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  • We’ll need over N220bn to conduct next census – NPC DG

    The National Population Commission has said the next census will cost well over N220bn.

    The Director-General of the NPC, Dr. Ghaji Ismail, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the commencement of fieldwork for the continuation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation.

    He said the 2015 budget for the proposed 2016 census which eventually did not take place was put at N220bn.

    Ismail said with currency devaluation and inflation rates, the commission would require much more than N220bn to conduct a census.

    The DG said, “How much will it cost? At this point in time it is going to be very difficult because there have been changes. It is not something you can say off hand but if we deduce from our previous submission in 2015 hoping that it would take place in 2016, a lot has changed in terms of currency devaluation but if we are to use the 2015 submission, we are looking at a submission of over N220bn.”

    Ismail said although the 2019 budget proposal had no provision for a census, a separate budget could be submitted for the exercise.

    The DG said it was time to begin to speak about it since elections were already coming to an end.

    He, therefore, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to take the matter into consideration.

    Ismail added, “Normally, it (census budget) is done within the wide service vote which is directly under the Presidency and therefore, when the proclamation is made by Mr. President. We are very hopeful because we have briefed him and we are very hopeful that this time around, having put the elections behind us, Mr. President would look at the commission favourably so that we can undertake the net census because, without the consensus, there will be no planning.

    “We are proud to say Mr President is doing very well in the area of infrastructure in the last three to four years and we are convinced that he will continue to do so but better still, from our perspective, the infrastructure should be provided based on the basis that we know where we are, who we are, where we are mostly located and our various population dynamics.”

    Ismail said the time had come for a law to be introduced which will give the NPoPC the mandate to hold census at regular intervals just as the Independent National Electoral Commission undertakes elections every four years.

    He said a bill had been submitted to the National Assembly to that effect which had passed the first reading but things slowed down because of the electioneering.

    The DG added, “We are conscious of the fact that the absence of a legislation has actually not done us any good because the absence of legislation leaves the decision to conduct census at the liberty or the vagaries of nature which means it is left to time and chance.

    “We are working hard. In fact, we have conducted two rounds of in-house review for a legal instrument to see that we push it forward. As we speak, we have proposed an amendment of the Act which is before the National Assembly. If I am not mistaken, it has gone through the first reading but elections came up.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the commission, Hassan Bashir, announced the commencement of the Enumeration Area Demarcation.

    Bashir explained that the EAD which holds from March 21 to April 13 across 23 states will constitute the architecture for the census exercise.

  • Alleged $205m fraud: Judge’s absence stalls arraignment of ex-NIA DG, wife

    Alleged $205m fraud: Judge’s absence stalls arraignment of ex-NIA DG, wife

    The absence of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, stalled the arraignment of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke; and his wife, Folashade, over $205m crime concealment.

    The defendants were charged before Justice Aneke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on counts of money laundering, fraud, concealment of crime proceeds, and criminal breach of trust.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case which was earlier billed for the arraignment of the defendants, was on Monday, further adjourned to a date that would be communicated to parties, as the court did not sit.

    The judge is said to be away on an official assignment.

    On February 7, the court had issued a bench warrant for the arrest and production in court of the defendants, following an application moved by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

    According to the charge, on April 12, 2017, the accused indirectly concealed the sum of $43.5m, property of the Federal Government of Nigeria in Flat 7B, No. 16, Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • BPE to raise N300b to fund 2018 Budget – DG

    The Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr Alex Okoh on Monday said the Bureau will generate over N300 billion from privatisation and commercialisation to support the 2018 budget financing.

    Okoh spoke in Lagos at the Stakeholders Media Interactive Forum organised by the Enterprise and the Stakeholders Engagement Committee of the National Council on Privatisation (SEC-NCP).

    The BPE plans to generate N300 billion into the 2018 budget through the sale of some national assets, such as the Afam Power Plant in Rivers State, Geregu, Calabar and Omotosho National Independent Power Projects, re-privatisation of the Yola Distribution Company, River Basin Development Authorities and the National Parks.

    Some of the transactions in the pipeline include the concession of Warri Old Port, the reconcession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, the sale of Afam Power Plant and three National Independent Power Projects.

    The DG explained that the BPE recently concluded the sale of the Federal Government’s 21 per cent interest in the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The transaction is expected to contribute over N17 billion to the national treasury.

