Presidential Spokesman Lists Age-Old Jinx Buhari Broke In 6 Years

September 5, 2021

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina has listed out what he called age-old jinx (what were considered impossible) that the president has broken in his six years as leader of the country.

In a statement today, September 5, Femi Adesina said that the “giant-sized jinx” was broken recently when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced a first Net Profit in the 44-year history of the organization.

He said that under President Buhari, who doubles as Minister for Petroleum Resources, the oil conglomerate announced a first-ever profit of N287 billion.

He swore that such had never happened before, saying: “but that was by no means the only major jinx broken in the lifetime of the Buhari administration.

“They abound. And here are just some of them:

Policies and legislation:

*Petroleum Industry Bill signed into law in 2021, after almost two decades in the works. It is aimed at reforming a Petroleum Act dating back to 1969, as well as other supplementary laws and regulations.

*Deep Offshore and Inland Basin (Production Sharing Contracts) Act, 2019, amended for the first time since 1993.

*More than 6 billion dollars of inherited Cash Call Arrears now being cleared by the Buhari Administration, since 2016. More than 3 billion dollars of the arrears (payments due to International Oil Companies) have since been paid.

*The Buhari Administration has overseen the first successful Marginal Fields Bid Round in almost 20 years.

*The Buhari Administration has launched the first National Social Investment Programme in the country’s history. Today it is the largest Social Investment Programme in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

*Restoration of the Federal Budget to a January-to-December cycle, after more than a decade.

*The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was established in 2011, and for its first seven years did not have an enabling Act of the National Assembly — Until 2018 when President Buhari assented to the NCDC Act.

*Nigeria Police Act, 2020: The first overhaul of the Police Act since it was originally enacted in 1943

*Nigeria Correctional Service Act, 2019 – overhauled the existing Prisons Act, almost 50 years after it was first enacted.

*Finance Acts 2019 and 2020 – the first time ever that Federal Budgets are being accompanied by dedicated and specific reform legislation, to support implementation.

*Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Bill (SPOMO), 2019: The first of its kind in the entire Gulf of Guinea, dedicated to prosecuting maritime offences.

*Police Trust Fund Act, 2019: First-ever legislation dedicated to addressing the financing of the Police Force

*CAMA, 2020 – the first overhaul of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) in 30 years.

*Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018: Another unprecedented piece of legislation in Nigeria

*Treasury Single Account (TSA) started in 2012, expanded across the entire Government by President Buhari

Projects –

*Itakpe-Warri Rail Line, started in 1987, abandoned for decades, and finally completed in 2020

*Completion of four standard gauge railway projects between 2016 and 2021: Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line, Abuja Metro Line, Itakpe-Warri Rail Line and Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line.

*President Buhari is the first President to start and complete a rail project in Nigeria’s history (Lagos-Ibadan Rail).

*The last NLNG Train project (Train 6) was completed in 2008. President Buhari has successfully flagged off Train 7 construction.

*Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Expressway, undergoing full reconstruction for the first time since it was constructed in the late 1970s.

*Bodo-Bonny Bridges and Road: Construction finally kicked off in 2017, after several decades of planning, and three false starts.

*The long-awaited Ogoni Clean-Up kicked off under the Buhari Administration.

*The Nigerian Navy has this year (2021) acquired its first new Landing Ship Tank (LST) in more than 40 years.

*The Nigerian Air Force has enjoyed the largest investment in fleet renewal in decades, under President Buhari, acquiring more than two-dozen new aircraft since 2016.

*Construction of the first full-scale private refinery and the first privately financed Deep Sea Port in Nigeria’s history both started under President Buhari’s watch.

*Only one Modular Refinery in the country pre-2016. Since 2018, there have been several either under construction or already completed.

