President Goodluck Jonathan has restated his government’s commitment to building an economy that will work for all Nigerians, with focus mainly on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). The President, who inaugurated the National Council on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, was confident that the growth of MSMEs would be very important towards self-sufficiency. “MSMEs are the innovators, the wealth creators, as well as employment generators. Every MSME today has the potential of growing to the large corporation of tomorrow.” President Jonathan said that the inauguration of the Council marks a very important turning point in the national economic development drive with regard to the efforts of the government to place micro, small and medium enterprises as core and essential elements of economic transformation. “The creation of this Council is a testament to the commitment of this administration to all inclusive economic growth. Our commitment is to meet the aspirations of our people and in doing so, ensuring rapid economic development, benefiting all our citizens, North, South, East, or West.”
The President said that Nigeria has over the past few years, demonstrated its determination to the rest of the world that it is focussed in becoming one of the leading world’s economic engines. “This we have done by achieving a reasonable level of macro economic stability even in the face of global recession. “We currently rank as the top most investment destination in Africa, the largest economy on the continent and amongst the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world. “As we build a strong economy and attract unprecedented investments, we must urgently address critical economic issues of inclusion and wealth distribution. I repeat; we must ensure that this economy works for all our people. That we indeed become a land of opportunity for all, and a land where hopes become reality regardless of who you are, where you hail from or what beliefs you hold. “This our land must be where our youth have jobs and our people can take their economic destinies in their hands. It must be a land where poverty is eradicated, and our people can live in dignity. This is the Nigeria we all must work to make possible and the MSME Council has a great role to play to make this a reality.” Jonathan described Nigeria as a blessed country and that its people are some of the most enterprising in the world. He said that Nigeria, with 170 million people has come to be the 9th largest workforce in the world, and that it is also the largest diaspora networks that can be used to drive change and development. “A 2010 survey carried out by SMEDAN and the National Bureau of Statistics, shows that there were 17.2 million MSMEs in Nigeria, employing over 32 million people. In addition, over 95% of registered businesses in Nigeria are small businesses. “If each of these businesses employs one more person, we would create over 17 million extra jobs, which would indeed be a revolution in Nigeria’s job markets. This is the unexplored power of small businesses. “To actualize our dream of a robust MSMEs, I launched the Nigeria Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) early this year, to provide a National template to address critical issues faced by small businesses. NEDEP will henceforth provide a framework to guide all government interventions for Nigerian small businesses, and the creation of this MSME Council is one of the principles on which NEDEP is anchored. “The N220 billion MSME fund provided by the Central Bank which I launched a few weeks ago for small businesses, will begin to address access to finance for small businesses, and NEDEP will play a role to ensuring that MSMEs in the country are bankable and viable enough to access these funds, as well as other MSME funds available. “An urgent priority I expect this Council to take up, is the development of a detailed Financing Value Chain Intervention strategy for MSMEs, so as to address the difficulties put in the way of small businesses in their strive to access finance. “With NEDEP, and with the effective guidance of this MSME Council, we are making MSMEs a central part of national policy and ensuring that everyone in the 774 local governments in Nigeria is covered by this initiative. “This coordination will extend to the State Level, for which State MSME Councils have already been instituted in 10 states, and it is my hope that MSME structures will become operational in all 36 States and the FCT before long. These councils are chaired by the State Governors and will directly report to the National Council.” [myad]
Since the seemingly invincible Boko Haram insurgency began its campaign of territorial take-over in parts of the Northern Nigeria nearly four years ago, every act of the Nigerian military in its effort to combat and, possibly, subdue it has continued to have a stamp of doubt in a bizarre form. Is it what appears to be the appalling failure of the military to subdue the insurgency as a problem caused by something unfathomable in the realm of secret global military, political or intricate diplomatic intelligence, about which Nigeria must tread with utmost caution in its choice between ‘the devil and the deep blue sea’? There appears to be some forces that are working in cross purposed to compel the military to compromise some measures of its constitutional responsibility, of maintaining security and protecting the territorial integrity of the country. And yet, Nigeria has prided itself ad the most reputable black nation in global affairs; a nation that