Come And Invest In FCT Medical Sector, Minister Begs Czech Republic

May 12, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has invited the government of Czech Republic to take advantage of the liberalized business environment to invest in the medical sub-sector of the Capital Territory.
The Minister who spoke today, Thursday, when he received inaudience, a Czech delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Marian Jurecka in his office in Abuja, noted that the people of the Czech Republic have a lot of experiences and expertise in the area of health technology.

Such experiences, he said are worth sharing with other countries, especially on new techniques in the sub-sector.
“If your companies are interested or your private people are looking at medical markets, there is huge potential, particularly good quality medical services using modern technology and of course, the expertise that your country has.”
The Minister said that there are several other areas of opportunity in the capital city which he said, has grown with social facilities over stretched.
“The entire system of refuse collection, sorting out of the refuse and making sure that they are disposed off in a very environmentally friendly manner is also a veritable investment opportunity particularly, with the overall population of the territory now moving astronomically towards six million, which is much higher than what was planned for the city.”
Musa Bello advised the government and corporate organizations in the Republic of Czech to make available opportunities for students and officials within the FCT Administration to take courses and training in their country on products or projects that will be beneficial.
“This will provide the advantage for students and our government officials to see your country, understand your structure, learn your language, so, when they come back, they become those that will facilitate the relationship between the two countries.”
The minister told his guest: “historically, your country has always been very supportive of our country militarily and also through training and other facilities and we thank you for that.”
Earlier, the visiting Czech Republic Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Marian Jurecka said that he is in Nigeria with more than 25 businesses, representing various industries such as security, security systems, healthcare including manufacture of medical devices, the banking sector, mechanical engineering and agriculture and food production”.
He said that the relations between Nigeria and Czech Republic is very cordial and very friendly and hoped that the visit will help to strengthen such mutual relations.
“The Czech government wants to continue the support it is providing to your country in the fight against terrorism through the training of your security forces, supplies of military material and servicing military equipment. We consider this support very important because we understand that in today’s world, nobody is safe when it comes to terrorism and you are one country that is fighting at the first line; for that you deserve our partnership.” [myad]

Maikasuwa Ignores Senate President, Confirms Omolori As National Assembly Clerk

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2016

The outgoing Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa has confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Sani Omolori to take over from him as he proceeds on his terminal leave. This is in complete defiance of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who directed that Ben Efeturi be made acting Clerk.

In a memo dated May 12, 2016, Maikasuwa said that Sani-Omolori would act as Clerk in his absence, saying: “I am proceeding on my terminal leave from 14th May, 2016 to 14th August 2016. During my absence, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohamned A Sani-Omolori, will perform my duties, please.”

The Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Dr. Adamu Fika, had in a letter dated April 20, 2016, appointed Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly from May 14, 2016 to August 14 but the Senate, Saraki, through his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu, said that he was not in support of the appointment of Omolori.

Saraki pushed for the appointment of the incumbent Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Ben Efeturi.
In the letter, Saraki directed Fika to withdraw Sani-Omolori’s appointment letter forthwith and issue a fresh one for Efeturi on the grounds of seniority.
But Fika, in another letter to Saraki, dated April 26, explained the circumstances that led to Sani-Omolori’s appointment as against Efeturi’s.
Maikasuwa, ended all the controversies in the circular titled: “Commencement of Terminal Leave.” [myad]

