Mohammed Barkindo, former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), may emerge as the secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigerian government is believed to have nominated him for the post.
Barkindo worked at NNPC until 2010 and served as acting secretary-general of the OPEC in 2006, as well as representing Nigeria at the group.
OPEC has tried unsuccessfully for more than three years to find a replacement for current Secretary-General, Abdalla El-Badri, who was due to stand down in 2012 after serving two terms in the role.
At OPEC’s last meeting in December, El-Badri’s term was extended until July.
Political rivalries between Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq have prevented OPEC from settling on candidates that each of those nations proposed. The disagreement over choosing a successor flared again at the December 4 meeting as the slump in oil prices heightened tensions over the direction of the group’s policy.
Barkindo “would be well placed in the secretary-general role and could offer a smooth transition out of the current deadlock, enabling the OPEC secretariat to resume operations at full strength,” said John Hall, chairman of consultants Alfa Energy.
“He knows how OPEC operates and is known to many delegates” said Hall, who has worked in the oil industry for more than 40 years.” [myad]
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has assured depositors in the four banks that were recently closed down would be paid back their money after they had filed their claims.
The Corporation however asked such depositors to hasten up and file their claims for payment, insisting that the corporation remained committed to ensuring that no depositor lost any money for reasons of bank liquidation.
Managing Director/Chief Executive of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim who spoke today in Enugu on the occasion of the NDIC Special Day at the 27th Enugu International Trade Fair, assured the depositors of the closed banks that they would be paid after they had filed their claims.
He asked the depositors of four banks whose licences were recently revoked to as a matter of urgency, come forward and file their claims for payment.
Represented by the South East zonal Coordinator of the Corporation, Nicholas Ayuba Ibrahim, the managing director listed the three microfinance banks (MFB’s) whose licences were revoked include Crown, First Omasi, and Tri-Star, stating that Harvard Trust Savings and Loans was also closed down.
He said that of the total insured deposit amounting to N75.49 Million for the three MFB’s”(N8.35,N24.02 and 43.12 for Crown, First Omasi and Tri-Star respectively), the sum of N58.47 Million(N4.26,N16.32 and N37.89 for Crown, First Omasi and Tri-Star Respectively) has been paid leaving a balance of N17.02 Million(4.08, N7.71 and N5.23 Million for Crown, First Omasi, and Tri-Star respectively) outstanding” .
He said that Banks operate within some rules’ adding that relevant authorities would not hesitate to withdraw the licences of banks that fail to meet the obligations of depositors.
Ibrahim also reminded members of the public of the activities of illegal funds managers otherwise known as ‘Wonder Banks,’ appealing to people to stop patronizing such fake banks. [myad]
Hackers have shut down about 20 Angolan government websites after 17 young activists were arrested for allegedly plotting a rebellion against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’ government.
The websites were hacked by a Portuguese branch of Anonymous, an international hacking group. The group provided a list of the sites it had taken down on Facebook. At the time of reporting, many of the websites were still down.
The 17 youths arrested, including Angolan rapper, Luaty Beirao, who were sentenced to between two and eight-and-a-half years in prison.
Human rights groups have criticized the harsh sentences for the activists, who were arrested in June after discussing a book about non-violent resistance. The accused maintain that they are peaceful protestors merely calling on their president to step down.
Mr. dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979. [myad]
The Senate Minority Leader and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Godswill Akpabio, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government on the current economic downturn.
Akpabio who spoke to journalists in Arochukwu, Abia State, Akpabio said that the country’s current economic challenge was a global phenomenon orchestrated by the steady fall in oil prices. The two-term of Akwa Ibom state governor under PDP, called for diversification of the economy, adding that the global economic meltdown is being felt more by Nigerians because the country runs a mono-economy built around oil. He enjoined the Federal Government to pay attention to other sectors of the economy like mining, agricultural and entrepreneurship ventures, as well as foreign direct investment to boost the country’s revenue base. “So, what has happened here is that with the massive failure, what we call oil glut in the market, the oil price has reduced below what we expected in the last 20 years. That automatically has affected our economy. “It has nothing to do with which administration is in power. It has something to do with resources to be able to deliver the dividend of democracy.” The former Governor admitted that the effect of the harsh economy has been harsh on the citizenry, but called for patience from Nigerians even as he solicited support for the present administration in the interest of the country. “The country belongs to all of us and if the country collapses on our heads, it means that we bequeath nothing to our children.” [myad]
The controversies, including the famous padding, that have dodged the national budget for the year 2016, seem unending. The federal lawmakers, on Tuesday, transmitted the budget to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.
