We’re Going To Have Bumper Harvest In Katsina Despite Insecurity, Gov Masari

August 5, 2020

Governor Bello Masari of Katsina State has predicted a bumper harvest in the state despite the spate of banditry attacks on communities and killing of innocent people.

Governor Masari, who answered reporters’ questions today, August 5, shortly after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja admitted that banditry would obviously affect food production in some areas.

“Certainly, there is going to be some issues, because in the entire state, it is only nine local governments out of 34 that are affected, and even in the nine local governments affected, it is only villages and areas that are bordering the forests that face the challenge.

“So, I admit that in some of the areas, there may be some drawbacks, but on a general note, the season looks good.

“We are hoping that we will have a bumper harvest.”

He said that he and President Buhari spent more than 30 minutes during the private audience discussing the current security situation in the state, adding that so far, the situation is under control.

“But it is not over until it is over and we have discussed extensively and offered our own suggestions and those of us who are on ground and that is actually what we discussed with the President.”

Governor Masari said that currently over 2,000 military personnel and officers are in Katsina for their annual super camp, adding that it is a signal to the bandits that the military is ready and willing and have the capability and capacity to deal with the situation.

He hoped that the military, including the police and other security agencies, have been given the marching orders.

“To control the situation by all means is a task that must be done because we cannot allow the situation in the North West to develop like it has in the North East. So, I think the people living in the rural communities will testify that actions are ongoing and those that are being displaced are being well taken care of and so this is the situation .

NNPC Rolls Out Drums To Celebrate Drop In Pipeline Vandalism

Editorial staff

August 5, 2020

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has cause to celebrate as it recorded an encouraging 43 per cent drop in cases of willful damage of its oil pipeline infrastructure by suspected oil thieves in May this year.

The corporation, in a statement today, August 5, by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said that details of the report contained in the May 2020 version of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) indicated that 37 pipeline points were vandalized, representing about 43 per cent decrease from the 65 points recorded in April 2020.

He said that further breakdown showed that Mosimi-Ibadan pipeline axis accounted for 38 per cent of the vandalized points while Atlas Cove—Mosimi axis recorded 19 per cent of the breaks. This is even as Suleja-Kaduna logged 16 per cent of the breaks, while other locations make up for the remaining 27 per cent.

NNPC said that in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders, it would continuously strive to bring the malaise under control.

The spokesman said that the corporation had continued to diligently monitor the daily stock of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, to achieve smooth distribution of the products to ensure zero fuel queue across the nation.

He said that towards this end, 950.67million litres of white products were sold and distributed by the corporation’s Downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) in May, 2020. “This comprised 950.67million litres of PMS only with no Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), adding that there was no sale of special product in the month.

“Total sale of white products for the period May 2019 to May 2020 stood at 19,865.80million litres and PMS accounted for 19,704.49 million litres or 99.19 per cent.”

The report said that ₦92.58billion was made on the sale of white products by PPMC in May 2020. Total revenue generated from the sales of white products for the period May 2019 to May 2020 stood at ₦2,393.88billion, where PMS contributed about 98.84 per cent of the total sales with a value of ₦2,366.15billion.

In the gas sector, natural gas production in May 2020 increased by 2.38 per cent at 226.51Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) compared to output in April 2020; translating to an average daily production of 7,480.36 million Standard Cubic Feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Likewise, the daily average natural gas supply to gas power plants increased by 5.87 per cent to 834mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of 3,128MW.

The NNPC May report said that the Group’s operating revenue, compared to April 2020’s, increased by 15.33 per cent or N31.68billion to stand at N238.33billion, while expenditure for the month decreased by 0.76 per cent or N1.81Billion, to stand at N235.66billion.

The report indicated a trading surplus of ₦2.68billion compared to the ₦30.81billion deficit posted in April 2020 when the effect of COVID-19 was at the peak, leading to reduced demand with fluctuating prices.