proudly flutters the banner of the most revered military in peacekeeping missions; a nation that brandished the military prowess through defending other African nations against any crisis akin to the one terrorizing it now. Members of the Nigerian military should know that their prime responsibility is to ensure the internal and external security of Nigeria and Nigerians, in a situation where police and other relevant agencies have failed or unable to do their own sides of the job. They should know that there has to be a secured Nigeria for them to answer the name of the members of the Nigerian military, let us assume they have not begun to feel ashamed of answering the name. Why are Nigerians so disheartened with the conceited failure of their erstwhile proudly laurel-decorated military to even face the insurgents in a prolonged fierce combat, let alone subdue and banish them from the Nigerian territory? Aside from the orchestrated invincibility of the insurgents, which the depressing string of promises of the military authorities, such as ‘we are on top of the situation’ or “we will soon re-capture Boko Haram’s Caliphate,” the Nigerian military has all along told Nigerians an endless series of lies about strategically combating the crisis, in the face of the sharply deteriorating security situation. No Nigerian now needs to be convinced that the top echelon of the military have perfected strategies, not of decisively battling insurgency towards quelling it, but of conning President Goodluck Jonathan into disbursing trillions of Naira to finance what they would present to him as victorious war against terror, to which the president has been succumbing as Commander-In-Chief being also the guardian for Nigeria and Nigerians. Although some cynical Nigerians would always argue that President Jonathan readily makes such disbursements in return to keep the soldiers away from anywhere close to the vicinity of a coup de tat, I do not subscribe to that. So far, the president has demonstrated considerable commitment to putting an end to the dastardly insurgency that has, so far, resulted in the mass murder of innocent souls and wanton destruction of places of worship and many properties. It has since ceased to be any secret among Nigerians that the top echelons of the military have suddenly joined the class of richest Nigerians, leaving the pitiably frustrated rank-and-file to console and please themselves. Such frustrated section of the military end up transferring their frustration and anger on the ever-worsening vehicular gridlock at military checkpoints on most of the Nigerian highways and metropolitan centres, especially in the northern states. This is often on the pretext of looking out for and arresting insurgents. Very ridiculously, Nigerians have never heard of any insurgent arrested at such checkpoints. At such checking points, apparently frustrated and angry-looking soldiers would merely wave at motorists to pass, most times without checking anything. It is well-known that criminals are more comfortable to operate at night. In contrast, however, vehicles pass through these military checkpoints freely in a smooth vehicular traffic flow at night with no logjams because the soldiers keeping sentry would have gone to relax, either near the checkpoints or elsewhere nearby, drinking and dinning. It would have been very easy for as many insurgents or other criminals as possible to ease their way through the checkpoints in the night hours when no soldier would be around to detect them to any planned location to perpetrate crime. These military checkpoints have proved therefore to be counterproductive, but causing unnecessary discomfort to innocent motorists. I am also worried about the way soldiers are being used in stop-and-search operations in the city, which ordinarily should be handled by the police or paramilitary personnel. More worrisome is the fact that a reasonable number of the soldiers have been deployed to personal residences of some retired permanent secretaries, retired directors and other retired top government officials as guards. Why should Nigeria train soldiers only to be used as guards in private houses and companies? For me, unnecessary presence of soldiers and avoidable interactions with civilians diminish their prestige in the eyes of the public. That is if the Hausa proverb, ‘ido wa ka raina, wanda na saba gani’ ( meaning: familiarity breeds contempt) is anything to go by. Now, it has since ceased to be any secret that military troops that are deployed to the epicenters of the insurgency are ill-prepared with ‘makeshift’ weapons compared against the highly superior weaponry brandished by the Boko Haram militants. No wonder, most times when both combatants come face-to-face, the Nigerian military men flee for their dear lives as would, a herd of gazelles fleeing from an attacking lion in the wilderness. Face-to-face with the stark reality of the superior weaponry of the insurgents, detachments of the Nigerian soldiers have severally mutinied against being deployed to confront the superior-armed insurgents. Why are poorly-armed Nigerian soldiers continuously deployed to face the seemingly indomitably Boko Haram militants who delightfully crush them? Most Nigerians now believe this is due to the rather psychopathic tendencies of the military generals who evidently take pleasure in sacrificing them as part of the dual strategy of creating more urgent excuse to attract more funds for the terror war. This situation, most recently, caused a detachment of Nigerian troops to flee from the more powerful insurgents to the neighbouring