Feuding PDP Chieftains Turn London Into Centre For Meetings: Wike, Others Return There

September 4, 2022

London, not Nigeria, is now a centre for the feuding chieftains of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold meetings.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, his Benue and Oyo State counterparts, Samuel Ortom and Seyi Makinde have again, flown to London, United Kingdom for further meeting on the crisis rocking the party.

It was learnt that Makinde, who has been on his annual vacation since the last meeting, was first joined by Wike, while Ortom who was on his way to the United States of America, made a stopover for the meeting.

Although details of their meeting yesterday have not been made public, but it was gathered that it had to do with charting a way out of the crisis.

It was gathered that the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu may join the PDP governors in the United Kingdom to conclude the previous meeting.

Moves so far, to reconcile Governor Wike and the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whose relationship hit the rocks after the PDP primary election has continued to prove difficult.

Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde, his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and other PDP stalwarts from Governor Wike’s camp met with Asiwaju in London on August 23.

NDIC Lists 20 Failed Banks, Other 5 In-Liquidation; warns Depositors

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has listed 20 failed banks and in-liquidation of five others and has published a final dividend declaration notice to depositors and creditors in them.

It also published a final dividend declaration notice to creditors of five banks in-liquidation.

The notice, published on the Corporation’s website, listed the banks to include ABC Merchant Bank Ltd., Commercial Trust Bank Ltd. and Continental Merchant Bank Plc.

Others are Merchant Bank of Africa Ltd., Pan African Bank Ltd., Kapital Merchant Bank Ltd., Eagle Bank and Allied Bank of Nigeria.

Others are Cooperative & Commerce Bank, Nigerian Merchant Bank, Rims Merchant Bank, Alpha Merchant Bank and Continental Merchant Bank.

NDIC said that depositors and creditors who did not establish their claims to the satisfaction of the Director, Claims Resolution Department within 21 days from the date of the publication, would be expunged.

The Corporation said that the director would after the expiration of the date proceed to make a final dividend payment without regard to such claims.

“NDIC, the official liquidator of the under-listed defunct banks (in-liquidation), hereby notifies the general public of the final call for dividend declaration to depositors, creditors of these banks.

“We, therefore, advise all eligible depositors and creditors of these banks to either meet NDIC officials in any of the NDIC Offices. They can also visit the claims page on NDIC website on www.ndic.gov.ng for the verification of their claims, commencing from Sept. 5 till Oct. 14,’’ the Corporation said.

The Corporation also said it was in the process of paying insured and uninsured deposits to depositors of Eurobanc Savings and Loans,Grace field Microfinance Bank and Okporo Microfinance Bank(MFB). It said it was also in the process of paying liquidation dividends to the depositors and ex-staff of MFBs.

Peter Obi To Gov Okowa: Politics Cannot Distance Me From Churches

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has made it clear that no amount of politicking can stop him from visiting churches to which he is often invited for one programme or the other.

Peter Obi, who reacted to what he called “uncharitable” statement credited to Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, accusing him of dragging the Church into politics through his constant appearances in churches, said it is on record that he has been attending church programmes to which he was invited, including those organized by the Churches.

A statement yesterday, September 2, by his Special Adviser on Media, Valentine Obienyem, quoted the LP flag bearer thus: “Should Obi start shunning Church events because of politics, even when we know that since leaving office in 2014, that Obi has visited over 1000 schools and hospitals owned by the Churches, offering them all manner of support for the upgrade of their schools and hospitals that serve the citizens of Nigeria.”

He cautioned against bringing the name of the Church into disrepute, warning that those doing such are those linking genuine actions of patriots to politics, even when it is absolutely unnecessary.

He said that the reference to politics is unnecessary because electioneering had not started, even as he disagreed with Governor Okowa on distinguishing those to be reached out to or not.

“Why would Okowa suggest that it is wrong for anybody to reach out to the Churches? Is this not contemptuous of Churches?

“Everybody is affected by the bad governance in the country and should expectedly be involved in the efforts to enthrone good governance. He should be told about the difference between being politically aware and getting involved in active politics.

“Very soon, they will start to criminalize the encounter Obi is having with Nigerians in Diaspora.”

He assured Nigerians that Obi would not get tired of preaching to Nigerians about good governance and the need for them to take back their country.

He called on other patriots to join in the crusade rather than wishing people to keep quiet so that the status quo would remain the same.

Why I Arranged For Kidnap Of My Ex Husband, Joy Confesses

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

A 40-year-old house wife, Joy Emmanuel Sunday has confessed that she arranged for the kidnap of her former husband because he refused to take care of her and the children she had for him.