But the President looked at the document and discovered that the details of how it would be implemented were conspicuously missing. The President therefore, refused to append his signature for fear that when the details are eventually presented, there may be conflict between what he signed into law and what should reasonably be implemented.
Indeed, the National Assembly Committee on Appropriation was honest enough to admit that it actually sent the budget to the President for his assent without the details, but that it was done to stop the economy from stagnating.
The Co-Chairman of Appropriation in National Assembly, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, said: “in order for the nation to move forward and avoid stagnation of administrative processes, the tradition is that the bill is passed and forwarded to the Presidency for assent, while the lawmakers continue to work on the details. There is nothing abnormal about this practice and yet nothing abnormal about a President assenting a budget before or after seeing the details. In any case, the budget details are usually sent within a week or two after passing the budget. “In view of the inconsistencies, errors, omissions and padding that characterized the 2016 budget, it would be unpatriotic of the National Assembly to forward the budget details without being extra-careful, meticulous and cautious in discharging its duties. This is to ensure we do not make same mistake that the executive made.” The Presidency on its part, regarded the development as confirming the speculation that the National Assembly either did not complete work on the budget or is playing politics with the documents, saying that the President is very anxious to sign the budget so that implementation can start immediately to ease the tension in the economy and polity.
The Presidency accused the National Assembly of trying to shift the blame for the delay in the budget implementation to President Buhari, a situation the Presidency described as “sabotage,” adding: “the president has been handicapped in signing the bill because he does not know what is contained in the details and what adjustments the National Assembly must have made to the proposal sent to them.” What is obvious in the positions of the President and the National Assembly is the zeal by the two to start implementing the budget, which has taken this long: the nation had just passed the first quarter of the year. Indeed, while the National Assembly wants to be seen as not being the source of delay of the budget, the Presidency is trying to avoid the mistakes of the past; the mistakes, most of which were deliberate and glaring, which, at best, had always been ignored and swept under the carpet.
We in Greenbarge Reporters honestly commend the National Assembly, at least for its unmistakable determination to give the nation a workable budget, and trying to beat the time. But we want to remind the lawmakers of the kind of government President Buhari is determined to run: a government of accountability; a government in which he said he would accept responsibility for whatever happens. This is predicated on the fact that if the budget gets stuck in the process of implementation, it is him that accusing fingers would be pointing and not the National Assembly.
And therefore, if, as the National Assembly said, the tradition is to send the budget for the President’s assent and then details follow a week or two after and the President now insists that he needs both the highlights and the details, it only means that the President wants a change from the tradition, provided such change from the tradition would not conflict or violate the constitutional provisions.
We believe, once again that the President and the National Assembly are focused on putting the nation on the right path to real development in all fronts, but that the method the two are trying to adopt differs. The two sides only need to take their time to understand each other’s feelings and method for the purpose of achieving the common goal, which, we repeat, is the same. We do believe that it is too early in the day for one to begin to insinuate ‘sabotage’ against the other.
We pray fervently that both the executive and the legislature would move quickly to resolve this lingering budgetary crisis and give Nigerians the budget that would improve their living conditions.
Above all, we pray that the two sides would work hard to avoid similar crisis occurring in the remaining life of this administration. [myad]
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has described those who spread rumour recently that he slapped his deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex as unintelligent.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists last night in Kaduna, El-Rufai laughed over the rumour, saying they (the rumour mongers) are “not quite intelligent enough.”
According to him, if the alleged fisticuffs took place in the executive meeting as portrayed by the rumour mongers, there would have been video evident of the fight by some executive members of the State councils, “because nobody is prevented from entering the meeting with his or her phone.