Cameroon, to which the Nigerian military authorities responded, albeit with the usual bare-face lies, that the soldiers only retreated in a tactical manoeuvre. What an explanation! The persistent ill-preparedness of the Nigerian military for the terror war has confirmed the observation of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, some months ago, that the Boko Haram insurgents have more sophisticated weapons, which is why the Nigerian military cannot subdue them. Of course, the military authorities had since vehemently denied this. Huge population of Nigerians in the Northeast are exterminated, evidently by Boko Haram militants with seemingly complicity of the Nigerian military in the insurgency crisis, powered by some formidable forces that are at the background to mastermind the insurgency. There is absolutely no time for lamentations. If the Nigerian military authorities are sincere on fighting and quelling the insurgency, they should rebuild their confidence and commitment: morally and spiritually. They should utilise the billion-naira of funds disbursed for the terror war by equipping the rank-and-file with the state-of-art weapons that could, at least, match the ones brandished by the insurgents. That is the only way they can effectively deal with the crisis we have on our hands. [myad]
Sacked President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has bounced back to his position along with members of his congress after the FIFA September 8 ultimatum to Nigeria to return him or face sanction. His reinstatement was effected today after a brief meeting in Abuja.
The FIFA letter dated September 3 gave a guideline for the election of a new executive, saying: “the NFF Executive Committee as it was composed on 25 August 2014, meaning under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should then convene as soon as possible, a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.”
As he resumed his post today, Maigari said that a General Assembly will be called within the shortest possible time, but added that new elections will now be held in 2015, keeping him in office for at least another four months.
“Of course, the elections will hold in 2015 because it is tagged for 2015. We will work as a team and as a family and decide on a new date, but I want to assure Nigerians that we will do this within the shortest possible time.”
This tenure elongation could yet cause more controversy given that the Maigari-led NFF executive committee was dissolved on August 26.
But a member of the congress and Chairman of the Kano State Football Association, Rabiu Inuwa said that there should be no controversies as they (congress) have reinstated the Maigari board.
“There’s no problem with that (tenure elongation) because we have reinstated them according to the demands of FIFA.”
The Giwa camp is yet to make any statement on this development. [myad]
Stoke goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic’s remarkable long-range goal against Southampton last season has earned a place in the Guinness World Records book.
Begovic scored in bizarre fashion at the Britannia Stadium last November when a long kick forward – just 13 seconds after kick-off – caught the wind and then bounced over opposite number Artur Boruc into the net.
The strike was measured at 91.9 metres (301ft 6in) and has now been registered as the ’longest goal scored in football’ in the latest edition of the famous book of records. [myad]
National Chairman of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the party’s waiting for the truth to come out on who have been behind the sponsorship of the deadly Boko Haram, in spite of efforts to cover up has finally paid off handsomely with the recent revelation that members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were behind it.
Oyegun, who addressed newsmen in Abuja yesterday, made it clear that APC would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, after an Australian negotiator for the release of over 200 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno from Boko Haram enclave, Dr. Stephen Davies had courageously named the former Borno state Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff and former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika as the principal actors sponsoring the sect.
He said that before now, despite that APC, like many well-meaning Nigerians, had resolved that the issue of the Boko Haram insurgency should not be politicized as a result of which the party expressed its willingness and readiness to cooperate with the Federal Government in neutralizing the insurgency, the PDP-Federal Government has consistently pointed accusing fingers at APC as the sponsor of Boko Haram.
“They have called us all sorts of derogatory names, but failed to provide any shred of evidence to support their claim. It has been very clear to us that the vehemence and persistence of this accusation, the deliberate distortion of statements made by our leaders to paint us as Boko Haram sponsors and the way the PDP-led Federal Government has gone to hire foreign PR firms, at a huge cost to taxpayers, as well as foreign and local hack writers to push this narrative, they were struggling hard to cover up something. We waited patiently knowing that the truth will one day surface.
“In a rare moment of truth, a top official of the Jonathan Administration, no less a personality than the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, situated the Boko Haram problem within the PDP. Shortly thereafter he was fired, and he later died in controversial circumstances. Still we waited.
