Bayelsa Government Expends N3.1 Billion On Scholarships

The government of Bayelsa state says it has spent about N3, 143,206,000 on scholarship for indigenes of the state in various institutions within and outside Nigeria.
Governor of Bayelsa state, Mr Henry Dickson who disclosed this in Abuja, added that beneficiaries of the scholarship include 130 Ph.D. scholars, 260 masters degree scholars, 142 under graduates and 250 post primary school pupils.
The scholarship according to the governor is not restricted to the formal education programmes alone, as there is also provision for vocational, technical and entrepreneurship trainings.
The governor further stated that the programme is aimed at preparing indigenes of the state to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country at large.
Governor Dickson is of the opinion that investment in education by government at different levels will help to curb youth restiveness which is the root cause of security problems in the country.

Ministerial Parcel Causes Bomb Scare In FCT

The FCT Police Command have discovered and defused a suspicious package addressed to  the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the Federal capital Territory, Abuja.
The package suspected to be a bomb was found in front of the Garki Area 10 Postal Service office.
The Post Master General of the Nigeria Postal Service, Mallam Ibrahim Baba told journalists that the package, which was addressed to the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was brought by a man last Friday.
Mallam baba explained that men of the Anti-Bomb Squad defused the package, hence causing a panic in the area.
However, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba explained that the suspicious package had to be defused to avoid any loss of lives as witnessed sometimes back in Kaduna.
Mr. Shinaba added that the package actually contained sand and tiles.

Capital Oil To Charge Access Bank For Contempt Of Court

Capital Oil and Gas and its CEO, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah have indicated a readiness to proceed with contempt proceedings against the Directors and management of Access Bank Plc. for disobeying court orders granted in their favour in relation to the settlement of a disputed loan facility.
Two cases of public interest surfaced at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
In the first proceeding before Justice Okon Abang, Capital Oil & Gas Ltd and its CEO, Mr ifeanyi Ubah had at the last sitting of the court obtained a series of orders in its favour against Access Bank and Coscharis Motors.
In those orders made on the 28th of January, Justice Abang had among other orders directed Access Bank to file a notice of discontinuance of all the suits it filed against the oil company before a London court and report compliance of same within 48hours.
The bank is however yet to comply with this order, instead it is seeking to stop the proceedings before Justice Abang even as indications emerged on Monday that the London Court and Justice Abang were sitting on the matter at the same time.
Capital Oil has urged the court to summon the directors and principal officers of the bank to appear and give reasons why they should not be punished for disobedience of court orders.
Access Bank will however get a right of reply before the Lagos court rules on its next move.

NCS Announces 333 per cent Increase In Revenue Over Three Years

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Abdullahi Dikko has announced an increase of monthly revenue generated by the agency in 2012.
Dikko, who stated this at a meeting on Managing and Monitoring the Reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service   in Abuja, said that revenue collected by the agency rose to an average of a N100 billion in 2012,up from N30 billion realized in 2009.
Other experts in reputation management said that building the right reputation should be the central objective of agencies who have the mandate of revenue collection.

Pipeline Vandalism: Suspects Ask Court To Grant Them Bail

Suspects charged to court over the alleged vandalism of the Arepo pipeline and the murder of three NNPC officials have asked the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to grant them bail.
Trials commenced on Friday, 25^th January at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The 6 accused persons on the 5th of September, 2012 at about 6:00 p.m., at Arepo,  allegedly conspired to vandalise an Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), oil pipeline located in the vicinity and in the process murdered three employees of the NNPC.
They were subsequently arraigned on the 29th of November, 2012, where they all pleaded not guilty to a seven count charge preferred against them by the police.
Four of six suspects charged with the offence have asked Justice Mohammed Idris to grant them bail pending the determination of their case.
The suspects are facing a seven count charge which also includes the murder of three engineers of the NNPC.
Defence counsel argued that Some of the accused persons are in poor health and would need to seek treatment.
Prosecuting counsel has however told the court that even the first son of one of the accused was killed in the recent Arepo pipeline explosion.
He argues that the offences carry capital punishments and urged the court to refuse to grant bail and instead use the case to send out a message that offences of this nature should not be treated lightly.
After listening to the arguments of both lawyers, justice Idris has adjourned ruling till the 11th of Feb.

