No More Concessional Posting For Youth Corpers, NYSC Boss Says

September 22, 2015

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, has made it clear that the scheme would no longer entertain requests from people, seeking concessional posting for their wards, relatives and friends for the NYSC mandatory one year service.

Olawumi, who spoke during the opening ceremony of the training organized by the NYSC and the Housing Developers Cooperative Society for Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja, said that the scheme has introduced a self-deployment mechanism to enable the prospective corps members choose a state where they wish to serve.

The DG called on members of the public to stop disturbing staff of the scheme with their requests for concession, stressing that their online platform was designed in a way that corps members that have genuine reasons for concession would not be denied.

“The NYSC is barring concessional posting; we have to take that decision, because in the past, we allowed concessional posting for prospective corps members, who had medical challenge, or married women or pregnant women, but as it stands now, our online registration platform has been designed in such a way to address the problem of those prospective corps members who have health challenges or married women.

“So, all they need to do is that, in the process of doing their registration, there are information these categories of people need to supply and upload the documents, our portal has been designed in such a way that it will automatically post them to where they filled.

“I want to say that in the past few weeks we have been receiving requests from various quarters; ministries, departments, agencies, private institutions and individuals seeking for concessional posting. I want to say that they are just wasting their time.”

Olawumi explained that the training for the corps members, organized by the scheme and the Housing Developers’ Cooperative Society was aimed at training and graduating skilled manpower in housing sector.

“The inauguration of 200 youth corps members for training in special areas of labour need in the housing development sector reaffirms our pledge to give useful skills to every willing graduate partaking in the national service.” [myad]

Flood Sacks 30,000, Submerges 2,000 Houses In Kaduna

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

A massive flood has reportedly displaced no fewer than 30,000 people, submerged about 2,000 house and killed one person in Kaduna State.

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency ( SEMA), Mr. Ezekiel Baba-Karik, described the disaster as the worst in the history of the state.

About 10 local government areas of the state were said to have been affected by the heavy down pour which started on Sunday and spread to the early hours of Monday.

Areas affected by the flood within Kaduna metropolis include Barnawa, Tudun-wada, Kigo Road, Karatudu, Kabala Constain, Anguwan Rimi, Kudendan, Rafin Guza, Badiko, Hayin Mallam Mani and Gonin Gora, among several others.
Most of places affected are settlements around the river bank.

Several roads were also submerged by the flood, making it difficult for emergency workers to access the affected areas.
A part of the road connecting to the residence of former Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at Ungwan-Rimi GRA was submerged.
Although the residence of the former vice president was not affected, his neighbours whose houses are close to the Kaduna river bank were not spared as their homes were submerged.

A light bridge along Aliyu Makama road, Barnawa which links the area to the city centre was completely submerged by the flood, forcing motorists and tricycle riders to search for alternative route.

Spokesman of SEMA, Mallam Abubakar Zakari Adamu, said the disaster was monumental, saying however that he was not in a position to give a detailed assessment of the destruction.

He said that rescue agencies, including the Red Cross, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were working round the clock to come to the victims.

He, however, confirmed the death of one person.
“You know so many settlements, mostly around the river bank were affected and we have to share ourselves into groups in order to assist those affected.

“At the moment, I am not in a position to tell you all the details concerning the destructions until we compare notes with the various rescue groups,” Adamu said.
He lamented that despite repeated public enlightenment campaign urging people to avoid building houses by river banks, such warnings were ignored.

The state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, had already visited some of the affected areas. [myad]

Army Rises Against Coup D’état In Burkina Faso, Marches On Capital

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

Military heads in Burkina Faso have said that the West African nation’s armed forces were converging on the capital Ouagadougou to disarm the elite presidential guard “without bloodshed.”

The 1,200-member unit staged a coup on Wednesday, taking hostage the interim president and members of the government just weeks before October 11 polls meant to restore democracy following last year’s overthrow of longtime leader Blaise Compaore.

“We ask them to immediately lay down their arms and go to Camp Sangoule Lamizana,” read the statement signed by several military chiefs, referring to a barracks in Ouagadougou.

