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President Buhari’s Relief Package For States Does Not Include Liquidation Of Excess Crude Account – Presidency

Femi Adesina
Femi Adesina

The Presidency had debunked reports in sections of the  media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for  states and local governments.
In a statement today, the special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are three parts.
He said that one of the parts was the sharing of the  $2.1 Billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);
The second one, he asserted, is the Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from  N250 Billion to N300 Billion.
“This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.”
The third one, he said, is the debt relief program designed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) that will help states to restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.
“The measures approved by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the “liquidation” of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.
“No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and  last week’s meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account  should be left untouched at this time. [myad]

No Way For Foreign Coach In Nigeria, Segun Odegbami Vows

Segun Odegbami
Segun Odegbami

The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, popularly called Mathematical Segun Odegbami, has kicked against Nigeria resorting to hiring foreign coach for the Super Eagles following the dismissal of Stephen Keshi.
Keshi was relieved of his duties by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday night, for allegedly applying to coach African champions Cote d’Ívoire.
Technical Director of the NFF, Shuaibu Amodu has been mandated to handle the team on an interim basis before a substantive coach; preferably a foreigner is named by the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF Executive Committee.
But in an interview with newsmen, Odegbami warned that he would lead Nigerians to resist the hiring of an foreigner for the Eagles, insisting that our ‘foreign coach is a Nigerian living in Nigeria’.
Odegbami, who raised the alarm about hidden agenda behind the move to hire a foreign coach, said that the NFF does not need to go outside the shores of the country to get a coach for the Eagles as there was one in Nigeria, in the person of former Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, who he backed to do better than the foreigner the NFF is shopping for.
“We don’t need a foreign coach for the Eagles. If the NFF has plans to hire a foreign coach, it does not need to go abroad as we have a technically qualified, intellectually sound and world-acclaimed pundit in Sunday Oliseh.
“‘The world recognises the immense knowledge of Oliseh on football matters. He has the education and knows about tactical formations. He has worked with academies in Europe and has a deep knowledge of the game and knows how to manage players. He has distinguished himself amongst his peers. We have gone beyond the level of going overseas to look for coaches for our national team as Nigeria has its own foreign coach in Oliseh.
“There would be a hidden agenda behind the hiring of a foreign coach. So the best option for us is to make use of Oliseh as he possesses all the requirements to succeed on the job. Oliseh is the right candidate, so they should give the job to him.”
The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan striker frowned at Amodu’s appointment as the temporary coach of the Eagles. saying that the recent appointment was in direct conflict with his job as the technical director of the NFF.
“I really have issues with his appointment as he is the technical director of the NFF, with its clear mandate and responsibilities. Now he is being saddled with additional job. It looks untidy.”

As We Fought Military Out Of Power, So We Will Fight Governor Aregbesola Until He Goes, Civil Society Vows

civil societyCivil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) has resolved to continue fighting the Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola until he is booted out of office as the state governor.
“We fought the military to a standstill,” the Civil Societies reminded, “and in this case, we will continue with our mobilization from house to house, market to market, school to school until this repressive regime is booted out.  “Our slogan is save our state, Aregbesola must go.”
The Chairman of the Societies, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman Alimi who led hundreds of Osun State residents to protest the continued stay of the governor in office, emphasised that the group would not relent in its protest until Aregbesola “is removed from office.
“This is not a joke, it is a serious matter. Although, we are practicing democracy in Nigeria but in Osun we are under a demonic and oppressive rule. We need to save this state now. Everybody must be involved because under our nose, Aregbesola has completely destroyed this state.”
The rally kicked off at Ayetoro junction of the state capital and was led through Igbonna, Olonkoro, Ajegunle, Old-Garage, Ile-Epo Olaiya, Fakunle, Ogo-Oluwa, Onward area and to the State House of Assembly’s complex at Abere.
The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Slava/Osinbajo returns our money,” “Aregbesola: Stop receiving N500m monthly as security votes,” “Osun Assembly: Treat Justice Folahanmi’s petition,” “Our demand is that Aregbesola must go,” “Treat the petition not the petitioner,” “Aregbesola has destroyed Osun State” and so on.`[myad]

