In the presentation of the 2014 budget estimates before the National Assembly on December 19, 2013, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, explained that the proposed budget was lower than that of the preceding year (2013). She stated inter alia, “You can understand that we have some revenue challenges, which we had been very clear on all along because of the losses we suffered in terms of oil revenue. And, also, the losses from non-oil revenue due to lower customs duties”. This statement sets the tone for reflecting on the activities in the economy in the immediate past year.
The minister had stated in the 2014 budget estimates that the projected revenue for the year would be N3.58tn, which is 13 per cent lower than that of 2013, just as the proposed expenditure was put at N4.5tn or 9.9 per cent below the 2013 estimates. The proposed budget reflects the precarious economic trends over the past 12 months of 2013. The economic managers deserve some credit for presenting a more realistic budget proposal, as this is a departure from the incremental budgeting that had characterised the Nigerian budgeting system over the years. In such a budgeting system, estimates of the successive budget must be greater than the preceding one rather than reducing the estimate to reflect present challenges.
At the beginning of 2013, the budget noted that the economy’s gross domestic product was growing at about six per cent; the average output of crude oil was 2.8 barrels per day such that export value had increased over and above 2012 figures; the non-oil exports also increased, the inflationary rate was declining; the country’s foreign exchange reserves was growing and was moving toward the $50bn mark while the value of naira was stable against other key currencies.
On the negative side, the economy remained driven by incomes from the oil sector; it was characterised with high level of youth unemployment, infrastructural deficits, particularly power generation and distribution as well as transport networks, and low capacity utilisation in industries. The non-strictly economic factors that equally impacted negatively on the economy were corruption, which stamp of authority was found on every economic activity, lack of enforcement of rule of law, civil disorder and labour unrest.
At the end of 2013, however, economic reports from various sources indicated that the economy grew around five per cent, the average output of crude oil was 2.4 barrels per day, the volume and value non-oil exports fell drastically but the economy remained driven by oil exports and incomes while the value of naira relative to other currencies had depreciated. The foreign exchange reserve had in the last five months of 2013 been going down to reach $44bn in November, partly to keep the naira at a reasonable level and partly because of losses in oil revenue.
As it were, the positive signals at the beginning of 2013 had turned negative by the end of the year while the negative variables remained unresolved. Youth unemployment remained high and virtually all employment involving youths were on casual basis and the youths themselves devastated either by loss of job or real joblessness. Capacity utilisation in industries never reached 50 per cent and power generation remained intractable.
The Nigerian economy no doubt witnessed a decline in growth as measured in terms of value of output. The under-reporting of oil output due not only to increased oil theft but also through by-passing the Central Bank of Nigeria in receipt and documentation of revenue accruing to Nigeria by such an agencies as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. So, the country’s financial authorities may never know how much money was actually realised from exports of the major commodity – oil or even non-oil exports. It was a year of increased leakage in the economy.
It is difficult to get the full picture of the gains and losses in the economy as data for the year will take time to compile. However, tentative data emerging from both the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the CBN and other statistics generating agencies of government and the private sector point to the fact that the economy did not fare better in 2013 than preceding years. That is, the economy under-performed in many respects in 2013.
A section of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria was concerned about the dwindling fortune of the sector in non-oil exports growth. It was reported that of the $1.23bn worth of commodity exports between January and June 2013, only $285m or about one-quarter was contributed by the manufacturing sector. The Minister of Finance, in her interaction with the private sector, posited that 1.6 million jobs were created in 2013 and that the economic growth was 6.81 per cent at the end of the third quarter of the year. The number of jobs created, it must be stressed, was a drop of water in an ocean of unemployment which was put at over 30 million.
The growth figure of 6.81 per cent contradicts the decline in proposed budget estimates for 2014 and the minister’s confirmation that the recurring structural bottlenecks that have bedevilled the real sector growth of the economy remained. These bottlenecks are power, ports, rail, road, communication technology and aviation. In addition, Okonjo-Iweala showed concern for the drastic fall in revenue from customs and inadequate revenue from other taxes for which the government engaged the services of McKinsey & Co to firstly provide findings on the tax system in Nigeria and secondly to work with the Finance Ministry to plug the loopholes.
The content of and ministerial briefings at different fora on the 2014 budget had reflected, in no small measure, the general decline in the economy in 2013. The cost of running business in Nigeria not only in terms of inefficient and costly power but also multiple taxes and corruption was heightened in 2013. The transport sector continues to pose challenges to production and distribution of goods produced. On rail system, Nigeria has become the dumping ground for obselete coaches of 20th century. In a jet age where trains travel at half the speed of airplanes such that goods by rail can get to their destinations at less than half the time they would take a vehicle, Nigerian rail transport will take two days or more to cover the same kilometres. The federal roads infrastructure is in a state of degeneration and all that was heard of in 2013 were awards of road repair/reconstruction, not commissioning. The volume of haulage that ought to have been moved to destination and at a cheaper rate by rail are transported through “highways” with further pressure and degeneration of the roads.
The power situation became more precarious in 2013, even after the partial sale of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to private sector towards the end of the year. It is only in a country like Nigeria that public property can be sold at a loss. Reports indicated that the amount paid by the buyers was less than the amount the government paid on some repairs/maintenance and settlement of labour in the industry within the year in question. The industry was reportedly sold at subsidised rate and without any programme of transformation for the turnaround of the fortune of the power situation in the country.
Although I am an optimist, I have no doubt that the present arrangement with the sale of the PHCN will not work. There are no work plans, and, local and international training schedules for staff, approved by both sides upon which the companies, can be held by government and public if things go awry. There have been some statements to the effect that it will take some four to five years before the country can witness significant and remarkable improvement in power supply. Many of the companies recently claimed that what they expected was not what they met on the ground. Whatever was meant by such statement!
I have argued at a forum recently that in reality, those companies involved in the “new” PHCN arrangements are foreign companies with Nigerian billionaires as financiers. These foreigners are the producers of generators and all sorts of lamps that Nigeria remains the largest customer of in the world. If our electricity works today, one can be sure there will be unemployment in those foreign countries. Can they cope with it? No. That is why they will need some four to five-year plan to solve their own problems before solving ours.
China, at the outset of its industrial revolution, sent her young ones abroad on scholarship to study science, engineering and technology. It was not on crash programmes but degrees up to doctorate level for the brilliant ones. Initially, some refused to return but have now returned to the country promoting science and technology. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission will have to be involved beyond regulation of prices but also other guiding activities of the new companies, including setting a timetable for the turnaround and manpower development.
There have been improvements in both the money and capital financial markets, though the financial depth is still shallow. The promotion of a cashless economy and other related policies have improved financial inclusion which is necessary for inclusive growth that the Federal Government is advocating. The capital market is also growing, though the market operators and regulators need to be cautious with inflow of funds from external sources, as sudden withdrawal can be injurious to the economy. However, the issue of capital flight which reached an epidemic level in 2013 and partly resulted in drawing down of the external reserves to support the value of naira against foreign currencies must be checked to avoid collapse of the foreign exchange market in 2014. Such checks depend largely on how the government deals with the issue of corruption in both the public and private sectors. The approval for the public officers to own foreign account will result in ease of transfer of funds abroad and create a crisis for naira value and foreign reserves.
Within the year 2013, a number of statistics or reports on socio-economic and political situations in all countries of the world were released from time to time. For Nigeria, most of such reports were damning and the government had to fight back. The truth is that most of those reports were true and we must find solutions to them rather than continually live in self-denial.
The table below on Failed States Index is a summary of happenings between part of 2012 and 2013 and the index is not limited to economic variables but cuts across other spheres of living. The worst country, Somalia, is number 1 on the list with the highest index while Nigeria is among the first 20 and specifically number 16, above countries like Niger, Ethiopia and Burundi. Nigeria has been within the first 20 in the last five years.
It is imperative that we must now exit from the group of 20 worst countries but the 2014 budget, which is loaded with corruption-enhancing activities such as huge amount for maintaining presidential lodge, legislators’ residents, refurbishing zoo and other economically irrelevant items, cannot take us out of the doldrums.
The earlier the economic managers realised that reduction in oil revenue is not limited to oil theft but also emerging new competitors due to discovery and prospecting of new oil fields around the world the better for economic management of the oil resources. The new competitors include such countries as Ghana, Tanzania and even the United States of America. The need for economic diversification towards industrialisation has therefore become more compelling now than ever before.
•Tella is a Professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State satellang@yahoo.com 08033190791
Tuesday 31 December 2013
12 events, issues that will shape 2014
As Nigeria moves into what many have said could be a decisive year for the unity of the country, SIMON EJEMBI highlights some of the key moments expected in the year
The year 2013 is gone. It was an eventful year – of scandals and open letters. It was the year of the power sector privatisation and the ‘great merger’. It was the year the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressives Congress and the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party merged to form the All Progressives Congress and (attempt to) throw a spanner in the works of the Peoples Democratic Party. Yes, 2013 was an eventful year, but it is gone and 2014 is here.
With so much brewing on the political scene and Boko Haram still roaring now and then, it’s hard to predict how the year will end. More so, with the likelihood that a plane could suddenly fall out the sky as has been the case in the last two years. However, from the signals spotted in 2013 and the ‘events schedule’ for 2013, the following are expected to shape 2014.
1. National Conference
Since 1999, there have been calls for the convocation of a sovereign national conference, a gathering of Nigerians from across the country to determine its fate. The calls failed to yield any result until, well, now. The national political reform conference organised in 2005 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration failed as a result of Obasanjo’s alleged third term agenda and an apparent decision by delegates from the South-South and their counterparts from the North to disagree on virtually everything. Subsequently, the calls for the conference were subdued. However, in 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan surprised many when he announced that a national conference would be held. Since the announcement, many have discovered that the conference, once widely supported, is no longer considered the ultimate solution to the growing divisions in the country. Nevertheless, the Presidency says it would be held early 2014. Whatever time it is held, the conference is bound to have a huge impact on 2014 and on the country. In his ‘infamous’ open letter to Jonathan, Obasanjo wrote of the conference, “Your later-day conversion into National Conference is fraught with danger of disunity, confusion and chaos if not well handled.” However, it turns out, the conference remains one of the major events that will shape 2014.
2. Passage of the 2014 budget
When it comes to the passing of the country’s budget, there is always one controversy or the other. In the last two years, the National Assembly has not been satisfied with the implementation of the budget and economists have not been happy with parts of it. Even the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, feels it should have more allocations for capital expenditure, but recurrent expenditure has continued to increase; and is set to rise if the 2014 budget proposal is passed as it is. In addition to these shortcomings, increasing animosity between the Executive and the legislature, particularly the House of Representatives, means ‘sparks’ will fly before the budget is finally passed. A major indicator was when the Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, presented the budget proposal to the Reps. They sent her away after a heated exchange with 50 questions to answer. That appears to be just the beginning.
3. The exit of Mallam Lamido Sanusi
Many in the banking industry heaved a sigh of relief when Dr. Chukwuma Soludo was denied a second term as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc (at the time), a certain Mallam Lamido Sanusi, was appointed to replace him. While some where happy for the right reasons others were happy that the man who had sent them chasing N25bn capitalisation, failure of which caused some of them to merge their banks with others, would trouble them no more. Few months and several failed stress tests later, smiles disappeared from a few faces as Sanusi fired number of bank bosses in a reform that would leave people, who once controlled empires to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The reforms aimed at strengthening the banking sector have continued more recently with the decision to increase the Cash Reserve Requirement of banks to 50 per cent and the CBN maintaining a monetary tightening stance. Beyond the reforms and the fallout, Sanusi has courted controversy and conflict with his bold pronouncements. He has been in conflict with members of the National Assembly more than once. It was so bad that the lawmakers considered stripping the CBN of its autonomy. In 2012, he got labour leaders angry when he reportedly urged the government to fire 50 per cent of civil servants. He was in the news recently for accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of failing to remit funds to the government. After years of controversy and progress, his tenure ends in June and he has made it clear that he is not interested in a second term. For those eager to see his back, it is time to heave a sigh of relief once more. But for others, who believe that the banking industry and the economy have benefitted from his policy, his exit and the choice of who replaces him, would determine which direction the country’s fiscal policy takes.
4. Elections in Osun and Ekiti states
The appointment of Prof. AttahiruJega as the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, ahead of the 2011 general elections was accepted by several stakeholders. The general elections, which he guided INEC to conduct, were also accepted as a fair attempt by many. Two years later, one shambolic election in Anambra State appears to have changed the perception of many about him. Calls for his resignation or removal were rife in some sectors, but he survived. In 2014, governorship elections will be held in Osun and Ekiti states. Both elections are vital in more than one way. For one, they will be one last tests for INEC ahead of the 2015 elections. On the other hand, they will provide an avenue for the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party to battle for control of the South-West. The outcome is bound to lead to more than just court cases. They could lead to the exit of Jega or political upheavals. And more.
5. Centenary celebrations
In 2013, news broke that the Federal Government had ordered gold-plated, Coat of Arms-inscribed iPhones as gift items ahead of the country’s centenary celebrations. With the government already considered wasteful by many Nigerians, the social media and opinion sections of several newspapers were filled with comments and articles reflecting the disappointment of the electorate. Even though the government denied the report and the source also recanted his claims, the centenary celebrations, which will be held in 2014, remains a controversial topic. And it will surely affect how the year turns out. Already, beyond urging the government to avoid wasting more resources to celebrate looth anniversary of the amalgamation of the North and South in 1914, some have argued that instead of celebrating, Nigeria should be considering undoing the actions of colonial masters long dead.
6. APC/PDP tussle and the House of Reps
The emergence of the All Progressives Congress has presented the PDP with what appears to be its biggest challenge in years. Governors and lawmakers elected under the PDP platform have defected to the APC at an unprecedented rate. As it stands, the APC now has the majority of members in the House. Not ready to lose control, the PDP is making efforts through the court to have the seats of Reps that have defected declared vacant, but if that fails, the APC will in 2014 have to produce the key officers of the House. Should that happen, permutations in the National Assembly and nationwide politically will take a new direction. Beyond the effect of the tussle in legislature and in the states, reports that the likes of former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, could join the APC in 2014 indicate that the tussle is set to continue.
7. Sports
Sports have always been a unifying factor, especially football. This year, what is considered to be the biggest ‘show’ on earth – the FIFA World Cup – will take place in Brazil. And Nigeria qualified for the tourney. Preparations for the tournament and the performance of the Super Eagles in the tournament will do more than determine the fate of Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, and his players. Having emerged victorious in the Africa Cup of Nations, there is hope that the country will surpass its woeful performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
8. Government’s automotive policy
A new national automotive policy announced last year by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, is expected to take effect in 2014 and it is expected to be a factor in the year.
This is because car buyers will be made to pay more. The impact of such a development, according to some could even extend to transport fares.
Under the policy, duties on both new and used cars were upwardly reviewed to 70 per cent (35 per cent levy and 35 per cent duty), from the previous 20 per cent flat rate. Duty for fully built buses meant for commercial purposes will now be 35 per cent instead of the previous 10 per cent duty.
