The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) found time off to laugh with the Senate President, David Mark of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when the latter visited the former in his Abuja office.
You are welcome, General Buhari seems to be saying as Senate President, David Mark arrived at his office for a visit. [myad]
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) will be ushered into office before and on May 29, with special prayers by Muslims and Christians across the country, in addition to an inauguration dinner.
This was announced today, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim shortly after a joint committee of the outgoing and incoming government met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss issues that will ensure a smooth transition.
Anyim who is co-chairman of the committee told newsmen that it was resolved that activities lined up for the inauguration would include press briefing, Jum’at prayers, inter-denominational church service, inauguration dinner, swearing-in ceremony, and a gala night.
He said that the committee planned a one-week programme of activity, adding that sub-committees have been created to focus on each activity.
“The co-chairmen and members of the sub-committees may now or later take their turns in briefing the public on their activities.”
Members of the Anyim led committee include; Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshall, Alex Badeh; Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, Aviation, Osita Chidoka, Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akon Eyakenyi, Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, Interior, Abba Moro, office of National Security Adviser, Bello Fadile, IGP Solomon Aresa, Minister of State Defence, Austin Akobundu, Commander Brigades of Guards, A. B. Omozoje, and Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Presidency (Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation).
Members of incoming government are Timipre Sylva, (co-chairman), Pius Akinyelure, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Sharon Ikeazor, Tony Anwuka, Kawu Baraje, John Shagaya, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Babagana Kingibe, Ismaila Funtua, Senator Binta Masi Garba, Babachir Lawal and Samson Osagie. [myad]
All roads now lead to Sambisa forest, considered to be the strong hold of the deadly Boko Haram, whose fighters are said to have amassed in the forest even as Nigeria military launched an offensive to flush them out.
And only yesterday, news filtered out that Nigerian soldiers successfully mowed down one of deadly leaders of the sect in Borno forest. Acording to the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, the Boko Haram’s top Commander was killed in an encounter with the Nigerian troops at the Alagarno Forest.
Olukolade gave the identity of the ‘notorious terrorist commander’ as Abu Mojahid, adding that the soldiers had an encounter with the insurgents when they staged a daring attack on troops, who were on patrol in the area.
But today, soldiers were said to have been forced to retreat because of the extensive use of landmines in the area, one of which exploded killing a soldier and three vigilantes.
“Boko Haram are in large numbers in Sambisa,” said a local vigilante, who requested anonymity for security reasons as he was part of the operation, adding: “lll their fighters who were pushed out of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa (in Borno state) all moved to Boko Haram camps in Sambisa.”
Details of the offensive came as a series of photographs circulated on social media accounts linked to the Islamic State group of heavily armed fighters, purportedly from Boko Haram. No independent verification was possible but some of the accounts said the images were released under the name “The Islamic State in West Africa.”
A four-nation military operation launched in February involving Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon has recaptured swathes of territory previously held by Boko Haram in three northeast states. Last week, Nigeria’s national security advisor Sambo Dasuki said troops would storm the vast Sambisa Forest by the handover of power to incoming president Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.
It has been claimed that the 219 schoolgirls kidnapped last April from the town of Chibok 80 kilometres (50 miles) away were being held in the area. Others have said they may have been split up and could be in Cameroon, Chad or elsewhere in northern Nigeria.
The vigilante said that the progress over the last three days had been severely hindered, saying: “Boko Haram have buried landmines all over the routes leading to their camps in the forest, which is no doubt a huge obstacle retarding the military offensive against them.
“Troops were forced to turn back just five kilometres (three miles) from Boko Haram’s main camp because of landmines. One soldier and three vigilantes were killed when their vehicle hit a mine, he said. “There are no soldiers in Sambisa right now. We all returned to Bama after the horrifying experience of manoeuvring through minefields.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the removal from the streets across Nigeria, his campaign posters, banners, signboards and other symbols.
In a statement, the President said that with the 2015 presidential elections now concluded and the country preparing for the inauguration of a new administration on May 29, there is urgent need to restore the environment in Nigerian cities, towns and villages to their pre-elections campaign state.
