Ex Defence Chief, Alex Badeh, Set To Honour EFCC Invitation, Goes There Tomorrow

February 2, 2016

Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh

Former Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (Rtd) is beleived to have concluded arrangements to honour the invitation extended to him by the Economic and financial crimes Commission (EFCC), and will be appearing in the Commission’s offices tomorrow, Wednesday.
The invitation to Bade is in line with the Presidential directive to the anti graft agency to investigate the roles played by top military leaders in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, against the background of the controversial arms procurement scandal.
Sources closed to the former top military leader said that Chief Badeh received the EFCC invitation yesterday, Monday upon which he promptly directed his personal aides to make arrangements for his visit to the Commission’s office tomorrow, as requested by the ant-graft agency.
The former CDS will be visiting the EFCC from his house where he is said to have been since he left office, to explain certain activities that were alleged to have taken place in the Armed Forces under his watch as the coordinating officer for all the arms of the Armed Forces.
According to a source, Badeh has maintained a low profile in the face recent allegation.
Some military sources who worked with Badeh believe that the former CDS is being deliberately framed up by people whose toes he might have stepped upon while in office.
“While it is impossible to say any human is perfect, we believe some of the allegations as contained in the order directing EFCC to probe Badeh and others are particularly strange to those of us who worked with him” one of the military sources said.
“We are even more curious because, we understand these officers were not invited for questioning by the Presidential panel that conducted preliminary investigations into the matter.
“Well, we are glad he now has an opportunity to defend his good name built over years of dedicated service to the nation.”
Efforts to speak directly with the former CDS did not yield results, but his close allies confirmed that he has made up his mind to honour the invitation by the EFCC. [myad]

Buhari’s Govt. To Raise $25 Billion From Global Community For Infrastructure – Osinbajo

Greenbarge Reporters

February 2, 2016

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has sadi that the plan of the Muhammadu Buhari government to raise a $25 billion Infrastructural Fund from the global community and establish long term bankable projects is gaining a lot of acceptance from stakeholders.
“We have seen considerable, favorable interests from some sovereign wealth funds and other nations.”
Vice President Osinbajo spoke today when he received a delegation of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry that paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority which manages the country’s sovereign wealth fund is leading the project, adding that the Infrastructural Fund would create opportunity for commercial partners to participate in the building of the nation’s infrastructures alongside the federal government.
“This would be done through the establishment of bankable projects that involves such commercial partners.”
He said that the China-Exim Bank has agreed to finance the railway projects linking Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar even as he said: “we expect these will generate some economic activities and create jobs.”
The Vice President reiterated the federal government’s determination to raise revenue internally to fund the budget, including through an expansion of VAT coverage but not an increase of the VAT rate.
“At 20 percent coverage, the VAT coverage now, the federal government intends to do much better giving a boost to the country’s tax revenues.”
The delegation of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry was led by Chief Mrs. Nike Akande who declared the support of the Chamber for the federal government’s fight against corruption and acknowledged that in the current economic situation that the Buhari presidency is having to deal with “there are no easy choices.”
The Vice President told the delegation that federal government is focussed on finding solutions to the economic situation, including through a focus on building infrastructure and to also diversifying the economy, especially through agriculture. Besides, he said, government is also focussing on creating an enabling environment for business and investments in the country.
Mrs. Akande, a former federal minister for Industry called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to find a foreign exchange regime that would boost the confidence of investors and remove uncertainly.
This was even as Professor Osinbajo also received a delegation from the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) during which time he acknowledged their importance and their contribution to the economy, especially since the 2001 privatization.
The Vice President noted that the telecom sector is one of the sectors in the economy that has created a significant impact.
He reiterated the federal government’s resolve to develop critical infrastructure in the country, including the power sector.
According to him, the 2016 budget has a lot of emphasis on power, infrastructure, “and we are hoping to make considerable progress, with fairly consistent spending on infrastructure over the years, we’ll fare better.”
Earlier the Chairman of the association, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo presented an industry report to the Vice President entitled: “The Socio-Economic Impact of Telecoms in Nigeria.” Adebayo also expressed the concern of telecom operators regarding ‘multiple taxes’ and some of their equipment destroyed by insurgents in the Northeast.
He said that the industry has recorded over 120 million subscribers since 2001. [myad]