Keep Our School Closed, UNIABUJA Students Insist

Students of the University of Abuja are insisting that the school remain closed down until all issues concerning accreditation of courses, infrastructural development and examination duration among others are fully resolved.

The school management opened the school for the academic year on the 3 February, fixed a meeting with the engineering students, one of the faculties with accreditation hitches, for the 8th and announced commencement of examinations for the 11th of February.
However, the students, under the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA) have said that studies and examination cannot recommence when management have made no efforts to resolve the issues that necessitated shut down in the first instance.
They say despite having spent more than the requisite number of years in school, they continue to demand for qualitative education and will resist attempts to dismiss them as thugs or political students.
The students are also demanding that the school management make public steps taken so far to accredit most of its faculties and resolve other nagging issues that have made good and qualitative education elusive in a university at the nation’s seat of power.

Jonathan Swears In New Power, Defence ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday swore in two new Ministers into the Federal Executive Council in what he said was an injection of new members to the council that is expected to up the ante in governance.

The new ministers, Chinedu Osita Nebo (Enugu) and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (Kebbi), replaced the former Ministers of Power and Defence, Barth Nnaji and Haliru Bello Mohammed respectively who had earlier exited the cabinet last year.
President Jonathan who likened their introduction midway into his government to changes made by football coach in a game charged them to justify their introduction by bringing about changes in their various ministries.
He told the new ministers that Nigerians would judge his coaching abilities by the new innovations they would bring into the federal cabinet.
“We are admitting two new ministers into our fold. From the profile we have heard about them they are eminently qualified to serve this country at all levels. If it is in politics they are eminently qualified to serve as councillors to the president of the federal republic by their antecedents.
“But then background qualification is one thing but serving as a minister is another thing because the challenges are different.
“One thing I believe is that you will succeed but to me it is a big challenge to me and you because if a coach of a football team sends his 11 players and decide to make changes getting close to half time then he knows that there may be weaknesses in some areas and he is bringing people to strengthen the team to make sure they score goals.
“So Nigerians are expecting that if I am bringing ministers in at this time, I must be bringing people that will strengthen the team and make sure I bring people that will score more goals than we are already scoring. And If Nigerians don’t realise that they will feel that I am not a good coach.
“If they realise that then they will know I am a good coach. So is quite challenging for me for bringing you in at that time and also to you because they will expect you to perform extremely well.
“Just like when the coach introduces a new player sometimes 10 minutes to the end of the game and you are introduced to the field they expect you to score the next goal.
“So you are welcome on board you will be formerly inaugurated again on Wednesday when we will have the FEC meeting. You will get your letter from the SGF and I sign you to where we think you will serve at this great country. Congratulations”.
The swearing in was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives , ministers and families members of the newly sworn in ministers.

Boko Haram: Analyst Says Gap Between Rich And Poor Induces Criminality

A diplomacy and security analyst, Femi Adegbulu has identified the increasing gap between the rich and the poor in Nigeria as a great inducement of criminality in the country.
Mr Adegbulu, who disclosed this on Monday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, advised the Federal Government to deal with the issues of corruption, unemployment and poverty in Nigeria as the sustainable way of solving insurgencies in the country.
He said, “You see an individual, who has stolen the whole community dry, who has mortgage the future of his own people and he is given a slap in the wrist. No deterrent. People who are not in that position will be gearing up to get there so that they can also steal with impunity.
“Until we deal with the culture of impunity in the country, there can be no end to the Boko Haram thing; there can be no end to kidnapping; there can be no end to ritual murder; there can be no end to all these criminalities we see.”

Our Borders Are Porous; There are Illegal Arms Everywhere – Taskforce

The National Chairman of the Taskforce on Illegal Light arms and small weapons, Osita Okereke on Monday said there is a proliferation of illegal arms in all towns and cities in Nigeria.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Okereke said one major factor that contributed to the spread of illegal weapons in Nigeria is that some security officials have been compromised.
“There are arms, everywhere not only in the South East; in this Lagos, in Ibadan, in the North, in the South-South. There are arms everywhere. Our borders are empty,” he said.
He said most of the illegal weapons in the country are smuggled in through the borders while others come in through the Ports.