He therefore, directed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation and the various associations that coalesced into the Jonathan/Sambo Support Group should immediately begin the process of removing the posters, billboards, banners, signs and other campaign materials in support of his re-election bid which still adorn the landscape in major cities across the country.
The President thanked all individuals and organisations who made sincere contributions and worked with immense dedication for the Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign even as he commended his supporters and other Nigerians for the disciplined, patriotic and democratic manner in which they comported themselves before, during and after the elections.
“Now that the elections are over except for re-runs in a few states, I urge Nigerians to put the recent political campaigns behind them and join hands with the incoming administration in working for a more united, peaceful, stable and progressive nation.” [myad]
Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has made it clear that she will remain in Nigeria and not contemplating of going anywhere outside the country to hide as being speculated, with General Muhammadu Buhari preparing to take over government from President Goodluck Jonathan, having won the March 28 Presidential election.
Diezani, who fielded questions from newsmen today at the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja, said that she had not committed any offence or act of corruption for which the incoming government of General Buhari would nail her and for which she would want to run away.
The minister said that she had not sought for asylum from any country, adding that such news about her seeking for asylum and being rejected by six countries has been on for sometime now.
“I have not sought such assistance because I am not aware that I have been indicted of any crime that I will need a soft landing.
“Over the last four years, I have been severally and unfortunately accused and labeled in so many malicious and vindictive ways.
“I have explained these things and pushed back robustly on these accusations and I have even gone to court on many of them. Yet they keep being regurgitated.
“I think it is unfortunate, particularly when we are moving into a transition period and looking forward to an incoming government which is coming to take over where we have ended.”
Diezani said she was surprised at the scale of what she called “malicious libel” directed at her person.
The minister insisted that she has done the best for Nigeria in her present job and has attained many firsts in the history of oil and gas through the reforms she initiated.
Diezani said that she is being targeted because of her boldness to bruise powerful interests in the oil and gas industry.
“In this period of time, I have stepped on many big toes, particularly the toes of the cabals that were in the industry when we came in.
“I have said severally said that we will open up the industry to all Nigerians, and we have, but that is not to the pleasure of certain cabals. And I have been continuously maligned because of this.”
She said that during her tenure, her ministry took billions of dollars from multinationals and their subcontractors and put them in the hands of Nigerians through the Nigerian content law.
She added that with the reforms initiated under her watch, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are now playing major roles in the oil and gas industry, a situation she said has irked many people.
She lamented that even after the Petroleum Industry Bill was completely revised and reformed, the National Assembly has failed to pass it into law two years after it was presented.
The minister said that the refund of the missing $1.48 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced even as she debunked the claims that the money was missing from the accounts of the NNPC.
According to her, the funds were transferred to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an NNPC subsidiary.
A forensic audit conducted by the PriceWaterHouseCoopers on behalf of the Federal Government on the operations of the NNPC had shown that the management of the corporation engaged in many questionable deals.
The audit was carried out following allegations by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that over $20 billion was missing from the NNPC accounts.
“PriceWaterHouseCooper’s forensic audit that was done a few weeks ago in its recommendation mentioned that $1.48 billion was owed by NDPC for a bloc that has hitherto been assigned from the NNPC to NDPC which is its subsidiary and they felt that the right process would be that the NPDC will refund that money to the Federation Account.
“NPDC has apparently started making the refunds and it is also in discussion with NNPC and DPR on same. So the refund has actually begun.” [myad]
A female staff of a popular eatery, Sweet Sensation, Oluremi Olayinka has been convicted and sentenced to 266 years imprisonment by Justice A.A Akinyemi of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, for stealing N8 million belonging to her employer.
She was sentenced to seven years on each of 30 counts and 14 years on the remaining four charges. The sentences are to run concurrently. Justice Akinyemi also ordered her to return the money she stole in restitution to her victim.
According to the statement from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the court found the convict guilty on all the 34 count charges. The offence is contrary to sections 390(6)(7)(8), 467 and 468 respectively of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State.