Jega Returns To Class Room, As His Successor, Mrs. Zakari Reconstitutes INEC Committees

Former INEC Boss, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega
Former INEC Boss, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega

Immediate past chairman of the Independent National Commission (INEC) has returned to teach at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), from where he was plucked by the former President Goodluck Jonathan to head the electoral body.
This was even as his successor in acting capacity, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari has approved the re-constitution of INEC’s fourteen (14) Standing Committees.
In a memo issued and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, the Committees are expected to commence operation from July 1 2015.
The Committees are:
1. Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Commit-tees (APDC): Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku,Chairman; Hon. Amb M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member. 2. Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee (PM&SC): Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali.
3. Information and Voter Education/Outreach and Partnership Committee: Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member.
4. Health and Welfare Committee: Hon Dr. S. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member.
5. Operations and Logistics Committee: Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali.
6. Estate, Works and Transport Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga.
7. Election and Party Monitoring Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member.
8. Board of Survey and Technical Equipment Acquisition Committee: Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member Hon. Amb M.A. Wali, member.
9. Tenders Board Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga.
10. Legal Services Clearance Committee: Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member.
11. Board of Electoral Institute Committee: Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member.
Meanwhile, Professor Jega took his seat today at the BUK to resume his teaching career.
12. Information Technology and Voter Registry: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member.
13. Finance and General Purpose Committee: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member.
14. Security Committee: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member. [myad]

Niger Delta Communities Shut Down Oil Field, Force Cut In Production Output

Niger Delta Militants

Youths and women in the Niger Delta host communities stormed the oil field operated by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Delta State today, shutting down the production and forcing reduction in the production output to 250,000 barrels per day.

They are four Ijaw and one Itsekiri communities, namely: Kokodiagbene, Okerenkoko, Akpatagbegbe, Akpataegbemu and Omadino, all in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The protesters said to have ordered oil workers to vacate the flow station in their best interests owing to grievances over the alleged breach of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with them by the indigenous oil firm.

Spokesperson for the communities, Sheriff Mulade, said alleged that the award of contracts have not been following due process and the local content policy of government, adding that the communities have been shortchanged for too long by the firms.

The communities called on the Federal Government to investigate the activities of NPDC and its major contractor, even as they appealed to the security agencies, especially the Joint Task Force not to play into the hands of the two oil firms as their demands were germane.

Mulade bemoaned the devastating effect of oil exploration and exploitation activities, which they said, have wiped out means of livelihood and destroyed the pristine beauty of their environment.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to carefully and thoroughly investigate NPDC and Nestoil over connivance to award contracts to themselves and their cronies.

“We have evidences to buttress our claims on the contracts and other sharp practices going on in the two firms.

“We are also appealing to the security agencies not to allow the oil firms to use them against the host communities because of their interests but should look at the issues critically because the communities are major stakeholders in the business.” [myad]

“I became a Muslim, I am a Muslim,” Super Eagles Striker, Emenike Tells Coach

Emenike Emanuel

Super Eagles Striker, Emmanuel Emenike was said to have declared public in Turkey: “I became a Muslim, I am a Muslim.”

Information filtering from Turkey indicated that the player told his coach at Fenerbahce, Vitor Pereira, that he is now a Muslim.

The Super Eagles striker was missing when the squad had breakfast on Saturday, prompting the manager to ask of his whereabouts.

“I’m fasting,” Emenike reportedly told Pereira, according to a Turkish daily, Fanatik.

Pereira replied: “You’re not a Muslim,” insisting that Emenike is a Christian. In response, the former Spartak Moscow player declared: “I became a Muslim, I am a Muslim.”