Oshiomhole’s ‘Five-Star’ Hospital Nearing Completion

Greenbarge Reporters

February 2, 2016

A 200-bed central hospital which the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole is putting up for the people of the state, is almost completed, even as the governor boasted that the hospital when completed, will be better than many of its kind in Europe and Asia.
Oshiomhole, who inspected the hospital today was told that work on the hospital is 98 per cent completed, even as he made it clear that it will be adequately maintained to ensure its durability and effective service delivery to the people.
“When I said at the beginning that our intention is to build what I called a five-star hospital, most people tried to imagine what that meant.
“But I am sure just looking at the building, I don’t know of any hotel in Nigeria, in terms of aesthetics, that has a better appeal than this. And this is the sort of thing you find in Europe and some other advanced economies.
“If you are in the 21st Century, begin to think as if you are in the 22nd Century because the world has changed and it will keep changing. The pace of change will keep accelerating.
“The whole idea is that when a typical Edo person comes from a village like mine, if he gets in here and realizes that even the environment psychologically impacts on him and he begins to appreciate that he is important, he is in the hands of professional healthcare providers, that way, that forgotten rural man, for once, will have access to modern facilities.
“You don’t need to board an airline to London, to India, to Europe to be told how hospitals look there. I am sure that those of you who may have for one reason or another travelled, there are many hospitals in Europe and in India that are not as beautiful as this.
“And so, I believe that a hundred years from now, this hospital will not look outdated.
“You will see that as you look at the internal finishing, we took into account the conventional challenges you have with public building; problem of painting and repainting, and with the facials that you have, you will never need to do repainting. All you need is proper cleaning at regular intervals.
“The only thing we must now do is to address the critical issue of the human factor.
“Once the hospital is opened, we must re-engage the doctors on the rule of engagement.
“We won’t invest in this kind of facility and a doctor comes in to clock in one hour and goes back to do his private practice and then collects a cheque for one month at the end of the day.
“I think we provide a hospital that can provide for everyone, both the rich and the poor.
“There won’t be a difference in treatment for the poor and the rich.” [myad]

Find Vacancies Easier With Jiji

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

Looking for a job is a responsible task. For some, it is just finding a source of income, while for other people finding a job means finding themselves. One way or another, you have to treat it with all seriousness. Decide all pros and cons, think about all possible aspects, desires, expectations, preferences, initiatives etc. However, it isn’t something programmed or predetermined. Don’t forget about your emotions and wishes. In the end, sometimes job finds you, making working hours pleasant and productive.

It doesn’t matter how you choose a job. But sometimes it matters where you start seeking. Have you considered Jiji.ng? It is the fast-growing classifieds with an incredibly big selection of items and services to order. It is a place, which clearly demonstrates what have happened to real market today, and how it was transformed from material to digital one. All vacancies are in the Jobs section. Every advert contains a detailed description of your future duties and rights. Read everything attentively and don’t hesitate to contact a person who has posted an offer after making a choice.

Actually, choosing may be complicated. Prices here are lower than in any other shop you know. At Jiji, you deal only with real people. The communication is direct, which means no intermediaries, extra fee or additional actions. This website turns seeking for a job turns into adventure. [myad]

WHO Declares Global Emergency On Zika

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

World Health Organization has declared global emergency on Zika, saying that the disease which is now ravaging some countries in Latin America poses a global health challenge requiring an urgent, united response.
Experts are worried that the virus is spreading far and fast, with devastating consequences.
The infection has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.
The WHO alert puts Zika in the same category of international concern as Ebola.
It means research and aid will be fast-tracked to tackle the infection.
WHO Director General, Margaret Chan, called Zika an “extraordinary event” that needed a coordinated response.
Chan said: “I am now declaring that the recent cluster of microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014 constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.”
She said that the priorities were to protect pregnant women and their babies from harm and to control the mosquitoes that are spreading the virus.
Currently, there is no vaccine or medication to stop Zika.
The only way to avoid catching it is to avoid getting bitten by the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the infection. The WHO has already warned that Zika is likely to “spread explosively” across nearly all of the Americas.
More than 20 countries, including Brazil, are reporting the cases.
Most infections are mild and cause few or no symptoms, although there have been some reported cases of a rare paralysis disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The bigger health threat though is believed to be in pregnancy, to the unborn child.
There have been around 4,000 reported cases of microcephaly – babies born with small brains – in Brazil alone since October. [myad]

