PORT HARCOURT—Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has said he left a balance of between eight to ten billion naira for his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement from his from his media office yesterday, the former governor denied that he handed over an empty treasury to his successor.

The statement by the former Governor’s media office, yesterday, revealed that a total of N7.5 billion cash was left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank.

“This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP. By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration.”

“It’s also pertinent to point out here that former governor Amaechi also left economic assets worth tens of billions of naira for the state. Just like cash, the assets store value. These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure. The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi. Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the State so desires.

“It is therefore disingenuous and fraudulent for Wike to claim that Amaechi left an empty treasury in his bid to justify the N30 billion loans he collected under 30 days in office. Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans”, the statement concluded.

But media aide to governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, described the claim by the former governor as another tissue of lies, stressing that if he left what he claimed how come civil servants, pensioners , footballers, contractors were owed by his government.

He said even students on the state scholarship program overseas were almost sent out of the classroom over unpaid fees, adding that the issue was not all about empty treasury alone as properties in Government House, Port Harcourt were allegedly looted before the handover date of May 29..

Governor Wike had consistently maintained that he met a completely empty treasury when he took over as governor.

Only on Wednesday, while trying to justify why he took a total of N30 billion bank loans from Zenith and Access banks under 30 days in office, Wike had through his spokesman, Opunabo Inko-Tariah told a radio station in Port Harcourt that he met an empty treasury when he took over government.

However, Amaechi has openly put a lie to Wike’s claim, saying he left billions of naira in cash and economic assets for Rivers State.

…Says supply of petroleum products’ll be stable

By Clara Nwachukwu, Michael Eboh, Ediri Ejoh & Prince Okafor
Lagos — The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, and other stakeholders argued, yesterday, that fuel subsidy was an unsustainable drain on the economy and called for speedy deregulation of the nation’s oil and gas sector.

The NNPC, GMD said: “Subsidy creates distortion in government revenue distribution as a result of round-tripping and unnecessary carryover of expenditures every year in a way that is difficult for government to control or sustain.”

He disclosed this while presenting a keynote address titled “Energy Crisis and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Way Forward”, at the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) Conference held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

The NNPC boss, who was represented by Mrs Bolanle Ashafa, Acting Managing Director of Nigeria Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), said deregulation would encourage domestic private sector participation and inflow of foreign investments.

He contended that deregulation will also provide a fair deal for Nigerians from the abundant petroleum resources, through fair product prices for consumers, full cost recovery, and reasonable margins for operators.
“However, critical enablers such as security of supply and distribution infrastructure must be assured to guarantee the availability of the petroleum products at affordable prices.”He said: “Subsidy accounted for 20 per cent of the federal government budget in 2013. Implementation of the policy will entrench efficiency in product usage, product availability and effective competition among investors, hence ending products shortage.

Kachikwu said that the corporation was fully committed to reforming existing refineries, to boost domestic petroleum products supply.
He said that the refineries had been re-streamed, but were yet to attain optimal capacity in production.

“Removal of price control mechanisms is deemed imperative to ensure full growth of the sub-sector, by allowing private stakeholders to complement the effort of government in developing the industry,” he said.

On fuel supply

He reassured Nigerians that NNPC would continue to maintain stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide. He added that the Nigerian oil and gas industry would be transformed for greater efficiency and sustainable growth, through market reforms, diversification of the revenue base and monetisation of the natural gas resources.

“We will focus on the need to address infrastructure constraints, to ensure sustainability of gas and petroleum products supply and distribution nationwide. We will be tackling infrastructure gaps and promoting inclusive growth, as well as capacity building,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Deji Haastrup, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Ltd., said that the cost of executing projects and services in the industry, remained high in spite the dwindling price of crude oil.

Haastrup also identified oil theft and illegal refineries as other challenges facing the industry in Nigeria.

On his part, Comrade Francis Johnson, National President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) stated that for deregulation to be sustainable in the oil and gas industry, there must be entrenchment of consistent, stable and globally comparable policy and institutional framework.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Managing Director, Mobil oil Nigeria plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, stated that the regulated prices of petroleum products can’t sustain the country’s economy.

According to him, “a sustainable downstream sector would liberalize pricing, produce large scale investments, competitive landscape, create technology tools (that involves pricing, control systems), support services, making NNPC an effective competitor and not a regulator, ensuring safer trucking and operations, encourages anti-monopoly legislation, consumer protection and product quality.

Moreover, the implications of subsidy removal will bring about: possible increase in the pump prices, significant reduction in government expenditure, increased confidence from the international community in the Nigerian economy, improved transparency and accountability in the downstream sector for all stakeholders and increased competition and investment in the sector by players.

US to support Nigeria in reforming NNPC

In a related development, the United States Government, yesterday, promised to support the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in achieving its set goals and objectives, especially in its resolve to institute the reforms agenda of the Federal Government.

The US envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador James Entwistle, who disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy call on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Kachikwu, noted that the US will provide all the support required to turn around the fortunes of the NNPC.

According to him, though the job of the GMD of NNPC is about the most challenging job in Nigeria, the US is convinced that Dr. Kachikwu has the skills, training and requisite experience to lead the oil and gas industry in Nigeria towards the path of growth and sustainable development.
Entwistle pledged the readiness of the US to work with the new Management of the NNPC in achieving the Federal Government’s reform agenda in the oil and gas industry.
My mission — Kachikwu

Commending the US for the pledge of support, Kachikwu reiterated the determination of the new NNPC management to implement the spirit and letter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s reform agenda in the petroleum industry.

According to him, the new NNPC would be driven by a deep sense of commitment to service delivery anchored on the principle of transparency, efficiency, people, purpose and profit.

“My mission is to redirect and re-energize the work force for greater value addition and I believe that the NNPC, given the right leadership has what it takes to achieve this objective,” he said.

Kachikwu, had a few days ago, promised to usher in a new dawn of transparency through the periodic publications of the NNPC financial transaction, insisting that transparency must be the watchword of every staff in the new NNPC.

He maintained that the new NNPC of his dream is a Corporation anchored on the foundation of transparency.

Kachikwu had further stated that the change in the NNPC would be anchored on three key issues of people, processes, and profit, adding that the people element was key to the success of the other two elements which was the reason personnel motivation was dear to his heart.

He charged the staff to break away from the old culture and bring creative solutions to the numerous challenges facing the Corporation, stating that with the kind of change he has in mind the staff could not afford to continue with business as usual.

