President Buhari ‘Dreams’ Of Local Production Of Military Weapons

August 7, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has started dreaming of Nigeria going into local production of war weaponry as he directed the Federal Ministry of Defence to produce a plan for the establishment of a modest Military Industrial Complex for the local production of weapons. This would aim at meeting some of the requirements of the country’s armed forces.

Speaking in Abuja today at the graduation ceremony of the National Defence College, President Buhari described as unacceptable, Nigeria’s current over-dependence on other countries for critical military equipment and logistics.

“We must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production complemented only by very advanced foreign technologies.

“The Ministry of Defence is being tasked to draw up clear and measurable outlines for development of a modest Military Industrial Complex for Nigeria.

“In this regard, it is to liaise with other strategic MDAs and industries to re-engineer the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to meet national military hardware and logistics requirements,” the President said.

President Buhari said that his administration had, since its assumption of office, reviewed the nature and character of Nigeria’s security threats and challenges.

“We recognized first and foremost, the external dimensions of these threats and the need for international cooperation and common security mechanisms to tackle them.”

President Buhari said that in the light of this realization, his Administration is convinced that the best approach is to work within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to mobilize a collective regional effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

The President advised the graduates and officers and men of the Armed Forces to work harder to win the war against Boko Haram, terrorism and insurgency.

“We must apply a comprehensive strategy and coordinate all elements of national power against terrorism and insurgency; we must show result oriented leadership at all levels of military Command; we must set up an optimal organization to manage and sustain operational performance; and we must show confidence and winning mentality.”

The President assured that the Federal Government under his leadership will strive to meet the operational, logistic, training and welfare requirements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to ameliorating the hardships of people living in areas most affected by insurgency and terrorism.

“We have the will, resolve and conviction to apply a comprehensive strategy and coordinate all elements of national power against terrorism and insurgency,” the President reassured Nigerians and the international community.

President Buhari said that the National Defence College had fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers, by becoming a strategic human capacity-building institution, making credible contributions to Nigeria and other friendly countries.

The President urged graduates of the College’s Course 23 to resolve to make a marked difference in their future deployments and contribute their quota to the evolution and implementation of national security, defence and military strategies.

“You should be the source that lights up the environment wherever you find yourselves.” [myad]

We’re Sorry Ma, You Are Not Owing Us, Diamond Bank Apologizes To Abike Dabiri

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

Diamond Bank Plc has apologized to a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa for listing her among its debtors. The apology was sponsored today in adverts in two national.

The former broadcaster was earlier in the week listed as Director in Thriller Endeavours Ltd, which the bank said is indebted to it to the tune of N122 million.

However, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa denied being a director in the said company or owing the bank and any other financial institution for that matter.

The former lawmaker yesterday filed a suit before the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, following the “irreparable damage” and embarrassment; the claim that she is a debtor has caused her. She asked the court to compel the bank to publicly apologize and also pay damages running to N500 million.

Responding, Diamond Bank apologized a day after for erroneously including her name as a director in a company owing their bank.

According to the bank, “We refer to our publication of the list of major delinquent debtor customers which included the name of Thriller Endeavours Ltd and a further mention of the name of Hon. Abike Dabiri as a director of the Company.

“The inclusion of the name of Hon. Abike Dabiri (stated as director in Thriller Endeavours Ltd) was erroneous and is deeply regretted.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has been informed of this error. Hon. Abike Dabiri is not indebted to the bank in any capacity,” the bank begged. [myad]

Governor El-Rufai Closes Kaduna State Bank Accounts

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has directed all commercial banks in possession of state government accounts to close them down and transfer the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework with effect from September 1st, 2015.

According to a statement by the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said that after the establishment of the TSA, the state government will open specified sub-accounts with the CBN and the commercial banks.

The special adviser quoted governor el-Rufai as saying at a meeting with officials of all the banks hosting the state government’s many revenue and expenditure accounts that Kaduna State Government has decided to commence implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework by 1 September 2015.

“As part of the process of attaining this goal, all banks that maintain the accounts of the government have been put on notice to close them and remit the balances to the Central Bank of Nigeria which will host the state’s TSA.”

