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Demand Review of Power Privatization, Oshiomole Urges Labour

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Demand Review of Power Privatization, Oshiomole Urges Labour

Adams-Oshiomhole

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole, has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to demand the review of the privatization of the power sector under the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan for record of transparency.

The Edo governor made the appeal on Thursday during an anti-corruption rally organized by the NLC at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Oshiomole accused the immediate past administration of selling out the power sector to individuals with no clue of operations in the working of the industry.

“When the government decided in the name of privatization, to hand over our electricity to their friend and brothers, they handed over Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states to one family, a pharmacist and a retired bankers. The husband is the chairman and the wife is the managing director of the company,” the governor stated.

He said further: “They have no history of being involved in electricity industry. I’m proud to say that when they did that, i called a press conference in Abuja, I was joined by former Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, but one other governor refused to join because of fear of been victimized. We spoke the truth that the privatization amounted to the abuse of office.”

The governor alleged that the public funds required to provide infrastructure and good governance were being diverted to private pockets, thereby turning Nigerians into victim of corruption.

He called on Nigerians to support the corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari in the bid to check the societal menace.

“It is time to be vigilant. Let us resolve to do our part so that Nigeria can fulfil its promise. We elected a man of integrity, understanding and one we can trust to lead the army against corruption.

“There is corruption in high places and there is corruption in low places. You have chosen to stand with Buhari to get things right and I believe you can always be the beneficiaries. It was sad that we kept quiet when cases of corrupt practices were raised in the parts,” he observed.

He went on to indict the former president in the mismanagement of the country’s oil sector and also accused Goodluck Jonathan of awarding the pipeline protection jobs to ex-militants and individuals against the nation’s security agencies.

Earlier, the chairman of Edo State chapter of NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Adedokun, assured Nigerians of Labour’s resolve in tackling corruption and pledged its support to the fight of President Buhari to eliminate corruption.

“It is our conviction that the elimination of corruption will functionally be the beginning of our national prosperity.  As an organisation whose objective is to promote positive change in Nigeria. We are happy with President Muhammadu Buhari national posture on the frontal attack against corruption,” he concluded.

 

Army Parades 16 Suspected Insurgents And Collaborators

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Army Parades 16 Suspected Insurgents And Collaborators

army logo

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Yobe State paraded 16 suspected Boko Haram members and their collaborators.

The acting commander of the 27 military Task Force Brigade, Dahiru Bako, a Colonel, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested in different parts of the state.

According to him, some were arrested not long after they attacked a village where they killed two people at the outskirts of the Damaturu, the state capital.

The collaborators were said to be responsible for spying on targets and supplying logistics, including food items.

Among the items recovered from the suspects are 16 jerry cans of 25 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, Petrol, eight jerry cans of cooking oil and two bags of cannabis among large quantity of assorted drugs.

Also found in their possession are 10 bags of Rice, two bags of sugar, 12 bags of millet and six bags of potash as well as 12 bags of fertilizers believe to be used in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices, IED.

Bako said the military would leave no stone unturned in its attempt to rid the country of Boko Haram insurgents

 

Army Chief Releases 128 Boko Haram Suspects, Leads Troops into Liberated Town

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Army Chief Releases 128 Boko Haram Suspects, Leads Troops into Liberated Town

 

Nigerian Military handing over rescued victims to Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima. Photo: Premium Times
Nigerian Military handing over rescued victims to Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima. Photo: Premium Times

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant General, has handed over to the Borno State government 128 cleared detainees who were arrested in different parts of the state on suspicion of having links with Boko Haram.

Handing over the released detainees to the state governor, Kashim Shettima, Buratai said they were cleared by a joint intelligent corps made up of military intelligence officers, the police and Department of State Services, DSS, and they have been certified to have no links to the sect.

According to Buratai, the new operation codenamed Operation Lafiya Dole goes beyond defeating Boko Haram.

“The task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three terms – to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian activities and observe human rights and restore the administrative functions in the liberated area,” he said.

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“We are here to formally hand over those arrested in the process of our operations; we are pleased to hand over the 128 suspects that have been cleared by the joint intelligent core, which comprised the Army, the police and DSS.”

In another development, the army chief led troops on an inspection of Gamboru Ngala, a major town recaptured from Boko Haram.

In a statement released by the military, the destruction meted by the insurgents on the town was devastating, with infrastructures and other properties wrecked.