He challenged staff not to obey any directive from him or any superior officer that runs contrary to the rules, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari will not ask him to do anything shady just as he himself would not ask any staff to carry out any unlawful duties. He further advised the staff of the Corporation to see themselves as the drivers of the changes required to bring about the new NNPC.

A senator yesterday spoke of how poor budgeting over the years hampered Nigeria’s growth.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), in his review of budgets, especially in the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, highlighted huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplication of subheads which accounted for poor implementation.

He cited the approval of N1.4billion by Jonathan’s administration for the acquisition of computer software for the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government between 2012 and 2015.

One-time Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim is the immediate past occupant of the office.

Abaribe, who spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was delivering the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The topic was “Our Country, our budget: A critical analysis of Nigerians budgeting system”. He said the office of the SGF had N1.223 billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for subscription to bodies in the 2015 budget.

He said: “A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.

“I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software acquisition.

“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the treasury.

“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.

“What is this computer software that a particular office acquire every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?

“If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year in year out.”

According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Sam Edo, the lectures are to foster interactions between the government and the governed through the requisite exposition thereby making learning pleasurable.

Senator Abaribe graduated from the faculty 30 years ago.

•PSC: police have 19,500 personnel shortfall

President  Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to reduce the policemen attached to rich individuals.

The order was given when the President met with Arase, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Mike Okiro  and the Permanent Secretary of the Police Affairs Ministry, James Obiegbu.

“You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police,” Femi Adesina, spe

cial adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, quoted President Buhari as saying.

Read also: Buhari Orders NDDC To Pay Scholars Abroad As Ijaw Youths Boil

On the stagnation of policemen on same rank for many years, the President counselled the Police Service Commission to review the structure of the police and make recommendations on how the problem could be solved to boost the morale of policemen.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Okiro said there had been a deficiency of about 19,500 policemen since 2010.

Besides the 10,000 recently approved for recruitment by  President Buhari, Okiro said only 1,500 officers had been replaced of the 21,000 deficiency since 2010.

He said: “We thought about recruitment of police officers. Over the years, more than 21,000 police officers had retired; some dismissed, some died between 2010 and today. Of this, only about 1,500 were replaced.

“So we discussed this with Mr. President. Of course, you are aware that a few days ago, Mr. President said the police are going to recruit 10,000.

“We discussed with him on modalities and how to ensure that the 10,000 people are recruited to maintain security.”

On how soon the recruitment would start, he said certain procedures and guidelines must first be put in place.

Speaking on the meeting with the President, he said: “We, permanent secretary of Police Affairs, chairman of Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police with their members and management staff, briefed the President on the needs and challenges, success recorded and things to be done to ensure that security is maintained.

Asked about any specific di rective from the President, he said: “Of course, he has given us assurance that the police will be encouraged, will be funded, will be equipped within the provisions of the budget to make sure Nigerians are provided with adequate security.”

According to him, the issue of pension for retired officers were not discussed with the President.

The Permanent Secretary, James Obiegbu, said the President was interested in the welfare of officers.

He said: “He was interested in the issues concerning their emotions, issues concerning their placing, he was concerned with everything that concerns them.”

He said Buhari had promised to continue to support the police family with the challenges of funding facing the force.

“Issues about funding of the police is something that has been on the front burner because it requires a lot of funding and not something the government can do alone.

“There can never be a specific amount for the police to function effectively. If you know what it takes to keep patrol all over the country, keep vehicles and men on the road, you will have an idea of how funding requirements of police can be.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has made two key appointments into the nation’s critical state agency for financial management.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina obtained on Thursday; the President has approved the appointment of Dr. William Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Adesina also stated that President Buhari has also appointed Mr.  Aliyu Yahaya Gusau as the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation.

Until recently, Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue. He was in office between 2005 and 2014.

The presidential spokesman stated that while the appointment of Fowler, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and California State University is subject to the confirmation of the National Assembly that of Gusau was without recourse to the Senate.

Reeling out the credentials of Fowler, Adesina wrote, “Before joining the service of the Lagos State Government, Dr. Fowler worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

“Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6. billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.”

On the new DG Budget Office, he wrote, “Mr. Gusau’s appointment is with effect from August 18, 2015 and is for a term of four years, renewable for another four years, unless he attains the retirement age of 60 years or completes 35 years of pensionable service.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday removed the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Bright Okogu, from office.

The reason for his removal remains unclear at press time.

In his place, Yahaya Gusau, whose details remains unknown at this time, has been appointed his successor. Details about Mr. Gusau

Until his appointment in December 2007, Mr. Okogu held several top positions, including Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund, IMF, in Washington DC; Senior Operations Officer at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Fund and Market Analyst, OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

He served as Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance (2004 to 2007) and also the pioneer Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Although he worked to deepen openness and transparency about the Nigerian budget for years, Mr. Okogu will also be remembered for failing to make details of the 2015 budget public several months after the budget proposal was presented to the National Assembly.

Journalists and analysts also told this newspaper at the time they were denied the details, amid speculations the government deliberately refused to publish them online or in hard copies as done in past years, to avoid embarrassing reports and analyses.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Mr Daouda Toure yesterday pleaded for more resources to meet the needs of internally displaced people.

There are about 1.5 million of them.

Toure spoke in Abuja during the activities to mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day celebration with the theme: “Inspiring the World’s Humanity”.

“We appeal for more resources to respond particularly to the education and health needs of the displaced people.

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“What is available is not commensurate with the situation on ground as the crisis in the North-East is not publicised enough.

“Nigeria is the major contributor to peace keeping in the world, so the international community need to contribute more resources, step up their support and restore the livelihood of these vulnerable people.

“We need to come and help them, help their brothers and sisters and help them get a better future for their children.’’

Toure added that the major challenges facing the humanitarian community today was the lack of access to security and limited resources.

He called on stakeholders to mobilise themselves, unite and re-examine the reasons for the slow response and support needed to tackle the security challenges.

Earlier, Mr Muhammad Sani Sidi, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stated that the capacity to handle the present internally displaced people was not enough.

Sidi added that though a lot of effort and resources had been channelled towards the displaced persons, it was not enough because of their increasing population.

He said that responses to the needs of the IDPs were dwindling due to lack of adequate capacity.

Read also: Aftermath Of Helicopter’s Attack, UN Suspends Air Operations In North East

Sidi said there was the need for proper coordination to enable them to harness all available resources to improve the living standard of the IDPs.