My Daily Travel Allowance Within Nigeria Is N25, 000 – Sanusi

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has revealed that he earns N25, 000 per night as incidental allowance on his trips within the country.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

He said this in response to the request by a Lagos based lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, for details of his remuneration and expenditures in accordance with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011.
Mr Sanusi however failed to disclose his allowances for foreign trips as well as his full remuneration as he insisted that they were as approved by the Presidency.
But in a swift reaction, Mr Aturu said he was not satisfied with the CBN Governor’s response and insisted that he must reveal the full details of his earnings and allowances.
The lawyer noted that he planned to do a follow up on the request as it appeared that the CBN had misunderstood some of the questions.
Nonetheless, he commended the Governor for his response and said that it would encourage other public institutions to conduct their affairs transparently.
“We are impressed that the Governor is entitled to only N25, 000 as daily allowance when he travels within Nigeria. That is not excessive at all by Nigerian public officials’ standards and given his lofty position. However, it is a little troubling that while the Bank was willing to state the local daily allowance it refused to state what the Governor earns when he travels outside the country.
Mr Aturu, in a letter dated December 31, 2001 had requested that the CBN Governor provide information concerning recurrent expenditures for him and his office pursuant to Sections 1, 3 and 4 of the FOI Act 2011.
Mr Sanusi who responded through the CBN Legal Adviser/Director, Legal Services Department S. M. Onekutu said that, “The Governor’s remuneration is as stipulated by the Board and approved by Mr President in accordance with Section 8(3) of the CBN Act.
“Besides the governor’s emolument and indeed the emolument structure of the CBN is benchmarked against the banking industry as approved in the federal government’s white paper on the presidential committee on consolidation of emoluments in the Public Service.
“However, we are unable to release the details of the Governor’s salary and allowances as that information is already a subject of litigation in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1016/2011: Uzoegwu F. O. C Vs CBN & HAGF. The matter is on appeal and it will be prejudicial to comment on it.”
Other requests bordered on allowances on foreign trips, whether the CBN owned aircraft, what classes of flight the governor travelled in when on official trips within and outside the country, how many cleaners, drivers are attached to the governor’s office and residence as well as how much imprest he collects monthly among others.
Mr Onekutu disclosed that the governor travels Business Class within the country and First Class outside Nigeria and added that Mr Sanusi had occasionally used chartered planes to travel within and outside the country as dictated by exigencies.
On how many drivers are attached to Mr Sanusi’s office and home he said “the governor’s official drivers are drawn from the pool of drivers in the Governor’s Department, and are sourced from the pool of drivers in the Governor’s Office Department on need basis. On number of cleaners, he said “the Bank (CBN), as a matter of policy does not employ cleaners, therefore, there are no cleaners attached to his office or home.
On monthly imprest he said “No monthly imprest is maintained by the Governor” Onekutu said and maintained that the Governor’s entitlement for foreign trips is as approved by the Federal Government.
Mr Aturu said, “We still expect the Governor to answer the question as he is in a position to know exactly what he earns and if he does not know he could have simply said so.
“We agree with the Bank that the time frame we gave, as required by law, was insufficient to calculate or sum up the amount spent on chartered flights within and outside Nigeria. To this end, we shall be doing a follow up and although we are required to give seven days, we promise the bank not to sue immediately until about 28 days after the follow up to give the bank added time to add up the figures.”

EFCC Dissociates Self From Pension Boss’ Sentence

The Economic & Financial Crimes Commission has totally disassociated itself from the judgment of Justice Abubakar Talba who gave a former director in the police pension office an option of paying a N750,000  fine for stealing N3billion police pension funds.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs in an interview with our judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele said there was a prior agreement with the judge before the charges against the convict was amended and filed in line with a plea bargain arrangement.

FG To Explore Boko Haram Ceasefire Option- Sambo

The Federal Government  has confirmed that it will consider the ceasefire option offered by the  Islamic militant group Boko Haram.
This was the position of by Vice President  Namadi Sambo  when he called on the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi during a one day official visit to Borno state.
Arch Namadi Sambo said President Goodluck Jonathan has been opened to peace process that will end the insurgency stressing that wars fought are usually resolved on a round table and appreciates the offer.
He said over the years efforts to develop the state and the north-east sub region has been thwarted by the continuous restiveness which has affected not just the zone but the entire country.
The vice president gave the assurance that the federal government will continue to work assiduously towards the restoration of the peace and development in the state.
On the exploration of oil in the Chad Basin, Sambo added that $75 million was expended in the oil and gas exploration in the Lake Chad Basin in the previous fiscal year pointing out that in 2013, $100 million has been appropriated and assured that before the end of 2014, drilling would have commenced in the state.
Speaking earlier the Shehu of Borno called on the federal government to utilize the ceasefire option offered by the boko haram insurgents as a peace process and calls for continuous surveillance around the Niger, Chad and Cameroon borders so as to curtail entrance by the sect members.