Emenike is yet to feature for the Turkish club in their two pre-season games so far. [myad]

Please Restore Military Chech Points, Plateau Governor Appeals To President Buhari

plateau state governor
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong

The governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore military checkpoints in the state to check the movement of suspected terrorists.
The governor made the call today after a multiple bomb blasts in Jos on Sundaynight in which 44 people died and 67 got injured according to figures by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Shortly after he visited the scenes of the blasts and the injured victims at Plateau Specialist Hospital, Lalong said: “today I made an appeal to Mr. President to please allow us to have checkpoints.
“This is because without the security checkpoints, people can flow from all angles and attack innocent people.”
President Buhari had directed the removal of all military checkpoints nationwide, saying internal security should be handled by the police.
The government later relaxed the order, to allow checkpoints in high risk areas like the northeast, which is currently facing a brutal insurgency by the Boko Haram sect.
The governor warned residents to desist forthwith from riding their motorcycles or face the full weight of the law, saying that commercial motorcycle operations remained banned.
He said a taskforce had been constituted to ensure that cyclists strictly adhere to the ban which was initiated by his predecessor and passed into law by the 7th Plateau Assembly.
“We have a taskforce in place to keep motorcyclists off the streets and as a government we are going to push that to any level.
“Any motorcyclist who refuses to respect the law will see what will happen to him in the next few days.
“This is because it is part of lawlessness we are experiencing today,’’ he said.
The governor commended security agencies and the various aid groups for their quick intervention in saving the lives of the injured victims.
He also commended the Nigeria Medical Association for suspending its strike to save lives and pointed out that the deaths would have been more without them.
The governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore military checkpoints in the state to check the movement of suspected terrorists.
The governor made the call on Monday following multiple bomb blasts in Jos on Sunday night in which 44 people died and 67 got injured according to figures by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.
Shortly after he visited the scenes of the blasts and the injured victims at Plateau Specialist Hospital, Mr. Lalong said, “today I made an appeal to Mr. President to please allow us to have checkpoints”.
“This is because without the security checkpoints, people can flow from all angles and attack innocent people,’’ he said.
President Buhari had directed the removal of all military checkpoints nationwide, saying internal security should be handled by the police.
The government later relaxed the order, to allow checkpoints in high risk areas like the northeast, which is currently facing a brutal insurgency by the Boko Haram sect.
The governor warned residents to desist forthwith from riding their motorcycles or face the full weight of the law, saying that commercial motorcycle operations remained banned.
He said a taskforce had been constituted to ensure that cyclists strictly adhere to the ban which was initiated by his predecessor and passed into law by the 7th Plateau Assembly.
“We have a taskforce in place to keep motorcyclists off the streets and as a government we are going to push that to any level.
“Any motorcyclist who refuses to respect the law will see what will happen to him in the next few days.
“This is because it is part of lawlessness we are experiencing today,’’ he said.
The governor commended security agencies and the various aid groups for their quick intervention in saving the lives of the injured victims.
He also commended the Nigeria Medical Association for suspending its strike to save lives and pointed out that the deaths would have been more without them.
Mr. Lalong said the state government had already released money to assist in the treatment of the injured and prayed for the repose of the souls of the death.
He urged Plateau citizens to remain calm and assured them that his administration, in conjunction with security agencies, would do all within its powers to avoid a repeat of the dastardly act.
Lalong said the state government had already released money to assist in the treatment of the injured and prayed for the repose of the souls of the death.
He urged Plateau citizens to remain calm and assured them that his administration, in conjunction with security agencies, would do all within its powers to avoid a repeat of the dastardly act. [myad]