The woman, who has arrested by the police for conspiracy over the kidnap of her ex husband, was among 29 others paraded for various offences, including kidnapping, robbery and child theft by Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi.

It was gathered that the kidnappers demanded N10m ransom and later reduced it to N2m, which was paid before the police arrested them at the point of sharing the loots.

Joy said that she engaged in all sorts of menial jobs to fend for herself and the children since her husband abandoned her and got married to another woman.

She said that when one of her children finished secondary education ,there was no money to send him for further studies.

”I arranged for my husband’s kidnapping because for a long time, he had abandoned me with his children.

“Even when my father and mother inlaws were alive he abandoned me. He never cared for his children. I engaged in menial jobs such as weeding in people’s farm to feed his children and pay their school fees.

”One of the children finished from secondary school and I approached my husband to plan how to send the son to learn trade since the father refused to send him to university but my husband shunned me.

“The major reason i arranged for his kidnap is that my husband refused to have s3x with me and does not take care of me and the children.”

She disclosed that she never collected her share of the money before they were arrested by the police

”The kidnapper that collected the ransom of N2million never gave my share and i don’t even see the money. It was when the kidnappers were sharing the N2m that the police arrested them and they mentioned me. They never gave me any part of the ransom collected from my husband.

“The kidnap kingpin (now at large) identified as Udo Moji assured me that he would collect the money from my husband for me since my husband attacked me and poured away soup in the pot.

”So, I agreed with him and he kidnapped my husband. I ran around to gather money to pay the kidnappers. The main suspect, Udo moji ran away.”

Narrating his ordeal, ex husband of the suspect, Emmanuel Sampson Ebong, who hailed from Ntak Obio Akpa in Oruk Anam local government area, Akwa Ibom State said: ” I was kidnapped on July 21, 2022 in my compound. I came back from treatment because I was weak. Around 8.30pm, I saw about six people in my compound. They struggled with me and released two gun shots into the air, and struggled with them before they took me out of my compound in a mini bus and drove away.

”They kept me from that Thursday till Sunday and demanded N10m from me and later reduced it to N2m before the police came that day, If not God, they would have killed me.

“They took me me to Etinan where they caged me. I thank the Nigeria Police for the rescue operations. I also thank my Village Head. I don’t know the reason they kidnapped me, they collected N2m from me. The police later recovered over N500,000 from them.”

The Commissioner of police, Olatoye Durosinmi, who paraded the suspects vowed that his command would not leave any stone unturned to ensure that residents of the State sleep with their eyes open

Source: The Nation.

Forgive Us Our Debts, Oh Developed Countries, Vice President Osinbajo Pleads In US

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has pleaded with developed countries to “forgive” some of the debts owed them by African nations as a way towards advancing climate projects in the continent.

Osinbanjo, who spoke yesterday, September 2, in a lecture on a just and equitable energy transition for Africa at the Center for Global Development in Washington D.C., said that forgiveness of the debts will significantly advance the course of global net zero emissions targets, facilitate energy access and the development of African countries.

A statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, quoted him as referring to the concept as a debt-for-climate (DFC) swap deal, saying that it is one in which the debts of African countries will be forgiven while they commit to use same for climate projects.

“Debt-for-climate swap is a type of debt swap where bilateral or multilateral debt is forgiven by creditors in exchange for a commitment by the debtor to use the outstanding debt service payments for national climate action programs,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying.

“Typically, the creditor country or institution agrees to forgive part of a debt, if the debtor country would pay the avoided debt service payment in a local currency into an escrow or any other transparent fund and the funds must then be used for agreed climate projects in the debtor country.

“This would increase the fiscal space for climate-related investments and reduce the debt burden for participating developing countries. For the creditor, the swap can be made to count as a component of their nationally determined contributions (NDC).”

Vice President Osinbajo said that for the deal to be efficient, there are significant policy actions necessary to make this acceptable and sustainable.

He also proposed a greater participation of African countries in the global carbon market while exploring financing options for energy transition.

According to him, there is a need to take a comprehensive approach in working jointly towards common goals, including the market and environmental opportunities presented by the financing of clean energy assets in growing energy markets.

Osinbajo further encouraged developed countries to support “Africa to develop into a global supplier of carbon credits, ranging from biodiversity to energy-based credits,” which would be a leap forward in aligning carbon pricing and related policy around achieving a just transition.

“In addition to conventional capital flows both from public and private sources, it is also essential that Africa can participate more fully in the global carbon finance market,” he said.