Nigeria To Introduce Open Contracting Data Standard

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2016

Nigeria’s federal government has announced that it would soon introduce Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) as one of the ways of controlling fraudulent activities of contractors.
The Open Contracting Data Standard will enable disclosure of data and documents at all stages of the contracting process by defining a common data model.
The publication of OCDS data will ensure greater transparency in public contracting, and can support accessible and in-depth analysis of the efficiency, effectiveness, fairness, and integrity of public contracting systems.
These were contained in the Nigeria’s country statement to the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, presented today in London by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President said that the Federal Government will apply the Open Contracting Data Standard to major projects in the oil, transportation, power, health, education and other sectors.
He promised that his administration is also taking steps to ensure greater transparency of the ownership and control of all companies involved in property purchase and public contracting.
“Nigeria is already collating this information through the Extractive Industry Initiative process and will extend it to other sectors.
“Nigeria will establish a transparent central register of foreign companies bidding on public contracts and buying property. We welcome the proposal by developed countries to work together to improve the access of developing countries to beneficial ownership information for use in public contracting.”
President Buhari welcomed a proposal to restrict the ability of those involved in corruption to travel, invest and do business overseas, saying: “we commit to joining the pilot initiative for automatic exchange of beneficial information. Nigeria commits to deploying public-private information sharing partnerships to bring together governments, law enforcement, regulators and the financial sector to detect, prevent and disrupt money laundering linked to corruption.
“We commit to work together to enhance company disclosure on the payments to governments for the sale of oil, gas and minerals, complementing ongoing work within the EITI.
“Nigeria is already reporting progress through the EITI working groups and will continue to work with interested countries to build a common understanding and strengthen the evidence for transparency in this area.
“We welcome voluntary disclosures through EITI reporting and by some major companies regarding payments to governments for the sale of oil, gas and minerals.
“We welcome the new 2016 EITI Standard, in particular the requirements on beneficial ownership and the sale of the government’s share of production. We will sign up to the Common Reporting Standard initiative.
“We commit to reviewing penalties and other actions against professional enablers of tax evasion, including for corporations that fail to prevent their employees from facilitating tax evasion.
“We support the development of a global commitment for public country by country reporting on tax information for large multinational enterprises.
“We commit to the strengthening of our asset recovery legislation, including through non-conviction based confiscation powers and the introduction of unexplained wealth orders.
“In order to improve on the current legal procedures and ease asset recovery procedures, we have drafted the Proceeds of Crime Bill which provides for the transparent management of recovered funds and assets and a non-conviction based approach to asset recovery.
“We will work with others countries, civil society, international organisations to support accelerated implementation of the voluntary provisions of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and we commit to the implementation of the outstanding obligations under the UNCAC.
“We support the establishment of an International Anti-Corruption Coordination Center to be managed by National Crimes Agency of Britain. We will work with NCA in promoting this centre in the African region.” [myad]

Youths Angry With Senator Gaya, Set His House On Fire

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

Angry youths in the Senator Kabiru Gaya’s Gaya Local Government Area of Kano state went wild today, Wednesday, setting his house on fire for what they alleged the Senator’s neglect of the people he is representing.

The youths also set the house of a member of the House of Representatives, representing the area Hon. Abdullahi Gaya on fire.

Eye witnesses said that the rampaging youths had started a violent protest early in the day, laying siege to and eventually destroying the country home of the Senator. They dispersed afterwards but regrouped later to set the campaign office of the House of Reps member ablaze.

One of the leaders of the youths, Tanimu Gaya, said the youths were angry over the failure of the lawmakers to provide water, electricity, jobs and roads as they promised prior to their elections in 2015.

They lamented that one year after the polls, residents of the area still trek a long distance to get water, while hundreds of youths still roam the streets without jobs.

The Spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Musa Majiya, who confirmed the attacks, said officers of the command were still battling to restore sanity in the area.

Both lawmakers could not be immediately reached for comments. [myad]

Over 70 Year Old Woman Has Her First Child Last Month

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

An Indian couple, Mohinder Singh Gill 79 and Daljinder Kaur, 72 have gotten their first baby into the world on April 19 with the help of a fertility treatment.

“It was very important for us,” 72-year-old Daljinder Kaur told Barcroft Media following her son’s birth. “I can live happily now. My life is complete.”

Kaur and her 79-year-old husband, Mohinder Singh Gill who have been married for 47 years, have been trying to conceive for two years.

They regularly traveled six hours from their home in Amritsar, Punjab, to the National Fertility and Test Tube Baby Centre, where Kaur endured multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization, a procedure that manually combines an egg and sperm to create an embryo that is inserted back in the uterus.

“I first tried to avoid the case because she was very weak, but then her medical reports were normal and she was fit to conceive,” said Anurag Bishnoi, who runs the fertility clinic.

And Kaur and Gill are are not just beating the odds when it comes to having a child at their age: they also have both surpassed the average life expectancy in Punjab.

