US congratulates Nigeria at 56

The United States of America has congratulated Nigeria on its country’s 56th Independence Anniversary which comes up on Saturday.

A statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, said that the goodwill message was signed by the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.

Adesina said Kerry acknowledged the ability of Nigerians to address Nigeria’s current national challenges.

Kerry’s statement read: “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on Oct. 1.

“I recently returned from my third trip to Nigeria as Secretary, and I came away with a strong sense of the nation’s resolve to build a better future.

“During my trip, I was reminded that many Nigerians are engaged in bringing people together across the divides of culture, religious practices, and ethnicity.’’

According to Kerry, there is still much work to be done to provide economic opportunities for all, end corruption, win the fight against Boko Haram and ensure broad respect for human rights.

Kerry said Nigeria should provide humanitarian relief for millions of displaced people.

“But we know that Nigerians are hard at work to address these challenges. The United States looks forward to deepening our partnership and friendship with Nigerians from all walks of life, so that we may work together for the betterment of Nigeria and all of Africa.

“Best wishes to all of you on this the 56th anniversary of your independence,’’ U.S. secretary said.

How Tinubu was used and dumped in APC – PDP issues challenge to “Jagaban”

 

– Chief Bola Tinubu called for the resignation of Chief John Oyegun
– The PDP in Lagos however said Tinubu has lot the power to effect the removal of the APC chairman
– The party said Tinubu should try to take his mandate back if he has the ability to
The Peoples Democratic Party has challenged Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to try and get back the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu has been at loggerhead with the leadership of the party following his public outburst on Sunday, September 25 calling for the resignation of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the chairman of the party due to the way the primary election in Ondo was handled.
Daily Trust reports that Moshood Salvador who is the chairman of the PDP in Lagos said it would be difficult for Tinubu to remove Oyegun.
He said it would be difficult for Tinubu to take control as he was tactically sent away from the party.
Salvador said this was the time for Tinubu to prove that he was a political heavyweight by taking charge of the party. “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is somebody we believe is so smart and strategic, he is a tactician.
“But, in APC, he didn’t know that he was used and dumped. They kept him outside the party, not within the party, and I was so surprised to see him staying outside the party and be feeling comfortable. How can you fight inside the party when you are outside? So, he cannot remove Oyegun because he remains outside. What is the meaning of party leader, our national Leader?”
He said Tinubu had lost the party strictures in some state and it would be difficult to remove Oyegun.
“As long as Oyegun is still with Buhari, there is nothing he (Tinubu) can do. It is laughable to call for his (Oyegun) resignation.”

Meanwhile, the former vice president Atiku Abubakar backed embattled national leader in his accusations against national chairman.

Premium Times quotes Atiku as saying in a statement released on Wednesday, September 28 that Tinubu was right to demand that Oyegun follow party rules.

He also noted that the APC is having challenges because it failed to follow its own rules.

Fashola Shares How “Ancestral Spirits” Collect Money For Electrification Projects.

 

Health Minister urges physical activities for healthy life

 

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has urged Nigerians to engage in 30 to 60 minutes physical activities to maintain healthy life and prevent non-communicable diseases.

He made the call at a youth development programme in Abuja on Thursday which focused on developing life skills and raising public health awareness among high school youths.

The programme was organised by Exxon Mobile, the National Basketball Association and International NGO, Africare.

Represented by Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, the National Coordinator, Malaria Elimination Programme, Adewole said that engaging in physical activities helped in maintaining healthy weight and prevents obesity.

He said that “Nigeria like other developing countries is experiencing rapid epidemiological and demography transition from communicable diseases to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

“Many notable Nigerians have died recently from causes that are traceable to NCDs, many people slum while some go to sleep and would not wake up, while some are incapacitated by stroke.

“The NCDs that are common include cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive respiratory disease, as well as diabetes.

“ We also need to integrate physical activities into the lifestyle of our children to prevent NCDs.”

The minister added that most of the risk factors associated with these diseases begin very early in life and they include obesity from unhealthy nutrition, smoking and harmful alcohol intake.

“The Federal Ministry Of Health has taken measures and this include the recent enactment of the National Tobacco Act to deal with some of the causative factors.

“I am saying this because tobacco industries try to recruit children very early by going to school to promote their tobacco; it is important to educate people early not to take tobacco.

“The ministry also has National Nutritional Guidelines (NNGs) to prevent unhealthy nutrition.”

Dr Doherty Orode, the Country Director, Africare Nigeria, said that integrating physical activities into the lifestyle of children was key to building sustainable, healthy and productive community.

