materials and facilities used by the company were sourced locally.
He said that the raw materials such as cassava were sourced within the host community.
The entrepreneur said the machines and other sophisticated equipment for production were German made.
"We have a world class facility here. If you go outside here, you cannot have any facility better than we have here. We are world class and truly Nigerian."
According to him, the company operates in line with global best practices, noting that it was heading towards being number one brand in the world.
The managing director said efforts were being made to ensure that the products' exportation would begin soon.
Adegunwa said the company was not on the national grid as it was operating on generator round the clock to supply its electricity.
The Vice President, African Veterinary Association (AVA), and Naibul Amir, Easter Region, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jammaat, Nigeria, Dr Gani Enahoro has been elected the World Veterinary Association, WVA Councilor for Africa.
Enahoro
In a keenly contested election, Enahoro beat other two candidates, Dr. Clive Peter Marwick from South Africa and Dr. Berhanu Admassu Abegaz, an Associate professor from Ethiopia to emerge the World Councilor for Africa. He will take the mantle of leadership from the outgoing Councilor, Prof. Maria Antonieta Baptista from Angola, on August 30, 2017. It is the first time in the 154 years old organization that a Nigerian Veterinary Doctor would be representing Africa as a Councilor. In her congratulatory message, Prof. Baptista stated "I am sure that you will very well represent our continent as you are one of the best brain of African Veterinary Association (AVA)".
Dr. Gani Enahoro, the former National President of Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA),who was honoured as the "Role Model of the Veterinary Profession in Nigeria" by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka in 2011, also bagged the Distinguished Alumnus award from his alma mater, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan in March 2017. He was the recipient of Award of Excellence from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta in February 2016 for "Excellent contributions to Veterinary Enterprises in Nigeria".
Dr. Gani Enahoro is Edo State born private Veterinary Practitioner and Managing Director of the 31-year old Gan-Rovet Animal Hospital, located in Warri, Delta State.
In order to further ease task of doing business as well as eradicate street trading with attendant hazards, Lagos State Government in collaboration with Mikano International Limited has launched and distributed corners shops to some roadside traders at Central Business Districts, CBD, Lagos Island, even as it called on other corporate organizations, individuals to partner with it in the elimination of the menace.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District, Mr. Agboola Dabiri who made the remark during the distribution of the 30 shops donated by Mikano to beneficiaries of the pilot scheme at Onikan Lagos, yesterday, explained that the initiative was part of efforts at eradicating street trading within Lagos CBD.
Dabiri, while commending the company for the gesture in living up to their social corporate responsibility, warned traders who are fond of displaying wares on the roads and walkways to desist henceforth.
He said, "Lagos State Government has now provided an alternative to selling on the streets and walkways in the area and will not tolerant the continuous display of wares on streets and walkways any longer".
The Special Adviser said further that with zero tolerance, the introduction of corner shops in strategic locations on the Island will eradicate street trading in the axis.
Agboola reiterated that while the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is committed to fast tracking the vision of turning the state to an enviable mega city and a role model to other state, it is pertinent that the vision would not be achieved by depriving people of their daily means of surviving by the action of street traders with its attendant risk to human life and dirty environment.
He said the replacement of street traders with modern corner shops will be a trade booster to the central business district and also ensure constant clean environment.
Dabiri therefore, called on other companies operating in Lagos to emulate the gesture of the company in complementing government in the provision of developmental facilities.
According to him, "You will all agree with me that Central Business District is a world on its own and managing it is a huge task which government alone cannot handle."
"Millions of people troop daily to Lagos Island CBD to transact various business and most corporate organizations have their headquarters located on the Lagos Island which therefore means that free flow of traffic must be ensured at all time." Dabiri noted.
While congratulating the beneficiaries of the shops, he urged them to use the shops judiciously in line with lay down rules and regulation.
Meanwhile, the CBD market sanitation task force has also been inaugurated.
Introducing the sanitation task force at Onikan, Dabiri, said the market sanitation task force was created to ensure a cleaner market environment across the Lagos Island business districts.
He explained that the introduction of CBD market sanitation task force which is in line with the cleaner Lagos Initiative recently launched by the State Government, will be held responsible for any market that is found to be dirty within the CBD.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Mikano International Limited, Ibrahim Ibrahim said the company would always be ready to partner with the state government in meeting the needs of residents.
