Muslim Hajj Commission Begins Preparation For 2016 Hajj, Screens Airlines

March 16, 2016

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced the preparation for the 2016 hajj operations with the staging of a three-day screening exercise of airlines and excess luggage carriers that are expected to provide services to the Nigerian pilgrims during 2016 Hajj.

A statement from the Head of the Media of the Commission, Uba Mana said that nine air carriers and four excess luggage carries had made the list at the opening of application forms event which took place today at Stonehedge hotel, Abuja.

“The carriers to be screened were Azman Air Services, Chanchangi Airlines, Dornier AIEP, Fly-Nas, Kabo Air Limited, Max Air Limited, Med-View Airlines, Skypower Express Airways Limited and Top Brass, while applicants as excess luggage carriers were Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, Evergreen and White, Med-View International Travels and Cargo and NAHCO Aviance. “

Uba Mana said that the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, charged members of the screening committee to ensure transparency and due process, so that only the capable and experienced airline operators would be prequalified.

“He expressed confidence in the ability of the committee made up of aviation experts to deliver,” adding that Barrister Muhammad informed the applicants of the insistence of the Saudi government on full implementation of the e-track system and the demand that all the airliners must secure their Saudi-bound slots before the end of April 2016.

“He announced that the Commission has issued new guidelines for some activities for 2016 Hajj, including guidelines on pilgrims’ accommodation in Makkah and Madina, guidelines on 2016 pilgrims’ feeding, guidelines on unified pilgrims’ registration and guidelines on the licensing of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board/Agencies/Commissions.

“He said that over 1.7billion Naira have been refunded to all the State boards and agencies from 2015 Hajj for pilgrims who could not perform the Hajj and for various services that were not rendered to the pilgrims by the services providers. He called on all Nigerian pilgrims of 2015 Hajj to go to their respective state boards and agencies to collect their refunds.

“The Chairman thanked the Federal government, the National Assembly and all the relevant organs of the government for their support and assured that the Commission will achieve greater success in 2016 Hajj.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representaives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, commended the level of transparency in the opening of the application forms and urged the screening committee to maintain the tempo.

He commended NAHCON for its efforts in ensuring that pilgrims got the best services they pay for and wished the airliners well in their application to participate in the 2016 Hajj exercise.

The Chairman of the screening committee and NAHCON commissioner in charge of Operations, Alhaji Abullah Modibbo Saleh on behalf of the committee members promised to give equal opportunity to the applicants.

The committee was made up of the three executive commissioners of the Commission, Board members representing the six geopolitical zones, representative of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), NAMA, NIMET, AIPB, Customs, ICPC, EFCC, officials of Osun, Kano, Nasarawa states and FCT, while Bar. Alhassan Abdulkarim will serve as the secretary. [myad]

Lawyer Slumps, Dies In Court Whiled Defending Suspected Criminals

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

A lawyer who was simply identified as Chidi, slumped in a court room in Lagos today and died while defending two accused persons, Okedairo Okedeji, 38, and Akolade Agbola, 28, for allegedly stealing meat and snail worth N28,000 belonging to Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Eye witness account said that Chidi had arrived late at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court premises on Lagos Island for the case, but discovered that the court had already called the case and adjourned it to April 14.
The lawyer then apologized to the court for coming late, attributing it to traffic.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that as the lawyer was apologizing, he started gasping for breath and was coughing profusely; his client rushed him outside the court room for fresh air.
When the cough persisted, his tie was removed and he pleaded that they should help him get a cab to take him home.
While they were trying to get the cab, he couldn’t move any longer so his client had to carry him on his back downstairs. Immediately he got into the cab, he stopped breathing.
The taxi man was said to have returned him to the court premises, saying he could not carry the lawyer to avoid police harassment.
It was later confirmed that he gave up the ghost at the Lagos Island General Hospital. [myad]

OPC Accuses Gani Adams, Its Leader, Of Receiving $22 Million From Late Lybian Leader And Diverted It

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

Some members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), have jointly accused their leader, Otumba Gani Adams of having received the sum of $22 Million and diverting it for his personal use.

In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the aggrieved members alleged that one of the purported offences of Adams was the diversion of $22 million, which he allegedly received on behalf of the group from the late Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadaffi.

According to Reports Afrique, the aggrieved members made these claims of financial fraud in a three-page petition, dated March 4 and signed by 26 members of the National Coordinating Council of the group. The petition was reported to have been received at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on March 11.