It said the 109 per cent upturn in revenue this month is the cumulative result of improved performances by some of the corporation’s Strategic Business Units.

While the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) posted a surplus due to substantial growth in the market fundamentals as demand began a slight recovery; the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) recorded 257 per cent increased profit attributed to improved debt collection.

Similarly, PPMC’s surplus rose 250 per cent from investment dividend received and significant drop in average product landing cost.

In addition, Corporate Headquarters deficit ebbed by 47 per cent in May, according to the report, compared to last month’s, while NNPC Retail, Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), NNPC Shipping and Ventures also contributed positively to the month’s performance, leading to the significant NNPC Group surplus position during the period under review.

Nigeria Police May Drag Sahara Reporters To Court Over Alleged Maliciously Publication

Editorial staff

August 4, 2020

The Nigeria Police Force is mobilising a team of lawyers to drag Sahara Reporters, an online newspaper to court for alleged what it called “misleading report” published on August 03, 2020 under the heading ‘Exclusive: How Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Adamu, Illegally Raised Millions of Naira for Construction of Training School in Nasarawa.’

A statement today, August 4, the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said that the Force “has instructed its legal team to initiate legal actions against Sahara Reporters to address the defamatory and libellous components of the report.”

The statement which described the report as spurious, said that the allegations against the IGP, Mohammed Adamu were that he was involved in a multi-billion Naira fraudulent scheme. “The publication which referenced several unnamed and unverifiable sources alleged, essentially, that the IGP ‘used his office to unlawfully compel and in fact threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating millions of Naira monthly through illegal means for the purpose of establishment of a MOPOL Training School in his home town of Endehu in Nasarawa State.

“The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the publication in its entirety is false and baseless. It was published in the tradition of Sahara Reporters to blackmail and impugn the credibility of strategic leaders of the country in an apparent attempt to advance their ignoble and unpatriotic intentions.

“While being conscious of the need not to glorify the falsehood contained in the reportage, it is considered expedient and in national security interest to put the facts straight. In this regard, it is to be clarified as follows:

The establishment of the Police Mobile Training School in Endehu, Nasarawa State, North Central Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria was informed by overriding national security consideration on the need to strengthen the operational capacity of the special forces of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also, the insinuation that the IGP sited the facility ‘in his hometown of Endehu in Nasarawa State’, is also utterly misleading. For the avoidance of doubts, Endehu is not the hometown of IGP Adamu. He is, in the contrary, from Lafia.

The allegations that the IGP used his office to threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating Millions of naira monthly through illegal means for the establishment of the institution is also totally false. It is on record that the parcel of land where the institution was sited was donated to the Police with the full complement of the Certificate of Occupancy which the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State publicly presented to the Nigeria Police. The acquisition of the land was, therefore, without any financial commitment by the Police.

“Furthermore, the construction of the facility was achieved with the support of the Nasarawa State Government and well-meaning corporate bodies within the context of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR). In all instances, all the support so extended were not in cash but in form of donation of materials. The only involvement of some Squadron Commanders was to ensure the delivery of some of the construction materials so donated by the corporate bodies. Hence, the allegation that the IGP had each Squadron Commander cough out nothing less than N500,000 monthly for the purpose of erecting different structures in the training school is a preposterous and feeble attempt to discredit the innovative reasoning that engendered the successful implementation of the critical national security asset that the facility represents.

“The construction of the project through corporate intervention is a demonstration of the commitment of the Force leadership to meet its obligation to citizens in terms of their safety and security and in furtherance to the Reform agenda of the Nigeria Police Force. It was not established as a personal asset of the IGP. Rather, it is a national security legacy project. It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time that corporate organisations and governments at all levels are assisting the police to bridge operational and infrastructural gaps. Dangote Foundation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Bankers’ Forum, State Governments, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and well-meaning individuals among others have in the past donated fleets of vehicles and have rendered other supports to the Police.

