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NATIONWIDE STRIKE SET FOR 11,JANUARY,2012 BY LABOUR TO PROTEST FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

2012-01-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

*Rejects government's committees
The two umbrella bodies of labour movements in Nigeria have slated Wednesday, January 11, 2011, for the commencement of its total nationwide strike to protest the federal government’s sudden withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, an unconfirmed source has hinted.
The decision was reached after a meeting of union leaders held on Tuesday.
The federal government had constituted a committee led by former CJN, Justice Alpha Belgore to dialogue with union leaders, activists and stakeholders, but labour has opted not to have any dealings with the committee.
President Jonathan has been under fire since the sudden announcement to cut subsidy was made on New Year Day. An emergency meeting Wednesday with members of the federal executive council is expected to debate extensively on the subsidy savings plan.
It is however unclear how the federal government would react to labour’s ultimatum.Meanwhile, the NLC in a statement Tuesday by its President Abdul Waheed Omar, announced the death of one protester, who it said was shot dead by the police.
"It is with a heavy heart that the NLC announces the murder of an anti-fuel price hike protester, who was shot dead by the police today, Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
"The victim was shot dead near the Post Office in central Ilorin, Kwara State. The perpetrators of this crime were armed policemen from the Area ‘A’ Division, close to the UBA, Ilorin, and the State Police Command on Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.
"The NLC had cautioned the Goodluck Jonathan administration against the use of brute force and arms against unarmed Nigerians who protest publicly their rejection of its murderous policy of hiking fuel prices by between 120 and 200 per cent.
"The police are directly under the control and command of the Presidency and it is the Jonathan administration’s inhuman policy that has resulted in the murder of an innocent citizen. The NLC holds the Jonathan administration liable for this murder and advises it to fish out its agents who shot at protesters in Ilorin and bring them to justice."
The NLC in the statement also praised all those that joined the protests nationwide.
On the committee set up to negotiate with stakeholders, the NLC said, "The Presidency, on Monday, January 2, set up a committee, headed by the retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, purportedly to dialogue with Labour. We think this is an afterthought and meant to give Nigerians the impression that the Government wants to consult Nigerians."
Making its position on the Kolade-led committee known, it said "Labour is seeking legal opinion as to the constitutionality of spending public funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.
"No one would have believed that the revered office of the President could stoop so low to tell a lie. In a bid to defend the Presidency on the misleading and callous imposition of astronomical increase in fuel prices on Nigerians, the Special Adviser on Media to President Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati told the media that Labour was in support of the subsidy removal.
"His claim that Labour was consulted and had given support to whatever government does on the issue of removal of subsidy is a blatant lie. In the first place, the leadership of the Labour Movement had held only one meeting with the Federal Government on the issue of oil subsidy. This was on Tuesday 20th December, 2011 and that meeting was not conclusive, as it was agreed that a follow-up meeting will be called by the Presidency.
"Secondly, the outcome of that meeting was immediately made public through a press statement, and up till now, the presidency has not disputed its content. At the meeting, the Labour Movement had noted that it was not only impossible for the Federal Government to implement a fifth of the projects outlined in the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE), but that the presentation by the Presidency on the issue of oil subsidy was simply a repetition of the presentations made by the Babangida and Abacha regimes and the Obasanjo administration, and that none of those promises were kept.
"The report of that meeting as we have stated, is in the public domain. We reiterate what we told Government, that Labour and the people stand opposed to fuel subsidy removal and hikes in the price of fuel. No amount of blackmail, propaganda or intimidation will deter Nigerians from reclaiming their country.
"Tomorrow (Today) Wednesday 4th January, 2012, the NLC and TUC will issue a clear directive on the date coordinated nationwide general strikes, mass rallies and street protests will commence, and the methodology of the protests," the NLC stated.
Meanwhile,members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been directed to attend an emergency meeting of the Council slated for Wednesday, January 04, 2011, at the Presidential Villa.They were earlier set to resume on 11,January,2012 after their December break.
They were summoned to discuss issues relating to the sudden removal of subsidy on petroleum products and the nationwide anger and protests that have trailed the announcement.
Labour unions and activists have assured government that they will ground the economy if the decision is not reversed. The unions are currently meeting to strategize plans for protests nationwide.

Widespread Protests Across Nigeria over Fuel Subsidy Removal

2012-01-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

*Policemen join in street march in solidarity with the people

Widespread street protest today greeted the fuel subsidy removal as thousands marched through the streets in several states chanting anti government slogans.

In Lagos, men of the Nigerian Police numbering over 400 joined the protest along with members of the public and the civil societies.

The policemen were seen in their uniform marching along Oregun road and heading towards Alausa, the seat of government in Lagos. The policemen were chanting anti-government slogans.

Pockets of protesters have successfully staged protests in various parts of Lagos State. Angry protesters took over major roads like Ikorodu Road, various roads around Ojuelegba in Sululere, Mushin and Idioro amongst others.

Following the removal of oil subsidy by the President Goodluck Jonathan on the new year day, a liter now sell for between N138 and N200 depending on your location.While in parts of Lagos it si being sold at N140-N150, in Igbogila area of Ogun State it is N160 and in Sango-Ota axis of the State, it goes for N145 per litre resulting in the increase of transport fare by over 120 per cent with a journey that used to cost N40 is now N150.

Reports also indicated that protesters blocked the Abuja-Lokoja road in Kogi and Niger States for several hours today disallowing vehicular movements while from the Federal Capital, Abuja, protesters led by the former member of House of Representatives, Dipo Melaye who were earlier arrested along with six others have been released. Tear gas cannisterns were shot at the Abuja protesters by the police

Speaking shortly after his release, Melayo said no amount of intimidation would stop him from mobilizing more people to fight against government’s removal of subsidy which has compounded the suffering of the people.

Reports also noted that there are also protests in Kano State,Kwara State, Ilorin and Zamfara State.

REMOVAL OF OIL SUBSIDY,LABOUR SET FOR NATIONWIDE STRIKE

2012-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lateef Lawal
The Federal Government has despite the unpopularity of its subsidy removal, today finally unsubsidised sale of petroleum products.

To this effect, a liter of petrol now sells for a minimum of N140 per liter and as high as N160 and N180 per liter in some parts of the country as against the previous pump price of N65 per liter.

The introduction of subsidy removal in the first day of the new has widely been condemned by a large section of Nigeria who harped their condemnation on the insensitivity of the government in making the festive period a hardship season for the populace.

The organised labour and its affiliates have called for an urgent meeting tomorrow in Abuja, the Federal Capital for the next line of action which is likely to result in total general strike in both public and private sector of the nation's economy while the civil society organisations are set to begin an instant protest tomorrow-Tuesday,3,January,2012 against the subsidy removal, more so when the National Assembly has not given its nod to the executive on the issue at stake.

The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have roundly condemned the government's action and called on all Nigerians and especially transporters to reject the new pump fuel price because of its domino effect on the socio-economic aspects of Nigerians on prices of food items, transport fares for workers,school children,marketers and varied aspects of the day-to-day aspects of Nigerians.

One of the public commentators,Mr Francis Ayigbe has this to say on the latest development:

"The Federal Government has said that it spends N1.3 trillion Naira annually on fuel subsidies. One is obliged to ask: How much does it to cost to build new refineries or repair and bring the existing ones to full production, in order to avert impending hardship that will be inflicted on Nigerians when petroleum products are no longer subsidized?

Astonishingly, the federal government, under Jonathan, seems to ignore the spiral inflation that that single act will cause on the already impoverished population, with low income, as well as the Naira that has lost much of its value at the international exchange.

If the president doesn't understand the woes that will follow the fuel subsidy removal, then one can reasonably affirm that he does not have the welfare of the masses at heart. This is because the resulting high cost of fuel will be felt on all sectors of the economy - transportation fare, housing, foodstuff, school fees.

Those in the various arms of the governement who earn millions of Naira a month plus allowances that run also in millions will never feel the bites even if 1 liter of petrol costs N500. Yet, those are the very people who should think of the global impact of fuel subsidy removal on the minimum wage-earners - workers who take home N18'000 per month to feed the family, pay rent and discharge other recurrent obligations. The presidency and the legislature won't understand this because their revenue situation is impermeable to inflation.

I hope that President Jonathan understands that by removing the fuel subsidy, the fresh air he promised during his election campaigns has turned sour. This could be the last straw in a country where the security situation is grim. When, in the coming days, the impact of hyper inflation begins to be felt all over the country, the president will understand that he has scored yet another low mark, as he globally has, so far."

