China Construction Firm To Build Railway Assembly Plants In Nigeria

The China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCEC) is to build a railway wagon assembly plants that will produce around 500 wagons for train across the continent, the foundation for the project was laid by Nigeria Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday.

The plant located in Kajola, Ogun State is expected to generate about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and would emerge as the largest private investment by CCECC in sub-Saharan Africa when completed.
Osinbajo while laying the foundation of the plants, charged the contractor handling the project, CCECC to start assembling locomotives and coaches in Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation had earlier stated that the plant would create 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, as well as boost the country’s foreign exchange through exports.
“The plant which is a private investment to be undertaken by Messers CCECC, is central in the production of rolling stock needed for the railway modernisation programme being implemented by this administration.
“This ceremony is not just another event, it is a historic turning point. For us, the railway is not only an alternative and comfortable mode of travel, it holds the master key to transforming commerce in Nigeria and across the continent,” Osinbajo said at the ceremony.
On the assembling of coaches in Nigeria, Osinbajo stated that he was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to tell the contractors to work towards achieving the feat.
“I have a message also from the President and this is to CCECC which is that we expect that you move on very quickly to the next phase of this project which is the assembly and construction of coaches and locomotives.
“This for us will be a significant breakthrough and we will be looking forward to hearing from you as quickly as possible when this will come into operation.”
He said the plant would produce some of the parts, as well as wagons that would be deployed in the Lagos-Ibadan railway.
Osinbajo said, “By linking our ports to rail lines and now building the rolling stock locally, import and export business within, into and out of Africa’s largest market will never be the same.
“When completed, it is expected that the plant would produce some parts of the wagons for the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines, also for the central rail lines and to satisfy the needs of other rail operators within the West African sub-region.”

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Nigeria Has 2nd Largest Number Of Child Brides —UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s (UNICEF) Fund says Nigeria has the second-largest number of child brides in the world, with 23 million girls and women married out as children in the country, thereby ending their educational strive.

Bhanu Pathak, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, stated this in Bauchi State on Saturday at a Youth Talk organised in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Too many Nigerian children and young people are being left behind, especially when it comes to education.
“Nigeria has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children; more than 10.5 million Nigerian children are not in school.
“Nigeria also has the second largest number of child brides in the world with 23 million girls and women married as children, and as such, ending their education,” said Pathak.
He reiterated UNICEF’s resolve to foster a stronger partnership with the Nigerian government at the federal and state levels for the realisation of children’s rights.
In his remarks, Sagir Musa, the President, Youth Advocates For Education, Bauchi, said, the challenges of young people included high rate of unemployment, lack of basic life skills, drug abuse, political thuggery and illiteracy among others.
He commended the state government for collaborating with UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, to organise such forum which gave young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and take decisions on matters that affected their lives.
That the ceremony was organised by UNICEF and Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board.
The Youth Talk, which is tagged ‘The Nigeria We Want: Voices from Bauchi’, was sponsored by United Kingdom Department for International Development, with participants from six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau and Taraba States.

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Lagos State Budgets N1.2 Trn For 2020

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday presented a total budget of N1.16 trillion for 2020 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

The budget, according to the governor will be funded from a projected internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.071 trillion, while the deficit component stood at
A breakdown of the budget titled, ‘Budget of Awakening’ shared by the Lagos State Government reveals that it will be funded by a projected total revenue of N1.071 trillion and a deficit amounting to N97.53 billion.
The deficit will be financed through internal and external loans.
Last month, the governor had made a request to the state legislators to approve a total of N250 billion loans and bond issuance to fund some projects in the 2019 budget.
Giving a breakdown of the budget tagged “Awakening to a Greater Lagos”, Sanwo-Olu tsaid 62 percent of total estimate would be expended on capital projects, while recurrent expenditure was put at 38 percent.
This translates to capital expenditure gulping N723.75 billion, while recurrent expenditure will take N444.81 billion.
A total of N167.81 billion of the recurrent expenditure will go for personnel costs and other staff-related expenses.
Sanwo-Olu said the proposed budget would help the State achieve a sustainable social investment and scale up private sector-led economic growth through investment in infrastructure and security.
He said it would also improve civic engagement in governance and foster partnership with the federal government and the civil society.
Explaining why his administration will be earmarking huge funds to the environment and public infrastructure, the Governor said Lagos had been facing combined threats from population explosion and climate change.
“Lagos faces an existential threat, arising from the interplay of demographic and climate change. Lagos will continue to be a magnet for multitudes within and outside Nigeria, in search of jobs and economic prosperity. These levels of migration put a phenomenal strain on the physical and fiscal resources of the state.
“This budget seeks to aggressively invest in and develop our education, health and other physical infrastructure sectors," the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu said that as at September 2019, our capital expenditure on works and infrastructure was just N31 billion, which is less compared with N78 billion proposed in the current year. It is our intention to spend N115 billion on physical infrastructure in 2020.
“In response to the perennial challenges of flooding in the metropolis, we have to triple the capital budget provision to tackle this observed problems from N3 billion in 2019 to N9 billion in 2020. We are embarking on massive desilting of major drain systems across the State next year.”
"The 2020 Budget will be supported by a Performance Management System that will ensure that, by December 2020, we shall achieve an optimal budget implementation when compared with previous years. This is in line with our commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.
“We have provided N11.8 billion as counterpart funds in preparation for various social impact schemes. In addition, we have made provisions for N7.1 billion this year, to provide for industrial hubs, parks, graduate internship programs and virtual markets for artisans. This is in support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which are the engines for both economic and employment growth.”

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Attempt To Amend EFCC Law Meant To Undermine Its Effectiveness

Nigeria's anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused some powerful people plotting to whittle down the power of the commission by sponsoring an amendment to its enabling law.

According to the acting chairman of the commission Ibrahim Magu there was a plot to amend the agency’s enabling Act to reduce its powers.
He said although some corrupt elements were behind the plot to whittle down the powers of EFCC as a way of fighting back
There was a report that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation plans to take over the assets recovery and management functions of the country's anti-graft agencies.
However, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has debunked the claimed, saying there was no plan to reduce the asset recovery powers of the EFCC.
Malami said the anti-graft agencies would retain their powers to seize assets from corrupt suspects.
The minister made the clarifications in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
Magu in his presentation at a press briefing said asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of their crimes.
He said the activities of the EFCC have also helped to restore the confidence of international investors in the economy
Magu, who made his position known at Anti-corruption Townhall meeting in Abuja, said all that is needed to fight corruption is “a combination of guts, integrity and determination.”
“For me, this is a moment to share experiences from my four-year tour of duty at the helm of the EFCC, leading the commission’s charge against all forms of corruption in Nigeria.
“It is true that corruption is the greatest problem holding back our country from fulfilling its potentials. It is entrenched in all sectors. But, in the last four years, the EFCC, backed by the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari, has, through a combination of enforcement and preventive measures, proving that this monster can be tamed.
“All that is needed is a combination of guts, integrity and determination.
“Fighting corruption comes with its peculiar challenges. The corrupt are not going to fold their hands while you retrieve what they had stolen. They would fight back. This has come in the form of:
•sponsored media attacks and even violent attacks against operatives of the Commission. My farmhouse in Nasarawa state was attacked;
•sponsorship of unwarranted amendment of EFCC laws, to reduce its powers and undermine the effectiveness of the agency; and
undermining and distracting the leadership of the commission.
The Acting EFCC chairman spoke on other inhibitions against the anti-graft war.
“The other challenges are: not enough funding support for expanding activities of the commission, especially the huge cost of investigation and prosecution of cases.
“Lack of progress in some high profile corruption cases due to the antics of defence lawyers, especially some senior advocates.
“Lack of cooperation by some institutions in both public and private sectors that should be working side – by – side with the Commission in the fight against corruption.
“Lack of cooperation by some foreign countries in the recovery of stolen assets stashed abroad.
“Insufficient manpower to cope with the ever-increasing cases of corruption and economic crimes and inadequate accommodation for staff in zonal offices
“I wish to reiterate that, no one agency can fight the ills of corruption alone, as such, we must all work together as hunters of fraud and corruption to salvage our country from the corrupt few.”
On the controversy surrounding the seizure of properties, Magu said: “Asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of his/her crime.
“It also allows the country to channel recovered funds into national development. Within this period, the Commission has recovered several hundreds of billions of Naira which are in various categories of forfeitures.
“Some of these funds were recovered for third party individuals, companies, as well as government agencies such as NNPC, FIRs, AMCON and also state governments. Several thousand of movable and immovable properties have been recovered within the period. These are also subject of either interim or final forfeiture orders.”