Ekiti: Government Of Liars By Liars, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

Governor Ayodele Fayose has, for sometimes now, kept Ekiti state which he presides over, in the news at national and international levels, either directly by himself or by his cronies and or his opponents. He is either abusing President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo, APC or someone is abusing him.
His insults on anything and anybody that has anything to do with APC and President Buhari have gradually come to light to show that they are being used as facade invented to cover up a lot of dirty dealings he might have committed on his way to power.
One was not surprised when the secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his state: the party on which platform he rode to the government house, Dr. Temitope Aluko, opened a can of worms, about the atrocities Fayose and his allies committed in the events leading to his election.
Not only Dr. Aluko, but a military officer had earlier, last year, confessed how Fayose, along with former minister of state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly perfected the rigging that threw him (Fayose) up as governor.
Dr. Aluko, at a news briefing in Abuja yesterday, Sunday, gave details information about how millions of Dollars exchanged hands between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Fayose for the purpose of campaign by him (Fayose). He pointed out how they (including Dr. Aluko himself), crafted and perfected the rigging machinery that resulted into Fayose ‘winning’ the election.
Aluko was nice enough to hint that one of his grouses against governor Fayose was that he reneged on the arrangement, as condition for rigging the election, that he (Aluko), would be made Chief of Staff to the governor after the election.

Aluko said indeed, that before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and him jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after they must have won the election.
“We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I Chief of Staff.
“But the moment he got into office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch.”

And when Fayose, through his spokesman, Lere Olayinka moved swiftly to deny the Aluko’s allegation, he ended up confirming most of what Aluko said.
In particular was Fayose’s admittance that Aluko rose against him because he did not make him Chief of Staff (is it as promised before the election and as a condition for rigging election?).
According to Fayose, Aluko wouldn’t have said “what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.
What Fayose said implied that there was actually an agreement that Dr. Aluko would be given the post of Chief of Staff if he could play his own side of the game (of rigging the election). But for whatever reason, Fayose reneged on such agreement after he had gotten to office as governor, as a result of which Aluko was now infuriated.
Read between the lines of Fayose’s response: “if he (Aluko) had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.”
What all these amount to is that Aluko has simply succeeded in exposing the lies that had been built into the foundation of the Ekiti governance and the continued governance by the current crop of politicians, headed by Ayo Fayose.
The scenario goes thus: Fayose deceived Aluko into participating in the game of rigging which Aluko fell flat for, even to the extent of allegedly telling lie in court on oath. And when Fayose refused to fulfill his own side of the agreement (by not appointing Aluko as Chief of Staff), Aluko now went haywire even at the point of disowning whatever evidences he had earlier presented before the court.
It is like the nemesis is about to catch up with all those who stage-managed the ruse election that brought this garrulous, disrespectful, arrogant and aggressive man called Fayose into office.
How the whole thing will turn out is what we are all waiting to see.
I pity Ekiti people! [myad]

Nigeria Can Prosper Without Oil, Vice President Osinbajo Insists

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has made it clear that Nigeria has the capacity to proper in all sectors without oil whose price has fallen in international market.

“This country has practically what it takes to run a solid economy that is not dependent on oil, but on business and commerce,” the Vice President insisted.

Osinbajo spoke today at a meeting with a group of international investors who have come to invest in the country.

According to Professor Osinbajo, the President has already given the mandate to ensure that a conducive environment is created for business investments in the country, even as he said that work has already started with government looking at the different aspects involved.

The Vice President, alongside the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, also held a meeting today with the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Ranking Team, where issues were laid out and specific lines of action identified on how to improve the business climate in the country.