A LITER OF PETROL SELLS FOR N3.20 IN VENEZUELA AS AGAINST NIGERIA'S N65

2012-01-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

Sulaimon Olanrewaju reports on the factors responsible for variations in petroleum products pricing system among Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member countries.
It seems that for citizens of member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), it is different yokes for different folks; while in some of these countries the burden of paying for petroleum products is so light, the same cannot be said of other countries.
While in Nigeria, as well as a few other OPEC member countries, citizens have to pay through their noses for petroleum products, the reverse is the case in some other countries as petroleum products are sometimes cheaper than beverages in these other countries.
In Nigeria, a litre of petrol sells for N65 but the same litre of petrol sells for US$0.02 (about N3.20) in Venezuela. In Algeria it is 32 cents (about N51.20), in Iran it is 10 cents (about N16); in Kuwait it sells for 23 cents (about N36.80); in Saudi Arabia it is 16 cents (N25.60); in United Arab Emirate it is 47 cents (about N75.20) and in Angola it is 65 cents (about N104).
In Ecuador, it is 53 cents (about N84.80), in Iraq it is 78 cents (about N124); in Libya, it is 17cents (N27.20); and in Qatar it is 19 cents (about N30).
Similarly, the price of diesel varies from one country to the other. In Nigeria it is N115, while in Algeria it is US$0.19 per litre (about N30); in Angola, it is 43 cents (about N68.80); in Ecuador, it is (N45); in Iran, it is two cents (about N3.20); in Iraq, it is 56 cents (N89.60) and in Kuwait, it is 21 cents (about N34).
A litre of diesel sells for 13 cents (about N21) in Libya; 19 cents (N30) in Qatar, 7 cents (about N11.20) in Saudi Arabia; 71 cents (about N114) in United Arab Emirate and one cent (N16) in Venezuela.
But petroleum products are also cheap in a few other countries that are non-OPEC members. These countries include; Bahrain, Oman and Turkmenistan.
A litre of petrol is 21 cents (about N34) in Bahrain; 31 cents in Oman (about N50) and 22 cents (about N35) in Turkmenistan.
In Bahrain a litre of diesel goes for 13 cents (about N21); while it is sold for 38 cents (about N61) in Oman and 20 cents (about N32) in Turkmenistan.
But different factors are responsible for the price differentials in these countries. While some oil-producing countries are in firm control of the exploration and refining of their crude oil, some have left these in the hands of foreign countries and these account for how much petroleum products are available for domestic use and how much they are sold.
In the same vein, while some countries find it convenient to subsidise the prices of petroleum products for their nationals, others do not.
Algeria
Although prices of petroleum products are considerably cheap in Algeria, the country is not one of those where prices are subsidised.
In Algeria, the bulk of the domestic fuel requirement is supplied by the Algerian national oil company, Sonatrach, which is in charge of exploration and production, transport, refining, processing, marketing and distribution.
The secret to the low prices of petroleum products in Algeria is local refining of crude oil.
Just as it is in many oil producing countries, Algeria's oil sector is not fully open to foreign operators as such companies have to enter into a joint venture with Sonatrach, with Sonatrach usually holding majority ownership in these production-sharing agreements.
Though, these other companies are involved in fuel supply, the bulk of this comes from Sonatrach and has largely been responsible for the comparatively low prices of petroleum products despite the non-existence of subsidy by the state.
Libya
In Late Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, petroleum products were largely subsidised. The National Transition Council (NTC) which is currently in charge in Libya has not changed that, so Libyans still enjoy petroleum products subsidy.
The country's oil industry is run by the state-owned National Oil Company (NOC), which accounts for around 50 per cent of the country's output.
Observers are of the opinion that the position of Gaddafi to subsidise prices of petroleum products was founded on his conviction that since nature has abundantly blessed the country with crude oil, the citizens should not be over-burdened.
So, for most of his reign in Libya, prices of petroleum products were deliberately kept low to make them affordable to the citizens.
Venezuela
Venezuela holds the record of being the country where petroleum products are cheapest in the world. According to reports, the government subsidises about 90 per cent of the actual cost of petroleum products in the country.
The effect of this huge expenditure has not been felt much by the government because Petróleos de Venezuela S.A, the state-owned petroleum company with responsibility for exploration, production, refining and exporting oil, as well as exploration and production of natural gas, is effective and is able to make fuel available on demand in the country.
Although there have been plans by the government to remove the subsidy, the government has not been able to muster enough courage to put such plans into effect.
This is probably because of what happened in 1989 when an attempt to cut the subsidy resulted in violent protests that left thousands dead, thus forcing the government to reverse itself.
A move by the current president, Evo Morale, to reduce the subsidy in January this year led to violent protests, a situation that forced the government to throttle the proposal.
Iran
In December last year, Iranian government announced a cut in subsidy on petroleum products. With the cut, the government plans to save about $100billion yearly on subsidy.
However, despite the cut in subsidy, Iran is still one of the countries where petroleum products are cheapest with petrol selling for 1,000 rials (about N16) per litre.
There is, however, a proviso; each motorist is entitled only to 60 litres of petrol monthly. Anyone who needs more than 60 litres will pay 7,000 rials (N112) per litre.
National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), an arm of the Ministry of Petroleum, is responsible for refining crude oil and producing a variety of oil products and providing more than seven million vehicles with their required daily fuel.
It is also responsible for production, transfer and distribution of 250 million litres of petroleum products daily. NIORDC is also saddled with the responsibility of providing different sectors with fuel for their activities.
Ecuador
The Ecuadorian government has repeatedly stated that it will not allow petroleum products prices to rise in the country.
According to Katiuska King, Ecuadorian Economic Policy Minister till October, “Ecuadorians will not pay more for the gasoline and other fuels they consume even if the per-barrel price of oil rises.”
Her reasons: A reduction in subsidies would precipitate an increase in fuel prices and make the cost of transportation and prices of goods and services in general more expensive. This, she said, would be harmful to the poor.
She added, “Subsidies are not bad per se. You can work on making sure they are better targeted.”
So, in Ecuador, the determining factor for retaining subsidy is a consideration for the poor; the need to make the poor pay less, not a desire to make the rich pay more.
Angola
Recently, the Angolan government announced a cut in subsidy on petrol and diesel. The cut resulted in a 50 per cent increase in the price of petrol and 38 per cent rise in the price of diesel with the duo now selling for 60 and 40 Kwanzas respectively.
According to the government, this measure was taken to reduce the 440 billion Kwanzas (about $4.8 billion) expended on fuel subsidy annually by about 20 per cent each year.
The government plans to use the money saved in the process to improve living standards in the country.
Sonagol, the state-owned oil company, saddled with the responsibility of exploring, refining and marketing petroleum products in the country is only able to supply 37,500 barrels per day, which is an equivalent of 30 per cent of domestic requirement.
According to Jose Botelho de Vasconcelos, Oil Minister, a new $8 billion refinery being constructed in Lobito to boost local supply of petroleum products is expected to come on stream in 2014.
Iraq
Things have not remained the same in Iraq since after the war. Since then, there has been a drastic reduction in subsidy on petroleum products.
This is in consonance with the agreements for loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as relief from debt incurred during the Saddam Hussein regime. So, since 2005, prices of fuel have been climbing up in the country.
The first surge in the price of petrol was in December 2005 when it went up from about 1.25 cents (N2.00) per litre to about 14 cents (N21).
There has not been any respite ever since till it got to the current price of 78 cents (N124).
Kuwait
Fuel prices are subsidised in Kuwait for the purpose of stimulating economic growth without overburdening the citizens.
The government is convinced that when energy prices are cheap, there will be more economic activities which will result in the overall growth of the economy.
The government is also careful not to put too much pressure on families; hence it has put a lid on prices of petroleum products largely because the state-owned Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) saddled with refining and distribution of petroleum products is very efficient.
Saudi Arabia
The government of Saudi Arabia spends a whopping 50 billion riyals yearly on fuel subsidy but the government is not considering increasing pump prices of petroleum products because it sees subsidy on fuels as part of its social contract with the people.
The kingdom does not only subsidise on fuels, it also subsidises the cost of electricity.
The country has been able to achieve this largely because of the efficiency it has been able to manage in its processes.
The state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) has responsibility for exploration, producing, refining, chemicals, distribution and marketing. Its refining capacity is more than four million barrels per day.
This is in excess of what the kingdom requires. So, after taking care of domestic needs, it sells the rest to other countries; that is what takes care of the subsidy for local consumption.
Qatar
The Qatari government has always subsidised prices of petroleum products to the extent that the people are used to paying next to nothing for fuel.
So, when the government announced a slight increase in fuel prices earlier in the year sequel to a cut in the subsidy that was necessitated by the international market prices of crude, it was shocking to the people.
The local market responded with an increase in the prices of food items and other commodities and the people wondered why the fuel price hike was necessary with some of the people calling on the government to start subsidising food items as is the practice in Kuwait.
To stave off protests, the government came out assuring the people that it would put measures in place to cushion the effect of the increase in place.
United Arab Emirate
Despite being an oil producing country, UAE does not refine its crude oil; rather, it buys it at market prices on the international market and sells it at a reduced rate in the country.
Thus the government is daily subsidising domestic consumption of fuel to the tune of $4.2million.
So, despite sitting on a large quantity of crude oil, the country is facing serious shortage of petrol and diesel as the state-owned filling stations have been largely without petrol and diesel since June.
The state-owned fuel retailing outlets have been running at a loss. According to a report, “Three of the UAE's four fuel retailers - Dubai government-owned Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC), Emirates Petroleum Products Co and federally owned Emarat - have been making losses for many years.
The fourth is Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, which has been largely unaffected because its upstream operations and vertically integrated supply system allow it to absorb any potential losses.”
In addition, some of the retailing outlets in the country have been facing serious shortage of supply since June. This has in effect resulted in the high prices of petroleum products in the country.

Nigeria in Turmoil

2011-12-28T12:15:00.000-08:00

The problem is that the Nigerian state shows no sign of being able to contain this threat to its existence. The line where the Muslim north of Africa meets the Christian/animist south has long been a sectarian battleground.
Think of Sudan before it split into two, or the attacks on Christians in Ethiopia last March. Even more volatile is the religious divide in Nigeria, where on Christmas Day a bomb killed at least 35 people outside a Roman Catholic church near the capital, Abuja.
The country has been plagued by sectarian violence, with both sides guilty of atrocities, for over a decade.
But a new and deeply disturbing factor is the role played by Boko Haram, an Islamist sect that would impose Islamic law throughout the federation and during this year alone has been responsible for attacking the UN headquarters in Abuja, destroying a police station at Damaturu in the northeastern state of Yobe, assassinating several prominent individuals and now these bombings.
Tension over land rights and ethnic background as well as religious differences have contributed to civil unrest in Nigeria.
Boko Haram’s motivation is, by contrast, purely ideological and directed as much at Muslims who do not share their extreme views as at Christians.
Their name in Hausa means “Western education is a sin” and they are suspected of links with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Before his death last May, Osama bin Laden identified Nigeria as a key arena of sectarian warfare.
The Christmas Day attacks have been condemned by both Pope Benedict XVI and Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General.
The problem is that the Nigerian state, at best incompetent and under continuing weak leadership, shows no sign of being able to contain this growing threat to its existence.
Given the large number of Nigerians in Britain, the Government is also rightly concerned that rivalries back home could spill over into this country.

source: Telegraph of UK

Bloody Christmas in Federal Capital Territory,Abuja as Bomb Explodes in Church

2011-12-25T03:42:00.000-08:00

*Causing "many deaths"

It was a bloody Christmas early today when a bomb exploded in a Catholic church on the outskirts of the capital, Abuja during Christmas prayers.

Witnesses said the church was packed and that there were many dead from the blast, although officials have not been able to confirm casualty figures and the area was cordoned off.

"We were in the church with my family when we heard the explosion. I just ran out. Now I don't even know where my children or my wife are," said Timothy Onyekwere. "I don't know how many were killed but there were many dead."

It was not known who exploded the bomb but Nigerian security forces are battling the militant Islamist Boko Haram group, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the country split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.

"We are presently there, evacuating the dead and the injured, but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Yushau Shuaibu said by telephone.

"Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country," he added.

The blast in St Theresa's Church in Madala, an Abuja satellite town about 40 km from the city centre, blew out windows of at least one house nearby, a witness said.

A Reuters reporter at the scene said the whole area around the church was cordoned off by police. The reporter saw thousands of angry youths set up burning road blocks on the main highway from Abuja leading to Nigeria's largely Muslim north.

Police and the military tried to disperse them by firing live rounds into the air along with tear gas.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Islamist sect Boko Haram has been blamed for dozens of bombings and shootings in the north, and has claimed responsibility for two bombings in Abuja this year, including Nigeria's first suicide bombing on the U.N. headquarters in August that killed at least 23 people.

Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts in ethnically and religiously mixed central Nigeria killed 32 people, and others people died in attacks on two churches in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation.

BOKO HARAM BOMBINGS

Gun battles between the security forces and Boko Haram killed at least 68 people in two days of fighting in northern Nigeria, authorities and hospital sources said on Saturday.

Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of shootings and bombings in Nigeria's remote, semi-arid northeast, including a spate of attacks in the past few weeks.

Boko Haram -- which in the Hausa language spoken in northern Nigeria means "Western education is sinful" -- is loosely modeled on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.

Rights groups say more than 250 people have been killed by Boko Haram since July 2010.

On August 26 a suicide bomber struck the U.N. building in Abuja. At least 23 people were killed and 76 wounded by the bombing which gutted the ground floor and smashed almost all the windows. Boko Haram claimed responsibility on August 29, demanding the release of prisoners and an end to a security crackdown aimed at preventing more bombings.

The blast was the first known suicide bombing in Nigeria. It marked an escalation in the group's tactics and

revealed an increase in the sophistication of explosives it uses.

source:reuters

FG WILL MITIGATE IMPACTS OF OIL SUBSIDY REMOVAL, says Minister of Information,Labaran Maku

2011-12-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lateef Lawal

The Federal Government will mitigate the immediate impact the removal of oil subsidy will have on the populace, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has assured.

Speaking with journalists at the Presidential Lounge of the Lagos Airport, Maku said government has designed a programme centred around immediate intervention in mass transit in the country so that all transporters would receive assistance in terms of vehicles that would be given out and the railways to offer Nigerians cheaper alternative transportation to help mitigate the cost of transport.

His words:”There are railway services between Lagos and Abeokuta right now and there are also railway services between Lagos, Ibadan and Ilorin, between Minna and Kaduna. We are revamping the rail line from Port Harcourt to Enugu through Jos to Maiduguri. That one is going on right now and we hope that in the aftermath of deregulation, we will revamp the railways and also build new rail lines that would travel faster and links some new areas”.

He said that government would face power squarely because with deregulation, it hopeed to deliver on the Mandulap Hydro-electronic project before 2015 and this would give additional 2, 600mw of electricity n addition to generating power in 17 existing dams in the country in the aftermath of deregulation.

On oil, the Minister disclosed that government planned to build three additional refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa. These new refineries will process 400, 000 of crude oil into finished products every day and with the seven refineries and start exporting.

The Real Cost Of Nigeria Petrol

2011-12-20T04:01:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Izielen Agbon

On December 10, 2011, if you stopped at the Mobil filling station on Old Aba Road in Port Harcourt , you would be able to buy a litre of petrol for 65 naira or $1.66 per gallon at an exchange rate of $1/N157 and 4 litres per gallon. This is the official price. The government claims that this price would have been subsidized at N73/litre and that the true price of a litre of petrol in Port Harcourt is N138/litre or $3.52 per gallon.

They are therefore determined to remove their subsidy and sell the gallon at $3.52. But, On December 10, 2011, if you stopped at the Mobil Gas station on E83rd St and Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, USA, you would be a able to buy a gallon of petrol for $3.52/gallon.

Both gallons of petrol would have been refined from Nigerian crude oil. The only difference would be that the gallon in New York was refined in a US North East refinery from Nigerian crude exported from the Qua Iboe Crude Terminal in Nigeria while the Port Harcourt gallon was either refined in Port Harcourt or imported.

The idea that a gallon of petrol from Nigerian crude oil cost the same in New York as in Port Harcourt runs against basic economic logic. Hence, Nigerians suspect that there is something irrational and fishy about such pricing. What they would like to know is the exact cost of 1 litre of petrol in Nigeria .

We will answer this question in the simplest economic terms despite the attempts of the Nigerian government to muddle up the issue. What is the true cost of a litre of petrol in Nigeria ? The Nigerian government has earmarked 445000 barrel per day throughput for meeting domestic refinery products demands.

These volumes are not for export. They are public goods reserved for internal consumption. We will limit our analysis to this volume of crude oil. At the refinery gate in Port Harcourt, the cost of a barrel of Qua Iboe crude oil is made up of the finding /development cost ($3.5/bbl) and a production/storage /transportation cost of $1.50 per barrel.