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Nigeria Senate Excited Over $10 Bln Train 7 NLNG Project

Nigeria plans to increase gas production capacity by 35 percent and invest $10 billion on train seven of the Liquefied natural gas project is being backed by the country's Senate.

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) chief executive Tony Attah was at the Senate to make presentation on the proposed expansion of gas production in the country on Thursday.
The Senate Committee on Local Content, headed by Teslim Folarin has urged Nigerians to actively participate in the project which would create 10,000 new jobs and expand gas production capacity by 35 percent.
Folarin said the Senate is committed towards ensuring that Nigerians are active participants in the gas sector.
Folarin in a statement by his Senior Legislative Aid Bamidela Ajibola on Friday said the committee was delighted at the expansion of the nation’s gas capacity from 22MTPA to 30MTPA through the train7 project.
He said the project would be constructed by the SCD consortium, comprising of Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo.
Folarin stressed with the foreign direct investment on the project, the gas sector and the nation, stands to witness unprecedented benefit.
He, however, said that NLNG should expect further invitations from the senate given its determination to ensure that the project complies with Local Content laws once the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the TRAIN seven project was signed.
Attah in his remark explained that NLNG was owned by four shareholders, namely the Federal Government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49 per cent, stake; Shell Gas has 25.6 percent Total Gaz Electricite with 15 percent and Eni International with 10.4 percent.
He said NLNG selected the SCD consortium for the Train seven project after a thorough bidding process.
According to him, the SCD consortium will collectively build the seven billion dollars Train seven LNG expansion plant.
Attah said that an additional 3billion dollars worth of investment in upstream gas development would be spent to meet the expected demands of the new capacity.
He said the investment would raise the global profile of Nigeria as the fourth largest exporter of LNG in the world.
He commended the Senate and its Committee on Local Content for the support rendered so far.

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How President Buhari Weakens Osinbajo’s Powers Amid Succession Talk

The relationship between Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is in the spotlight after the president embarked on a private overseas trip without handing over temporary authority to his deputy.

While Buhari, 76, transferred power to Osinbajo, 62, during his first term when he traveled abroad for medical reasons, it’s the second time he’s opted not to since being re-elected in February. His chief-of-staff, Abba Kyari, this week had to fly to London so that Buhari could sign long-awaited oil legislation approved by parliament.
Speculation that Buhari is marginalizing Osinbajo was partly fueled by the president’s decision last month to appoint a new economic advisory council that reports directly to him, replacing a committee headed by the vice president.
Nigerian newspapers reported that Buhari, who is on a 15-day private visit to the U.K., this week approved the dismissal of dozens of Osinbajo’s aides.
The treatment of Osinbajo since the election “has sent a strong signal to the ruling party and national power brokers that Buhari has no plans to anoint, or go out of his way to position, his VP as his preferred successor,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House.
“It also sends a signal that Buhari prefers to maintain tight control over government decision-making.”
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined to comment and Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Reversing Decisions
Even before the election, Buhari had begun undoing what could pass for Osinbajo’s legacy by reversing key decisions the latter made when he was acting president. These include removing former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose appointment was confirmed by Osinbajo while Buhari was abroad, and firing Mathew Seiyefa, the vice president’s choice for head of the secret police to replace a Buhari appointee.
Although the next presidential election isn’t due until 2023, Buhari can’t stand again and attention is already turning to the question of who’ll be the ruling All Progressives Congress’s candidate.
A former law professor from southwest Nigeria, Osinbajo won praise for his decisive handling of economic matters, especially during the president’s lengthy health-related absences during his first term.
Under an informal arrangement, the APC is expected to select a candidate from the mainly Christian south to replace Buhari, who comes from the predominantly Muslim north.
APC spokesman Lanre Issa-Onilu didn’t immediately respond to phone calls requesting comment.
Opinions differ over the legality of Buhari’s decision not to transfer power to Osinbajo while he’s in the U.K. for undisclosed private reasons.
The president’s supporters say he’s under no obligation to hand over responsibilities if his absence is shorter than 21 days.
“This is some kind of clever attempt to explain away the provisions of the constitution,” said Clement Nwankwo, director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.
“What he (Buhari) has done is not in line with the provisions of the constitution.”

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Man With 5 wives, 23 kids offers 3-Year-Old Son For N5 Mln After Selling Daughter

Nasarawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a 42-year-old polygamous suspect for attempting to sell his three-year-old son in Lafia, the state capital.

Mohammed Mahmoud-Fari, State Commandant of the NSCDC told newsmen on Thursday in Lafia that the man was arrested on Tuesday following a sting operation by the officers of the command.
According to Mahmoud-Fari, the man, who hailed from Obi Local Government Area, had concluded plans to sell his son for N5m.
“Our undercover officers got wind of his plan and opened negotiation with the suspect who offered to sell the son for N5m.
“He opted to collect the money in cash and it was in the process that we arrested him in Lafia,’’ Mahmoud-Fari said.
The NSCDC boss said investigation revealed that the man has five wives and 23 children, out of which he had already sold a daughter.
Meanwhile, the suspect confessed to the crime and attributed his action to economic hardship, saying he resorted to selling his son to enable him take care of the family.
Mahmoud-Fari said the suspect will be prosecuted accordingly.

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Price Of Cooking Gas May Rise 75%, Marketers Warn

Marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), have warned that prices of cooking gas may rise ahead of festive season due to the indiscriminate hike in the price of the product by 75 percent in the last two weeks.