Orode said that the organisation was committed to addressing Africa’s development and policy issues by working in partnership with the African people.

She said “we have been working for three years and have directly reached out to 600 children and with over 5000 indirect beneficiaries.

“We reached them through community initiatives like teaching them about water sanitation hygiene, HIV, Malaria, gaps in leadership and so on.”

The General Manager, Public Affairs of Exxon Mobile, Paul Arinze, said 150 million dollars was invested in a programme called POWER FORWARD, explaining that the initiative was about total health awareness, with 50 modules of life skill training and practice for kids from different schools.

Arinze said “so far, the project has been working and that is why we are doing it for another year and we will continue to support the programme.

“POWER FORWARD is about total health awareness and there are 50 modules of life skill training and practice for children.

“The kids learn everything from public health awareness, malaria prevention, leadership skills, communication skills, HIV/AIDS; it is a whole
lot of intervention programme.”

Oshiomhole makes jest of Dokpesi, Igbinedion and Ikimi

 

The Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, while speaking on the recently concluded governorship election, expressed satisfaction at its outcome.

Oshiomhole said the Godwin Obaseki’s victory is a win against the tradition of godfatherism in Edo state.

He said "We have humbled Chief Tom Ikimi even in the local government he claimed to have created. We defeated Chief Raymond Dokpesi in his polling unit, his Ward and his local government. That reassures that the ruthless deployment of media machinery is not enough to distort the will of Edo people to determine their choice.”

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) shattered the rigging machinery of those who called themselves godfathers.

He further said Dokpesi, Igbinedion and Ikimi have been humbled by the outcome of the election which was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Obaseki as the winner of the governorship polls.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the Edo governorship election.

Return N10m or more you took as running cost or I will stand as a witness against you in court - Abdulmumin Jibrin tells lawmakers

 

A day after he was suspended by the House for failing to appear before the Ethics and Privileges committee over allegations of budget padding he leveled against Speaker Dogara and others, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has released a statement in which he demanded all the lawmakers in the house to return the over N10 million monthly running cost money they have fraudulently collected since they came into the chambers or he will stand as a witness against them in coutrt. 
In a statement he shared on his Facebook page, Jibrin said he has sent a letter to all the lawmakers asking them to return the money to the Clerk of the House. 
With regards to the Presiding and Principal Officers, Jibrin says he has given them 72 hours ultimatum to make public the total amount they have received as running cost in their entire stay in the House and failure of which he will proceed with necessary legal action to compel them to make the total amount each of them have received public. According to him, Nigeria is currently facing economic recession and so needs all of such money. Read the statement below...

I HAVE COMMENCED THE PROCESS OF EXPOSING THE RUNNING COST AND ALLOWANCES OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION THERE IN WITH MY LETTER TODAY TO HON MEMBERS TO REFUND ANY MONEY STOLEN OR ILLEGALLY TAKEN. READ LETTER BELLOW AND LIKE-SHARE-COMMENT IF YOU SUPPORT A TOTAL WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE HOUSE

September 29, 2016

TO ALL HONOURABLE MEMBERS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ABUJA

My dear Colleagues,

BURDEN OF PROOF OF EVIDENCE: RUNNING COST OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

I wish to draw your attention to the fact that since you suspended me yesterday and the suggestion of the Ethics Committee report that my allegations were generalized and without proof, I have come under intense public scrutiny and pressure to prove that there exists systemic corruption in the House. I have taken it as a responsibility to prove to the public that the House is a den of systemic corruption. As colleagues, I have bound with many of you and built a life long friendship.

I have some of you that I hold in high esteem. If you end up at the receiving end of the actions I will be taking up in the next few days, I want you to know there is nothing personal but commitment and fervent desire to ensure that corruption is wiped out of the House and reforms that will restore the battered image of the House and take back the House to the Nigerian people is implemented.

Consequent upon the above and before I proceed with the aggressive steps I intend to take, I hereby DEMAND that if you have illegally taken or stolen any money meant for the RUNNING COST OF YOUR OFFICES FOR YOUR ENTIRE STAY IN THE HOUSE, YOU SHOULD RETURN THE MONEY WITHIN ONE WEEK TO THE CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARITY, I AM REFERRING TO ABOUT 10MILLION NAIRA YOU COLLECT FROM TAX PAYERS' MONEY MONTHLY OR MORE IN THE PAST. THE CLERK WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT DETAILS, FAILURE OF WHICH I WILL TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO ENSURE THAT YOU RETURN ANY MONEY STOLEN AND STAND WITNESS AGAINST YOU IN CASE OF PROSECUTION.