9. Voter registration
In November, INEC Chairman, Jega, said there would be no new voter registration for the 2015 general elections because the commission had no money and facilities to do that.
However, the high number of names said to have been missing in voter registers during the Anambra State governorship elections and their role in the low turnout for the supplementary elections, makes the issue of voter registration a major one in 2014 – ahead of 2015 general elections.
10. Oil theft and dwindling national revenue
Oil theft remains a major challenge in Nigeria due to the country’s reliance on oil revenue. Increased oil theft and bunkering often affects the country’s revenue and power generation. Gas shortage at power plants has often been attributed to the activities of pipeline vandals. In 2013, the CBN governor accused the NNPC of failing to remit billions to the government. Though he later reduced the figures, this issue is not going away anytime soon.
11. Jonathan’s ambition
Some political analysts believe that President Goodluck Jonathan could shock the opposition by opting out of the 2015 race, but many others believe it is only a matter of time before he declares his intention. Many believe the majority of the president’s actions are calculated to make his second term ambition a reality. Whatever, the President decides, it will have a huge impact on the year.
12. Boko Haram, insecurity
The activities of Boko Haram remain a threat with the once-thought-to-be-dead Shekau releasing video recordings once more. As the country navigates what is believed to be a decisive year ahead of 2015, the terrorist group and other issues of security and how the country handles them will be vital, considering the prediction that the country will disintegrate in 2015.
Copyright PUNCH.
Scandals, unfulfilled dreams characterised economy in 2013 – Analysts
Experts from various sectors undertake a review of the Nigerian economy in 2013 and the likely direction that it will head to this year in this piece by EVEREST AMAEFULE, IFEANYI ONUBA and OKECHUKWU NNODIM
How did the Nigerian economy fare in 2013? The answer to this question depends on where you stand. While government officials contend that the nation did tremendously well in the course of the year, experts are cautious in assessing the performance of the economy in the period under review.
Finance
Presenting the government’s score card for the year 2013 in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, reeled out statistics to buttress the point that the government did pretty well in the management of the economy during the year.
At 7.2 per cent, he said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product was one of the fastest growing in the world.
According to him, the exchange rate of the naira to the world’s major currencies has been stable as inflation rate has been in the single digit all year.
He added that as of May 2013, the country’s foreign reserves were $48.4bn, up from $32.08bn in May 2011. However, the reserves have been falling since May 2013, closing the year at $43.7bn on Monday, contrary to the minister’s posturing.
The national debt burden, Maku added, remained low at a debt-to-GDP rate of 21 per cent compared with the South Africa’s 42.7 per cent; United States’ 106 per cent; United Kingdom’s 90 per cent; and Japan’s 225 per cent.
Experts, however, are of the view that the country’s economy is struggling to leverage its vast resources as shown by major macroeconomic indicators.
They are quick to point out that in spite of an impressive growth in GDP, the life of an average Nigerian has not been lifted as the number of citizens living in extreme poverty remains extremely high at more than 100 million people.
They contended that while the Federal Government’s overall spending in 2013 was not significantly higher than it was in 2012 due to tight controls in expenditure, there was a need to channel more resources to developmental projects in 2014.
These, they noted, would help to address the lopsided manner in which the country’s GDP had been growing.
Those that spoke on the subject were the Registrar, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ikpamejo; Registrar, Chartered Institute of Finance and Control, Mr. Godwin Eohoi; Head, Research and Strategy, BGL Securities Plc, Mr. Femi Ademola; and President, Nigerian Economic Society, Prof. Akin Iwayemi.
They argued that while the country could boast of over $43bn in foreign reserves, GDP growth rate of about seven per cent, investment commitment of about N15tn within the last two years, and a single digit inflation rate of 7.9 per cent, unemployment and poverty rates rose in 2013 by 23.9 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively.
In the same vein, the country witnessed a massive drop in revenue owing to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the course of the year, thus leading to the depletion of excess crude savings from about $11.5bn at the end of 2012 to less than $5bn on November 14, 2013.
Ademola said while the government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, might have achieved its objectives of price stability significantly with 11 months of single digit inflation in 2013, the required improvement in aggregate demand driven was currently constrained by the tight monetary policy environment.
In other words, he said despite the continued strong national output growth, the economy’s aggregate demand at the household level might be curtailed with implications for inclusive growth desired by the government.
He concluded that given the commitment of the CBN to move the country firmly into a low-inflation environment in the medium term by formally adopting an inflation target of between six and nine per cent in 2014, the monetary policy stance was likely to remain non-accommodating in the short term through the first half of the New Year.
Ademola said, “The year 2014 is, however, a penultimate year to the general elections, which portends significant threat to effective public administration. It could also affect the government’s capacity to effectively deal with the issues of security, oil theft and vandalism, and fiscal policy implementation.
“A protracted decline in oil price in 2014 may also affect the country negatively as the fiscal buffer – the Excess Crude Account has been depleted to $3.30bn. Inflation rate is expected to stay within the single digit level in 2014 and within the CBN’s target of six to nine per cent.”
Eohoi said inflation targeting, increase in foreign reserves, exchange rate stability, job creation and attraction of foreign direct investment should be the focus of government in 2014.
He said, “The CBN has done well in bringing under control the inflation to single digit. What we experienced in 2013 is the total control of inflation in the entire economy and you can see that inflation has been reduced and that is why people are complaining about paucity of funds.
“In the area of reserves, we had strong reserves in 2013 compared to 2012. But when you look at the exchange rate, there is still much work to be done because the policies being introduced have not actually taken us to where we should be.
“So, what we are expecting for 2014 is a stronger naira to the dollar. We want the CBN to achieve an exchange rate of about N130 to the dollar. We also want the CBN to boost the foreign reserves in 2014 as against what we had in 2013.”
On job creation, Eohoi said, “We have neglected other sectors of the economy for oil. We have various sectors that can create millions of jobs and guarantee inclusive growth for the economy.
“A lot of attention should be given to agriculture, especially in the area of agriculture value chains. That is where a lot of jobs can be created.
“We can encourage people to go into large-scale farming and provide a funding framework that will enable banks to provide funds at low interest rates for farmers. These loans should be easily accessible by farmers.”
On his part Ikpamejo commended the progress so far made in the reform of the economy, but added that government should come up with a programme for self-reliance for graduates.
This, he noted, would help to create jobs in the economy.
He said, “The Federal Government in 2013 did well in the area of infrastructure. Take for instance the privatisation of the power sector, which is critical to increasing power supply, as well as the ongoing projects in road and railway sectors.
“Also, lots of jobs have been created through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, but we need to come up with self-reliant programme that will help our graduates to become employed.
“There are lots of potential in the agriculture sector and the only way we can diversify our economy is to take advantage of the transformation in the agric sector.”
Iwayemi said for 2014, there was the need for the government to create an environment that could be predictable for policies and politics, adding that this would help to attract investments and create jobs.
He said currently, the high cost of capital was still discouraging the type of investment that would help to reduce unemployment.
“We need an environment that can be predictable for policies and politics and this will help to attract investment. But if an environment is full of uncertainties in politics and policies, and as we move on to 2014, then it is going to be a great challenge for development and growth for the nation,” Iwayemi said.
Aviation
Despite the Federal Government’s strides in the aviation sector, especially in the area of improvement in airport infrastructure, experts described activities in the industry in 2013 as mixed.
The government’s efforts at revamping the sector and making the skies safer after the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash in Lagos were dealt a serious blow when an Associated Airline’s plane nose-dived less than a minute after taking off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The crash occurred on October 3, 2013, killing about 15 persons. The plane was conveying the corpse of a former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from Lagos to Akure, while the Dana accident of June 2012 claimed over 150 lives.
Experts, who spoke with one of our correspondents, stated that although the sector recorded improvements in the just concluded year, the two crashes impacted negatively on the economic relevance of the aviation business.
There was visible upgrading of the Nigerian airports in 2013, especially the four major international airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
This, however, increased calls for more work in terms of infrastructural development across all the airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The year also witnessed the suspension of Dana Air’s operations by the Federal Government.
The suspension of Dana’s operating certificate in October 2013 led to the further depletion of the number of domestic carriers and their fleets.
In the last quarter of the year, a serious scandal involving the purchase of two armoured BMW cars for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for N255m rattled the sector.
The House of Representatives had faulted the minister on the grounds that the sum involved was more than what she could endorse without approval from the Federal Executive Council.
Speaking on developments in the sector and the way forward, the President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Mr. Isaac Balami, observed that a lot of problems were exposed in the sector in 2013.
He said, “God has helped to open our eyes to tough areas in the sector that if only we can give more attention to, we will become better than most parts of the world.
“In fact, one of the reasons why the NCAA has not been able to cope with general oversight is because there is serious expansion and there are more airlines and aircraft coming into the sector. Therefore, there is a need for professionals who have worked with the airlines with technical skills to come in and support.”
Balami expressed confidence that 2014 would be better in the sector provided the Federal Government maintains its efforts at improving the industry.
Power
Perhaps, the biggest event in the nation’s economy in 2013 was the sale of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to private investors.
Eighteen electricity firms were carved out of the PHCN as part of the process to reform the electricity industry. These included the Transmission Company of Nigeria, 11 distribution companies based on geographical coverage and six generating companies.
Ten new power plants constructed under the National Integrated Power Projects are scheduled to be sold in the first quarter of 2014.
Through the sale of the PHCN successor companies, the Federal Government realised more than $3bn, much of which was spent on settling the severance package of the workers.
However, after the sale of the power firms, not much had come the way of consumers as benefits. Towards the end of the year, noticeable reversal in power supply was noticeable in most parts of the country.
Government officials reckoned that it would take up to one year before the impact of the privatisation could be felt on the economy.
Experts, however, are worried about the capacity of the new firms to manage the power companies. Most of the new owners have no previous experience in managing power firms. More worrisome is that most of them do not have the financial muscle to turn the companies around. About 70 per cent of the money they spent on the acquisition of the power firms was borrowed from the Nigerian banking system.
Petroleum resources
The petroleum and natural gas sector experienced what experts described as mixed fortunes in 2013.
Although the Federal Government intensified efforts at stabilising crude oil production, the continued occurrence of pipeline vandalism and the resultant oil theft negatively affected the country’s ability to derive maximum revenue from the sector.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had during the presentation of her mid-term report in June 2013, stated that daily crude oil production averaged over 2.3 million barrels per day.
This, according to her, was despite the growing incidence of illegal oil bunkering, crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
The just concluded year also recorded the stable supply of petroleum products, although there was intermittent petrol scarcity occasioned by industrial actions that were mainly undertaken by workers in the sector.
Just as in the aviation sector, the petroleum resources industry also recorded a big scandal as the year was coming to a close.
This was after an online medium reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation allegedly diverted $49.8bn meant for the three tiers of government to an unknown account.
The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, raised the alarm in a letter he addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan
One of the issues that will shape the nation’s petroleum industry and indeed the entire economy in 2014 is the proposed sale of the country’s four refineries.
Rather than manage the refineries profitably, the government had resorted to importation of fuel and the payment of subsidy on petroleum products consumed locally, which led to massive corruption.
However, the oil workers are already threatening to embark on strike if the government goes ahead with the scheduled privatisation of the refineries in the first quarter of the year. How the government is able to resolve this impending imbroglio will shape the future of the industry in 2014 and beyond.
Communications
One of the issues that will define the telecommunications and information technology sector in 2014 is the plan of the Nigerian Communications Commission to auction 2.3GHz frequency spectrum licence in the first quarter of the year.
According to the NCC, there is considerable demand for high speed Internet services, which can be provided in the 2.3 GHz spectrum, whose licence will be on offer, as well as reasonable levels of competition, which mean there is considerable space for a new operator.
The auctioning of the new frequency is part of efforts by the Federal Government to raise broadband Internet penetration to a minimum of 30 per cent by the year 2017. It currently stands at about six per cent.
Related to this is the plan of the regulatory agency to issue seven regional licences for infrastructure operators. For this purpose the country has been split into seven regions.
The emergence of seven new infrastructure companies as well as the wholesale operator utilising the 2.3GHz frequency band is seen by many industry observers as a tonic for increased broadband penetration.
It is therefore expected that in 2014, the licensing blitz will herald a new era in the Nigerian communications sector, especially in the transmission of data. The NCC had in the past used the licensing process to redefine the sector.
Copyright PUNCH.
How did the Nigerian economy fare in 2013? The answer to this question depends on where you stand. While government officials contend that the nation did tremendously well in the course of the year, experts are cautious in assessing the performance of the economy in the period under review.
Finance
Presenting the government’s score card for the year 2013 in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, reeled out statistics to buttress the point that the government did pretty well in the management of the economy during the year.
At 7.2 per cent, he said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product was one of the fastest growing in the world.
According to him, the exchange rate of the naira to the world’s major currencies has been stable as inflation rate has been in the single digit all year.
He added that as of May 2013, the country’s foreign reserves were $48.4bn, up from $32.08bn in May 2011. However, the reserves have been falling since May 2013, closing the year at $43.7bn on Monday, contrary to the minister’s posturing.
The national debt burden, Maku added, remained low at a debt-to-GDP rate of 21 per cent compared with the South Africa’s 42.7 per cent; United States’ 106 per cent; United Kingdom’s 90 per cent; and Japan’s 225 per cent.
Experts, however, are of the view that the country’s economy is struggling to leverage its vast resources as shown by major macroeconomic indicators.
They are quick to point out that in spite of an impressive growth in GDP, the life of an average Nigerian has not been lifted as the number of citizens living in extreme poverty remains extremely high at more than 100 million people.
They contended that while the Federal Government’s overall spending in 2013 was not significantly higher than it was in 2012 due to tight controls in expenditure, there was a need to channel more resources to developmental projects in 2014.
These, they noted, would help to address the lopsided manner in which the country’s GDP had been growing.
Those that spoke on the subject were the Registrar, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ikpamejo; Registrar, Chartered Institute of Finance and Control, Mr. Godwin Eohoi; Head, Research and Strategy, BGL Securities Plc, Mr. Femi Ademola; and President, Nigerian Economic Society, Prof. Akin Iwayemi.
They argued that while the country could boast of over $43bn in foreign reserves, GDP growth rate of about seven per cent, investment commitment of about N15tn within the last two years, and a single digit inflation rate of 7.9 per cent, unemployment and poverty rates rose in 2013 by 23.9 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively.
In the same vein, the country witnessed a massive drop in revenue owing to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the course of the year, thus leading to the depletion of excess crude savings from about $11.5bn at the end of 2012 to less than $5bn on November 14, 2013.
Ademola said while the government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, might have achieved its objectives of price stability significantly with 11 months of single digit inflation in 2013, the required improvement in aggregate demand driven was currently constrained by the tight monetary policy environment.
In other words, he said despite the continued strong national output growth, the economy’s aggregate demand at the household level might be curtailed with implications for inclusive growth desired by the government.
He concluded that given the commitment of the CBN to move the country firmly into a low-inflation environment in the medium term by formally adopting an inflation target of between six and nine per cent in 2014, the monetary policy stance was likely to remain non-accommodating in the short term through the first half of the New Year.