Executive Secretary of the association, Bassey Essien, raised the alarm on the arbitrary increase in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
He said within a five-day period, the price of a 20 metric tonnes of LPG which sold for N3.15 million, suddenly increased to N3.5 million and N3.9 million.
“A few hours thereafter, the price moved to N4.2 million despite the fact that same product has been in the storage of these terminals when price was even N3.5 million, so why the sudden upsurge,” he said.
He said the price hike would ultimately dovetail into high prices to the consumers who unfortunately are also caught up in the web of price hikes.
“At this time of the year in the past, price hikes used to be attributable to winter season, increased demand for heating energy and international price index.
“This we have consistently questioned why a product in abundance in our country should become such a victim of any slightest issue occurring internationally.
“Efforts to extract the cause of the sudden and hourly price increase from the terminals have not been met with any positive response.
“At one of the terminals, there was an outright denial of any price increase; however, price of LPG has been moved from N3.9 million to N4.2 million. A representative of the company insisted rather that the company had no stock.
“But when asked to explain the sudden price increase to N4.2 million when company had no stock, he was evasive,’’ he said.
Essien said it became necessary to react to the current price hike of cooking gas in spite of the efforts of the government and stakeholders to deepen the usage of LPG in the country.
“The association is hereby disassociating itself and members from the antics of the current price hike and therefore maintaining that the price increase is not the handiwork of marketers, but rather that of the terminal owners, importers and the NLNG.
“Marketers are equally bemoaning the situation as the development has adversely affected business planning.
“If the trend is not halted immediately, the price of a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas may soon sell for over N6,000 and well out of the purchasing power of the average consumer.
“This brings to questioning when the issue of product availability will ever be holistically addressed. We cannot deepen the use of LPG if availability of the product is not guaranteed,’’ he said.
Essien said there was urgent need to reverse the price hike.
He, however, called on the NLNG to flood the market with cooking gas since they had the capacity to do so and increase the frequency with which the vessels deliver LPG from Bonny to the terminals, particularly in the Lagos axis.
He said NLNG should supply LPG to other coastal terminals outside Lagos to reduce the inherent pressure on the terminals in the Southwest.
Essien also said vessels of smaller capacities should be deployed to access the coastal terminals if product availability must be achieved.
He urged LPG importers to free the PPMC depot in Lagos for the delivery of NLNG product allocation.
He said NALPGAM had embarked on the campaign of creating awareness and education of the populace particularly in the rural communities on the safe handling of LPG as the most efficient cooking energy.
According to him, this is in the quest to achieve further deepening of LPG usage in the country.
“In the campaign, the association had given out over 7,000 cylinders with burners to lucky beneficiaries in Lagos, Edo, Oyo and Akwa Ibom states, while still mapping out to do same in other states.
“We thus urge the government and NLNG to urgently increase the quantity of LPG earmarked for domestic consumption as the present allocation cannot sustain demand.
“NLNG should also work out a more robust delivery logistics so that there will be no supply lacuna. Many terminals are now operational aside those in Lagos and to reduce the pressure on Lagos, the wear and tear of the roads and traffic gridlock in Apapa.
“NLNG should extend their supply logistics to reach terminals in Rivers, Delta, Edo and Cross River states consistently and timely with LPG if the supply situation must improve.
“We cannot suffer in the face of abundance of a product we are blessed within Nigeria. If the situation does not abet, we will soon face imminent LPG scarcity, Essien said.
Essien said some marketers who had paid down for LPG when the price was N3.45 million in a particular terminal but were awaiting loading, were being intimidated with refund of their money.
“Except they agree to pay the difference in the new price despite having tied down their funds without loading their trucks,” he said.
One of the LPG terminal operators, who preferred anonymity attributed the increase was as a result of Federal Government circular to commence VAT on imported LPG.
The source said that importing LPG is more expensive because NLNG only supply domestic market with 350,000 metric tonnes as against one million metric tonnes market demand.
According to him, NLNG cannot meet domestic demand and there is need to import LPG to cushion the gap, adding that the government’s taxing of import has led to the increase in price.
“Domestic gas is not taxed and it can meet domestic demand. We hope that government will find way to address the issues before it goes out of hand.”

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Total Divesting Stake In Nigeria Deepwater Oilfield At $750 Million

French oil giant, Total is seeking to sell its 12.5 percent stake in a major deepwater oilfield off the coast of Nigeria, industry and banking sources said, in an effort to adjust the energy company’s Africa portfolio amid a broad expansion.

The stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, which is located some 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the Niger Delta, is valued at up to $750 million, according to two of the sources.
Investment bank Rothschild is running the sale process for Total, the sources said.
A spokeswoman for Total declined to comment. Rothschild declined to comment.
OML 118 is operated by Royal Dutch Shell, which holds a 55% interest. Exxon Mobil holds a 20% stake in the block, while Italy’s Eni and Total each hold 12.5%.
The sale process is part of Total’s plan to sell $5 billion of assets around the world by 2020, the sources said.
The block includes the Bonga field, Nigeria’s first deepwater project which started in 2005 and produced around 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at its peak.
Output from the block is planned to grow sharply with the $10 billion development of the Bonga Southwest field which is expected to produce up to 200,000 bpd, roughly 10% of Nigeria’s current oil production.
Nigeria’s vast oil resources have attracted foreign oil companies for decades but changes to the country’s oil revenue laws as well as an unexpected tax levy over the past year could make investments in offshore projects less attractive.
Shell and its partners were expected to make an investment decision on Bonga Southwest last year but uncertainty over its fiscal terms with the Nigerian government have delayed the process.
Shell in February launched a tender for bids for a 225,000 bpd floating production, storage and offloading vessel for the new development phase. It has since pushed back the schedule for the bids.
The sale comes as Total prepares to expand its operations in Africa after agreeing earlier this year to buy Anadarko’s Africa portfolio for $8.8 billion as part of its acquisition by U.S. rival Occidental Corp.
Total in January started production from the Egina oilfield off Nigeria’s coast which is expected to plateau at 200,000 bpd of oil.
Last month, Total signed an agreement to sell wholly-owned subsidiary Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo BV — which holds an 86.95 percent interest in Block CA1, located 100 kilometers off the coast of Brunei — to Shell for $300 million.
The transaction is subject to approval by the competent authorities and is expected to close by December 2019.
“This transaction fits with our strategy of actively managing our portfolio and will contribute to our program to dispose of $5 billion of non-core assets over the period 2019-2020,” said Arnaud Breuillac, President Exploration & Production at Total.

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President Buhari May Drop Magu, Fowler From EFCC, FIRS~Sources

There are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may not renew the appointment of both the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and his counterpart at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler.

According to a report by Thisday, the President is weighing his options on the two appointees and could replace them as soon as possible.
Magu, who has been rejected twice at the point of confirmation by the Senate has remained head of the anti-graft agency in acting capacity since 2015.
By November 9, Magu would have spent four years in office as the acting chairman of the EFCC and no attempt has been made by the government to re-present his candidature to the Senate for confirmation, sources said.
In the case of the Fowler, by December 9, he would have clocked four years in office as chairman of the tax agency. He was first appointed on August 18, 2015, and got confirmed by the Senate by December of the same year.
The FIRS boss has in recent times been subjected to some close scrutiny by the presidency with the query issued to him by the president chief of staff on his inability to meet revenue target.
At, some point, he was alleged to have conspired with some top officials of the revenue generation agency to defraud the organisation through duty allowances that ran to millions of naira.
However, at the end of the day, he seems to have scaled the hurdle and successfully exonerated himself of the allegations.
Magu’s case is more complex, having regard to his non- confirmation by the Senate,
the president has been under intense pressure by politicians, top government officials and others in the last few months to take a decision on his tenure in office.
While some of the lobbyists, especially influential politicians, were said to be mounting pressure on the president to drop both Magu and Fowler, there are other top politicians who are said to be in support of the retention of the two personalities to sustain the gain in their organisations.
Although, no final decision has been made concerning the two top government officials, but the likelihood of them being retained by the president remains contentious.
The options, a presidential source said, were for the president to retain them by giving them a new term, extend their tenure or drop them.
The president, for instance, could either reappoint Magu for another term of four years, in line with Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act or to replace him.
Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act states: “The Chairman and members of the Commission other than ex-officio members, shall hold office for a period of four years and may be re-appointed for a further term of four years and no more.”
It was gathered there were so many forces arrayed against Magu and his chances of remaining in the EFCC beyond the expiration of his first term tenure would depend on which of the group of the lobbyists win with the president.
Magu case was said to have been compounded by his close relationship with the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his altercations with the Attorney General of the federal Abubakar Malami.
For Fowler, his relationship with a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who has been speculated to be eyeing the position of president come 2023, seems to be working against him as well.

