The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • Nigeria’s crude oil production fell from 1.33 million to 1.17 million barels per day

    Crude oil production in Nigeria tumbled by 155,000 barrels to a record low in December amid the production cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies.

    OPEC disclosed this on Thursday in its report for January, saying a meaningful rise in oil prices would brighten Nigeria’s economic outlook this year.

    The report showed that the country’s oil production fell to 1.17 million barrels per day in December 2020, from 1.33 million bpd in November, based on direct communication.

    According to secondary sources, total crude oil production by the 13-member OPEC averaged 25.36 million bpd in December, up by 280,000 million bpd in the previous month.

    “Crude oil output increased mainly in Libya, Iraq and the UAE, while production decreased primarily in Nigeria, Congo and Angola. Libya’s crude oil output in December rose to 1.22 million bpd, according to secondary sources,” the group said.

    OPEC and its Russia-led allies, a group known as OPEC+, have been curbing output to support prices and reduce oversupply since January 2017.

    The international oil benchmark, Brent crude, rose by $0.27 to $56.33 barrels per day as of 7:30pm Nigerian time on Thursday.

    OPEC noted in the report that Nigeria’s economy entered a recession in the third quarter of 2020 with real GDP contracting by 3.6 per cent year-on-year after a sharp contraction of 6.1 per cent y-o-y in Q2.

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    “In the meantime, a meaningful rise in oil prices following the recent DoC (Declaration of Cooperation) decisions along with a positive trajectory from COVID-19 vaccines would brighten the 2021 outlook and lay the groundwork for a hopeful medium-term real GDP expansion,” it said.

    The group said oil demand was estimated to have improved toward the end of 2020, mainly due to successful containment measures in major consuming countries in the region.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Federal Government disburses N123.3bn to states

    The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the disbursement of another N123.348 billion under its States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

    The money is a performance-based grant to the states.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who disclosed this in a statement by Mr. Hassan Dodo, the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, explained that the disbursement followed the achievement of results by the states in the just-concluded 2019 Annual Performance Assessment (APA).

     

    The disbursement came after the recent one in November, 2020, by the Federal Government where N66.5billion was granted to 35 states which achieved results under another new COVID-19 response Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs): the passing of an Amended COVID-19 Responsive 2020 budget by July 31 2020.

     

    The minister observed that since the first disbursement in April 2020, the Federal Government has so far disbursed a total of N233 billion to the states under the $750 million World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results.

     

    The assessment, Dodo noted, was carried out by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) as the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) and approved by the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

     

    According to Ahmed, the disbursement included N91.048 billion of performance-based grants for the 2019 APA results achieved by 32 eligible states across various Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) covering fiscal transparency, accountability, expenditure efficiency, revenue mobilization and debt sustainability. States received the grants in accordance to the number of results achieved, with Sokoto State receiving the highest amount of N6.612billion while Kano State got the lowest amount of N1.710 billion.

     

    “Bayelsa, Imo, Rivers and Zamfara states got zero allocation due to their inability to meet the 2019 eligibility criteria which required states to publish online the approved annual budgets and audited financial statements within a specific timeframe,” she said.

     

    She further noted that the 2019 APA results were a significant improvement on the 2018 APA results where the total performance-based grants of N43.416 billion were received by 24 eligible states, demonstrating the substantive progress which states have made on fiscal reforms.

     

    She disclosed that the second part of the disbursement involved a new COVID-19 response DLI: The implementation of a tax compliance relief programme for individual taxpayers and businesses by states by September 30,  2020 where 34 out of 36 states (only Anambra and Zamfara states missed out) were able to achieve the results for this new DLI for the total of N32.3 billion of grants.    Ahmed reiterated that the World Bank-assisted SFTAS Programme is principally meant to strengthen fiscal management at the state level so as to ensure effective mobilisation and utilisation of financial resources to the benefit of their citizens in a transparent, accountable and sustainable manner, thereby reducing fiscal risks and encouraging a common set of fiscally responsible behaviours.

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • The Igbo nation mourns a good man as Ndubuisi Kanu dies at 77.

     

    Ndubuisi Kanu, former military administrator of Imo and Lagos states, former chairman of Ndigbo Lagos and a major pillar of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, reportedly died of COVID-19 complications in Lagos at the early hours of yesterday.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Afenifere, Iba Gani Adams, and Eminent leaders of Thought were among those who mourned Kanu and described his death as shocking and a huge loss to Nigeria at a time he was needed most.