In an interactive session with the visiting global investors drawn from companies, including Renaissance Capital, Russia-China Investment Fund, China Africa Development Fund, Invest Abu Dhabi, Actis, Emerging Capital Partners, ECP, KKR & Co. LP, Old Mutual of South Africa among others, Vice President Osinbajo explained that working with the State governments, the Buhari presidency will ensure that issues such as pre-investment approvals, and land titles would be reformed to attain the ease of doing business aspirations of the administration.

He said that where necessary, government will rationalize agencies involved in granting approvals and thereby create space for businesses to thrive.

Regarding the critical role of electric power in creating a conducive business environment, the Vice President stated that while the federal government would be making further investments in the sector, the entire power value chain would have to be well compensated in order to produce the needed results.

Professor Osinbajo also restated the commitment of the Buhari administration to creating jobs through businesses and direct action of the government to engage the youths.

He said that the 500,000 teaching positions for unemployed graduates worked into the 2016 budget is a means of engaging the youths in paid voluntary occupations in their communities until such a time they can find a job in their different disciplines.

He said that the programme would also address a critical need for teachers in the public school system, adding that the federal government will also create opportunity for about 370,000 youths who are not graduates to receive vocational training and acquire skills, while one million artisans and market women would receive soft loans through the Bank of Industry as already proposed in the proposed 2016 budget.

Former Minister of National Planning, Alhaji Shamsudeen Usman led the delegation of the international investors, while Dr. Rachid Benmessoud, the Nigeria Country Director of the World Bank led the bank’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking Team visit to the Vice President. Both meetings were attended by the Industry, Trade and Investment Minister. [myad]

FCT Minister Confers Honorary Citizenship Of Abuja On Italian Prime Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

Minster of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has conferred honorary citizenship of Abuja on the Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Matteo Renzi even as he presented him with the key to the City of Abuja.

The Minister made the conferment today at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, while receiving the Italian Prime Minister who is on a one-day state visit to Nigeria. Muahammad Bello said that the key to the City of Abuja confers him the Honorary Citizenship of Abuja, with all the rights and privileges.

He emphasized that this honour has been bestowed on the visiting Prime Minister as mark of respect for the strong friendship and cordial relationship between the people of Nigeria and Italy.

The Minister, who welcomed the Italian visiting Prime Minister to the City, described Abuja as the symbol of national unity of the country.

Responding, the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, who led a strong delegation of Italian Government and people to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, appreciated the honour done to him.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Nigeria and Italy have long standing diplomatic relationship that ought to be strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has signed an agreement on intelligence sharing, capacity building and provision of logistics that will enhance the operations of the Nigeria Police.

The signing of agreement, witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Renzi, in the State House was part of bilateral meeting between the two countries which covered issues on energy, security, agriculture, immigration, human and drug trafficking, infrastructure and education.

The agreement on enhancing cooperation between the Nigerian and Italian Police was signed by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Italian National Police Chief, Alessandro Pansa.

Speaking at the bilateral meeting, President Buhari said he was impressed with the relationship between Nigeria and Italy over the years, especially in the areas of security, construction, oil and gas and the exploration of solid minerals.

“I am impressed by the resilience and commitment of the Italian business to Nigeria’s development shown by the Italian construction companies and companies in the oil sector.

‘‘I am happy to hear that an Italian oil company, Eni ltd, is investing 4 billion U S dollars in the coming three years in the economy spite of the downward spiral of oil prices,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, the Italian Prime Minister said his country will support Nigeria in the ongoing fight against corruption, terrorism and also encourage Italian companies to invest more in sectors that will enable growth and create jobs for Nigerians like power, agriculture and solid minerals. [myad]

Lai Mohammed To Jonathan: You Lied About Weapons Acquired To Fight Boko Harm

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has made it clear that whatever weapons that were procured by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration for the military to prosecute the war against terrorism were substandard and could not have been responsible for the string of successes recorded against Boko Harm by the military in recent times.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta today the minister described as unfortunate and unsubstantiated the statement credited to former President Goodluck Jonathan attributing the recent successes in the war to the weapons allegedly bought by his Administration that were delivered after he had left office.