But some sources told THISDAY yesterday that the president might retain Magu by making him also a beneficiary of the tenure extension being enjoyed by the four services chiefs: the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

It was learnt that Magu, enjoyed the confidence of the president, which was why he was retained despite his rejection by the Eighth Senate, which refused to confirm his nomination as substantive EFCC chairman.
In explaining his rejection when he was first considered on December 15, 2016, the Senate had said it refused to confirm Magu based on security report, in an apparent reference to the mandatory report from the Department of State Services (DSS) on nominees for top public office appointments, available to the senators.
The then Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, had said the Senate took the decision after a closed-door meeting, adding: “The Senate wishes to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action.”
The same fate befell Magu when he was re-presented for confirmation in March 2017.
The Senate had again rejected his nomination as the DSS upheld its earlier position that Magu was not fit for the position.
When Magu appeared in the Senate for confirmation on March 15, 2017, Senator Dino Melaye had read out a portion of the DSS report, which stated: “In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.”
During the screening, Magu had satisfactorily answered the senators’ questions but he was confronted with the DSS verdict on him.
However, he had questioned the trustworthiness of the DSS report, adding that the security agency sent out two reports on him with different contents.
“What do you say about credibility of that agency?” he had asked rhetorically.
But despite his rejection, the president had rebuffed entreaties to replace him then; thereby leaving him to continue in office in acting capacity.
Under Magu’s watch, the EFCC has recovered about N939.51billion in four years and secured about 1,636 convictions, including those of two former governors: Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau State) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba State)
Analysts asked on Wednesday whether given the controversy that heralded his confirmation hearing, the president would just reappoint him or return him to the Senate for confirmation for a second tenure given a new found friendly relations the executive has with the legislature.
Fowler was named the acting chairman of the FIRS on August 18, 2015 to replace its former Coordinating Director, Samuel Odugbesan, who was put in the position five months earlier.
The Senate on December 9, 2015, confirmed his appointment for four-year tenure.
However, the commencement of his tenure had sparked a legal battle following a suit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Stanley Okwara, seeking an order of the court to sack him on the grounds that his tenure lapsed on August 18, 2019.
Okwara, in the suit No FHC/KN/CS/141/2019, had asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, to order Fowler to vacate his office.
But a lawyer with the FIRS, Barry Chukwu, in an affidavit dated September 30, had countered Okwara’s claim, saying Fowler’s tenure could only have been said to have started counting in the aftermath of the Senate’s ratification of his nomination.
Chukwu, in an affidavit, had said: “Following a meeting by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 9th December, 2015, Fowler was confirmed as the substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“The following day, 10th December 2015, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of Fowler’s suitability for confirmation as substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“Based on this, Fowler’s appointment as Executive Chairman did not take effect on 20 August, 2015 when he was appointed as the acting FIRS Chairman.”
He also quoted a letter from the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to the president, informing him of Fowler’s confirmation as the FIRS chairman.
“Your Excellency may, therefore, wish to formally appoint the confirmed nominee as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service,” Saraki’s letter, dated 15 December 2015, read in part.
The court, however, struck out Okwara’s suit, upholding the preliminary objection filed by Fowler’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, that the plaintiff had no locus standi to file the suit.

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UBA Teams BA To Reward Loyal Customers

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) and British Airways on Wednesday announced a partnership that will create incentives and reward their loyal customers who are cardholders of the lender.

According to a statement by the two organisations, the incentives based promotion, which will last for six months from November 2019, will ensure that UBA customers will get discounts when they purchase their British Airways tickets using their UBA cards.
The promotion, the statement said will allow customers to enjoy up between 10 percent to 15 percent discount on any ticket purchased during the campaign.
The ticket fares is exclusive of taxes as is applicable to purchases of all goods and services.
The collaboration is aimed at increasing customer experience and satisfaction for both UBA Cardholders and customers of British Airways.
UBA General Manager, Corporate Bank Muyiwa Akinyemi, noted that the collaborations between the two organisations was carefully thought out to ensure that loyal customers of the two institutions are duly rewarded while ensuring that they also receive more value for their money.
He said persons without a UBA account would have to procure a card instantly from any of the business unit of the lender to enable them to benefit from the promo.
“UBA is excited to collaborate with one of the foremost Airlines in the world to run a promotion aimed at rewarding our cardholders and premium customers who will enjoy discounted tickets and other ancillary benefits such as loyalty points on the British Airways Executive Club,” Akinyemi said
He explained that as a customer-centric institution, UBA is always on the look-out for services and reward schemes that will ultimately benefit the customers, in line with its Customer 1st policy.
He noted that the bank has plans to partner with other airlines in the future to provide further opportunities to cut cost of traveling for its customers.
“For now, we are partnering with a pre-eminent airline that offers class and distinction,” he said.
British Airways in West Africa, Kola Olayinka, noted that the airline is pleased to partner with the bank due to its huge customer base and wide reach, adding that with the partnership, more customers will be able to enjoy the promo.
“British Airways is excited to partner with UBA, Africa’s Global Bank, to create a mind-blowing promotion aimed at raising awareness about this service to be rendered by both institutions.”

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Nigeria Loses $41.9bn To Crude oil Theft On 10 Years – NEITI

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said that the country lost $41.9 billion to stolen and refined crude oil products in ten years.