“I have never slapped anyone in my life, I have never argued with Bantex, I don’t slap people, I fight people with mouth.”
Governor El-Rufai said that if there is anybody he so much trusted and respected, it is Bantex who he said he had known closely for the past 40 years at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. El-Rufai explained that it was based on the trust he has for his deputy that whenever he travelled out of the country, he usually allowed him the rights of an acting governor.
He said that these rights of acting governor were never observed by past governors, adding that as acting governor, Bantex signed documents and chaired security and executive council meetings.
“We chair executive council meeting together, we operate like partners, and now people want to create enemity between us. I am of age, I can’t descend so low. This rumour is completely false, it is created to cause division.
“We never discussed retrenchment of workers in the State as claimed by the rumour mongers.” [myad]
Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has drawn the attention of British government to the fact that he is a British citizen and that Britain should help him get justice in Nigeria.
In a petition he wrote through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, to the British Government over his plight in the hands of the Nigeria Federal Government, Kanu said: “it is repeating the obvious to state that Our Client is a full British citizen, by virtue of which position he is entitled to all Rights, Privileges and Protections, guaranteed under the British Laws and conventions. “We are therefore constrained in the circumstance, to formally notify the British Government vide this medium, of our well informed reservations, and apprehension, that Our Client is undergoing persecution in the charge above referred, and deliberate design by the persecutors to frustrate every effort of the Defence team aimed at giving Our Client a fair trial.” His lawyer said the unlawful detention of his client from October 14, 2015 till January 20, 2016 without any lawful orders of court and in flagrant disobedience of orders of courts of competent jurisdiction, all directing for his unconstitutional release and discharge, amounts to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights. Ejiofor, who chronicled all the alleged abuses of Kanu’s fundamental human rights, recalled the Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja specified in the First Information Report originally filed against him had discharged his client of all bogus and frivolous allegations against him, adding: “The Department of State Security Services that dragged him to court refused to obey the orders of the same court.” According to the letter: “It is the position of our Law, that dual citizenship is a constitutional right of the citizens of Nigeria, clearly provided for under section 28 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended 2011. Dual citizenship is not a crime under our Law. “Our reservations on the President’s comment was underpinned by the findings made in the ruling delivered on the 29th day of February 2016, by Hon. Justice John Tsoho, wherein Our Client and the two other Defendants were denied bail. “Recalled that on December 29, 2015, during the Presidential Media Chat, the President told the whole world that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be granted bail, alleging that he came into the country without a valid travelling passport. This pronouncement was roundly condemned by both local and international commentators. His pronouncement was viewed as a clear usurpation of the functions and powers if the judiciary. “Though very regrettable and extremely unfortunate, Nnamdi Kanu was refused bail on 29 January, 2016. In refusing him and other defendants bail, the court also cited the facts of his possession of dual passports as a flight risk, and as such held that he cannot be granted bail.” This position, according to Ejiofor “was in keeping in line with the pronouncement of the President if the Federal Republic if Nigeria in his media chat telecasted live on December 29, 2015. It is a case of a witch crying in the night and a baby dying in the morning.” It will be recalled that Justice John Tsoho had on January 29 denied bail to Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial with him. The trio are answering to a six-count treason charge that was preferred against them by the Federal Government. Kanu, who was the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, has been in detention since October 14, 2015 when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom. The defendants were in the charge that was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri, alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. The Federal Government alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB, which it described as “an unlawful society.” Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts” encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra” from Nigeria. [myad]
A 31 year old female business development manager, Miss Danielle Saul who had been unable to find a man that would marry her, has committed suicide. Miss Danielle was said to have began to sink into depression as her friends started to wed while she lived alone with her cat. She eventually took her life after hopes of reconciling with her ex- boyfriend were shattered. Reports had it that the deceased was always being invited to friends’ wedding parties where she was asked to be a bridesmaid. Miss Danielle was said to have sent messages to her best friend saying: “I feel like dying” with a photograph of her crying. It was learnt that tragedy struck in June last year after she went out partying with friends in Manchester city centre when she bumped into a former long-term boyfriend. She was said to have invited the unnamed man and his friends back to the flat she lived in. She asked the friend for drinks but became upset when he left the following day without them reconciling. Danielle was found dead three days later when a concerned friend visited the apartment when no one heard from her. Tests later revealed that she was twice the drink-drive limit and it is feared she “impulsively” took the decision as a “cry for help.” Her mother, Karen, from Preston, Lancs told a Manchester hearing: “She had had a couple of long-term relationships, one of which was around five years ago. And then that broke up but she still had feelings for him and found it difficult. “I think she had an overload that weekend with the upset from her previous relationship. “She had a difficult time at work a few months prior to that. At the time he quite, a number of her friends were getting married and she was going to hen parties and she was going to be bridesmaid and I think she got overloaded with these things and emotionally things became exaggerated.” Danielle’s best friend, Lucy Nixon, who had known her for 15 years, said she met up with Danielle before their planned night out on the Saturday before her death. She said: “She was very down. She always used very intensive words and we were expressive with one another. Saying, “I feel like dying” would not be unusual. She sent me a photo of herself crying on Saturday.” A post-mortem examination revealed Danielle had 162mg of alcohol in 100mg of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. No note was found with her body.