Ibrahim, while announcing the provision of sanitation tools and two years' salary for 10sanitation workers, explained that it was part of a number of other commitments from MIKANO, in support of the noble vision of present administration in the state.
The Senate and the Federal Government have resolved to revamp the Port Harcourt Refinery as against rumoured plans to concession the facility.
Chairman, Senate's Ad Hoc Committee on Planned Concession of the Refinery, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known at a public hearing on the issue in Abuja on Thursday.
There had been reports that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources planned to concession the refinery to AGIP/ENI and Oando Plc.
Consequently, the Senate in May set up the seven-member ad-hoc committee to probe the issue, especially with the allegation that 15 billion dollars was involved in the concession process.
At the hearing, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, debunked the claims, saying there was no such plan.
Kyari had during the hearing told Kachukwu that there was a media publication credited to him that "26 investors had indicated interest in the concession''.
But, the minister said "as the driver of the policy of the petroleum industry, there has not been any approval from anybody or President Muhammadu Buhari to concession the refinery.
"I am worried that after about 50 years of oil production in this country, when I assumed office, NNPC was producing below 10 per cent.
"We have made it up to 30 per cent performance and this is still where we are today.
"The issue for the turn-around maintenance was that government was not going to put more money into the process of maintenance but we were going to seek private funding to achieve that objective."
He stated that his position was that there was no concession.
"I have not given any policy to NNPC or directive for them to concession or to sell. I have conveyed the President's approval for them to get financing and repair the refinery and bring it to template.
"That is the policy directive; that is what they are working on," he said.
He added that his work was a policy work and that he was not the one running the refineries, explaining that the idea was for Nigerians to maintain the refineries "and that must be uppermost".
In his submission, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Mr Wale Tinubu, said that there was "no concession, no privatisation and no sale of any assets.
"All that is happening is that responsible corporate bodies, responsible individuals and government were trying to find a solution to the perennial disgrace of exporting our crude and importing petroleum products.
"There are only three countries in the world that import petroleum products – Iran, Iraq and Nigeria.
"Nigeria exports copious amount of crude and still import petroleum products. This is a national disgrace that we need to find solutions to as quickly as possible," Tinubu said.
He, however, urged all stakeholders to collaborate effectively to find solutions through private channels in fixing the existing refineries in the country.
In his remarks, chairman of the committee, said "after all deliberations, we have achieved a lot.
"Henceforth, all processes whether its revamping or concession, will be done in accordance with the extant laws and in accordance with due process and it will be transparent.
"It will be in an accountable manner, in line with this present administration's change agenda.
"We are asking the executive to follow those laws and the policies and make it transparent and accountable."
According to Kyari, NNPC did not commit any illegality; what they did is that they did not follow the right steps.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has said that plans are underway for the domestication of the production of the Nigerian e-passport.
Babandede disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior came on an oversight visit.
He said that the NIS was working round the clock with the support of the Federal Government to start the local production of the e-passports through the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Ltd. by 2018.
The e-passport is presently being produced by Iris Smart Technology Nigeria Ltd. through its parent company, Iris Corporation based in Malaysia.
The comptroller-general said that the measure was to save cost, ensure security of critical data base and create more jobs for Nigerians.
He said that the Minister of Interior had set up a committee comprising critical stakeholders to work out the modalities and implementation of the project.
He said that since there was a subsisting contract presently, all stakeholders including the National Assembly would have to be carried along to realise the laudable project.
The Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Rep. Adams Jagaba, condemned the use of foreign companies for the production of the passport and other services.
Jagaba said the foreign companies "go away with more than 70 percent of the revenue generated from the production of the document while the Federal Government take less than 30 percent."
He said the House of Representatives had conducted a public hearing on the matter and explored ways to reverse the ugly trend.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA-DEPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has assured that the National Assembly of Nigeria would continue to work with all arms of government to address issues causing agitations and disunity in the country.
Children’s Day
Speaking Thursday in Abuja when he hosted pupils of the Brickhall School, Abuja, who were on a Peace and Unity Advocacy visit to his Office, Ekweremadu said: "I am impressed that you are committed to the peace and unity of Nigeria at this very young age. It is a further assurance that there is indeed hope and that our future will be greater.