“They distorted and misrepresented the statements made by our leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to try to convince the world that he was indeed the main sponsor of Boko Haram. They continued to echo the same slander about Gen. Buhari that was started by Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati in 2011, and for which he and his cohorts eventually begged to settle out of court and to apologize to the General. Still we waited.
“When their attempt to link Gen. Buhari with Boko Haram failed, as his popularity among ordinary Nigerians continued to soar, he was suddenly attacked by suicide bombers. Those who planned the attack believed this as the final solution to what they perceived as the threat he represents to the realization of their ambition. By the grace of God, he survived. We do not claim to know those who attacked him, but we do know those who provided the atmosphere for that attack to take place. Still we waited.
“When the government declared a state of emergency in three worst-hit states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in 2013, thousands of troops were deployed to the three states, but the unusual happened. The number of attacks simply skyrocketed. It is common knowledge that in any territory that has been placed under a state of emergency, the military takes charge of security, erecting checkpoints as part of efforts to keep a tab on security. Such was the situation in Borno in April 2014, when over 200 girls were abducted and driven away in many trucks. Soldiers posted to a nearby checkpoint were said to have withdrawn shortly before the attack. Who ordered their withdrawal? Some of the trucks in which the girls were being carted away broke down, yet no one challenged them. Despite this bizarre occurrence, they refused to accept responsibility and continued to cast aspersion on our Party, the APC, as the sponsor of Boko Haram. Still we waited.
“Boko Haram routinely enriched their arsenal with tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers, guns, trucks and other military equipment which they seized from the Army. From the videos they release from time to time, one could see Boko Haram insurgents driving around unchallenged in convoys of up to 60 vehicles made-up of tanks and other military vehicles they seized from our military, in a territory that is under a state of emergency. What is happening? No one could fathom it. Still we waited.
“A man known to all as the kingpin of Boko Haram; a man who helped to arm them so he could win elections and decimate his opponents was moving around with the best security ever. He is a known ally of the President and he is not known to be under any immunity. Yet he was never arrested or even questioned. Still we waited.
“In line with a Yoruba adage that says when a drum starts sounding too hard, it is about to burst, the PDP and the Presidency ratcheted up their attacks on our party, labelling us as Boko Haram sponsors. They hired a foreign firm, Levick, for US$1.2 million in taxpayers’ money, as well as a number of out-of-luck hack writers and pseudo analysts, one of them from Russia, to help push the narrative. Still we waited.
“Then their drum exploded!
“Dr. Stephen Davis, a man hired by the President Jonathan-led Federal Government to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok girls decided to speak out, believing the best way to tackle the insurgency is to expose the sponsors. And who are they? On international television last Thursday, and as you have just seen and heard, he named former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and a former Army Chief, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, as the sponsors of Boko Haram.
“Prodded by Sahara Reporters in a subsequent interview on whether Gen. Buhari and Malam Nasir el-Rufai were sponsors, he said the Boko Haram commanders who gave him the names of their sponsors did not mention their names. The die is cast. The truth is finally out! Boko Haram sponsors have been exposed. They are within the ruling PDP. They are friends of President Jonathan. He cannot pretend not to know who they are and what they have done and are still doing. His myriad of intelligence agencies, including the DSS and the DMI, cannot pretend they do not have any information on these men.
“It is true that Ali Modu Sheriff was, until recently, a member of our Party. But the Party always suspected that he was a mole, planted to hijack or at best weaken the new Party for the PDP. He is not new to that role. He helped to decimate his former party, the ANPP, to an extent that the number of states under its control fell from seven in 2003 to three by the time he left as Governor.
“We know for sure that Ali Modu Sheriff was planted in the APC to help decimate our party. We confronted him openly during the merger negotiation but he denied vigorously. His surrogate for the post of the Chairman of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi together with whom they planned to hijack the Party for the Presidency was firmly rejected. Realizing they have failed, they fled our party and returned to where they came from, and were duly embraced by their controllers.
“President Jonathan cannot pretend not to know the alleged role that Ali Modu Sheriff has played in the establishment and growth of Boko Haram, yet he never allowed the man to even be questioned by any of the security agencies under his control. All through his time with our Party, every time they accused us of sponsoring Boko Haram, on the basis of his presence, we challenged them if they had evidence to arrest any of our members who is suspected to be a sponsor, they never did. They dared not, because Sheriff was their agent. Even if he had remained in the APC after we democratically encouraged him to go, they would still not have arrested him.