He said that the day was set aside to celebrate the gallantry of humanitarian service providers.

He said the theme of the day was intended to steer actions of people around the world for a greater humanity and advocate for more peaceful world.

“We are celebrating people who have sacrificed their lives for peace in the world.

“These are people who have lost their lives or survived different threats to life while providing humanitarian services especially in violent conflict situations.

“This celebration is an opportunity to advocate for a peaceful world, bring hope to people affected by disaster and guarantee safety of humanitarian providers rendering service in the Northeast.’’

He stated that Nigeria had faced a lot of challenges in recent times with the Boko Haram insurgency.

Sidi commended and thanked the UN and all stakeholders for their support and cooperation during the period.

Similarly, Mr Danladi Kifasi, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, said the day was an opportunity to honour the selfless dedication of workers and volunteers who devote themselves in assisting the world’s most vulnerable people.

Kifasi, who was represented by Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Director, Special Duties, also said it was appropriate to remember members of the armed forces and security personnel.

He added that these groups of people defended the unarmed and vulnerable men, women and children in the Northeast.

He added that it was through the noble efforts and humanitarian activities of the military that Nigeria had remained indivisible and still able to play its role in the comity of nations.

The event was organised by NEMA to celebrate the spirit of humanity and people who sacrificed their lives in the cause of rendering humanitarian service.

The day is an annual and global event dedicated by the UN to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the globe.

The UN Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon, is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Sunday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said yesterday.

A statement said the UN chief would meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday and subsequently engage in other field activities.

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday alleged that a lot of investments being done in the country were from funds earned through illegal activities.

He also identified illicit financial activities such as terrorism financing and money laundering as a major challenge affecting the country’s quest for development.

Ribadu spoke in Abuja at the 2nd Anti-money laundering/combating financial terrorism stakeholders’ consultative workshop organised by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

He said Nigeria had yet to maximise its potential owing to terrorism financing and other money laundering activities, noting that the trend was making the country to lose huge funds.

“When I look around, I see a lot of investments done with dirty money. Government needs help in identifying and arresting these people. Though it may seem like a daunting task, with professionals like ACAMS, Nigeria is poised to achieve this.”

Ribadu said there was a need for collaboration between relevant stakeholders to fight money laundering and curb terrorism financing.

He called for the building of a strong anti-graft institution to spearhead the fight against money laundering, adding that the restructuring of the banking sector had helped to restore confidence in the Nigerian economy.

He said, “In 2003, Nigeria was on the blacklist of most developed countries especially the US for money laundering.”

• Commission grills NIPC officials

Three ex-ministers, Customs chiefs for questioning

How did 20 oil companies get $4.5 million tax holidays to which they are not entitled?

This is the puzzle the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is battling to resolve.

Helping the EFCC are some officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

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The Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Solid Minerals and the Nigerian Customs Service may also be probed for questionable tax waivers, it was learnt yesterday.

A former Special Assistant to an ex-minister has been interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

Besides, three former ministers and some officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are likely to be interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

The tax holidays were given to the oil firms during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was gathered that about 20 local oil companies benefited from the bonanza after buying over marginal fields from some International Oil Companies (IOCs).

A source at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said: “The EFCC is investigating the ministry and the  [NIPC] for tax holidays to about 20 oil companies.

“We actually got a letter of invitation which was dated 28th of July, 2015 and it was received by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

“The EFCC letter requested for the appearance of the director (Industrial Inspectorate Division) for interaction.”

Two directors of NIPC, who were allegedly responsible for granting these tax holidays, have also been grilled by the EFCC.

Read also: Corporations Deprive Africa of $11b Yearly in Taxes

A former Executive Secretary and Chief Executive of NIPC when the tax holidays were given has also been questioned, The Nation learnt.”

Another source confirmed the invitation of no fewer than six top officials of the ministry and the NIPC.

The source added: “The Special Assistant to a former Minister was invited and also quizzed over the issue and other cases involving some unrefunded monies paid in 2013 by the NIPC to the former minister.”

The former aide reportedly made “some useful statements and offered to make some refunds.”

When our correspondent sought clarification from the EFCC, a source said: “We are looking into some allegations on tax holidays involving some top officials of NIPC and the Ministry of Trade.”

But the source refused to disclose the list of those grilled and the 20 oil firms involved because “investigation is still ongoing”.

NIPC is the agency, which approves tax holidays under the Industrial Development Act for companies that are taxable under the Company Income Tax Act.

NIPC was in the news a few months ago for granting illegal waivers to oil companies taxable under the Petroleum Profit Tax Act between 2010 and 2014.

A former Executive Secretary of NIPC, Mrs Saratu Umar, was sacked at the twilight of the Jonathan administration for allegedly “refusing to grant tax holidays to some oil companies.”

Until the Tax Waivers were stopped last year, the nation lost huge revenue to the Federation Account running into billions of dollars.

On May 10, the former Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, raised the alarm that the Federal Government had lost over $20b to tax holidays fraudulently granted companies by NIPC officials.

She said: “Pioneer status (tax holidays) was granted to companies whose products do not meet the requirements of the list of industries or products specified in the schedule to the Act.

“NIPC officials granted tax holidays for a straight five-year period, contrary to the provision of Section 10 of the Act, which states that the tax relief period for a pioneer company shall commence from the production date of the company and shall continue for a period of three years in the first instance, and may be extended for a period of one year and thereafter for another one year, or for a period of two years, subject to the satisfaction of Mr. President that certain requirements, such as rate of expansion, standard of efficiency, level of development of company, among others, are met.”

The aviation sector is alive with a debate over the Federal Government’s plans to revitalise the national carrier. Experts and key operators are sharply divided in their perspectives on the modalities to be adopted in putting the Green-White-Green national colours back in the air.

The debate is on,  triggered by  a recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to  Aviation Ministry officials. They are to work out the modalities of setting up a new national carrier.

The rationale for such a carrier has engendered unease among experts, airline operators and watchers of the troubled aviation sector.

Expectedly, the directive has pitted against one another players in the sector on both sides of the divide. Those who are favourably disposed to the idea have described the directive as a welcome development. Others, who feel the government has no business going into such money-guzzling enterprise, have not hidden their opposition.

The divergent views raised on the proposed carrier by experts are predicated on seven failed attempts by previous administrations to reestablish a national carrier since the liquidation of the Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) in May, 2003 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Such attempts include: Virgin Nigeria; Air Nigeria; Nigerian Global Airline and Nigerian Eagle Air among others.