     

    Also, Life bencher, leading lawyer, and Second Republic lawmaker, Senator Onyeabo Chukwunedum Obi, died on Tuesday, aged 82. Obi’s demise was announced by his younger brother, Zik Obi.

    Second Republic politician and Elder statesman, Chief Guy Ikokwu, described Senator Obi’s death as shocking.

     

    ”This is shocking as I had the last meeting with him at our Enugu Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ime-Obi meeting and took pictures with him and wished he would show up at the Ohanaeze election in Owerri on January 10. What a pity. It is terrible as we had a heart to heart chat. May he rest in perfect peace,” Ikokwu said.

     

    Kanu, in 1975, was the only Igbo appointed into the supreme military council, SMC, before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office in 1976 as head of state.

     

    He fought on the Biafran side during the civil war but was reabsorbed into the Nigerian military at the end of the war in 1970.

    After retirement, Kanu, who occupied many commands and political offices as part of his military postings, quickly civilianised himself.

    In a swift reaction to the death, Vanguard gathered that the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the news with shock, describing the deceased as “a great Nigerian.”

     

    A chain of catastrophe —Ohanaeze

    The Professor George Obiozor-led newly elected leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the deaths of Kanu and Obi as a catastrophe.

     

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the apex Igbo group said: ”The Ohanaeze Ndigbo are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our two prominent sons; Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu, Rtd and Sen. Onyeabo Obi.

    ”Admiral Kanu was a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in 1975 under General Olusegun Obasanjo. At the creation of Imo State in 1976, Kanu was appointed the military administrator of Imo State where he made indelible footprints. As a robust thinker, he engaged the service of town planners to prepare a master plan for Owerri metropolis; built durable roads and was instrumental to increasing the number of local government areas in Imo State to 21. Among his legacies is the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.

     

    ”In 1977, Kanu was appointed the Military administrator of Lagos State. Due to his impressive records, Kanu was promoted to the enviable rank of a Rear Admiral and subsequently, the Chief of Naval Staff before his retirement.

     

    ”At retirement, Kanu founded the RANGK LTD, a maritime consultancy. He was a chieftain of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, a pro-democracy movement that played a leading role in the agitation for the actualization of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    ”Kanu at various times expressed profound passion for his people by playing several stabilizing roles in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He was very jovial, personable but firm and courageous in his convictions. Throughout his career history, Kanu remained untainted and exemplary. We are devastated because Ndigbo and Nigeria will miss his disarming intellect and wise counsel.

     

    ”Senator Onyeabo ObI (82) was a Lawyer and graduate of the London School of Economics, England. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979-1983. He followed his family tradition in the love for the Igbo nation. His father, Chief Z C Obi was the national leader of the Igbo Union before the Nigerian civil war. He served as the President of the Otu-Oka Iwu, Lagos-a body of Igbo prominent lawyers. During the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, Senator Obi worked assiduously with the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emeka Ojukwu and many others to produce an Igbo position paper.

    ”Like Kanu, the sagacity and outspokenness of Senator Obi will be missed. This is a chain of catastrophe very painful to bear. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

     

    Kanu’s patriotic virtues ‘ll continue to inspire younger generation —Buhari

    President Buhari while commiserating with Kanu’s family and friends, prayed for God’s covering over all his loved ones.

    President Buhari also condoled with “all professional colleagues of the gallant military officer, who distinguished himself in all positions and responsibilities during service, taking up more daunting, but historically rewarding challenges like speaking up for the weak and vulnerable, and the struggle for the country’s return to democratic government.”

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he believes that Kanu’s credentials in serving the nation, as a career military officer and as an activist with NADECO in actualising the June 12, 1993 mandate, remained commendable and will continue to inspire younger generations on patriotism.

     

    Kanu’s death a great loss to the progressives —Aare Gani Adams

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams described Kanu’s death as a great loss to the progressives.

    Aare Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the death of the foremost administrator had robbed the progressives of a man of great honour and integrity.

    The statement reads: “In life, he was a great leader and leader of leaders because he stood for democracy and true federalism, and  even in death his memories will for a very long time remain indelible in the minds of great democrats. He had a strong conviction about good governance. We will all miss him because, I could remember those moments we shared together in our struggle for this democracy.

    “The late Ndubusi Kanu was a model for good governance. He was always present at our programmes, especially the annulled June 12 commemoration, and on many occasions, he attended three programmes in a day.”