Ademola said, “The year 2014 is, however, a penultimate year to the general elections, which portends significant threat to effective public administration. It could also affect the government’s capacity to effectively deal with the issues of security, oil theft and vandalism, and fiscal policy implementation.
“A protracted decline in oil price in 2014 may also affect the country negatively as the fiscal buffer – the Excess Crude Account has been depleted to $3.30bn. Inflation rate is expected to stay within the single digit level in 2014 and within the CBN’s target of six to nine per cent.”
Eohoi said inflation targeting, increase in foreign reserves, exchange rate stability, job creation and attraction of foreign direct investment should be the focus of government in 2014.
He said, “The CBN has done well in bringing under control the inflation to single digit. What we experienced in 2013 is the total control of inflation in the entire economy and you can see that inflation has been reduced and that is why people are complaining about paucity of funds.
“In the area of reserves, we had strong reserves in 2013 compared to 2012. But when you look at the exchange rate, there is still much work to be done because the policies being introduced have not actually taken us to where we should be.
“So, what we are expecting for 2014 is a stronger naira to the dollar. We want the CBN to achieve an exchange rate of about N130 to the dollar. We also want the CBN to boost the foreign reserves in 2014 as against what we had in 2013.”
On job creation, Eohoi said, “We have neglected other sectors of the economy for oil. We have various sectors that can create millions of jobs and guarantee inclusive growth for the economy.
“A lot of attention should be given to agriculture, especially in the area of agriculture value chains. That is where a lot of jobs can be created.
“We can encourage people to go into large-scale farming and provide a funding framework that will enable banks to provide funds at low interest rates for farmers. These loans should be easily accessible by farmers.”
On his part Ikpamejo commended the progress so far made in the reform of the economy, but added that government should come up with a programme for self-reliance for graduates.
This, he noted, would help to create jobs in the economy.
He said, “The Federal Government in 2013 did well in the area of infrastructure. Take for instance the privatisation of the power sector, which is critical to increasing power supply, as well as the ongoing projects in road and railway sectors.
“Also, lots of jobs have been created through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, but we need to come up with self-reliant programme that will help our graduates to become employed.
“There are lots of potential in the agriculture sector and the only way we can diversify our economy is to take advantage of the transformation in the agric sector.”
Iwayemi said for 2014, there was the need for the government to create an environment that could be predictable for policies and politics, adding that this would help to attract investments and create jobs.
He said currently, the high cost of capital was still discouraging the type of investment that would help to reduce unemployment.
“We need an environment that can be predictable for policies and politics and this will help to attract investment. But if an environment is full of uncertainties in politics and policies, and as we move on to 2014, then it is going to be a great challenge for development and growth for the nation,” Iwayemi said.
Aviation
Despite the Federal Government’s strides in the aviation sector, especially in the area of improvement in airport infrastructure, experts described activities in the industry in 2013 as mixed.
The government’s efforts at revamping the sector and making the skies safer after the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash in Lagos were dealt a serious blow when an Associated Airline’s plane nose-dived less than a minute after taking off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The crash occurred on October 3, 2013, killing about 15 persons. The plane was conveying the corpse of a former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from Lagos to Akure, while the Dana accident of June 2012 claimed over 150 lives.
Experts, who spoke with one of our correspondents, stated that although the sector recorded improvements in the just concluded year, the two crashes impacted negatively on the economic relevance of the aviation business.
There was visible upgrading of the Nigerian airports in 2013, especially the four major international airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
This, however, increased calls for more work in terms of infrastructural development across all the airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The year also witnessed the suspension of Dana Air’s operations by the Federal Government.
The suspension of Dana’s operating certificate in October 2013 led to the further depletion of the number of domestic carriers and their fleets.
In the last quarter of the year, a serious scandal involving the purchase of two armoured BMW cars for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for N255m rattled the sector.
The House of Representatives had faulted the minister on the grounds that the sum involved was more than what she could endorse without approval from the Federal Executive Council.
Speaking on developments in the sector and the way forward, the President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Mr. Isaac Balami, observed that a lot of problems were exposed in the sector in 2013.
He said, “God has helped to open our eyes to tough areas in the sector that if only we can give more attention to, we will become better than most parts of the world.
“In fact, one of the reasons why the NCAA has not been able to cope with general oversight is because there is serious expansion and there are more airlines and aircraft coming into the sector. Therefore, there is a need for professionals who have worked with the airlines with technical skills to come in and support.”
Balami expressed confidence that 2014 would be better in the sector provided the Federal Government maintains its efforts at improving the industry.
Power
Perhaps, the biggest event in the nation’s economy in 2013 was the sale of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to private investors.
Eighteen electricity firms were carved out of the PHCN as part of the process to reform the electricity industry. These included the Transmission Company of Nigeria, 11 distribution companies based on geographical coverage and six generating companies.
Ten new power plants constructed under the National Integrated Power Projects are scheduled to be sold in the first quarter of 2014.
Through the sale of the PHCN successor companies, the Federal Government realised more than $3bn, much of which was spent on settling the severance package of the workers.
However, after the sale of the power firms, not much had come the way of consumers as benefits. Towards the end of the year, noticeable reversal in power supply was noticeable in most parts of the country.
Government officials reckoned that it would take up to one year before the impact of the privatisation could be felt on the economy.
Experts, however, are worried about the capacity of the new firms to manage the power companies. Most of the new owners have no previous experience in managing power firms. More worrisome is that most of them do not have the financial muscle to turn the companies around. About 70 per cent of the money they spent on the acquisition of the power firms was borrowed from the Nigerian banking system.
Petroleum resources
The petroleum and natural gas sector experienced what experts described as mixed fortunes in 2013.
Although the Federal Government intensified efforts at stabilising crude oil production, the continued occurrence of pipeline vandalism and the resultant oil theft negatively affected the country’s ability to derive maximum revenue from the sector.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had during the presentation of her mid-term report in June 2013, stated that daily crude oil production averaged over 2.3 million barrels per day.
This, according to her, was despite the growing incidence of illegal oil bunkering, crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
The just concluded year also recorded the stable supply of petroleum products, although there was intermittent petrol scarcity occasioned by industrial actions that were mainly undertaken by workers in the sector.
Just as in the aviation sector, the petroleum resources industry also recorded a big scandal as the year was coming to a close.
This was after an online medium reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation allegedly diverted $49.8bn meant for the three tiers of government to an unknown account.
The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, raised the alarm in a letter he addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan
One of the issues that will shape the nation’s petroleum industry and indeed the entire economy in 2014 is the proposed sale of the country’s four refineries.
Rather than manage the refineries profitably, the government had resorted to importation of fuel and the payment of subsidy on petroleum products consumed locally, which led to massive corruption.
However, the oil workers are already threatening to embark on strike if the government goes ahead with the scheduled privatisation of the refineries in the first quarter of the year. How the government is able to resolve this impending imbroglio will shape the future of the industry in 2014 and beyond.
Communications
One of the issues that will define the telecommunications and information technology sector in 2014 is the plan of the Nigerian Communications Commission to auction 2.3GHz frequency spectrum licence in the first quarter of the year.
According to the NCC, there is considerable demand for high speed Internet services, which can be provided in the 2.3 GHz spectrum, whose licence will be on offer, as well as reasonable levels of competition, which mean there is considerable space for a new operator.
The auctioning of the new frequency is part of efforts by the Federal Government to raise broadband Internet penetration to a minimum of 30 per cent by the year 2017. It currently stands at about six per cent.
Related to this is the plan of the regulatory agency to issue seven regional licences for infrastructure operators. For this purpose the country has been split into seven regions.
The emergence of seven new infrastructure companies as well as the wholesale operator utilising the 2.3GHz frequency band is seen by many industry observers as a tonic for increased broadband penetration.
It is therefore expected that in 2014, the licensing blitz will herald a new era in the Nigerian communications sector, especially in the transmission of data. The NCC had in the past used the licensing process to redefine the sector.
Copyright PUNCH.
APC chief asks Obasanjo to quit politics
A leader of the All Progressives Party in Lagos State, Chief Ayo Akande, said on Tuesday that it was time for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to quit partisan politics and become an elder statesman.
Akande said in a statement that Obasanjo needed to take the step immediately, in view of the courage he mustered in his December 2, 2013 letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo had in the letter, which was widely published in the media, accused Jonathan of condoning corruption in his government.
Akande said Obasanjo’s open criticism of Jonathan “speaks volume and goes a long way to give hope to the common man”.
“In the light of this, it is better for Chief Obasanjo to quit partisan politics and become an elder statesman,” Akande said.
The party chief, who described Obasanjo as a patriotic leader, said the bold step taken by the former President would help to bail Nigerians out of political and economic oppression.
Akande said in a statement that Obasanjo needed to take the step immediately, in view of the courage he mustered in his December 2, 2013 letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo had in the letter, which was widely published in the media, accused Jonathan of condoning corruption in his government.
Akande said Obasanjo’s open criticism of Jonathan “speaks volume and goes a long way to give hope to the common man”.
“In the light of this, it is better for Chief Obasanjo to quit partisan politics and become an elder statesman,” Akande said.
The party chief, who described Obasanjo as a patriotic leader, said the bold step taken by the former President would help to bail Nigerians out of political and economic oppression.
More divorces than marriages?
Nollywood star Funke Akindele and Lagos-based businessman Kehinde Oloyede were all smiles at their wedding reception on May 26, 2012. Exactly 14 months later, on July 15, 2013, Kehinde told his Facebook friends that the marriage was over, claiming Funke was the greatest mistake he had made in recent times. After an initial denial on July 17, Funke confirmed the split on July 19through a message from her publicist.
On July 29, Nollywood Actress Chika Ike took to Facebook to announce that her divorce had been finalised.
-Hitherto divorced TV host Frank Edoho finally married his girlfriend Sandra Onyenaucheya at Arochukwu, Abia State on December 18.
In May, Nollywood director, Daniel Ademinokan, was accused by his estranged wife, Doris Simeon, of serving her a forged divorce certificate and eloping with their only child to the US.
Nigerian actress, Laide Bakare, announced her divorce from her US-based husband, Mr. Okunfulire. The actress claimed that things fell apart after she discovered that he was legally married with two children.
December 30 – After much drama, court cases and Facebook rants, Yoruba actress, Fathia Balogun, finally changed her surname; reverting to her maiden name ‘Williams’ on her Instagram account. The couple have been separated since 2007.
Yoruba actress Mercy Aigbe and her husband Lanre Gentry had a court wedding at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos on December 19. The couple had their traditional wedding a few years ago and already have a three year old son. This is Gentry’s second marriage; while Mercy has a daughter from a past marriage.
•One time West African Idols 2007 contestant and singer Eric Arubayi walked down the aisle with his fiancé Chiononso Iiomah on December 28 in Abraka, Delta State.
On November 26, Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, took a swipe at blogger Linda Ikeji after the latter posted on her blog a Facebook comment purportedly from the actress. Controversial Miss Dike stated that the Facebook account was fake but not before lashing out at the blogger.
•Controversial media personality, Toke Makinwa, disclosed that she had ended her 12-year romantic relationship with her fiancé – lifestyle and wellness enthusiast and owner of Eden Lifestyle, Maje Ayida, in December. Makinwa also un-followed Ayida on Twitter and Instagram, with the latter returning the favour.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, Lagos stood still for Psquare’s Peter Okoye and fiancée Lola Omotayo as the couple held their traditional wedding ceremony. Surprisingly elder brother Jude Okoye was missing at the event. With social networks buzzing, the twins’ publicist, Bayo Adetu, told NET Jude was missing at the wedding because he was stuck in Ghana.
•SAKA saga: One of the most talked-about individuals in Nollywood in 2013 was definitely Hafeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka. He particularly trended on social networking sites and became a mega star after dumping Etisalat for an ambassadorial role with MTN in the mobile number portability war.
•AFTER the video showing Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, in a deliverance session at the Synagogue Church of all Nations went viral in September, several people reacted to the incident. While some thought it was a movie, others thought it was a mere publicity stunt by the church.
On July 29, Nollywood Actress Chika Ike took to Facebook to announce that her divorce had been finalised.
-Hitherto divorced TV host Frank Edoho finally married his girlfriend Sandra Onyenaucheya at Arochukwu, Abia State on December 18.
In May, Nollywood director, Daniel Ademinokan, was accused by his estranged wife, Doris Simeon, of serving her a forged divorce certificate and eloping with their only child to the US.
Nigerian actress, Laide Bakare, announced her divorce from her US-based husband, Mr. Okunfulire. The actress claimed that things fell apart after she discovered that he was legally married with two children.
December 30 – After much drama, court cases and Facebook rants, Yoruba actress, Fathia Balogun, finally changed her surname; reverting to her maiden name ‘Williams’ on her Instagram account. The couple have been separated since 2007.
Yoruba actress Mercy Aigbe and her husband Lanre Gentry had a court wedding at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos on December 19. The couple had their traditional wedding a few years ago and already have a three year old son. This is Gentry’s second marriage; while Mercy has a daughter from a past marriage.
•One time West African Idols 2007 contestant and singer Eric Arubayi walked down the aisle with his fiancé Chiononso Iiomah on December 28 in Abraka, Delta State.
On November 26, Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, took a swipe at blogger Linda Ikeji after the latter posted on her blog a Facebook comment purportedly from the actress. Controversial Miss Dike stated that the Facebook account was fake but not before lashing out at the blogger.
•Controversial media personality, Toke Makinwa, disclosed that she had ended her 12-year romantic relationship with her fiancé – lifestyle and wellness enthusiast and owner of Eden Lifestyle, Maje Ayida, in December. Makinwa also un-followed Ayida on Twitter and Instagram, with the latter returning the favour.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, Lagos stood still for Psquare’s Peter Okoye and fiancée Lola Omotayo as the couple held their traditional wedding ceremony. Surprisingly elder brother Jude Okoye was missing at the event. With social networks buzzing, the twins’ publicist, Bayo Adetu, told NET Jude was missing at the wedding because he was stuck in Ghana.
•SAKA saga: One of the most talked-about individuals in Nollywood in 2013 was definitely Hafeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka. He particularly trended on social networking sites and became a mega star after dumping Etisalat for an ambassadorial role with MTN in the mobile number portability war.
•AFTER the video showing Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, in a deliverance session at the Synagogue Church of all Nations went viral in September, several people reacted to the incident. While some thought it was a movie, others thought it was a mere publicity stunt by the church.
2013: Terrorists, kidnappers on the loose
The year 2013 was shaped by several security challenges, many of which affected economy and political decisions, writes Eniola Akinkuotu
The genesis
The nation experienced many security challenges in 2013. There were terrorist attacks by the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in which thousands of lives were lost. Kidnappers and oil thieves were equally on the prowl.
Other violent crimes were also unleashed on the nation by armed robbers and other criminals.
The Boko Haram insurgency made President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in three states -Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
President Goodluck Jonathan further strengthened security agencies and encouraged them to collaborate with the international community to fight terrorism and enhance the security of lives and property.