The aggrieved OPC members who signed the petition include; Rasak Arogundade, Monsuru Akande, Adesina Akinpelu, Kehinde Ogunyale, Adeola Adeagbo, Ranti Akande, Gbenga Egunlusi, Lateef Oshodi, Layiwola Ogunsolu, Olusoji Folorunso, Sunday Bankole, Segun Olusanya and Sunday Adebayo and Idowu Akintunde.

Also in the list are; Oyename Adebayo, Lateef Kaka, Oladipupu Musa, Musiliu Amusa, Lateef Ogungbayi, Morufu Salami, Rotimi Akinsowon, Taofik Hameed, Dauda Oyelowo, Yinka Olowoporoku, Adio Odewole and Alexander Adesina.

The petition reads in part:

“Besides funds stolen or misappropriated by Adams, there is also the case of about six million members (using Adams estimate of OPC membership strength during his pro-Jonathan campaigns) who are obligated to obtain the group’s identification cards at N2,500 each.

“From identity cards alone, Gani Adams pockets about N15 billion every year. Adams equally diverted N150 million specially set aside by the NCC and meant for building a hotel for the OPC in each South- West state capital. This is besides the N100 million or more, also made by encouraging unwary members to buy shares in the hotel project. The hotel scheme was conceived in 2007 but has failed to see the light of the day.

“This situation is no longer acceptable to us and the generality of the OPC cadre who have been at the receiving end of Adams misdemeanour. Ours has been for too long, like the proverbial masquerade that farted, it can only bear the nauseating stink until it is dissipated with time.”

The OPC boss’ personal assistant, Prince Olalekan Segun Akanni, who reacted to the development, stated that if the petitioners had their facts, they would meet at the EFCC.

“Those behind the petition are expelled members of the group who are seeking relevance by saying the same things for a long time without anything to show for it.

“One of the vocals among them has been trying to get the attention of the leader and has even demanded a certain amount of money for him to ditch his co-rebels.” he said. [myad]

FCT Minister Angry With Perpetrators Of Political Violence In Abaji, Vows To Fish Them Out

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello is angry with those who unleash political violence that disrupted the peace of Abaji, in Abaji Area Council of the capital city, vowing that the perpetrators would be fished out and made to face the wrath of the law.

The minister, who spoke today at the National Assembly Complex while briefing the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matter on the preparedness of the FCT Administration for the rescheduled Area Councils Elections, emphasized that all those involved in the violence, irrespective of political affiliations, would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to those who may wish to copy that anti social behavior.
“I have already directed the Security Agencies to ensure that all those involved irrespective of their political lining be arrested as the law would take it full course.”
Muhammad Bello insisted that the FCT Area Councils’ elections must be conducted peacefully and therefore urged all political gladiators to warn their followers not to be involved political thuggery.
“The FCT Administration would partner with all stakeholders to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in any part of the Federal Capital Territory.”
He said that all the flashpoints have been identified across the Territory and would be effectively monitored to guarantee that law and order is maintained before, during and after the FCT Area Councils’ elections.
The Minister said that the Administration has contacted the Traditional Rulers on the need to reach out to their subjects to observe a peaceful election as well as mobilizing the residents to come out en-masse to observe their civic responsibility.
Muhammad Bello assured that the FCT Administration would continue to support the Security Agencies carry out their duty effectively, even as the Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Hon. Adams Jagaba, who is also a member of the Committee assured the FCT Minister that he would mobilize all the security agencies to fully support the FCT Administration in ensuring that the April 9, 2016 elections are conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and the Acting Secretary of the FCT Area Councils’ Secretariat accompanied the Minister to the National Assembly Complex. [myad]

Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Sign Agreement On Joint Security Patrols

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, today in Malabo, signed an agreement on the establishment of a combined Maritime Policing and Security Patrol Committee.
The conclusion and signing of the agreement is expected to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and help in curbing maritime crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, sabotage of oil rigs and arms smuggling.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of President Buhari’s visit to Malabo, both countries also agreed to discuss greater cooperation on oil and gas production and a bilateral trade agreement.
It was further agreed that the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission will be revived from its present state of dormancy and empowered to play its proper role in the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
President Muhammadu Buhari and President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere of trust and solidarity that now exists between their countries.
In their talks during the two-day visit, the two leaders discussed sub-regional, regional and international issues including terrorism, violent extremism and the state of the global economy, especially as it affects Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
They also discussed the crises in some African countries and efforts by the African Union to achieve peace, stability and progress across the continent.
President Buhari who has since returned to Abuja thanked President Mbasogo and the people of Equatorial Guinea for the warm reception given to him and his delegation during the visit. [myad]

Whitedove School In Lagos, Nigeria, Shines At An Outing In America, By Maero Ozako

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

Whitedove School, Lekki, Lagos continues to blaze a trail as they recently attended and stood out at the 42nd annual National High School model, United Nation’s conference in New York, USA held from March 2 to 5.