Police Uncover Illegal Cement Factory In Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has uncovered illegal cement factory at Zango area of Ogaminana in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi state where the product of Dangote Cement are being re bagged.
The factory which was located at a new site was used to repackage adulterated cement from Obajana Cement Factory and sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Musa Katsina, who led the operation, told newsmen that the illegal factory was uncovered by his intelligence unit of the command.
The site was littered with cement and empty sacks of cement ready to be packaged and sold.
A vehicle belonging to Julius Berger was also impounded at the site. The vehicle is alleged to have been used to supply white sand, an ingredient used in mixing cement.
While briefing pressmen at the site of the illegal factory, Katsina said three suspects have been arrested and that preliminary investigations revealed that the product was usually adulterated with some other substandard material and repackaged into Dangote branded bags and thereafter dispatched to the market through the same trucks that brought them to site.
He therefore called on the members of the public to be extra vigilant in the product they buy, adding the adulterated cement was responsible for cases of collapsed structures which have claimed lives of innocent people in the country.

FG Signs MOU With Indonesia

The improvement of trade between Nigeria and Indonesia was a topical issue which the government of the two countries deliberated on.
The minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga said that Nigeria hopes to improve on the Two Billion Dollar ($2b)trade volume between the two countries, the assistance of Indonesia is required especially for its technical knowledge.

Jonathan Calls For Stay of Execution Of Nigerians In Indonesia

The Federal Government has asked for a stay of execution of those on death row for drug related offences and financial crimes in Indonesia, while the two countries explore ways for the exchange of prisoners and mutual legal assistance.
In a 27-point communique joint communique issued at the end of bilateral talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his Indonesian counterpart President Susilo Yudhoyono which noted with delight that Nigeria and Indonesia are committed to strengthening their relations.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of friendly relations in the past 48 years and a commitment to expand in various fields.
They also welcomed the signing of MoU to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics. Nigeria’s president was said to have told his visitor to soft pedal on the execution of Nigerians on death row in Indonesia pending their legal mutual agreements.
Some of the areas of cooperation include agriculture, security, peace keeping, as well as trade and investments.
On his part, the Indonesian president promised to cooperate with Nigeria in agriculture, trade and investment.
Both presidents agreed that Nigeria and Indonesia would share best practices and capacity building in the achievements of the millennium development goals.

Militant Group Surrenders Arms To JTF In Yenogoa

A militant group in Bayelsa State whose sole aim of handing over weapons ranging from ranging from guns, ammunitions, live tortoise and other fetish materials is to stop the violence being inflicting on the Niger Delta region and also partake in the 3rd phase of the amnesty program has done exactly that as they handed over their weapons to the Joint Taskforce (Operation Pulo) shield in Yenagoa on Friday, as they gave up the struggle.
The group, led by Inaemi David, 31, who is the head and commander of the group confessed to carrying out numerous attacks on oil pipelines in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
David, who led members of his group to the JTF Headquarters in Yenagoa on Friday including a female member who was put in charge of the handover process, said they decided to surrender their weapons because of their resolve to embrace peace and live normal lives.
“We realised there is no peace in our lives; we felt tired of living a life of militancy, so we approached the JTF and informed them of our resolve to surrender our arms and munitions. After due consultations, we were convinced that if we take this positive step to surrender our weapons, it will bring the dawn of a new life for us,” David said.
David now repentant claimed that he leads an army of over 50 foot soldiers in the Niger Delta struggle and it was frustration and deprivation in the region that a lot of the youth into the militancy thing.
“We went into militancy not to kill but to show our frustration to the government. We want the government to know that the Niger Delta people have a right to the possession of our resources,” he said.
David bore it all on arrival to the base of the Joint task force (Operation Puloshield) in Yenagoa, as he disclosed the location of the militant group which he claimed is at the creeks of Odioma Community of Brass Local Government Area of the state as he advised the FG to create employment for the Niger Delta youth as this is a lasting solution to the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta as there are still other splinter groups of militants in the creeks who are not ready to relinquish their weapons.
After the handover of the weapons by the Ianemi David-led militant group, the Public Relations Officer of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Onyeama swung into action by inspecting the items and after the inspection he listed them as the head commandant of the JTF Major General Batta Debiro applauded the decision of the militants to voluntarily surrender their arms.
The JTF are optimistic that this willing surrender by the militant group will mark the beginning of many more to come.