A whopping N950bn was budgeted for national security purposes. Broken down, it included N320bn for the Police, N364bn for the Armed Forces, N115bn for the Office of the National Security Adviser, and N154bn for the Ministry of the Interior.
In January, the Military High Command deployed a total of 162 soldiers in Mali to dislodge Islamic terrorists and militants from the northern part of that country.
Nigeria promised to send 1,200 troops to the embattled francophone country to help retrieve Northern Mali from the grips of the Islamic militants.
Kidnappers on the prowl
The year 2013 saw unprecedented cases of kidnapping in Lagos State, as over 20 cases of kidnapping and abduction were reported. This created fear among the residents.
On January 25, 2013, two-year-old Emmanuel Alonge was kidnapped on his way to school at the Ifako-Ijaiye area of the state by a three-man gang who intercepted the car he was in and took him away. The abductors demanded N20m ransom from his parents.
On February 10, 2013, another resident, 29-year-old Kemisola Ogunyemi, was kidnapped at her Abraham Adesanya Estate residence, Ajah, Lagos.
Similarly, on March 22, an MTN employee, Yemi Owadokun was kidnapped at Awoyaya, Lekki-Epe Expressway while going to work.
On March 23, a British expatriate, Christopher Paige, was kidnapped on Victoria Island, Lagos. But he was released nearly a week later after parting with an unspecified sum of money.
On March 26, the Director/Liaison Officer, Nigerian Press Council, Chief Agbebaku Izobo, was kidnapped around Apple Junction at the Amuwo Odofin area of the state.
On April 15, a banker, Nnenna Edu, was kidnapped around Commercial Avenue, Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos and released four days after his relations had paid a ransom.
On the same day, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, was kidnapped on his way from work and released five days later.
Also on April 16, a 16-year-old student of American International School, Olufolabi Adeniji was kidnapped by his parents’ driver on his way to school around Lekki area of the state and held captive in a forest in Ilaro, Ogun State for about nine days until he was rescued by the police.
On Monday, April 29, kidnappers dragged the Managing Director, Capital Express Assurance, Bola Odukale out of her vehicle on her way to work and held her captive for days until the family was able to pay a ransom.
There was some respite in the month of May from kidnappers, but ‘business’ resumed on June 22, 2013, when a 43-year-old trader, Mrs. Christiana Gbadamosi, was kidnapped while walking to her shop in Ikorodu area of the state. She was eventually released over two weeks later after her family had paid millions of naira as ransom.
Gbadamosi, who narrated her ordeal to our correspondent after her release, said she met many other victims in the kidnappers’ den.
On June 24, an Indian, Vivex Changrani, was kidnapped in the Ikoyi area of the state by the same gang alleged to have kidnapped Bamigbetan. Fortunately for the Indian, he was rescued less than 12 hours later by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
On July 18, a British national, Lee Dixon, was kidnapped around Mafoloku area of the state shortly after arriving the country.
August 24, 2013, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was kidnapped at the Ehor stretch of the Benin-Auchi Road in Edo State and released three weeks after his family had paid a ransom.
On September 6, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, and his wife, Beatrice, were kidnapped by gunmen on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
On October 15, Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the elder sister to Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, was kidnapped in Ogbia town, Bayelsa State.
On November 18, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Chief Tempurah Nelson, the 78-year-old father of Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Chief Belief Nelson, in Bayelsa State
On November 20, a leading industrialists in Osun State, Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Yinka Oba Foam, was kidnapped in Ilesa, Osun State.
On December 1, 2013, Miss Julie Harry, the daughter of the former Vice-Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, late Marshal Harry, was kidnapped about 100 metres away from her residence in Eleparanwo, Rivers State and released after her family parted with N2m.
On December 23, former Primate of the Anglican Church, Nigeria, Most Revd. Peter Akinola, was kidnapped but later rescued in Ogun State.
State governments move to tackle kidnapping
To curb the menace, some states have promulgated laws against kidnapping while others have commenced action on it.
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, signed into law the Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, which passes a maximum sentence of death penalty on anybody found guilty of kidnapping in the state.
Similarly, the Delta State House of Assembly signed a new law prohibiting terrorism, cultism, kidnapping and hostage taking. It also recommended capital punishment for offenders upon conviction.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, also recently signed into law a bill that spells death penalty for kidnapping in the state.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are considering a bill to criminalise acts of terrorism, hostage taking and rape in the state. According to reports, the sponsors of the bill advocated between 10 and 20 years’ imprisonment for such acts.
Section 11 of the bill stipulates that any person who knowingly seizes, detains or attempts to do any of both, would be liable for committing an offence with a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Terror plot foiled in Lagos State
One hundred soldiers stormed terror suspects’ hideouts in Ijora area of Lagos State and arrested a Chadian who had planned to carry out terror attacks in the state. Also seized from him were ammunition and other weapons.
A suspected terrorist arrested by the State Security Service, Abdullahi Berende, confessed that Iranian militants sent Nigerian terrorists after Americans, Israelis in Lagos;
Hundreds killed in terrorist attacks
A group of gunmen attacked the convoy of Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano, killing four and injuring 14 others, including two of his sons.
In addition, militants from the Boko Haram breakaway group, Ansaru, ambushed a Nigerian Army convoy in Kogi State, killing two officers and injuring eight others. The troops were heading to Mali to assist in the ECOWAS mission to drive away Jihadist groups from the country.
Suspected Boko Haram militants murdered 31 people over the course of three days, including 18 hunters selling bushmeat, who were shot in a market in Damboa on January 21.
Five people were shot in Kano the next day as they were playing board games. At least eight civilians were killed in Maiduguri on January 23, as gunfire was reported from parts of the city.
The Islamist Ansaru group shot and killed seven hostages it had been holding since February 7. The victims included four Lebanese, as well as a Briton, a Frenchman and a Greek.
A suicide bomber attacked a bus station in a predominantly Christian area of Kano, killing 41 passengers and injuring dozens more.
Unidentified gunmen attacked at least 13 locations in Ganye, a city in Adamawa State, including the local police station, a bank and several local bars.
At least 25 people were killed in the two-hour assault, including a senior officer of the local prison, where 127 inmates were freed.
Militants ambushed a police patrol boat in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, killing all 12 occupants. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility, saying it was in response to the 24-year jail term handed to their leader, Henry Okah, in South Africa.
A group of suspected Boko Haram terrorists hiding automatic weapons inside a coffin attacked a checkpoint mounted by the military in Maiduguri, killing 13 people before being shot during an escape attempt.
Government sets up 26-member amnesty committee for Boko Haram
In response to calls from many quarters for a peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram insurgency, the President set up a 26-member committee headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, on April 17, to initiate dialogue with members of the sect with a view to working out modalities for granting the insurgents amnesty.
Government declares state of emergency
In May, following reports of increased terrorist attacks especially in the North East, the president declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He announced that the action became necessary because the group’s activities had become a challenge to the nation’s sovereignty.
More bombings
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 41 children and one teacher in Mamudo Government Secondary School in Yobe State on July 6.
A team of suspected Islamist militants attacked a school in Damaturu, Yobe on June 16, killing 13 people, including pupils and teachers. Three days later a similar attack in the city of Maiduguri left nine students dead.
Suspected terrorists from the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram set off four bombs that hit two churches in Kano city on July 29, killing at least 25 people.
On September 29, suspected terrorists attacked the male dormitory in the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State, killing at least 44 students and teachers.
On December 2, Boko Haram attacked the Maiduguri International Airport and the Composite Group Air Force Base in Maiduguri, where no fewer than 20 military men were killed.
No compensation for Boko Haram victims
President Jonathan ruled out compensation for victims of the violence orchestrated by Boko Haram. The President, however, said his government was favourably disposed to the suggestion by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenge in the North to assist victims to get back on track.
100 policemen, SSS officers killed by Ombatse cult
Perhaps the largest killing of security agents in the country this year, about 100 policemen and officers of the State Security Service who were on a mission to arrest the chief priest of Ombatse Shrine, located at Assakyo village, about 10km from Lafia, Nasarawa State, lost their lives in an ambush.
Ondo prisoners escape
No fewer than 175 inmates of the Medium Prison in Akure, Ondo State escaped on June 30. About 54 were said to have been re-arrested a few days later.
Apo eight killings
Eight people were killed while 11 others were injured during a joint operation by the military and the Department of State Security operatives near the Apo legislative quarters in Abuja on September 20, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Senate however absolved the security operatives of perpetrating extrajudicial killings.
Kabiru Sokoto convicted
Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court for his role in terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.
2015: INEC rules out election in states under emergency rule
Perhaps, the biggest political effect of insecurity is the announcement that elections might not hold in some states.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, said except the current state of emergency rule resulting from insurgency in three North-east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno ends before 2015, elections would not be conducted in the affected states.
Copyright PUNCH.
The genesis
The nation experienced many security challenges in 2013. There were terrorist attacks by the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in which thousands of lives were lost. Kidnappers and oil thieves were equally on the prowl.
Other violent crimes were also unleashed on the nation by armed robbers and other criminals.
The Boko Haram insurgency made President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in three states -Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
President Goodluck Jonathan further strengthened security agencies and encouraged them to collaborate with the international community to fight terrorism and enhance the security of lives and property.
A whopping N950bn was budgeted for national security purposes. Broken down, it included N320bn for the Police, N364bn for the Armed Forces, N115bn for the Office of the National Security Adviser, and N154bn for the Ministry of the Interior.
In January, the Military High Command deployed a total of 162 soldiers in Mali to dislodge Islamic terrorists and militants from the northern part of that country.
Nigeria promised to send 1,200 troops to the embattled francophone country to help retrieve Northern Mali from the grips of the Islamic militants.
Kidnappers on the prowl
The year 2013 saw unprecedented cases of kidnapping in Lagos State, as over 20 cases of kidnapping and abduction were reported. This created fear among the residents.
On January 25, 2013, two-year-old Emmanuel Alonge was kidnapped on his way to school at the Ifako-Ijaiye area of the state by a three-man gang who intercepted the car he was in and took him away. The abductors demanded N20m ransom from his parents.
On February 10, 2013, another resident, 29-year-old Kemisola Ogunyemi, was kidnapped at her Abraham Adesanya Estate residence, Ajah, Lagos.
Similarly, on March 22, an MTN employee, Yemi Owadokun was kidnapped at Awoyaya, Lekki-Epe Expressway while going to work.
On March 23, a British expatriate, Christopher Paige, was kidnapped on Victoria Island, Lagos. But he was released nearly a week later after parting with an unspecified sum of money.
On March 26, the Director/Liaison Officer, Nigerian Press Council, Chief Agbebaku Izobo, was kidnapped around Apple Junction at the Amuwo Odofin area of the state.
On April 15, a banker, Nnenna Edu, was kidnapped around Commercial Avenue, Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos and released four days after his relations had paid a ransom.
On the same day, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, was kidnapped on his way from work and released five days later.
Also on April 16, a 16-year-old student of American International School, Olufolabi Adeniji was kidnapped by his parents’ driver on his way to school around Lekki area of the state and held captive in a forest in Ilaro, Ogun State for about nine days until he was rescued by the police.
On Monday, April 29, kidnappers dragged the Managing Director, Capital Express Assurance, Bola Odukale out of her vehicle on her way to work and held her captive for days until the family was able to pay a ransom.
There was some respite in the month of May from kidnappers, but ‘business’ resumed on June 22, 2013, when a 43-year-old trader, Mrs. Christiana Gbadamosi, was kidnapped while walking to her shop in Ikorodu area of the state. She was eventually released over two weeks later after her family had paid millions of naira as ransom.
Gbadamosi, who narrated her ordeal to our correspondent after her release, said she met many other victims in the kidnappers’ den.
On June 24, an Indian, Vivex Changrani, was kidnapped in the Ikoyi area of the state by the same gang alleged to have kidnapped Bamigbetan. Fortunately for the Indian, he was rescued less than 12 hours later by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
On July 18, a British national, Lee Dixon, was kidnapped around Mafoloku area of the state shortly after arriving the country.
August 24, 2013, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was kidnapped at the Ehor stretch of the Benin-Auchi Road in Edo State and released three weeks after his family had paid a ransom.
On September 6, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, and his wife, Beatrice, were kidnapped by gunmen on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
On October 15, Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the elder sister to Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, was kidnapped in Ogbia town, Bayelsa State.
On November 18, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Chief Tempurah Nelson, the 78-year-old father of Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Chief Belief Nelson, in Bayelsa State
On November 20, a leading industrialists in Osun State, Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Yinka Oba Foam, was kidnapped in Ilesa, Osun State.
On December 1, 2013, Miss Julie Harry, the daughter of the former Vice-Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, late Marshal Harry, was kidnapped about 100 metres away from her residence in Eleparanwo, Rivers State and released after her family parted with N2m.
On December 23, former Primate of the Anglican Church, Nigeria, Most Revd. Peter Akinola, was kidnapped but later rescued in Ogun State.
State governments move to tackle kidnapping
To curb the menace, some states have promulgated laws against kidnapping while others have commenced action on it.
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, signed into law the Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, which passes a maximum sentence of death penalty on anybody found guilty of kidnapping in the state.
Similarly, the Delta State House of Assembly signed a new law prohibiting terrorism, cultism, kidnapping and hostage taking. It also recommended capital punishment for offenders upon conviction.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, also recently signed into law a bill that spells death penalty for kidnapping in the state.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are considering a bill to criminalise acts of terrorism, hostage taking and rape in the state. According to reports, the sponsors of the bill advocated between 10 and 20 years’ imprisonment for such acts.
Section 11 of the bill stipulates that any person who knowingly seizes, detains or attempts to do any of both, would be liable for committing an offence with a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Terror plot foiled in Lagos State
One hundred soldiers stormed terror suspects’ hideouts in Ijora area of Lagos State and arrested a Chadian who had planned to carry out terror attacks in the state. Also seized from him were ammunition and other weapons.
A suspected terrorist arrested by the State Security Service, Abdullahi Berende, confessed that Iranian militants sent Nigerian terrorists after Americans, Israelis in Lagos;
Hundreds killed in terrorist attacks
A group of gunmen attacked the convoy of Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano, killing four and injuring 14 others, including two of his sons.
In addition, militants from the Boko Haram breakaway group, Ansaru, ambushed a Nigerian Army convoy in Kogi State, killing two officers and injuring eight others. The troops were heading to Mali to assist in the ECOWAS mission to drive away Jihadist groups from the country.
Suspected Boko Haram militants murdered 31 people over the course of three days, including 18 hunters selling bushmeat, who were shot in a market in Damboa on January 21.
Five people were shot in Kano the next day as they were playing board games. At least eight civilians were killed in Maiduguri on January 23, as gunfire was reported from parts of the city.
The Islamist Ansaru group shot and killed seven hostages it had been holding since February 7. The victims included four Lebanese, as well as a Briton, a Frenchman and a Greek.
A suicide bomber attacked a bus station in a predominantly Christian area of Kano, killing 41 passengers and injuring dozens more.
