All Posts in "Day: April 28, 2021"

Nigerian Politicians Stealing $400m Through  Proxies Abroad

Nigerian politicians own 800 properties worth $400m in London, Dubai – Chatham House Expert
Mr Matthew Page,an Associate Fellow of Chatham House , Mr Matthew Page,has disclosed that over $400m is being laundered by politicians  through real estate proxies abroad.
Mr Page, a resource person at a capacity building for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
 investigators, disclosed that over 800 properties in London and Dubai worth over $400m are owned by Nigerian politicians and are held by proxies
 Page  emphasized the need for the investigators of the ICPC to pay attention to real estate and education sectors-linked illicit financial flows.
He noted that  illicit financial flows have provided opportunities for politically exposed persons (PEPs) in Nigeria to launder money through real estate and education sectors.
The ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, speaking about the capacity building programme, said it would help investigators to track illicit financial flows, money laundering and other areas the government is losing revenue and recover such funds.
According to him:“The loss of revenue is a major challenge to developing countries, particularly Nigeria. The meeting is therefore designed to build the capacity of our investigators to enable them to trace the areas in which the government is losing money, look for the likely places people hide money, stop the illicit financial flows, and recover the funds.
“We are already working with the FIRS and getting a lot of tax evaders and defaulters into the nation’s tax net. One of the takeaways from here is the kind of question an investigator needs to ask in tracking IFFs and money laundering,” Prof. Owasanoye explained.
He added  that the commission has dragged about 2,000 corporate entities into the country’s tax net. Owasanoye said the 2,000 corporate entities were uncovered by investigations undertaken by the Commission, and their names have been forwarded to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for profiling.
He said: “Some of these entities are not registered and do not pay tax while others are registered but still do not pay tax. The ICPC has been able to recover significant amount in taxes for the government.”
He advocated  the need to widen the revenue base, improve tax collection, combat tax evasion and illicit financial flows as well as asset recovery to improve the country’s finances.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in News 0
Fraud:AfDB  Slams  36months  Sanction On Nigerian Company 

Alleged fraud: AfDB sanctions Nigerian construction firm for 3 years | Education Tell
 The African Development Bank Group today, announced the 36 month debarment of Maxicare Company (Nigeria) Limited for fraudulent practices.
The bank’s  action took  with effect from 23 February 2021.
Specifically,the bank said an investigation conducted by its  Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Maxicare Company (Nigeria) Limited engaged in collusive and fraudulent practices during a tender for the construction of weigh stations and supply of equipment under the Transport Facilitation Program for the Bamenda-Mamfe-Abakaliki-Enugu Road Corridor connecting Cameroon and Nigeria.
The debarment renders Maxicare Company (Nigeria) Limited and its affiliates ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects during the debarment period.
Besides,the debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group.
The bank said at the expiry of the debarment period, Maxicare Company (Nigeria) Limited will only be eligible to participate in its Group-financed projects on condition that it implements an integrity compliance program consistent with the its guidelines.
The Transport Facilitation Program for the Bamenda-Mamfe-Abakaliki-Enugu Road Corridor is aimed at increasing trade and strengthening cooperation generally between the countries of the Economic Community of Central African States and those of the Economic Community of West African States and between Cameroon and Nigeria in particular. It was co-financed by the African Development Fund, an entity of the African Development Bank Group.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Crime/Metro 0
Insecurity:Ortom Urges FG To Seek Foreign Help

Breaking: Let 'Responsible Citizens' carry guns, others – Ortom begs FG
Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue has advised  the Federal Government to consider foreign assistance in order to tackle insecurity in the country.
Ortom,who gave  the advice while inaugurating Army Day Secondary School, Effurun in Delta State,  said the situation has gone beyond Federal Government’s capacity  to tame.
He said that with the killings occuring daily and with heavy casualties, it had become very obvious that Federal Government had been overwhelmed by the unfortunate situation.
He said that governors whose states were being attacked had become helpless and frustrated, adding that it was shameful that Nigeria was in such terrible situation.
He also said that the major problem of insecurity occasioned by banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and other violent crimes in the country, was because the government hadn’t been proactive in providing the people education.
“If they were educated they would have found themselves something meaningful to do rather than occupying themselves in committing evil across the country.
“I say so because I believe in education and if you want to develop a people, give them quality education and so I must commend Governor Okowa for the quality school and for creating three new universities in Delta,” he said.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Politics 0
 Pantami Dangerous To Peace Of Nigeria-CACOL