    Okoh said the process for recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture to create a stable financial institution that will support farmers was ongoing.

    He said the government through the CBN and farmers associations would acquire 40 per cent each of the equity while the private sector would acquire 20 per cent.

    Okoh said the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) would be unbundled into five commercial entities.

    The BPE boss said the Enterprise was entering into new privatisation reform programme through Public Private Partnership.

    He said the new reform programme targeted the utility and infrastructure sectors including railway, highways, roads, airports and the health sectors.

    Okoh said 142 companies had so far been privatised since the inception of the programme.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohamed, the Chairman of SEC-NCP, who chaired yesterday’s event said despite the massive investment of about $100 billion in setting up some public enterprises, they have failed to live up to expectations adding that they are consuming a large proportion of resources without providing commensurate returns or services.

    Mohammed added:”More importantly, they failed to allocate their resources efficiently, even as they consumed over $3 billion annually, by way of grants, subsidies, import duty waivers, tax exemptions, etc.”

    He said there are ongoing reforms and privatization in various sectors of the economy, including Communications, Development Finance Institutions, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority, National Parks and the River Basin Development Authorities.

    The Power and the Postal sectors, Federal roads, Railways, National Inland Water Ways and a host of other enterprises are also slated for reforms and privatization.

    The Minister said the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had initiated and executed far reaching reforms in the Communications, Pensions, Sea Ports, Debt Management, Solid Minerals as well as the Power sector reform that led to the unbundling and privatisation of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    “Some of these reforms led to the establishment of both regulatory and other agencies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Pension Commission (PenCom), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria Electricity Liabilities Management Company (NELMCO), and the Nigeria Electricity Bulk Trader (NBET),” he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said the BPE had drafted eight reform bills that, when passed, will liberalise the relevant sectors and lead to the setting up of appropriate regulatory agencies to create the much-needed conducive and enabling environment for private sector investments.

    He listed the bills as the Railway Bill; the Inland Waterways Bill; the Ports and Harbour Bill; the Federal Roads Authority Bill; the National Roads Fund Bill; the National Transport Commission; the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill and the Postal Bill.

  • Nigerian needs maritime data bank for economic growth – NIMASA DG

    …Says Maritime Sector contribution to GDP deserves recognition

    …Nigerian waters no longer conducive for substandard vessels

    The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that the Agency is pushing for a single data window system of all activities in the Nigerian maritime sector in such a way that data required will be available on a single platform, as a maritime databank to help engender the nation’s rapid economic growth.

    The DG who stated this in Lagos today at an interactive session with the media also noted that the Nigerian maritime sector which currently provides over 100,000 direct jobs with multiplier effects of over two million jobs, deserves adequate mention in the statistics released monthly by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    “We are pushing for a single data window system in the maritime sector, whereby NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies in the sector will share a common platform for data on all vessels calling at our ports and the activities. This will make it easy for the National Bureau of Statistics to capture the contributions of the maritime sector and the GDP of the country to enable those who make use of the figures to grow the economy achieve better results,” he said.

    Speaking on the survey and inspection of vessels calling at Nigerian ports, he said that the fast intervention vessels the agency leased last year have led to an increase in Port, Flag and Coastal State control inspections, which he noted has increased by over 10.3, 33.3 and 27 per cent respectively in 2018 than the same period in the previous year. This is just as the Agency has taken drastic action to ensure that substandard vessels do not ply and endanger our waters.

    “Nigeria is no longer conducive for substandard vessels, because they know that we are more vigilant and by this we are ensuring the protection of our environment. We are strict on enforcement of standards and the international fleet feels more comfortable with our maritime terrain”, the DG said.

    Commenting on the issue of placing beneficiaries of the Agency’s Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) onboard ocean going vessels for their mandatory sea-time training, he disclosed that currently a total number of 289 cadets have commenced their training in Egypt and the United Kingdom on NIMASA full sponsorship. He also used the opportunity to assure all beneficiaries of the scheme that the Agency will ensure they all complete their mandatory sea-time training in due course.

    He pointed out further that the Agency is working with the IMO as technical partners to improve the quality of graduates from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron; this is to ensure that graduates from MAN, Oron and other maritime institutions are employable.