Thus, at $5 per barrel, we can get Nigerian Qua Iboe crude to the refining gates at Port Harcourt and Warri. One barrel is 42 gallons or 168 litres. The price of 1 barrel of petrol at the Depot gate is the sum of the cost of crude oil, the refining cost and the pipeline transportation cost. Refining costs are at $12.6 per barrel and pipeline distribution cost are $1.50 per barrel.

The Distribution Margins (Retailers, Transporters, Dealers, Bridging Funds, Administrative charges etc) are N15.49/litre or $16.58 per barrel. The true cost of 1 litre of petrol at the Mobil filling station in Port Harcourt or anywhere else in Nigeria is therefore ($5 +$12.6+$1.5+$16.6) or $35.7 per barrel

This is equal to N33.36 per litre compared to the official price of N65 per litre. Prof. Tam David West is right. There is no petrol subsidy in Nigeria . Rather the current official prices are too high. Let us continue with some basic energy economics.

The government claims we are currently operating our refineries at 38.2% efficiency. When we refine a barrel of crude oil, we get more than just petrol. If we refine 1 barrel (42 gallons) of crude oil, we will get 45 gallons of petroleum products.

The 45 gallons of petroleum products consist of 4 gallons of LPG, 19.5 gallons of Gasoline, 10 gallons of Diesel, 4 gallons of Jet Fuel/Kerosene, 2.5 gallons of Fuel Oil and 5 gallons of Bottoms. Thus, at 38.2% of refining capacity, we have about 170000 bbls of throughput refined for about 13.26 million litres of petrol, 6.8 million litres of diesel and 2.72 million litres of kerosene/jet fuel.

This is not enough to meet internal national demand. So, we send the remaining of our non-export crude oil volume (275000 barrels per day) to be refined abroad and import the petroleum product back into the country. We will just pay for shipping and refining.

The Nigerian government exchanges the 275000 barrels per day with commodity traders (90000 barrels per day to Duke Oil, 60000 barrels per day to Trafigura (Puma Energy), 60000 barrels per day to Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and 65000 barrels per days to unknown sources) in a swap deal.

The landing cost of a litre of petrol is N123.32 and the distribution margins are N15.49 according to the government. The cost of a litre is therefore (N123.32+N15.49) or N138.81 . This is equivalent to $3.54 per gallon or $148.54 per barrel. In technical terms, one barrel of Nigerian crude oil has a volume yield of 6.6% of AGO, 20.7% of Gasoline, 9.5% of Kerosene/Jet fuel, 30.6% of Diesel, 32.6% of Fuel oil / Bottoms when it is refined.

Using a netback calculation method, we can easily calculate the true cost of a litre of imported petrol from swapped oil. The gross product revenue of a refined barrel of crude oil is the sum of the volume of each refined product multiplied by its price.

Domestic prices are $174.48/barrel for AGO, $69.55/barrel for Gasoline (PMS or petrol), $172.22/barrel for Diesel Oil, $53.5/barrel for Kerosene and $129.68/barrel for Fuel Oil. Let us substitute the government imported PMS price of $148.54 per barrel for the domestic price of petrol/gasoline. Our gross product revenue per swapped barrel would be (174.48*0.066 +148.54*0.207+172.22*0.306+ 53.5*0.095+129.68*0.326) or $142.32 per barrel.

We have to remove the international cost of a barrel of Nigerian crude oil ($107 per barrel) from this to get the net cost of imported swapped petroleum products to Nigerian consumers. The net cost of swapped petroleum products would therefore be $142.32 -$107 or $35.32 per barrel of swapped crude oil. This comes out to be a net of $36.86 per barrel of petrol or N34.45 per litre.

This is the true cost of a litre of imported swapped petrol and not the landing cost of N138 per litre claimed by the government. The pro-subsidy Nigerian government pretends the price of swapped crude oil is $0 per barrel (N0 per litre) while the resulting petroleum products is $148.54 per barrel (N138 per litre).

The government therefore argues that the “subsidy” is N138.81-N65 or N73.81 per litre. But, if landing cost of the petroleum products is at international price ($148.54 per barrel), then the take-off price of the swapped crude oil should be at international price ($107 per barrel).

This is basic economic logic outside the ideological prisms of the World Bank. The traders/petroleum products importers and the Nigerian government are charging Nigerians for the crude oil while they are getting it free.

So let us conclude this basic economic exercise. If the true price of 38.2% of our petrol supply from our local refinery is N33.36/litre and the remaining 61.8% has a true price of N34.45 per litre, then the average true price is (0.382*33.36+0.618*34.45) or N34.03 per litre. The official price is N65 per litre and the true price with government figures is about N34 per litre (even with our moribund refineries).

There is therefore no petrol subsidy. Rather, there is a high sales tax of 91.2% at current prices of N65 per litre. The labor leaders meeting the President should go with their economists. They should send economists and political scientists as representatives to the Senate Committee investigating the petroleum subsidy issue.

There are many expert economists and political scientists in ASUU who will gladly represent the view of the majority. The labor leaders should not let anyone get away with the economic fallacy that the swapped oil is free while its refined products must be sold at international prices in the Nigerian domestic market.

The government should explain at what price the swapped crude oil was sold and where the money accruing from these sales have been kept. We have done this simple economic analysis of the Nigerian petroleum products market to show that there is no petrol subsidy what so ever.

In the end, this debate on petrol subsidy and the attempt of the government to transfer wealth from the Nigerian masses to a petrol cabal will be decided in the streets. Nigerian workers, farmers, students, market women, youths, unemployed, NGO and civil society as a whole should prepare for a long harmattan season of protracted struggle.

They should not just embark on 3 days strike/protests after which the government reduces the hiked petroleum prices by a few Nairas. They must embark upon in a sustainable struggle that will lead to fundamental changes. Let us remove our entire political subsidy from the government and end this petroleum products subsidy debate once and for all. It is time to bring the Arab Spring south.

Izielen Agbon Izielen Agbon writes from Dallas, Texas. izielenagbon@yahoo.com
He is former HOD , Petroleum Eng Dept, former ASUU chairman University of Ibadan, trained many operators in nation's energy industry with pratical experience on our practices and policy focus in the last 20yrs

BREAKING NEWS:Armed Robbers lay siege on Sango-Ota,Ogun State

2011-12-13T23:20:00.001-08:00

Residents of Sango-Ota, Ogun State were early today woken from sleep with heavy sounds of gun-shots from armed robbers who laid siege on the industrial town as early as 4.30 am.
The robbers,according to sources had attempted to rob some banks in the Sango-Abeokuta Express way but were given hot chase by men of the mobile unit of the Nigeria Police recently posted to the town to curtail the activities of the underworld gang.
In the process, there were exchanges of gun fire from both sides and the robbers consequently fled in about three vehicles with which they planned to loot the banks and headed toward Oju-Oore axis of the Idi-Iroko Express way where they also attempted to forcefully gain entry into one of the banks(name witheld) located very close to the main road but unknown to them, they were being trailed by the same mobile policemen with whom they had earlier encountered in Sango,about 2 kilometers away.
Again, there were exchanges of gun shots between the police and the armed robbers who eventually fled abandoning one of the vehicles they came with.
The police are still combing the Sango-Ota environment for a possible link that could lead to the arrest of the suspected armed robbers.

Full text of President Jonathan's 2012 Budget address to the National Assembly yesterday

2011-12-13T23:10:00.001-08:00

"I am delighted to present the 2012 Federal Budget Proposal before this esteemed Joint Session of the National Assembly. This Proposal comes at the end of a long consultative process with key stakeholders and it translates the development plans of government unveiled in the Transformation Agenda into concrete actions.

This budget is a stepping-stone to the transformation of our economy and country in our walk to economic freedom. This esteemed Assembly would agree that this path would neither be easy nor uncontested; but with a sharp focus, hard work, determination and making careful choices we will overcome.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

In the past year, the global economic recovery slowed down significantly and downside risks are on the increase as many countries, particularly in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), have faced serious challenges leading to fiscal retrenchment and austerity measures in the face of high and rising levels of sovereign debt.

The Euro Zone crisis in particular has time and again thrown financial markets into turmoil as several countries in this economic and monetary union continue to face difficulty in servicing their debts. On the other hand, although many emerging and developing countries, like India and China are experiencing relatively robust growth, downside risks remain as well. In fact, global growth projection has continuously been revised downward and is now 4% for 2012-2013.

These developments have implications for our economy as, aside from the impact on the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments, they could also lead to lower demand for our primary export commodity. We are living witnesses to the extent of volatility that can afflict the international oil market with prices plummeting from US$147/barrel in July 2008 to about US$38/barrel four months later. Thus, although the oil price is currently over US$100/barrel, there is no guarantee what it would be in the future.

We cannot subject the well-being of Nigerians to such large fluctuations and must therefore protect ourselves by managing our finances prudently including by adopting a conservative benchmark oil price for our budgets.

There are also uncertainties in the area of international food prices which make it imperative that we take steps to safeguard our position through policies that would promote food security. So far, the Nigerian economy has weathered these storms well but efforts need to be reinforced to ensure macroeconomic stability and sustained economic growth.

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT

This year marked another milestone in our democratic experience, with the successful elections and peaceful transition. We now need to build on the mandate that Nigerians have entrusted to us to deliver the dividends of democracy through stronger economic reforms to deliver growth and create jobs. I have created an Economic Management Team (EMT) that I chair, and an Economic Management Implementation Team (EMIT) chaired by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, to help us deliver on this economic agenda.

The robust growth recorded in the first half of 2011 underscores the resilience of the Nigerian economy and the prudence of our economic policies. Our growth in the 2010-2011 period has been broad-based.

The economy recorded impressive growth of 7.85 percent in 2010 and 7.72 percent as of the second quarter of 2011 compared to 5.2% forecast for sub-Sahara Africa. Medium-term prospects are also bright, with real GDP growth projected to remain strong over the period. Furthermore, we intend to pursue a programme of greater fiscal discipline complemented with appropriate monetary policy in order to help stabilize our declining foreign reserve.

The non-oil sector continues to be the main driver of growth with increased crop production, growth in wholesale and retail trade and increased financial sector activities backed by the banking sector reforms. Contributions by the oil sector continue to improve as average daily oil production rose to 2.45 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2.35 million barrels per day in the corresponding period in 2010.

At the same time, food inflation has been on a downward trend from 14.1% in October 2010 to 9.7% in October 2011, but it is still a matter of concern as our objective is to move to lower mid-single digit inflation.

REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2011 BUDGET SO FAR

We are approaching the end of a peculiar fiscal year for our nation. The 2011 Elections, the subsequent inauguration of a new Administration last May and the passage of the 2011 Amendment Budget in May 2011 all affected the implementation of the budget in 2011. Provisional data on the implementation of the 2011 Budget as at October 2011 indicate that revenue performance improved during the year over the situation in 2010.

Oil revenue receipts achieved the targeted levels as a result of relatively higher oil prices and production levels than benchmarked while non-oil receipts, though short of the projection for the period, are tending towards the set targets for 2011. As of mid-November, about 67% of the released funds had been utilized and we expect it to reach 70% by the end of December which is fairly good considering the circumstances. You will agree with me that 2010 and 2011 Budgets were relatively expansionary, and we must now inject a dose of caution.

With the support of the National Assembly, the Government is determined to pursue a programme of far-reaching fiscal consolidation so as to reduce our deficit and domestic borrowing to more manageable levels.

2. We have introduced measures to actualize this programme in the 2012 fiscal year both in the areas of improved revenue collection, recurrent expenditure reduction and increasing the share of capital expenditure in aggregate spending, in contrast with the trend of recent years.

PRIORITIES OF THE 2012 BUDGET

At a time when rating agencies are downgrading countries globally, the Outlook on Nigeria was recently upgraded from negative to stable by Fitch Ratings; this was largely a reflection of two things: a) the new economic programme, including the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework that government has put in place with important reforms and a clear programme of fiscal consolidation; b) the successful political transition following the 2011 elections.

In furtherance of its efforts, the government has significantly scaled up the flow of resources to key areas of priority including Security, Infrastructure renewal and development (including power and roads), human capital development and food security to give a more inclusive growth and attention to job creation. Yet, there is much that still needs to be done. The Transformation Agenda spells out the strategic direction of my Administration.

In this respect, being the first budget under this Agenda, the 2012 Budget has been designed with the theme: fiscal consolidation, inclusive growth and job creation.

To achieve the above objectives, we have established four main pillars, namely,
(a) Macroeconomic stability;
(b) Structural reforms;
(c) Governance and institutions; and
(d) Investing in priority sectors.