“Recall, gentlemen, that immediately Sheriff went back to the PDP, the Maiduguri Airport that had been closed to even the pilgrims from the state on grounds of security was re-opened specially for him. What more evidence does anyone need that Sheriff was and remains President Jonathan’s Man Friday?
“The truth is finally out. We have been vindicated. We have no hand in the Boko Haram insurgency. The raison d’etre of our party is the well-being and security of Nigerians
“The sponsors of Boko Haram are within the PDP and the Presidency. They are known friends of President Jonathan. He knows them and they know him.
“The man who exposed these Boko Haram sponsors is a Jonathan-appointed Negotiator. He has no axe to grind, neither does he have any motive to shield the APC or portray the PDP/Presidency in bad light. In fact, if he had any sympathy at all, it is for the man who hired him, President Jonathan.
“We have said it all along. Boko Haram was politicized purely for one reason, and one reason only: To be used as a trump card for President Jonathan to win another term. For that strategy to work, the APC, which they see as the only stumbling block to the PDP’s victory in 2015, must be maligned and labeled. Gullible, duplicitous and self-serving politicians like Femi Fani-Kayode swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker, and started parroting the glaring lies. PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh, an obvious pawn on the chess board, followed suit, labelling a party that comprises Nigerians of all ethnic and religious hue a Janjaweed and Islamic party. Now he is stewing in his own juice.
“In the process of this dangerous politics, the Nigerian military which was globally acclaimed for its impressive showings at various peacekeeping missions around the world, simply suffered collateral damage. Apparently, fifth columnists in the military has sold the force out, first by denying it of the necessary fighting tools and then weakening it to such an extent that even the little it had was being taken away daily by insurgents. When the patriotic Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno tried to raise the issue of the poorly-equipped troops and their low morale, he was roundly pilloried. Now the world knows why!
“Now that the cat has been let out of the bag and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed, we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing: Hand over the identified Boko Haram sponsors to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution.
“There is no doubt that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in its scorched-earth campaign against unharmed citizens, and the most appropriate body to investigate and try the sect’s sponsors is the ICC.
“According to Article 17 of the Rome Statute that set up the ICC, and to which Nigeria is signatory, the ICC is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate and prosecute international crimes.
“In view of the fact that the alleged Boko Haram sponsors are either members of the ruling party or friends of the President, it is clear that the PDP-led Federal Government is unwilling and unable to try them, hence our call.
“Nigerians can rest assured that the APC will not allow this issue to be swept under the carpet.
“Now that it is clear that the PDP is behind Boko Haram for the sole purpose of winning next year’s Presidential Election, Nigerians must prevail on the PDP and the Presidency to urgently end this insurgency and the daily killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians!
“The President must remember that he is the Commander-in-Chief! The buck stops on his desk. He must now do all it takes to stop the growing mess in our nation’s North-East.
Wife of popular televangelist, Chris Oyakhilome, Mrs. Anita has made it clear that nothing would make her to change her mind on her move to seek for divorce. Speaking through her lawyers, Anita said that her relationship with Pastor Chris had terribly degenerated that there is no room for any reconciliation or out-of-court settlement. Anita’s lawyer, Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, said there is no chance the estranged couple would ever live as husband and wife again. “It is with great sadness that our client, Pastor Anita Oyakhilome, has come to the conclusion that her marriage to Pastor Christian Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken down and regrettably, there is no hope of any reconciliation.” Stephen Goddard, a Business Development Manager of Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors said that Anita is far gone. It would be recalled that, there has been speculation that the marriage between Mr Oyakhilome, the founder of Believers Love World (aka Christ Embassy), and his wife, who is also Vice-president of the ministry, was collapsing from the beginning of this year. Some church members had set up a Facebook page known as “Where is Rev. Anita Oyakhilome,” and dedicated it to addressing the issue. The church initially denied reports that the couple were estranged and possibly divorcing. But TheCable news website reported on August 29 that Mrs. Oyakhilome had filed for divorce since April 9, accusing Pastor Chris, as he is fondly called by his followers, of “adultery” and “unreasonable behavior”. Pastor Chris has denied the allegations. He however warned church members against analyzing his problem with his wife, insisting that the church should not appear as a political party. He said his wife is a bitter and angry woman who is being influenced by bad friends who are out to seek his downfall. The pastor added that most pastors’ wives usually think they are equal to their husbands after they get married. He said his wife wanted to overpower the authorities of the elders she met when she joined the Christian ministry. As the divorce battle rages, Mrs. Oyakhilome’s profile has been cancelled from the church’s website.
Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sherrif, alleged to be one of the chief sponsors of the deadly Boko Haram has confirmed that there are now ten thousand members of Boko Haram terrorizing the people in many parts of the Northern Nigeria. Modu Sherrif dismissed the allegation that he is sponsoring the sect, adding: “Those linking me with the sect are either ignorant or completely out for mischief. The sect has become captive of political forces and used for settling political scores.” The former governor who addressed newsmen at a press conference in Abuja said that all his actions as governor were to guide his people right. Modu Sheriff even as he threatened to sue Stephen Davies, the Australian negotiator who floated the allegation of his sponsorship of Boko Haram. He said that he is prepared to face any panel in the world to clear his name, saying: “I have no association with any terrorist anywhere. I have never met the group. I cannot be a sponsor of a group I have not met before. I don’t have foot soldiers, as they alleged.” The former governor described the allegations against him as unfair, saying they are being peddled for political reasons, pointing out that he has suffered from the sect’s activities and was at a time even targeted for elimination. “My name has been mentioned for political reasons over the attacks of Boko Haram. I have been accused unfairly in connection with Boko Haram since I left office. “For the records, let me state categorically that I do not share the same ideology with Boko Haram.” He claimed that he is opposed to the philosophy of the militants, adding: “it is instructive to point out that I have been one of the greatest victims of Borno. I was a target of Boko Haram during my time because I refused to abdicate my responsibility.” Modu Sheriff recalled that his younger brother, Alhaji Goni, was killed by Boko Haram, as were also some of his friends and associates. “For the records, the late leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, once named me, Umaru Yar’Adua and some other leaders as targets. He boasted he would deal with all of us.” He also recalled that he even banned Boko Haram and outlawed the group but that the sect later changed its name and continued to wreak havoc. “The fact that one of my commissioners, Buji Koi was named as member of the group does not make me a member. It doesn’t make sense. I leave the rest for Nigerians to judge whether it is a crime to do good to all men.”
President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a message of felicitation to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as he marks his 72nd birthday tomorrow. President Jonathan hailed him for what he said, his continued dedication to the service of his people, community and country. In a letter to Chief Iwuanyanwu, President Jonathan also praised the renowned entrepreneur and political leader’s life-long service to humanity at large. “Your family, friends and well-wishers have great cause to celebrate you, considering the distinguished life of dedicated service to humanity which you have lived. “As you mark this glorious day, I salute you and pray that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and many more years of enduring fulfillment.” The President sympathized with Chief Iwuanyanwu for the recent passing away of his younger brother, Sir Jessen Umunnakwe Iwuanyanwu. He prayed to God to grant the entire Iwuanyanwu family the fortitude to cope with the painful loss of Sir Jessen, whom he described as a distinguished servant of God and an accomplished community leader.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Power, Honourable Mohammed Wakil
Nigeria’s Federal Government has vented its anger on Messrs Techno electric and engineering company for allegedly abandoning a contract on electricity in Ebonyi state after collecting 15 percent of the total contract sum. The government has not only cancelled the contract and re-awarded it to another company, but has asked the erring company to refund the 15 percent it collected as mobilization fee within a short period. The government has also blacklisted the company and barred it and its directors from canvassing for contracts anywhere in Nigeria. Breifing newsmen today shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister of state for Power, Mohammed Wakil said that Messrs Techno electric and engineering company, had on the 1st of December 2010 collected a 15 percent mobilization fee from the federal government and later abandoned the project. The minister said that the failed contract which is for the Engineering Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 2X60MVA, 132/33KV at Amasiri and 2X132KV Line Bays Extension at Abakaliki for the Transmission Company of Nigeria has been re-awarded to Messrs North China Power Engineering limited and NCEP (Nig) Limited at the rate of $5,835,368.47. The amount, he said, is payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment, plus N505,788,083.58, inclusive of N67,211,298.58 for five percent contingency with a completion period of 24 months. “The project is designed to boost power supply to Ebonyi state and Parts of Cross River and to enhance the socio economic development of the state. The funds are available under the Eurobond loan, 2014 appropriation and in the unutilized letter of credit arlier, established for the terminated project to commence implementation.” He said that the Council alao approved the award of contract for the design and construction of four 60 TON Bollard Pull Marine Tug Boats in favour of Messrs Depasa Marine International (Nigeria) limited in the sum of €42,968,864.70 ( fourty two million, nine hundred and aixty eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty four euro, seventy cents), which is equivalent of N8,778,423,042.28 (eight billion, seven hundred and seventy eight million, four hundred and twenty three thousand, fourty two Naira and twenty eight kobo), inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 24 months. The poroject is expected to generate thousands of job opportunities for both professionals and non professionals during its execution and about 112 direct and indirect job opportunities when in fully operation.