    Dr. Dakuku also said that the Agency is working with a shipping firm in the United Arab Emirates UAE to give 100 Nigerian Seafarers sea time training spread over 10 years.

    In the area of security on the nation’s territorial waters, the NIMASA DG said that the Agency is addressing it through the NIMASA total spectrum maritime security strategy, which includes investment on intelligence and partnership with the Nigerian Navy, building of Nigeria’s response capabilities with the use of Fast Intervention Vessels and the review of our laws, especially the anti-piracy bill which will give the Agency the legal backing to prosecute issues relating to piracy on our waters.

    He also hinted that the Agency has been able to plug all loopholes through the automation of its processes, as there is no more room for human interface, thereby curbing any form of corrupt practices. This, he said has also assisted the Agency to contribute substantially to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government.

    While noting that ratings on transparency and accountability by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), shows NIMASA has improved tremendously, Dr Dakuku said that the target is to be amongst the first three government agencies in the next rating.

    Also speaking on the recently reviewed 2018-2019 maritime forecast, Dr. Dakuku noted that the projected 1.8 to 2.5 per cent growth in the sector can only take place when all avenues or windows are explored to grow the industry.

  • Sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura released from custody, passport seized

    Sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura released from custody, passport seized

    The embattled former Director General of Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Daura have been released with his international passport seized.

    Recall that the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday ordered the immediate sack of the top spy chief after ordering the deployment of masked DSS operatives to lay siege to the National Assembly.

    Intelligence report has it that Daura was released on Wednesday evening from a guest house run by the DSS in Gwarimpa area of Abuja where he had been placed on house arrest since dismissal on Tuesday.

    The presidency said the deployment of the DSS officials to the National Assembly was unauthorised.

    The presence of masked DSS agents who prevented federal lawmakers and staff members from entering the parliament drew nationwide outrage on Tuesday morning. By afternoon, the acting president, apparently incensed by the images of the ensued fracas being beamed across the world, ordered Daura’s instant dismissal from service.

    He was also asked to be remanded in custody, following allegations he might have committed some of the gravest heist and betrayal in Nigeria’s national security history.

    He was initially reportedly taken to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility in Guzape neighbourhood, Abuja, where he spent time answering questions for his highly controversial tenure at the secret police.

    Later on, he was moved to one of the numerous guests houses run by DSS around the Federal Capital Territory. Specifically, he was detained at a building in Gwarinpa, a massive residential community filling the northwestern corridor of the capital, security sources informed of the matter said.

    “He was given his phones and released to go,” a source said. “But his international passport was taken from him.”

    It was not immediately clear where Daura is currently putting up, but security sources said he would not be able to go under the radar given the intensity of surveillance already placed on him.

    His two known telephone lines were still switched as at the moment this story was ready for publication. The DSS has not had a spokesperson since September 2015, shortly after Mr Daura took over, despite demands by media advocates.

    The police did not return requests for comments about when Daura was handed over to the DSS and other details surrounding his interrogation.

     

  • BREAKING: Sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura, arrested, detained

    BREAKING: Sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura, arrested, detained

    Following the termination of the appointment of DG of DSS, Lawal Daura, reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com have it that he (Daura) has been arrested.

    Daura was reportedly whisked away by three Police vans including two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a jeep.

    While the State House reporters were awaiting his exit from the office of the Vice President, Daura was taken away via the backdoor.

    Confirmation of the arrest is being awaited as at the time this report was filed.

     

    More details later…

  • 95% of NYSC members die due to road accident – DG

    The National Youth Service Corp says 95 per cent of deaths recorded by serving Corps members is due to road accidents.

    Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director General of NYSC, said this while addressing corps members observing their orientation camp course in Katsina on Monday.

    “Several serving corps members have been embarking on unnecessary journeys that led to their death.

    “From the records before the Directorate, several corps members have lost their lives, while on fruitless journeys.

    “Several serving corps members had been involved in road accidents due to the poor nature of Nigerian roads.

    “For several years, Nigerian roads are death traps and corps members should only embark on necessary journeys.

    “I am calling on serving corps members that have concrete reason to travel to always seek the permission of NYSC officials,’’ he said.

    Kazaure called on serving corps members to always patronise government hospitals if they were sick.

    Earlier, the Katsina State NYSC Coordinator, Hajiya Ramatu Sanda, had called on the NYSC management to provide more vehicles to Katsina State office.

