US Donates e-Learning Multimedia Laboratory To Nasarawa Poly

A United States’ tertiary institution, the University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies, has donated an e-learning multimedia laboratory to the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday and signed by the institution’s public relations officer, Mal. Yakubu Salisu.

Remuneration for Chief Justice, other judicial officers hit N33.47bn yearly

The Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), federal judicial officers, and State judicial officers have in the last one year guzzled a total sum of N33.47 billion as emoluments and other allowances, checks by the Economic Confidential has revealed. The report obtained and computed by the Economic intelligence magazine showed the annual salaries, regular and non-regular allowances of 934 judicial officers in the country, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

More Nigerian Soldiers Killed, Wounded By Boko Haram In Maiduguri Encounter

Barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army announced the death of 4 soldiers and 22 terrorists in a clash in Borno, anothèr officer, and three soldiers have been killed, and 16 soldiers wounded after a fierce fight in Maiduguri. 

In another development, four vigilantes were killed, and nine others sustained injuries when troops rebuffed an attack on Godogodo community in Kaduna state on Sunday.

Ribadu: Why All Forms of Security Votes, Subsidies Should be Scrapped

The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday called on government at the federal level to scrap all forms of security votes usually allocated to governors.

He said such money ends up in private pockets, adding that that is the worst form of corruption in the country.

He said subsidies in whatever guise they are given breed corruption, adding that all these must be removed from the system at whatever level they are being deployed as those managing them and their cronies steal such funds.

“We have seen this happen in the oil industry,” he said, stressing that there is no reason why anybody should be given public money as subsidy to go to Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem.

The pioneer EFCC boss who made a presentation at the ongoing 2016 Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) meeting in Abuja, said the biggest form of criminality in the country is the allocation of security to governors.

According to him, corruption can be reduced to its barest minimum, adding: “This is do-able; let all of us stand and say all public spending must go through budgetary process and must follow transparency. It should be open and transparent and let us not allow whatever is called padding.

“Why should security vote be kept secret by governors? If you are spending to entrench peace. Then there should be no secrecy about it.”

“Nigerians must take a stand to say that all public monies must be properly budgeted and this should be open and transparent, we should not allow.”

This Day Live

Lai Mohammed briefs Press on efforts by @MBuhari Government to #BringBackOurGirls

1. Good afternoon, gentlemen of the press.

2.Members of the public may recall that when the present administration came on board, Mr. President pledged to Nigerians to ensure the security of lives and property of every Nigerian, provide employment for the nation’s teeming youths and fight corruption. Since that time, the security agencies have been saddled with the responsibility of dealing with the threat of terrorism which has ravaged most parts of the Northern region.

3.You will also recall that from the physical destruction of communities and strategic institutions, the terrorist elements also engaged in abduction of women and children in the affected parts. Most painful was the abduction of the School girls in Chibok at the twilight of the past administration in 2014. When Mr. President assumed leadership of this country, he immediately directed security agencies to urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the safe and successful release of the Chibok girls. This was the mandate given to security agencies.

4.Gentlemen, it was consequent upon this directive that the security agencies, comprising of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the DSS, commenced action in June 2015. To this effect also, the DSS established a special tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far carried out to secure the release of the Chibok girls, establish why the action has recorded no success as it were and to present a roadmap for possible success.

5.In this process, the DSS and the other security agencies observed the following:

a.Many persons or groups posing as negotiators actually had no veritable intelligence nor the reach to facilitate the release of the Chibok girls;

b.The efforts were clouded by persons with very partisan interests and whose main objective was solely to score cheap political points. It was obvious their approach had no relevance to the release of the girls;

c.Some informants or persons volunteering to be negotiators or facilitators saw and treated the girls’ fate and indeed the situation as a conduit to enrich themselves, thus making the whole thing a pecuniary venture; and

d.As a result of the conflicting and partisan interests, issues were muddled up to the extent that reasonable and fruitful leads either failed or simply came too late for any useful action.

6.It was therefore found that in the midst of these strong competing interests and unnecessary rivalries, nothing was achieved before the 2015 handover date. It was based on these that the security agencies set out to work for the release of the girls.

7.First, there was the need to identify those with relevant intelligence on the groups holding the girls, as well as establish sources of contact in touch with the group. This exercise was found not to be an easy task. On those holding the Chibok girls, there was also a high level of mistrust, as they too found many approaches or groups claiming to be in touch with them as false or unreliable.

8.In this new bid, many offers ranging from credible, not credible to outright off-mark information came to the Government. Some international bodies and countries also provided leads. It was out of this that relevant security agencies were able to strike a chord. By the third week of July 2015, a contact group was in touch with credible assets who had the reach, and who attested to the fact that some of the Chibok girls were alive. Mr. President was then briefed of these assets and intelligence and he gave his assent for further negotiations on the Chibok girls.