The National Assembly Committee on Appropriation has admitted that the National Assembly actually sent the 2016 national budget to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent without the details, but that it was done to stop the economy from stagnating.
The Presidency had earlier said that the budget was transmitted to it with only the highlights but without details, resulting in the President withholding his signature to it for now.
Speaking to news men today, the Co-Chairman of Appropriation in National Assembly, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, said that it would be unpatriotic of National Assembly to forward the budget details without being extra-careful, meticulous and cautious in discharging its duties. “In order for the nation to move forward and avoid stagnation of administrative processes, the tradition is that the bill is passed and forwarded to the Presidency for assent, while the lawmakers continue to work on the details. “There is nothing abnormal about this practice and yet nothing abnormal about a President assenting a budget before or after seeing the details. “In any case, the budget details is usual sent within a week or two after passing the budget. “In view of the inconsistencies, errors, omissions and padding that characterised the 2016 Budget, it would be unpatriotic of the National Assembly to forward the budget details without being extra-careful, meticulous and cautious in discharging its duties. “This is to ensure we do not make same mistake that the executive made. “The Appropriation committee needs to scrutinize the original proposal sent by the President vis-à-vis the reports of various Standing Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate to arrive at a clean copy of the budget details. “This will in no way affect any envelop already passed or the aggregate expenditure. The National Assembly holds the President in high esteem and will continue to support him. “There were several instances where we demonstrated our support to the present administration in the past. “At the risk of sounding immodest, the National Assembly approved the President’s Special Advisers without hitch, approved ministerial nominees without rancour, approved Supplementary Budget without delay and displayed a rare show of patriotism in the receipt and passage of the 2016 MTEF and Budget. “The 2016 Budget is the most challenging budget the National Assembly has ever passed in its recent history. “Taking into account the many controversies and omissions, particularly in NYSC, Prisons, Pensions, personnel shortfalls, among others, the budget failed in many respects to connect with the policy thrust of the government. “The National Assembly Appropriation Committees worked round the clock to address some of the omissions, bring up to date allocations in the budget towards the policy direction of Mr. President, particularly issues relating to security, anti-corruption and economic diversification. “Given the foregoing efforts, it is therefore unfair for accusing fingers to be pointed at the National Assembly when the Presidency defers or delays assent to the budget. “Nowhere in the world that a budget is presented to the Parliament and expect it to be passed warts and all without subjecting it to the rigours of scrutiny, debate and painstaking processes and inputs of the parliament. “The National Assembly will continue to exercise its constitutional duty of appropriation to the latter. “While recognizing the President’s power to withhold assent, the National Assembly is also constitutionally required and has power to veto. “But we don’t want that to happen and we don’t see this happening in this case. “It is obvious that some fifth columnists are crying wolf where there is none and are also bent on creating friction and disharmony between the National Assembly and the Presidency.” [myad]
The Pharaohs of Egypt, today, in Alexandria in the second leg of the double-header AFCON qualifier, sent the Nigeria Super Eagles out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon by a lone goal.