    Sanda said that so far, 2, 076 corps members had registered for their orientation in the state and advised them to participate activity in all the orientation programmes.

    She commended the Katsina Government for proving lots of assistance to the state NYSC.

    NAN

  • NYSC: DG cautions corps members over frequent travels

    Worried by the rate insurgency in the country, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, has charged corps members across the country to be security conscious and to avoid unnecessary travels and reckless movements during their service year.

    Where travels and movements become necessary and inevitable, the NYSC boss advised such corps members to obtain clearance from the appropriate quarters and to always move in groups within the locality of their areas of primary assignments.

    Kazaure gave the charge shortly on Saturday after inspecting facilities at the Imo State NYSC orientation camp at Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Council Area of Imo State.

    Kazaure, who is the 17th DG of the NYSC established in 1973 also cautioned the corps members against indecent dressing, indulgence in night parties even as he urged them to respect the cultures and traditions of their host communities.

    “I know what it means to be a corps member because I was one of you 30 years ago in Jalingo where I served. I urge you to be patriotic, diligent and committed in the service of your fatherland”, he added.

    He congratulated the corps members on the successful completion of their academics which he said, qualified them for participation in the national youth service scheme.

  • SEC files preliminary objection against suspended DG’s suit

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Thursday adjourned until Oct. 24 hearing of the preliminary objection filed by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in the suit instituted against it by its suspended Director-General, Mounir Gwarzo.

    Justice Sanusi Kado, adjourned the suit after listening to submissions of counsel and ordered that hearing notice be served on the Attorney-General of the Federation who has no legal presentation in court.

    Gwarzo was suspended in November 2017, over alleged financial misappropriation.

    When the case came up for mention, the claimant counsel, Adetayo Adeyemi, told the court that all the defendants had been served with originating processes.

    Chris Uche (SAN), SEC’s counsel,said he had filed memorandum of conditional appearance and served the claimant’s counsel with preliminary objection.

    Chinedu Achumie, counsel to the Minister of Finance, acknowledged that they had been served by the claimant, but were yet to reply.

    Adeyemi acknowledged that SEC counsel had served them with preliminary objection, but they were yet to reply as they were served on Wednesday.

    The claimant is seeking a declaration that his appointment as D-G of SEC is valid, legal and subsisting.

    A declaration that the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the Minister of Finance was biased, partial and against the principle of natural justice.

    The suspended D-G is also seeking an order of the court to set aside the report of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry that indicted him.

  • Erosion may wipe off Lekki Conservation Centre, says DG

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, revealed on Saturday that erosion may soon wipe off the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos.

    Aminu-Kano told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that sand filling, dredging and land reclamation activities in various communities in the area has directly threatened the existence of the park.

    According to him, the development has endangered various animal and plant species in the reserve, requiring urgent intervention of the Lagos and Federal Government to save the reserve.

    “Our problem is that with recent developments, we have become an island.

    “This is one of the only few places where you have dense population of trees and animals and what that means is that all the buildings around us have raised the land above us so, we are now in a depression.

    “When the rains come, all the water drains into this reserve. So we have a lot of flooding and areas that are not normally flooded are now flooded.

    “We have, however, done a study and we are trying to improve the drainage without disturbing the natural ecosystem.

    “But another problem we have is that of shoreline erosion.’’

    He noted that with the ongoing protection of the Bar Beach shoreline and land reclamation activities around Maroko and Lekki, water was finding its level back on the conservation area.

    “It means this reserve is under threat. The erosion is now eating up the area. What used to be Bar Beach erosion before is now coming to our part of Lagos.

    “That is why we are asking the authorities, both Lagos State and the Federal Government, especially the Ecological Funds Office to do something urgently.

    “Our appeal is not just for us alone but all the communities around us living or deriving their livelihoods from this area.’’

    He said that the NCF was also speaking to researchers and other interests on ways to explore the bio-diversity of the reserve.

    Aminu-Kano, however, lauded Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for providing some facilities and constructing a major perimeter road to facilitate access to the park.

    He appealed for more support to boost tourism at the park, lamenting that forests and game reserves in the country were facing deforestation, due to human activities.

    A NAN correspondent, who visited the park reports that some portions of the reserve, having low fence have collapsed while some other facilities have dilapidated.