Unidentified gunmen attacked at least 13 locations in Ganye, a city in Adamawa State, including the local police station, a bank and several local bars.
At least 25 people were killed in the two-hour assault, including a senior officer of the local prison, where 127 inmates were freed.
Militants ambushed a police patrol boat in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, killing all 12 occupants. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility, saying it was in response to the 24-year jail term handed to their leader, Henry Okah, in South Africa.
A group of suspected Boko Haram terrorists hiding automatic weapons inside a coffin attacked a checkpoint mounted by the military in Maiduguri, killing 13 people before being shot during an escape attempt.
Government sets up 26-member amnesty committee for Boko Haram
In response to calls from many quarters for a peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram insurgency, the President set up a 26-member committee headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, on April 17, to initiate dialogue with members of the sect with a view to working out modalities for granting the insurgents amnesty.
Government declares state of emergency
In May, following reports of increased terrorist attacks especially in the North East, the president declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He announced that the action became necessary because the group’s activities had become a challenge to the nation’s sovereignty.
More bombings
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 41 children and one teacher in Mamudo Government Secondary School in Yobe State on July 6.
A team of suspected Islamist militants attacked a school in Damaturu, Yobe on June 16, killing 13 people, including pupils and teachers. Three days later a similar attack in the city of Maiduguri left nine students dead.
Suspected terrorists from the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram set off four bombs that hit two churches in Kano city on July 29, killing at least 25 people.
On September 29, suspected terrorists attacked the male dormitory in the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State, killing at least 44 students and teachers.
On December 2, Boko Haram attacked the Maiduguri International Airport and the Composite Group Air Force Base in Maiduguri, where no fewer than 20 military men were killed.
No compensation for Boko Haram victims
President Jonathan ruled out compensation for victims of the violence orchestrated by Boko Haram. The President, however, said his government was favourably disposed to the suggestion by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenge in the North to assist victims to get back on track.
100 policemen, SSS officers killed by Ombatse cult
Perhaps the largest killing of security agents in the country this year, about 100 policemen and officers of the State Security Service who were on a mission to arrest the chief priest of Ombatse Shrine, located at Assakyo village, about 10km from Lafia, Nasarawa State, lost their lives in an ambush.
Ondo prisoners escape
No fewer than 175 inmates of the Medium Prison in Akure, Ondo State escaped on June 30. About 54 were said to have been re-arrested a few days later.
Apo eight killings
Eight people were killed while 11 others were injured during a joint operation by the military and the Department of State Security operatives near the Apo legislative quarters in Abuja on September 20, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Senate however absolved the security operatives of perpetrating extrajudicial killings.
Kabiru Sokoto convicted
Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court for his role in terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.
2015: INEC rules out election in states under emergency rule
Perhaps, the biggest political effect of insecurity is the announcement that elections might not hold in some states.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, said except the current state of emergency rule resulting from insurgency in three North-east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno ends before 2015, elections would not be conducted in the affected states.
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APC’ll never take over Nigeria from PDP – Metuh
Despite its dwindling political fortunes in the north-west zone, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party boasted on Tuesday that it would be impossible for the All Progressive Congress to win the 2015 presidency.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisah Metu, stated this in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Metu was at the meeting convened by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, to deliberate on the lingering crisis in the party in the zone.
Metuh, who breezed into Kaduna apparently on directives of PDP National Secretariat to assess the political situation in the state and other north-west states, said the PDP remained the party to beat regardless of the current crisis threatening the party.
He said, “APC is not a party that will take over Nigeria in 2015 and even beyond because the party is built along ethnic, religious lines.
“It will be impossible for them to win any elections. PDP remains the party for Nigeria, a truly national party”
It was learnt that Sambo had practically relocated to Kaduna following the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC and had met stakeholders of the party from Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara states at the late Gen. Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna on Tuesday.
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the stakeholders reviewed the challenges and prospects of the ruling party in the Northern states, such as Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara that had been taken over by the APC.
It was gathered that the tension-soaked meeting, which had in attendance former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’aba, son of late Head of State, Mohammed Abacha, and other prominent party chiefs from Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara states, deliberated extensively on how to win back those states that had gone to the opposition in the 2015 elections.
Also, at the end of the meeting at 3.30pm, Ambassador Aminu Wali, told journalists that former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau would soon defect to the ruling party from the APC.
He said the party in the state had contacted Shekarau and that soon, he and his teeming supporters in the state would join the PDP.
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National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisah Metu, stated this in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Metu was at the meeting convened by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, to deliberate on the lingering crisis in the party in the zone.
Metuh, who breezed into Kaduna apparently on directives of PDP National Secretariat to assess the political situation in the state and other north-west states, said the PDP remained the party to beat regardless of the current crisis threatening the party.
He said, “APC is not a party that will take over Nigeria in 2015 and even beyond because the party is built along ethnic, religious lines.
“It will be impossible for them to win any elections. PDP remains the party for Nigeria, a truly national party”
It was learnt that Sambo had practically relocated to Kaduna following the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC and had met stakeholders of the party from Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara states at the late Gen. Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna on Tuesday.
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the stakeholders reviewed the challenges and prospects of the ruling party in the Northern states, such as Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara that had been taken over by the APC.
It was gathered that the tension-soaked meeting, which had in attendance former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’aba, son of late Head of State, Mohammed Abacha, and other prominent party chiefs from Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara states, deliberated extensively on how to win back those states that had gone to the opposition in the 2015 elections.
Also, at the end of the meeting at 3.30pm, Ambassador Aminu Wali, told journalists that former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau would soon defect to the ruling party from the APC.
He said the party in the state had contacted Shekarau and that soon, he and his teeming supporters in the state would join the PDP.
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Former US first lady, Barbara Bush hospitalized
Former US first lady Barbara Bush has been hospitalized in Houston, Texas, for treatment of a “respiratory-related issue,” a family spokesman said Tuesday.
Bush, 88, was admitted Monday at Methodist Hospital, spokesman Jim McGrath said in a written statement.
“She is in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care,” the statement said. “Updates will be issued when warranted.”
CNN was first alerted to Bush’s hospitalization by tweets from affiliate KPRC.
Her husband, George H.W. Bush, was the 41st President of the United States. He also served as vice president for two terms under President Ronald Reagan.
CNN
Osun warring communities talk tough at peace meeting
The people of Oba Ile and a neighbouring community of Oba Oke in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State have said they would refrain from violence provided there is no provocation from their opponents.
The monarchs of the two communities; Oloba of Oba Ile, Oba Olayinka Adeeyo and the Oloba of Oba Oke, Oba Dahunsi Iyiola, which have been engulfed with incessant crises since October were at the peace meeting where their subjects gave this condition in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The peace meeting was called by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to restore permanent peace to the troubled communities.
Alhaji Tijjani Oladosu, who spoke for Oba Ile at the peace talks blamed the latest violence in the area on alleged provocation from the side of Oba Oke.
Oladosu alleged that the people of Oba Oke stoned the Oloba of Oba Ile on the day of the town’s traditional festival.
He stated that the people of Oba Ile only defended themselves and warned that his people would not fold their hands and watch the opponent attack them.
He, however, pledged to ensure that the people of Oba Ile will not carry out any attack provided their neighbours refrain from attacking them.
Speaking on behalf of Oba Oke community, Alhaji Kola Abiona traced the root of the crisis to prolonged land dispute between the communities coupled with intermittent provocation from the Oba Ile people, who, he described as tenants in their present location.
He accused Oba Ile people of hiring mercenaries to wipe out the Oba Oke people.
But he said, “We will always defend ourselves against any aggression, except their assailant stops the act of provocation.”
Aregbesola, while addressing the gathering, declared that the government fact-finding committee would visit the communities and do a house-to-house search to mop up weapons and mercenaries allegedly imported into the communities.
The governor said, “We will disinfect the entire communities of mercenaries, such that nobody will be able to intimidate anyone again. I advise both sides to disperse these mercenaries because if we catch them, the mercenaries and their sponsors will be charged for murder.
“I abhor the crisis in the communities and it will be our joy to witness the return of peace in the interest of development.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, said the two monarchs were disposed to peaceful resolution of the crisis, but added that they had lost the control of the youths who she said were aggressive.
The two monarchs and other representatives from the two warring communities signed an undertaking to maintain peace, while the committee work to unravel the causes of the perennial crisis.
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The monarchs of the two communities; Oloba of Oba Ile, Oba Olayinka Adeeyo and the Oloba of Oba Oke, Oba Dahunsi Iyiola, which have been engulfed with incessant crises since October were at the peace meeting where their subjects gave this condition in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The peace meeting was called by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to restore permanent peace to the troubled communities.
Alhaji Tijjani Oladosu, who spoke for Oba Ile at the peace talks blamed the latest violence in the area on alleged provocation from the side of Oba Oke.
Oladosu alleged that the people of Oba Oke stoned the Oloba of Oba Ile on the day of the town’s traditional festival.
He stated that the people of Oba Ile only defended themselves and warned that his people would not fold their hands and watch the opponent attack them.
He, however, pledged to ensure that the people of Oba Ile will not carry out any attack provided their neighbours refrain from attacking them.
Speaking on behalf of Oba Oke community, Alhaji Kola Abiona traced the root of the crisis to prolonged land dispute between the communities coupled with intermittent provocation from the Oba Ile people, who, he described as tenants in their present location.
He accused Oba Ile people of hiring mercenaries to wipe out the Oba Oke people.
But he said, “We will always defend ourselves against any aggression, except their assailant stops the act of provocation.”
Aregbesola, while addressing the gathering, declared that the government fact-finding committee would visit the communities and do a house-to-house search to mop up weapons and mercenaries allegedly imported into the communities.
The governor said, “We will disinfect the entire communities of mercenaries, such that nobody will be able to intimidate anyone again. I advise both sides to disperse these mercenaries because if we catch them, the mercenaries and their sponsors will be charged for murder.
“I abhor the crisis in the communities and it will be our joy to witness the return of peace in the interest of development.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, said the two monarchs were disposed to peaceful resolution of the crisis, but added that they had lost the control of the youths who she said were aggressive.
The two monarchs and other representatives from the two warring communities signed an undertaking to maintain peace, while the committee work to unravel the causes of the perennial crisis.
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Bode George: Sagay, others back Falana, fault S’Court judgment
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay, among others, on Tuesday expressed support for Mr. Femi Falana’s opinion critisising the judgment of the Supreme Court which quashed the conviction of a former chairman of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Bode George.
Some lawyers contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday declined to comment on the judgment, with some others saying that they had not read the judgment.
However, in separate telephone interviews with our correspondent, Sagay; civil rights lawyers, Messrs Bamidele Aturu and Jiti Ogunye; as well as the Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, were categorical in saying that there was no merit in the Supreme Court judgment.
Another SAN, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, said Falana’s analysis of the judgment “may be on course.”
But Yusuf Ali (SAN), who said he had yet to read the judgment, cautioned that care must be exercised in criticising the judgments of court.
“I have been hearing a lot of insinuations about the judgment. But people should know that judgments are always based on the facts and the law; and people who do not know about the operations of law should stop commenting on it,” Ali said.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had on Sunday faulted the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Decmber 13, arguing that the apex court’s decision was based on wrong legal foundation.
Describing the Supreme Court judgment as “highly errorneous,” Falana argued that the court was wrong to have quashed the conviction of George and five other former board members of the NPA.
He argued that contrary to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, the Lagos High Court did not convict George and others of contract splitting, but that they were convicted of abuse of office and disobedience of lawful order.
Sagay expressed firm support for Falana’s analysis, adding that the judgment of the Supreme Court was not based on merit but on mere technicality.
He said, “I hardly ever disagree with Femi Falana because he doesn’t say anything without thorough analysis, research and information. So, I definitely will not disagree with him at all.
“My personal comment on that judgment is that I am not satisfied with it because the court admitted that there was contract splitting and that was the basis of the conviction. The court was only saying that contract splitting was at the time of the conviction not a criminal offence.
“So, for me, it was a technical judgment. It was as if the court was looking for technicality to hang the acquittal on. It was a technical judgment; it was not based on merit.”
On his part, Aturu described the judgment as perplexing, adding that it would encourage corruption in the country.
He said, “The decisioin of the Supreme Court is perplexing. It is going to encourage corruption in Nigeria. It was one of the low points of the judiciary in 2013.”
Ogunye expressed the same opinion, arguing that George and others were not convicted for contract splitting.
He said, “We endorse and share the legal opinion of Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, on this issue.
“They were convicted of abuse of office and disobedience to a lawful order issued by constituted authority, contrary to section 104 and section 203 respectively of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State and sentenced accordingly.”
Ubani, who expressed frustration that the judgment of the Supreme Court could no longer be appealed against, said the verdict left “a sour note.”
“If you read the write-up of Mr. Femi Falana, you could see that the people were not charged with contract splitting but that they were charged with abuse of office and disobedience of lawful order.
“Contract splitting only came up in the proof of evidence as the particulars of the offences. Hinging the entire judgment on contract splitting is too technical and I don’t think that is the intendment of justice in that case,” he said.
Fagbohungbe said while Falana’s analysis of the judgment might “be on course,” he explained that the judgment of the apex court, though, might be final, “it does not mean that the Supreme Court is infallible.”
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Some lawyers contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday declined to comment on the judgment, with some others saying that they had not read the judgment.
However, in separate telephone interviews with our correspondent, Sagay; civil rights lawyers, Messrs Bamidele Aturu and Jiti Ogunye; as well as the Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, were categorical in saying that there was no merit in the Supreme Court judgment.
Another SAN, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, said Falana’s analysis of the judgment “may be on course.”
But Yusuf Ali (SAN), who said he had yet to read the judgment, cautioned that care must be exercised in criticising the judgments of court.
“I have been hearing a lot of insinuations about the judgment. But people should know that judgments are always based on the facts and the law; and people who do not know about the operations of law should stop commenting on it,” Ali said.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had on Sunday faulted the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Decmber 13, arguing that the apex court’s decision was based on wrong legal foundation.
Describing the Supreme Court judgment as “highly errorneous,” Falana argued that the court was wrong to have quashed the conviction of George and five other former board members of the NPA.
He argued that contrary to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, the Lagos High Court did not convict George and others of contract splitting, but that they were convicted of abuse of office and disobedience of lawful order.
Sagay expressed firm support for Falana’s analysis, adding that the judgment of the Supreme Court was not based on merit but on mere technicality.
He said, “I hardly ever disagree with Femi Falana because he doesn’t say anything without thorough analysis, research and information. So, I definitely will not disagree with him at all.
“My personal comment on that judgment is that I am not satisfied with it because the court admitted that there was contract splitting and that was the basis of the conviction. The court was only saying that contract splitting was at the time of the conviction not a criminal offence.
“So, for me, it was a technical judgment. It was as if the court was looking for technicality to hang the acquittal on. It was a technical judgment; it was not based on merit.”
On his part, Aturu described the judgment as perplexing, adding that it would encourage corruption in the country.
He said, “The decisioin of the Supreme Court is perplexing. It is going to encourage corruption in Nigeria. It was one of the low points of the judiciary in 2013.”