This was even as the nation’s football ruling body, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed sadness for the loss, asking Nigerian football fans not to lose faith in the national team.
With Chad’s withdrawal from the race, Egypt top the table with 7 points, with a game left against Tanzania in June, while Nigeria follow with mere two points and a game left against Tanzania in September. The Tanzanians, on their part, have two points with two games to spare.
Teenager Radwan Sobhi grabbed the all-important goal in the 65th minute when his toed effort from just inside the box trickled behind a sea of Nigerian legs and past goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Egypt deserved their win, having dominated the game and making several attempts at goal but with Akpeyi often coming to the rescue. Nigeria rarely threatened, except for the cracking shot from Victor Moses in 83 minutes that hit the bar and bounced back into play.
The dismal result means that Nigeria, despite the array of stars invited for the double-header, will not be participating in the second AFCON competition in a row, after winning the trophy in South Africa in 2013, the last time she participated.
And in a statement today, the NFF said that like most Nigerians, it was saddened by the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final competition, following a 1-0 defeat by seven-time African champions Egypt in Alexandria on Tuesday, 29th March 2016. “ We see this failure to qualify as an unfortunate turn of events, because it came despite the undoubted efforts of the Coaching crew led by Coach Samson Siasia and the players led by the captain, Mikel Obi, and the efforts of the NFF leadership who not only supported the technical crew but also provided necessary support regarding comfortable traveling arrangement and accommodation for the team’s home and away matches. “Football being the paramount national pastime in our dear country, we understand and share the disappointment in the land. But we crave the indulgence of all to continue to support the team and the NFF going forward as we continue to nurture and navigate a painful but positive path towards a glorious future for Nigeria football. “ It is rather unfortunate that Chad, one of the teams in the qualification group, suddenly pulled out of the race, leaving only three teams left in the group, and only the winner of the the group guaranteed qualification. This appeared to have taken away our worst-case scenario of qualification. However, our legal unit is looking at the propriety of changing the rules midstream. “In the next one week, the Technical and Development Committee will meet to make recommendations to the NFF Board on the way forward for the Super Eagles, but already, we can disclose that the NFF has now fully shifted its focus to activating its already prepared plan to give the team all the support it needs to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while continuing to build a sustainable football culture for Nigeria in order to make Nigerian football once more a force to be reckoned with. “Failure to reach the Africa Cup of Nations remains a gnawing pain, but we have decided to take a number of positives from the unsuccessful campaign and in particular the two matches against Egypt. The development of a new and youthful team playing swashbuckling, strong, resolute and exciting kind of football Nigeria has been known for was a soothing balm even in the face of the challenging campaign. “In preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting later this year, the NFF will ensure that it utilizes all FIFA windows for international friendlies for the Super Eagles, starting in June with two games against teams of high ranking. The outstanding Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in September would also serve as a tune-up for the World Cup qualification games. “We want to use this medium to commend the efforts of Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke, who took very seriously and professionally the job of preparing the Super Eagles for the matches, with only three weeks to do the job. They have shown extraordinary courage and purposefulness, and the NFF will never forget their contributions to Nigeria football. “As it is, Nigeria is one of only three teams that will represent Africa at this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, having won the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in December 2015. The NFF will give Coach Siasia all the support to excel at the Games, by winning the football gold. We will also continue to support the U-20 men squad, managed by Amuneke, in order to ensure the team’s qualification for the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the U-20 World Cup, as well as the U-17 boys for the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and the U-17 World Cup, for which we are the defending champions. “We are also working on maximum support for the women’s National Teams ahead of the African Women Cup of Nations, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – all taking place this year. “Our sincere appreciation goes to the Federal Government for continued support for Nigeria football, and our sponsors for the invaluable role they play in the nation’s football development. We particularly commend the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, for their very kind gesture and solid support for the Super Eagles in both matches against Egypt, and indeed other matches before these. “The NFF Board remains united and resolute in its commitment to building a sustainable football culture for our dear country, by employing resources at its disposal diligently, purposefully and responsibly.” [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Mohammed Barkindo, former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), may emerge as the secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigerian government is believed to have nominated him for the post.