The conference which attracted 3,500 high school students from around the world was held with the aim of simulating the real sessions at the United nations in New York. The children were chosen as ‘diplomats’ so as to reflect the views and policies of their assigned countries. Just like at the United Nations, there are specialized committees and plenary sessions.

The NHSMUN is a subsidiary of the International Model United Nations association, (IMUNA) which has been officially recognized as a non-governmental organization of the United Nations. The 10 children from the White Dove School who were assigned to play the roles of representatives of Cape Verde, an Island country off the coast of West Africa, played their roles excellently well.

They were basically to deliberate and understand the intricacies of international affairs. For Opawole Titoluwani who attended as a member of the ECOFIN committee; the Economic and financial committee, during the event, he raised some issues on CRIME RARE DUE TO POVERTY. Most of the farmers that cannot make profit go on to commit economic crimes Temiloluwa also representing Cape Verde saw the trip as fun and educational. she found the members of her group quite friendly.

Eneasato Divine who was a member of the United Nations Environment programme established in 1972, found the sessions most engaging. He played an active role in proposing bills. Ogechi Ogba was the only member from her school of the High Level Political Forum on sustainable development. She contributed to the issue of reduction of marine biodiversity, a major problem in Cape Verde.

Ayomipo Odedina was on the team that discussed the importance of promoting sustainable urban growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Christopher Obieke was in the Disarmament and international security committee, For him, this conference was an eye-opener.

In the words of the White Dove School’s Vice-principal, Mr Ola Ehuwa, the students have always been exceptional, in line with their grooming: ‘Our vision is to be a foremost global Christian school that integrates academic, creative and moral excellence in raising purposeful future leaders. Our mantra is that excellence is our birthright, ‘ she said. ‘The uniqueness in our students lies in their awareness that they are role models and creators. This reflects in their comportment, speech and interaction with people. Every year, the students of the Whitedove school explore their creativity at their Annual Innovation Fair.

‘Leadership is an important aspect of vision’, says the administrator, Mrs Oluwayemisi Adekoya. ‘The National High School Model United Nations Conference provides the right exposure for our students to learn the rudiments of leadership at global dimension. It broadens their knowledge on international diplomacy and relations. It also gives them a multi-racial exposure and enhances their team work skills and builds up confidence. Finally, it gives them an opportunity to assemble in the hallowed chamber of the U.N Headquarters, New York.’

For Maero Ozako a child motivator and editor of the children’s pages, CHUMMIES who is also in New York for these sessions, this is a grand opportunity for any child. ‘ In all my work with schools and children, very few children show the level of intellect and confidence that the children of the Whitedove School show.”

After the event the delegates also went on to some sight-seeing, visiting the White House, China Town as well as the statue of Liberty. [myad]

Vice President Osinbajo Calls For Rehabilitation Of Lake Chad

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad even as he gave assurance of Nigeria’s support for the Paris agreement on Climate Change reached at the end of COP21 meeting held in France last December.
Speaking today at the Presidential Villa during a courtesy visit by the French Minister for the Environment, Power and Marine Affairs, who presided over the COP21 meeting in Paris, Ms. Segolene Royal, the Vice President said that Nigeria will join in the signing of the global pact before the end of this year.

Osinbajo emphasized need for the rehabilitation of Lake Chad which is being threatened by climate change, adding that Lake Chad is important from the point of view of security and economic factors.