With the reported success being achieved in the control of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, the federal government may change its mind on the postponement of resumption of public primary and secondary schools to October 13 this year. Already, the minister of education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and top officials of the ministry have been asked to meet with education managers in the country today to come up with a new date for the resumption of schools. Breifing newsmen today shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, information minister, Labaran Maku said that schools may now be re-opened in the middle of this month, September. He said that the health minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu gave a cheering news at the meeting that Ebola disease was firmly under control and would soon be a thing of the past. “On the strenght of such positive report, the minister of education was directed to work out a new date for the resumption of public schools across the country earlier than formally announced. The minister is right now having a meeting with stakeholders in education for that purpose.” The federal government had, in the wake of the outbreak of Ebola disease in July, announced the postponement of resumption date for public schools across the country to October 13. [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sherrif, alleged to be one of the chief sponsors of the deadly Boko Haram has confirmed that there are now ten thousand members of Boko Haram terrorizing the people in many parts of the Northern Nigeria.
Are Nigerian Soldiers Betraying Their Commander-In-Chief? By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Since the seemingly invincible Boko Haram insurgency began its campaign of territorial take-over in parts of the Northern Nigeria nearly four years ago, every act of the Nigerian military in its effort to combat and, possibly, subdue it has continued to have a stamp of doubt in a bizarre form.
Is it what appears to be the appalling failure of the military to subdue the insurgency as a problem caused by something unfathomable in the realm of secret global military, political or intricate diplomatic intelligence, about which Nigeria must tread with utmost caution in its choice between ‘the devil and the deep blue sea’? There appears to be some forces that are working in cross purposed to compel the military to compromise some measures of its constitutional responsibility, of maintaining security and protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
And yet, Nigeria has prided itself ad the most reputable black nation in global affairs; a nation that proudly flutters the banner of the most revered military in peacekeeping missions; a nation that brandished the military prowess through defending other African nations against any crisis akin to the one terrorizing it now.
Members of the Nigerian military should know that their prime responsibility is to ensure the internal and external security of Nigeria and Nigerians, in a situation where police and other relevant agencies have failed or unable to do their own sides of the job.
They should know that there has to be a secured Nigeria for them to answer the name of the members of the Nigerian military, let us assume they have not begun to feel ashamed of answering the name.
Why are Nigerians so disheartened with the conceited failure of their erstwhile proudly laurel-decorated military to even face the insurgents in a prolonged fierce combat, let alone subdue and banish them from the Nigerian territory?
Aside from the orchestrated invincibility of the insurgents, which the depressing string of promises of the military authorities, such as ‘we are on top of the situation’ or “we will soon re-capture Boko Haram’s Caliphate,” the Nigerian military has all along told Nigerians an endless series of lies about strategically combating the crisis, in the face of the sharply deteriorating security situation.