“They and their families will be protected,” it added.

Mediators from regional bloc ECOWAS announced a draft agreement aimed at ending the crisis late on Sunday. However the proposal, which included an amnesty for the coup leaders, was swiftly rejected by civil society and opposition politicians.

Demonstrators protesting against coup leader General Gilbert Diendere and the ECOWAS deal erected barricades and burned tyres in several neighbourhoods across the capital on Monday.

Large protests were also organised in several other towns.

“There’s a potential civil conflict there now. If (Diendere) stays, the people will fight him,” said Rinaldo Depagne, West Africa project director for the International Crisis Group. [myad]

Ex CBN Governor, Soludo’s Visit To Presidential Villa Raises Eyebrow

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

The sudden appearance of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo to Aso Rock Presidential Villa yesterday has left many observers speculating as to the motive.
Soludo arrived at the Villa today and was seen signing the visitors book on his way to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, ‎Alhaji Abba Kyari.
Donning a cream- coloured kaftan, the former CBN governor entered the Chief of Staff’s office at about 4.45pm.
His visit came at a time the President is believed to be concluding work on the list of ministerial nominees which he is expected to send to the National Assembly before the end of this month.
This is despite the fact that ‎Soludo, who served as CBN governor under the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo and Umar Yar’Adua, had on June 7 declared that he was not ready to work for Buhari’s government.
Soludo has been critical of the financial management of the economy by the Jonathan administration, accusing it of supervising the leakage of 30 trillion from the system.
“Nigerians and their rumours! I am glad you said they are rumours and such rumours are normal. For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari succeed. I will contribute in whatever way I can. However, everyone can’t sit in government in order to serve: some will be there on full time basis while others can contribute from outside. For me personally and at this point in time, I am not disposed or available for full time public service now; perhaps in the future it could happen, but not now. For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community. I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries, etc. I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central to Africa’s great leap in the 21st century. I read that President Buhari will give priority to solid minerals. We can provide free advisory services and perhaps assist to mobilize investment in the sector or in any other areas if our advice is needed. In effect, there are several ways we can assist the government to succeed but not necessarily to take up full time appointment. No, not now,” he had said.
He was responding to rumours that he criticized Jonathan’s administration towards its end in the hope of getting an appointment from Buhari.
He was engaged in a war of words with former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who expressed reservations over Soludo’s criticism of the last administration.
Okonjo- Iweala had fired back at Soludo, saying his tenure as CBN governor was also a disaster.
Immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi was also seen in the Presidential Villa yesterday, wearing a dark – coloured kaftan with a cap. He entered the Chief of Staff’s office about 30 minutes after Soludo.
The two men waited for the Chief of Staff because he had been in the President’s office when they entered the Villa. [myad0]

Federal Govt. Exempts 13 Ministries, Departments, Agencies From Treasury Single Account

Greenbarge Reporters

September 21, 2015

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has exempted 13 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as these MDAs, described as profit oriented government business entities, pay dividends to the Federal Government.

The exempted MDAs are: Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Niger Delta Power Holding Company /National Integrated Power Project, National Communication Satellite Limited, Galaxy Backbone Ltd, Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd, Urban Development Bank, Nigerian Export-Import Bank and Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The validation for this information comes vide a circular from the AGF’s office to The Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Banking and Payments System Department, referenced FD/LP2015/C/ADC/20/1/ /DF dated September 14, 2015 and authored by M. K, Dikwa, for the Accountant- General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Funds Department, Abuja.

The circular titled “Approval to Exempt Some MDAs In line With the E-Collection Mop-Up Exercise” reads in part “Approval is hereby granted to your bank to exempt the Accounts of thirteen (13) MDAs (Category 6) as listed below the mop-up in line with the e-Collection Circular No. HCFSF/428/S.1/120 dated 7th August 2015 as these are Profit Oriented Government Business entities that are to pay their dividends into the Treasury Single Accounts whenever they are declared.

“Please note that in line with the Presidential approval, the following as it relates to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC as listed above (S/No.9) under Category 4 should also apply:

“That NAPIMS remains classified as an MDA that is funded from the Federation Account under Category 4 of the Circular, being the NNPC Business Unit responsible for the management of the Federation’s investment in the upstream activities and funded from direct proceeds of oil and gas revenue.