*Maritime University, Delta State, licensed by the NUC and operationalized in 2018

*Completion, since 2016, of twelve (12) inherited Dam projects across the country: Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam, Taraba; Ogwashi-Uku Multipurpose Dam, Delta; Adada Dam, Enugu; Sulma Earth Dam, Katsina; Gimi Earth Dam, Kaduna; Amla-Otukpo Dam, Benue; Amauzari Earth Dam, Imo; Ibiono-Ibom Earth Dam, Akwa Ibom; Gadau/Lafia Zigau Dam, Bauchi; Alajue Small Earth Dam, Osun; Kampe Omi Dam, Kogi (Rehabilitation) and Kargo Dam, Kaduna (Rehabilitation)

*Completion of three (3) inherited Hydropower Projects, accounting for more than 100MW of electricity in total: Gurara Hydropower Project, 30MW, Kaduna State – completed and concessioned in 2020; Kashimbila Hydropower Project, 40MW, Taraba, Dadin-Kowa Hydropower Project, 40MW, Gombe.

*Completion, since 2016, of seven (7) inherited Irrigation projects and 30 Water Supply Projects inherited by the Administration, including the Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State, Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project and the Ojirami Dam Water Supply Scheme and Reticulation Network, both in Edo State; Sabke, Dutsi and Mashi Water Supply Project in Katsina State; Vom Water Supply Project and Mangu Regional Water Supply Scheme in Plateau State; Takum Water Supply Project in Taraba State; Gambaki/Chinade/Hardawa/Bulkachuwa Water Supply Project in Bauchi State; Inyishi Regional Water Supply Project in Imo State; Ilobu Water Supply Scheme and Osogbo Water Supply Scheme in Osun State; Idanre Water Supply Project in Ondo State; Ofeme Water Supply Project in Abia State; Uburu Water Supply Scheme in Ebonyi State; Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Yobe State; Kwami Gadam and Bojude Water Supply Project in Gombe State; the Saki Town Water Supply Project, Oyo State; and the Zobe and Kazaure Water Supply Projects in Katsina and Jigawa States respectively.

*NDDC HQ Complex, started in the mid-1990s, completed in 2021.

*EFCC HQ Complex, construction started in 2011, completed in 2018.

*Zik Mausoleum, started in 1996, completed and commissioned 2018.”

Military Strike In Guinea, May Have Taken Over Civilian Govt

Editorial staff

September 5, 2021

Military may have forcefully taken over the civilian government of President Alpha Conde, in a coup d’etat in the Republic of Guinea.

Reports reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that heavy artillery sounds were heard around the Presidential Palace today, September 5, in Conakry.

Foreign news agencies said that in Conakry, capital of Guinea, Special Forces whisked away President Conde from the Presidential Palace to Kaloum Hotel in the capital city.

Although the leader of the Special Forces who staged the coupe and whose name was not immediately mentioned, had appeared on television to address the nation, reports said that President Conde, who was seen seating dressed in a casual wear, claimed that he is still in charge.

2,000 Names Of Unqualified Striking Doctors Submitted For Payments – Minister

Editorial staff

September 5, 2021

Minister of Labour and employment, Chris Ngigi

Minister of labour, Dr. Chris Ngige has expressed regret over confusion injected in the ongoing negotiations with members of the Association of Resident Doctors ( ARD) who have been on nationwide strike for over a month now.

According to him, while the federal government has met all the 12-point demands of the association, members are trying to twist the hand of the government to do what is illegal in international law.

The Minister, who spoke to newsmen today, September 5, after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, said that even 2,000 names of none qualified members were submitted for payment of certain emoluments.

“From the monitoring meeting we did this morning, Ministry of Health has gotten the list of doctors who supposedly are to benefit from the Medica Residency Training Fund.

“A total submission of about 8,000 names were gotten and the Ministry of Health is scrutinising them. We have done the first round of scrutinization and they will now compare what they have with the Post-Graduate Medical College and the Chief Medical Directors who submitted the names.

“The Association of Resident Doctors in each of the tertiary centres, worked with the CMDs to produce those names, but now that the names are being verified, we discovered that about 2,000 names shouldn’t be there because they don’t have what is called Postgraduate Reference Numbers of National Postgraduate Medical College and (or) that of the West African Postgraduate Medical College.

“We are doing that verification because we do not want what happened last time in 2020 to reoccur; in 2020 the submitted names didn’t come through the appropriate source, which is the Postgraduate Medical College and payment was affected and it was discovered that about 588 persons, who were not resident doctors benefited from such money and they are now finding it difficult to make the full refund.