“The attempt by Sahara Reporters to malign the Force leadership shall not in any manner impact on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police Force to advance its strategic plan and to continue to adopt innovative reasoning in changing the policing narratives in Nigeria towards stabilizing the internal security order. While members of the public are called upon to discountenance the content of the publication in its entirety, it is to be noted that the Nigeria Police Force has instructed its legal team to initiate legal actions against Sahara Reporters to address the defamatory and libellous components of the report.”

Terrorism, Kidnapping, Others Traced To Proliferation Of Hard Drugs

Editorial staff

August 4, 2020

Security outfits in Nigeria have reached a consensus that the increase in the level of hard drugs in circulation is the major cause of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities that have refused to abate.

“If you look at the criminality, the colouration of each crime, especially kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, it is not the killing of the people but the way people are killed, goes to show one thing. It is extremely abnormal, inhuman and these acts can only be perpetrated by people who are out of their minds.

“One thing we in the security and intelligence arm have been able to trace, is that there are certain drugs of choice that have saturated the entire landscape of the country.”

They identified such drugs as condone, opiums, cocaine, tramadol and pertamines and cannabis sativa.

Speaking to newsmen today, August 4, shortly after a security council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the presidential villa, Abuja, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Rtd General Babagana Monguno, said that the service chiefs were of the opinion that widespread use of these substances had dangerous impact on the social and economic situation of the country.

According to the National Security Adviser, the popular drug of choice, tramadol, is easily acquired and that it has been the drug of choice for terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.

“I, the chief of Defence staff, Army Chief, Inspector General of police, Heads of the various intelligence agencies gave synopsis each of the current security situation and what our various organizations and agencies are doing about the security situations.”

He stressed that the drug trafficking and abuse of drugs, has taken on a worrisome dimension, adding that Nigeria’s perception on the drug trafficking index has changed from the status of a transit hub to a production center.

“Between 2011 and 2019, approximately 17 manufacturing laboratories of metal and metulin substances were located by the various security agencies and destroyed. That is a large number. At the same time, we have had increasing activities of illegal cultivators of Canabis in Nigeria.

“These people basically use extremely large space of arable land to cultivate this illegal substance, employing militia men to protect their farms and also their storage facilities.

“When you look at drugs, our main concern as security operatives, is the ultimate destruction to the social fabric and economy of the nation.

“There is hardly any violence crime today in Nigeria that is not propelled by the use of these hard substances. And these hard substances have been coming in from all nooks and crannies. What is worrisome is that the report we have received from the chairman National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), show that the number keeps increasing. Despite the closure of borders, we are still having to contend with the influx of these drugs.”

The Security Adviser warned that unless there is a collective and concerted effort to deal with with this problem, it will result in this country going down the bottomless pit of self destruction.

“We don’t want that to happen and one of the ways of dealing with this issue is by using a whole of society approach in conjunction with the whole of government approach to achieve the whole of the nation approach.

“You have a minimum of three parties operating at the same time: the drug peddler (the supper fly), the consumer (the junkie) and that person in the center who has been entrusted with denying these drugs access into the country. It is important to note that if there is a compromise then things become tedious and problematic.