Sack Dr Isa Pantami now, CACOL writes Buhari - P.M. News
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has added its weight to the calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, of his appointment,saying he is dangerous to the peace of the country.
The pressure also emphasized the need for the Minister to be  thoroughly  investigated by the Department of State Service (DSS) against the backdrop of his alleged link with terrorist groups
Debo Adeniran,the  chairman of CACOL conveyed his group’s position in a letter he wrote to President Buhari, dated Monday, April, 26, 2021, and obtained by PREMIUM NEWS.
The group said that the allegations levelled against the minister was not only weighty, but an embarrassment to the administration, adding that his continued stay in government would be dangerous to the government.
It added that its concern on the matter was based on the critical assessment of the various allegations against the minister as well as the arguments of both sides of those for and against the calls for the sack.
Pantami had not denied the authenticity of the texts, audio and video clips containing utterances and statements credited to him, although he claimed that he had repented, having erred as an innocent youth,the group said.
It also said:“Mr. President, we wish to state unequivocally that the fact that Pantami has developed the level of orientation that made him uttered those grievous words and statements as stated above, cannot be wished away by mere recanting which some people in your cabinet are claiming he has done.
“Ideological issues are ingrained in the mind of those who pursue it. Even when they denounce it, they are not to be trusted because they can always go back to that conviction that led them into accepting that extremism and for somebody who has said that people should be killed and that he is happy when he sees that and who has supported terrorists in the past, we want to believe that it cannot get out of his mind so easily.”
The group said  that due to the  sensitive nature of his ministry, Pantami could easily let out information about Nigerians  to the terrorists.
It furtherbmaintained that in the area of the security system, the ministry also could have a link with the way security communication were being organised and deployed and that Pantami could sabotage the process by facilitating access to the terrorists to jam the communication system of the military and other security agencies in the country.
“Your Excellency, we are of the opinion that Pantami is a dangerous person that ought not to be a minister of the Federal Republic if all the agencies of government that screened ministerial nominees, including the Senate and the State Security Service carried out their due diligence before he was sworn in as a minister.
“A situation whereby the Senate would ask a ministerial nominee to take a bow showed the level of mediocrity among those in government considering the fact that governance is a serious administrative endeavour guided by international best practices.
“He is indeed one of the tars sown by the enemies of the country in your cabinet when Your Excellency was asleep. His continued presence in your cabinet is like leaving a venomous snake under the bed and someone goes to sleep or leaving a spark of fire on the roof and someone goes to sleep.
“He is dangerous to the peace and security of Nigeria, he is a security risk to the nation. Even if he has denounced his extremist orientation, our mind would only be at rest if he is removed”
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Law/Human Rights 0
Abuja Next Safe Haven For Bandits-Senate  

Banditry: Senate Asks Buhari To Extend Military Operations To Sokoto, Other States – CSO Media
The Senate has said that Abuja is the next safe haven for  insurgents who have taken over some communities in Niger State.
The upper chamber,expressed disgust over the development emphasized the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the country adequately in line with the provision of the constitution.
The Senate mandated its leadership to explore avenue to meet  President Muhammadu Buhari with a view to sharing ideas on how insecurity in the country can be nipped in the bud.
The Senate also mandated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, the Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Service Chiefs to appear before it to brief them on the development in Chad.
In his contribution, the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said that the nation should decide whether to shut down government and deal with the issue or not, adding that “the time has come to shut down Niger state as was done during COVID-19. The Senate should also be shut down.”
He added that any government that cannot protect its people has lost its legitimacy.
On his part, Senator Francis Fadawusi said that something drastic must be done, adding that Senate must do its work.
He said: “If the government has failed to protect us, the Senate should do the needful.”
Senator Seriake Dickson, lamented the general lost of faith, noting that the situation is a faulty constitutional issue.
He said: “Our federal is only in name. Our security is structural incompetent. We are about to lose the Nigeria dream.”
Senator Matthew Urhoghide pointed out that if nothing is done in the next few days, Abuja will be the next target, urging the government to invite foreign countries like America, Britain and others to assist the nation in curbing the insecurity.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Politics 0
 Capital Market Will Outlive COVID-19 Pandemic-SEC