Macroeconomic Stability

Government is determined to pursue policies that will ensure a stable macroeconomic environment through a strong and prudent fiscal policy, manageable deficits, sustainable debt-GDP ratio of no more than 30%, and single digit inflation, thereby promoting real growth. We believe that these measures would engender a stable and competitive exchange rate and help to reverse the declining trend of our international reserves.

Our domestic debt profile has risen sharply in recent years, currently standing at about 16.4% of GDP. This cannot be allowed to continue and become a new burden on our children. So in addition to looking at the expenditure side of our national balance sheet, we are also paying strong attention to the revenue side.

In this regard, we have initiated steps to increase revenues by blocking leakages from various sources, improve corporate tax collection, and boost internally generated revenue. We also believe that we should be able to earn a lot more revenue from the maritime sector. As part of the on-going port reforms, government will work vigorously to increase our revenue from maritime and related activities.

Starting in 2012 for the medium term, we shall focus on cutting recurrent expenditure to sustainable levels through reducing waste, inefficiency, corruption and duplication in government. Recent reviews of public expenditures provide a basis for taking such measures. In order to make capital spending more effective, government is introducing a new template for analyzing the financial and other factors including the economic rates of return, job creation, and environmental sustainability.

Similarly, Government will continue to prioritize its expenditures while focus will be on the completion of viable on-going capital projects. It is our intention to fund and bring the large portfolio of on-going projects to completion in the next few years while also taking on flagship projects already identified in the Transformation Agenda.

From 2012, there will also be a robust programme to strengthen our oil reserves base, and increase oil exploration activities in identified inland sedimentary basins, outside the Niger Delta, with the requisite potential for the production of oil and gas, particularly the Chad Basin.

Structural Reforms

My Administration is pressing forward with key structural reforms. We are implementing the privatization of the power sector based on the Power Roadmap which I unveiled last year. We believe that the power sector can benefit from liberalization and privatization by attracting investors in the same manner as the telecommunications sector has done. In the same vein, government will come up with policies to encourage investment in the downstream sector through liberalization so as to create jobs for our people.

We have also embarked on reforming our ports and customs and we intend to continue vigorously on this path so as to reduce the cost of doing business for our private sector actors. No longer are we going to be content for clearance of goods in our ports to take 3-4 weeks with attendant demurrage and costs while it takes 48 hours elsewhere.

In this regard, I have set up a Committee chaired by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance with a mandate to remove the bottlenecks at our ports and another Committee made up of private sector users of the ports to monitor implementation. We also intend to work hard to improve the infrastructure at the ports. Other impediments such as those arising from bureaucratic and costly paperwork will also be removed.

With regard to the petroleum sector, the Federal Government is conscious of the need to bring the Petroleum Industry Bill debate to conclusion so as to give investors the comfort and policy certainty that they require. My Administration is determined to bring this matter to closure by engaging with all stakeholders and I therefore call on the National Assembly to work with us in this regard.

Governance and Building Institutions

Our reforms can only endure if they are founded on strong systems and institutions that promote transparency and we are taking steps to strengthen ours. As you are aware, we have already resumed the publication of revenues allocated to the three tiers of Government as this will promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

Similarly, the recent passage of the Freedom of Information Act has further strengthened the hands of citizens in monitoring the activities of government and I acknowledge the role of the National Assembly and civil society, in making this a reality. The fight against corruption is a collective responsibility and my Administration will strengthen our anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to enable them discharge their mandate. Finally, we recognize that we can only succeed in our effort to transform the economy if we have a vibrant civil service and we fully intend to embark on reforming the public service for optimal service delivery.

Investing in priority sectors: Creating Jobs

Against the background of the above reforms, this Administration will promote job creation and inclusive growth by investing in critical infrastructure, human capital development and security including more support for the police, defence and counter-terrorism operations. We shall also give priority attention to Information and Communications Technology, Solid Minerals development, Manufacturing, Aviation and Creative industries in order to further develop these sectors that are known to be sources of growth and job creation.

Let me now comment on a few sectors. The Agricultural sector is being totally transformed to enable us move from traditional farming to modern agriculture as a business both for our small and large-scale farmers. Our objective is to ensure food security whilst also promoting exports in agriculture value chains where we have a comparative advantage. We intend to process and add value to different crops such as rice, cassava, sorghum, oil palm, cocoa, cotton etc.

This approach is central to our transformation strategy. Accordingly, this Administration has adopted enabling measures to support the development of private sector-driven marketing institutions, and push for policies that would promote our agriculture to create jobs.

To unleash the potential of this sector, the Federal Ministry of Finance has put in place a mechanism to share risks with the banking sector by guaranteeing 70% of the principal of all loans made for supply of seeds and fertilizer by the private sector this season. In addition, to get the inputs to farmers at an affordable cost, we are subsidizing the interest rate on these loans to bring it down from 15% to 7% per annum. The Minister of Agriculture and the Central Bank are collaborating to extend these services for credit availability for the medium term.

We are introducing further fiscal policy measures to support the development of the agricultural sector. In this respect, the duty on machinery and certain specified equipment for the sector will, effective January 31st 2012, attract zero duty. We will further look at supportive fiscal policies for the rice and wheat sectors to stimulate domestic production.

Government is also introducing policies to encourage the substitution of high quality cassava flour for wheat flour in bread-baking. Bakeries will have 18 months in which to make the transition, and will enjoy a corporate tax incentive of 12% rebate if they attain 40% blending. With effect from March 31st 2012, importation of cassava flour will be prohibited so as to further support this programme.

All equipment for processing of high quality cassava flour and composite flour blending will enjoy a duty free regime as incentive to bakers for composite flour utilization. Consultations with the sector to ensure a smooth transition are on-going.

It is common wisdom that the best way we can grow our economy and create jobs for our people is for us to patronize Nigerian-made goods. This is why we are introducing enabling policies to drive this process. In this regard, we are introducing fiscal policy measures that will encourage the purchase and utilization of locally produced commodities.

From July 1st 2012, wheat flour will attract a levy of 65% to bring the effective duty to 100%, while wheat grain will attract a 15% levy which will bring the effective duty to 20%.

Similarly, there will be a levy of 25% on brown rice to bring it to 30%. In addition, to encourage domestic rice production, a levy of 40% will be placed on imported polished rice leading to an effective duty rate of 50%. Effective December 31st 2012, all rice millers should move towards domestic production and milling of rice, as the levy of 50% will be further raised to 100%. Let me add here that no waivers or concessions will be entertained for rice and wheat importation.

We have also commenced implementation of the Power Roadmap which aims to create a robust power sector through the privatization of the generation and distribution of power as well as create an enabling environment for investment. Institutional arrangements have been made for a Bulk Trader company to intermediate between power producers and distributors in a market setting, thereby giving Independent Power Producers (IPPs) the confidence to invest in generation capacity.

Government, in collaboration with our development partners has created a credit risk management initiative to provide Partial Risk Guarantees (PRG) to give comfort to gas producers in respect of payment. Similarly, effective January 31st2012, equipment and machinery in the power sector will attract zero duty.

The Government recognizes the provision of affordable housing as a social need and, also, a veritable source of socio-economic development and job creation. Owning one’s own home is a basic aspiration of every human being, and our people are no different.

To this end, based on a new housing policy, Government is working with our development partners to create an effective mortgage finance system in the country and to develop value chains in the building materials segment. This will give the necessary stimulant to the sector to accelerate its development and also help to reduce the cost of construction, thereby energizing the construction industry.

It is a well-known fact that government alone cannot solve the infrastructure problem, which is why we have invited the private sector and international investors to partner with us through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

As estimated in the First National Implementation Plan of the Nigeria Vision 20:2020, we need N32 trillion for the execution of capital projects over a four year-period, of which the private sector is to contribute N13 trillion. In this respect, we are creating the enabling environment to attract private investments by having a clear regulatory framework.

Government will, in addition to ongoing critical infrastructure projects, execute new flagship projects with positive multiplier effects across the country through PPP arrangements in the next three years.

In our continuing effort to improve on our human development index, we are conscious of the need to avoid the trap of focusing on economic growth as an end in itself, but rather, a means to improved human development through ensuring better health care, education and wealth creation.

To this end, my Administration will continue to invest in these sectors to improve on the quality of education for our children especially young graduates from our educational institutions, support Public-Private Partnership arrangements for skills development and improve the quality of our health service delivery.

Fellow Compatriots, we recognize that we can only achieve the developmental goals in a secure and peaceful environment. Accordingly, safeguarding the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the country is at the heart of ongoing reforms in the security sector. As you are aware, we have since commenced strategic programmes to upgrade the skills of officers in the security agencies while modernizing security infrastructure across the country.

THE 2012BUDGET

The 2012 budget is based on a set of assumptions reflecting Government’s determination to maintain prudence in the face of continued uncertainties in the external environment. Accordingly, the budget is based on the following:

· Oil production of 2.48 million barrels per day (mbpd) up from 2.3mbpd for 2011;
· Benchmark oil price of US$70/barrel, a cautious revision from the US$75/barrel approved in the 2011 Amended Budget;
· Exchange rate of NGN155/US$;
· Projected GDP growth rate of 7.2%; and
· Projected inflation rate of 9.5%.

2012 Revenue and Expenditure Profile

Based on the above assumptions, the Gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N9.406trillion, of which the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s Budget is forecast at N3.644 trillion, representing an increase of 9% over the estimate for 2011. Non-oil revenue is projected to grow significantly in 2012 as recent efforts to reform revenue collecting agencies and the implementation of initiatives to further develop non-oil sectors are expected to yield results.

The aggregate expenditure proposed for the 2012 fiscal year is N4.749 trillion, which is a modest increase of 6% over the N4.484 trillion appropriated for 2011. I am pleased to note, however, that the declining share of capital is being reversed so it will account for about 28% of total expenditure in 2012 compared to 26% in 2011. We intend to continue on this path so that by 2015, it will have risen to almost 33%.

This underscores the need to intensify our efforts to curtail recurrent expenditure, which we have already embarked upon under the policy of fiscal consolidation as evident from the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The share of recurrent expenditure in the 2012 Budget proposal is 72%, down from 74.4% in 2011, and we intend to continue on this downward trend up to 2015.

The aggregate expenditure comprises N398 billion for Statutory Transfers, N560 billion for Debt Service underscoring the real need to address the rising domestic debt profile, andN2.472trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure. We are conscious of the need to control the cost of governance. Government will streamline agencies with overlapping mandates as a way to realign public expenditure.

In this respect, I have received the preliminary Report of the task force which I set up for this purpose and we shall implement relevant recommendations. We are also pursuing the biometric verification of workers and pensioners as part of our effort to control cost.

Capital expenditure has an allocation of N1.32 trillion representing a 15% increase over the amount approved in the 2011 Budget. The emphasis is on the completion of critical infrastructure projects.

Based on the above, the fiscal deficit is projected at about 2.77% of GDP in the 2012 Budget compared to 2.96% in 2011. This is within the threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and clearly highlights our commitment to fiscal prudence as a way to create more space for the private sector.

This will also have a salutary effect on our domestic debt profile, which has risen significantly in recent years. We are determined to rein in domestic borrowing, and through this, ensure that our debt is at a sustainable level.

As I mentioned earlier, government has made significant progress in putting the finances of the nation on a sound footing and laying the foundation for rapid and sustainable economic growth.

Allocations to some critical sectors of the economy are as follows: Security - N921.91 billion; Power [including Bulk Trader, Nelmco, and Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO)] -N161.42 billion; Works - N180.8 billion; Education [excluding Universal Basic Education Commission, Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF) & Education Trust Fund] - N400.15 billion; Health - N282.77 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development - N78.98 billion. Others are: Water Resources - N39 billion; Petroleum Resources – N59.66 billion; Aviation - N49.23 billion; Transport - N54.83 billion; Lands & Housing - N26.49 billion; Science & Technology - N30.84 billion; Niger Delta - N59.72 billion; Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) - N45.57 billion and Communications Technology - N18.31 billion.

Fiscal Policy

Fellow compatriots, you will agree that the budget is not an end in itself but rather, an instrument for the promotion of economic growth, wealth creation, poverty reduction and service delivery to the citizenry. Government desires that we should begin to experience a commensurate increase in gainful employment and social well-being of Nigerians with the rate of economic growth.

This Budget seeks to act, not only to create jobs, but to also lay a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth which would deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. In this respect as you may recall, I hosted a retreat in October this year with the organized private Sector (OPS) at which a number of issues including fiscal policy were extensively discussed.

I wish to reiterate here that the principal objective of my Administration’s fiscal policy in the area of tariffs and trade is to promote industrialization and the growth of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy and above all to generate employment for Nigerians.