     

    Kanu, a fighter for greater Nigeria core values —Ikokwu

    On his part, Chief Guy Ikokwu said: ”Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was a fighter for the core values of a greater Nigeria and devoted his time to bridge the gap between all our ethnic nationalities no matter where they came from. Because of his devotion to our common bondage he was one of the few Nigerians who governed two states – Imo and Lagos. He fought for the return of democracy and civil rights of citizens as a NADECO leader even when some had chickened out.

    He was a frontline leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and supported the stand of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF’s resoluteness for a restructured template for governance system and devolution of powers. The Lagos State Government honoured him with the Ndubuisi Kanu Park at Ikeja. His family structure is evidently inter-tribal. We had consultations with him on ways to diffuse the alarming rate of insecurities and economic degradation with our new rating of the economic capital of the poor.

     

    ”When I was unable to speak with him as he was out of Lagos in the last two weeks, I was bewildered and proceeded to Imo State for our Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Confab to fathom a new template for a resolution of our existential precepts in our clime. On our return to Lagos State we just found the calamitous realities of our new World Order unraveling exponentially with his demise and movement to the galactic world zones beyond. May his Gentle Soul rest in peace.”

     

    Kanu left indelible footprints —Uwazurike

    Former President of Aka-Ikenga, an Igbo intellectual think tank group, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, said the late naval chief was an enigma.

    ”Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu was an enigma. He had a soft voice. Yet he became a Commander. Physically he didn’t look like a military man. What he lacked in physique he gained in his brainpower. It is therefore not a surprise that he rose to the height of his profession. As the Governor of both Imo state and Lagos states he left his footprint in the sands of time, he was a complete Igbo man, very passionate, brooked no nonsense and he never stood on ceremonies. He was the chairman of NADECO and was even manhandled by Abacha for his membership of NADECO. We have lost a great man,” he said.

     

    Death of a patriot, good seaman —Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation,  Rotimi Amaechi expressed shocked at the death of Kanu, who he described as a patriot and a Seaman that would be missed by all.

    “It’s saddening. It’s the death of a patriot and a good seaman. May his soul rest in peace. ”

     

    Kanu’s death painful, huge loss —Afenifere

    The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  described the death of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu as a huge loss to Nigeria.

     

    National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It was a very painful death. We have lost a very ebullient, vibrant and progressive someone. There is nothing we can do than to accept the will of God.

     

    “He has lived a fulfilled life and dedicated his life to good causes for which we shall always remember him. May his soul rest in peace and may God protect all that he left behind.”

     

    Kanu’s guidance in the struggle for prosperous Nigeria ‘ll be greatly missed

    On their part, eminent leaders of thought, senior citizens, leaders of civil society on the banner of Project Nigeria Movement led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, condoled with Kanu’s family on his demise.

     

    Describing Kanu as one of their strongest associates, they said in a statement by Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, that: Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a veteran of the struggle for the restoration of democracy in the 90s was military governor of old Imo State in 1975 and of Lagos State in 1976.

     

    He also made waves in 1975, when he became the only Igbo appointed into the then ruling Supreme Military Council before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office as head of state in 1976.

     

    ”Kanu, a Biafran war veteran, became a dogged pro-democracy activist upon his retirement from the military. As a staunch member of the National Democratic Coalition, which spearheaded the struggle for the actualisation of the late Moshood Abiola’s annulled June 12, 1993 presidential mandate, Kanu was among those who signed an ultimatum’s for the General Sani Abacha’s regime to revalidate Abiola’s mandate and hand over power to him.

     

    ”He was the chairman of NADECO’s Action Committee, which organised and participated in protest marches and public sensitisation against military dictatorship.

     

    ”Kanu until his demise was also a frontline member of the Apex  Project Nigeria Movement, which has Eminent Jurist, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN as its Chairman. The Group was initiated to build national consensus and political stability for Nigeria through constitutional restructuring of Nigeria.

     

    Other arrow heads of the senior citizens group, which is currently mourning the sudden exit of Kanu are Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Dr Kali Idika Kalu, Prof Akin Oyebode, Prof Pat Utomi, Commodore Dan Suleiman, among others.

     

    ”The active guidance of Kanu for the struggle to create a new democratic and prosperous Nigeria will be greatly missed by all L eaders of Conscience in the Project Nigeria Movement, NADECO and in the broad civil society constituency of Nigeria.”

     

     

    Source: vanguardngr.com

  • FCMB Banker sentenced to four years for stealing customer funds

     

    An employee of the First City Monument Bank, Felix Diete, has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for stealing customers’ funds.