NEITI disclosed this in its policy brief titled, “Stemming the Increasing Cost of Oil Theft to Nigeria” released in Abuja on Wednesday.
A breakdown shows that the nation lost $38.5 billion on crude theft alone, $1.56 billion on domestic crude and another $1.8 billion on refined petroleum products between 2009 and 2018.
The agency in the document further expressed concern that in the face of current dwindling revenues, paying priority attention to curb oil theft in the country’s oil and gas industry was imperative.
This, it said, had become both necessary and urgent to expand the nations revenue generation capacity.
The report also disclosed that Nigeria lost an average of $11 million daily, which translates to $349 million in a month and about $4.2 billion annually to crude and product losses arising from stealing, process lapses and pipeline vandalism.
“While figures from government put the loss at between 150,000 to 250,000 barrels per day (BPD), data from private studies estimate the figure to be between 200,000 to 400,000 BPD.
“This implies that Nigeria may be losing up to a fifth of its daily crude oil production to oil thieves and pipeline vandals,” it said.
On comparative analysis of the size and implication of the losses to the country’s current revenue profile, NEITI in the policy document renewed its appeal to the government to curb oil theft to reduce budget deficits and external borrowing.
It added that the value of crude oil and allied products so far lost were equal to the size of Nigeria’s entire foreign reserves.
“Stemming this hemorrhage and leakages should be an urgent priority for Nigeria at a time of dwindling revenues and increasing needs,” the report stressed.
It further disclosed that what the country lost in 20 months in fiscal terms was enough to finance the proposed budget deficit for 2020; in 15 months to cover total proposed borrowing or increase capital budget by 100 percent.
It added also that it could in five months cover pensions, gratuities and retirees’ benefits for 2020.
“In terms of volume, 138.000 barrels of crude oil were lost every day for the past 10 years, representing seven percent of average production of two million BPD.
” Nigeria lost more than 505 million barrels of crude oil and 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products between 2009 to 2018.
What is stolen, spilled or shut-in represents lost revenue, which ultimately translates to services that government cannot provide for citizens already in dire need of critical public goods,” it added.
The report further identified other effects of oil theft to the nation to include pipeline vandalism, criminal sabotage, illegal refineries in oil producing communities, which threaten the safety and livelihoods of the environment where these illegal refineries operate.
On the environment, the NEITI policy brief said that the impact and implication of oil spills was monumental, degrades the environment and negatively affects the livelihoods of host communities.
The report examined the reasons for increase in incidences of crude and product theft and reviewed current containment strategies.
These include inadequate legal sanctions to serve as a deterrent, stringent laws, deployment of technology designed to swiftly detect, localise and cut off flows to specific pipelines as soon as leakages occur.
It recommended operational, security, legal and global governance instruments to combat crude theft.
Among them is efficient response and containment time in checking oil theft and pipeline vandalism, urgent review of the status of various security organisations currently involved in crude pipeline and product surveillance.
The report also called for forensic investigations into the activities of syndicates operating in the oil and gas industry, given the increasing rate of stealing and sophistication of the illicit trade.
“Curiously, the volume of losses does not particularly reflect the rate of pipeline breaks for the corresponding years, suggesting either that the criminals are becoming more efficient, or crude theft is occurring increasingly elsewhere. This may require further probing,” the report observed.
It also suggested that Government should reconstitute a special security task team for Nigeria’s oil and gas assets, with a specific mandate to minimise crude theft and vandalism.
“This task team should include the oil companies and technical expertise in relevant fields. Command and control responsibility should be manned by professional intelligence personnel.
”The key mode of operation should be based on seamless communication to improve response time.
“The command and control should have direct real time access to information produced by the leak detection and localisation systems installed and operated by the oil companies,” it added.

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Coca-Cola Chooses Recycling Plastic Bottle To Reduce Pollution

Coca-Cola is committed to collecting and recycling plastic bottles rather than switching to aluminum cans as the world’s largest soft drinks maker seeks to reduce its carbon footprint, its chief executive officer has said.

Along with multinational rivals including PepsiCo and Nestle, Coca-Cola has started offering recyclable aluminum cans as well as plastic bottles for some water brands as the industry reacts to public outrage over the world’s oceans being polluted with plastic waste.
But Coca-Cola’s launch of a range of cans for sparkling water in the United States is not part of a broader shift, said CEO James Quincey during an interview in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos.
“We are not trying to engineer a strategic shift from plastic to aluminum,” said Quincey, adding that the firm was “focused on collecting” and has a collection rate of about 59 percent.
Quincey said import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum that U.S. President Donald Trump set in 2018 to preserve national security would also not alter its plan.
“It’s not so big that it’s going to make us change our strategy,” said Quincey on the impact of the tariffs.
“Given the relative weight of aluminum in our total business, it hasn’t caused a big change in strategy - just a cost increase that fed through to the consumers,” he said.
Last year Coca-Cola pledged to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells globally by 2030.
The company adopts different methods around the world to collect bottles. In some countries, it uses a deposit return scheme that enables consumers to return bottles in exchange for incentives - such as cash, vouchers or a points-scheme. It also works with private firms that employ collection agents to retrieve used bottles.
“A recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle has a much lower carbon footprint than an aluminum can or a returned glass bottle,” said Quincey.
He said collecting and reusing bottles was a “better long term answer” than switching to cans.
Last month environmental group Greenpeace said Coca-Cola was the world’s biggest producer of plastic waste for the second year in a row.
Working with the Break Free From Plastic movement, it said 11,732 branded Coca-Cola plastics were recorded in 37 countries - more than the next three top global polluters combined.
But Coke’s CEO said this was just a reflection of the drinks company being the “biggest brand”.
Coca-Cola beat Wall Street estimates with quarterly revenue of $9.51 billion last month, prompting the company to give an upbeat forecast for 2019.

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Don't Call Me 'Your Excellency' Again, Sanwo-Olu says

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that he does not want to be addressed as 'His excellency' any longer, rather he would prefer the prefix 'Mr. Governor' hence.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said he will sign an executive order on Thursday to give official effect to the new title.
"I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy. "A salutation that sanitises the paraphernalia of office and reminds us all of our imperfections and mortality. To give official effect to this announcement, I shall issue tomorrow an executive order that will formally ensure full compliance with this new policy," the governor said.
According to him, the office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
In the last five months that I have been privileged to exercise the mandate freely given to me by the great and hardworking people of Lagos State, it has come to my consciousness to review certain features of citizen-government relations which impede the genuine expression of the democratic spirit of our society and the meaningful exercise of the sovereignty of our people.
The office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
"It has deformed the orientation of elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serve the people.
"Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility - and sincerity. The office of Governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people.
"Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people has brought us here. It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
"Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities," the governor concluded.

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Sexual Predators Liable To 14-Year Jail Term, New Law Before Senate

A new law to criminalise sexual harassment and rape in the tertiary institutions in the country has passed the second reading on the floor of the Senate and has prescribed a 14-year jail term for offenders.

The bill, being sponsored by the Senate deputy president Ovie Omo-Agege, is entitled "A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for other matters connected therewith 2019.”
According to a statement by the media office of the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, the bill has 27 clauses.
The bill proposes up to 14 years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of fine for any educator who commits sexual offences in tertiary institutions.
The bill defines sexual offences as including sexual intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a prospective student or intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual advances.
Other forms of sexual harassment identified in the bill are grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking, touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or any other sensual part of the body of a student; or sending by hand or courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit pictures or videos or sex-related objects to a student, and whistling or winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique or stalking a student.
Senator Omo-Agege, while leading debate on the bill, said “the most effective way to deal with the offence of sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions is to penalise the very impropriety of the act, with or without consent.”
According to him, sexual harassment must be defined in tertiary educational institutions as statutory rape with strict liability for offenders to be prosecuted easily.
On the suggestion for the extension of the bill to primary, secondary schools, worship centres and workplaces, Omo-Agege said doing so will not be necessary because the Criminal and Penal codes already adequately deals with these categories with sufficient clarity.
He, however, stressed that the bill prescribes expulsion for students who falsely accuse educators of sexual harassment.
“An educator whose character is maligned is at liberty to sue for defamation under the law of defamation which is well-settled in our jurisprudence and needs no duplication in this bill.”

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ICAN Delists, Suspends 25,000 Members Over Financial Issues

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria has delisted 14,337 non-financial members who are owing the association dues for more than three years effective from November 1, 2019.

The professional accountancy body, in a statement signed by its registrar John I. Evbodaghe, said it has also suspended 11,240 members who are owing dues covering between six months to three years.
“Council has directed that members should be given two weeks grace period ending November 19, 2019 to further reconcile their financial status with the Institute.” the statement said.
The institute said it will publish names indebted members’ details in national Newspapers after the expiration of the “two weeks grace period” if they fail to pay.