Pope Benedict XVI Appoints New Archbishop of Calabar

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday appointed His Lordship, Most Rev Joseph Effiong Ekuwem as the new Archbishop of Calabar.
Most Rev Joseph now replaces His Grace Most Rev Joseph Edra Ukpo who retired having attained the canonical age of 75.
Until his appointment, Bishop Joseph Ekuwem was the Bishop of Uyo Diocese.
Meanwhile, the Pope also appointed His Grace Most Rev Joseph Ukpo as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Calabar until the installation of the newly appointed Archbishop.
The date for the installation of the Archbishop-elect is yet to be announced.

Joint Task Force Embarks On Peace Tour Of Plateau

The Joint Task Force (JTF) led by the Commander of Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, Major General Henry Ayoola has embarked on a sensitisation tour in the Plateau in a bid to promote peace among warring factions and to proffer long lasting solution to the security challenge in the area.
While addressing community leaders, Major General Ayoola pointed out that the time has come to find lasting solution to the security challenge in the state and stated that  everybody should be involved in the peace building process.
He called on all warring factions in the Plateau crises to put behind them all forms of acrimony and bitterness by forgiving one another and embrace peace, tolerance and peaceful coexistence as well as have mutual respect for one another.
During the sensitisation tour of affected Local Government Areas, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Jos North, Major General Ayoola urged everyone to  make a decision of embracing peace by forgetting the past and look ahead to a brighter and peaceful future in order to restore plateau state back to its former glory.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba in turn cautioned members of the task force to engage the rule of engagement by exhibiting professionalism in their conduct and remain neutral in the cause of maintaining law and order.
Plateau State Government also stated its commitment to collaborate with the task force and any other agencies in finding lasting solution to the incessant attacks in some communities across the state with assurance that peaceful coexistence in the state is not negotiable.
The special task force is also offering free medical services, provision of portable water by sinking boreholes in the affected areas as well as providing order social amenities in order to promote peace in the state.

Army Chiefs Warn Of Security Threat In Abuja

Military officers from the West Africa sub-region have pointed out that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is under immense security threat owing to the increasing population in the city’s satellite towns.
Leading a team of 29 officers on a study tour to the FCT, Air Commodore Gambo Ilyasu, said information gathered from the six area councils revealed that hundreds of people migrate into the nation’s capital on a daily basis without anywhere to settle.
The FCT Administration, according to him, already has issues of resettlement of indigenes which has raised a lot of discontent among some communities.
He, therefore, warned that the disturbing trend should not be handled with levity.
The executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr. Adamu Ismaila, however gave the assurance that the issue of security is under control and there would be no replication of the Niger-Delta scenario as plans were on-going to resettle the indigenes within the FCT.

Delay In East-West Road Due To Bridges And Culverts – Orubebe

The Federal Government has stated that the delay in the completion of the East-West Road is due to the on-going construction of the bridges and culverts on that road.
The Minster of the Niger Delta Ministry, Godsdey Orubebe, who disclosed this during a lecture at the University of Benin, said the road was initially awarded in 2006 without proper designs and inadequately funded by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
According to him, though the road was awarded for N200 billion by the Obasanjo administration in 2006, only N1.2 billion was released for it.
Mr. Orubebe who said the challenge of abduction of expatriate workers, has also contributed to delay the project. He, however, gave the assurance that it will be completed by December 2014.
The Minister’s explanation is coming after the governor of River State, Chibuike Amaechi criticised him for not doing any project in the region and demanded the completion of the East-West road which stretches from Edo State to Cross River State.
Supporting the call for a new revenue allocation formula, the minister said it should not be on the basis of which arm of government should get more or less, rather the emphasis should be on the re-allocation of the duties of the three arms of government.
This, he noted, will effectively speed up the development of the country.