Inland Revenue, Postal Service Fight Dirty Over Stamp Duties

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2020

Two Nigeria’s Federal Government parastatals, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) are at each other’s throats over the the control of stamp duties.
While the FIRS said in a recent circular that it had opened a portal for automated stamp duty collection where all citizens, government agencies, institutions, and private organisations should log into and pay stamp duties, NIPOST chairman, Maimuna Abubakar tweeted to say that the FIRS’ claim on stamp duties was illegal.
Maimuna tweeted: “NIPOST are the sole custodians of national stamps, another agency printing and selling stamps is against the law of the land.”
But FIRS spokesman, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmad fired back by saying that the agency had not violated any law by collecting stamp duty.
According to Abdullahi, there is a difference between stamp duty and postage stamp.
“We appreciate the general public for demonstrating deep knowledge of the difference between Stamp Duty and Postage Stamp. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar, Chairperson of the NIPOST Board is yet to understand this.”
The FIRS Chief spokesman described Maimuna’s tweet as indecorous, which he said would not have deserved any response but for the sensitive nature of the issue at stake, which if not sensibly treated and promptly corrected would likely mislead the public.
“To be sure, NIPOST is a government parastatal established by Decree 41 of 1992 with the function to develop, promote, and provide adequate and efficiently co-ordinated postal services at reasonable rates.
“This function is clearly contrary to the claim by NIPOST over the administration of stamp duties in Nigeria. On the other hand, the FIRS is the sole agency of got charged with the responsibility of assessing, collecting, and accounting for all tax types including Stamp Duties.
“It is therefore shocking to us that such a privileged young lady who happened to be appointed to high office would throw all caution to the air to cast aspersions on reputable public institutions like the National Assembly and FIRS, which she accused of stealing NIPOST idea.”
Dr. Abdullahi said that the FIRS is determined to get back all funds collected by NIPOST into its “illegally operated Stamp Duties Account.”

APC To PDP: Account For Failed $460 Million Abuja CCTV Project, $2 billion China Loan

Editorial staff

August 3, 2020

File photo of failed CCTV project in Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to account for several projects running into billions of dollars and naira which it took foreign loans to execute but never saw the light on the day.

In a statement today, August 3, the APC deputy national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena asked PDP to explain the over $2 billion China loan its administration took between 2010 and 2013 alone; $16 billion spent on power with no electricity; fuel subsidy rackets; counter-insurgency funds that were diverted and shared to political cronies among other shocking heists.

Nabena recalled that the failed CCTV installation project was initiated by late President Umaru Yar’Adua and awarded in August 2010 by former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to help security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory check the growing insecurity.

“Since the agreement became signed, Nigeria has been servicing this loan to China while Nigerians are yet to attest to the visibility of CCTV project and unable to explain the status of the video surveillance project. The matter is subject to a legislative probe.”

The APC spokesman, who was reacting to the Media Office of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on the standard sovereign guarantee and sovereign immunity clause embedded in Nigeria’s loan agreements with China to fund the ongoing national railway projects, described such position as unresearched, unintelligent and pedestrian.

“As the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has explained, the guarantee/clause in the loan deal is standard, irrespective of the the country granting the loan.

“Perhaps, Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could redirect their energies to explaining to Nigerians the status of the failed $ 460 million Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) awarded in August 2010 by the immediate past PDP administration.”

Nabena insisted that the PDP remains a corrupted and damaged product, adding that Nigerians must continue to reject the party at all levels of government.

“In the area of fiscal discipline, prudence, curbing leakages, are we currently getting it right? It is an emphatic yes! “Every kobo expended on infrastructure counts. Verifiable evidence abound in the fast expanding national railway projects, airport remodelling among other critical infrastructure projects being undertaken by the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

“The days of phoney contracts as institutionalised by successive PDP administrations are fast fading.”

FCT Gives Conditions For Reopening Schools For Exiting Students

Editorial staff

August 3, 2020

The Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has issued guidelines for the reopening of schools for exiting students.

A statement today, August 3 by the acting Education Secretary, Umaru A. Marafa said that all schools can re-open for exit students tomorrow, August 4 for preparation for their examinations, which are WASSCE and BECE.

The statement said that schools that have put measures based on the PTF’s guidelines and have been inspected and certified as ready for resumption by the Department of Quality Assurance of the Education Secretariat can re-open on the same day.

It called on those that have not been cleared by the Department to hasten up to meet the requirement for resumption of their schools.