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Huawei’s Founder Says No Buyer Yet For Its 5G Technology

Huawei Technologies Co.’s billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei said there have been no direct talks between the firm and any U.S. company since his offer to license the Chinese giant’s full portfolio of fifth-generation network technology.

His comment contradicts earlier reports that the Chinese telecom gear giant is in talks with potential buyers on a sale.
“There are no American companies talking to us,” Ren told a panel in Shenzhen moderated by Bloomberg Television. “Because it’s a very big and difficult decision to make, the big companies need to consider it seriously,” he said. Should a buyer appear, investment banks may be called in to facilitate a deal, he added.
In September, Ren said Huawei is ready to license its 5G technology, including chip designs, hardware and source code, to a single, exclusive licensee. That should be a U.S. company because Europe is home to close competitors like Nokia Oyj and Ericsson AB and doesn’t need help to compete, he added.
Huawei, accused by Donald Trump’s administration of aiding Beijing in spying while spearheading China’s tech-superpower ambitions, is trying to claw back business and shore up trust in its products. The company has repeatedly denied such allegations.
The world’s second-largest smartphone maker is expecting its 2019 smartphone shipments to jump as much as 21 percent to 250 million units, defying a U.S. export ban that cuts Huawei off from key American components.

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PDP Senator Olujimi Floors APC Adeyeye At Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal has sacked Adedayo Adeyeye as the lawmaker representing Ekiti South senatorial district and asked the electoral body to issue the certificate of returns to Biodun Olujimi, who is the main opposition candidate as the winner.

Adeyeye, until the court ruling was the spokesperson for the upper chamber and the senator representing the ruling All Progressive Party (APC).
The Court of Appeal declared Senator Biodun Olujimi of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.
Olujimi, a former principal officer in the 8th senate, is a former deputy governor of Ekiti state. She had won the case at the lower tribunal in the state weeks back.
Olujimi in a tweet said: "Congratulations to my Steadfast Constituents of Ekiti South Senatorial District and all Ekiti people indeed. It is a Victory For Democracy and the Freedom of Choice. May God only be Praised, to Him alone be ALL the Glory."
Adeyeye was a former spokesman of the main opposition party before he switched allegiance to the ruling party to contest the election this year.
The Election Tribunal had earlier declared Olujimi winner with total votes of 54,894 against Adeyeye, who garnered 52,234 after the Justice Danladi Adeck-led tribunal nullified elections in some units.
However, Adeyeye appealed the September 9 judgment that nullified his election and declared the PDP candidate, Olujimi, winner of the poll.

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NCC, Telecoms Firms Get 1-Week Deadline To Crash Data Rate

Nigeria has directed its telecoms regulatory body and industry operators to work out modalities to crash the cost of mobile data for consumers, and they both have one week to carry out the assignment.

According to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami on Tuesday, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must get to work in concert with telecom operators within one week to achieve the reduction plan.
Pantami, who spoke in his office, said he had been inundated with complaints by Nigerians who pay so much for data that hardly lasts.
The NCC team to his office was led by its Board Chairman Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye.
“I am urging the management of NCC to work towards reducing the price of data in Nigeria. It is too costly and people are complaining every day.
“If you go to other countries, even countries that are not as largely populated as Nigeria, data prices are not this high. I am also a victim of some of the infractions that are so common in the industry.
“You load your data, but you barely use 20 per cent of it and the entire data is wiped off. Illegal data deduction is one of the issues that worry me badly today.”
The minister said he did not agree with an attempt by NCC to defend the operators.
“I was not fully convinced by the explanation. Please go, sit down and review that issue. It is very important and I want to get your feedback with that report in the next five working days with the decision on it.
“The complaint from Nigerians is beyond what I can handle as it is today. People are complaining. And it happened to me. I recharged my data line and used it, and I believe that what I used was not up to 20 per cent of what I purchased when it was wiped off, so that is an issue that is very important.
“I directed NCC to reduce the price of data downward. It is very important. Go and look at other African countries that do not have population like ours, even 20 percent of our population; go and see the price of data there.
“As a regulator, the main agenda of NCC is to protect the customers; our priority should be the interest of Nigerians.”
Pantami praised the NCC leadership for its achievements, especially in five percent broadband penetration and the de-activation of pre-registered and unregistered SIM cards.
He urged the commission to go a step further by ensuring that 3G and 4G technology are expanded in Nigeria.
He urged the new board member to key into President Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes, which he said are anchored on fighting insecurity and corruption and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty as soon as possible.

The Minister spoke in Abuja after NCC’s new Executive Commissioner (Stakeholders Management), Adeleke Adewolu was sworn in.

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Girls As Young As 12 Were Strip-Searched By Australian Police

Girls as young as 12 have been strip-searched by the police in Australia’s most populous state in recent years, according to data released on Wednesday, a revelation that spurred new criticism of a tactic frequently used to hunt for drugs at places like music festivals.

The police minister for the state of New South Wales, David Elliott, acknowledged that officers had not always abided by standard procedures in conducting strip searches of children, which are legal if the circumstances are urgent and a parent or guardian is present.
But he said that if drugs were uncovered in the process, parents would nonetheless be happy. “I’ve got young children, and if I thought that the police felt that they were at risk of doing something wrong, I’d want them strip-searched,” he said.
Civil liberties advocates strenuously disagreed. They called the searches an invasive overstep of paternalistic police powers that leave psychological trauma. They also said laws allowing the tactic reflected a zero-tolerance drug policy that is doing more harm than good.
“It’s the only form of legislation that allows an adult to tell a young child to take off all their clothes,” said Samantha Lee, the head of the Police Accountability Practice at the Redfern Legal Center, which obtained the data through a freedom of information request. “If it was any other circumstance, the law would come down hard and heavy.”
From mid-2016 to mid-2019 in New South Wales, a state of 7.5 million people, 122 girls under the age of 18 were strip-searched in places outside police stations. Among them were two 12-year-olds and eight 13-year-olds. Searches of boys were not included in the data.
The new statistics follow months of increasing scrutiny of the growing practice of strip searches by police officers. From mid-2005 to mid-2018, such searches in New South Wales, which includes Sydney, increased almost twentyfold. In about two-thirds of cases, the police did not find illegal drugs.
While strip searches occur in most of Australia, festivals in New South Wales have become infamous for them, with police officers often patrolling with drug detection dogs. But critics said that such searches, which have also occurred at parks and train stations, should not be routinely conducted for the relatively minor offense of drug possession.
"It’s highly likely the vast majority of strip searches are being conducted unlawfully,” said Vicki Sentas, a senior law lecturer at the University of New South Wales who has researched strip-searching statistics.
In an inquiry conducted last month by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, a 16-year-old girl who attended a festival said she was asked to squat and cough in front of a police officer. She had no drugs.
“I could not stop crying. I was completely humiliated,” she said, according to her complaint. An officer who worked at the festival admitted that some of the searches he conducted may have been unlawful.
Mark Speakman, the state’s attorney general, said that strip searches in general were an “important investigative tool” but that the police needed to “get the balance right.”
Tyson Koh, the leader of Keep Sydney Open, a political party critical of strip searches at festivals, said it was time to scrutinize such arguments.
“For the longest time, people have been willing to put up with it because it’s been sold as being for the greater good,” Mr. Koh said. “More people are really starting to question police and government in these situations.”
Ms. Lee, of the Redfern Legal Center, has called for changes to legislation that would specify under which circumstances strip searches could occur and require court orders for children to be searched.
“The problem has been left to fester for many years,” she said. “It’s time the police force caught up.”