9.Precisely on 17th July, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls. However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands. These included the release of some of their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled explosives. This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed implications. Again Mr. President gave his assent believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.

10. Meanwhile, following the above development, Government and the security agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of the swap. These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and working out the logistic details. Based on this, the DSS availed other critical sister agencies of this new situation. Immediately, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force sent some specialists to commence a detailed arrangement for the swap. This was during the last week of July 2015 and 1st week of August 2015. The officers representing the various agencies worked out the logistic details, such as the number of persons to be swapped i.e. number of girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and aircraft, as well as safeguards, i.e. safety of the persons, including the location of the swap.

11. When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr. President was again informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for the swap would commence on 1st August, 2015. Mr. President robustly gave his approval.

12. On 4th August, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported to Maiduguri, Borno State. This team, with the lead facilitator, continued the contact with the group holding the Chibok girls. The Service was able to further prove to the group its sincerity, as it established communication contact between it and its detained members. All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed. Expectations were high. Unfortunately, after more than two (2) weeks of negotiation and bargains, the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of demands, never bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited patiently. This development stalled what would have been the first release process of the Chibok girls.

13. It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely. By the month of November, precisely 13th November, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there was the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement. There were however some problems that many may not discern, but should be expected in this kind of situation. Some critical persons within the group who played such vital role in August, 2015 were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then. These two factors delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued on new modalities.

14. By 30th November, 2015 it was becoming glaring that the division amongst the group was more profound. This affected the swap process. By 10th December, 2015, another negotiation process was in place, but this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the group.

15. Gentlemen of the press, the security agencies since the beginning of 2016 have not only remained committed but have also taken the lead to resolve the Chibok girls’ issue. In spite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist group, which has seriously affected efforts to release the girls, renewed efforts have commenced using our trusted assets and facilitators. However, this job requires diligence and ability to deal with a group that can easily change its demands without notice.

16. Officers and men have sacrificed their time and energy, and some have already paid the supreme price since the abduction of the Chibok girls, fighting for the safe release of the girls. Many friendly countries and organizations have equally been very forthcoming in providing their human and technological resources to assist in the process. They are still doing so. We cannot as a nation ignore these sacrifices.

17. The Government and its security agencies remain committed to ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfillment of the Presidential mandate. Let me emphasise that Government appreciates the resilience of Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and terrorism, and will continue to call on fellow Nigerians to hold that much is ahead and therefore support Mr. President’s resolve on this matter. I cannot end this without appealing to the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls. We are with you; we feel your pains and shall not relent until we succeed in bringing home our girls and every other citizen abducted by the group. It is important to appeal to all those who have shown concern in resolving this matter to continue to trust the efforts of Government to deal with the situation.

18. Thank you.”
      
Lai Mohammed

Information Minister

THE TRAGEDY OF AN UNTHINKING AGITATION

The MD of DESOPADEC Chief William Makinde speaking on Quest FM this morning made a very serious point  regarding the relocation of oil servicing companies from Delta state that should be a take home for every true lover of the Niger Delta.  His major point was that we created the state of insecurity that chased away the companies that would have provided employment for our teaming unemployed youths.

This is the immutable truth that our so called agitators and  those who applaud them have failed to see.  There is on the rise, a culture of laziness and self destruct that have permeated and continues to bedevil the Niger Delta region especially Delta State.
I can recall  mid 80s to the early 90s  when Warri, the economic hub of Delta state was home to hundreds of oil companies. Oil production was at its pick and many of our young men and women were engaged in one form of employment or the other. Technicians, filters, welders, caterers, security guards, etc. It was in this era that catering, a hitherto disregarded profession in this area came to the fore. Several catering schools sprang up to train careers to fill the need of the catering companies that catered for the countless oil companies that operated offshore and they were legion. Even security companies became sophisticated and people were no longer ashamed to take on security jobs as they were now well kitted and the pay was good. The economy of the area boomed. Night life and recreational activities which are indicators of economic buoyancy of the citizenry thrived. Female night workers, popularly called club girls, could visit any of the night clubs, pick up expatriate oil worker of which ever nation and take him to her one room apartment in a face me I face apartment and spend the night in peace. That white man  would wake up in the morning take a cab and go back to his place of abode without any fear or may even decide to spend the weekend without a care for his safety. Club girls were known then to turn down advances from black men whom they nick named "si kro kro" for lack of dollar power during club nights until the early hours of the morning when it becomes clear that there will be no white customers to catch.  Such were the exotic tastes of even prostitutes! How times have changed.

Then entered the dragon! From nowhere, in the name of resource control, greedy politicians seeking leverage in national politics empowered and encouraged criminal groups to cripple oil installations. This graduated to kidnapping of expatriate oil workers for ransome and then vandalization and bombing of pipelines.