I have written to the Clerk of the National Assembly to stand by in anticipation. In the face of the revenue challenges and biting hardship the country is currently facing, there is no better time the country needs such money than now.

In the case of the Presiding and Principal Officers, in addition to my demand in this letter which applies to them too, I have written them yesterday and gave them 72 hours ULTIMATUM to make public the total amount they have received as running cost in their entire stay in the House, failure of which I will proceed with necessary legal action to compel them to make the total amount each of them have received public.

There are other issues of monumental corruption in the House that I will be raising in the following weeks which we must all deal with, but first lets get done with this one.

Thank you.

God bless.

Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin PhD MBA
APC-Kano
Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency
Kano

 

$1 is now N490!

This is according to the exchange rates as of today September 30th.

Recession: Atiku tells government to collect more tax to solve economic problems

 

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has urged the government to rely on taxes to get Nigeria out of the current economic crisis.

Atiku said further that improving the tax system would ensure that the government lives within its means.

The former VP made the comments on Wednesday, September 28, during an event organized by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Lagos.

“We can’t just borrow our way out of our oil addiction. Our governments must live on taxes, the way other democracies do,” Atiku said according to The Nation.

“It will help us live within our means, as it means government can only spend what the people can bear. It will help ensure accountability as tax payers are more likely to ask for accountability when the money comes directly from their pockets.

“It is, therefore, clear that rather than praying for higher oil revenues, we should seize the current opportunity to get over our addiction to oil revenues. 
Discovering new oil wells in the north or south is no substitute.

“Government should look to sustainable sources of revenue, mainly taxes, duties and other levies. And it can only enlarge the tax base by encouraging diverse economic activities right across the country and investing in human capital development to produce the entrepreneurs, inventors and workers of the future,” Atiku added.

September 30: Nigeria at 56 by Reuben Abati

 

Read his piece below...

As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence Anniversary, very few Nigerians would expect any form of celebration or excitement. Independence from colonial rule in 1960 has brought the country so much to be cheerful about, but 56 years later, also a lot of regrets.

I am not one of those who imagine that we would probably have been better off if we had remained under British rule, but that there are some Nigerians who still entertain such impossible thought indicates the depth of the people’s anxiety about Nigeria’s post-colonial reality.
The big issues are well-known: the failure of leadership, corruption, and perpetual anxiety about the future. Every October 1, Nigeria is described as “a crippled giant”, a “toddler”, “a broken nation”. And the various editorials, year after year sound so repetitive as they focus on an economy that is not working, the failure of public infrastructure, leadership crisis, the bad habits of the political elite, religious and ethnic violence, disunity, national insecurity, and so on.
  As we mark October 1 this year, we should perhaps avoid the beaten path and draw attention to the reasons why we should be happy with our country and proud to be Nigerians. Whatever problems we may have, hope is not lost. We are still the country of some of the most talented people in the world.  Nigerians are gifted, hardworking and in many ways exceptional. This is the country of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Jelani Aliyu, Chimamanda Adichie, Philip Emeagwali, Kanu Nwankwo…It is the land of great achievers of all time in all fields of human endeavour. It is the heroism of the talented Nigerian who has put this country’s name on the global map that I remember as I think of Nigeria at 56.
     I also look around and admire the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youth.  Those young men and women who are excelling and whose distinction inspires some level of confidence in the Nigerian system. For more than 20 years, we have been lamenting that the Nigerian education system has failed, collapsed or to use the usual phrase, “fallen”. But this same system continues to produce young men and women with amazing talents. With a better education system, the harvest could have been richer and better, but oh come on, the entrepreneurial ingenuity of the Nigerian youth, their sheer brilliance and industry reassure us that if we could get it right, this country  will yet attain much greater heights. 
We are in every way, a blessed country. Beautiful flora and fauna: the poor fortunes of the national currency has not affected that. Abundant mineral resources: we only need to manage these better and properly.  Travel round Nigeria: our diversity is inspiring.  And when you attend any social event in Nigeria, watch out for the gaiety, the beauty of cultural expressions and the capacity of the average Nigerian to force drama out of every situation. When people talk about Nigeria from a distance, they tend to focus on the negatives: the high crime rate and the mismanagement of resources, but no one denies the fact that this country has what it takes in every regard to be as great as it once was and still be greater. That is what I think of as I reflect on Nigeria at 56.  