No Nigerian now needs to be convinced that the top echelon of the military have perfected strategies, not of decisively battling insurgency towards quelling it, but of conning President Goodluck Jonathan into disbursing trillions of Naira to finance what they would present to him as victorious war against terror, to which the president has been succumbing as Commander-In-Chief being also the guardian for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Although some cynical Nigerians would always argue that President Jonathan readily makes such disbursements in return to keep the soldiers away from anywhere close to the vicinity of a coup de tat, I do not subscribe to that. So far, the president has demonstrated considerable commitment to putting an end to the dastardly insurgency that has, so far, resulted in the mass murder of innocent souls and wanton destruction of places of worship and many properties.
It has since ceased to be any secret among Nigerians that the top echelons of the military have suddenly joined the class of richest Nigerians, leaving the pitiably frustrated rank-and-file to console and please themselves. Such frustrated section of the military end up transferring their frustration and anger on the ever-worsening vehicular gridlock at military checkpoints on most of the Nigerian highways and metropolitan centres, especially in the northern states. This is often on the pretext of looking out for and arresting insurgents.
Very ridiculously, Nigerians have never heard of any insurgent arrested at such checkpoints.
At such checking points, apparently frustrated and angry-looking soldiers would merely wave at motorists to pass, most times without checking anything.
It is well-known that criminals are more comfortable to operate at night. In contrast, however, vehicles pass through these military checkpoints freely in a smooth vehicular traffic flow at night with no logjams because the soldiers keeping sentry would have gone to relax, either near the checkpoints or elsewhere nearby, drinking and dinning.
It would have been very easy for as many insurgents or other criminals as possible to ease their way through the checkpoints in the night hours when no soldier would be around to detect them to any planned location to perpetrate crime.
These military checkpoints have proved therefore to be counterproductive, but causing unnecessary discomfort to innocent motorists.
I am also worried about the way soldiers are being used in stop-and-search operations in the city, which ordinarily should be handled by the police or paramilitary personnel. More worrisome is the fact that a reasonable number of the soldiers have been deployed to personal residences of some retired permanent secretaries, retired directors and other retired top government officials as guards. Why should Nigeria train soldiers only to be used as guards in private houses and companies? For me, unnecessary presence of soldiers and avoidable interactions with civilians diminish their prestige in the eyes of the public. That is if the Hausa proverb, ‘ido wa ka raina, wanda na saba gani’ ( meaning: familiarity breeds contempt) is anything to go by.
Now, it has since ceased to be any secret that military troops that are deployed to the epicenters of the insurgency are ill-prepared with ‘makeshift’ weapons compared against the highly superior weaponry brandished by the Boko Haram militants. No wonder, most times when both combatants come face-to-face, the Nigerian military men flee for their dear lives as would, a herd of gazelles fleeing from an attacking lion in the wilderness.
Face-to-face with the stark reality of the superior weaponry of the insurgents, detachments of the Nigerian soldiers have severally mutinied against being deployed to confront the superior-armed insurgents.
Why are poorly-armed Nigerian soldiers continuously deployed to face the seemingly indomitably Boko Haram militants who delightfully crush them? Most Nigerians now believe this is due to the rather psychopathic tendencies of the military generals who evidently take pleasure in sacrificing them as part of the dual strategy of creating more urgent excuse to attract more funds for the terror war.
This situation, most recently, caused a detachment of Nigerian troops to flee from the more powerful insurgents to the neighbouring Cameroon, to which the Nigerian military authorities responded, albeit with the usual bare-face lies, that the soldiers only retreated in a tactical manoeuvre. What an explanation!
The persistent ill-preparedness of the Nigerian military for the terror war has confirmed the observation of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, some months ago, that the Boko Haram insurgents have more sophisticated weapons, which is why the Nigerian military cannot subdue them. Of course, the military authorities had since vehemently denied this.
Huge population of Nigerians in the Northeast are exterminated, evidently by Boko Haram militants with seemingly complicity of the Nigerian military in the insurgency crisis, powered by some formidable forces that are at the background to mastermind the insurgency.
There is absolutely no time for lamentations. If the Nigerian military authorities are sincere on fighting and quelling the insurgency, they should rebuild their confidence and commitment: morally and spiritually. They should utilise the billion-naira of funds disbursed for the terror war by equipping the rank-and-file with the state-of-art weapons that could, at least, match the ones brandished by the insurgents.
That is the only way they can effectively deal with the crisis we have on our hands. [myad]