He said the present Administration owes it a duty to put the record straight, especially because the issues raised by the former President are of public interest and borders on national security.

”The weapons, munitions and equipment which the former President said he bought were refurbished and lacked the basic components and spare parts. Additionally, the ammunition bought for both high calibre and small weapons have mostly expired, incompatible with weapons and grossly inadequate.

”It is pertinent to state that the ammunition he was referring to were back loaded because they explode within the barrel when fired, thus leading to deaths and injuries among soldiers,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He explained that the troops also lacked the much-needed lift and operational vehicles and other equipment which they needed for an effective prosecution of the war, until the present Administration ameliorated the situation.

”The situation was so pathetic that soldiers were often transported in Civilian JTF vehicles, civilian vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation. The revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which have emanated from the investigative panel so far, point clearly to the kind of legacy bequeathed to this administration by the past government.

”That explains why troops remained largely static and were unable to effectively deploy to completely rout the Boko Haram terrorists in all their known enclaves. The high level of casualties sustained by our gallant soldiers was most unprecedented and cannot be compared to any known military operations in recent times, all because of the terrible state of affairs suffered by the military under the Jonathan Administration,” the Minister said.

He said apparently because former President Jonathan could not understand how credible and dedicated leadership could impact positively on the morale and performance of troops, he has chosen to denigrate the system for the unprecedented feat that was achieved within the first six months of the Buhari Administration – something that he could not achieve in all of six years!

”It is also clear, as has been shown so far by the outcome of the panel probing past arms deals, that the purchase of substandard weapons apparently resulted from the massive corruption that enveloped the deals, the kind of horrifying graft that saw the purchase of refurbished choppers that lacked rotors, or fighter jets that could not be deployed to the theatre of war because they were not up to par.

”The needless loss of lives of many of our gallant troops, resulting from the lack of standard weaponry and low morale in the past, is not a matter to be trivialized under any circumstance,” the Minister said. [myad]

Methodist Church Goes Into Farm Project With Osun State Government

Greenbarge Reporters

February 1, 2016

The Methodist Church of Nigeria has indicated its readiness to go into mechanized farming in partnership with the Osun state government.

The Prelate of the Church‎, Dr. Samuel Emeka Kanu Uche who made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Governor’s office in Osogbo said that the church is strategizing on how to improve the economy of the state through commercial farming that will provide jobs for the youth.

The clergy who pointed out that the state and the nation at large will overcome the present economic hardship like it overcame insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria.

The Prelate commended the government of Aregbesola for looking inward on how to take the state forward at the face of the dwindling oil revenue in Nigeria, suggesting to government at all levels the need for proper taxation for the growth of the economy.

He encouraged the governor not to be deterred by critics, saying there is little or nothing that any government can do without the necessary funds.

“The Methodist church as a body is strategizing on how to assist government in the employment of people. You can help us in Osun by giving us land for commercial agriculture. When we commence farming activities on a mechanized scale, indigenes of Osun will be able to get employment.

“If you are kind enough to give us the land and an enabling environment, since it is a business venture, we will definitely pay tax, but as religious body, the church and the mosques, will not pay tax.

“Without money, there is less that you can do, I know money will come, I sympathize with you and we believe that oil prices will soon rise, we shall continue to pray for you and Nigeria.

“I want to suggest to Nigeria government to do proper taxation, most people don’t pay tax, if we get people to pay the accurate tax and it goes into government purse, then we will overcome our present situation like we did with the Boko Haram insurgents.”

Governor Aregbesola commended Methodist church for wanting to strengthen the economy of the country and that of Osun through Agriculture.

The Governor held that the only successful nations are those tilling the soil for the purpose of planting and living on the produce of the land, adding that such country will never end up miserable or poor.

“Humanity has not found alternative to consumption of food as a means of survival, it is quite idiotic for any nation to depend on another country for her food. The starting point of our economic recovery is the ability to feed ourselves.

“I want to commend the Methodist for wanting to participate in the production of sufficient food for our people, I am also commending you for your foresight, we will support you all the way by providing you with whatever size of land you need free of charge but it will be strictly for farming.” [myad]

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