The banks that were present at the meeting assured the governor that within five working days of receiving the formal instructions from the state government, they would close the accounts and remit the balances to the TSA.

The statement said that selected revenue-holding accounts will be excluded from this directive and that government will publish needed Treasury Circulars and other instructions to give effect to these decisions.‎ [myad]

Student Who Allegedly Impregnated Girl Friend And Abandoned Her Goes On Remand

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa state has ordered the remand of a 28-year-old student, Gimba Emen for allegedly impregnating and abandoning his girlfriend.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Samuel Okoro, told the court that Jessica Ibrahim, a girlfriend to the accused, reported the matter at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station, Mararaba, on August. 4 at about 11:30 a.m.
Okoro said that on January 4,this year, the accused who resides at Mararaba, approached Jessica for a relationship to which she accepted. He alleged that the accused deceived and deceitfully induced the complainant, who is not lawfully married to him, to believe that he will marry her.
“The accused cohabited with Jessica and had sexual intercourse with her which resulted into pregnancy. Thereafter, he drove her out of the house without providing for her needs,’’ Okoro alleged.

According to him, the complainant is carrying a seven-month-old pregnancy.
Okoro said that the offence committed by the accused contravened Section 383 of the Penal Code. Section 383 prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders even as Emen denied committing the offence.
He told the court that he had relationship with Jessica, but that it was in the past.
The prosecutor objected to the bail of the accused, adding that he is trying to deny his responsibility.

The Presiding Judge, Vincent Gwehemba, ordered that the accused be remanded in Keffi Prison until the August 17 when the case will come up for further mention. [myad]

For Insulting King, Man Bags 30 Year Jail In Thai, Bangkok

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Today, a Bangkok’s Military Court jailed Pongsak Sriboonpeng, 48, for 30 years having been found guilty of posting messages and pictures defaming a Thai King in six posts on the social networking website, Facebook.

He was sentenced to 10 years on each count with the 60-year jail term halved after he pleaded guilty, his lawyer, Sasinan Thamnithinan said.

The King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, 87, is protected by one of the world’s strictest royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent could bag up to 15 years in prison on each count.

And because Pongsak was arrested while Thailand was still under martial law there was no right to appeal the sentence passed by the military court.

Lese majeste convictions have surged since Thailand’s generals seized power from an elected government in May 2014.

According to Law, a local rights group that monitors such cases, there were just two ongoing prosecutions for royal defamation before the coup. Now that number is at least 56.

Critics of the law say it has been used as a weapon against political enemies of the royalist elite and their military allies and now targets those opposed to the coup. [myad]

Turkey Freezes Assets Of Yemeni Ex-President, That Of His Family And Rebel Leaders

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

Turkey has frozen the assets of officials from Yemen’s former regime, including ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, along with Huthi rebel leaders.

Official Anatolia news agency reported today that the move by Ankara followed UN Security Council sanctions on the same five men for threatening peace in the impoverished, conflict-torn country.

The decision, which was published in the Official Gazette having been endorsed by the cabinet, blacklists Saleh, his son Ahmad Ali Abdullah Saleh, and Huthi leaders, Abdulmalik al-Huthi, Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim and Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi.

The sanctions freeze any assets, bank accounts and safe deposit boxes the five might have in Turkey and will be in place until February 26, 2016.

Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years before being forced from power in 2012 after a bloody year-long uprising, threw the support of his loyalists in the army behind the Huthis.

He was accused of aiding the Huthis to undermine UN-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in February.

A Saudi-led coalition began a campaign of air strikes against the Huthis and their allies in March after the insurgents seized Sanaa and then advanced south, forcing the government to flee to the Saudi capital Riyadh. myad]

UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Increasing Malnutrition In Nigeria, Killing 1,000 Children Daily