Buratai assured a jubilant crowed him and troops that the issue of Boko Haram would soon be a thing of the past, especially given the renewed motivation displayed by the soldiers, who are buoyed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

 

Shell Offers Special Secondary School Scholarship To 60 Pupils

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Shell Offers Special Secondary School Scholarship To 60 Pupils

Shell

By Jessica Tamaraduoye, Asaba

Sixty pupils from primary schools in the Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers have been awarded full secondary school scholarships under the ‘Cradle-to-Career’ (C2C) scholarship programme run by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, operated joint venture.

The award ceremony was held last Friday in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.

The awardees are the latest beneficiaries in a scholarship scheme that has placed 360 bright children in top secondary schools since the initiative was launched in 2010.

The company’s General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, in a speech at the ceremony, said that the C2C approach marked a significant improvement in the oil company’s portfolio of scholarship schemes, adding that the programme was designed to bridge educational inequalities resulting from geographic and socio-economic differences.

“SPDC and its joint venture partners are proud of the achievements of the scheme, which has received local and international accolades,” Weli said.

In his response, the Permanent Secretary in the Rivers State Ministry of Education, Michael West, commended SPDC and its joint venture partners for the life-transforming programme.

West charged other private corporate organisations operating in the country to emulate the example.

“Any organisation that invests in educational development is to be commended. With programmes like this, I believe we can take education to a new height,” he said.

A guardian to one of the beneficiaries, Maureen Benstowe, who also commended SPDC and its partners, said that the C2C scholarship scheme is definitely transforming lives.

“I have been carrying the burden of educating my ward alone until I heard about this programme. Today, SPDC has lifted my burden and wipe away my tears,” Benstowe stated.

Shell has a history of supporting education through scholarships and other such initiatives.

In 2014, SPDC joint venture and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), invested about $14.8 million in scholarships and other education programmes.

ICPC Declares Man Wanted For Defrauding FG N36.2m

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ICPC Declares Man Wanted For Defrauding FG N36.2m

 

Ekpo-Nta

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has declared wanted a staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Joseph Tony Ogah, for swindling the federal government of N36.2 million.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said Ogah, an indigene of Idah, Kogi State, was part of a crime syndicate that defrauded the federal ministry of Environment and all efforts made to locate him  have proved abortive.

The ICPC said that the Ogah used a company named Soft Alliance Disco Limited to pay huge salary arrears totalling N36, 194, 636.00 to fictitious staff on the payment platform of the ministry of
Environment.

The 38 years old, in connivance with the others perpetrated and benefited from the fraud as N9.4 million was paid into his account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA.

According to the commission, the statement of accounts obtained from UBA revealed that the money was drawn from the ministry and paid into the account (1006521816) belonging to Ogah.
The ICPC revealed that it requested Ogah to appear before it and answer questions regarding the transfer of money from another Ministry into his account, but he failed to do so.

Similarly, several efforts by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture through letters to compel him to appear before ICPC were not futile as Ogah had abandoned his duty post for at least three months.

The ministry, in response to the allegation and his failure to report to work, has stopped the payment of his salary and other entitlements since July 2015.

Giv Dickson’s Special Adviser Kidnapped

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Governor-Hon-Henry-Seriake-Dickson (2)
Less than 24 hours after declaring his intention to seek re-election, Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, woke up on Wednesday to the news that his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Fyneman Wilson, had been kidnapped.

The abduction took place around 4.00 am at Sagbama local government, where the governor also hails from.

Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the report but said he had no details of the incident.

Wilson’s abduction is being linked to the money set aside for mobilising crowd to the re-election rally of the governor, with many who attended the event allegedly underpaid.

Bayelsa State has witnessed some kidnappings in recent time, including the abduction of three monarchs by suspected pirates who are yet to be released.

Military Partners NNPC To Curb Oil Theft

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Military Partners NNPC To Curb Oil Theft

Kachikwu

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, a General, has assured the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, of the military’s readiness to work with the oil giant to curtail the activities of oil thieves and vandals of petroleum installations.

Olonisakin, who gave the assurance when the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Emmanuel Kachikwu, paid him a visit at the Defence Headquarters, said it is the military’s responsibility to ensure that the nation’s important assets are well protected.

Kachikwu said the purpose of his visit, aside seeking the military’s cooperation in providing security for the NNPC properties, was also to collaborate with the Army Corps of Engineers for pipeline maintenance.