The Security and Exchange Commission(SEC),had expressed optimistism that that the nation’s  capital market will do well during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 Mr. Dayo Obisan, Executive Commissioner Operations of the SEC,  who disclosed this in Abuja,said the use of technology has been effective in activating the processes of the market during the pandemic.
He said:”Activities were still going on, the market did not stop not even for one minute and our regulatory activities are still going on and the market is on. The market even recorded gains at the end of the year at some point. So it gave us the opportunity to pave way for a business continuity plan on some of the operators under our purview and even the regulator, it gave us the opportunity to even test ourselves, how technologically sound we are, we now know we can continue if human interface was not possible.
“The only part on the regulatory side that got affected was the market growth side because that involves to a large extent physical engagement and that got a little imparted. You have a lot of the exchanges that are still working between 60 -70% to 100% work from home policy. And things have not stopped, people are still trading, people are working as opposed to before now where technology was an option, now it’s the main thing and the physical interaction is an option.
According to him,the commission has fashioned out  strategies  to ensure that activities in the capital market are not affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
 He added that the implementation of the 10-year capital market master plan is already yielding tremendous results that have helped to sustain  the capital market.
 He disclosed  notable initiatives as contained in the master plan like e-dividend, setting up of National Investors Protection Fund, Recapitalistion of Capital Market Operators, Direct Cash Settlement, Dematerialization, regularization of multiple accounts among others have reached  advanced stages,while some have been completed.
He said:“Quite a lot of notable things have been done, it is not like we are 100% there overall, but we are making tremendous progress. We took stock around November/December last year and we are still fully on track. But then it is worth mentioning that a couple of initiatives formed back then in 2015 have started yielding fruit, part of it is the commodities trading system.
“Several other initiatives are being implemented like taking advantage of the non interest capital market for increase and growth, people accessing Sukuk, a type of bond which is one of the most formidable ways of reaching the infrastructure challenges in the country. We are reviewing the master plan just to recalibrate and make sure we are not just using an old template to face a current or more dynamic world.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Regulators 0
Bauchi Gives N1 billion Loan To  Fertilizer Coy

Senator Bala A. Mohammed (@SenBalaMohammed) | Twitter
The Bauchi State Government has approved the sum of N1 billion as loan to the state fertilizer company to boost production in this year farming season.
Governor  Bala Mohammed disclosed this on Tuesday when he paid a visit to the company in continuation of his projects inspection tour across the state.
 The government has  settled the backlog of debts amounting to N700 million indepted by the company, adding that the company supplies fertilizer to all farmers in the state and the north east,he said
 “With the financial support given to it by the government, the company could extend the supply to other parts of the north, considering the fact that 99 per cent of the population of Bauchi state are farmers and only one per cent are civil servants”
 “Almost all the federal allocations we collect monthly amounting to N6 billion N7 billion are expended on salaries. We therefore feel that we must boost agriculture and support our farmers who produce food for us” he said
He asked the management of the company to reciprocate the gesture by making good use of the funds and improving the supply of the product to farmers.
In his remarks, the chairman of the company Alhaji Bappa Aliyu Misau expressed appreciation to the governor for the gesture saying the money would boost the company’s production and profits.
He also called on farmers to take advantage on the various federal government interventions on agriculture and boost their farm produce and improve socio-economic development in the state.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Agriculture 0
 How FG, mgt, staff jointly killed Nigeria Airways – Mshelia