     

    Three customers of the bank had on September 2, 2016, complained that they gave Diete the sum of N6m to deposit in their accounts but the convict deposited the sum of N4m and converted the balance to his personal use.

    Diete was subsequently arrested and arraigned on three counts bordering on stealing contrary to Section 383 and punishable under 390 (6) (b) (8) and 9 of Criminal code CAP C- 38 of the revised edition of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007, and Section 1(1)(d) of the Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act, CAP B3 of the revised edition of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2007.

     

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Delivering his judgment, Justice Inyang noted that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    He subsequently sentenced Diete to four years’ imprisonment on count one, but discharged him on counts two and three on the grounds that the convict claimed that he had not seen the second and third prosecution witnesses  before.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • 894,101 candidates pass NECO while 233,000 NECO candidates to retake missed subjects

     

    THE National Examination Council on Wednesday announced the release of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (internal) results.

     

    But a total of 233,000 candidates, who were prevented from taking the NECO examination in some states due to the #EndSARS protests, would be accommodated in the external examination scheduled for between Monday February 1 and Wednesday March 3 2021.

     

    The states affected by the protest are Abia, Enugu, Edo, River, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

     

    A comparative analysis of results released by NECO for two years showed that a total of 829,787 candidates, representing 71.59 per cent scored a total of five credits, including English and Mathematics in year 2019, as against year 2020 where 894,101 candidates, representing 73.89 per cent scored five credits, including Mathematics and English.

     

    The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Prof. Godswill Obioma, gave a breakdown of the results in Minna.

     

    The results further revealed that the number of candidates who made five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics were 1,112,041, representing 91.91 per cent.

     

    This, he said, represented an increase of 2.01 percent when compared to the 2019 June/July SSCE.

     

    Obioma said the subjects affected by the #EndSARS protests were Chemistry Practical, Economics, Technological Drawing, Food and Nutrition, and Further Mathematics.

     

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    According to him, results of the affected candidates would be pending until supplementary exams were conducted for the papers missed.

     

    He said, “We wish to inform the general public that the council has made specific arrangements for those candidates who missed some papers due to the #EndSARS protest in those states.

     

    “The affected candidates will now sit for those papers missed during the forthcoming 2020 SSCE (external) scheduled from Monday February 1 to Wedn esday March 3, 2021.”

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • CBN pre-export requirements frustrating the export of goods from Nigeria to other countries

    The pre-export requirements recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria is currently frustrating the export of goods from Nigeria to other nations, exporters declared on Wednesday.

     

    Speaking under the aegis of the Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria, they stated that the electronic Nigeria Export Proceed Form being required by the bank from exporters had come with enormous bottlenecks.

     

     

    The President, NPNEN, Ahmed Rabiu, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the new procedure had so many layers of activities that often led to delays and loss of income on the part of exporters.

     

    He said, “We acknowledge the CBN’s desire to ensure that all exports out of Nigeria are documented in order to ensure that the proceeds of such exports are repatriated.

     

    “However, the reality on the field shows that the process is causing undue delays and consequently, encouraging corruption.”

     

     

    In the new pre-export requirements, the CBN wants an export transaction to be initiated through eNXP processing on the trade monitoring system.

     

    Exporters stated that after this, the pre-shipment inspection agent, the Nigeria Customs Service and other designated government agencies would now carry out their pre-export inspections.

     

    They stated that the PIA was expected to issue a Clean Certificate of Inspection, while the Customs would issue the Single Good Declaration.

     

    According to them, a recent report showed that N868bn worth of goods bound for export were stuck at the ports due to the new procedure, as they called for urgent attention to reverse the trend.

     

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    Providing further explanation, Rabiu said, “For example, for the PIA to issue the CCI, the exporter is required to upload a certificate of origin as one of the supporting documents for the eNXP.

     

    “The PIA is also required to upload the CCI to the TRMS(M) and until this is done, the Customs service will not issue the Single Good Declaration.”

     

    He added, “After issuing the SGD, the customs is further required to upload it into the TRMS before the goods are allowed to be gated into the port and loaded on the vessel by the shipping line.”

     

    He argued that the layers created by the new CBN procedure had made the export of goods from Nigeria cumbersome, as it had also led to the deterioration and losses fo r agro commodity exporters.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • CAC generates N19bn for its 2020 fiscal year

     

    The Corporate Affairs Commission on Monday announced a revenue generation of N19bn for its 2020 fiscal year.

