Pollution and fishing in the Niger Delta

Written by the Editorial Bard of The Guardian Newspaper

The consistent lamentations by various civil society groups over the plight of fishermen and peasant farmers in the oil-rich Niger Delta who have deserted their long-established fishing and farming occupations due to pollution of their environment appropriately capture the pains of the devastation of the ecosystem of the oil bearing communities.

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) have over the years appealed to pipeline vandals, militants, illegal oil bunkerers and indigenous and multinational oil companies to halt the destruction of the environment in the region through their activities, a position shared by all Nigerians and even the international community.

Vandalism of oil facilities by oil bunkerers and destruction of oil installations by aggrieved militants, no doubt, are impacting negatively on the environment and living standards.

How to ‘defeat’ EFCC or die trying! – By Japheth Omojuwa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “carry” you? What’s there? It simply means you have arrived! Whatever you do, never plead guilty! The EFCC’s budget is not even up to N15bn, yet as a bonafide big thief worth N25bn, you already know you can match the EFCC naira for naira. Remember that its budget will not even be used to fight you alone, it has to fight other big thieves like you. When broken down per capita thief per thief, the EFCC probably has just about N100m to fight you. Before the battle gets started, your advantage over the EFCC cannot be over-emphasised but you must do more.

This is the time to remember you are a Christian and do not forget that the President is a Muslim. Every political battle is a battle of narratives before anything else, so you must make sure to sponsor analysts to critique the President’s inclination towards only going after thieves who are Christians. Some “oversabi” people will try to point out to you that he is also going after Muslims but that is not your business; your business is to focus on your agenda and spend and spend until you believe your narrative is actually the truth. In this game, the truth takes the shape of the glass you want it, the truth is not absolute here. Remember to let people know that the EFCC is coming after you because you are not from Daura. Have you not noticed that nobody from Daura has been charged by the EFCC? So, scream until Nigerians believe you. Let me tell you something about an average crowd, they do not exactly care for the truth, they care for who is able to dress their own truth best.

Nigeria’s sovereignty is negotiable – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to the growing calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable.

Speaking during a visit to PUNCH Place, the corporate headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Soyinka said decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.

The laureate said it was wrong for previous administrations in the country to say that Nigeria’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, submitting that the position was antithetical to development.

Soyinka added, “I am on the side of those who say we must do everything to avoid disintegration. That language I understand. I don’t understand (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s language. I don’t understand (President Muhammadu) Buhari’s language and all their predecessors, saying the sovereignty of this nation is non-negotiable. It’s bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it. We better negotiate it, not even at meetings, not at conferences, but everyday in our conduct towards one another.

'It's a disgrace to Nigeria that 27 out of 36 states can’t pay salaries' - President Buhari says

President Buhari yesterday said it was disgraceful that 27 out of the 36 states in the Federation are grappling with inability to pay their workers salary. President Buhari said this during his interactive meeting with workers at the state house Abuja.

"27 out of the 36 states cannot pay salaries. This is a disgrace to Nigeria. It is a disgrace up till now that most of the states cannot pay salaries. 

What happened to all we have gotten over the years? We look up and down, left, right and centre, what have we saved? There was nothing because we developed a consumption culture that we were not supposed to develop. Most of your colleagues that have left service, I doubt if they are getting benefits. That is the situation we find ourselves in”he said

Aisha Buhari blasts Fayose over alleged role in Halliburton scandal

Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has rebuked the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, over allegation that she was involved in the Halliburton scandal.

Buhari begins first phase of homegrown school feeding across the country

• No counter-part funding required to start, but state govts welcome to complement
• N70 per meal estimated
• Caterers to be paid directly by the federal government
• Programme expected to spur Agric, and create jobs 
• Will also foster children's nutrition and learning 

To ensure the effective implementation of the National Home-grown School Feeding, HGSF, Programme, the Muhammadu Buhari presidency has already provided enough funds in the 2016 budget that will ensure that in the first instance 5.5 million primary school pupils would be served one free hot meal a day.