Ogunye expressed the same opinion, arguing that George and others were not convicted for contract splitting.
He said, “We endorse and share the legal opinion of Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, on this issue.
“They were convicted of abuse of office and disobedience to a lawful order issued by constituted authority, contrary to section 104 and section 203 respectively of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State and sentenced accordingly.”
Ubani, who expressed frustration that the judgment of the Supreme Court could no longer be appealed against, said the verdict left “a sour note.”
“If you read the write-up of Mr. Femi Falana, you could see that the people were not charged with contract splitting but that they were charged with abuse of office and disobedience of lawful order.
“Contract splitting only came up in the proof of evidence as the particulars of the offences. Hinging the entire judgment on contract splitting is too technical and I don’t think that is the intendment of justice in that case,” he said.
Fagbohungbe said while Falana’s analysis of the judgment might “be on course,” he explained that the judgment of the apex court, though, might be final, “it does not mean that the Supreme Court is infallible.”
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Wamakko in closed door meeting with Obasanjo
Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko on Tuesday held a close door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Wamakko was said to have met with Obasanjo in his Hilltop Mansion where they held some discussions.
Our correspondent gathered that the meeting between the Sokoto State Governor and Obasanjo was not unconnected with the ongoing political realignment in the country.
Wamakko was one of the five aggrieved governors of the PDP who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress having fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling party..
A source, who pleaded anonymity said, issues concerning the PDP members in Sokoto who along with the governor recently defected to the opposition APC also came up during the meeting.
“The meeting between the Sokoto governor and former president Obasanjo was part of the ongoing consultations on the realignment of political forces in the country,” the source said.
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Wamakko was said to have met with Obasanjo in his Hilltop Mansion where they held some discussions.
Our correspondent gathered that the meeting between the Sokoto State Governor and Obasanjo was not unconnected with the ongoing political realignment in the country.
Wamakko was one of the five aggrieved governors of the PDP who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress having fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling party..
A source, who pleaded anonymity said, issues concerning the PDP members in Sokoto who along with the governor recently defected to the opposition APC also came up during the meeting.
“The meeting between the Sokoto governor and former president Obasanjo was part of the ongoing consultations on the realignment of political forces in the country,” the source said.
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I’ll fight corruption more in 2014 – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said irrespective of the challenges Nigerians might have faced, the country remained a truly blessed one, whose diversity remained its source of strength.
Jonathan said this in his New Year message to the nation made available by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
He added that the Federal Government would fight corruption more in 2014.
He said, “Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
“We have worked hard to curb fraud in the administration of the pension system and the implementation of the petroleum subsidy scheme. We have introduced a Pensions Transition Arrangement Department under a new Director-General. This department will now ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme receive their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud.
“Prosecution of all those involved in robbing our retired people will continue. The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme and prevent fraud.
“Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitising government payments.”
He added, “Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength,” he said.
The President observed that 2014 would be a momentous one for the country for several reasons, including the fact that the nation would celebrate its 100 years of existence in the New Year.
He recalled that the British colonial authorities amalgamated the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria on January 1, 1914 to give birth to Nigeria.
“Year 2014, to Nigerians, is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another,” he said.
This, he said, was a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that was great about Nigeria.
While reiterating his position that the nation’s amalgamation was not a mistake, the President said as they celebrate the 100 years of its nationhood, Nigerians must resolve to continue to work together as one united people.
He assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to the development of the country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance.
He added that despite several domestic and global challenges in 2013, Nigeria witnessed many positive developments which his administration would strive to build upon in 2014.
The President admitted that the cost of governance in the country was still too high and must be further reduced.
He also promised to take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
Jonathan added that foreign travel by government personnel would be further curtailed and that the directive would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The President also reeled out statistics on the strides he said his administration achieved in the agriculture, health, education, water and housing sectors among others and promised to do more in the New Year.
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Jonathan said this in his New Year message to the nation made available by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
He added that the Federal Government would fight corruption more in 2014.
He said, “Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
“We have worked hard to curb fraud in the administration of the pension system and the implementation of the petroleum subsidy scheme. We have introduced a Pensions Transition Arrangement Department under a new Director-General. This department will now ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme receive their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud.
“Prosecution of all those involved in robbing our retired people will continue. The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme and prevent fraud.
“Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitising government payments.”
He added, “Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength,” he said.
The President observed that 2014 would be a momentous one for the country for several reasons, including the fact that the nation would celebrate its 100 years of existence in the New Year.
He recalled that the British colonial authorities amalgamated the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria on January 1, 1914 to give birth to Nigeria.
“Year 2014, to Nigerians, is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another,” he said.
This, he said, was a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that was great about Nigeria.
While reiterating his position that the nation’s amalgamation was not a mistake, the President said as they celebrate the 100 years of its nationhood, Nigerians must resolve to continue to work together as one united people.
He assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to the development of the country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance.
He added that despite several domestic and global challenges in 2013, Nigeria witnessed many positive developments which his administration would strive to build upon in 2014.
The President admitted that the cost of governance in the country was still too high and must be further reduced.
He also promised to take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
Jonathan added that foreign travel by government personnel would be further curtailed and that the directive would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The President also reeled out statistics on the strides he said his administration achieved in the agriculture, health, education, water and housing sectors among others and promised to do more in the New Year.
Copyright PUNCH.
Jonathan signed single tenure agreement –Nyako
Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako on Tuesday said that despite several denials, President Goodluck Jonathan signed a document agreeing to serve for a single term.
Nyako said this in an interview with journalists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
He explained that genuine leaders were men of honour who would be sincere to their colleagues and the society in general, no matter the circumstance.
The governor said, “In the first place, when that agreement was brought for me to sign, I told them that this President (Jonathan), in the agreement signed in the year 2003, he was number 73.
“Did we not agree under (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo that the term 2007 and 2011 belong to the North?
“He was number 73 as deputy governor of Bayelsa State, so when they came, they said I should sign, they said he had agreed that he would not contest in the year 2015.
“In the first place, I said I did not believe him because he didn’t give his pledge for the agreement signed in the year 2003. They said ah, ah, Baba Maimangoro. I said ok, I will sign. So I signed.”
When asked who brought the agreement for him to sign, he said his northern colleagues, including the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu; and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema, among others.
The Adamawa State governor noted that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo led Jonathan to ask him (Nyako) to support Jonathan, who he said had agreed to serve for only one term.
“Obj (Obasanjo) will tell you, he came here and pleaded with me to support Jonathan in 2011. He came here and virtually took an oath to serve only one term,” Nyako said.
Asked if Obasanjo came in company with Jonathan, Nyako replied “Absolutely! That he was going to serve for only one term.”
He said that when Jonathan went to Obasanjo to seek for his support for 2015, the former President reminded him of the commitment he made.
Nyako further said, “The Niger State governor has the agreement. We want to deal with people with honour, not people who want to drag us into civil war because of impunity, because of lawlessness, because of not fulfilling their pledges, that will only take us to civil war.
“Leaders must be honest with their colleagues and the greater society. I have my craw craw from the first civil war and if there is need to develop another craw craw in another civil war I will stand by.”
Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayabo, could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.
A response to the text message sent to him was still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
The Presidency has denied in the past that the President signed any agreement not to seek reelection.
Nyako also said the declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa State was purely political because the state had the security situation under control.
He explained that the state was not even among the first seven states, out of a list of 12, which had serious security challenges but that the President skipped several states to pick on his state for inexplicable political reasons.
Copyright PUNCH.
Nyako said this in an interview with journalists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
He explained that genuine leaders were men of honour who would be sincere to their colleagues and the society in general, no matter the circumstance.
The governor said, “In the first place, when that agreement was brought for me to sign, I told them that this President (Jonathan), in the agreement signed in the year 2003, he was number 73.
“Did we not agree under (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo that the term 2007 and 2011 belong to the North?
“He was number 73 as deputy governor of Bayelsa State, so when they came, they said I should sign, they said he had agreed that he would not contest in the year 2015.
“In the first place, I said I did not believe him because he didn’t give his pledge for the agreement signed in the year 2003. They said ah, ah, Baba Maimangoro. I said ok, I will sign. So I signed.”
When asked who brought the agreement for him to sign, he said his northern colleagues, including the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu; and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema, among others.
The Adamawa State governor noted that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo led Jonathan to ask him (Nyako) to support Jonathan, who he said had agreed to serve for only one term.
“Obj (Obasanjo) will tell you, he came here and pleaded with me to support Jonathan in 2011. He came here and virtually took an oath to serve only one term,” Nyako said.
Asked if Obasanjo came in company with Jonathan, Nyako replied “Absolutely! That he was going to serve for only one term.”
He said that when Jonathan went to Obasanjo to seek for his support for 2015, the former President reminded him of the commitment he made.
Nyako further said, “The Niger State governor has the agreement. We want to deal with people with honour, not people who want to drag us into civil war because of impunity, because of lawlessness, because of not fulfilling their pledges, that will only take us to civil war.
“Leaders must be honest with their colleagues and the greater society. I have my craw craw from the first civil war and if there is need to develop another craw craw in another civil war I will stand by.”
Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayabo, could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.
A response to the text message sent to him was still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
The Presidency has denied in the past that the President signed any agreement not to seek reelection.
Nyako also said the declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa State was purely political because the state had the security situation under control.
He explained that the state was not even among the first seven states, out of a list of 12, which had serious security challenges but that the President skipped several states to pick on his state for inexplicable political reasons.
Copyright PUNCH.
APC Reps set to take over House leadership
The the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives has shared out the leadership positions in the House to its members as part of plans to assume full control of the legislature in the New Year.
The APC, formerly in the minority, outgrew the majority strength of the Peoples Democratic Party after 37 PDP lawmakers defected to it on December 18.
The development gave the country’s main opposition party a slim majority advantage of 172 members over PDP’s 171 in the House that has 360 legislators.
Findings indicated on Tuesday that with about 40 more PDP lawmakers expected to join the APC before the end of this month (January), the opposition party would be in a comfortable majority (212) to assume the leadership of the House.
“The only principal officer whose seat is guaranteed for now is the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal,” said a reliable House source in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the source, the APC members collectively resolved that Tambuwal would continue to lead the House.
He said, “We have long resolved that Tambuwal will remain the speaker even in an APC dominated House until he decides to dump the PDP for the APC. For the other positions, we are taking over. We are electing a new deputy speaker also.”
Investigations showed that until now, the APC caucus had resolved that its Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, would become the Majority Leader.
The current majority leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, a PDP member, is expected to relinquish her seat.
However, The PUNCH gathered that of late, Gbajabiamila had come under pressure to “step up and become the deputy speaker instead of being the majority leader.”
The lawmaker from Lagos State was said to be resisting the pressure and had urged members to allow the current Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, retain his seat like Tambuwal.
“The confusion now is that Gbajabiamila is caught between being the majority leader and the deputy speaker”, another source in the House informed The PUNCH.
It was learnt that in the event he succumbed to pressure to become the deputy speaker, the post of majority leader might be assigned to one of the 37 PDP defectors.
“That is the thinking of the caucus; the idea is to give the ex-PDP members a sense of belonging.
“They should have something to benefit from supporting the APC”, the source added.
Other positions the APC had decided on are Majority Whip, Mr. Samson Osagie (Edo State); Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Sumaila Kawu (Kano State); and Deputy Majority Whip, Mr. Garba Datti (Kaduna State).
The PUNCH gathered that in a bid to save Ihedioha, Tambuwal had reportedly intensified lobbying his colleagues to extend the same gesture of retaining him to Ihedioha.
Another source in the House said, “The speaker has been talking to members to consider his appeal. Many of them are bent on asking Ihedioha to go because they claim not to be comfortable with his leadership style.
“There are those who are giving him the option of joining the APC to remain the deputy speaker.
“This latter group is certain that Tambuwal too has little choice but to join the APC by the end of this month.”
But, Ihedioha, has stated categorically that he will not abandon the PDP, a party he said did so much for him by returning him to the National Assembly for the third time.
When contacted, Gbajabiamila said there were “unresolved issues being discussed by members.”
Asked whether one of the issues was his being tipped for the position of the deputy speaker, he said that “members are the ones discussing to take decisions.”
When our correspondent probed further, Gbajabiamila said he would have wished to be majority leader.
Copyright PUNCH.
The APC, formerly in the minority, outgrew the majority strength of the Peoples Democratic Party after 37 PDP lawmakers defected to it on December 18.
The development gave the country’s main opposition party a slim majority advantage of 172 members over PDP’s 171 in the House that has 360 legislators.
Findings indicated on Tuesday that with about 40 more PDP lawmakers expected to join the APC before the end of this month (January), the opposition party would be in a comfortable majority (212) to assume the leadership of the House.
“The only principal officer whose seat is guaranteed for now is the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal,” said a reliable House source in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the source, the APC members collectively resolved that Tambuwal would continue to lead the House.
He said, “We have long resolved that Tambuwal will remain the speaker even in an APC dominated House until he decides to dump the PDP for the APC. For the other positions, we are taking over. We are electing a new deputy speaker also.”
Investigations showed that until now, the APC caucus had resolved that its Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, would become the Majority Leader.
The current majority leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, a PDP member, is expected to relinquish her seat.
However, The PUNCH gathered that of late, Gbajabiamila had come under pressure to “step up and become the deputy speaker instead of being the majority leader.”
The lawmaker from Lagos State was said to be resisting the pressure and had urged members to allow the current Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, retain his seat like Tambuwal.
“The confusion now is that Gbajabiamila is caught between being the majority leader and the deputy speaker”, another source in the House informed The PUNCH.
It was learnt that in the event he succumbed to pressure to become the deputy speaker, the post of majority leader might be assigned to one of the 37 PDP defectors.
“That is the thinking of the caucus; the idea is to give the ex-PDP members a sense of belonging.
“They should have something to benefit from supporting the APC”, the source added.
Other positions the APC had decided on are Majority Whip, Mr. Samson Osagie (Edo State); Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Sumaila Kawu (Kano State); and Deputy Majority Whip, Mr. Garba Datti (Kaduna State).
The PUNCH gathered that in a bid to save Ihedioha, Tambuwal had reportedly intensified lobbying his colleagues to extend the same gesture of retaining him to Ihedioha.
Another source in the House said, “The speaker has been talking to members to consider his appeal. Many of them are bent on asking Ihedioha to go because they claim not to be comfortable with his leadership style.
“There are those who are giving him the option of joining the APC to remain the deputy speaker.
“This latter group is certain that Tambuwal too has little choice but to join the APC by the end of this month.”
But, Ihedioha, has stated categorically that he will not abandon the PDP, a party he said did so much for him by returning him to the National Assembly for the third time.
When contacted, Gbajabiamila said there were “unresolved issues being discussed by members.”
Asked whether one of the issues was his being tipped for the position of the deputy speaker, he said that “members are the ones discussing to take decisions.”
When our correspondent probed further, Gbajabiamila said he would have wished to be majority leader.
Copyright PUNCH.
Pee shivers: You know you're curious BY Bill Briggs
Warning: Yellow journalism alert.