He also briefed the CDS on efforts made so far in the area of securing oil facilities.

“We are trying to equip the Navy a lot more with boats for patrols; we are trying to get trackers and central system to be able to monitor every vessel that comes in and out of the country. We have equally spoken with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) on other effective way of collaboration,” he said.

The NNPC boss decried the huge loss the country suffered in the past to oil theft, which resulted from over 250, 000 barrels of crude, about 1/5 of the entire country’s production stolen daily and said despite a significant reduction in the loss more still needs to be done to prevent the loss of revenues to criminals.

Jonathan, Alamieyeseigha, Mimiko, Nwike Others Boost Gov Dickson’s Re-election Bid

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Jonathan, Alamieyeseigha, Mimiko, Nwike Others Boost Gov Dickson’s Re-election Bid

jonathan-goodluck

The Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson’s re-election bid got a massive boost on Tuesday with the endorsement of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, former governor of Bayelsa state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and governors of Ondo and Rivers states, Olusegun Mimiko and Nyesom Wike, at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, the state capital.

Jonathan told the people that Dickson remains the best candidate for the state and urged them to vote for him.

Dickson, while appreciating the former president, said there was no room for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, as the PDP, which has produced four governors since 1999, was set to remain in power beyond 2015.

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“They in APC have no message for the people, they will lose and we will win, they boast that they have police and INEC, but we have you, do not be misled by their propaganda” Dickson said.

While urging the federal government to ensure a violence-free election, he boasted that the track record of the party in the state would stand it in good stead.

Dickson faces a strong opposition to his re – election bit both within his part and in the All Progressives Congress, APC.

It will be recalled that Emmanuel Paulker, a senator and  Reuben Okoya and others have collected and submitted the expression of interest form to contest against the governor.

Also, just weeks ago, prominent members of the PDP, including the party’s chairman in the state, Sam Inokoba, Timi Alaibe, Heineken Lokpobri, a senator, and other prominent chieftains decamped from the party to the APC.

 

 

Nigerian Troops Nab Drugs and Logistics Suppliers To Boko Haram

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Nigerian Troops Nab Drugs and Logistics Suppliers To Boko Haram

Boko Boko

The Nigerian Army says it has arrested some suppliers of drugs and logistics to Boko Haram insurgents following a stop and search conducted on motorists.

The Nigerian Army spokesperson, Usman Sani, said the arrests occurred between Depchi and Geidam in Geidam local government area of Yobe State.

“The arrested persons were also engaged in the supply of fuel in addition to hard drugs such as Cannabis (Indian hemp), Chlorofone substance (AKA Madaran suck and die) and Tramol, amongst others,” Sani said.

Boko Haram Drugs

Sani also poked holes at the common belief that the insurgents are fighting a religious war, observing that most of the captured ones could not even recite the first chapter of the Qu’ran.

“When the Nigerian military captured their bases and training camps, they never found Qur’an or other Islamic books, what were mostly found were ammunitions, local charms, condoms and all sort of drugs including sex enhancing ones in their enclaves,” the spokesman stated, adding that the latest arrests confirmed this.

He called on members of the public to provide useful information to help the military end the Boko Haram insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.

 

FG To Complete Five Intl Airport Terminals First Quarter 2016

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FG To Complete Five Intl Airport Terminals First Quarter 2016
Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu state
Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu state

The five international airport terminals being remodelled to meet international standard, started by former Aviation Minister, Stella Uduah, are set to be completed by the first quarter of 2016, the permanent secretary of the aviation ministry, Binta Bello, has stated.

The terminals are located in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu and will cost $500 million, including $100 million counterpart funding from the federal government.

The remodelling is being done on a Built, Operate and Transfer, BOT, basis.

According to a statement issued by a spokesperson for the ministry, James Odaudu, Bello made the announcement in an interview, where she said money was not a problem for the projects.

“We don’t have any financial impediment that would slow down the work that is in progress. For instance there is no problem of finance with the finance of the five on-going international terminals.

“The five international airport remodeling terminals are being financed by the Chinese EXIM bank loan and federal government’s counterpart funding of $100 million, which has been paid at the commencement of the projects. I therefore assured that the contractors will deliver the project by the first quarter of 2016,” she said.

Bello stated further that with about 45 per cent of the work done, the contractors have all they need to meet the nine months completion deadline, adding, however, that paucity of funds was responsible for the lack of upgrade of the 22 domestic airports.

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