Making this explanation Tuesday afternoon in Abuja was the Senior Special Assistant, Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, who added that while states are an active participant in the school feeding plan, their counterpart funding is not required to start the programmer's implementation.

Willing states are however being encouraged to complement the programme so it can reach more pupils, but state governments cannot and will not be compelled to do this. However the support of the states is vital whether they are able to fund in addition to what the FG will do or not, according to the SSA, saying "we want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, it's a win-win for everyone."

Power Sector Illegally Sold, Fashola Says

The Federal Government and labour agreed yesterday that the power sector was illegally privatised but they differed on how to redress the “illegality.”

Labour leaders are demanding for the cancellation of the sale and reversal of 45 percent increase in tariff effected in February.

However, the government said though it agreed the deal was fraudulent there were legal issues that might make it impossible to reverse the sale.

Speaking at a Senate public hearing on the electricity tariff yesterday, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said government’s interests were illegitimately sold to some private businesses.

Nigeria's ex-defence chief raided staff salary funds

Nigeria's former chief of defence staff bought property including a $5.5 million mansion with air force money, passing off his fraudulent withdrawals as staff salaries, a court heard Wednesday.

Retired air chief marshal Alex Badeh is on trial at a federal high court in Abuja, accused of diverting 3.97 billion naira ($19.8 million, 18 million euros) for his own use.

The 59-year-old, arrested as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign by President Muhammadu Buhari, denies 10 counts of fraud, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

The finance director under Badeh when he was chief of air staff at the time of the alleged offences in 2013 said he exchanged 558.2 million naira for dollars every month on his boss' instructions.

The money was part of some four billion naira set aside for monthly salaries for air force personnel, retired air commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau told the court in evidence.

Assets declaration by civil servants

By The Editorial Board [The Guardian]

The directive, the other day, by President Muhammadu Buhari, making it mandatory for all workers in the federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to declare their assets signposts another level of the effort at winning the war against corruption. No one should be in doubt that asset declaration is a veritable part of the ongoing sanitisation process and extending it to civil servants, as it ordinarily should be, is a welcome development. Except those who have something to hide, the directive should be fully accepted and obeyed immediately as there is a compelling need to rid the civil service of corruption.

The directive came on the heels of overwhelming evidence of financial improprieties and sundry corrupt actions among government workers as gathered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with financial institutions at the end of the Bank Verification Number exercise. Mind-boggling deals have been revealed involving all levels of officials in the country’s public service to the extent that, according to reports, what has been found with politicians pales into relative insignificance.

The Sons Of Futa Jalon (Part 1) By Femi Fani-Kayode

“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”- Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto Caliphate and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, 12th October, 1960, recalled by Tribune, 13th November, 2002.

These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana's world-view, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis. 

To add to the Saurdana's contribution and to butress his point,  in August 2001 President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria said the following: "God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation". 

Mile 12 Crisis: “Fulanis are dominating, cunning and relentless” – Fani-Kayode

A former minister of aviation and PDP Chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to the bloody clash between Hausa and Yoruba people today at Mile 12 area in Lagos.

Read what he wrote on his Facebook page:

$20 Billion (N3.94tn) idle in Nigerians’ domiciliary accounts – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday raised the alarm that about $20bn (N3.94tn) was lying idle in different domiciliary accounts of the citizens.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, CBN, Dr. Joseph Nnana, stated this during a meeting of the Joint Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly with government officials on the 2016 budget.

Nnana said, “Distinguished chairman sir, we have $20bn lying idle in various domiciliary accounts of many customers at the various banks across the country.

“This is part of the reasons why the naira has continued to slide against the US dollar.”

He alleged that some privileged Nigerians were behind the consistent slide in the value of the naira by embarking on dollar speculation to the detriment of the local currency.