“Some are refunding, but there is no full consideration of the account. That account has to be reconciled to enable the accountants pay the next round of funding for 2021.”

Dr. Ngige said that during his audience with the President, they discussed the state of the healthcare system and the ongoing industrial disputes which has as at today, entered the 33rd day.

He said that government has been doing everything possible to make sure they get back to work, including accepting to implement all the 12-point issues they raised in their demands.

“We have done all; we have come to agreements on all, including those that even affect the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and medical doctors who are in academics and teaching universities.

“So, we have handled all. The only point of disagreement now is that they said that in the agreements and the memorandum of action, government should insert that Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act will not apply to them. That section says that when a worker withdraws his services from his employer, the employer is at liberty to withhold payment of emoluments to him and the ILO (International Labour Organization) principles at work and strike said you can use that money to pay other people you have engaged in that particular period of strike.

“So, you have a right to strike, but your employer has also the right to withhold your emoluments. More importantly, in other climes, before unions go on strike, by that principle, they discuss with their workers and bring out what they call strike funds and it’s from that strike funds that the union will use to pay the workers who have gone on strike. They will also agree on the number of days the strike will last.

“That’s why overseas and in other climes, you don’t see strikes getting more than three days or four days or five days highest, and more importantly again, people on essential services, medical services, in particular, where you can lose live, they don’t go on strike anyhow. They only do picketing and things like that, because people’s lives are involved.

“So, this is where we are with them and we are saying that even if anybody cares to put it in any agreement, that clause will be void ab initio because it’s against the law of the land and we will not, as a government, succumb to undue arm twisting and then go and sign that. “Other workers have lost their pay during strikes; the Joint Health Systems Union (JOHESU). They lost their pay in 2018 when they went on four month strike, they lost about two or three months pay when the no-work, no-pay was invoked.

“Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), no-work, no-pay applied to them. Nobody paid them anything for six months and it was during COVID-19.

“So, we can handle things administratively, but nobody should arm-twist us.

“I briefed Mr. President and we have agreed that they should come back to work and if they come back to work, we can take other things from there; we’ll drop the case in court and then they will come back and get things done.”

Borno Senator, Ndume Advises Govt To Thoroughly Investigate Surrendering Boko Haram Members

Greenbarge Reporters

September 5, 2021

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has again, advised the federal and state governments to investigate repentant Boko Haram insurgents, most of who have surrendered before they are reintegrate into the society.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Senator Ndume said: “there is a national law that should guide all these and there’s international law that guides this. “Because this is not the first time we’re having this sort of challenge. In various countries and normally, when you get to war level, you are expected to either defeat the enemy, or the enemy surrenders.

“Once the enemy surrenders, you lose the right of summarily executing him because he is an enemy.

“You also don’t have the right to summarily declare him innocent and say, Oh, you have sinned, go and sin no more. What I’m saying initially, and I still maintain this position, in as much as we welcome the surrendering of the Boko Haram, it is very important that we follow the due process, according to the law of the land and the international law. That is to say, take them in, profile them, process them, investigate them, interrogate them and then those that are innocent, should be let go, and those that have blood in their hands, they should be appropriately prosecuted.”
Senator Ndume said that once the person surrenders, now, he has an advantage; “once you surrender, you cannot just be summarily convicted, you will be given the right to go to court and declare your innocence or otherwise. That is what I’m asking for.
“I’m also saying that as long as the war is continuing, it is now time to apply the carrot and stick approach; while we are prosecuting the war rigorously, in order to bring it to an end, a window is there available to tell those that are willing to surrender, that you can surrender and then you will be processed accordingly.
“After that defeat or after the war has come to an end and the window is there for them to surrender as they are surrendering in droves now, they should be processed, they should be investigated.
“We had sat down in Borno State last week, as stakeholders, to look at what were the suggestions or what were the ways that these people could, after surrendering, be managed according to the law.
“My governor is already here with the resolutions and communique we issued to discuss with Mr. President and very soon I think the federal government will come out with a clear way or maybe a better way that this would be managed.
“So, I still say that my position has not changed; saying people should be given the window or the corridor to come in and surrender and then they will be processed.”