Robbers’ Road Block Causes Accident In Kogi: 12 People, 20 Cows Die, Many Injure

No fewer than 12 people and 20 cows died even as 16 others sustained varying degrees of injuries when a luxury bus, journeying from Lagos to the North, crashed with a truck in its attempt to meander its way from the road block mounted by armed robbers at Irekpeni village, along the Lokoja-Abuja Highway.
A witness who identified himself simply as Tunji told journalists  in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, that the luxury bus was with number plate KRD 799 LC, while the truck, loaded with cows has its number plate as KTN 711 YZ.
The eye witness said that the Luxury bus driver’s attempt to avoid the road block, led to the bus to have a head-on collision with the truck, leading to the immediate death of 12 passengers while 16 other victims were injured. He said over 20 cows also died in the accidents.
According to him, the accident later caused a gridlock on the highway before officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps made some rescue operation and cleared the obstruction.
The FRSC Kogi State Sector Commander, Charles Abochi, confirmed the accident and said that a total of 73 passengers were involved in the accident.[myad]

Federal, States, Local Governments Share N391 Billion From Excess Crude Account

Federal, States and Local  Governments have agreed to share about N391 billion ($1.7 billion) which is left in the controversial  Excess Crude Account.
State governors had, last week at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, demanded the sharing of the funds in the account which they had put at $2 billion.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, told newsmen at the Presidential Villa that the sharing would be done at a meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) scheduled today’s evening.
“Today, we are going to meet; the FAAC is going to meet, and we are going to distribute as agreed and directed during the NEC meeting last week.
“The position is very clear, what we met on ground is what we are going to distribute. It is hovering between $1.6 and $1.7 billion, and that is what we are going to distribute among all the three tiers of governments, the federal, states and local governments based on the approved formula.”
He said that the President had set an agenda on how the state and local governments should efficiently management the meagre resources available to the country now. [myad]

Police Accuses Olisa Metuh, PDP Of Opening Mouth Too Wide, Says It Never Invited Deputy Senate President

 PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh

Police has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh of opening their mouth too wide, by telling blatant lie just to deceive members of the public.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the police, Abayomi Shogunle, made it abundantly clear that the Police did not send any invitation to any senator, much more the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP, as alleged yesterday by Metuh.
PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh had raised alarm yesterday at a news briefing that some senators loyal to the leadership of the APC have concocted a petition to the Nigerian Police against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
But, Shogunle admitted that the Police wrote a letter, but to the Clerk of the Senate, requesting him to arrange a meeting with some principal senators. He made clear that there were “no plans to arrest the Deputy Senate President as stated.”
He also admitted that one of the distinguished senators had sent a petition to the Inspector-General of Police in which allegations were made that the rules and standing orders have been unlawfully amended or changed illegally and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) referred the matter to the Deputy IGP in charge of Force CIID in Abuja.
“In line with the policy thrust of the present Police leadership to gather evidence before bringing people whom allegation have been made against into the Police Station, the DIG Force CIID wrote a letter to the Clerk of the Senate in which the Police have requested the Clerk of the Senate to arrange a meeting between the Police investigating team and some principal Senators.
“The letter clearly states that the Clerk should facilitate the meeting by choosing a convenient time and place for the Police team to meet with some of these distinguished Senators.”
Shogunle said that the Police did not send any invitation at all. ”We have respect for democratic bargains. The Police have not sent any invitation to any senator.”
The APC has also reacted to the PDP allegation, saying that the party did not write any petition, neither is it aware that any petition was written against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
This was even as the former Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Yakasai, has jumped into the controversies, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the invitation of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by police over allegations of forgery.
Yakasai said the police invitation came at the prompting of the President and the APC, and warned that it portends danger for Nigerian democracy.
Yakasai in Kano that what the APC and President Buhari were doing with regards to the emergence of the deputy senate president, was an act desperation that will not auger well for the nation’s democracy.
He accused President Buhari and APC leaders of lacking the basic knowledge of the norms and rules of legislative chambers, adding: “I think the problems here is that neither Buhari, nor Oyegun or any serious member of the APC are truly aware of the basic knowledge of the national assembly. They should use this chance to have some knowhow of the settings and rules therein.”
Yakassai said although the election of principal officers of the national assembly is done by a simple majority, their removal requires the participation of all members.
He said that removing Ekweremadu now would be a dangerous scenario that would not even work [myad]

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