Since 2003, Nigeria has lost several billions of dollars to capital flights repatriated by over 27 foreign carriers that operate international flights into and outside of the Nigerians shore.

More than a decade after it went moribund, relics of the weather-beaten and decripit airplanes, that were once Nigeria’s flag carriers, have been sold  as spare parts when Arik Air got the fanchise to operate the defunct NAL’s workshop at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja in Lagos.

With no strong Nigerian carriers to reciprocate the over 73 Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) it signed with countries, Nigerian routes have remained not only lucrative but for foreign carriers, which enjoy multiple entry points into the country under lopsided air treaties and Open Skies Agreements (OSAs).

Worried by the trend, the President, penultimate Wednesday, directed Aviation Ministry to expedite action on the establishment of a new national airline.

President Buhari gave the directive after he was briefed by officials of the ministry, led by their Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Binta Bello.

Mrs. Bello, who apparently bought into the vision of the country having a carrier it can call its own, embraced the President’s directive to reestablish one.

“Mr. President is quite concerned with the absence of a national carrier for now and he has directed the ministry to look into the possibility of having a national carrier as soon as possible,’’ she told State House reporters.

The defunct national carrier – Nigeria Airways – was established in 1958 and was once the pride of the nation until it eventually went into liquidation in 2003. No thanks to mismanagement.

So disturbed was the erstwhile President, Chief Obasanjo, that he complained that boosted of more than 10 aircraft when he left the office in 1979 as military Head of State, had only three that were on wet lease during his second coming as a democratically elected President, 30 years after.

That informed NAL’ liquidation despite the privatisation options that could have savaged the ailing airline.

But some experts and operators in the aviation sector have hailed the presidential directive that the ministry should facilitate the setting up of a national carrier.

According to them, the resuscitation of the national carrier has become imperative as it will enable the country to utilise its many BASAs.

Such experts include: the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bulejane Konzults, Mr. Chris Aligbe; President of Skyjet Aviation, Dr. Kassim Shettima; National President, Pilots & Engineers Association, Isaac Balami; aviation Analyst, Kingsley Chima; Chief Accountable Manager, DANA Air, Tony Mbanuzuo and another analyst Deba Uwadiae.

Aligbe, who is former spokesman of the liquidated NAL, berated those opposed to the proposed national carrier, describing their opposition against the project as misplaced and unpatriotic.

He accused those saying Nigeria does not need a national carrier of doing a great disservice to the country because such project will help to curb the billions of naira being taken out of the country by foreign carriers from ticket sales proceeds, the huge cost of offshore maintenance for aircraft and salaries and flight crew allowances paid to expatriate pilots, engineers and cabin crew members.

In a chat with The Nation, Aligbe said those speaking negatively about plans to set up a national carrier are fixating themselves in the past.

According to him, such people suffer from incurable fixation, which could further compound the woes of the aviation sector.

He said such fixation could discourage the government from setting up a national carrier, warning that such intervention could reorder the trend in the aviation sector through job creation, massive investment and human resource management.

He said the aviation sector faces a bleak future without a national carrier to fly the nation’s flag across the world and reverse capital flight.

Aligbe said: “Those opposed to the proposal are afraid of the nightmares of the past and therefore incurably fixated on how to stimulate the aviation sector. What they are saying about the past could be correct but what is the way forward.”

He said government could set up the new carrier without investing too much money, but create an enabling environment to allow it thrive through what he described as “sweat equity”.

Aligbe went on: “We do not have the discipline to run a government-owned airline hundred per cent. The government should not own more that 25 per cent stake. It does not need to throw money into the airline. All it needs to do is have sweat equity.

“The government should allocate land for the floatation of the new national carrier, set up the team – I mean a technical team – people who know about airline business, allocate land to the airline in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt for offices, designate the airline on major routes and ask all agencies to cooperate with the floatation.

“The government should go ahead and facilitate long term loans for the airline from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It must be routed through the airlines bankers. The bankers must take that loan and pay back. It is not free money but a credit facility for a period of between 15 and 20 years at a repayment rate of single digit interest rate. All these can be facilitated by the government as its own equity stake in the business, without putting one kobo. It will have sovereign cover.”

Also speaking, Dr. Shettima, who welcomed the idea, urged the government to convoke a stakeholders’ forum to examine the intricacies involved in setting up a national carrier.

Shettima said: “In my own opinion, I think the President needs to be properly briefed with what the current situation is. He (President) needs to hear the truth and nothing but the truth.

“There should be a stakeholders meeting with the President where the he will meet face to face with players in the industry including unions and airline operators in Nigeria and so on.

“Does the President know the cost of running an airline now? Does it know that a national carrier will have to be given subsidy from time to time? Why do we have to re-invent what happened to Nigeria Airways?

“The President needs to have the forensic audit on why airlines in the country are often debt-ridden after venturing into the business. I hope it is not going to be business as usual because aviation is nothing but a serious business.

“This might be a nightmare. In as much as this is a good dream, sentiment must not replace reality like what we have presently in the aviation industry.”

NAAPE’s national president, Balami, said the establishment of a new carrier was long overdue because of the way the former national carrier was liquidated. Balami said: “Everyone who has been in, or around the aviation industry for a while would easily agree that the ill-advised liquidation of the defunct national carrier  – Nigeria Airways, was the evil wind that has bedeviled the industry till date.

“And since the forced liquidation of the Nigeria Airways, no Nigerian Carrier has been able to go near its big shoes. None has even started to move in that direction

“It is, therefore, with enthusiastic welcome, that one receives the news of the directive by President Buhari to the ministry of aviation to expedite action on the establishment of a new national carrier which can now spearhead Nigeria’s deserved quest for global reckoning in aviation.

“It is expected that the new carrier will strive for a mega carrier status which can compete at the global stage. It is also expected that a full scale Maintenance Repair Organisation (MRO) will be part of the deal for the new carrier.

“It is, however, important to sound this note of caution. Any idea of engaging a foreign airline, or foreign MRO as technical partner should be perished. This is because no sane business person who will encourage a viable competitor.

“Such partners will also not agree to terms that will give the new carrier an advantage over their vested interests in the airline business.

“It is sincerely hoped that the ministry of aviation will be open and transparent in the process of setting up the new national carrier and will allow participation by genuine industry stakeholders.

“I, and my organisation – NAAPE – welcome this development enthusiastically. And we urge all industry operators to support it with every sense of responsibility.”