As part of the process to realize this objective, we have commenced the review of the 2008-2012 Customs and Excise Tariffs to correct identified anomalies and introduce policies that will help in the promotion of industrialization in the country when the review is concluded. In addition, to ensure a level-playing field for businesses, this Administration, beginning from the 2012 fiscal year, will where necessary, only grant concessions or waivers on a sectoral basis. The focus of any concessions will be on expanding domestic production for local consumption and boosting exports, development of value chains, and boosting employment.

The Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme has, over the years, contributed significantly in the diversification of the economy through the promotion of non-oil exports. Efforts have therefore reached an advanced stage to review and streamline the Scheme to make it more effective as an instrument for the promotion of non-oil exports. We shall also aggressively pursue economic diplomacy within the framework of ECOWAS to ensure that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) achieves its objective of promoting intra- ECOWAS trade and that it is not used as a vehicle for dumping goods in the region. In particular, we shall review the application of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) to the oil palm and other sectors.

For some time now, especially with the advent of the consolidated salary structure, there has been agitation over the lopsided nature of the Personal Income Tax Act and the fact that the tax free allowances were inadequate. I am pleased to announce that I have signed the Personal Income Tax Amendment Act 2011 into law which amongst others has the benefit of reducing, on the average, taxes paid by low income earners and providing a more equitable tax structure for individuals. This law also provides for Tax Appeal Tribunals to listen to, and address concerns of individual taxpayers as a cost-effective administrative intervention prior to recourse to the courts.

Other fiscal changes to be gazetted shortly, include tax waivers on all bonds and related instruments issued by corporate and other tiers of Government, tax rebates as incentive to companies that create jobs, regulations to support taxpayers' self- assessment, and regulations to support the growing quest of those involved in social and community development to get tax incentives for those donating to their causes.

As you may recall, Government initiated a new multifaceted National Job Creation Scheme with the provision of seed funding of N50 billion in the 2011 Budget. Implementation of this programme has commenced in earnest.

This Administration believes that it is time to give Nigerian youths an opportunity to enjoy the dignity of a job, the support for innovation, the confidence to be an entrepreneur and, the sheer optimism to be an employer of labour along with the security of an income that can contribute to our economic development. We are conscious of the fact that we have the task of transforming the huge potential of our youths into real, tangible outcomes which all of our people can experience and call their own.

In this respect, Government is focused on stimulating entrepreneurial activity and setting a framework for young people with creative tendencies to showcase their business acumen, build capacity and create jobs. In this spirit, and to move beyond the conventional paradigm of job creation, the Government, partnering with the organized private sector and our development partners, took bold steps to initiate the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) programme which I launched in Abuja in October and has since been launched also across the six geopolitical zones.

This programme is targeted to, not only create a new generation of innovative real sector entrepreneurs in Nigeria, but, in the medium term, also generate jobs for youths across the country.

I believe that this move will drive the future technological and socio-economic development of our country. YouWin will lead to the creation of about 100,000 jobs through support to our young entrepreneurs.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members of this esteemed Assembly, the Proposal I lay before you this day seeks to sustain sound macroeconomic growth that will translate to achieving socio-economic transformation, and gainful employment for our people. But, we can only progress in this course and turn our possibilities into reality when we diligently adhere to the implementation of well thought-out and articulated developmental policies.

The 2012 Budget, as our collaborative effort, has taken the welfare of Nigerians as top priority. In an environment of global uncertainties and domestic challenges, the strong support of the National Assembly is invaluable for us to achieve our set developmental goals.

As we collectively resolve to create a brighter and enduring future for all Nigerians - a future of hope and prosperity not lack, fear or hatred, we must prepare to overcome any adversity that may arise. Accordingly, we must all be determined and committed to follow through with the difficult but balanced choices that we make in piloting the affairs of this great nation.

Finally, I wish to appreciate the enduring partnership between the Executive and the Legislature in discharging our shared responsibility for nation-building and I note, with thanks, the patriotism, commitment and support that Distinguished and Honourable Members of this esteemed Assembly have consistently demonstrated.

Once again, I encourage us to dialogue openly, frankly and in good faith over the challenges that face us as a nation. It is my hope that the National Assembly will consider and pass the 2012 Budget Proposal expeditiously; and I foresee even more productive collaboration to the benefit of all our people.

I am indeed grateful for your kind attention.

May God bless you all, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria".

Jonathan silent on fuel subsidy removal as he unveils N4.749t 2012 Budget

2011-12-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

*Capital - N1.32 trillion, Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure - N2.472 trillion
*Restricts importation of Rice

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday presented before a joint session of the National Assembly a N4.749trillion proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year.He also announced the restriction on importation of rice with the imposition of 30 percent levy on brown rice and 40 percent levy on imported polished rice leading to an effective duty rate of 50 percent.
The budget he explained was predicated on the following projections: Oil production of 2.48 million barrels per day (mbpd) up from 2.3mbpd for 2011; Benchmark oil price of US$70/barrel, a cautious revision from the US$75/barrel approved in the 2011 Amended Budget at exchange rate of N155/US$; Projected GDP growth rate of 7.2%; and Projected inflation rate of 9.5%.
Giving the breakdown of the 2012 Revenue and Expenditure Profile, President Jonathan said; "based on the above assumptions, the Gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N9.406trillion, of which the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s Budget is forecast at N3.644 trillion, representing an increase of 9% over the estimate for 2011."
He noted that non-oil revenue is projected to grow significantly in 2012 based on recent efforts to shore up the revenue drive of the federal government.
The President put the aggregate expenditure proposed for the 2012 fiscal year as N4.749 trillion, which shows an increase of 6 percent over the N4.484 trillion appropriated for 2011.The aggregate expenditure comprises N398 billion for Statutory Transfers, N560 billion for Debt Service and N2.472 trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure.
Capital expenditure has an allocation of N1.32 trillion representing a 15 percent increase over the amount approved in the 2011 Budget. President said the emphasis is on the completion of critical infrastructure projects.
He explained that the declining share of capital is being reversed; "so it will account for about 28 percent of total expenditure in 2012 compared to 26 percent in 2011. We intend to continue on this path so that by 2015, it will have risen to almost 33percent."This underscores the need to intensify our efforts to curtail recurrent expenditure, which we have already embarked upon under the policy of fiscal consolidation as evident from the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The share of recurrent expenditure in the 2012 Budget proposal is 72percent, down from 74.4percent in 2011, and we intend to continue on this downward trend up to 2015", he said.
The budget is also based on the fiscal deficit that is projected at about 2.77 percent of GDP in the 2012 Budget compared to 2.96 percent in 2011. This according to President Jonathan is within the threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and clearly highlights the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence as a way to create more space for the private sector.
Sectoral Allocation

Allocations to some critical sectors are as follows: Security - N921.91 billion; Power [including Bulk Trader, Nelmco, and Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO)] -N161.42 billion; Works - N180.8 billion; Education [excluding Universal Basic Education Commission, Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF) & Education Trust Fund] - N400.15 billion; Health - N282.77 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development - N78.98 billion. Others are: Water Resources - N39 billion; Petroleum Resources – N59.66 billion; Aviation - N49.23 billion; Transport - N54.83 billion; Lands & Housing - N26.49 billion; Science & Technology - N30.84 billion; Niger Delta - N59.72 billion; Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) - N45.57 billion and Communications Technology - N18.31 billion.
President Jonathan however, said the Budget seeks to act, not only to create jobs, but to also lay a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth which would deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. "In this respect as you may recall, I hosted a retreat in October this year with the organized private Sector (OPS) at which a number of issues including fiscal policy were extensively discussed. We are conscious of the need to control the cost of governance. Government will streamline agencies with overlapping mandates as a way to realign public expenditure," President Jonathan added.
In his reaction to the budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal assured President Goodluck Jonathan that the legislature would accord the budget accelerated consideration in the interest of the people of Nigeria.
He warned that the legislature would not accept selective implementation of the budget by the executive as it has been the practice in the past saying Nigerians would assess the government based on its deeds rather than promises.
The Speaker who said this while moving the vote of thanks at the presentation of the 2012 Appropriation bill by President Goodluck Jonathan to the joint session of National Assembly also lamented that the budget presentation was coming rather late.
He said, "Let me emphasize that selective budget implementation has no place in our constitution and the legislature shall not abdicate its responsibility in ensuring full budget implementation through the instrumentality of oversight."
According to Tambuwal, the high number of uncompleted projects across the country was an attestation to successive failure of the executive to implement budgets in the past years saying "it is the single most obvious sign of shoddy government implementation of the national budget over the years."
He told the President that Nigerians are resilient people and can weather the storms of hardship starring them in the face but cautioned that "it is important to remind ourselves that, with the benefit of hindsight, Nigerians will believe our deeds and not our words."
He assured that the legislature would accord the budget accelerated consideration saying, " On our part, we wish to assure Nigerians that we shall do our best to ensure that we complete work on the budget within reasonable time so that implementation can start early. We hope that this time around, we shall break the jinx of low budget implementation. The truth is, there is no better signal that a government is alive to its responsibility than through its strict adherence to its own budget proposal."
Tambuwal, who received a standing ovation while his speech was intermittently stopped by applauses from his colleagues also told Jonathan that "we are moved with a feeling of a new spirit to remove the annual budget presentation from the realm of sheer rhetoric to one of a comprehensive presentation of a workable document. I must, however, note that the budget proposal is again coming rather late in the day."

IKEMBA NNEWI: TIME TO HONOUR HIS IDEALS OF LOVE AND TOLERANCE-says Aviation Minister,Stella Oduah

2011-12-04T00:02:00.001-08:00

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has described the demise of Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as a great loss not only to the Ibo nation but also the larger Nigerian society.
She stressed that time has come for his memory to be immortalised by embracing the ideals of love, unity, tolerance and his believe in one humanity under God, irrespective of creed, ethnicity or religion.
“Ojukwu believed in one humanity under God. He saw every human being as a creation of that Almighty God hence deserved to be treated equally irrespective of colour, creed or ethnic background. These were at the core of all he lived and fought for. Now that he has passed on to the great beyond, there can be no greater immortalisation of his memory than a recourse by all and sundry to these core essence of his being. Nigeria and Nigerians can only truly immortalise his memory by accepting one another and living in peace and unity in one country bound together by the thread of justice’’, Oduah stated.
‘’Ikemba’s passage should hopefully bring to full closure all insinuations that the larger Nigerian society still holds a grouse against the Ibo nation for the unfortunate events of the late 1960. The onus here lies not only on the other ethnic nationalities as on the Ibo nation itself to close the final chapter to all suggestions that had tended to hold it back. This is the time for the Ibo nation not only to unite amongst themselves in honour of Dim but also to look into the future with hope of a greater stake in the Nigerian nation’’, the Aviation Minister declared.
“Ojukwu’s life was a study in personal industry, humilty and courage. As a young man out of University, he had every opportunity to relapse and enjoy all the good things life had to offer as the ground was already fully prepared for him by his wealthy father, but he rejected the easy path; choosing instead to chart a different cousrse for his life. This is a fitting lesson for Nigerian youths, especially those of the Ibo extraction that there can be no greater satisfaction than success achieved through hard work and personal industry. Nigerian and Ibo youths should honour the memory of the late Ikemba Nnewi by shunning the get-rich-quick syndrome, embrace education and pursue success and fame through personal industry”, the Minister declared, adding “his footprints shall remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria’s history”.
Her deepest condolences go to Ojukwu’s immediate family, the government and people of Anambra state as well as the entire nation which has lost a true ‘’MAN OF THE PEOPLE’’.

CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL VERDICT: TINUBU EXPRESSES APPRECIATION TO JUDICIARY,MEDIA & NIGERIANS

2011-12-03T23:37:00.001-08:00

Posted by Lateef Lawal

Former Lagos governor and National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) ,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his appreciation to Nigerians, particularly, Lagosians and members of his political party for their support and solidarity while the trial over unproven allegations of operating and maintaining foreign accounts lasted.
He also commended Nigerians in the Diaspora whose interest in the survival of Nigeria has not waned and who followed this development closely.
This was contained in a press statement issued over the weekend by the Media Office of Asiwaju on his return to Lagos after securing victory at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja on November,3,2011
“I sincerely thank Nigerians, my party leaders and members, the indefatigable Nigerian media and other Nigerians for their show of solidarity while my trial lasted. I also take to heart and thank Nigerians in Diaspora whose comments and views I read online daily for their support and believe in the course of justice and fairness”.
The ACN national leader also had encouraging words for the Nigerian judiciary: “The judges in this particular case have demonstrated strong commitment to upholding the rule of law. They have displayed great courage and through this ruling they have demonstrated that the Nigerian judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man and that in Nigeria, justice is possible”.
Speaking further on the outcome of the trail, Asiwaju promises to re-dedicate himself to the fight for justice, rule of law and full restoration of democratic rights to all Nigerians. “This outcome will spur me on to greater dedication and desire to do more for my country and her people. I will not relent, but press on in ensuring that Nigerians enjoy good governance and a free society.
Asiwaju believes that the dismissal of the case against him is a vindication of his position years back when the media trial began that these were unproven and politically motivated allegations meant to smear his name and reputation.
After years of media trial and attempted political lynching, the political detractors finally dragged the case to trial jumping many hoops, abusing the process and violating their own laws.
“When notice of the commencement of trial was served, I did not evade service. I was ready to defend my name and most importantly blunt the dangling sword of Damocles over my head. Then, I challenged them to go to court and maintained that those who allege must prove. I am glad that the Code of Conduct Tribunal, consistent with the laws of the land and after a painstaking trial have dispensed of my case”.
However, Asiwaju Tinubu insists that the victory at the Tribunal notwithstanding, he seeks to seek further redress because of the injury caused his reputation and inflicted on his businesses and family.
He maintains that his anger still lingers over the non-full disclosure of the alleged bank accounts and other details relating to the charges by the government in an effort to portray and falsely classify him as a money launder and looter of public funds.
“Where and when are the transactions in these accounts operated? What are the balances in each of these accounts? What is the ageing analysis of those balances and their sources if any?, Tinubu queried.
” The government prosecutors and some of their political leaders in their media campaign listed these accounts and made spurious allegations making it seem as if I looted public funds and stashed it away in these accounts. Yet they have failed to provide evidence to prove these weighty, yet unfounded allegations, which shows clearly at the tribunal that this was a political persecution from the very beginning”.
“The government and its lawyersin their handling of this case have revealed a crash lack of knowledge of financial rulesat home and abroad thus, embarrassing me as a citizen, their own government and the country”.
Tinubu further stated that wasting millions of public funds to prosecute a political vendetta is unjustifiable in a country like ours and failing to apply both the principle and doctrine of materiality; cost and benefit analysis in their so-called investigation and prosecution of this case is questionable.
“I feel ashamed that the government is using a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a costly team of attorneys to prosecute this case, thereby demonstrating lack of policy direction to develop and train hundreds of lawyers in the Ministry of justice and office of the public prosecutor. I dare ask what is the aim of outsourcing a case like this to outside lawyers with huge professional bills?
The government equally failed to employ the FOI to disclose to Nigerians how much are in these accounts and how much the government was expending to prosecute.
“I am still in consultation with my attorneys on the next plan of action. The longtime of media trial and political persecution have had toil on my businesses, my political reputation and constituted an infringement of my rights and that of my family as Nigerian citizens”.
It is only a wicked system that will list minors and portray them as looters for having in their accounts amounts in the hundreds meant for their upkeep and school runs.
Asiwaju believes that greater battle for the salvation of Nigeriahas just begun and he is willing and ready to join hands with all likeminded people to move Nigeria forward as a land of democracy for justice and a secured democracy.

EFCC Chairman,Farida Waziri removed by President Jonathan

2011-11-23T13:39:00.001-08:00

President Goodluck Jonathan has removed the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri.
Her removal was contained in a three-paragraph statement signed by Jonathan’s spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati in Abuja on Wednesday morning.
Jonathan named Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as the Acting Chairman/Chief Executive of the lame duck commission.
Larmode was among the effective team of the former chairman of the commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
FULL TEXT OF GOVERNMENT's statement as released today by Reuben Abati, Presidential spokesman below:
'PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF NEW EFCC CHAIRMAN
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as the Acting Chairman/Chief Executive of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The appointment takes immediate effect, and effectively relieves Mrs. Farida Waziri of her position as EFCC Chairman. Mrs. Waziri was appointed EFCC Chairman by Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 18, 2008 and confirmed by the Senate on May 27, 2008.
Mr. Lamorde, an officer of the Nigeria Police, was, until this appointment the Director of Operations of the EFCC. He was also Ag. Chairman of the EFCC before Mrs. Waziri assumed duty at the Commission."

BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS' THREAT: Governor Akpabio charges President Jonathan to be firm in dealing with culprits

2011-11-23T13:00:00.001-08:00

Posted by Lateef Lawal

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to remain fearless in his fight again the dread Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Akpabio, while speaking with journalists yesterday at Caverton Helicopter hangar near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos explained that the news of the unveiling of the sponsorship of Boko Haram, the arrest of the big shot, automatically shows “that we are beginning to solve the problem”.

He stated that the arrests of the spokesman of the group and a senator allegedly involved in the sponsorship of the sect was a major set back for them, hinting, “I see the end to Boko Haram and a major thing coming with this development”.

“I will urge the President to ensure that no matter who is involved, no matter the person’s status in the society, any Nigerian that sponsors criminality must be brought to book and that is the way I run my state”.

He added that every single individual, no matter his status that is linked with sponsorship of criminality must be brought to book, stressing that it was pleasing that for the first time, the veil of secrecy is being lifted with the unveiling of sponsors of criminality in Nigeria.

His words, “For me, it is not worrisome. It is pleasing news that for the first time we are now having the cloak, the veil of secrecy is been lifted and sponsors of criminality in Nigeria are been unveiled and as far as I am concerned, this is the beginning of the cure for the problem”.

“This is the first time we are touching the real issue, because if you are able to get the sponsors to face justice, it means those who are being sponsored will no longer be available. Most of these young people are unemployed and some of them are quite young, they can’t actually distinguish right from wrong”.

He chided politicians and their likes for unjustifiably using the youths and put them in a situation where they will be a menace to the society, noting that the news of the unveiling of the sponsorship of Boko Haram, the arrest of the big shot, automatically shows that Nigerians are beginning to solve the issue of terrorism.

According to him, “Last year if you are aware, there was a very big fish that was involved in sending terror text messages to individuals under different guises that the governor has promised to kill them that they should bring money. Eventually when he was arrested by the State Security Service who came in a team from Abuja, inspite the fact that he was the man who had been driving around town with Rolls Royce over 20 years, they charged him to court and the case is in court”.

LATE IBRU, A JOURNALISM COLOSUS,says Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State

2011-11-23T12:43:00.001-08:00

The late Publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Dr. Alex Uruemu Ibru has been described as a colossus particularly in the media profession.
Speaking to reporters at Caverton Helicopter hangar at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday afternoon, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio said he was heading to the Ikoyi home of the Ibrus on a condolence visit, disclosed that the formation of The Guardian by the late business mogul was a major step in terms of truthful journalism and distinction in unbiased information dissemination.
He noted that the seriousness of the newspaper on national and international issues stand the newspaper out as one that can be trusted by Nigerians and one used by the international community as a reference point, stressing that the newspaper focuses on serious minded issues devoid of frivolities.
He lauded the late publisher for his contribution to nation building with the establishment of The Guardian in 1983, adding that the contribution of the newspaper could not be underestimated.
His words, “You know he was a colossus in all respect, particularly within the media profession. You know the formation of The Guardian was a major step in terms of truthful journalism, in terms of a paper of distinction, the paper Nigerians can trust and the paper the international community can also use as a reference point because that is what it is”.
“It was the first major, fearless paper of distinction. Let us be honest, the paper focuses on serious minded issues, not on frivolities. So, its contribution to nation building cannot be underestimated, so it’s a very sad development, it’s quite an unfortunate situation and I think it touches on all parts of Nigeria. That is why I flew into Lagos to pay my last respect to the departed on behalf of millions of people of Akwa Ibom who also benefited from his industry and his contribution to nation building”.

Libyan Fighters Captures Qaddafi’s Son

2011-11-19T22:55:00.001-08:00

Libyan militia fighters on Saturday captured Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the last fugitive son and onetime heir apparent of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, setting off nationwide celebrations but also exposing a potential power struggle between former-rebel factions over his handling.
Militia leaders based in Zintan, a western mountain town and stronghold of resistance to Colonel Qaddafi’s regime, said they captured Seif al-Islam early Saturday in the southwestern desert near Awbari, along with a small entourage.
But while transitional government leaders in the capital, Tripoli, promised that Mr. Qaddafi would be closely guarded and turned over to the International Criminal Court to be tried on war crimes charges, leaders in Zintan insisted that they would not hand him over until a formal national government was formed — a process that is in the works but at least a day or two away.
Such insistence on factional power is at the heart of international concerns about Libya’s future. And after Colonel Qaddafi’s capture and killing at the hands of militiamen a month ago, his son’s case will be an important test of Libya’s commitment to the rule of law.
On Saturday, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said he would head to Libya in the next few days to discuss how and where Mr. Qaddafi would be tried. “We are coordinating with the Justice Ministry to ensure that any solution is in accordance with the law,” said the prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
Leaders in Zintan promised that they would protect Mr. Qaddafi and that justice would take its course.
“We are arranging a very safe place for him,” said Mussa Grife, a member of the Zintan revolutionary movement’s political committee. “The people of Zintan want to leave a good impression for the world and treat Seif according to human rights and according to Islamic values.”
Tellingly, the Transitional National Council’s prime minister, Abdel Rahim el-Keeb, came to Zintan with an entourage of officials to celebrate the capture. “Congratulations to all Libya, all men, women and children,” he said at a news conference here. “Now we can build a new Libya.”
Mr. Keeb emphasized that the government in Tripoli was in no rush to take direct custody of Mr. Qaddafi and that it would accept Zintan’s demands to hold him.
“We trust their ability to take care of this,” he said. “They will keep him in peace, and take care of him, unlike how he treated our people.”
In scenes of celebration outstripped only by news of Colonel Qaddafi’s capture and death last month, Tripoli’s streets erupted in revelry at the news that Mr. Qaddafi had been seized. Vehicles clogged intersections, horns blaring, and militiamen shot their rifles into the sky. In Zintan, thousands of people poured into the streets amid a carnival of fireworks and gunfire.
The capture eliminates perhaps the best hope that loyalists had of rallying a new revolution around the remnants of the Qaddafi family. It also represents a personal transformation that turned Seif al-Islam from the most prominent advocate of changing his father’s Libya into one of the chief architects of the regime’s deadly crackdown on dissent in its final days.
Mr. Grife said Zintan fighters had been following Mr. Qaddafi through the desert using local sources for intelligence about his whereabouts in the past few weeks. When they learned he and a small entourage would try to make a break to leave the country, perhaps bound for Tunisia, they laid a trap for him on Saturday morning along a valley road outside Awbari, an oasis town.
When Zintan fighters blocked the caravan, Mr. Qaddafi broke from his vehicle and was captured on foot. “They tried to fight,” Mr. Grife said. A few shots were fired, but there were no reports of any wounded.
A reporter for Reuters was on the plane with Seif al-Islam as the fighters flew him from Awbari to Zintan. The reporter said that although Mr. Qaddafi appeared very frightened, he was in decent condition. He wore an uncharacteristically heavy beard, and showed the reporter his heavily bandaged right hand, which he said was wounded in a NATO airstrike about a month ago.
As Mr. Qaddafi was driven from the Zintan airport to an undisclosed place for detention, residents who had gathered to see him threw shoes and sandals at the vehicle, a sign of extreme contempt in the Muslim world.
For years, Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi cultivated an image at home and abroad as the face of change in Libya. An international playboy in his youth, he went on to earn a doctoral degree at the London School of Economics. He wrote a thesis on the importance of democracy and civil society groups, although accusations later emerged that it had been ghostwritten by consultants working for his father’s government.
He publicly championed the cause of modernizing and liberalizing Libya, including loosening the tight restrictions on political speech his father had maintained for decades, opening up free enterprise and adopting a constitution.
In the staged drama that passed for public political life under Colonel Qaddafi, Seif al-Islam, who is 39, was often portrayed as standing up to an authoritarian old guard around his father, who seemed to push back against his ideas. Some Libyans who dreamed of a freer future pinned their hopes on him and the young clique he led.
Western consultants say Seif al-Islam managed to parlay partial control of Libya’s oil assets and investments to help induce Western businesses and governments to ease Libya’s isolation under his father.
His success helped him emerge as the pre-eminent son and heir apparent among Colonel Qaddafi’s many children, although his brother Muatassim, his father’s national security adviser, was always considered a rival.
But when the revolt against Colonel Qaddafi broke out in late February — taking over the eastern city of Benghazi and for a few days the streets of Tripoli as well — it was Seif al-Islam who delivered the Qaddafi government’s first public response, warning in a long and rambling speech that the government would crush the “rats” who challenged his father’s rule.
Libya, he said, would slide into civil war. To opponents of the Qaddafi government, the son now sounded very much like his father.
During the rebellion and NATO bombing campaign against the Qaddafi government, Seif al Islam was said to propose to the Western governments a truce centered on the idea that he would lead a transition to electoral democracy. But in public interviews he always insisted that his father should retain a figurehead role, which he sometimes compared to that of the queen of England, and the Western powers never bit.
In his last interview — in early August, less than three weeks before he fled as rebels took Tripoli — Seif al-Islam appeared a changed man, nervous and agitated, wearing a newly grown beard and fingering prayer beads. He had always been a religious Muslim, he said, though his previous image was decidedly secular.
Casting aside any pretense of negotiating peace with the Western-supported rebel leadership, Mr. Qaddafi said in the interview that his father’s government was negotiating a secret deal with a faction of Islamists among the rebels. Together, he said, Qaddafi loyalists and Islamists would turn on the liberals among the rebels, who would be killed or driven into exile, and Libya would become an Islamic state relying on the Koran instead of a constitution. “Libya will look like Saudi Arabia, like Iran. So what?”
He added, chuckling, “It is a funny story.”
Libyan Islamists denied the report immediately. Officials of his father’s government denied it the next day. And at least one person close to the Qaddafi family later said that Mr. Qaddafi appeared to be losing his grip.