“Currently, direct carbon pricing systems through carbon taxes have largely been concentrated in high and middle-income countries.

“However, carbon markets can play a significant role in catalysing sustainable energy deployment by directing private capital into climate action, improving global energy security, providing diversified incentive structures, especially in developing countries, and providing an impetus for clean energy markets when the price economics looks less compelling – as is the case today.”

ICPC Boss Insists: Technology Is Key To Curbing Corruption, Illicit Financial Flows

Editorial staff

September 3, 2022

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has identified the deployment of technology as crucial to the fight against corruption and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs).

Professor Owasanoye made this known at the presentation of demo hacking solutions by seven innovators at the ICPC Headquarters, Abuja. The Illicit Financial Flows Hackathon is an initiative of the ICPC and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) with support of the Ford Foundation, West Africa.

The demo hacking solutions are aimed at curbing corruption and IFFs in government budget and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) procurement processes in Nigeria.

The ICPC Chairman said that the role of technology would not be underrated in the fulfillment of the Commission’s mandate of investigation and prosecution of breaches of the law.

“Technology is crucial to eliciting, analysing and preserving evidence for prosecution. In the past three years, the Commission has invested in technology to enhance its forensic capability and trained staff in digital documents analysis, handwriting analysis, polygraphic technology, and sundry skills.

“In the past fifteen years, the Government has generally invested in technology to fight corruption, especially by prevention. The role of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS), Treasury Single Account (TSA), Open Treasury Portal (OTP), establishment of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the private sector initiated Bank Verification Number (BVN) has contributed in no small way to reducing corruption.”

He emphasised the need for collaboration by law enforcement agencies in the deployment of more technology to help in reducing the opportunity for money laundering.

“Appropriate technology deployment would have given law enforcement agencies, administrators and regulators of the process adequate leverage to know what school-feeding funds were being used for. Technology penetration in Nigeria today makes this very possible. Such platforms would help nip anomalies in the bud and save the government huge sums of money as well as prevent abuse, corruption and money laundering.”

At the IFF Hackathon, Professor Owasanoye explained that it provided an opportunity for the young people to use their creativity and entrepreneurial skills in leveraging on emerging technologies to combat corruption and other unethical practices that impact negatively on the socio- economic fortunes of the nation.

He assured that the anti-corruption agency, the NITDA and the Ford Foundation would further work on the demo hacking solutions presented by the young innovators.

“The demo hacking solutions will be interrogated further, fine-tuned and a demo will be developed and followed by a test run.”

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, advocated clear policies by the government in the fight against corruption.

The Minister, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Kashim Ibrahim, said recovered funds from the proceeds of corruption would be used by the government to address critical needs.

In his remarks at the Hackathon, the Director General of NITDA, Kashimu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the innovative ideas would assist in the realization of the objectives of the digital transformation agenda of the government.

“The initiative relates to three of the pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.

“The relevant pillars are Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Promote Indigenous Content, Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation on the part of the NDEPS while on the part of SRAP are Digital Services Development and Promotion, Indigenous Content Development and Adaptation and Digital Society and Emerging Technologies,” said Abdullahi who was represented by Mr. Oladeji Olayemi.

The Regional Director, Ford Foundation (West Africa Office), Dr. Chichi Aniagolu Okoye, expressed the Foundation’s excitement with the Hackathon idea because of its importance to the fight against Corruption in the country.

She commended the ICPC for initiating the project and added that the Commission had rebuilt her confidence in the government’s ability.

She congratulated the participants for their innovative ideas.

The highlight of the programme was the presentation of the demo hacking solutions as a digital answer to diminishing corruption in school feeding programmes by seven innovators.

The young innovators were tasked to come up with clearly defined ideas and prototype solutions to checkmate IFFs with emphasis on leveraging emerging technologies.

Three winners emerged after the demo and received various sums of cash prizes.

The winners are: Second runner up, Expose Solution; First runner up, IFFMER, and the Winner, E-procure.

Professor Owasanoye and Dr. Aniagolu presented cash prizes of N500,000, N1 million and N1.5 million to the representatives of Expose Solution, IFFMER and E-procure, respectively.

Aisha Yesufu Blamed Crisis In PDP On Inability Of Atiku To Manage The Party Well

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

A Nigerian woman activist, Aisha Yesufu has blamed the Presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar for the crisisi rocking the party because of his inability to manage it well.

Reacting to the turbulence in the PDP via a video on Twitter, Aisha Yesufu said that Atiku cannot be trusted to unify Nigeria because he can’t maintain peace within his party.