The average man there only lives to about 70 years old, while women usually live until 72, according to data from the Indian government. [myad]

Shekarau’s Tale By The Sunlight, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

In those days, when you gathered children, of between two and six years, in the late evening to narrate some folklore to them, it was called “tales by the moonlight.” This is because the sessions were often held in front of the family compound or under a tree near the huts in the cool brightness of the moon.
But just yesterday, former governor of Kano state and the immediate past minister of education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau gathered some news men, or were they the ones that gathered around him, where he narrated a tale on how the N950 Million Presidential campaign fund was shared in his house in Kano with him not being part of it.
Malam Shekarau said that the former foreign affairs minister, Aminu Bashir Wali begged him to share the money in his house and that when it was eventually being shared, he was not there and did not see the money.
Speaking through his media aide, Malam Ghali Sadiq, the former minister said: “Wali approached me on the day he collected the money and said because of security (reasons) he wanted to share the N950 Million in my residence and I obliged.
“He brought the money to my house around 2am. I was at my room upstairs when they came in and I remained there up till the time they finished the sharing. Wali and some other party members shared the money according to the directives given to them. So I did not even see the money with my eyes.”
Ha!
After the laughable tale, brief as it were, surprised reporters asked if he collected his share out of the N950 Million, but Shekarau’s man said: “Malam Shekarau did not tell me anything about that, at all.”

How e go tell you?
When my inquisitive five-year-old grandson, Abdullahi, read it, he ran to me and asked: “grand dad (I had warned him severally to stop adding ‘grand’ to the daddy because I’m still young and kicking), how is it possible for a big man like Shekarau to remain in a house where such huge money was being shared without his participation?”
The question from my grandson may appear childish, but the truth is that Shekarau, as at the time N950 Million was shared in his house, was the key leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not only in Kano state but in Nigeria.
Not even a kindergarten kids would believe therefore that Shekarau would be somewhere else when a whooping N950 Million was being shared anywhere, not even in his house in Kano, for the purpose of campaigning for the second-term Presidential ambition of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. His status in the party and in the scheme of things in the state demanded that he presided over, or took full part in anything about the party in the state, and even at national level.
What was it that Shekarau was trying to prove? That he had nothing to do with the money? Or that he was not even part of the Presidential campaign in Kano state or that he was schemed out?
Why would our leaders tell broad-day-light lie simply to escape the public anger?
Of course, there was nothing wrong in sharing money by any political party to boost campaigns for political contest, but what has been discovered to be wrong in the case of the PDP in the 2014/15 campaign was the diversion of money meant to buy modern weapons to fight Boko Haram for PDP’s campaign.
As a matter of fact, the facts coming out have also showed another form of fraud that played out in the PDP Presidential campaign that calls for analysis too. It is the Presidential campaign fund raising that was launched in the third week of December 2014. At the end of the fund raising, a total of N21.27 Billion was announced as the final collections. Big oil companies, GSM service providers, governors, ministers and numerous stakeholders and even the onlookers were said to have contributed hugely to the campaign fund.
The question is what happened to that N21.27 Billion and why the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki suddenly appeared on the scene as the alpha and omega in the disbursement of money meant for the security of all of us? Why has the huge money realized at the campaing fund launch never been mentioned anywhere since the great search for the nation’s looted funds began?
Is Shekarau telling us that, as at the time the N950 Million was being shared in his house, he already knew the source of the money: that it was from NSA and that it was meant to procure arms and ammunitions for the soldiers in the Boko Haram’s war front?
Indeed, Shekarau owes the right thinking Nigerians an explanation why he stayed away from the crucial moment in the campaign for the PDP Presidency in December 2014. Does it mean that he did not want Jonathan to win the election?

This lie, this tale told under the sunlight, this infantile thinking raises more questions.
Shekarau, today, is just a tale teller by the sunlight. The tale is a clear fiction. [myad]

Organized Labour Team Up With Government To Increase Petrol Price To N145 Per Litre

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

The federal government has gotten the collective approval of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the PENGASAAN and NUPENG to raise the pump price of petro from N89.50 to N145 with immediate effect.