“I have heard your concerns. Yes, there are agitations here and there. There are concerns about disunity. However, you need not be afraid. Let me assure you that the issues are being gradually resolved. The government is doing everything possible to ensure that we live in peace and unity, and that growing up, you will inherit a country that is united, peaceful, and progressive.
"Our promise to you is that we will hand over to you a country much better than what we have now. We will do our best to ensure that every part of Nigeria is given a sense of belonging; that there is justice in the land; and that the rule of law is observed".
Ekweremadu urged the pupils to continue to cultivate friendship amongst themselves and work together no matter what part of the country they come from, as that was the only way Nigeria could make the desired progress.
Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Miss Nicole Ella, said Nigerian children were getting more worried over the "bickering and agitations in the land".
She continued: "We have been taught that the beauty and strength of Nigeria is in her diversity. We are witnesses to this because even though we come from different ethnic and religious backgrounds in our school, we all study and play together as friends and a family without any form of discrimination.
"We, therefore, desire to grow up seeing and learning more love, peace, unity, and respect for one another in the larger society. We do not want to inherit or be future leaders of a divided Nigeria. We do not want anything that will cause a separation or mar the friendship we share".
Miss Ella appealed to the National Assembly to take every necessary step to ensure that Nigeria remained "one, united, but a just and equitable nation" by making laws that will address the various concerns of every part of the country.
“We are sure that if there is justice and equity in the land, these agitations will die a natural death.”
The Lagos State Government on Thursday closed its case in the ongoing trial of two engineers of the collapsed six-storey guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations and the trustees of the church.
TB Joshua-Synagogue Church
Ms P.K. Shitta-Bey, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) told an Ikeja High Court that the defence team had finished the cross-examination of the eight witnesses in the case.
"We will like to inform the court that this is the end of the prosecution's case," Shitta-Bey told the court after the defence team finished cross-examining the eight and last prosecution witness in a long court session that lasted from 10.41 a.m. to 4.36 p.m.
The two engineers — Akinbela Fatiregun and Oladele Ogundeji — are facing trial alongside their companies — Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company, Jandy Trust Ltd and the trustees of the church.
They are facing a 111-count charge of gross negligence and criminal manslaughter over the collapse of a six-storey guest house to which they plead not guilty.
The Sept. 12, 2014 building collapse led to the death of 116 persons, 85 of who were South Africans.
Earlier during proceedings, Mr Linus Gubbi, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Abuja, told the court that Synagogue Church had procured a false prototype of collapsed guest house.
Gubbi, an Assistant Chief Superintendent of Investigations, has worked with the Special Duties Department of the ICPC for 14 years.
The investigator had said the ICPC had received a petition forwarded to them by the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
The petition alleged that one Mr George Akinfenwa had illegally used the COREN registration no. R8718 and seal belonging to an engineer, Mr Omotayo Shogo, to create the false prototype.
He said the church had allegedly connived with the fourth defendant (Oladele Ogundeji) to create a false prototype of the guest house after its collapse to present to the Lagos State Government at the Coroner's Inquest as the original prototype.
While being led in evidence by Shitta-Bey, he said:"One Mr George Akinfenwa and one Mr George who are both at large, met with Ogundeji to come up with a prototype of the collapsed building.
"Their meeting was held at Ade Super Hotel in Akure, Ondo State.
"The three men came to Lagos and had a meeting with one Mr Ikechi, who is the secretary of T.B Joshua, where they discussed the modalities of coming up with a prototype.
"It was agreed that Akinfenwa would be paid N5 million and Ogundeji who would head the team at the Coroner's court established by Lagos State Government to investigate the collapse, would be paid N25 million."
Gubbi told the court that fake COREN stamps and seals attributed to Shogo were used to authenticate the prototype of the building.
"Akinfenwa, George and Ogundeji came up with the prototype design of the Synagogue Church modeled after the collapsed building.
"We found out that the stamp and seal used by Akinfenwa was procured at Area 11, Garki, Abuja, and it actually belongs to Engineer Omotayo Shogo, who is a mechanical engineer and not a structural engineer."
Gubbi said that Akinfenwa and Ajala are currently on the run and efforts by the Department of State Security (DSS) and the police to apprehend them were unsuccessful.