source:The New York Times

LEGISLATORS,PRESIDENT JONATHAN MEETING DEADLOCKED

2011-11-16T23:10:00.001-08:00

** President told to Forget Subsidy and Tackle Insecurity

** Sources Say President Was ‘Incoherent and Unconvincing.’

The meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the National Assembly at the presidential villa yesterday could not produce results as the lawmakers rejected overtures from the executive to support the planned removal of oil subsidy.
With this development, the National Assembly and President Goodluck Jonathan may be headed for a major showdown.
Senate President, Senator David Mark and House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the parley which lasted a little over an hour told the President in plain terms that the nation was not ready to accept subsidy removal at this time when insecurity has taken the centre stage.
The lawmakers rather advised him to concentrate and even double his effort at tackling the worsening security situation in the country.
It was from sources at the meeting that "The President said the main reason for calling the members of the Parliament is to appeal to them for support in the government’s bid to remove the fuel subsidy in 2012.
A lawmaker who was at the meeting told our correspondent that Jonathan had pleaded with the lawmakers that the government could no longer support the huge cost of subsidizing petroleum products. According to him, "the country may not be able to hold together in the next 15 years."
He said the President told lawmakers that his administration was doing everything possible to arrest the growing insecurity in the country but the peculiar nature of the situation was not helping matters.
In his words, "The President said before it was the issue of militancy, then kidnapping and armed robbery. He said now it has escalated to suicide bombing in which people are willing to die in order to wreck havoc on the country. He appealed to the National Assembly members for cooperation in order to succeed in the fight against the menace."
Nigeria is presently faced with the task of tackling members of the extremist group Boko Haram which has claimed responsibility for several deadly bomb attacks in northern Nigeria.
According to sources, after President Jonathan had finished talking, he invited the Senate President who openly told him that the present state of the country does not call for oil subsidy removal.
A source said "Mark told the President that the Nigerian people are against the removal of Petroleum subsidy. He said that if the subsidy is removed, what else can the masses say they are enjoying or benefitting from government? He said in a situation where there is widespread poverty, lack of proper infrastructure, no adequate power, overwhelming unemployment, the issue of deregulating petroleum will cause more harm than good at this point in time.
"Since you know who the cabal that is sabotaging the subsidy on petroleum products is, you can deal with them by having them arrested and prosecuted. What will the Nigerian people benefit from the government if you remove the subsidy," Mark allegedly asked Jonathan.
The lawmaker said Mark clearly told the President that it was better for the President to address the current insecurity in the country by squarely facing Boko Haram before contemplating deregulation in the oil sector.
According to the source, the President was shocked when after the Senate President had spoken and he asked if members of the House of Representatives had anything to say.
He said "about 20 hands were raised. But the Speaker stood up and said: ‘Today is not a day for debate. You have called us here and spoken to us and we have heard what you have said. We cannot be stampeded into a decision right now. We will return to the chamber and consider the import of it and make our decision known to you. But our decision will be what is best for the Nigerian people."
One source described the President as incoherent and unconvincing adding,"nobody bought his reasons."
Another said, "His message was disappointing and we did not take it.
"He was made to know that his facts and documents were sketchy and blurred and failed to address certain fundamental economic indices in such circumstance as subsidy removal."
It is however unclear when the leaders would deliberate again on the contentious issue.
Meanwhile, the Senate through its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has debunked reports that senators moved to pass a vote of no confidence on the President.
He said there was no iota of truth in the report; and "come to think of it, a no confidence vote tradition only applies in a parliamentary system of government and not in a presidential system as practiced in Nigeria."

source:THEWILL

FIVE DEAD IN NURTW FACTIONAL GUN DUEL IN SANGO-OTA,OGUN STATE

2011-11-15T03:11:00.001-08:00

By Lateef Lawal

Not less than five persons have been reported dead during a factional fight between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) in Sango-Ota, Ogun State in the early hours of today.

In addition, several others sustained various degrees of injuries from gun shots and other dangerous weapons used during the free-for-all,which according to eyewitness accounts began mid-night Monday.

Many workers were stranded at various bus stops while others including school children remained in-doors and shops and markets closed to avoid stray bullets.

It was not immediately known what led to the mayhem, but it was gathered that members of the union loyal to a popular leader of the group were trying to resist the leader of a rival group and his gang from the control of motor parks especially in the Sango axis including the areas around the over-head bridge.

Due to the intensity of the fire power exchanged by the rival groups, inhabitants of Sango and its environs stayed awake till day break waiting for the intervention of the law enforcement agents to stem the tide of criminality exhibited by the groups.

The men of the Nigeria Police however came in in the early hours of the day to bring the situation under control and remove the dead bodies from the main road linking the Idi-Iroko road.

As at 12 noon today, mobile policemen in armoured vehicles were still patrolling the major roads and link roads in Sango-Ota Ado-Odo Local Government Council of Ogun State, the Police is yet to confirm arrest of any suspect from either group.

Censored! There are no poor people in Saudi Arabia

2011-11-10T02:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_2PTKlz2lw&feature=player_embedded

Two young Saudi bloggers were sent to jail for fifteen days after uploading a ten-minute documentary on poverty in Riyadh, the capital of one of the richest petro-states in the Gulf.
Firas Buqna and Hussam Al-Darwish posted the video on YouTube on October 10. The fifth episode of their Web TV show “Mal’oub Alen” (“we’re being duped” in Arabic) touched on the living conditions of people in the poor neighbourhood of Al Jaradiya, on the outskirts of Riyadh.
In the report, Buqna is shocked by the relative poverty of the neighbourhood, where he comes across children “who are barefoot and don’t own any shoes.” Of the three neighbourhood residents that Buqna interviews, one “earns only 1,300 dollars (945 euros) to support his two wives and 11 children. Another resident supports 20 people with just 666 dollars (484 euros) a month.
Buqna and Al-Darwish denounce the stereotype of the wealthy, SUV-driving Saudi, explaining that 89% of the country’s citizens live in debt. The bloggers question why residents of such a wealthy country are slipping through the net and living in poverty. They point out that over the past 27 years Saudi Arabia has donated 56 billion euros to developing countries, while 22% the the country's own citizens were reportedly living in relative poverty in 2009 (local media put the number at 30% in 2008).
The young bloggers’ video did not go down well with authorities. Six days after they posted the video online, Buqna and Al-Darwish were arrested and interrogated by the police. They were released two weeks later, on October 31. The exact reasons behind their arrest remain unclear.
However, the controversy generated by their arrest has drawn over a million viewers to their online video.
“Poverty is an open secret in Saudi Arabia”
Rachid M. (not his real name) is a blogger; he lives in eastern Saudi Arabia.
There are more and more poor people in Saudi Arabia, and the middle class has all but disappeared. It’s an open secret in the kingdom.
I don’t live in Riyadh and have never visited the neighbourhood of Al Jaradiya, but in the east of the country where I live, there are far poorer neighbourhoods than what Firas Buqna showed in his video.
The fact that there are a lot of oil wells in the area changes nothing. Comparing the poorest areas of Saudi Arabia with Somalia, as Buqna does at the beginning of his documentary, makes sense. There are people who live in terrible conditions, on the streets or under makeshift tents.
Poverty was officially recognised for the first time during a visit by Ali Al-Namia, the former minister of social affairs, in the neighbourhood of Al Shamishi in Riyadh in November 2002. He went with King Abdullah, who was still crown prince at the time.
The footage was aired on state television. At the time, authorities decided to create a national solidarity fund. But that wasn’t enough to stop poverty from spreading.
Wealth is very badly distributed in our country, and corruption is also rife [in 2010, Saudi Arabia ranked 50th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index list].
Official media outlets have addressed the problem in a very superficial way. They present poverty as if it affected only an isolated few and not entire swaths of the population, in one of the richest oil nations of the world.
Poor families do get government aid, but they receive symbolic amounts which absolutely don’t allow these people to meet all their needs. Not to mention the maze of bureaucratic red tape they have to go through to receive this aid. What’s more, this aid is granted only to people who have no other source of income. Low-income working families aren’t entitled to it.
“We think they were arrested because they caricatured a commonly-used phrase that honours the King”
There are several reasons for which the two bloggers may have been arrested. According to another famous blogger, nicknamed Saudi Jeans, authorities may not have liked the fact that their video was picked up by a foreign-based opposition TV network.
Others think authorities were angered by the videos’ direct, defiant tone. But most people think that what got them into trouble was the fact that they caricatured a commonly-used phrase that honours the King (‘We are fine, we hope you are too’ in Arabic).
The beginning of the video shows several wealthy Saudis in a large, elegant car saying ‘We are fine ,’ then a small boy from the neighbourhood of Al Jaradiya saying ‘We are not fine’.
Others think the motive of their arrest was to scare young Saudis, who increasingly use social media and new technologies to express themselves and voice criticism of the government and the country, sometimes beyond the limits imposed by authorities.”
Firas Buqna posted this photo of himself on Twitter after he was freed from prison.

Source:observers.france24/by By Rachid M.

British Airways, others receive 2011 World Tourism Awards At World Travel Market, London

2011-11-08T22:48:00.000-08:00

British Airways, Jonathan M. Tisch and National Geographic Traveler were presented with the 2011 World Tourism Awards in a ceremony at World Travel Market, Excel Centre, London.
The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 14th Anniversary, are co-sponsored by American Express, Corinthia Hotels, International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions. Inaugurated in 1997, the World Tourism Award was established to recognise “the extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry”.
This year the three Award recipients were honoured for their dedication to sustainable tourism, preservation of natural and cultural heritage, as well as forging tourism partnerships to overcome challenging times.
Presenting the Awards on behalf of the sponsors were Sheila Heustess, VP, Travel Industry Relations, American Express; Alfred Pisani, Founder and Chairman, Corinthia Group; Patrick M. Falconer, Managing Director – UK, Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa, the New York Times/International Herald Tribune; and Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market for Reed Travel Exhibitions.
The first award went to British Airways in recognition of "its investment of £5-6M annually to support its Global Community Programs, in direct and in-kind donations, to more than 100 community and conservation focused charities around the world as well as in the UK.” Mary Barry, Manager, Community Investment, British Airways accepted the Award.
The second award honoured Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman and CEO, Loews Hotels, in recognition for “his leadership role to help rebuild New York City in the aftermath of September 11, by reviving the local travel and tourism industry and for securing major funding for NYC & Company to expand its global marketing initiatives, resulting in record tourism for New York City.” Accepting the award on behalf of Jonathan Tisch was George Fertitta, CEO, NYC & Company.

source:Business Wire

Deadly floods hit Ghana capital Accra

2011-10-27T23:57:00.000-07:00

Heavy floods have swept through Ghana's capital, Accra, killing nine people, officials say.
The floods destroyed homes, cut off electricity and forced the closure of schools and shops.
President John Atta Mills visited the affected areas, as emergency services rescued people who had climbed on roofs to escape the floods.
Flooding in October is unusual in Ghana, where the rainy season runs from June to August, correspondents say.
Ghana's National Disaster Management Organisation (NDMO) said the death toll had risen from six to nine after three more bodies were found.
Journalist Samuel Bartells in Accra told the BBC that with rain continuing on Thursday, some residents fear there could be more flooding.
However, the city is returning to normal, with schools and shops reopening, he says.