“That NNPC will continue to preserve the status with respect to NAPIMS Operations Account as well as Escrow Account for Third Party Financing in view of the Joint Venture (JV) Cash funding currently being experienced.

“That all other NNPC’s commercial/Business Entities as re-classified as ‘Profit-Oriented Public Corporations /Business Enterprises’ under Category 6 of the Circular which requires that only dividends from these entities be paid into the TSA.”

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered MDAs to pay all government revenues, incomes and other receipts into a TSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on or before September 15 in compliance with Sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

The TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts enabling consolidation and optimal utilisation of government cash resources. It is a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time. [myad]

Nigeria Government Declares Thursday, Friday As Public Holidays For Eid el Kabir

Greenbarge Reporters

September 21, 2015

The federal government of Nigeria has declared Thursday, 24th and Friday, 25th of September as public holidays in commemoration of this year’s Eil-el Kabir festival.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Abubarkar Magaji, in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Yusuf Isiaka, enjoined Muslims to extend love to their neighbours during and after the celebrations. ‎

He also advised Muslims to pray for peace, progress and unity the nation.

Magaji assured that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is determined to build a peaceful, united and virile nation. [myad]

Shekau, Boko Haram Leader, Is Making Empty Noise, Army Chief Says

Greenbarge Reporters

September 21, 2015

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has dismissed as mere noise making the claims in a new audio by Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, describing the audio as “another desperate move by the group to find relevance.”

He said that the group no longer has the capacity to hold any ground or plan co-ordinate attack on strategic locations or key public facilities.

“I think the new Boko Haram leader, in the latest audio is just trying to sound relevant; but as far as I am concerned, he is irrelevant in the scheme of things, he is irrelevant to me.

“Have you seen any of them coming out apart from the suicide bombings? You can see the number of terrorists that are escaping from their camps; he is just making noise to remain relevant.”

The Army chief who also reacted to Sunday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, advised residents of the area to remain calm as measures were being taken to forestall recurrence.

He said that the bomb attack had provided clues of the remaining areas the insurgents were operating from in the state.

“Sunday’s bomb blast will be among those that will be the last, you can be counting them; it has opened up another window where we can now focus where these attacks are coming from.

“It will not be possible for them to penetrate other areas; for now we have knocked them off areas along from Yobe and some parts of Borno.

“Immediately this incident happened yesterday, I gave directive, and we will comb that area thoroughly to identify where they are operating from,” Buratai said. [myad]

Okonjo-Iweala Appointed Into 2 Key Global Positions

Greenbarge Reporters

September 21, 2015

The Immediate-past Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has bagged two key global appointments.
By her new appointment, Okonjo-Iweala becomes the first to serve as Chair of the 28-member Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), an international public-private partnership committed to saving the lives of children and protecting people’s health by improving access to immunization in developing countries, including Nigeria.
She was elected to the position after a competitive international search process, according to a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu.
GAVI is a $12 billion multilateral partnership which disburses grants of upwards of $1.8 billion annually to developing countries for immunization programmes.
It brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialized and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.
The organization is funded by governments of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea and Russia.
Others are South Africa, Spain, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the European Commission, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and other institutional and corporate partners. [myad]

54 Die In Maiduguri Multiple Explosions – Police

Greenbarge Reporters

September 21, 2015

The Police Command in Borno State has confirmed the killing of at least 54 persons in the Sunday night multiple explosions in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.

The spokesman for the command, Mr Victor Isuku, said while speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri that the first explosion occurred at about 7.45 Pm on Sunday at Ajilari Cross Evening Market in Ngomari area of the city.

“At about 19.45 hours on Sunday, a female suicide bomber blew herself up in the busy market.”

Isuku said that another bomb was detonated inside a mosque while Muslim faithful were observing their evening prayers while a third explosion occurred when some suspected insurgents threw explosives into a viewing centre.

According to him, a total of 54 people died while 90 others suffered various degrees of injuries. [myad]