The investigator after his testimony was cross-examined by the four lawyers to the defendants.
While answering questions from Mr Oluseye Diyan, counsel to the trustees of SCOAN, Gubbi told the court that he could not recollect the number of persons he interviewed during his investigations.
He admitted not finishing his final report of his investigation due to the fact that two suspects (Akinfenwa and Ajala) are currently at large.
Responding to questions from Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN), representing Hardrock Construction Company Ltd, the investigator admitted not meeting Mr Ikechi, the Secretary to Prophet T.B Joshua in person while investigating the case.
He noted that he never visited the premises of SCOAN neither did he investigate the source of the N5 million and N25 million allegedly given to Akinfenwa and Ogundeji by the church.
While being cross-examined by Mrs Titi Akinlawon, counsel to Fatiregun, a document which was allegedly the original prototype of the SCOAN building was shown to him which he did not recognise.
Akinlawon told the investigator that the document was the prototype design of the guest house used by the church before the building collapsed.
While fielding questions from Mr Olalekan Ojo, counsel to Ogundeji and Jandy Trust Ltd, Gubbi told the court that during investigations he went to Area 11 of Garki, Abuja, where the seal and stamps of the false prototype were allegedly forged but could not locate the printer who was involved in the forgery.
Gubbi also added that the results of his investigation were sourced mainly from the statements and interviews of the suspects as well as an analysis of the evidence he had gathered.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo adjourned the case until Oct. 5, Oct. 6, Oct. 19, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 for opening of defence.
An FCT High Court on Thursday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC )to release former Governor of Jigawa, Saminu Turaki from their custody.
The EFCC arrested Turaki on July 4, at a public function in Abuja, based on a bench warrant issued against him by a Federal High Court, sitting in Dutse, Jigawa in 2014. Turaki approached the FCT High Court through his counsel, Olusegun Jolaawo, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
He argued that the length of his stay in the EFCC custody has gone beyond the required 48 hours provided by the Constitution for a detained person. Jolaawo further told the court that the former governor was having health challenges .
Opposing the application, counsel to EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the court that the anti graft agency in 2007 filed a money laundering charge against Turaki. According to Abubakar, the ex-governor was arraigned in 2007 before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, before she was transferred to Lagos.
Abubakar said that the transfer of Nyako prompted the re-assignment of Turaki before Justice Adamu Bello (now retired).
"Turaki had brought an application seeking the transfer of the case to Jigawa, the court ruled in his favour, and transferred the case to Dutse Division of the Federal High Court.
"Since then, the applicant refused to appear in court, a situation which prompted the issuance of bench warrant,'' Abubakar said.
He further informed the court that the EFCC had written to the registry of the Federal High Court in Dutse, asking when the applicant will be brought to face trial. He added that the court in its response stated that the judge has gone on vacation.
Abubakar prayed the court to turn down Turaki's application.
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu, ordered the release of Turaki, but ordered him to provide two sureties who must reside within the FCT with verifiable means of livelihood.
He further ordered that the applicant should report to the EFCC office every two weeks to sign a register, which shall be opened from July 13 until when the court resumes from vacation.
The applicant was also ordered to deposit all his travel documents with the court's registrar. The court adjourned the hearing of the substantive motion for enforcement of fundamental human rights until July 20.
An Ado-Ekiti High Court on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old boy, Adeolu Bamiteko, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The Judge, Justice John Adeyeye, who handed the sentence, also slammed another 10-year jail term on the convict for unlawful possession of firearms.
Adeyeye held that the accused was guilty as charged having committed the offence contrary to Section 6 (b) of Robbery Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He said that Bamiteko was arrested and arraigned alongside a 12-year-old boy, Ayobami Ojo, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
The court, Adeyeye said, discharged the boy on grounds of being underage in line with Section 30 of the Criminal Code.
He said Bamiteko's charge sheet stated that he robbed one Adefunke Amire of her Nokia phone near the Ewi's Palace in Ado-Ekiti on July 14, 2016, with a locally-made pistol with live cartridge and one knife.
The judge said that the convict was arraigned on Feb. 16, 2017, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Adeyeye said that the prosecution called three witnesses to prove the case while the accused did not call any witness.