source:BBC News

Fashola congratulates 57 ACN chairman over victory at polls

2011-10-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

*Canvass upward review of revenue
formula for states, local councils

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola yesterday felicitate with the 57 chairmen and councilors of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) that emerged victorious at the polls. He however noted that beyond victory , the Federal Government needed to urgently review the revenue formula to allow the third tier of government access more funds to frontally tackle the statutory challenge of primary health care and education to the people at the grassroots.
Fashola explained that it might not be out of place to lay the claims of lack of performance at the feet of local council bosses considering that the paltry resources at their disposal as opposed to the Federal Government which takes 52 per cent of the revenues from the Federation Account with sufficient performance to match it.
Speaking in an interview at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on his return from Abuja from the emergency Governors' Forum meeting, Fashola explained that given the current revenue allocation formula it would be difficult to sustain the system which is skewed against states and local government councils.
Fashola said : "I want to first congratulate the Action Congress of Nigeria my party and all of the council chairmen and the councilors for the success at the polls, I also congratulate candidates of other parties who were successful in the polls.
"But let me say that we have a flawed constitution and let me also say that given the flaws in the constitution some of the ways that we can invigorate the local government to improve service delivery is first to focus critically on the responsibilities that we have given them and I will choose two, primary health care and primary education." "You know we continue to try in a sense swimming against the tide because we cannot afford not those two critical services health and education, now when you look at a local government that is saddled with salary obligations beyond what its capacity can deal with where is the money then to give service, now if you have a local government structure and a federation revenue allocation formula where the national government keeps 52 per cent of the revenues the 36 states shares 26 per cent and the local government 20 per cent .
"They are the fulcrum of hundred and seventy four and more of them are left to share just 20 per cent , just think of it. Now which is the government that is closest and most impact full to the people but sadly it is the government that has the least revenue, now don’t take my word for it I think it is time to ask all of you journalist, do some investigations don’t accept what we say do some investigations seek also the opinion of economics and experts that can this kind of system work don’t accept what we say because we are involved do some independent validation and investigations and on the basis of that express your opinion for Nigerians to hear this system is not sustainable that is the truth".
We cannot afford not to swim but it will be nice to swim with the tide behind us that really is the problem because every time that there is a governmental failure let us look at the risk impact if you keep 52 per cent once there is a failure at that level it is a 52 per cent failure so whether you now aggregate the states and the local government together you can only get a 46 per cent success at the very best."
He further said : "Now if this country’s economic was working at 52 per cent we won’t be agonizing the way that we are agonizing but those are issues that I think will provoke you to deeper thinking and analyses not just what we governors are saying or what we elected representatives are saying but what really is the fundamental logic in this skewed agreement but having said that I believe that the governors forum has expressed his position yesterday.
And I align myself in that position again this is part of the problem that we have, we have an appropriation law that prescribe a certain amount of monies roughly over N240billion for the year for subsidies and by September we have exceeded the approved amount by an additional N1.2trillion, now that is monies that should have gone into the federation account and that should have constituted part of the assets of each of the 36 states and the local government it has gone without lawful authorities to spend it without consultation with the stakeholders that is the federation that we are dealing with."

MUAMMAR GADDAFI DIES FROM GUN SHOT IN THE HEAD

2011-10-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

(Reuters) - Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered on Thursday as fighters battling to complete an eight-month-old uprising against his rule overran his hometown Sirte, Libya's interim rulers said.

His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen.

"He (Gaddafi) was also hit in his head," National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters. "There was a lot of firing against his group and he died."

Mlegta told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi, who was in his late 60s, was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked. He said he had been taken away by an ambulance.

There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.

An anti-Gaddafi fighter said Gaddafi had been found hiding in a hole in the ground and had said "Don't shoot, don't shoot" to the men who grabbed him.

His capture followed within minutes of the fall of Sirte, a development that extinguished the last significant resistance by forces loyal to the deposed leader.

The capture of Sirte and the death of Gaddafi means Libya's ruling NTC should now begin the task of forging a new democratic system which it had said it would get under way after the city, built as a showpiece for Gaddafi's rule, had fallen.

Gaddafi, wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of ordering the killing of civilians, was toppled by rebel forces on August 23 after 42 years of one-man rule over the oil-producing North African state.

NTC fighters hoisted the red, black and green national flag above a large utilities building in the center of a newly-captured Sirte neighborhood and celebratory gunfire broke out among their ecstatic and relieved comrades.

Hundreds of NTC troops had surrounded the Mediterranean coastal town for weeks in a chaotic struggle that killed and wounded scores of the besieging forces and an unknown number of defenders.

NTC fighters said there were a large number of corpses inside the last redoubts of the Gaddafi troops. It was not immediately possible to verify that information.

Nigerian Leaders today are Selfish & Greedy

2011-10-16T04:14:00.000-07:00

-says Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State

The Governor of Jigawa State,Alhaji Sule Lamido recently spoke on various issues concerning his style of administration, especially his love for the downtrodden in the State, the introduction of social welfare package for the disable, plans to open up the State to would-be investors, education and civil responsibilities of citizens to the Nigerian State. It is acidic as well as humorous!

Governor Sule Lamido

OPENING UP JIGAWA STATE TO INVESTORS

By the ratings of the so called market agencies, the in thing today is commerce and business and in commerce you have to move very fast.

Since Jigawa is the most peaceful in the federation, it has all the potentials to make business thrive with availability of land and cheap labour and enabling environment and secure. It is investment destination. It is an emerging market with good climate.

What we desire most now is an airport in the State to ease movement of people and investors into and out of Jigawa State to transact business.

We are very close to Cameroun, in the east, very close to Chad in the north, Kano in the east .It has beautiful scenery, good climate and an investors haven.

People there are anxious to reach the world and the only means today is to have an airport. For example, if you are coming from Abuja you by air, you have to drop in Kano and come to Jigawa State capital, Dutse by road and the roads linking us with Kano are very very bad.

It is horrendous. The Federal Government has made a commitment to build an airport for the State. We are therefore looking forward for the fulfillment of that commitment.

If people like Bill Gates want to come to Jigawa as he has planned to come to assist us I the polio eradication campaign, he can not come now because there is no airport through which his plane can land.

By whatever criteria Jigawa need an airport to open up our State to industrial development aside from the massive road network construction currently going on. Opening up Jigawa is part of adding to the economic potentials and the prosperity of Nigeria. We are building road network.

We are very low on Internal Generated Revenue (IGR). We depend largely on money from federation account. We depend on self help to develop the State.

We feel challenged and save ourselves. Lack of money should not be impediment. We are agric based. We have Onions, Sorghum ,Millet, Melon, Gum Arabic and…..nobody will come to Jigawa and help us. We have to resort to self help. Not even our sister State, Kano can.

Land is our own oil. we are willing to give land to interested investor. Within three months of applying for land you are through with your certificate of occupancy..in emerging economy, agro based industry is important. We have half a million hectares of irrigable land.

Federal Government is investing heavily in Hadejia/Jamare river valley . Recently, during the visit of the vice president, N10billion commitment was made to improve on the Hadejia/Jamare agro-based industry.

When you put a thing like this in place, you trigger economic activities, you think of how to preserve them and get them to the market.

Loans are being given to small scale farmers. Government is ever willing to support any investor in this regard .

Above all, the most important thing is that Jigawa is a peaceful State for investors because no matter the attractions you have on ground to woo investors, if the State is always engulf in crisis, no investor will want to come. We need to invest heavily in farming apart from other competing needs like health education.

By our culture, violence is not part of our culture. commitment from home is important, How do parent bring up their siblings. Parents must take charge of their ward. It is a collective thing.

A parent must be honest to his children. A child trust, but if he discovers that somebody he so much trust was lying, he feels dejected..this also goes into our larger society.

Our leaders…….if you look at the north was one single family Tafawa Balewa,Sardauna, Aminu Kano-----the north is of both Christian, Muslim north…………to them every northerners to them was one. For people who are lazy they import various things to divide us.

Our leaders then had commitment they are not greedy compare to what we have today. Today’s generation are selfish, we believe in using people as tools to attain selfish advantage. Nobody trust anybody anymore. That is why we have all this crisis.

On N7,000 per person monthly social welfare to disable persons in Jigawa

If you say because somebody is disabled and you neglect him, you are not being fair, even you who is healthy need support not to talk of somebody who is disable.

The money we make is for all. How then do you abandoned them, abandoned a part of you and turned them to unwanted specie.

They are our own people. The package is their right, they no longer beg, they look need and no longer looking neglected. They must feed and feel part of the society. Its more evil to make them feel unwanted.

We have to care for them. The allocated to Jigawa State from the Federation Account is for all the sons and daughters of Jigawa, so because they are getting that money you can see that they are very clean, they can take care of themselves.

They no longer go hungry or go about begging for food.

So our efforts to develop, our efforts to become more civilized people and the miracle you are talking about is because with this programme, they have been switched on as human being and not as before when they were switched off and un-catered for.

In the next 10years, Jigawa is going to be the best state in Nigeria with the best doctors, engineers including Islamic sciences.

We’ve just sent 58 students to various schools abroad. In the past3yrs we've sent over 300 abroad on scholarship. As a matter of right, I want Jigawa to be a reference point to other states in Nigeria in all human endeavours.

Even Mallams, the council of elders(ulamas) and all sects who want to further their education in Islamic or western education are given scholarships so that they can debate intelligently and nobody can bamboozle them into preaching hatred among the folks.So when you talk there will be knowledge and sense in what you say.

G9-QUARTERS in Dutse

No nation grows without knowing where you are coming from. We must know our history to be able to chart a way forward. History anchores you. G-9 is an appreciation to leaders who played a key role in restoring democracy in Nigeria.

In 1992 under Abacha, when he tried to transform into military president, the oppositions were engaging him from the tribal angle, it was difficult to really get a national appeal.

Abacha came up with his own parties, we met the requirements, yet things were not falling into proper shape.

So, myself, Chief Bola Ige, Adamu Chiroma, Francis Ella, Abubakar Rimi, Iyorcha Ayu and Solomon Lar met in Lagos, somewhere in Raymond Njoku Street in1996, to rub minds on how to chart a way forward for the country aftermath of the crisis that engulf the country due to the annulment of June 12 presidential election.

We look at Nigeria and we looked at the roles being played by NADECO and we noted that the body was engaging Abacha from tribal point of view and because it was tribal, other Nigerians refused to go along. The more you hammer him(Abacha) from the tribal angle the more you strengthened him as people look at NADECO as mainly a Yoruba organization.

We now agreed to form a body that would have a nationalistic outlook so as effectively engage Abacha and stop him from transforming to become military president.

We now named the body G-9 later it became G-18 then G-34 and finally metamorphosed into PDP(Peoples Democratic Party).

To give Nigerians a sense of history, that is why the G-9 Quarters was built and named after leaders who played key roles in giving Nigerians democracy we are enjoying today, so that they can appreciate the sacrifices made by their leaders.

On 51 Anniversary the poor performance of government at the federal level

It is the typical past time of Nigerians to keep passing on their guilt to someone else. Ask those critics, what has been their own contributions to the development of Nigeria?

It is only in Nigeria that you see people relish in vilifying their country and ignoring what God has destined for them. We must be a responsible Nigeria first.

It is here you see a taxi driver complaining of lack of fuel and he will take you round and round in order to make money out of you, yet he will not pay his tax.

Those who are saying there is no electricity, ask them to show you their NEPA bill, they won’t show you and yet they want constant electricity. You want all the good things of life, yet you the most dis-honourable.

They look for escape routes for their own failures. We must be responsible citizens first. Media men are involved. You know what to do.

Whatever you say about your country, is your own image you are seeing. It is deceit all the way. Go to parties and see the number of buffet you will see while their own people are suffering.

They have no concern for people behind them. An average Nigerian is selfish. Yet we keep on lamenting.

On President Goodluck Jonathan

You see in my religion, God says- I will give you leaders of your own reflection. Leaders who are like you. So what do you expect.

If you say Jonathan is a ‘go-slow’ president, you too you are also ‘Mr Go Slow’. Didn’t Nigerians called President Sheu Shagari ‘go-slow’? Didn’t they call President Olusegun Obasanjo various unpalatable names? Didn’t they call Babangida a ‘wayo man’.

But you see Jonathan is a very very honest man. You Nigeria want rule of law, democracy and yet you want him to behave like a pharaoh, like army general.

Jonathan is a very honest man. We should give him a chance to perform and make good use of his talent.

On Sovereign Account

All monies accruing to the federation must be shared among all the three tiers of government, so says the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anything to the contrary is null and void.

Which money do you save when there are so much developmental work that are lacking and needed to be funded.

Which money do you want to save in the so called sovereign account they are talking about when there is no enough money to execute several developmental progammes and projects.

POSTED BY LATEEF LAWAL