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How Abba Kyari Manipulated Buhari To Act Against Osinbajo's interest

PREMIUM TIMES EXCLUSIVE
When Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking approval for funds to continue his role in resolving the deadly farmers-herdsmen conflict earlier this year, he did so with little awareness that a middleman would intercept it, moderate it and ultimately discard his role altogether.

Yet, that was exactly what transpired after Mr Osinbajo pushed a memo to Mr Buhari earlier this year that was subsequently undermined by Abba Kyari, the president’s chief of staff.
After successfully rubbishing Mr Osinbajo’s request to Mr Buhari, Mr Kyari went on to instigate the president to sack Mr Osinbajo from his role as the head of a committee that was raised to resolve the perennial violence between farmers and herdsmen, PREMIUM TIMES can report based on official documents and interviews with people familiar with the tussle for influence at the Presidential Villa.
The exclusive documents in our possession provide a rare glimpse into the humiliation Mr Osinbajo is facing at a time speculations are rife nationwide about how poorly the vice-president was being treated by the president’s senior aides and allies.
A Request Made
The documents showed Mr Osinbajo sought the president’s approval for three proposals relating to the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP). Mr Osinbajo had earlier been mandated by the president to lead the initiative with other governors in the National Economic Council (NEC).
The NLTP was proposed when the Buhari administration came under pressure to find a lasting solution to the incessant herdsmen violence that killed nearly 4,000 people between 2016 and 2018.
The plan included programmes of rehabilitation of displaced persons in states ravaged by the farmers-herders’ violence and development of ranches for nomadic herders in any willing state of the federation.
After months of preliminary consultations and inputs from affected states, an agreement was reached by states to form a substantive committee that would oversee implementation of the compromise, make NLTP the coordinating institution of all outstanding issues bordering on herdsmen crisis and coordinate funding for the transformation efforts.
In an April 12, 2019 memo to the president, the vice-president detailed the agreement to the president and requested approval. He mentioned that N35 billion had been earmarked for the livestock transformation policy, out of which N12 billion had already been released for ruga projects (construction of ranches for Fulani herders along designated grazing routes).
The entire N35 billion was pulled from the ecological funds of federal and state governments. The N12 billion was earmarked for emergency ruga projects in Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Adamawa. The states were designated frontline states affected by the farmers-herders crisis.
Subsequently, since N12 billion had been earmarked for immediate use, Mr Osinbajo pleaded with Mr Buhari to release N22 billion for the longtime implementation of the project, including providing succour for people displaced by the violence in Benue, Plateau and other states.
Mr Osinbajo also stated in the memo (reference: SH/VP/NLTP/02/1) that the N22 billion would be deposited in a dedicated account with the CBN and only withdrawn for specific purposes as may be approved by the member states in the proposed Steering Committee.
‘Duplication of Efforts’
But rather than forwarding the vice president’s memo to the president for approval, Mr Kyari held it for more than a month, eventually submitting it to the president on May 16. But before he submitted it, the chief of staff reworked the memo to include his own observation and recommendations to the president.
Mr Kyari told the president that the request by Mr Osinbajo should be rejected because the N12 billion voted for the Ruga projects had not been fully utilised.
“Given that the president has approved N12 billion for intervention for the Ruga Model, through the National Food Security Council (NFSC), we respectfully recommend that we first evaluate the development impact of this particular project before releasing further amounts for the NLTP,” Mr Kyari wrote. “This is key especially as major security operations are ongoing in some of these locations.”
On Mr Osinbajo’s request for an inclusive Steering Committee to be inaugurated to drive the livestock transformation policy, Mr Kyari knocked it as a duplication of efforts.
“This plan may not be an effective strategy due to the overriding importance of farmer/herder issues in the National Food Security Council, which Mr President is the chairman,” he said.
The chief of staff then proceeded to recommend that Mr Buhari should scrap the NLTP, an initiative by state governors and the vice-president as a representative of the administration.
“To avoid duplication of efforts, we respectfully recommend (with emphasis) that Mr President retains oversight of the farmer/herder issues under the NFSC,” Mr Kyari said, adding that the council includes all heads of security and intelligence agencies as well as representatives of governors from the six geopolitical zones.
Finally, Mr Kyari proposed the establishment of a National Livestock and Fisheries Commission that would be responsible for “formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating all projects relating to ranching, fisheries and other related issues.”
A Vice-President Undermined
On May 24, the president approved Mr Kyari’s request, consequently discarding Mr Osinbajo’s request.
“Your recommendations above endorsed,” Mr Buhari said when he signed the memo with reference number: PRES/65-I/COS/2/996.
In approving Mr Kyari’s recommendations over Mr Osinbajo’s even without consulting with his deputy, Mr Buhari appeared to have more respect for his aides.
Presidency sources told PREMIUM TIMES there was no basis for the president’s action, which is just one of several acts of insubordination against the vice-president.
Osinbajo addressed the memo directly to the president, and it is unclear why the chief of staff had to sit on it and eventually rubbishing the content before passing it to the president.
“It is not for the chief of staff to advise the president on a memo that came directly from the vice-president,” an official told PREMIUM TIMES under strict anonymity to avoid being victimised for discussing confidential State House matters.
“The vice-president issued the memo based on a policy he had been personally supervising,” the official said. ” So there is no basis, especially in writing, that it should be subjected to the advice of a subordinate.”
The official said it was not uncommon for a president to call his chief of the staff or other aides to seek verbal advice on an action he wanted to take over a request from the vice-president, but he would then have to first revert to the vice-president for further briefing and suggestions on areas that need improvement.
Another official told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Kyari took the step to retain powers for himself by proxy. If the approval sought by Mr Osinbajo had been granted, matters around the farmers-herders crisis would have been joint federal-states concerns and issues would have to be vigorously debated before funding is earmarked.
“He knows that if the president is in charge, he will be the one issuing orders over the livestock matters in the president’s name,” the source said. “That would include spending monies without any questions or accountability unlike what would have happened if the Steering Committee had been approved.”
Mr Buhari abruptly suspended the ruga projects in July following an outcry from Nigerians that the establishment of Ruga settlements should be voluntary amongst states and not imposed by the federal government through the takeover of state lands.
Presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu did not return multiple requests for comments from PREMIUM TIMES for this story.
Managing a jungle
PREMIUM TIMES obtained the memos as Mr Buhari was embarking on a private two-week visit to the United Kingdom.
The president did not hand over power to Mr Osinbajo. Instead, he has been asking his aides to bring crucial documents to him for assent in London. The Nigerian law requires that the president hand over power if he would be away from duty for 21 days.
On Monday, Mr Kyari flew to London to submit a new bill on offshore oil fields to the president for assent. The action drew sparked among Nigerians, who said it was embarrassing that the presidency would make a public show of such a controversial action.
“One of the acute dangers of the executive presidency in the third world is that it gives too much power to whoever the president chooses,” said political analyst Sola Olubanjo.
“If the president gives you attention you become powerful,” he said. “Even if you are a cook or cleaner, you will be controlling the vice-president and the ministers without anyone questioning you.”
Mr Olubanjo said under an ideal situation, especially in advanced societies, the vice-president would resign his position immediately for what Mr Kyari did.
“It was a clear case of insubordination and it also showed that the vice-president does not have the president’s ears,” Mr Olubanjo said. “But the seat of power is a jungle here and those in power are only looking to perpetuate themselves in office even under very humiliating circumstances.”