He also said that the prosecution tendered exhibits such as the statement of the accused, items stolen from the victim and one locally-made pistol with live cartridge.
Others were one knife, two Nokia phones and a golden wristwatch which were admitted as exhibits.
He held that the court found Bamiteko guilty of armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearm as contained in counts one to three and accordingly convicted him.
"On count two, the sentence of armed robbery is mandatory in respect of which I have no discretion.
Therefore, the 2nd defendant is sentenced to death by hanging until he be dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.
"On count three, the second defendant is sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment," the judge ruled.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to deploy Special Joint Task Force to stem the spate of suicide bombings within the University of Maiduguri.
Comrade Samson Ugwoke, SSANU President said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.
The statement said Ugwoke spoke at the 31st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
He said the deployment of the task force was imperative as the university had become the target of bomb attacks.
Ugwoke said the incessant suicide bombings being carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents had greatly affected the peace of the ivory tower.
"Lots of manpower had been lost, so there was the need for urgent protection of the university community,'' he said.
According to him, Sambisa Forest, former hot belt of the insurgents has been cleared and now accessible.
"But what concerns us most is the spate of attacks at the University of Maiduguri. It is of auspicious concern to us.
"It seems that the suicide bombers are targeting that university. The university has lost a lot of manpower to terrorists of suicide bombers.
"I got a letter from the university community calling on the Federal Government to set up a special task force to look after the university.
"As you are aware, teaching, learning, research and community development cannot take place in an atmosphere of chaos and fear.
"So, for teaching and learning to take place, calmness and peace are key.
" I appeal to the Federal Government to listen to the cry of the university community by setting up the special task force to secure the university forthwith,'' he said.
The SSANU president said the task force should be equipped with adequate security gadgets or network in order to promptly track down the perpetrators of the act.
He, however, said the fact that the security agencies were still unable to track manufacturers of bombs used by the terrorists' years into the fight against the terrorists left much to be desired.
He, therefore, called on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities by securing members of the university community in Maiduguri.
On the economy, Ugwoke decried the prolonged recession in the country as according to him, the development has exposed citizens to excruciating hardship.
He therefore, urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency take steps to exit the nation from recession by injecting funds recovered from looters of the country's treasury into the economy.
"Government should give account of the recovered loots and plough them back into the economy so as to move the economy forward,'' Ugwoke said.
Retired Army General and elder statesman, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi III, Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai and the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwinmi Ayodeji Adesina have been honoured each with The Nigerian Man of the Year award by an online medium, www.TheNigerian.News.
They were given the awards for their selfless services to the nation as well as for their continued service to the security and development of the country.
Below is a brief profile of the awardees by the medium.
Dr. Akinwinmi Ayodeji Adesina
Elected the eighth President, African Development Bank (AfDB) in May 2015, and the first Nigerian to preside over this continental body, Dr. Akinwinmi Ayodeji Adesina, is an agricultural economist of international fame. A former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, Dr. Adesina has been impactful in initiating reforms and innovations that have tended to change the face of agriculture in Nigeria and the African continent towards food sufficiency to end food insecurity.
As AfDB boss, his influence on African leaders to embrace and implement the idea of Green Revolution in Africa is rewarding and gradually redirecting the economies of the continent from crude oil to export of agriculture produce. Appointed member of the Lead Group of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement in 2016 by the United Nations (UN), Dr. Adesina has concretized steps to end the widespread afflictions of malnutrition and stunted growth in children caused by protracted under-nutrition at critical stages of child development in Africa.
The AfDB President has consistently inspired government and business leaders towards empowering small-holder farmers to agribusinesses to flourish. He has been recognized and awarded with the prestigious 2017 World Food Prize Laureate. END
Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai
He is Nigeria's current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency war in the Northeast and Nigeria. An outstanding professional soldier and astute military administrator, Gen. Buratai is famed nationally and internationally, as the Nigerian soldier who courageously broke the jinx of the once dreaded Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria by leading troops to decimate and defeat of insurgents within record time.
A fearless and visionary Army General, he is recognized and feted for his immense contributions in leading troops to enthrone the unity, stability and indivisibility of Nigeria by curtailing the excesses of the barrage of threatening and foreign- backed insurgents, extremists and separatists' campaigners in Nigeria. Gen. Buratai's humility and simplistic leadership style has earned him loyalty from his officers and men, and repositioned the Nigerian Army as one of the most civilized, responsible, disciplined and coordinated military institutions in the world.
