We Eliminated Abubakar Shekau Because He Was Killing Believers – ISWAP

June 5, 2021

The Islamic State West African Province, ISWAP has confirmed that its fighters pressured the factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau to blow himself up because he deviated from the original concept of the group by killing believers.

An internal message from ISWAP leader, Abu Musab Albarnawi, whose recording was obtained by HumAngle today, June 5 said that Shekau blew himself up after refusing to surrender, following the invasion of his hideout on May 19, 2021.

The ISWAP said the interim leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS, ordered them to take action on Shekau for deviating and killing “believers.” Al-Barnawi described Shekau as “the leader of disobedience and corruption.”

According to him, Shekau, who took over after the death of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, was apprehended “in the most humiliating manner.

“This was someone who committed unimaginable terrorism. How many has he wasted? How many has he killed? How many has he terrorised? But Allah left him alone and prolonged his life.

“When it was time, Allah set out brave soldiers after receiving orders from Amirul Muminin [leader of the believers],” he said.

He initially escaped and roamed the bushes of Sambisa for five days, where he suffered seriously. However, ISWAP fighters were able to locate him. Still, Abu Musab narrated, Shekau managed to run away a second time but was chased down.

The rival fighters urged him and his followers to repent, assuring him that if the ISIS leader decided to make him their leader after he had surrendered, they would have no choice but to obey.

Dangote Fertiliser Commences Production Of Urea … Hits Market Monday

Editorial staff

June 5, 2021

Dangote Fertilizer Limited has announced the formal commencement of production of Urea in commercial quantity and the plan to hit the Nigerian market on Monday.

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said today, June 5 that the plant, with a capacity to churn out three million metric tonnes per annum of urea, has been classified as the biggest project in the entire fertiliser industry in the world.

He told top bankers, including the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who were on hand to witness the commencement of production: “this Phase 1 of the project, which is estimated to cost $2.5 billion, is to manufacture 3mmtpa of urea per annum. This capacity will later be expanded to produce multi grades of fertilisers to meet soil, crop and climate specific requirements for the African continent.”

According to Dangote, the fertiliser plant would make Nigeria the biggest urea exporting country in sub-Saharan Africa and biggest producer of polypropylene and polyethylene.

The Fertiliser complex consists of Ammonia and Urea plants with associated facilities and infrastructure, to produce 3 MMTPA Urea. The complex comprises: 2 x 2,200 MTPD Ammonia Plants based on Halder Topsoe technology, 2 x 4,000 MTPD Melt Urea Plants based on Snamprogetti technology, and 2 x 4,000 MTPD Urea Granulation Plants based on Uhde Technology.Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman , Dangote Group, made the disclosure at the facility’s final inspection tour by the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Friday in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

The CBN Governor was at the plant in the company of senior bankers, who consisted of Chief Executive Officers of First Bank, Guarantee Trust, Access Bank Plc , United Bank of Africa and Zenith Bank.

Dangote said: “The three million tonnes of Urea is certified, licensed by all regulatory authorities in Nigeria. We have gotten all licenses from the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Agriculture, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC and all other authorities.

“So, our Urea will be in the market from Monday, and by God’s grace before the end of this month, we will start bringing in dollars from the first line that we have commissioned. He added that the urea is a small percentage utilization of gas that the country is actually flaring.”

He said the company planned to saturate the market with Urea and having already collected the database of farmers would also ensure adequate training of farmers on best application of Urea.

“Our primary interest is to saturate the local market. Training farmers will help to sustain farming activities, and this will ensure food security.”

Dangote commended Emefiele and the banks CEOs for being there to ensure the success of the plants, adding that the time had come for the country to move away from selling crude oil to value added petroleum products.

He urged them to target mostly gas-based industries so the country’s economy could improve and make a lot of dollars.

“We need to look at transforming the industrial capacity of the country earning dollars and at the same time doing what we call import substitution,” Dangote noted.

Speaking on the occasion, Emefiele said that Nigeria has the potential to export at least 3.5 million metric tonnes of urea to different parts of the world.

“Nigeria needs between 1 million metric to 1.5 million metric tonnes of Urea to meet the local demand. So, we have potentials to export at least three to four million metrics tonnes of Urea to different parts of the world. With this latest development, Nigeria has become one of the major producers of Urea in the world. This for me, is a story, which no one would have believed would happened in Nigeria.”

“Nigeria now ranks amongst the leading countries in the production of Urea in the world. This, for me is a story that no one would have believed will happen in Nigeria.”

He also said that the mechanical commissioning of the Petrochemical and Refinery plant would kick off by the end of the first quarter of next year.

“Dangote has committed that mechanical completion will be achieved by the end of this year and we are expecting that the refinery will be completed by the first quarter of next year.”