When grown men and little boys urinate, occasionally our entire body is abruptly racked with a mysterious, internal blast of cold that makes us visibly shudder from the shoulders down. It typically occurs near the end of the task, lasting roughly one frigid second.
This chill is not discussed, of course, in polite circles -- or even when we return to our buds in the sports bar. So, at no time will you hear: “Dudes, you’ll never guess what just happened to me in the bathroom?” Well … hopefully never.
Yet, we’ve given this sensation a name: the pee shiver. And as the name suggests, depending on a guy’s aim, it can make for messy results.
So let’s get right to question No. 1.
Why, in the name of Wiz Khalifa (or, if you like, P. Diddy), does this happen?
No leaks were required to obtain this information. We simply turned to Dr. Anish Sheth, author of “What’s My Pee Telling Me?”
“No one knows for certain what the specific trigger for the shivering is,” says Sheth, formerly director of the gastrointestinal motility program at Yale Medical School. But he points to two generally accepted variables to help solve this riddle.
First, the feeling “mostly” is experienced by males. Second, it “occurs most commonly while voiding large amounts of urine,” he says.
Or, to put it as delicately as possible, the icy jolt seems to hit after we’ve really, really had to go. Never after a tiny trickle.
According to Sheth, our parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for “rest-and-digest” functions) lowers the body’s blood pressure “to initiate urination.” One leading theory behind the shudder is that peeing can unleash a reactive response from the body’s sympathetic nervous system (which handles “fight or flight” actions).
On the cellular level, the body is theoretically flushed with catecholamines (which you know better as chemicals like dopamine or hormones like adrenaline). Those are dispatched to help restore or maintain blood pressure, Sheth says. But the microscopic energy bullets “may also trigger the shiver reflect.”
This theory, the author says, best explains “the gender difference as men pee standing up and, therefore, would be more prone to feeling the effects of a lower blood pressure, thereby triggering this exaggerated sympathetic nervous system response.
“Anecdotally,” he adds, “I don’t believe I have ever experienced the post-pee shivers while sitting down.” This would suggest that women don't tend to get them. (Do you? If so, please let us know.)
“I wouldn't know if it's a guy thing or a girl thing because I've never had a conversation with a girl about this – and it's not likely to happen anytime soon,” says stand-up comedian Dan Nainan
“I always wonder: what is that? … Why is it happening?” Nainan adds. “Obviously there is an evolutionary or natural-selection reason for everything. (But) as I'm trying to picture a caveman urinating out in the open, I'm wondering what the necessity of the shivering is.
“I think it tends to happen more in a public bathroom,” he adds. “Could it be some sort of way to warn off nearby enemies or something?”
Wow, comics must have to endure some pretty rough bathrooms.
Bill Briggs is a frequent contributor to msnbc.com and author of “The Third Miracle.”
NBC
When grown men and little boys urinate, occasionally our entire body is abruptly racked with a mysterious, internal blast of cold that makes us visibly shudder from the shoulders down. It typically occurs near the end of the task, lasting roughly one frigid second.
This chill is not discussed, of course, in polite circles -- or even when we return to our buds in the sports bar. So, at no time will you hear: “Dudes, you’ll never guess what just happened to me in the bathroom?” Well … hopefully never.
Yet, we’ve given this sensation a name: the pee shiver. And as the name suggests, depending on a guy’s aim, it can make for messy results.
So let’s get right to question No. 1.
Why, in the name of Wiz Khalifa (or, if you like, P. Diddy), does this happen?
No leaks were required to obtain this information. We simply turned to Dr. Anish Sheth, author of “What’s My Pee Telling Me?”
“No one knows for certain what the specific trigger for the shivering is,” says Sheth, formerly director of the gastrointestinal motility program at Yale Medical School. But he points to two generally accepted variables to help solve this riddle.
First, the feeling “mostly” is experienced by males. Second, it “occurs most commonly while voiding large amounts of urine,” he says.
Or, to put it as delicately as possible, the icy jolt seems to hit after we’ve really, really had to go. Never after a tiny trickle.
According to Sheth, our parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for “rest-and-digest” functions) lowers the body’s blood pressure “to initiate urination.” One leading theory behind the shudder is that peeing can unleash a reactive response from the body’s sympathetic nervous system (which handles “fight or flight” actions).
On the cellular level, the body is theoretically flushed with catecholamines (which you know better as chemicals like dopamine or hormones like adrenaline). Those are dispatched to help restore or maintain blood pressure, Sheth says. But the microscopic energy bullets “may also trigger the shiver reflect.”
This theory, the author says, best explains “the gender difference as men pee standing up and, therefore, would be more prone to feeling the effects of a lower blood pressure, thereby triggering this exaggerated sympathetic nervous system response.
“Anecdotally,” he adds, “I don’t believe I have ever experienced the post-pee shivers while sitting down.” This would suggest that women don't tend to get them. (Do you? If so, please let us know.)
“I wouldn't know if it's a guy thing or a girl thing because I've never had a conversation with a girl about this – and it's not likely to happen anytime soon,” says stand-up comedian Dan Nainan
“I always wonder: what is that? … Why is it happening?” Nainan adds. “Obviously there is an evolutionary or natural-selection reason for everything. (But) as I'm trying to picture a caveman urinating out in the open, I'm wondering what the necessity of the shivering is.
“I think it tends to happen more in a public bathroom,” he adds. “Could it be some sort of way to warn off nearby enemies or something?”
Wow, comics must have to endure some pretty rough bathrooms.
Bill Briggs is a frequent contributor to msnbc.com and author of “The Third Miracle.”
NBC
Boy Stripped, Hanged, Beaten To Death For Stealing Biscuits
A 12-year-old Indian boy was stripped, hanged upside-down and beaten to death in front of his parents after he admitted stealing a packet of biscuits at a hurriedly convened village court.
Chhotu Kumar was one of two youngsters accused of stealing from a shop in Thadi village in eastern Bihar's Purnia district.
They were brought before a panel of 'judges' who ordered handed down their punishment after they reportedly confessed to the crime.
According to local news reports, their parents begged the court to forgive them when their children's condition had deteriorated.
But the court refused to stop unless they paid a fine of 10,000 Rupees (£100) immediately which the parents said they were unable to do for two days because they were so poor.
As a result, the beating continued and Chhotu succumbed to his injuries.
The other boy, 13-year-old Pintu Kumar, survived but sustained severe injuries.
Police have launched an investigation against eight villagers and are planning a series of raids to arrest the suspects.
Local district superintendent of police Ajit Kumar Satyarthi said: "The incident is quite serious as the villagers have taken law into their hands. We are not going to spare any of them."
He said the children had also taken some chewing gum and petty cash.
dailymail
Chhotu Kumar was one of two youngsters accused of stealing from a shop in Thadi village in eastern Bihar's Purnia district.
They were brought before a panel of 'judges' who ordered handed down their punishment after they reportedly confessed to the crime.
According to local news reports, their parents begged the court to forgive them when their children's condition had deteriorated.
But the court refused to stop unless they paid a fine of 10,000 Rupees (£100) immediately which the parents said they were unable to do for two days because they were so poor.
As a result, the beating continued and Chhotu succumbed to his injuries.
The other boy, 13-year-old Pintu Kumar, survived but sustained severe injuries.
Police have launched an investigation against eight villagers and are planning a series of raids to arrest the suspects.
Local district superintendent of police Ajit Kumar Satyarthi said: "The incident is quite serious as the villagers have taken law into their hands. We are not going to spare any of them."
He said the children had also taken some chewing gum and petty cash.
dailymail
DR Congo ‘prophet’ on the run after attacks kill 100
A self-proclaimed “prophet” and televangelist blamed for violence that killed more than 100 people in DR Congo’s two main cities has fled the country, the government said Tuesday.
Supporters of Joseph Munkugubila Mutombo, who describes himself as God’s “last envoy to humanity after Jesus Christ and Paul of Tarsus”, said it was the army that triggered the deadly unrest in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
The government said its forces fought back a “terrorist offensive” on Monday, including attacks on the airport and main army headquarters in the capital as well as armed youths in the second city of Lubumbashi.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende said a total of 103 people were killed, 95 attackers and eight members of the armed forces.
“The death toll is heavy, very heavy,” he told reporters.
Mukungubila, who ran for president in 2006, had charged in a December 5 open letter that President Joseph Kabila was colluding with the regime of neighbouring Rwanda and argued he should not remain head of state.
“He has, courageously, vanished,” Mende said.
“He himself does not believe that his cause is right, a cause for which he is claiming responsibility in phone calls from a neighbouring country, or not too far away from ours. This man is a fugitive, he’s on the run,” he said.
The spokesman said those involved in what appeared to be coordinated attacks included several repeat offenders who had benefited from amnesty but no members of the security forces.
After taking control early Monday of the national radio and television (RNTC) premises in Kinshasa and holding reporters hostage, some armed youths clearly stated they were acting for Mukungubila, whom they call “the prophet of the eternal”.
His “Ministry of Restoration from Black Africa” said in an online statement published Monday that the armed forces had attacked the pastor’s home in Lubumbashi on Sunday, drawing armed reprisals.
Pastor allied with foes of Kabila
They said tempers flared when the authorities in Lubumbashi arrested “children” handing out copies of the preacher’s open letter, in which he “told the truth, that is to say we cannot have a foreigner at the head of the country.”
Mukungubila, 66, has allied himself with foes of Kabila who assert that he is a native — and a puppet — of neighbouring Rwanda, which has long played a key role in the affairs of its vast western neighbour, as both invader and ally.
This claim is unproven and denied by family members who say that Kabila was born in a rebel camp run by his late father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, who in 1997 ousted dictator Mobutu Sese Seko
The flare-up came after news Sunday the country’s top cop was dismissed and replaced by an ethnic Tutsi, sparking suspicion among some Kabila critics of Rwandan meddling.
Kabila was in the mining capital of Lubumbashi when a group of men stormed the set of a live programme by the state broadcaster in Kinshasa, nearly 1,000 miles away.
His absence from the capital and the chaos that set in on Monday sparked fears of a coup in the vast mineral-rich nation but Defence Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo soon announced that the situation was under control.
The authorities made several arrests on Monday and displayed Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition described as the attackers’ arsenal.
“I was really frightened yesterday. I heard heavy gunfire while I was at the market with my two children… We fled,” household help Chantal said.
Shops that had closed and inhabitants who had stayed at home amid the confusion were back open and on the streets of Kinshasa Tuesday, an AFP correspondent reported.
Monday’s statement by the preacher’s office described how a kind of divine shield allegedly protected Mukungubila’s residence from army shelling.
“Then they began to shell the residence… The shells did nothing, they didn’t even damage vehicles,” it said.
Witnesses in Lubumbashi however told AFP Tuesday that the self-styled religious leader’s house had been largely demolished.
On his Ministry of Restoration website, Mukungubila is described as “the prophet of God, by whom the creator is speaking to us on this world today.”
In another somewhat cryptic post, the website says Mukungubila’s birth on December 26, 1947 coincided with the fall of a star “of the same type as that of Bethlehem. (AFP)
Supporters of Joseph Munkugubila Mutombo, who describes himself as God’s “last envoy to humanity after Jesus Christ and Paul of Tarsus”, said it was the army that triggered the deadly unrest in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
The government said its forces fought back a “terrorist offensive” on Monday, including attacks on the airport and main army headquarters in the capital as well as armed youths in the second city of Lubumbashi.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende said a total of 103 people were killed, 95 attackers and eight members of the armed forces.
“The death toll is heavy, very heavy,” he told reporters.
Mukungubila, who ran for president in 2006, had charged in a December 5 open letter that President Joseph Kabila was colluding with the regime of neighbouring Rwanda and argued he should not remain head of state.
“He has, courageously, vanished,” Mende said.
“He himself does not believe that his cause is right, a cause for which he is claiming responsibility in phone calls from a neighbouring country, or not too far away from ours. This man is a fugitive, he’s on the run,” he said.
The spokesman said those involved in what appeared to be coordinated attacks included several repeat offenders who had benefited from amnesty but no members of the security forces.
After taking control early Monday of the national radio and television (RNTC) premises in Kinshasa and holding reporters hostage, some armed youths clearly stated they were acting for Mukungubila, whom they call “the prophet of the eternal”.
His “Ministry of Restoration from Black Africa” said in an online statement published Monday that the armed forces had attacked the pastor’s home in Lubumbashi on Sunday, drawing armed reprisals.
Pastor allied with foes of Kabila
They said tempers flared when the authorities in Lubumbashi arrested “children” handing out copies of the preacher’s open letter, in which he “told the truth, that is to say we cannot have a foreigner at the head of the country.”
Mukungubila, 66, has allied himself with foes of Kabila who assert that he is a native — and a puppet — of neighbouring Rwanda, which has long played a key role in the affairs of its vast western neighbour, as both invader and ally.
This claim is unproven and denied by family members who say that Kabila was born in a rebel camp run by his late father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, who in 1997 ousted dictator Mobutu Sese Seko
The flare-up came after news Sunday the country’s top cop was dismissed and replaced by an ethnic Tutsi, sparking suspicion among some Kabila critics of Rwandan meddling.
Kabila was in the mining capital of Lubumbashi when a group of men stormed the set of a live programme by the state broadcaster in Kinshasa, nearly 1,000 miles away.
His absence from the capital and the chaos that set in on Monday sparked fears of a coup in the vast mineral-rich nation but Defence Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo soon announced that the situation was under control.
The authorities made several arrests on Monday and displayed Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition described as the attackers’ arsenal.
“I was really frightened yesterday. I heard heavy gunfire while I was at the market with my two children… We fled,” household help Chantal said.
Shops that had closed and inhabitants who had stayed at home amid the confusion were back open and on the streets of Kinshasa Tuesday, an AFP correspondent reported.
Monday’s statement by the preacher’s office described how a kind of divine shield allegedly protected Mukungubila’s residence from army shelling.
“Then they began to shell the residence… The shells did nothing, they didn’t even damage vehicles,” it said.
Witnesses in Lubumbashi however told AFP Tuesday that the self-styled religious leader’s house had been largely demolished.
On his Ministry of Restoration website, Mukungubila is described as “the prophet of God, by whom the creator is speaking to us on this world today.”
In another somewhat cryptic post, the website says Mukungubila’s birth on December 26, 1947 coincided with the fall of a star “of the same type as that of Bethlehem. (AFP)
Africa’s richest man, @AlikoDangote, joins twitter
Dangote is estimated to be Africa’s richest man.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday joined millions of people who are on the social media network, Twitter.
Dangote’s twitter account, @AlikoDangote, got an automatic verification from Twitter without a single tweet. About an hour after the account was opened, it had over 1000 followers.
The multi-billionaire philanthropist is President of Dangote Group of Companies and has diverse interests in various industries including oil and gas, food, cement, and telecommunications. He was listed as Africa’s richest man, 25th globally, by Forbes Magazine, which estimates the Kano-born businessman to be worth $20.8 billion.