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2015

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the increasing malnutrition that is now rendering no fewer than 1,000 children dying every day.
UNICEF expressed this concern at a two-day media dialogue on child malnutrition with the theme: “Spend more money on nutrition”-#StopChildMalnutritionNigeria, which kicked off yesterday in Kano.
The dialogue is being facilitated by the UNICEF’s Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku and is being attended by representatives of the traditional and online media.
The UNICEF lamented that malnutrition is becoming widespread in Nigeria even as the UNICEF Chief of Communication, Doune Porter, stressed the need for media partnership so as to attract the necessary intervention to stop child malnutrition in the country.
Doune Porter, said that a new figure on child malnutrition will be released by UNICEF soon, adding that healthy and well-nourished children are needed for the future of Nigeria. He called on the media to sustain the partnership.
In his presentation on “An overview of malnutrition in Nigeria and its impact on children, UNICEF’s Chief Nutritionist, Mr. Arjan De Gwat, spoke extensively on the nutrition values of foods which he classified as macronutrients and micronutrients.
According to him, 55 percent of child deaths are attributed to malnutrition, adding that malnutrition of the mother could result in disability of the child or miscarriage.
Mr. Arjan said that malnutrition could also lead to reduction in mental capacity and ultimately poor education of the child, advising mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months.
“Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential to save more children’s lives than any other preventive intervention.”
The Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Mr. Chido Onuma, made a presentation on media advocacy required to keep the issue of child malnutrition on the front burner and how the media can support advocacy for increased resources for nutrition programming.
Mr. Onuma charged the media to sensitize governments at all levels to increase resources to enhance child nutrition. He also charged them to do more of features, special reports and editorials to sustain focus on child malnutrition in the country.
Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu of the Federal Ministry of Health, also made a presentation on Nutrition Situation in Nigeria. The dialogue ends today. [myad]

Petroleum Marketing Company Boss, Haruna Momoh, Sacked

Greenbarge Reporters

August 6, 2015

Managing Director of the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) Prince Haruna Momoh, has been sacked. PPMC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) whose five executive directors were also sacked yesterday.
In the haze of sack that is sweeping across the federal government owned oil giant, a Presidency source confirmed that it is a way by which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wants to take full control of the system, saying: “we have power now, while PDP is still in control (of NNPC).”
The new Group Managing Director of the Corporation, who was appointed late last week, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu announced the sacking of eight Group Executive Directors and promotion of four Group General Managers yesterday. [myad]

Buhari To 3 New Ambassadors: Go On And Explore Nigeria’s Vibrant Economic Potentials

Greenbarge Reporters

August 6, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised three new ambassadors to Nigeria who presented their letters of credence to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, to go ahead and explore the vibrant economic potentials of Nigeria.
The President told ambassadors Andrezj Dycha of Poland, Stanislas Kamanzi of Rwanda and Stephane De Loeckeras of Belgium that he looks forward to working with them.
“We are hopeful that our diplomatic and economic relationships with you will be substantially improved during your time here.
“The Nigerian business environment and the community are quite vibrant and we should be able to explore additional areas of common interest during your tenure.”
President Buhari assured them that his administration will work with them to further improve existing bilateral relations between their respective countries and Nigeria.
The President also assured the three new ambassadors that the Federal Government will continuously engage with them and other diplomats serving in Nigeria on issues of common interest and benefit to Nigeria and their countries.
He wished them very successful tenures in Nigeria.
The new ambassadors thanked the President for receiving them and assured him that they will work hard to enhance and strengthen the cordial existing relations between Nigeria and their countries. [myad]

How We Shared N12 Billion – PDP Acting Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

August 6, 2015

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has narrated how the party shared the N12 Billion which the workers in the party’s headquarters in Abuja have alleged was embezzled to the hierarchy.

Secondus, who spoke to news men today in Abuja over the workers’ allegation, said that the money in question was not even up to the N12bn as alleged by the workers.

“The money is about N11.billion plus. We are not corrupt. We have our mechanisms on how the money is to be spent and shared among the party’s hierarchies.

“For example, we will share to the states, local governments, zones and then the national body.

“Besides, we also have money for the elections during the campaigns. Nobody, no member of the NWC had embezzled any money.”

Apart from this, he said, the party was the one who raised the money and was at liberty to spend it.

The workers, while reacting to the plan of the party to sack 50 per cent of them as stated in a memo to them by the party’s National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, had asked members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to explain what happened to the N12bn which was accrued to the party in the last few months.

The workers said if the money had been judiciously spent and saved, the party wouldn’t be in a financial mess to warrant the planned sacking of the workers. [myad]

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