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Ex-NCC Boss Ndukwe Quits Access Bank Board

A former executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Ernest Ndukwe has resigned his position as a director of Nigerian biggest bank by assets Access Bank Plc, the lender announced on Tuesday.

Ndukwe joined the board of Access Bank as an Independent Non-Executive Director in January 2013.
In a regulatory filing by the bank to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Access Bank Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi said Ndukwe exit from the lender was without rancour.
“The Board of Directors of Access Bank hereby announces that Ndukwe has indicated his intention not to seek re-election during the bank’s 2020 AGM.
“Accordingly, he has resigned from the board, effective March 31, 2020, to enable him focus on his current and additional responsibilities.
“Ndukwe has confirmed that he has no disagreement with the board and there are no issues relating to his resignation that needs to be brought to the attention of the bank’s shareholders or the regulatory authorities.
“The board is identifying the right candidate to fill the resultant vacancy as soon as possible, and further announcement will be made in this regard, in due course,” the statement said.
The board expressed its appreciation to Ndukwe for his “immense contributions to the bank these past years”.
Ndukwe, an Electrical/Electronics Engineer, with over 36 years’ experience in the Telecommunications Industry. He served as executive vice-chairman of NCC between 2000 and 2010 and was responsible for the level of transparency recorded at the NCC, which resulted in the liberalization of the Telecommunications Industry and significant investment in the sector.

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How Nigeria Is Diversifying Economy To Reduce Dependence On Oil

Nigeria is currently making efforts to diversify its economy, focusing mainly on the agriculture, mining, solid minerals and manufacturing sectors, West Africa's country's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday when he received the Nicaraguan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denis Moncada Colindres, and the Nicaraguan Minister for Special Delegation of the President for Africa, Middle East and Arab, Mohamed Farrara Lashtar.
“We (Nigeria) are in the process of diversifying our economy, from dependence on oil. Now, we are diversifying into different fields; agriculture, agri-business, mining, solid minerals, manufacturing, technology, and innovation.
“We are also interested in expanding our own reach in terms of trade and exports, especially the export of processed agricultural products. We are also diversifying our power sources, and developing our capacity in renewable energy. Recently, we commissioned (in Kano State) the largest solar hybrid power plant in Africa,” he said.
The VP added that building an inclusive egalitarian society is one of the core pillars of the present administration.
Receiving on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari a special message from the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, Vice President Osinbajo noted that Nigeria and the Republic of Nicaragua share the same view on the need to strengthen existing bilateral relations and expand economic ties.
Noting the efforts of the Nicaraguan President on the country’s economy, the Vice President stated that the Federal Government of Nigeria regards its relations with Nicaragua as valuable.
Osinbajo noted that both countries should explore all areas of cooperation for improved relations.
In his remarks, the Special Envoy, Colindres, requested for both countries to collaborate on the supply of Nigeria’s crude oil to Nicaragua, while also seeking the support of Nigeria for Nicaragua in its request for observer status at the African Union (AU).
“We have already presented a draft cooperation agreement between Nigeria and Nicaragua,” Colindres said.
Meanwhile, the Vice President also presided over the 10th board meeting of the National Boundary Commission this afternoon. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Clement Agba, among other senior government officials.

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NDDC Gets New Board, Management As Senate Confirms Buhari Nominees

Nigeria Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of 15 persons to the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), out of 16 names submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari for the parliament's confirmation.

The Senate, however, rejected the nomination of Joy Nunieh, nominee for Rivers, following her absence at the screening conducted by Senate Committee on Niger Delta
Nunieh ,who currently serves on the interim committee overseeing activities of NDDC did not communicate to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta over her absence from the screening.
The confirmation of the 15 nominees followed the receipt of the report from the committee and consideration of the same at the senate committee of the whole.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee Peter Nwaboshi (PDP Delta)said the nominees were screened and found suitable to serve on the board of the NDDC in accordance with section 2(2)( a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
He, however, said the nominee for the Rivers did not appear for the screening adding that there was no official communication to the committee on reasons for her absence.
Commenting on the report, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu,) before the confirmation raised the issue of the current interim management of the NDDC noting that the committee was an act of sabotage and should be set aside.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan in his remark thanked the Senate particularly the committee on screening and confirmation of the nominees.
He urged the nominees to justify the trust bestowed on them by execution of projects for the people of the Niger Delta.
He said the nominees, when inaugurated should ensure value for money on projects given the unreputable narratives about NDDC.
President Buhari, had in a letter dated Oct 18, forwarded the list of the nominees for the board and management of the NDDC to the senate.
Lawan who had announced the list at plenary on Oct 29, directed the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to conduct the screening of the nominees and report back in one week.
The confirmed nominees are the Chairman, Pius Odubu (Edo), Managing Director, Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom).
“Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa) as well as Delta representative, Jones Erue; Victor Ekhatar (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu Abia.
“Others are Theodore Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo); Hon. Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo).
North -West nominee Aisha Muhammed, from Kano, Ardo Zubairu representing North- East (Adamawa) and South West Representative Badmus Mutalib (Lagos).

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Will Wage Increment Spur Nigeria’s GDP Growth In 2020?, Asks United Capital

Recently, the FGN approved wage increment for civil servants following stand-offs with the Labour Union.

By 2020 budget estimates, this will be funded by tax increments and related revenues. One argument for the wage adjustment, despite the funding burden, is the likely net positive impact on output growth.
By expenditure approach, Consumption accounts for 60 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, while Government (5.6 percent), Investment (16 percent) and Net Exports (19.4 percent) contribute the balance. So, will the wage increment really bolster GDP growth?
First, the net impact of massive fiscal spending on wage increment for civil servants (3.5 million FGN + 36 States & 774 LGAs workers) compared to aggressive consumption tax increases (via VAT, POS, excise duties, toll gates) on c.200millions Nigerians, maybe contractionary on consumption (60 percent of GDP), which could in turn weaken Aggregate Expenditure (AD). Again, at 5.6 percent of GDP, higher government spending may not be enough to bolster GDP, with 25 percent expended on debt services relative to 21 percent on capital spending.
Additionally, while local investments may improve, given the CBN’s recent effort to drive credit growth and lower rates, FDI growth is unlikely in the absence of clarity around the currency market outlook.
Hence, investment may stay muted. Also, trade is neither here nor there, considering that exports are hugely oil product-driven amid the OPEC output cap and border closure. In sum, while recent initiatives may be necessary, it may be negative for consumption, and by implication keep GDP growth subdued.

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Fire Outbreak At Lagos Balogun Market

A Fire outbreak has been reported at a shopping complex on Martin Street, popularly called Balogun Market on the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and Lagos State Fire Service have been deployed to put out the inferno.
Many traders, our correspondent learnt, had been struggling to salvage some of their goods from the burning building.
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage had yet to be ascertained as of press time.
The spokespersons for LASEMA and the fire service, Nosa Okubor, and Adeleke Ashimi, respectively, confirmed the incident.
However, Ashimi added that another complex on Dosumu Street, about 500 meters from Martin Street, was also on fire.
“Our men are on their way there as well. We don’t know the extent of the fire yet,” she added.
Sources, however, confirmed that some traders were seen making frantic efforts to rescue part of their goods before the fire reach their portion of the building.
Already, millions of naira worth of goods have been destroyed by fire with emergency workers making efforts to put the fire under check.

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