Speaking on behalf of the bankers, Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, expressed joy for the support they gave to Dangote to create a world class manufacturing enterprise in Nigeria.

”There was a lot of skepticism along the way as we moved on; can this project be completed, are we sure we have the right financing models and all of that.

“Today we saw Urea produced, we saw it bagged and we saw it loaded on trucks, and by Monday it will be in our markets. This for us is a very important milestone for Nigeria and Africa,” Wigwe said.

Nigeria May Jail Twitter Ban Violators

Editorial staff

June 5, 2021

Nigerian government is scouting for and may resort to send to prison, violators of its suspension of Twitter usage in the country.

Already, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has ordered the prosecution of offenders.

In a statement today, June 5, Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) in his office to swing into action and commence in earnest, the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-activation of opetations of Twitter in Nigeria.

He directed the DPPF to liase with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Communication (NCC) and other relevant government agencies to ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without any further delay.

Fed Inland Revenue Modernizes Tax Administration, Introduces Naira Tax-Filing Platform

Editorial staff

June 5, 2021

As part of its efforts at modernizing tax administration in the country, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has introduced a new Tax Administration Solution (TaxPro-Max) for ease of tax compliance.

A Public Notice signed by the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Muhammad Nami, said that TaxPro-Max would enable seamless registration, filling, payment of taxes and automatic credit of withholding tax as well as other credits to the Taxpayer’s accounts, among other features.

The notice said that the TaxPro-Max would also provide a single-view to Taxpayers for all transactions with the Service.

“The TaxPro-Max platform is accessible at www.taxpromax.firs.gov.ng”

Nami said that as from June 7, the TaxPro-Max would become the channel for filing Naira-denominated tax returns in the country.

Nami asked that all Naira-denominated tax returns should be filed via the TaxPro-Max Solution in order to generate the obligatory Document Identity Number (DIN).

“Taxpayers will not be able to pay without DIN; as such taxpayers wanting to submit their tax returns manually must visit the relevant tax office where FIRS personnel will be on hand to assist them to upload the returns and generate the DIN.

“In view of the time it might take to upload manual returns and generate the DIN, taxpayers are encouraged to bring manual returns for upload, at least, two weeks before the due date; Qualified Personnel of the Service are on hand to assist taxpayers experiencing challenges in filing returns on the TaxPro-Max. They may be reached via email, taxpromax@firs.gov.ng.”

Nami advised taxpayers that are yet to get their user credentials to visit the nearest FIRS Tax Office to be on board immediately.

Courts, State Assemblies Resume Work Next Week After 2 Months Strike – Minister

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

Minister of Labour and employment, Chris Ngigi

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has expressed confidence that workers in courts across the country and their counterparts in the state Houses of Assembly will return to work next week after about two-month sit-at-home industrial action.

Addressing newsmen today, June 4, the minister said that the Chairman, Governors Forum, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, and his Deputy, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, have put their pen on paper on behalf of their colleagues on the historic agreement which they reached on May 20th.

According to the minister, with what we achieved at the meeting, it is expected that the courts and state assemblies will re-open next week, since all the grey areas have been smoothened.

“So, today we met with the unions in a small dialogue to dot the i’s and cross the t’s in the agreement which we agreed on May 20.

“Right now, we expect the unions to go back to their members and give them final briefing on what we have achieved today.

“And with this achievement of today, we are hopeful that by next week, the chambers of our courts and the doors of the state assemblies will be open for business activities, ” he said.

Ngige said they were not oblivious that this situation has posed serious challenges to the nation, especially as the courts were closed and the law enforcement agencies have no place to take arrested criminals.

He commended the unions for the efforts put in place in the final round of the dialogue where modalities that were not very clear have been sorted to the satisfaction of both sides.

The Deputy President of JUSUN, Mr Emmanuel Abisoye, commended the minister for his efforts in resolving the dispute, saying that he expects all the parties to fulfill their part of the agreement.

Abisoye assured that JUSUN would play its part and expressed hope that the governors would do the needful to ensure that industrial harmony returns to the courts.

Also, the President of PASAN, Mr Mohammed Usman, expressed optimism that all stakeholders would do the needful within the shortest possible period to see that the workers in the state legislatures return to work.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commended all the parties for reaching the milestone.

“It is necessary to ensure that industrial harmony strives in these sectors of our economy. It is important that this issue is put behind us.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Secretary of the Implementation Committee for Judicial/Legislative Autonomy, Sen. Ita Enang, commended Mr President and the Labour Minister for their efforts thus far to attain autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary.

He said the country cannot afford further closure of the courts and state assemblies having arrived at this stage.