Another expert, Kingsley Chima, said: “Before this decision/directive, have we done a thorough autopsy on the reasons that led to the death of Nigeria Airways. National carrier is going out of fashion in this industry as it has been demonstrated in many quarters.

“National carriers succeed in countries where corruption is tightly managed as shown in the case of Ethiopian Airlines.

“When government starts appointing directors and they start awarding elephant/juicy contracts, the airline will gasp for breath and die.

“The operation cost is high and any cost that should be avoided must be avoided. But, with a national carrier in an environment like ours, I do not see this happening. We can only have a competitive national carrier when we make our airports efficient and effective.

“The government’s involvement must not be beyond 25 per cent share. The technical partners can own about 15 per cent stake and institutional investors taking the remaining. I am not optimistic but you never know.”

In his reaction, DANA Air’s Accountable Manager Mbanuzuo, said the government, rather than creating a new airline, should create an enabling environment for the expansion of existing airlines’ operation.

His words: “With no concrete information from the government, we are unable to make any comment  although we feel that the government should create an enabling environment rather than actually running an airline.”

Uwadiae, who is an aviation analyst, urged government to be more circumspect before setting up such an airline.

He said: “Very simple. Until there is a fundamental attitudinal change towards what belongs to government whatever is set up as a Nigerian Airline will go the same way of the old airline.

“As long as I’m yet to see any concrete effort towards that change, I will advise President Muhammadu Buhari not to rush into it. Though, we need a national airline but at what cost will this be at this point in time, when the naira is counting at over N220 to $1?

“There are more fundamental needs of Nigerians than for the government to take up a humongous project of setting up a national airline again at this time or the next four years of President Buhari.”

From a fleet of 32 aircraft in 1999 to liquidation in 2003

The carrier had accumulated significant debts that outstripped its revenues virtually from the mid-1980s. While 1,000 jobs had been cut by late 1986, Nigeria ordered the airline to reduce the number of employees — 8,500 at the time, with a staff-aircraft ratio of 500:1— even more, and also to reduce or discontinue unprofitable routes.

In 1988, cost-cutting measures led to the discontinuance of flights to a number of African destinations, including Cotonou, Dakar, Douala, Kinshasa, Monrovia and Nairobi; some of these routes were resumed a year later.

In April 2000, employment was 4,516. At that time, an Airbus A310-200, three Boeing 737-200 Advanced, one Boeing 747-200B Combi and one McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, served a route network that included Abuja, Calabar, Douala, Dubai, Jeddah, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, London, Maiduguri, Malabo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto and Yola.

That year, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was commissioned by the Federal Government to assist in the process of restructuring and privatisation of the airline.

Among three options, one of them was to partner with a large European airline; Air France, Lufthansa and Swissair were all considered. Other option was to liquidate the carrier. A fleet comprising 32 aircraft in 1984 gradually depleted to a three-strong at that time.

The IFC withdrew from its advisory position in 2001 citing the unwillingness of both the company and the government to carry out the necessary measures that would make the airline attractive to potential investors. Likewise, there were various allegations claiming the airline’s failure was accelerated by former leaders, who looted and mismanaged the company.

In 1997, the United Kingdom (UK) Civil Aviation Authority had banned the airline from operating into its territory citing safety concerns; the Federal Government replied, banning British Airways operations.

The UK cited safety concerns again in 2001 when it refused to allow Nigeria Airways to operate the Lagos–London route, this time regarding the Boeing 747 that was leased from Air Djibouti to fly the route.

The carrier ceased operations in 2003. The Nigerian government later came to an agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways to found Virgin Nigeria Airways, intended as a replacement, yet the ground facilities of the folded Nigeria Airways were eventually taken over by an indigenous airline that has dominated the business till date.

Lagos—FORMER Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Demcoratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, yesterday, berated former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola for allegedly spending N78 million to build a website, describing the move as a “reckless misappropriation.”bode-george-fashola
George, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the alleged misappropriation, said Fashola’s defence is unjustifiable. In a statement entitled: Neither Fashola nor Tinubu, the PDP chieftain urged the president to probe the administration of Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his fight against corruption.
George said: “We are living in a very interesting time. There is an air of repugnancy everywhere.
Most specifically in my state where the immoral stench and the dark odium of Mr Babatunde Fashola’s regime is daily being unearthed. The so called poster boy of yesterday is now being revealed in pure pollutant largeness, reeking of sharp practices and financial untidiness.”
In addition, he said “What is most disgusting and annoying in all these is the arrogant and the befuddled attempt of Mr Fashola to justify the apparent reckless misappropriation of Lagos State tax payers money to set up a personal web site. Fashola shows no remorse, no semblance of regret, no guilty nudging of conscience. Instead, he still attempts to ride a high horse, puffing and stomping in feigned seraphic innocence. We are not fooled.”
The statement reads in part: “We knew all along that the emperor had no clothes. Using N78 million tax payers money to build a web site is reckless misappropriation.
The phony over N25 billion used to build a mere kilometer long link bridge is outrageous venality. The spurious N1.5 billion allegedly spent on phantom pedestrian bridges is another con game.” And there are so many of these screaming illegalities observable in the record of our poster boy of yesterday.”

The Vice-Chancellor UNIMAID Prof. Ibrahim A. Njodi has presented to Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo his appointment letter as the Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri.

He made the presentation to the Oba at the Oba’s palace when he paid him a courtesy call in Oyo State Wednesday.

Accompanied by Principal Officers and other top management staff of the University, the Vice-Chancellor informed the Oba that the University of Maiduguri which took off in 1976 with just about three hundred students in three Faculties now has an enrolment of over forty thousand undergraduate, postgraduate and non regular students spread over eleven Faculties, a College of Medical Sciences and the University’s seven specialised research and development centres.

The University he further informed the Oba has more than three thousand senior and junior academic and non-academic staff.

Professor Ibrahim Njodi further told the Chancellor that the University of Maiduguri has always enjoyed industrial harmony between management and labour unions on campus as well as mutual understanding between management and students despite the security challenges in the North East.

The university’s cordial relationship with it’s stakeholders he further said has attracted enormous goodwill for the University.

Njodi then hinted to the Chancellor that the University will be forty years since it’s establishment at the end of this year and stated that the University Management intends to celebrate the enormous though modest achievements attained over the years along with the 22nd combined convocation ceremony of the University.

The occasion he also said will be used for the investiture of the Oba as the Chancellor of the University.