    It also announced a total remittance of N2.7bn to the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government.

     

    The Registrar-General, CAC, Garba Abubakar, told journalists in Abuja that the commission had also settled all its tax obligations, adding that the obligations were negotiated downwards by the commission’s management.

     

    “We have settled all our tax obligations. The tax obligations were over N1.2bn when I took over and we were able to re-negotiate and have paid N700m and got a discount of about N500m to N600m,” he said.

     

     

    Abubakar added, “For the first time we were able to pay operating surplus of over N2.7bn to the Federal Government. If not for the outstanding liabilities, the operating surplus would have been more than N5bn.”

     

    On revenue generation, the CAC boss said the commission surpassed its 2020 target by about N1bn.

     

    He said the feat was achieved after the commission blocked areas of leakages to its revenue generation drive.

     

     

    “We had a projected revenue target in 2020 of N18.2bn and we closed the year with over N19bn,” Abubakar stated.

     

    He explained that about 85 per cent of the N6bn liability of commission which he inherited had been paid.

     

    READ ALSO: 243 COVID-19 violators convicted, pay N4.8m fine

     

     

     

    He said to ensure the integrity CAC records, the commission had directed a revalidation exercise for all its accredited customers.

     

     

    According to him, the revalidation exercise would last till March 31 this year, as anyone who fails to validate their records would not be able to transact business with CAC.

     

    The CAC helmsman also vowed that no union would close the headquarters of the commission beginning from today (Tuesday), stressing that the industrial crisis at the commission was being addressed.

     

    Abubakar said qualified employees of the commission had been promoted, while most of the pensions arr ears of staff had been cleared.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Two chinese hold miners trapped underground for nearly two days

    Twenty-two gold miners have been trapped underground for nearly two days after an explosion in a mine under construction in eastern China.

     

    The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon at a mine in a town near Qixia city in eastern Shandong province, authorities wrote in a social media post.

     

    The explosion badly damaged the exit ladder from the mine and the communications system, so authorities could not contact the trapped miners, the statement released late Monday said.

     

    Authorities have sent rescuers to the mine, which is owned by the Shandong Wucailong Investment Co. Ltd.

     

    Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often weakly enforced.

     

    In December, 23 miners died after being trapped in a mine in the southwestern city of Chongqing — just months after 16 others died from carbon monoxide poisoning after being trapped underground at another coal mine in  the city.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Sowero granted N20m bail

     

    A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to Sahara Reporters’ publisher, Omoyele Sowore in the sum of N20m.

    Four other activists, who were arrested with Sowore on New Year’s Eve in Abuja for holding a protest against bad governance, were also granted bail in the sum of N1m each.

     

    Sowore and Juwon Sanyaolu, Peter Williams, Emmanuel Bulus, and Damilare Adenola are standing trial for alleged unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, and inciting public disturbance.

     

    Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello while ruling on the bail application on Monday filed admitted Sowore to bail in the sum of N20million and two sureties in like sum.

     

    The court also ordered Sowore to remain in Abuja and must physically report to the court registrar every Monday and Friday pending the hearing and determination of the case against him.

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    The court further ordered that one of his sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 12.

     

    Sowore, who was earlier declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in 2019, was detained for several months by the Buhari regime for allegedly calling for a revolution.

     

    He was denied bail several times and even re-arrested inside the Federal High Court. However, he was released after domestic and international pressures  in December 2019

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Insecurity: CONES warns Buhari that refusal to tackle insecurity will cost Apc the 2023 elections

    Conference of Nigerian Elders (CONES) has warned that the insecurity situation in the country would cost President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) the 2023 elections.

     

    The group, in a statement, yesterday, by its representatives, Tunde Banjo,  Achike Nwachukwu and four others, said security of lives and property was deteriorating daily and expressed shock over Buhari’s refusal to relieve the service chiefs of their appointments and rejig the security apparatchik.

     

    The group said the security heads were not indispensable, regretting that their inability to contain insecurity since their appointments had portrayed the Federal Government in bad light.

     

    “We wish to say it is not normal for a whole country to be speaking with one voice that the service chiefs should not only be sacked, but also that the entire security architecture be rejigged, and Mr. President would remain adamant and less concerned.

     

    “Nigerians are tired of the alarming insecurity in the country and the seeming inaction of Mr. President in addressing the situation.

     

    “Those responsible for action or inaction which has heightened the insecurity must go and new and effective hands injected into the system.