The Made In Nigeria Campaign by Reuben Abati

There has been renewed talk lately about the need for Nigerians to patronize locally made goods, (someone should have added… and services!). Championed by Senator Ben Murray Bruce, and supported by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar and a large crowd of online campaigners, so much ink, saliva, and emotions have been invested in this old, and perhaps boring story.

Senator Bruce, who goes by the moniker “the Commonsense Senator” even introduced a hashtag #BuyNaijaToGrowtheNaira. He hasn’t quite explained the connection, but with the exchange rate melting down and the Naira yo-yoing, everyone including our neighbourhood electrician, and his friend, the battery charger, have both become experts on the fortunes of the national currency. Senator Saraki has promised that the Public Procurement Act will be amended by the 8th National Assembly to make it mandatory for the government to patronize locally made goods. Minister Aisha Abubakar has proposed a “Patronise Naija Products Campaign.”

Naira hits record low of 400 against the dollar

The fall in the value of the naira is yet to abate as the Nigerian currency exchanged for N400 to a dollar Thursday at the parallel market.

Fresh pressure on the naira since last week Thursday has seen the currency fall further from N318 to N400 to a dollar.

Financial experts linked the persistent fall of the naira to panic buying of the dollar and other major hard currencies by importers, individuals and businessmen.

President Buhari appoints Ooni of Ife as UNN Chancellor

President Buhari has appointed the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja ll, as the Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Ooni's appointment was announced by the Director of Media, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, yesterday February 18th, 2016.

“This appointment would develop further and enable the monarch to build more bridges of friendship most especially across the Niger,” the statement read

The Ooni would assume office as the institution's  Chancellor  on February 20th, 2016.

Buhari Sacks Director General of the Budget Office, Appoints Replacement

  

President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved the Director General of the Budget Office of his duties and has appointed a replacement.

The Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Yahaya Gusau has been relieved of his duties.

The DG was appointed to the office on August 18, 2015, for a term of four years that could have been renewable for another four years.

However he has now been sacked following the widespread irregularities detected in the 2016 budget presently under consideration by the National Assembly.

According to PremiumTimes, Presidency sources revealed that Mr. Buhari believed that the sacked DG failed to effectively deliver on his mandate.

On the 2016 Nigeria Budget

By The Guardian's Editorial Board

Nigeria's 2016 Budget which has been submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly, like any budget, should not be a mere expression of figures and facts. A national budget is an embodiment of a country’s strategic and policy priorities, and the politics and processes that throw them up. In these key areas, the 2016 spending plan before the National Assembly certainly can be substantially improved upon.

Budgeting is indeed intensely a political matter as both expenditures and revenues are about allocation of resources among competing constituencies within a political environment. What is of importance to the citizenry, constituencies and society at large is expressed through the political and democratic process.

Buhari orders sack of DG's of NTA, VON, FRCN, NOA, others

President Buhari has approved the sack of the heads of the six information-related parastatals under the ministry of information and culture. According to a statement shared on the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture's Facebook wall, Lai Mohammed, who is the Minister of information and culture announced their sack at a meeting he held with the chief executives. The statement reads;

Lawyers aid corruption and stealing in Nigeria – EFCC chairman

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, gave the umbrella body of lawyers, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) an earful on Wednesday. The NBA leadership was on a courtesy visit to Magu’s office.

The EFCC boss lamented that some lawyers have become “vandals of the temple of justice”.

In a statement issued by EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, after the meeting, the EFCC chairman said “Society is not served when prominent members of the bar not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later, helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime.

President Buhari returns to Nigeria after 5-day break

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a 5-day break. Aboard a presidential jet, the president touched the ground of Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja at about 8: 45 pm on Wednesday.

Buhari returns It will be recalled that the president last week after attending the Syria conference in London, United Kingdom, announced his vacation and subsequently delegated the function of his office to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The president is expected to resume duties on Thursday.