Responding, Oba (Dr) Abdul-Hamid Olayiwola Adeyemi III thanked the Federal Government for finding him worthy of being Chancellor to the University of Maiduguri and assured that he will do everything possible within his powers to ensure that the University is globally recognised in all its fields of human endeavours.

University administration he said is not something new to him as he has been the founding Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto and will therefore use his vast experience in ensuring that the University of Maiduguri gains from his wealth of experience.

ABUJA- FORMER Chairman of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Prof. Assisi Asobie, yesterday lampooned the National Assembly on its fight against corruption in the country, saying that both the Senate and House of Representatives were currently not doing enough in the fight against graft, just as he said that the issue must not be taken with levity.

Asobie who noted that the country should not concentrate on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, stressed that the government should rather focus on the office of the Auditor – General of the Federation, and the Code of Conduct Bureau because they report to the Public Accounts Committee of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

According to him, the current practice by President Buhari to use the EFCC and the ICPC to wage war against corruption was not the best way to achieve desired results.

Asobie, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, but currently a lecturer at the Nassarawa State University, Lafia, spoke yesterday in Abuja at the public presentation of two books written by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, as part of activities to mark the 65th birthday of the pharmacist.

Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, (PDP, FCT), who also attended the book presentation, said the National Assembly, was doing its best to expose corrupt practices, but lamented, however that its resolutions were usually ignored by the executive.

Speaking further, Asobie who noted that the chairmen of the public accounts committees by convention, were members of the minority party, which ought to make use of the facts and figures before them to expose politicians, who who were covered by immunity, said, “The committees can make use of the Auditor – General report made available to them to investigate any agency of government including that of the presidency, so the president who is covered by immunity, could be investigated by the National Assembly.”

The former ASUU president who urged President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his present ad-hoc way of fighting corruption and adopt what he described as an enduring strategic plan to tackle the scourge, stressed that the best institutions that could adequately address the issue of corruption was the National Assembly which regularly receives the report of the Auditor – General of the Federation and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Asobie said, “The president cannot fight corruption using ad-hoc means. He should fight corruption with a strategy plan and the United Nations require that. When I was in NEITI, I was opportuned to put the anti – corruption briefs together and produce a draft strategy plan.

“That draft has not been approved by the executive council till now, we need a strategy plan so that we don’t fight corruption selectively and you don’t also politicice it.”

Asobie who noted that the situation of having the minority at the national assembly to carry out the job was made easier with the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president who is a member of the PDP, said, “If we have a situation where by the PDP chairs the public account committee and also has the possibility of presiding over the senate if the Senate President is not there, then the balance of power has been disrupted.

“The PDP senator is the chairman of the committee that can get information about corruption but the majority party will chair the Senate to balance it. But since there is a possibility that Saraki could be absent and then the person that would act in absence is a PDP member, that disrupt the convention and the nation would be better for it.

“What the National Assembly can do with the reports is impeachment which is targeted at politically exposed persons, that are protected by immunity but not protected by the National Assembly.

“Therefore National Assembly cannot take the issue of fighting corruption with levity with what they are doing now”.

Abuja — The Federal Government has ordered a full investigation into how a wanted terrorist was granted Nigerian visa in Lebanon to visit the country.

An official of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of Nigerian visa to the wanted terrorist who has been on the wanted list of several governments.

He was said to have been arrested while attempting to travel with a fake Palestinian passport with a valid Nigerian visa at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Lebanon.It will be recalled that a radical Muslim cleric, Ahmad al-Assir, was arrested by Lebanese authorities as he attempted to leave Lebanon for Nigeria via Cairo.

According to the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, the ministry has been directed to explain how the wanted terrorist was able to get Nigerian visa.

“The reported  arrest of the wanted terrorist is a huge embarrassment to Nigeria and the president has directed that the matter should be investigated.

The embassy in Lebanon has been directed to furnish the ministry with details of how the man got the visa. The National Intelligence Agency Officer has been directed to provide details of what happened,” the official said.

The official added that Nigerian embassies around the world keep a tab on wanted persons in their countries of accreditation and “we are amazed that such a high profile terrorist would evade our radar. This is a major breach that cannot be allowed to go without investigation.

“This is more so that the Boko Haram sect has pledged allegiance to Islamic State terrorists. There is no way our embassy officials will allow such laxity in their areas of operation. The president is justifiably furious about it,” the source added.

It will be recalled that Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported  that Assir, who was travelling with another man, was holding a fake passport in the name of Rami Abdul Rahman Taleb, while his companion was holding a passport in the name of Khaled Sidani.

He was reported to have shaved off his iconic beard and under gone facial surgery to conceal his identity but was identified by eagle eyed Lebanese security operatives.

Sheikh Assir has been on the run for two years, having been declared wanted in Lebanon in 2013 when his followers clashed with the Lebanese army, killing at least 18 soldiers.

He gained notoriety as a “a self-proclaimed defender of Sunni rights” due to his fiery anti-Hezbollah rhetoric and had reportedly been recruiting his followers to join the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS) in Syria fighting against Assad’s government.

Violence broke out in 2013 when one of Assir’s men was caught with unlicensed weapons in his car at a military checkpoint in Sidon, south of Beirut. In reaction, Assir’s followers opened fire on the soldiers manning the checkpoint sparking a two-day battle between his militants and the army.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, ordered an inquest into processes leading to the sale of moribund national carrier, Nigerian Telecommunications, NITEL, and its mobile arm, Mobile Telecommunications, M-TEL by the government of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking to State House Correspondents after briefing President Buhari on the activities of the sector,  Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication & Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa said that the President has directed him to raise a memo on the whole transaction to ascertain if there were any underhand dealings.

He also stated that the President was equally concerned about the quality of services rendered by the telecom operators in Nigeria.

Read also: NDDC, EFCC’s Graft: Buhari Says Appointees Abused Trust

“The President was concerned about the liquidation of NITEL. He is not opposed to its privatization but he wants to know and he wants us to bring a memo on how the whole transaction was undertaken so that he would know whether Nigeria was short-changed.

“The President was concerned by the quality of service of telecom operators. The President is very concerned about the whole issue of privatization that is hindering investments in ICT infrastructure and that he will personally champion this. The President talked about the potentials of the ICT sector in generating employment,” Olaopa said.

Buhari, however, said the probe was not an indication he was opposed to the sale of the national carrier but to ensure there were no underhand practices in the process of the deal.