The Vice President restated Nigeria’s concern about the lake and welcomed international support on its preservation and rehabilitation, saying that working together with the legislative arm of the Nigerian government, Nigeria will play its part in signing the agreement and ensuring ratification.
“COP21 outcome is important for everyone, it is the largest landmark agreement on climate change,” says Prof. Osinbajo adding that Nigeria was pleased with the meeting and its outcome-the Paris Agreement.
He thanked the French minister for making a stop in Nigeria as she tours countries in the continent, expressing the hope that Nigeria and France would continue to expand diplomatic and economic relationships, especially as the federal government is now confronting a number of economic issues including diversification and development of infrastructure.
The Vice President who was joined at the meeting by Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, commended the effort of Ms. Royal in her role as COP21 president and pledged Nigeria’s continued support.
Earlier Ms. Royal told the Vice President that she is visiting Nigeria and a number of other African countries to ensure that the Paris Agreement is established through the signing and ratification process, and also beyond to encourage the signatories take concrete actions in line with the agreement after the signing.
She noted the support of the international community on the preservation and rehabilitation of Lake Chad and announced that the Paris Agreement would be signed April 22 at the United Nations. [myad]

Aviation: Political Interference, A Necessary Evil. By Capt. Evarest Nnaji

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

I have read a lot of sanctimonious sermons from aviation practitioners over the years about the evil of political interference in our industry in Nigeria. It makes a nice pulsating conversation as it often radiates and resonates well when dressed and ornamented in safety.

Anything hooded around safety will always elicit interest and sympathy in aviation world, home and abroad.

But as a practitioner, an aviator and investor, I have seen a lot about “interference” whether political and institutional. To me, interference can come from political office holders or from regulators themselves. It just depends on the intention of the one who is interfering and whether the interference is for good or for evil purpose.

I, for an example, in no distant past, had had to encounter a regulator who either did not like my gut or did not like the size of my ears and thereby decided alongside his lieutenants to close down my operation.

Every inconceivable, written and unwritten, regulatory clauses man can fathom were quoted and bandied to inflict damage and circumvent our operation. Practically, in one occasion, it took just a phone call from a politician who reported that a helicopter landed on a “walk-way” in his area for our entire operations, in the whole of Nigeria, to be grounded for two days. And that was ever before sending an inspector to find out or to clarify what the caller meant by walkway, or ever hearing from us, the operator. I heard threats and harassments heading precipitously towards grounding my operation and destroying my millions of dollars worth of investment before I reached out for “political interference.” In fact, some years after, someone who was in the band actually, over a class of wine, joked and said “I remember when we were mandated to come up with something to closed down this place.”

As for Autonomy, we all fought for it; stampeded and taunted government officials and policy makers until they had nowhere to turn than to cave in. A great success, but our collective energy and effort, regulators as well as operators. So, I cannot in all honesty stated here that political interference, or any interference for that matter, is a way forward, but our society is still bedeviled with demonized humans who if completely left unchecked can be palpable monsters. In other words, some of our people are not yet broad minded enough to be completely trusted to be “honest and transparent.”

I strongly believe that the Autonomy we have in place is resounding enough to support and protect any regulator who knows his onions. With what we have in place, you can refuse and rebuff any obnoxious pressure from people in power if their request or inquiry is not legitimate. For instance, I don’t know on which leg anyone, Minister or from National Assembly, would stand to insist that you issue pilot license to someone who is no qualified. But starts if that person “not qualified” believes and can prove that you have issued pilot license to another person in his category and takes the case to someone in power. You will, in such case, automatically lose your moral grounds to be honest and transparent; and at such, when you cry “interference,” the monster described in the bible book of Job chapter 41 shows up in your mirror.

To me, and for now, we have no good reason to complain. We have one of the best aviation regulations in the world today; thank God we got it through when we did. All that is needed from every interested party is to be purely professional in our conducts.

Nnaji, a Businessman and aviator wrote in from Abuja. [myad]

Buhari Describes Political Violence In Rivers As Primitive: Says He Will Deal With It Decisively

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned recent political violence in Rivers State, saying that the killing of people over political differences is primitive, barbaric and unacceptable.
“We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.
“We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections.”
The President who spoke today in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea where he is on an official visit, at an interactive meeting with Nigerians said that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
He said that some African countries have started allowing their citizens resident abroad to vote in national elections and that he fully empathized with the desire of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in national elections.
President Buhari pledged that he will therefore do all within his powers to fulfill that desire.
“I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders.”
The President said that establishing a new national airline was not currently on the Federal Government’s list of priorities, but that his administration’s main area of focus now is reducing the level of poverty in the country.
The President said that developing the infrastructure needed to boost production in all sectors of the economy and creating more jobs for young Nigerians, as well as other actions that will directly improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians will continue to be prioritized by his administration.
Buhari was responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The President assured them that his administration’s war against corruption will remain “fearless, relentless and merciless.
“We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run the nation down.” [myad]

How Much Fani Kayode Spent To Forge Buhari’s Medical, School Certificates? By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

March 15, 2016

We just woke up this morning to hear of how the garrulous, careless and disrespectful Femi Fani Kayode was involved in the sharing of N3.145 Billion, representing our nation’s collective patrimony.