“Atiku should not have constituted the committee since he knew he wouldn’t follow its recommendation. He couldn’t even call Wike to inform him of his development. This has caused more problems in the party.

“This is telling you he is someone who can’t even manage his party, and here we are talking about him unifying Nigeria. How possible? If he has the required leadership skills, he should be able to deal with people in order to make them feel validated.”

The crisis began when Atiku fell out with Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, over his decision to pick Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

Wike and his supporters had demanded the resignation of the party’s chairman Iyorchia Ayu to bring peace back to the party even as Ayu made it clear that he would not resign.

Buhari Admires Kassim Shettima’s Courage, Foresight, Sagacity, Intellectualism At 56

Editorial staff

September 3, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has acknowledged the former two-term Borno State Governor and current Presidential running to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Kassim Shettima as an astute political leader.

The President said that Shettima, who is celebrating his 56^th birthday today, September 2, is a leader and legislator, whose visionary and participatory style of leadership had continued to awe, outstand and inspire, setting a standard of resilience that has turned Borno State into an example of social, economic and infrastructural development.

He lauded Shettima “for his courage, foresight, sagacity and intellectualism, providing strong leadership for his state by keeping citizens unified and focused on the larger picture of a victorious and enlightened community, with clear results in education, health and road constructions.”

Buhari said that as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC, he is sure that Shettima’s experience as a banker, governor, Senator and scholar will prove relevant in governance at the national level.

The President prayed to Allah to equip Senator Shettima with more wisdom and strength as he serves the country.

NCC Boss Laments Destruction Of 50,000 Telecom Infrastructure, Facilities In Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2022

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, has lamented that over 50,000 cases of major destruction to telecom infrastructure and facilities have been reported across the country in the past five years.

He expressed disturbance over the implication of these incidents to the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2022 edition of Youth Civil Society and Stakeholders Summit (YCSSS), which took place midweek at the Army Resource Centre, Abuja, Professor Danbatta expressed worry over how the incidents have continued to affect the Quality of Experience, (QoE), of consumers, and called for concerted efforts by the members of the public, and security agencies, to stem the tide.

The NCC Boss, who spoke through the Head, Corporate Communication Unit of the Commission, Mrs.. Nnena Ukoha, said that the negative impacts of incessant vandalism of telecom equipment, evidenced in fibre cuts, theft of telecom facilities like generators at sites, vandalism of base stations, among other vices, have become a major burden on the service providers, while telecom consumers have continued to suffer unwarranted disruptions of their hard-earned services.

“The impact of vandalism of infrastructure is felt by all in the quality of services rendered, as it results in increasing drop calls, data and Internet connectivity disruptions, aborted and undelivered short messaging services (SMS), as well as countless failed calls”, he said.

The NCC‘s Chief Executive Officer said that, considering the well-known fact that the ability to connect and communicate is fundamental to human existence, improvement in businesses processes, government services, education, as well as social and family networking through seamless connections, every community should get involved in protecting the critical infrastructure that makes these services possible.

“Therefore, as a community, you are expected to report cases of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure to the nearest law enforcement agencies such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and also share adequate information received from NCC with your family, friends, and neighbours.

“We believe, with your cooperation as critical stakeholders in the telecoms sector, we can all work with the law enforcement authorities in protecting telecom infrastructure in your community.”

Buhari Approves Increases In Duty Tour Allowances For Public Servants

Editorial staff

September 3, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the increase of duty tour allowances (DTAs) for ministers, permanent secretaries and civil servants on grade level one to 17.

Duty tour allowance refers to the amount paid by the government when a public servant embarks on an official trip.

The approval of the new allowances was conveyed in a circular dated August 31, and issued by Ekpo Nta, chairperson of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

Nta said the new allowances take effect from September 1.

The upward review of duty tour allowances are applicable to Permanent Secretary/Equivalent from N20,0000 to N70,000, and to minister/SGF/HCSF/Equivalent from N35,000 to N80,000,” the circular reads.

“All enquiries relating to this circular should be directed to the commission.”

A breakdown of the new DTA as contained in the circular is presented below:

Grade level (GL) 01-04 and its equivalent – N10,000 per diem

• GL 05-06 and its equivalent – N15,000 per diem

• GL 07-10 and its equivalent – N17,500 per diem

• GL 12-13 and its equivalent – N20,000 per diem

• GL 14-15 and its equivalent – N25,000 per diem

• GL 16-17 and its equivalent – N37,500 per diem

• Permanent secretary/equivalent – N70,000 per diem

• Minister/SGF/HCSF/equivalent – N80,000 per diem

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