Senator Ndume said that those who are surrendering may be bold enough to own up and “most of them will disclose those who were their sources or their sponsors, if any, and where are they getting the equipment or the arms and ammunition they have been using and they will be useful in providing information to our security agencies in order to finish the business at hand and that is winning the war.
“I think we are getting there because they themselves, had the number, the number coming up to surrender is always increasing. I know in Cameroun, over 1000 of them surrendered and most of them are Nigerians. The Borno State Government is making arrangement.
“As I said, the governor is on top of the situation, the people are carried along, even the victims are being carried along. For example, I’m a victim and my people are victims. It varies, the degree of the effect of the insurgency on us, but we as Nigerians, we as humans, we have sympathy, or we have the heart to easily forgive.
“It’s not the forgiving that is the problem, it is the issue of if you forgive somebody that has done something he horrendous like that, and you are not sure that he’s not coming back or see repentance and all that. Besides, as I said, if somebody has blood in his hand, and it’s not your blood, do you have the right to say, ‘go, you are forgiven?’
“In all these, there must be procedure and fortunately, there is an international law and the national law that should guide this and that’s why at the summit, I said that we as National Assembly members are lawmakers and whatever is required by law, in order to address this thing that is strange in our hand, then we’ll support the government to do that.”

I Was Advised To Abort Brodashaggi’s Pregnancy – Mother

Greenbarge Reporters

September 5, 2021

“I’m glad whenever my heart picks your picture I thank God that I did not abort you or listen to the shameful talk I faced in life, I appreciate God.”
This was contained in a short letter the mother of Brodashaggi, a popular comic actor, wrote to him.
The mother, who did not disclose her name in the letter further wrote:
“You are forever favored by Almighty God and it is permanent.
“My heart, my life, you are good to me and God will be good to you throughout your life.”
The letter was shared by Brodashaggi himself. He is one of the reigning comic actors on Instagram.
Source: The Nation.

Stop! Don’t Legalise Cannabis In Nigeria, NDLEA Boss Cautions NASS

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned members of the National Assembly not to legislate in favour of making cannabis freely available in open markets for the consumption on Nigerians.

Answering reporters’ questions today, September 3, shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, the NDLEA boss, Buba Marwa said that the disadvantages in legalising cannabis in the country far outweigh the advantages.

“Now, the World Health Organisation (WHO) itself has declared that cannabis affects the brain, alters brain function: it destabilizes and affects behavior. It also affects body organs, and at some points, it can lead to death.

“So while we appreciate those who want to localize it for financial gains, we have to be careful to reconcile it with life. So it’s money versus life.

“And up to this point, science has not developed up to the point where it can remove the THC in cannabis to zero. “Therefore, cannabis is harmful to our health. It is a danger to society. We must never allow its legalization.

“What’s more, Nigeria has 10.6 million cannabis users. This is the highest in the world. Isn’t it sad? We should be the highest in science, technology, mathematics, physics, and stuff like that. That is something we need.

“We can never support legalization and I don’t see how the National Assembly would pass the act because I know 90% or more of the honorable and distinguished members of the National Assembly know the implications of this legalization and they dare not go back to their constituencies if anyone signs legalization because we’re seeing the implication on the ground. The youths, the families are being destroyed because of cannabis and drugs. It wouldn’t be legalized by the grace of God.”

No COVID-19 Vaccine Results: 70 Nigerian Christians Can’t Make It To Jordan For Pilgrimage

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

File photo of Nigerians pilgrimage in Jordan | Photo credit: PM News

Over 70 Nigerian Christians could not make it to Jordan for the 2021 pilgrimage due to late release of COVID-19 vaccine test results.

This is coming shortly after the National Primary Health Care Development Agency warned that Holy cities such as Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem have made it mandatory for pilgrims to provide proof of vaccination before they can be granted access for pilgrimage.

The Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib had said early in the week that many countries have made vaccination a requirement to gain access to their countries as the COVID-19 vaccines have become available worldwide.

“I would like to remind all Nigerians that evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.

“I therefore urge adherents of both religions who are planning to perform pilgrimage next year or in the future, to get vaccinated now to avoid any delays.”