Failed  sell-off bids

In December 2014,  the Bureau of Public Enterprises, PBE, after several failed attempts, announced fresh acquisition of the national carrier by a consortium of investors known as NATCOM.

Director-General of PBE, Benjamin Dikki, explained that NATCOM was a consortium of seven Nigerian companies, which emerged new owners of NITEL and MTEL by offering to pay the sum of $252 million, an amount said to have met the BPE’s bid price .

Read also: NDDC Probe: PDP Recommends Akpabio’s Suspension As Police, Wike Set For Showdown

Dikki explained that the privatization process was a guided liquidation that would help bring back the two entities which had lain prostrate for more than two decades.

According to him, NATCOM emerged the successful bidder in both technical and financial commitment from the array of up to 17 firms that keenly contested for the two companies.

Dikki said: “It is our fervent hope and desire this time around we have succeeded in procuring a technically and financially qualified bidder that will not only meet the deadline for payment of the purchase consideration but more importantly deploy the required resources to rehabilitate and grow these companies to play a significant role in the Nigerian telecoms sector”.

Former Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson had to confess that: “We faced numerous challenges in packaging this transaction, including outstanding unpaid terminal benefits of ex-staff of NITEL and MTEL; arrears of salaries of the retained staff and outsourced security and huge accumulated unpaid licence and other dues to NCC.”

Corroborating the BPE boss, Johnson said that the consortium beat 14 other bidders at the primary stage and one other bidder at the secondary stage to emerge winner of the bidding process.

She described the privatisation as the last segment in a well-thought out reform of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, which commenced since 2000.

Develop revenue generation potential

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered reliably that the President also charged the ministry to work harder to fully develop the revenue-generation potential of Nigeria’s information technology sector.

According to the Senior Special Adviser, SSA, Media, to the President, Garba Shehu, after receiving a briefing from Dr. Olaopa, President Buhari also directed the Ministry to bring forward for his consideration and approval, all pending proposals for the development of the country’s ICT sector which require the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

Shehu said that Buhari told the ministry: “Where you don’t need exco approval and you are not in breach of the law and will not lose money, you can go ahead. Now that oil costs less and we are contending with its theft, we have to move to areas where we can realize revenue quickly.”.

President Buhari welcomed the plan by the ministry to use post-offices across the country for IT and financial transactions especially in the rural communities, saying that he was happy to hear that the post offices are being recovered from rats and rodents.

“The Ministry’s presentation to the President dwelled heavily on the potential of the IT sector which, Dr. Olaopa said, contributes 10 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, but could grow to 20 per cent if some proposals by the ministry are approved and implemented.”

NITEL: From Pentascope to NATCOM

Meanwhile, the privatisation history of Nitel did not begin with the sale in 2014. It actually began in 2001 when the government through the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, initiated a process once considered as having the powers to transform Nitel to a modern organization, expose its workers to standard global practices and arm them with new and competitive technologies. After a heavily criticised bid process, Pentascope which was partly funded by a consortium of Nigerian banks, acquired 51 percentage of equity in Nitel.

It managed to raise the estimated meager 400 lines which Nitel had before privatisation, to about 440,000 and took the mobile arm of the company, Mtel which also competed and won GSM license same year, to a little over a million connected lines.

Barely three years after, the deal snapped. Government felt Pentascope was too slow for its liking and may have exhausted all its magic, since it was only struggling with just a million mobile lines at a time when other telecom companies like MTN and Zain (then Econet wireless and later Vmobile) which took off same time with Pentascope Nitel and Mtel, were crossing the 5 million mark .

However, Pentascope also blamed the government for being too interested in the running of Nitel, saying that its contributions rather impaired every good moves it (Pentascope) made as a core investor, to reviving Nitel.

Nevertheless, the government was determined to sell Nitel, again. This time, according to it, to a more serious investor. So, in 2006 Transnational Corporation, Transcorp, acquired 51 per cent of Nitel for $500m. But since November 14 of that year when it officially became the core investor in Nitel, Transcorp seemed to be struggling to keep a standing position. It allegedly reduced the workforce by 70%, disengaging about 7,000 staff out of the 11,000 left by Pentascope. The fortunes of the company, further deepened as the 440,000 Nitel lines and above 1 million Mtel lines left by Pentascope, nosedived to miserable 40,000 and 200,000 lines respectively under Transcorp.

While the government through the Ministry of Information and Communications was to quickly point out again that Transcorp has failed, Transcorp says government was responsible for its fate in the whole affair. Such is the blames and counter blames that have kept the true position of things away from Nigerians and left Nitel, Mtel at a grind. But arguments notwithstanding, the Federal government in July voided the sale of Nitel to Transcorp and appointed a technical board to manage the carrier.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has restated his administration’s commitment to implementing the Lagos Development Plan, saying his administration has fashioned out a framework to commence the implementation.

The governor, who spoke when a delegation of the UK Department for International Development, led by the Country Representative, Mr. Ben Mellor, paid him a courtesy visit in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, said his administration was setting up a framework which the permanent secretaries were already working on.

Ambode added, “We should be able to put together issues that are germane to our people and the bottom line has always been that we should do things and carry out programmes that will be of tremendous benefit to the people of Lagos State and that’s what DFID also stands for.

“We will like you to also know that whatever it is that we are doing, will open up areas that we believe will be of benefit to Nigerians in general.”

He said the development plan was geared towards achieving the vision of the government in all sectors on a long term.

The governor pointed out that he remained a firm believer in the basic principles of good governance, which according to him, thrives on accountability and an all inclusive governance.

“Lagosians must be able to speak about the kind of government they want. We must also be accountable to them; we should be able to explain to them in every facet of our administration what we are doing and then government should also be participatory,” he said.

Ambode said he had concluded plans to embark on a tour of the 57 local governments in the state, saying it would afford him the opportunity to listen to the challenges of the people first hand and address them accordingly.

“We believe strongly that we should scale up community governance in this state. It is more about communities, its more about our people and what they want,” he added.

He commended the partnership of the state government and the DFID over the years, saying it had not only been a success, but had impacted on the people in no small way.

Mellor, in his remarks, commended Ambode for his strides since he assumed office, just as he noted that his decision to run an all inclusive government was one that conformed to the ideology of the DFID.

He added that the governor’s decision to align ministries and engender public service reforms would not only increase performance-based strategic administration, but would also improve on service delivery to the people.