Joblessness, bane of mismanagement - Vanguard News
Olusegun Koiki, Lagos
Eighteen years after the liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, players in the Nigerian aviation industry still express disappointment over the demise of the airline.
Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, the Chairman, West Link Airlines in an interview with aviation journalists in Lagos pointed out that multiplicity of incoherent and wrong decisions, actions, inactions and policies by the Federal Government, its appointees and staff of the airline brought an end to the once flourishing airline.
According to Mshelia, the Federal Government never set up the airline for profitmaking, but as an extension of the Ministry of Aviation, stressing that throughout its existence, the airline had annual budgets for all its yearly activities, while its aircraft were also deployed for government functions without notice.
Besides, he mentioned corrupt practices by the staff and management of the airline as one of the reasons a carrier with 29 fleet of aircraft in 1979, ‘only had two airplanes that were managing to fly in 1999.’
The West Link Airline boss further expressed regret that the entrenchment of quota system and championing of nepotism by the Federal Government in the airline also robbed it off of quality and dedicated staff.
He said: “Nigeria Airways was not created for profitability with the way it was run and the structure it had. How can the airline have an annual budget? The government pays for A, B, C and D checks and others. Because the airline had a budget, every government department then flew Nigeria Airways with warrant officers.
“In the military for instance, from Colonel and above, you flew first class and below, you get economy. For government establishment, from directorship level, you have first class and the rest is economy. And that was how the airline was run. It wasn’t meant for profitmaking. So, how do you survive?
“Now, how did staff and management contribute to its death? It is corruption; everybody was helping himself with the airline. First, everyone was employed based on quota system. You will begin to get it wrong when you apply the quota system in aviation. Quota system is unique in Nigeria for certain reasons, but we should begin to separate what quota system will be applicable in what. Only the best should be taken.
“The management of the airline would employ mediocre in the places they should not be, give people positions above their level and qualifications, thereby demoralising the other staff that are better qualified than you. Also, there were cases in which Stations Managers were sacked or recalled for not doing the biddings of some people in the government, especially when they wanted their non-revenue luggage to be given priority above revenue luggage of passengers.”
On the call for mergers for Nigerian airlines to boost capacity and productivity, Mshelia insisted that this scheme may not work in Nigeria due to different orientations by promoters of such airlines, stressing that each promoter came with different models and ideas.
He declared that West Link Airlines, one of the charter operators in the country was yet to benefit from the recent palliatives granted airlines and other operators in the country despite submitting all the required documents.
He described the attitude of the government towards the distribution of the bailout funds as discriminatory, but vowed to pursue it to a logical conclusion.
Besides, Mshelia advocated for complete autonomy of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to obliterate it from the apron string of the Ministry of Aviation.
He posited further that the lack of deliberate policies by the Federal Government to develop aviation was responsible for its current low level in Nigeria, stressing that General Aviation development was one of the many ways to develop the sector in the country.
Mshelia purported that some private jet operators still engage in charter services despite the measures put in place by the NCAA to checkmate such practices.
He noted that such sharp practices by some of the private jet operators was robbing off the government of the mandatory 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by all commercial airlines, adding that the lives of their passengers was also endangered by their activities.
He called on the regulatory authority to beam its searchlight more on the activities of the private jet operators in the country to curb the insincere act.
“Then, I think the Department of State Security (DSS) should have intervened because this is purely economy sabotage, for them to remain for this long, even when the former Director-General of NCAA suspended some of them.
“That is why I felt that if the Director-General of NCAA has a full autonomy, then he would do his job without looking at the body language of the minister,” he said.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Aviation 0
‘Stolen Benin Artifacts Will Be Repatriated Soon’

Consider Studying In France, Ambassador Tells Nigerian Students – The Whistler Nigeria
The French  government  has partnered   Benin monarch  to facilitate for early repatriation of  Benin artworks which were  stolen from the kingdom several years ago.
Mr Jerome Pasquier,  French Ambassador to Nigeria, who disclosed this when he led officials  of the French embassy to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11 in Benin City, said the French government was ready to phase out discriminations and as well assist Africans  to retrace their cultural heritage and culture
Commending the Benin monarch for steps taken to curb the menace of human trafficking, the  ambassador  said his country was  committed to Omo N’Oba’s war against human trafficking.
The Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba, Ewuare 11, described the partnership between the place and France as a  pancea for eradicating social crimes in the  society.
 Oba Ewaure  sought the  assistance of government to revamp the country’s   failing  economy through agro allied ventures to engage the teeming youths from seeking greener pastor abroad
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Sanwo-Olu Delivers 51  Road Projects 

Sanwo-Olu delivers 51 road projects in 2 years | Dailytrust
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said his administration delivered 51 iconic projects in the last years in Lagos
Aramide Adeyoye, his Special
Adviser on Works and Infrastructure,
disclosed this on Tuesday  at the Annual Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the second year anniversary of the Sanwo-Olu administration.
She  explained that the need to unlock traffic gridlocks in major economic, commercial and residential areas, as well as improve travel time necessitated the construction of these roads, adding that these will ensure stress-free
commuting, make life more meaningful for the people and ensure connectivity within the various communities in the state.
She listed of some of the roads as Pen-Cinema Fly-Over, ramp and road words, Lagos Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru Traffic Circulation Projects, network of 31 roads in Ojokoro, Aradagun-Epeme-Iworo-Ajido and Somolu network of roads, among others..
She explained that in addition to the completed projects, several projects are already flagged-off and are under construction/upgrading to further ensure linkage of different parts of the state together. Some of the roads, according to her,  include Oba Sekunmade road, Agric Isawo Road, St. Finbarrs and Iwaya roads, Lekki-Epe Expressway from Eleko Junction to Epe T Junction and also Lekki Regional Road Project.
Online Editor by — April 28, 2021 in Property 0