“Students are hereby advised to prepare for resumption on the 4th of August,2020 and enjoined to continue to read for their examinations as WASSCE are scheduled to commence from the 17th of August 2020, BECE from the 24th of August 2020, NABTEB from 21st September to 15th of October, 2020, NECO from 5th October to 18th of November, 2020, NCEE for Primary Six (Common Entrance into Unity Schools on Saturday, 17th October, 2020, NBAIS from 23rd September to 17th October, 2020.”

Sudden Death Of Ex NNPC Boss, Pains Mele

Editorial staff

August 3, 2020

Late Joseph-Dawha | Photo by Enery Mix Report

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has expressed sadness over the sudden death of its former Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha.

According to the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Kennie Obateru, in a statement today, August 3, Dr. Dawha, died after a brief illness.

The statement said that the current NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, expressed shock over the sudden death of Dr. Dawha who was the 16th Group Managing Director of the corporation.

Mallam Kyari said that NNPC family gravely mourned the death of the former GMD, who he noted, provided astute leadership and made immense contributions to the progress of corporation.

He described Dr. Dawha’s death as a great loss to not only NNPC but also Nigeria as a whole.

Dr. Dawha was GMD of NNPC between August, 2014 to August, 2015.

Don’t Stampede Buhari On Corruption War, Presidency Tells Trade Union Threatening Strike

Editorial staff

August 3, 2020

The Presidency has called the Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to stampede President Muhammadu Buhari in the renewed fight against corruption, with its threat to embark on a nationwide protest.

The presidency stressed that the threat of strike over the alleged Buhari’s “inaction over the high-level of corruption uncovered at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)” is ill advised and totally uncalled for, considering that there are ongoing investigations in the cases by both the Executive and Legislative arms of government.

A statement today, August 3, by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the presidency called on the union to allow the processes to run their full courses.

The statement said that it is against the norm in a democratic society as well as the natural laws of justice to seek “action,” meaning punishment against offenders before proper investigation, trial and conviction.

It reminded the union that the President has made it clear that the allegations that have surfaced clearly “constitute a breach of trust” and as the investigations take hold and close out, all those found wanting will face the wrath of the law.

“The TUC, as an enlightened group of labour Unionists, should indeed voice their indignation whenever such acts are being unearthed.

“However the expectation will be for it to also raise the bar higher, in terms of the debate concerning the impact of such allegations on our ability, to create and retain employment, attract investment, improve the living conditions of its members and citizens, and how a preponderance of these heinous crimes decimates any gains being made in other spheres.

“The world is confronted with a global public health crisis, decline in economic growth, and expanding areas of conflict by non-state actors.

“All these ills in their singular or combined form are consuming every nation. Nigeria is no exception; we must hold the line and lock arms that way we rid ourselves of these existential issues whilst we grapple with those that are our own homegrown problems.

“This administration is committed to doing just that, and organizations like the TUC should be extending a hand in supporting such a fight that is in our collective interest.”

Coronavirus: Air Peace Sacks 70 Pilots, 3,000 Staff

Editorial staff

August 3, 2020

Air Peace has sacked over 70 pilots across its fleet types as the negative impact of coronavirus pandemic continues to take a huge toll on its operations.

The airline said that it had to take the “painful but rightful” decision in the face of the devastating effects of coronavirus pandemic on its operations and financial health.

It said that the job erasure for pilots amongst it over 3000 staff became imperative because it could not afford to continue to fulfill its financial obligations without carrying out a restructuring of its entire operations to survive the times.

The carrier said that the painful decision was to keep its operations afloat after it carried out a raft of measures including a cut of zero to 40 percent in the salaries of staff.

In a statement in Lagos today, the airline management said such a move was critical to sustain its operations and survive the times.

The statement reads: “This decision is inevitable under the circumstances we find ourselves. In order to protect the continuity of the majority of the existing jobs and the possibility of creating new ones in the future, the survival of the airline is of paramount importance. When everything comes back to normal those pilots affected today will have a place to come back to in future if they so wish.

“Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period.

“Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a zero to 40 percent cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff.

“Even after the cuts, it was obvious for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to be cut.”

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