There was a time in Warri when you walked  into a roadside bar and you see an "Oyibo" man drinking beer. They had black friends co- workers  whom they visited  at home,  but with the advent of unthinking militancy, the companies started relocating one after the other. Those who could remain bought up our security and made us second class citizens in our land. You need to observe these expatriates hold up traffic during rush hours . While our gun wielding uniform security operatives clear traffic for them -sometimes flogging us- we are made to spend needless hours in traffic just so that they can pass. While there is shortage of security for our homes and neighborhood, our expatriate friends has no such needs. Even the Almighty Nigerian army have been reduced to maigad status at the residents of the expatriates. You dare not loiter around their abodes anyhow or else you get the usual bloody civilian treatment.

Where  has all these left us? A teeming horde of lazy jobless youths who thinks the surest way to easy wealth is intimidation and violence. They are even against the development of their own communities. Anyone who have attempted to create a road, draw electricity or cite a building project in any of our commutes will know what am talking about. "Deve" collection have driven away many investors from our clime as well as hamper and led to the folding up of many business concerns.

The evil that we created has come full circle. In the absence of white men to kidnap, these so called agitators have turned on our wives, daughters, and mothers who are daily kidnapped, and violated.

How does bombing and polluting the already degradated environment help the Niger Delta course? How  has the harassment and  intimidation of investors helped the course of the region?  Instead of acting with tack to protect and preserve our environment, we have contributed in no small measure to its damnation. Instead of agitating to create wealth and employment, we have chased away employment opportunities.

Now let me say this to the so called Niger Delta agitators who blow up oil pipelines and pollute the already  over devastated environment. You are like the mad man who in an attempt to solve problem of rats in his house, set the house on fire only to sleep out in the rain. You are worst than the Boko Haram of the North-East, cause for the Boko Haram, there is a religious hope of heaven and dream of sleeping with several virgins, but for you your religion has already condemned you to a life damnation in hell, for the faith you profess is against rape,   arson, stealing and murder. And for those who profess the African traditional religious faith , yours is even worse , for the gods of egbesu, agbejugbele , igbe and whatever god you serve does not wait for the afterlife to mete out retribution.

Until we create a conduce atmosphere for investment to thrive we will continue to be jobless. The DESOPADEC MD put it succinctly when he said, until a white man can walk freely from NPA, Warri to Enerhen junction in Effurun without fear of being kidnapped, investors will continue to run away from our region and with them the prospect of employment and general economic boom.

Mike Zukerberg recently came to Nigeria, freely walked on the streets of Lagos and jogged on the Eko bridge without security escorts. This is the kind of environment that encourages investors and employment creation and not an atmosphere of killing fields like the streets of Lebanon.

I challenge all Waferians with memory to cast their minds back to the mid 80s to early 90s before the agitation that drove away the companies and tell me when the region was better off: before or after the agitations? what gains have the so called militancy brought us if not strife, tears and pain. Besides making billionaires of a few, what gains have the years of criminal militancy disguised as freedom agitation brought the region.

Niger Deltans , it is time for us to think.

Written by Austin Maduku

Brazil sacks President for budget padding

 
Brazil’s Senate has voted in favour of permanently removing President Dilma Rousseff from her office, in an impeachment trial set to end 13 years of leftist rule in the country, Al Jazeera reports.

Sixty-one of 81 senators voted against Rousseff on Wednesday after a five-day trial and a lengthy overnight debate.

“Today is the day that 61 men, many of them charged and corrupt, threw 54 million Brazilian votes in the garbage,” Rousseff tweeted minutes after the decision.

In a separate vote senators decided not to ban Rousseff from seeking a public office for the next eight years.

Al Jazeera reported that Rousseff was watching the session from the presidential palace and would speak a couple of hours after the vote at a news conference.

She also said that the case was not expected to go any further as the charges were political, not criminal.

Allies of Rousseff have signalled that they would take the case to the Supreme Court. But several motions filed to the country’s highest court throughout the impeachment proceedings have failed.

Rousseff’s former vice-president turned rival Michel Temer, 75, was sworn in as president on Wednesday until the next scheduled election in late 2018.

Rousseff, from the leftist Workers’ Party, is accused of taking illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, masking the country’s problems as it slid into its deepest recession in decades.

She told the Senate that she was innocent, saying the impeachment trial amounted to a right-wing coup d’etat.

Rousseff asserted that impeachment was the price she paid for refusing to quash a wide-ranging police investigation into the state oil company Petrobras, saying that corrupt politicians conspired to oust her to derail the investigation into billions in kickbacks at the oil giant.

She said it was “an irony of history” that she would be judged for crimes she did not commit, by people accused of serious crimes.

The Workers’ Party under Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is credited with raising around 29 million Brazilians out of poverty.

But many now blame the party and Rousseff in particular for the country’s multiple ills

Punch Newspaper