The former Document-Forger-In-Chief, who is supposed to be cooling off in one of the congested prisons in the country for that offence alone, but who still has the temerity to walk tall on our street, was forced to confess today that he actually received the N840 Million which he was ‘alleged’ to have benefited from the total of N3.145 Billion that was shared amongst those that were close to the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in his infamous campaign to retain the sweet power.

As a matter of fact and the way things went, there was no way this leaking-mouthed, Northern-hater would have denied receiving the money after the operatives of the dutiful Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had done a clean job of their investigations, by quoting the bank into which the money was paid, the account number, the exact amount paid at different dates until the whole money was completed.

It was like a pastor who was caught the other day, pumping away atop the beautiful wife of one of the members of his Church. When he was caught red-handed, he had nothing to say other than that it was the work of the devil; that was when even the man-of-God would himself become the devil.

In the case of Fani Kayode, I imagined what he would have said and or done if the EFCC had just mentioned his name as one of the beneficiaries of the great loot without the details provided. He would have gone to the press, wrote 20-page press statement, addressed gullible newsmen and women and blew all the grammar he could muster, including some jargons from Yoruba accent that cannot be found in the modern dictionary.

Fani Kayode would have tagged President Muhammadu Buhari as a dictator who had come after him simply because he waged disastrous campaign of calumny, personal destruction and shameless vendetta against him during the last campaigns. He would have gathered some hungry youths, made hungry by his own part of looting that deprived the same youths access to employments and good living, to protest that the Northern leaders have come on him simply because he is a Yoruba man from the South West, and or because he is outspoken against the Northerners and Muslims. He would have cursed all the Northerners and Muslims for framing him up.

Fani Kayode, indeed, would have attempted to curry support from ignorant international community, and he would have even aligned with the agitators for the actualization of the Republic of Biafra just so that he would have enough followers and clouts to fight off the government he sees as disturbing the sick status-quo, to which he is a chief beneficiary: the government of Buhari that, in reality, is systematically restoring Nigeria to some kind of sanity, from the insanity to which the immediate past leadership, with person like Fani Kayode as the chief architect, led it to.

Caught red-handed or pant-down or both, Fani Kayode admitted, surprisingly without a cent of resistance, that he actually received the N840 Million, but said, as an after-though, that he used the money for the assignment he was given to execute by former President Jonathan.

He said: “they then paid the money in for the assignment I was given. I asked them where the money came from. They said it was from private contribution for the Jonathan campaign. I believed them, and I had no way of knowing exactly where the money came from.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was campaign funds, and the money was used for the purpose for which it was meant. And we accounted for it to the man who gave us a job to do, President Jonathan.”

That is Fani Kayode speaking matter-of-factly!

And the question that follows immediately is: what was the purpose for which a whooping N840 Million was released to the loud-mouthed Fani Kayode? Was the forging of medical certificate of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, indicating that Buhari had a terminal illness that rendered him incapable of leading Nigeria part of what he used N840 Million to do?

Was the conspiracy with some renegade military men or women, still in service to hide Buhari’s secondary school certificate from his file at the time he (Fani Kayode) was making the certificate a big campaign issue part of the assignment he used N840 Million to execute? Eehem, Fani Kayode eehem???

Fani Kayode has been kind enough to say that he had already accounted for the N840 Million given to him and his team to the man who gave them the ‘job’ to do, which of course, is the former President, Dr. Jonathan, but he truly owe Nigerians another form of explanations as to how much of the huge sum he received was devoted to try to deconstruct the personality of Buhari.

He needs to tell Nigerians where he hide the huge sum of money to the extent that what is remaining in his bank account now is below N200,000. I advise EFCC to go searching his suckaway or a grave in the back yard of his house or houses or even the grave side of his father!

In any case, would one be correct to say that Fani Kayode came on board of Jonathan campaign organization with strict instruction to demystify Buhari, a man who is old enough to be his grandfather, all in the name of worldly thing?

Ha, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? As in the sad case of Femi Fani Kayode?

It is important, necessary and appropriate for the Fani Kayode of this miserable world to know, if he had not already known it, that there is time for everything: a time to be born, a time to sleep, a time to dream, a time to eat until you suffer from self-inflicted stomach-ache, a time to confess, a time to go to prison, a time to be disgraced and a time to finally, finally die! Such days are numbered; and they are coming. [myad]

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