     

    “CONES wishes to appeal to President Buhari to, to as a matter of urgency, sack the current service chiefs without further delay.

     

    “Our position is because we have seen that the president may lose the support of Nigerians over the embarrassing security situation we are facing if he doesn’t act fast enough. No part of Nigeria is safe today,” he said.

     

    While acknowledging that President Buhari gets daily briefings on the security situation in the country by the security heads, the elders claimed that “most of those reports are not true reflections of the situation on ground. Already, there is low morale in the military over the continued stay of the service chiefs whose tenures in their various offices have since lapsed.

     

    “Who knows if there are invisible hands out there in the service frustrating the fight against insurgency and insecurity in the country deliberately due to the continued stay of the service chiefs?

     

    “We appeal to the president to hearken to the call by majority of Nigerians as reflected in the country’s parliament recently that it is time for him to do the needful.

     

    “We are in a democracy where any decision of government or leaders is taken from the popular view. Majority of Nigerians have since spoken in this regard and as a democrat, our president should listen,” he said.

     

    However, the Defence headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said the armed forces have checkmated Boko Haram and their operations in the North East.

     

    Despite claims that the insurgents have been decimated, some parts of the North East still come under attack.

     

    One of the most recent violent attacks by Boko Haram was at Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State where more than 40 farmers were killed.

     

    In an interview with newsmen, Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, said the Federal Government and the military since 2015 had checked the intensity of terrorist activities across the country, particularly in the North East.

     

    He said the initial delay in tackling the menace made it gain momentum — Boko Haram taking over territories and setting up administrative structures — before they were knocked off in 2016.

     

    Enenche said the open display of power and authority by Boko Haram no longer happens in the North East, and that no single district or community could be said to be under the control of the insurgents.

     

    “The issue of bombings that spread to other places like Abuja, Kano, Niger and Kogi states, including their slipper cells, no longer exist.

     

    “What about suicide bombing, which is one of the signs of terrorism? It was rife and even at our checkpoints, they come and detonate bombs as well as public gatherings; all these have been nipped properly.

     

    “If you put all these together, I can tell you terrorism has been checkmated. However, the signs are still there with isolated actions here and there; common with terrorism,” he said.

     

    Enenche said history has shown that terrorism “is a very resilient type of enemy activity,” adding that the type of terrorism in Nigeria is not “a smart one,” but rooted  in the state of mind of a group of people.

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • DSS warns about alleged Plot to incite religious violence across the nation

    The Department of State Services has warned about a plot by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country.

     

    It stated that the masterminds planned to foment religious crises in Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, and in the South East.

     

    Part of the plans, according to a statement on Monday by the DSS spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, was to cause inter-religious conflicts as well as use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.

     

    The statement was titled, ‘Plot to incite religious violence in Nigeria.’

     

    “Consequently, Nigerians are advised to be wary of these antics and shun all divisive tendencies aimed at inciting or setting them against one another,” it added.

     

    While pledging to collaborate with other security agencies to thwart the plot, the service warned the plotters to desist from their nefarious plan in the interest of peace, security and development of the country.

     

    The secret police admonished the citizens and residents to report any attempt to breach the peace around them to the nearest securi ty agencies.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Lagos shuts down Airport bridge at Toyota on Oshodi-Isolo expressway over a recent tanker explosion

     

    The Lagos State Government has shut down Airport Bridge at Toyota on the Oshodi-Isolo Expressway over a recent tanker fire that affected the bridge.

     

    The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, in a statement he personally signed on Sunday, said the closure of the bridge to vehicular movement was to enable the government to conduct structural engineering tests on the bridge.

     

    He noted that alternative routes had been created for motorists pending the outcome of the tests and the reopening of the bridge to traffic.

     

    According to Oladeinde, motorists from Mile 2 to Cele on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will make use of Aiye and Osolo Way to Asa Afariogun through 7&8 to access International Airport Road.

     

    The commissioner explained that motorists from Toyota would use the service lanes by Armed Forces Resettlement Centre to BOC Gases on old NAFDAC Headquarters.

     

     

    “In the light of this development, the state traffic management officials shall be deployed to the aforementioned corridors to control and manage traffic flow along the axis during the course of the diversions.

     

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    “The Lagos State Government is assuring the motoring public that the Airport Bridge shall be opened for use as soon as the tests or requisite intervention makes it safe and secure to do  so,” he added.

     

    Source : www.punchng.com