Olayinka was arraigned before Justice Akinyemi on May 13, 2014 following a petition, alleging that she stole the sum of N8,000,000 (Eight Million Naira ), which she received on behalf of her employer.
When the convict was confronted with the allegation, she admitted the crime only for her to dramatically plead not guilty upon arraignment.
In the course of trial, the EFCC presented four witnesses.
President John Mahama of Ghana stresses a point when he visited Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan today, April 21 at the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja, Nigerian. [myad]
Nigeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress has thrown his support behind the minister of agriculture under the present government of President Goodluck Jonathan, in the person of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina for the position of President of African Development Bank (ADB).
The President-elect has even requested the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the candidacy of Dr. Adesina. His position has been communicated to the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, who is the current chairperson of the ECOWAS.
In a statement today in Abuja today, General Buhari said that his support for Dr. Adesina’s candidacy was not just because he was Nigerian but that he “has a proven track record in a career that predates his position as Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.”
According to him Dr. Adesina had years of experience of working in Francophone and Anglophone countries, and a passion to help eradicate poverty in Africa by reducing unemployment and inequality among African youth.
“Dr. Adesina is also an agricultural development expert with 24 years of experience in developing and managing successful agricultural Programmes across Africa. Until his appointment as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2011, he was the Vice President, Policy and Partnerships Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Additionally, he has held senior leadership positions in a number of agricultural institutions in the world.” [myad]
A few weeks to the handing over of government to General Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan has set the nation’s Police Force on confusion course as he sacked the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Suleiman.
Suleiman was appointed Inspector General of Police and assumed office on August 1st last year, barely eight months, making him one of the nation’s police boss that served the shortest.
in a terse statement today, special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati simply said that Suleiman has been relieved of his appointment and duties with immediate effect. No reason was given for the sudden sack.
He went to say that President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
According to the statement, Arase was until his appointment, was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
It said that Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies and that he is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College. [myad]
Jamila Tangaza, The Iron Lady At AGIS, By Ibrahim Biu
Hajiya Jamila Tangazah has come to epitomize hard work full of energy as the pilot of the Abuja Geographic and information System (AGIS). As a matter of fact, since she assumed duties at the AGIS office, Jamila has shown a leadership that has turned out to be an example to those who believe in hard work, efficiency, transparency and self discipline.
Those who are working with her would confess that AGIS has been able to deliver on its mandate as a result of the quality of her leadership.
The easy going woman of honesty has, within her short stay at AGIS, ensured that things are getting better in terms of revenue which the institution was able to collect at the end of 2014 as against what was collected in 2013.
Though a lot might have been written about Jamila and her laudable achievements, but I believe that the best is yet to come out from her.
Anyone who does an overview of the development at AGIS will conclude that it has indeed achieved a lot within the past two years or so, of Jamila’s leadership, made possible by the support she received from Senator Bala Mohammed who is the FCTA Minister.
The pro-active measures Jamila introduced like double checking of C of Os and data base have yielded fruit as AGIS has been able to collect a lot of revenue apart from drastically reducing the incidence of fraud and other nefarious activities of land racketeers.
It is on record that during her tenure at the AGIS, she received commendations from the management of the FCTA/FCDA and from her colleagues at the PPP and other public and private institutions.
Jamila has evidently transformed the land information management through investment in modern technology at AGIS
Some sophisticated facilities that have been installed at AGIS have made it to be a centre of excellent in geographic information system AGIS.
It is on record that the recent systems upgrade has made it possible for the production of C of O to be done within ten minutes. AGIS is now in a position to produce an average of 50-100 C of Os every week, besides other areas of service improvement.
Jamila who could also be described as a change agent is a combination of brain and beauty. Apart from being a workaholic public servant, she started her Journalism job as a producer with the British broadcasting corporation (BBC) London and rose through the ranks to the position of a senior executive. She did her fellowship at the Oxford University. From BBC Jamila was appointed the FCT Ministers SSA Media before her present appointment as Director AGIS. [myad]