The much awaited outcome of the investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on allegation of fraud against the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro by one Aaron Kasse was finally made public on Wednesday August 12.  But contrary to the expectation of the blackmailers, the ICPC absolved Okiro of the allegations. Today, the elder statesman who has spent all his life diligently serving the nation is in the eye of the public, nevertheless for good reasons.

To the discerning public it is not surprising that the ICPC gave Okiro a clean bill of health by clearing him of the allegations which largely stemmed from downright cheap blackmail, hate and personal vendetta targeted at rubbishing the hard earned high profile of the former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of security committee of ex-president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,GEJ,2011 Presidential Campaign. Without mincing words, the tortuous investigations which took the ICPC about two and a half months to conclude helped to correct the insinuations and negative perception about the person of the former IGP, is also commendable and would unarguably restore Nigerians’ confidence in the Commission much sooner than expected.

Ordinarily, given the current season of petitions and probes (of course, many of which are baseless and misdirected) against serving and past public office holders by disgruntled and mischievous elements purportedly in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, some lost faith in the ICPC and would rather take their case to the gods. By implication, this attitude is growing and consequently left a general mindset that any investigations by the ICPC not only would be fraught with witch-hunt but also lack thorough conduct.

In evaluating the ICPC’s report, it is important to emphasise that the investigation that cleared Okiro is particularly significant because not only does it serve as ample proof that President Buhari is not with-hunting anybody with a clean record, nor selective, but is also a concrete testimony that the ICPC conducted its investigations without interference.

It would be recalled that Okiro recently declared to his blackmailers and detractors that: ‘Those who have no skeleton in their cupboard have nothing to fear; President Buhari has not come to with-hunt anybody or punish innocent people’.  Okiro cannot be farther from the truth with the above wise counsel. Put in another expression, probably a popular expression: ‘Clear conscience fears no accusation. Or only the guilty is afraid.’ This should be the positive mind frame of any public office holder who has not involved himself/ herself in corruption.

The truth however is that the country can boast of only a few people like Okiro. Many who had the opportunity to serve the country like Okiro compromised their positions with impunity, because they got into public office with the intention to plunder the treasuryrather than render service. But for such people, they are in for a tough time under thei administration that has from the onset declared zero tolerance for corruption and related sharp practices.

From the look of emerging events there is no hiding place for corrupt officials and the determination of Buhari to wipe out corruption is not in disguise judging from the decisive steps he has taken since assumption of office in May 29. Therefore, it is expected that patriotic Nigerians like  Okiro would declare maximum support for war against corruption.

An interesting dimension to it is that it will go a long way in arresting the present barrage of unwarranted persecution on the media fronts particularly, the social media before investigations by the relevant anti-graft agency or authority. The condemnation by a section of the media before trial of innocent Nigerians who are diligently discharging their responsibilities should be checked. If proper investigations are conducted, many would be shocked to find that not every petition is without egocentric motive or should be treated for lack of merits.

Be that as it may, the ICPC report in a nutshell directed the PSC to remit N133 million to the Federal Treasury through the ICPC recovery account at First City Monument Bank. The money was the balance of the N350 million the PSC received from the Federal Government for staff training and physical monitoring of police personnel during the 2015 general elections.

Similarly, the anti-graft agency directed PSC’s workers who were paid two-way return tickets and airport taxi fares to locations within the Federal Capital Territory and states close to Abuja during the monitoring exercise to refund to the treasury the sum of N11.7 million.

The report signed by the ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta on August 6, 2015, reads:  ‘’The investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission as all issues outlined above are administrative in nature and within the ambits of career public servants handling.’’

‘’Consequently, this Commission hereby directs as follows that the total balance of N133,413,845.99 from the N350,000,000 2015 election monitoring exercise domiciled within FCMB to be remitted to the Federal Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc.’’

From the foregoing, the facts are clear that Okiro was never indicted by the report and the desperation to impugn his reputation was in vain anyway.

As this is a matter already in public domain, any sane mind and  unprejudiced critic would be convinced that the ongoing corruption and looting of public treasury probes by President Buhari are non- selective and devoid of witch-hunt. The report by this appraisal is a further demonstration that those who have not soiled their hands should not be afraid of probes while the ICPC can leverage on the template.

Nwokocha, is former Honourable Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Abia state, and public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Mr. John Nwokocha, is a former commissioner for  Culture, & Tourism in Abia State.

LAGOS— Apprehension yesterday gripped political stakeholders in Lagos State ahead of today’s launch of three books chronicling the stewardship of Mr. Babatunde Fashola as governor of Lagos State between 2007 and 2015.

The apprehension follows the perceived political rivalry between the camp of Fashola and his erstwhile political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, himself, also a former governor of the state. The political unease was compounded upon last week’s assertion b

y Fashola that he would not allow himself to be dragged into the mud by those who want to fight like pigs.

However, a third force within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC it was gathered yesterday has pushed the leadership of the party to convene an emergency state caucus meeting tomorrow where the unfolding issue between the camps of the two former governors is expected to be discussed.

Ahead of today’s book launch it was learnt that activists in the two camps were working to use the occasion to score political points. While some were working to frustrate the book launch as a way of projecting what they claim as Fashola’s political incapacity in the state, the former governor’s loyalists were working to counter the move.

“They are planning but they will not succeed,” an associate of the immediate past governor told Vanguard on telephone yesterday.
Associates of Tinubu were, however, indignant yesterday that they would not honour the book launch, alleging that the immediate past governor had not shown enough respect to his erstwhile political benefactor.

“A man that has not seen it as wise to visit or thank his master since he stepped down from office, why should we be there,” a close associate of Tinubu said yesterday.

His assertion was, however, countered by a Fashola associate who disclosed yesterday that Fashola’s repeated efforts to speak with Tinubu since the handover had been impossible.

“Tinubu is not picking his calls, so those people saying that Fashola has not visited Tinubu simply do not know what they are talking about, they just don’t know,” the Fashola associate said.

Meanwhile, the frosty relationship between the two camps is set to worsen upon assertions of imminent plans by the new authorities in Lagos to prosecute those involved in alleged hike of contract figures during the immediate past administration.

Normally dependable sources told Vanguard yesterday that officials involved in the award of the contract of the N78 million upgrade of the website of the former governor are among those to be prosecuted.

The three books to be launched today include The Great Leap, a book written by Mr. Hakeem Bello, who served as Special Adviser on Media to Fashola and two others co-authored by Dapo Adeniyi.

The other two are: In Bold Prints: Thoughts of Babatunde Fashola and Lagos Blow Down: West Africa’s First Controlled Demolition.