Oga at the top”, others make 2013 YouTube 10 most watched videos in Nigeria
“Ada-Ada” by Flavour is the most watched music video.
According to YouTube Rewind, the now famous interview of Obafaiye Shem, former Lagos State commandant of National Security and Civil Defence Corp, on Channels Television, popularly referred to as “My Oga At The Top,” is one of the most watched YouTube videos in Nigeria in 2013.
The interview clip came second, behind multiple award winning Nollywood movie, Last Flight To Abuja.
YouTube Rewind, a product of YouTube, also revealed its rating parameters such as numbers of shares, likes, make response to amongst others.
In the music video category, multiple award winning video, “Ada- Ada,” by Flavour ranks as the most watched musical clip, while AYTVAYTV, the YouTube channel of comedian, AY, ranks as the most watch channel among Nigerians.
Top 10 Videos watched in Nigeria in 2013 excluding Music
1. Last Flight To Abuja – The full movie (Nollywood Movies 2013)
2. Civil Defence Commandant Can’t Tell His Organisation’s Web Address
3. EDIDI-(The Bond) – Latest Yoruba Movie 2013 Starring Iyabo Ojo
4. Stella Damasus and Senator Yerima on Al-Jazeera Network THE STREAM
5. The Leaked Video Of Gen. Diya Oladipo Pleading With Gen. Sanni Abacha – Oputa Panel
6. THE LAGOS BIG GIRL’S GAME ( Reanne Opia)
7. Bling!
8. How to get married; “Naija” style by Toke Makinwa
9. The Interview – A tale of Frank Donga
10. Nigeria – Burkina Faso | CAN Orange 2013 | 21.01.2013
Top 10 Music Videos watched by Nigerians
1. Ada Ada [Official Video] by Flavour
2. PULL OVER (OFFICIAL VIDEO) by KCEE Ft. Wizkid
3. Personally by P-Square
4. CARO – (Official Video) by Starboy Ft. L.A.X & Wizkid
5. Jaiye Jaiye (Official Video) by WizKid Ft. Femi Kuti
6. Sexy Mama [Official Video] by Iyanya Ft. Wizkid
7. Eminado [Official Video] by Tiwa Savage Ft. Don Jazzy
8. Stupid love by Olamide
9. Skelewu (Official Video) by Davido
10. Emi ni baller (Official Video) by Chidinma Ft. Tha Suspect & IllBliss
Top 10 Channels in Nigeria in 2013
1. AYTVAYTV
2. channelsweb
3. yorubamagic
4. mynaijalove
5. TVNolly
6. nollywood5star
7. ndaniTV
8. DavidoHKNTV
9. Nollywood5ive
10. officialiyanya
Premium times
According to YouTube Rewind, the now famous interview of Obafaiye Shem, former Lagos State commandant of National Security and Civil Defence Corp, on Channels Television, popularly referred to as “My Oga At The Top,” is one of the most watched YouTube videos in Nigeria in 2013.
The interview clip came second, behind multiple award winning Nollywood movie, Last Flight To Abuja.
YouTube Rewind, a product of YouTube, also revealed its rating parameters such as numbers of shares, likes, make response to amongst others.
In the music video category, multiple award winning video, “Ada- Ada,” by Flavour ranks as the most watched musical clip, while AYTVAYTV, the YouTube channel of comedian, AY, ranks as the most watch channel among Nigerians.
Top 10 Videos watched in Nigeria in 2013 excluding Music
1. Last Flight To Abuja – The full movie (Nollywood Movies 2013)
2. Civil Defence Commandant Can’t Tell His Organisation’s Web Address
3. EDIDI-(The Bond) – Latest Yoruba Movie 2013 Starring Iyabo Ojo
4. Stella Damasus and Senator Yerima on Al-Jazeera Network THE STREAM
5. The Leaked Video Of Gen. Diya Oladipo Pleading With Gen. Sanni Abacha – Oputa Panel
6. THE LAGOS BIG GIRL’S GAME ( Reanne Opia)
7. Bling!
8. How to get married; “Naija” style by Toke Makinwa
9. The Interview – A tale of Frank Donga
10. Nigeria – Burkina Faso | CAN Orange 2013 | 21.01.2013
Top 10 Music Videos watched by Nigerians
1. Ada Ada [Official Video] by Flavour
2. PULL OVER (OFFICIAL VIDEO) by KCEE Ft. Wizkid
3. Personally by P-Square
4. CARO – (Official Video) by Starboy Ft. L.A.X & Wizkid
5. Jaiye Jaiye (Official Video) by WizKid Ft. Femi Kuti
6. Sexy Mama [Official Video] by Iyanya Ft. Wizkid
7. Eminado [Official Video] by Tiwa Savage Ft. Don Jazzy
8. Stupid love by Olamide
9. Skelewu (Official Video) by Davido
10. Emi ni baller (Official Video) by Chidinma Ft. Tha Suspect & IllBliss
Top 10 Channels in Nigeria in 2013
1. AYTVAYTV
2. channelsweb
3. yorubamagic
4. mynaijalove
5. TVNolly
6. nollywood5star
7. ndaniTV
8. DavidoHKNTV
9. Nollywood5ive
10. officialiyanya
Premium times
PHCN NEW OWNERS SHOULD RECALL WORKERS –NEBO
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, in this interview, said there are many challenges in the post privatisation era in the power sector but they are surmountable. Excerpts:
What were the initial challenges after handover of PHCN assets to the new owners?
The private sector is just bracing up to the challenges and the challenges are a myriad because the entire market is not totally solvent. The reasons are obvious, we have an incredible metering gap that was not fully addressed before the takeover. But we are trying to find ways to mitigate the consequences of these huge metering gaps that was estimated to be up to 2.7 million. It’s not easy to fill that gap within a short time, it is something that will take time to procure and install and commission the meters. So collection of tariff has not been easy, that’s one of the serious teething problems. People who are not using pre-paid smart meters are being given estimated bill.
Why did you disengage all the PHCN workers even though you need their services again ?
Unfortunately, another mistake was that the Distribution company (Disco) owners sacked many of the workers and some of these sacked workers were people who were very good at collecting the tariff. The new owners worked with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), 100 percent of the workers were sacked but it is at the instance of the new owners to retain who they want to because they are no longer under the government employ; I think they should recall this people back because some of them are good and know how to get the money. It is better to incur some losses to get more than 80 percent of revenue from the sector.
You know it’s a chain, if you don’t collect this money how does the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) service its facilities, how do the generating companies get paid. What happens at the distribution end definitely affects the generation end because they need money to pay for the gas and the gas doesn’t come cheap, if they shut the gas it will affect the entire system.
What are the other challenges in post privatisation?
The companies did not quite fully understand the market because we handed over completely without declaring the Transition Electricity Market (TEM). But the reason we could not declare TEM is because there are conditions precedents. But we needed to hand over because these people have paid and they wanted to take over the assets.
We have almost completely addressed the issue of labour settlement apart from Enugu where there was another biometric capturing and that is been addressed. About 1,000 workers still need to be taken care of and that is been done. NERC engaged all the participants, both at the generation, distribution and transmission value chain, to ensure that there is an agreement that basic interim rules were put in place - rules that had the approval and buy-in of all the market participants, and would be holding forth until the declaration of TEM.
What about gas supply constraints?
The major drawback we have now is the issue of lack of adequate quantities of gas needed for proper generation. If you buy a company and you are supposed to, like Egbin, generate 1,100mw and you end up generating 600mw it’s a huge loss to the company. Part of the reason is vandalism and all kinds of unpatriotic activities. Those in the eastern zone we have oil theft, we have the most proficient oil thieves in Nigeria. They are always steps ahead of law enforcement because when they go to steal the oil and because of the nature of the transport of gas, the only way to stop disaster is to shut off gas.
On the western axis, it’s pure vandalism and sabotage, all the blow holes in that axis, Warri, Excravos, Lagos axis and so on, were sabotaged because they were dynamite blown, done in such a professional manner. This takes a lot to repair them, as you finish a part and begin to test you find out that you can never build enough pressure, from about three to six blow holes we ended up finding out there were more than 12 blow holes and they have finished the job already. For six months we are losing delivery capacity that is costing us over 1,000mw including the repairs and expansion work that will give us additional 200mw but we hope that in the next few weeks we will have that sorted out.
Is there any intervention from government on gas-to-power?
If you were a gas supplier, you will first consider supplying gas to the person who pays you better than the person who pays you lesser and still owes you. That has been the situation all along, the power plants were getting gas at very cheap rates because they were owned by government. But now we have private people; since January we have paid every bill for gas, and not only that, the tariff for gas is rising from $1.80 and will go up to $2 very soon and it will continue to appreciate. We looked at all the vandalism with the supply of gas and saw that the supplies to the industries remain consistent but the one to power drops and if you are technically minded, you will know it is vandalism plus smart sense, but we are working hard to make sure that we get it right.
What are the ministry’s diversification plans in post privatisation?
We targeted the rural areas that are far-flung from the national grid, we think that it is not going to be feasible to use gas fired plants and doing all kinds of radial connections to them, so we decided to go renewable, and the source of fuel will be supplied by nature and that is solar and wind. Right now, because of the technicalities involved in wind turbines, many of them in order to be functional would have a minimum wind velocity of 5mps, some very fine-tuned technology will even take 3.5mps, but most of Nigeria is between 2 to 5mps at 10 metres. In order to really get to 5mps apart from the coastal areas that are much higher, you now have to go up to 100 metres above and that is why we are emphasising solar and, so far, it has been remarkable.
It has been fantastic, giving them 100 percent, 24 hours power supply not only in their village squares but also in every homes, we have done that at Durumi where night activities, pharmacies and health centres now work well because they don’t have to worry about the sustainability of their drugs because they are cooled now.
In these villages, we created a commercial hub to boost their commercial activities. Now every household in Durumi and Shape which are the pilot projects have these facilities; there is no village in Nigeria that has the quality of power from integrated solar like what is available in Durumi. We are also trying to devise a payment system that is digital and easy in these villages; it has to be ‘pay- as- you- go’ to sustain it. They are buying kerosene, fuel and other fuel sources to power their small power plants but don’t want to pay for something that is better off by far. They can pay but we have to teach them how to pay with better advocacy.
daily trust
What were the initial challenges after handover of PHCN assets to the new owners?
The private sector is just bracing up to the challenges and the challenges are a myriad because the entire market is not totally solvent. The reasons are obvious, we have an incredible metering gap that was not fully addressed before the takeover. But we are trying to find ways to mitigate the consequences of these huge metering gaps that was estimated to be up to 2.7 million. It’s not easy to fill that gap within a short time, it is something that will take time to procure and install and commission the meters. So collection of tariff has not been easy, that’s one of the serious teething problems. People who are not using pre-paid smart meters are being given estimated bill.
Why did you disengage all the PHCN workers even though you need their services again ?
Unfortunately, another mistake was that the Distribution company (Disco) owners sacked many of the workers and some of these sacked workers were people who were very good at collecting the tariff. The new owners worked with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), 100 percent of the workers were sacked but it is at the instance of the new owners to retain who they want to because they are no longer under the government employ; I think they should recall this people back because some of them are good and know how to get the money. It is better to incur some losses to get more than 80 percent of revenue from the sector.
You know it’s a chain, if you don’t collect this money how does the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) service its facilities, how do the generating companies get paid. What happens at the distribution end definitely affects the generation end because they need money to pay for the gas and the gas doesn’t come cheap, if they shut the gas it will affect the entire system.
What are the other challenges in post privatisation?
The companies did not quite fully understand the market because we handed over completely without declaring the Transition Electricity Market (TEM). But the reason we could not declare TEM is because there are conditions precedents. But we needed to hand over because these people have paid and they wanted to take over the assets.
We have almost completely addressed the issue of labour settlement apart from Enugu where there was another biometric capturing and that is been addressed. About 1,000 workers still need to be taken care of and that is been done. NERC engaged all the participants, both at the generation, distribution and transmission value chain, to ensure that there is an agreement that basic interim rules were put in place - rules that had the approval and buy-in of all the market participants, and would be holding forth until the declaration of TEM.
What about gas supply constraints?
The major drawback we have now is the issue of lack of adequate quantities of gas needed for proper generation. If you buy a company and you are supposed to, like Egbin, generate 1,100mw and you end up generating 600mw it’s a huge loss to the company. Part of the reason is vandalism and all kinds of unpatriotic activities. Those in the eastern zone we have oil theft, we have the most proficient oil thieves in Nigeria. They are always steps ahead of law enforcement because when they go to steal the oil and because of the nature of the transport of gas, the only way to stop disaster is to shut off gas.
On the western axis, it’s pure vandalism and sabotage, all the blow holes in that axis, Warri, Excravos, Lagos axis and so on, were sabotaged because they were dynamite blown, done in such a professional manner. This takes a lot to repair them, as you finish a part and begin to test you find out that you can never build enough pressure, from about three to six blow holes we ended up finding out there were more than 12 blow holes and they have finished the job already. For six months we are losing delivery capacity that is costing us over 1,000mw including the repairs and expansion work that will give us additional 200mw but we hope that in the next few weeks we will have that sorted out.
Is there any intervention from government on gas-to-power?
If you were a gas supplier, you will first consider supplying gas to the person who pays you better than the person who pays you lesser and still owes you. That has been the situation all along, the power plants were getting gas at very cheap rates because they were owned by government. But now we have private people; since January we have paid every bill for gas, and not only that, the tariff for gas is rising from $1.80 and will go up to $2 very soon and it will continue to appreciate. We looked at all the vandalism with the supply of gas and saw that the supplies to the industries remain consistent but the one to power drops and if you are technically minded, you will know it is vandalism plus smart sense, but we are working hard to make sure that we get it right.
What are the ministry’s diversification plans in post privatisation?
We targeted the rural areas that are far-flung from the national grid, we think that it is not going to be feasible to use gas fired plants and doing all kinds of radial connections to them, so we decided to go renewable, and the source of fuel will be supplied by nature and that is solar and wind. Right now, because of the technicalities involved in wind turbines, many of them in order to be functional would have a minimum wind velocity of 5mps, some very fine-tuned technology will even take 3.5mps, but most of Nigeria is between 2 to 5mps at 10 metres. In order to really get to 5mps apart from the coastal areas that are much higher, you now have to go up to 100 metres above and that is why we are emphasising solar and, so far, it has been remarkable.
It has been fantastic, giving them 100 percent, 24 hours power supply not only in their village squares but also in every homes, we have done that at Durumi where night activities, pharmacies and health centres now work well because they don’t have to worry about the sustainability of their drugs because they are cooled now.
In these villages, we created a commercial hub to boost their commercial activities. Now every household in Durumi and Shape which are the pilot projects have these facilities; there is no village in Nigeria that has the quality of power from integrated solar like what is available in Durumi. We are also trying to devise a payment system that is digital and easy in these villages; it has to be ‘pay- as- you- go’ to sustain it. They are buying kerosene, fuel and other fuel sources to power their small power plants but don’t want to pay for something that is better off by far. They can pay but we have to teach them how to pay with better advocacy.
daily trust
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