This singular action has earned him local and international accolades and awards across the globe, including the conferment of the Republic of Brazil's highest military honour on him in recognition of his efforts in extricating Nigeria from the fangs of terrorism. Gen. Buratai has impinged on the psyche of Nigerians a reputation of a loveable, respected, transparent, patriotic, dedicated and selfless military officer who has repeatedly demonstrated his unreserved readiness to die for the salvation of his fatherland.
Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma -GCON
Chief TY Danjuma is a retired Army General and elder statesman, who has devoted all his life to the service of humanity. After an accomplished and retirement from active politics, he established the TY Danjuma Foundation in 2008, a philanthropic and humanitarian organization, which he administers as its chairman. It has interests in alleviating poverty in communities across Nigeria through the provision of basic amenities, education for children and young adults as well as free Medicare. The Foundation has brought succor to the less privileged and vulnerable Nigerians in numerous communities, through networking with over 50 NGOs across the country, with the support of the 36 state governors.
Thus, till date the veteran Army General has continued to etch his memory on public psyche as a rare philanthropist and humanist in Nigeria irrespective of ethnic or religious divides. The TY Foundation maintains the unbeatable record in outreach nationwide, as virtually everywhere government in particular is unable to reach the poor or the less privileged, it berths presence in improving the living standards of the people.
Gen. Danjuma served as Chairman of the Victims’ Support Fund Committee, an initiative to assemble funds to carter for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast. In furtherance of his philanthropic bent, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him to lead the Committee for the Rehabilitation of Infrastructure And Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) in the North-East sub-region; which is largely responsible for the impressive peace and rebuilding process of the devastated region.
4.Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi III
His Royal Highness, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi III (SLS) is former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of the ancient City of Kano in Nigeria. This eminent traditional ruler has the reputation of a firebrand advocate of social Justice in Nigeria. SLS as his admirers prefer to call him stands for the truth at all times, even at the risk of his life and, in Nigeria, he has severally proved to be a nightmare to any government in the country disinclined to keeping its social contract with the Nigerian people.
This revered economist and financial expert cum traditional ruler is widely known for his vocal and fearless advocacy for a better society through his periodic insightful analysis of Nigeria's socio-economic malaise and the sound solutions he proffers.
Emir Sanusi is also a leading beacon of elite campaigns for the application of dynamism in the perception of cultural values in the county in tandem with the ever-changing trends around the world. He has elevated and coloured the campaigns against stale cultural dogmas with royal flavor, especially the crusade for the education of the girl-child which has remained a hard nut to crack in some communities in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The gradual shift of national attention to girl-child education is a consequence of the relentless efforts of personalities like Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi."
ABS FC goalkeeper Nurudeen Mudashir, Matchday is looking forward to better days after letting in four goals against Sunshine Stars of Akure in a week, a match they went on to lose 2-4 in front of their stunned supporters.
Mudashir
ABS came into the fixture three places ahead of their visitors on the log but that result has seen both sides swap positions with ABS dropping to 17th and Sunshine Stars moving one step up to 16th.
Mudashir would later disclose that the defeat was for him the heaviest and worse defeat of his career. The former Kaduna United safe hands as expected was disappointed with the result which he said was the first time he would concede four goals in 45 minutes.
The Akure Gunners seemed to have responded to a charge by one of their leading players, Dayo Ojo, who recently returned from Sudan to declare that relegation is not an option for the club. Thus they had come out all-guns blazing in the second half of the encounter to score four past the goalkeeper in a six-goal thriller.
In an interview he granted the club’s media, Mudashir admitted that for two days, he failed to deal with the reality of that defeat.
"It took me until Tuesday to get over the surprise that happened on Sunday but that is football for you.
"We have put that behind us and we are focused on the game against Rivers United on Sunday.
"We are aware we have let our fans down and we must begin to redeem ourselves starting with the Rivers United match on Sunday in Ilorin," Mudashir said.
Mudashir joined the Saraki Boys during the 2016/17 NPFL mid-season transfer window from Kaduna United.
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