But, the Delta State Government today, September 3, decried the decision of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission to centralise COVID-19 tests for intending pilgrims in the state, as 77 pilgrims from the state were not airlifted.

The State government, through the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that the centralised COVID-19 test as directed by the NCPC had caused untold hardship to the intending pilgrims.

“Because of in the haphazard release of the test results, 77 of them were not airlifted to Jordan.

“It was disappointing for the intending pilgrims especially as the State had accredited centres to carry out the COVID-19 test in the state.”

According to him, a total of 315 Deltans were supposed to have been airlifted to Jordan from the Port Harcourt International Airport.

He said 223 eventually travelled as 15 reportedly tested positive for the virus and 77 could not travel due to late release of their results.

Katsina Gov, Masari, Didn’t Pass Vote Of No Confidence On IGP – Spokesman

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

Alhaji Abdu Labaran, Director-General of Media to Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said that his boss never said anything to imply a vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba.

In a statement in Katsina today, September 3, Abdu Labaran stressed that there was no place where the governor made any statement reflecting vote of no confidence during the visit of the police boss on him.

“I believe most of you were around during the IGP’s visit, you can bear witness that there was no such statement by the governor.

“In our investigation, we have come to understand that the Correspondent of the medium in the State did not send such a story to them.

“To our greatest surprise, the medium on Friday published the story with a leading headline that “Masari passes vote of no confidence on the IGP.

“In fact, the governor, during the visit, even sympathized with the police.

“As you are all aware, the IGP was here in Katsina, and during the visit, had visited the governor. There was no time or place when Gov. Masari said something like what was reported.

“Therefore, I wish to tell you that the medium had lied, it was a blatant lie they published, and we are highly disappointed,” he said.

According to Abdy Labaran, the state government is still waiting for response from the medium before knowing what action to take.

This was even as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, Gambo Isah, described the publication as mischievous and an attempt to put the image of the Police into disrepute.

“The Command urges members of the public to discountenance the fake news, as the Force would not be distracted by such acts.”

Local Hunters Kill 47 Bandits In Shiroro, Niger State, Others Flee

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

File photo of Nigeria’s Local Vigilante | Credit: The Conversation

Courageous local hunters have been confirmed to have killed no fewer than 47 armed bandits that have hitherto been terrorising the people in Shiroro communities in Niger State.

Information had it that the hunters, in a sting-like operation, raided a ‘riverside’ community in Magami between Shiroro and Rafi Local government areas on Wednesday and killed the bandits.

A source said that the community, which is closed to a river, has been used as hideouts by Niger bandits, who also established their camps in the axis.

A police intelligence officer, who asked not to be mentioned, confirmed that several bandits also fled with gunshot wounds, aside those killed.

“I can tell you for a fact that the bandits met their waterloo. At least 47 of them were eliminated by the hunters who participated in the operation,” he said.

It could not be immediately confirmed if the hunters are part of the recently inaugurated Niger Special Vigilante Corps (NSVC) which was formulated by the police and the state government to streamline the activities of all local security outfits into one special corps.

During the inauguration of the corps in June 2021, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the state said the activities of banditry would not intimidate the people or the government as they would not allow bandits to change the style of living of the people.

“Bandits want to force us to change our way of life in Niger State but we won’t allow them.

“They stopped our children from going to school, they stopped us from travelling on our roads, they stopped farmers from going to the farm and now they are trying to stop from anything, but we will not be intimidated. We will not allow that to happen; we will continue to live our normal lives.”

Source: PRNigeria.

EFCC Confirms Lekki In Lagos As Hotbed Of Cybercrimes, Arrests 402 Suspects

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has confirmed Lekki, a fast-developing middle-class area of Lagos metropolis as the new hotbed of Internet-related crimes.

A statement today, September 3 by the spokesman of the anti-crime agency, Wilson Uwujaren quoted data for the second quarter of 2021, as indicating that between April and June 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests in Lekki, while the Advance Fee Fraud section arrested 243 suspects.

According to the statement, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.

It said that out of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.

It added that Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively, saying that Badore had 8 suspects as the neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.

The statement said that the suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.

“Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.

“The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.

“Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.

“The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.

“A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.“

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