     We are also a country of resilient people. It is what keeps us going. There may have been a sudden rise in reported cases of suicide in recent times, but most Nigerians are fighters. They are ready to survive under any situation. They are determined. They never lose hope.  They have this special ability to cover up their frustrations, dress up nicely and go to the church or the mosque or other places of worship, and dance and pray and ask God to take control. This may be a form of temporary escapism, but the confidence with which the average leaves everything to God and draws strength from so doing is a unique national characteristic.

     We are still the biggest market in Africa. Many investors may have shut down their businesses and fled the country due to the current economic recession, but as surely as night follows day, they will return. The Nigerian market boasts of over 200 million people who need all kinds of services. This country will always be a destination for those who want to sell and buy and invest. We may be weak, but we are still a giant nation.

      There may be violence in the North East and other parts of the country, but Nigerians are generally peace-loving and hospitable.  As we celebrate Nigeria at 56, we should remember that this country has survived a civil war; it has survived religious and ethnic violence. It has remained one entity despite calls for its dismemberment. 

What is required is a re-dedication to the ideals of unity and national progress. This is not a task for the leaders alone, but for all Nigerians, young and old, male and female. We must collectively resolve to make this country work and to ensure that the forces of good do not allow negative forces to overwhelm a nation which has the potential to become one of the greatest nations on earth. People make nations. But too many Nigerians are experts at the blame game. We shift responsibilities. We fail to act as true citizens.

    And the greatest irony of it all is our religiousity and the gap between private and public morality. When you see religious Nigerians, they can quote the Holy Books with such expertise you’d think they have deposited those books inside their brains. When they pray, they do so with such fervour, you would assume they have a direct telephone line to God. When they wear religious garments, they put up a mien that encourages you to lower your guard.  But at other times, they do not translate their religious piety into daily life.  This is a part of our national persona that is at the root of all the problems we face.

    Our institutions still need to be strengthened. The failure of institutions accounts largely for the spread of despair in the land. We also need to give full effect to the words of our national anthem.  The second stanza in particular is a prayer that should be reflected upon for the precision with which it captures our main national needs. “Oh God of creation/Direct our noble cause/Guide our leaders right/Help our youth the truth to know/In love and honesty to grow/And living just and true/Great lofty heights attain/To build a nation where peace/And justice shall reign.”

   Independence day should be a day of citizen pride. It should be a day of sober reflection. It should be a moment when the entire nation should pause, and look back and look forward into the future. Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation may have begun in October 1960, but our history goes far back into the past, even long before the Amalgamation of 1914.  We are  a nation of different peoples, cultures and ethnicity brought together by destiny, and circumstances and colonialism.  To transform this into real nationhood is the main challenge we have faced since 1960.  As we mark Nigeria’s 56^th independence anniversary, let no one blame the British for the various fault lines that continue to affect our nation. The British ruled Nigeria for 46 years (1914-1960). We have been in charge of our own affairs for 56 years: that is long enough for us to get our acts together as a people and as a nation. 

Leadership counts – sincere, honest and purposeful leadership, that is. It is the duty of leaders to show the people the way.  Too many Nigerian leaders have no idea in what direction the people should be led, and this has been an abiding source of all-round confusion. I began this piece promising not to complain as Nigeria turns 56,  but it is hard I suppose not to do so.  But let no one despair.  Surely, it shall be well with Nigeria. 

 

Reps to investigate N500bn debt owed agency

 

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, resolved to investigate the N500 billion debt owed Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) by major marketers and independent oil marketers.

The House said the decision is in line with sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which empowers the house to carry out oversight functions on government institutions.

The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Cross River), unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Moving the motion, Jarigbe urged the House to “resist the act of criminality being perpetuated within the oil sub-sector.”

According to him, there is a connivance and compromise by functionaries of PPMC to leave government funds in the hands of marketers, thereby putting the country in dire financial straits.

“PPMC went into through Put Agreements with some of the marketers, which does not empower the marketers to sell out products stored in their respective Tank Farms.

“The marketers criminally sold out the products and also benefitted from intervention allocations and have since not remitted the funds to PPMC.”

The House alleged that those concerned had sabotaged government and converted funds that should rightly accrue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The House, therefore, set up an ad hoc committee to investigate “the huge debts and criminal act.”

Obasanjo calls for urgent reform of NNPC

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the urgent reform of the business operations model of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad said Obasanjo made the call when the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru visited him in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo said the urgent reform was needed to lift the economy out of recession and create wealth for Nigerians.