In a statement announcing the removal of subsidy on petrol and the increase in its pump price in a statement today, Wednesday, minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said that at the meeting where the decision was taken were leaders of the leader unions. The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“The meeting had in attendance the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN).

“The meeting reviewed:

The current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country.
The exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product. These prices range on the average from N150 to N250 per litre currently.
The meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.”

The statement said that following a detailed presentation by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:

“1. In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.

“2. All Oil Marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

“Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.

“We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel.

“In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.”

The government said that it shares the pains of Nigerians but that the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times implied that it must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues.

It said that along with this decision, the federal government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges.
“We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices.

“The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products.” [myad]

Buhari Wants World Leaders To Declare Oil Theft As International Crime

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has made a passionate call on the international community to designate oil theft as an international crime similar to the trade in “blood diamonds.” Buhari made it clear that oil theft constitutes an imminent and credible threat to the economy and stability of oil-producing countries like Nigeria.
The President who addressed the Commonwealth in London today, Wednesday called on the critical stakeholders to lead the charge in this regard.
“Some of us in this hall may be familiar with the Report released by Chatham House, here in London, in 2013, titled “Nigeria’s Criminal Crude: International Options to Combat the Export of Stolen Oil.”
The important findings of the Chatham House document are illuminating and troubling.
“Part of the Report concluded that: (a) Nigerian crude oil is being stolen on an industrial scale and exported, with the proceeds laundered through world financial centres by transnational organized criminals.
(b) Oil theft is a species of organized crime that is almost totally off the international community’s radar, as Nigeria’s trade and diplomatic partners have taken no real action.
(c) Nigeria could not stop the trade single-handedly, and there is limited value in countries going it alone.”
“It is clear therefore, that the menace of oil theft, put at over 150,000 barrels per day, is a criminal enterprise involving internal and external perpetrators. Illicit oil cargoes and their proceeds m [myad]ove across international borders.
“Opaque and murky as these illegal transactions may be, they are certainly traceable and can be acted upon, if all governments show the required political will.
“This will has been the missing link in the international efforts hitherto. Now in London, we can turn a new page by creating a multi-state and multi-stakeholder partnership to address this menace.”