He added that the latest development would heal the security, human rights and political temperature of the country.

It would be recalled that the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) had embarked on nationwide strike on April 6. They began the strike after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum earlier given, over the failure of the government to implement the law recognizing financial autonomy for the judiciary and the legislature.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on May 22, 2020, signed into law an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

The Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 made it mandatory for all states to include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

The order also mandates the accountant general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to the state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each that refuse to grant such autonomy.

Court Asks EFCC To Investigate Salaries, Allowances Of Federal Lawmakers

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has asked the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the salaries and allowances of the 469 members of the National Assembly.

The court asked the anti-graft agency to prosecute and jail the lawmakers if they were found to be telling lies that the money they were alleged to be earning is not true.

The court, in its ruling today, June 4, ordered the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to fix the salaries and allowances of the federal lawmakers to reflect the economic realities in the country. It ruled that the National Assembly Service Commission has no power to determine the remuneration and allowances of lawmakers.

Justice Chuka Obiozor delivered the judgment via zoom today in the consolidated suits brought by two legal Practitioners, Mr. Monday Ubani and Mr. John Nwokwu, and more than 1,500 concerned Nigerians through the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE).

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana led the team of human rights lawyers who secured victory in what is being described as a landmark judgment.

The suit was filed on the heels of reports that members of the National Assembly receive running costs and allowances not determined by RMAFC and that such allowances are illegal because they are far above what the RMAFC prescribed.

In 2018, one of the senators, Senator Shehu Sani had disclosed in an interview that “each senator receives N13.5 million monthly as running cost in addition to over N750,000.00 monthly consolidated salary and allowances”.

Another online publication further revealed that each senator is entitled to the sum of N200m as a constituency project allowance.

The National Assembly filed a Defence denying ever collecting such an amount but failed to disclose to the court how much they collect.

The NASS Commission in their defense also denied paying such an amount to the members. They also challenged the locus standi of the plaintiffs to institute the action against them.

But Justice Obiozor overruled these objections and held that in line with the constitution, the RMAFC should do a downward review of the salaries, remuneration, or allowances of the lawmakers to reflect the economic realities in the country.

The court also recommended that since the lawmakers have denied receiving jumbo pays, the EFCC should look at their books and prosecute them if it is found that they under collect such an amount of money.

The National Assembly comprises 469 members – with 109 in the Senate and 360 in the House of Representatives.

The Anger Of Buhari’s Government Against Twitter

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

“…If an organization (the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra – IPOB) is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed.

“Two, any organization that gives directives to its members to attack police stations, to kill policemen, to attack correctional centres, to kill warders, and you are now saying that Mr President does not have the right to express his dismay and anger about that?

“I don’t see anywhere in the world where in an organization, a person will stay somewhere outside Nigeria, and will direct his members to attack the symbols of authority, the police, the military, especially when that organization has been proscribed. By whatever name, you can’t justify giving orders to kill policemen or to kill anybody you do not agree with.”

Lai Mohammed.

We’re Deeply Concerned About Our Suspension By Nigeria – Twitter

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

Social media platform, Twitter has expressed deep concern over its suspension by the Nigerian Government.

A statement today, June 4 by a Twitter spokesperson, Tech Cabal read: “The announcement made by the Nigerian Government that they have suspended Twitter’s operations in Nigeria is deeply concerning. We’re investigating and will provide updates when we know more.”

Twitter’s suspension was announced today by the Nigeria’s minister of information, Lai Mohammed after the platform deleted a tweet and video from President Muhammadu Buhari’s official handle. The controversial tweet was a threat to people from the south-east referencing the bloody 1967 civil war.

Lai Mohammed accused the social media giant of ‘double standards.’

Nigeria Now To Register Facebook, WhatsApp, Other Social Media Apps

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been given directive to begin the licensing of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other social media apps operating in the country.

The directive which was issued today, June by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in Abuja, said that the social media platforms are being used persistently to undermine the country’s corporate existence.

The statement, signed by Lai’s media aide, Segun Adeyemi, said: “The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the NBC to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.”

This action comes after Twitter delete both the video and the tweets where President Muhammadu Buhari threatened Southeast civilians with violence similar to that of the Civil War as a response to the attack on the electoral body’s facilities in the region.

In the past, the Buhari-led administration had decried the use of Twitter, accusing the social media app of enabling its citizens to undermine its regime.

Lai Mohammed expressed doubts about Twitter’s mission in the country and accused the social media firm of double standards and supporting the secessionists in the country.

BREAKING: Nigeria Sacks Twitter

Editorial staff

June 4, 2021

Nigeria’s Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja today, June 4, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

1...657658659...2,499 Page 658 of 2,499