“What I do understand is reforms. I believe organisations like the NNPC should be reformed.

“I don’t understand this talk of selling of national assets. Selling of national assets is wrong.

“But reform is what I think should be done so that we can run the business of NNPC the way it should be run,” he said in the statement.

He was further quoted as saying: “If there is any organisation that can help us quickly get out of recession, it is NNPC.

“If you work hard, you can get around the situation. I want to encourage you and hope that the little difference we have started seeing will continue,” he said.

The NNPC GMD commended the vision of Obasanjo in the oil and gas Industry.

He said that the management team of the corporation was committed to transforming  the NNPC for better performance, growth and profitability.

“We appreciate your call for diversification into agriculture business and other energy sources.

“We are currently rejuvenating our renewable energy business; we will continue to work hard towards realising your lofty dreams of seeing NNPC grow into a transformed national oil company without interference,” he said.

Recession: Reconstitute the Board of the Central Bank- Senate tells President Buhari

 

As part of resolutions to get out of the current economic recession, the senate yesterday advised President Buhari to reconstitute the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The senate also advised President Buhari to appoint a Special Adviser that would negotiate with militants in the Niger Delta. Read the full resolutions as shared by Senate President Bukola Saraki after the cut...

 

1. The executive should forward an Economic Stimulus Bill containing all the fiscal stimulus packages, investments and incentives which will receive accelerated consideration and passage at the National Assembly.

2. The fiscal and monetary authorities must harmonise all policies that lower interest rates for investors in the real sector and small/medium scale farmers.

3. The government should adopt peaceful means in the Niger Delta to restore Nigeria’s oil production back to 2.2 million barrels per day.

4. The release of low interest funding under the stimulus package should be targeted at the following areas.
Social Safety Programmes
Humanitarian Activities in the North East
Power Generation
Agricultural value chain
Textile manufacturing
National highway network construction and maintenance
Railway construction and maintenance
Motor vehicle assembly plants
Completion and commissioning of Ajaokuta Steel Complex
Arts, Science and Technology

5. The President should appoint a Senior Special Adviser to lead the government engagement with the aggrieved Niger Delta Militants to ensure the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.

6. The Federal Government should negotiate foreign concessionary borrowing agreements to cover shortfalls in the 2016 budget and the government’s accelerated infrastructural development programme.

7. The Federal Government should restrict and cap the issuance of bonds and treasury bills in order not to crowd-out local investors from the market.

8. The Federal Government should ensure the payment of all genuine domestic debts owed to local contractors who have completed their jobs.

9. The Federal Government should settle all salaries and pension liabilities.

10. The Federal Government should leverage the use of pension and insurance funds to provide long-term capital on lending for agriculture, industry and housing projects.

11. The Executive should reconstitute the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all other critical agencies in order to ensure that they operate in accordance to their enabling laws.

12. The Legislature (through law) and the Executive (through policies) must take action to encourage telecommunications companies to float their shares in Nigeria’s stock market.

13. The Fiscal Responsibility Act should be used to encourage States and Local Govenrments to be more prudent and accountable in their revenue and expenditure agreements.

14. Cases involving unaccounted oil exports should be pursued vigorously to logical conclusions.

15. The Federal Government should immediately set-up an ad-hoc committee for the reconstruction of the North-East and the rehabilitation and resettlement of all Internally Displaced Persons.

16. The President should consider establishing a Council of Economic Advisers made up of experts in economic management.

. The Federal Government should establish a platform for pro-business-oriented leadership-level engagement to boost market confidence.

18. The Federal Government should retool its export promotion policy scheme with export incentives like the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and the export financing initiatives.

19. The National Assembly will institute a legislative framework with timelines for key government policies in the area of agriculture and solid minerals to boost investor confidence in government - and to protect investors from rapid policy reversals.

The National Assembly will examine, prioritise and fast-track the consideration of the following bills to revive Nigeria’s economy:
Petroleum Industry Bill
National Development Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill
Nigerian Ports and Habours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill
National Road Fund (Establishment) Bill
National Transport Commission Act of 2001
Warehouse Receipts Act (Amendment) Bill
Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA)
Investment and Securities Act (ISA)
Customs and Excise Management Act
Federal Competition Bill
National Road Authority Bill

20. The National Assembly will immediately commence sustained oversight to monitor the activities of the Executive in the implementation of the 2016 Budget.

21. The National Assembly will continue to engage the Executive to create the necessary synergy on all economic and social interventions that are capable of bringing succour to Nigeria.