Buhari Concurs With British PM, Says Corruption In Nigeria Is Endemic, Systemic

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari, who a few hours ago said that he would not seek for apology from the British Prime Minister, David Cameron for describing Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt’ has himself said that corruption in the country is endemic and systemic.
He said in London today, Wednesday that the endemic and systemic nature of corruption in Nigeria demanded the strong resolve of his government to fight it.
Buhari, who spoke at the Commonwealth event in London, with theme: “Tackling Corruption Together: A Conference For Civil Society, Business And Government Leaders,” said that corruption is a hydra-headed monster and a cankerworm that undermines the fabric of all societies.
“It does not differentiate between developed and developing countries. It constitutes a serious threat to good governance, rule of law, peace and security, as well as development programmes aimed at tackling poverty and economic backwardness.
“These considerations informed my decision to attend this event as well as the Anti-Corruption Summit organized by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. David Cameron that will be held tomorrow. I expect that today’s event would feed into the discussions that will be held tomorrow at Lancaster House.”
Buhari said that when the world came together in 2003 to sign the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which came into force in 2005, it was with a view to tackling the growing threat that corruption had become to many nations but that “little did we know that eleven years since then, the problem would still continue unabated, but even become more intractable and cancerous.
The Nigerian President said that on assumption of office on 29th May 2015, “we identified as our main focus three key priority programmes. They are combating insecurity, tackling corruption and job creation through re-structuring the declining national economy.
“Our starting point as an Administration was to amply demonstrate zero tolerance for corrupt practices as this vice is largely responsible for the social and economic problems our country faces today.
“Tackling the menace of corruption is not an easy task, but it is possible even if many feathers have to be ruffled. Our Government’s dogged commitment to tackling corruption is also evident in the freedom and support granted to national anti-corruption agencies to enable them to carry out their respective mandates without interference or hindrance from any quarter including the government.”
President Buhari said that anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), have become revitalised and more proactive in the pursuit of perpetrators of corrupt practices, irrespective of their social status and political persuasion. This is a radical departure from the past.
He identified other measures that have been taken in the fight against corruption, including the implementation the Treasury Single Account (TSA) whereby all Federal government revenue goes into one account.
“This measure would make it impossible for public officers to divert public funds to private accounts as was the practice before. Through the effective application of TSA and the Bank Verification Number (BVN), we have been able to remove 23,000 ghost workers from our pay roll, thereby saving billions that would have been stolen.
“We are also reviewing our anti-corruption laws and have developed a national anti-corruption strategy document that will guide our policies in the next three years, and possibly beyond.
“I am not unaware of the challenges of fighting corruption in a manner consistent with respect for human rights and the rule of law. As a country that came out of prolonged military rule only sixteen years ago, it will clearly take time to change the mentality and psychology of law enforcement officers. I am committed to applying the rule of law and to respecting human rights. I also require our security agencies to do the same.
“I admit that there are a few cases where apparently stringent rules have been applied as a result of threats to national security and the likelihood that certain persons may escape from the country or seek to undermine the stability of Nigeria. It is for this reason that we are seeking the support of many countries for the prosecution of certain individuals residing in their jurisdictions. Of course we will provide the necessary legal documents and whatever mutual assistance is required to secure conviction of such individuals, as well as facilitate the repatriation of our stolen assets.
“Unfortunately, our experience has been that repatriation of corrupt proceeds is very tedious, time consuming, costly and entails more than just the signing of bilateral or multilateral agreements. This should not be the case as there are provisions in the appropriate United Nations Convention that require countries to return assets to countries from where it is proven that they were illegitimately acquired.
“Further, we are favourably disposed to forging strategic partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, organized private sector and international organizations to combat corruption. Our sad national experience had been that domestic perpetrators of corrupt practices do often work hand-in-hand with international criminal cartels.
“This evil practice is manifested in the plundering and stealing of public funds, which are then transferred abroad into secret accounts. I therefore, call for the establishment of an international anti-corruption infrastructure that will monitor, trace and facilitate the return of such assets to their countries of origin. It is important to stress that the repatriation of identified stolen funds should be done without delay or preconditions.
“In addition to the looting of public funds, Nigeria is also confronted with illegal activities in the oil sector, the mainstay of our export economy. That this industry has been enmeshed in corruption with the participation of the staff of some of the oil companies is well established. Their participation enabled oil theft to take place on a massive scale.
“By the end of our summit tomorrow, we should be able to agree on a rules-based architecture to combat corruption in all its forms and manifestations. I agree fully with the Commonwealth Secretary-General that anti-corruption is a shared agenda for civil society, business and government, requiring commitment from companies, creating a space for civil society and governments providing support for whistle-blowers.
“A main component of this anti-corruption partnership is that governments must demonstrate unquestionable political will and commitment to the fight. The private sector must come clean and be transparent, and civil society, while keeping a watch on all stakeholders, must act and report with a sense of responsibility and objectivity.
“For our part, Nigeria is committed to signing the Open Government Partnership initiatives alongside Prime Minister Cameron during the Summit tomorrow.
“In conclusion, may I commend the Commonwealth Secretary-General and her team for hosting this important event. This is a very encouraging way to start your tenure. We wish you the very best as you guide the affairs of the Commonwealth family in the years to come.” [nyad]

Return Nigeria’s Stolen Wealth, Not Name-Calling, Buhari Tells British Prime Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is more interested in British government helping to repatriate billions of dollars and pound starling stolen by past Nigeria leaders than exchanging words with that country’s leader over how fantastic Nigerians are corrupt.

Reacting to the statement credited to the British Prime Minster, David Cameron, describing Nigerians as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ President Buhari said that the British leader had not said anything new that requires his response.

“I am not going to demand any apology. All I’ll demand is return of assets. What would I do with apology? I need something tangible.

“I call for establishment of an anti-corruption infrastructure that will trace and return stolen assets to their countries of origin.

“Unfortunately, repatriating stolen assets is tedious, time consuming, costly. It entails more than just signing of bilateral agreements.”

President Buhari said that the anti-corruption agencies have been revitalized to tackle the monster, which is a radical departure from the past. [myad]

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