Giacomo Tavera Hot-Blog

Nigeria Tam Tam: Terrorism must be condemned in all its ramifications.

Umar Abdulmutallab’s life jail

THE imprisonment for life imposed by the United States court on Nigeria’s Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab for attempting to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner with 300 people on board underscores the nightmare that must have haunted his family and indeed many Nigerians since December 25, 2009 when the episode began. Expectedly, the verdict brought mixed reactions in Nigeria. There are people who felt the punishment is too harsh, particularly as it left no option of parole. Some feel that at 24, Umar is a misguided Nigerian youth whose world view has been jaundiced at an impressionable age by American-born terrorist and cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, who was operating out of Yemen, the birthplace of Umar’s mother.

Others think that terrorism must be condemned in all its ramifications and that peace loving Nigerians must not allow themselves to be contaminated by an alien culture of the slaughter of innocent people under any guise whatsoever.

It will be recalled that on Christmas Day 2009, whilst on board Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, Umar, after performing his ablutions in the toilet, proceeded to detonate a bomb sewn into his underpants that was undetected in Lagos and Amsterdam airports. The devise did not detonate fully but caught fire burning him and a side of the plane before startled passengers and crew overpowered him and doused the fire, thus preventing an almost certain catastrophe for the jet liner and its 300 occupants.

The case has since gone on trial with Umar showing no contrition for his actions. He admitted that he was on a suicide mission for al Qaeda and described his bomb as a “blessed weapon” to avenge Muslims who have been killed or poorly treated around the world. His behaviour in court betrayed a troubled mind. A novice in law, he did himself no favours when he sacked his lawyer and pleaded guilty to all charges brought against him, including terrorism.

The verdict was a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Ibori shocked the United Kingdom (UK) court....

Ibori pleads guilty in London

Conviction is April 16
Britain to return seized assets to Delta

AT the home-front, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) met a brickwall in its attempt to prosecute former Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori over alleged financial misconduct while in office.

When the heat was on him, Ibori went underground for weeks in 2010 before he escaped to Dubai, which turned out to be an ill-fated journey.

He was extradited to London on the request of British government for trial over money-laundering and other offences.

Against earlier reports that Ibori might enter into a plea bargain, the former governor yesterday pleaded guilty before a United Kingdom (UK) court to a 10-count charge of money-laundering and conspiracy to defraud his state.

His admission of guilt promptly set the stage for his sentencing, which the court has fixed for April 16 and 17, 2012.

British police had accused him of stealing $250 million (about N38.75 billion at the exchange rate of $1 to N155) over eight years that he was governor.

The prosecutor also called him a “thief in government house.”

Ibori, both under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his late successor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was seen within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a power broker. He was arrested in 2010 in Dubai and then extradited to London.

According to agency reports, Ibori shocked the court yesterday when as his trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court was about to begin, changed his plea to guilty and admitted stealing money from Delta State and laundering it in London through some offshore companies.

Prosecuting Queens Counsel (QC) Sasha Wass said Ibori, 53, had “tricked” his way into becoming a governor between 1999 and 2007, by giving a false date of birth and claiming he had no criminal record.

“He was never the legitimate governor and there was effectively a thief in government house. As the pretender of that public office, he was able to plunder Delta State’s wealth and hand out patronage.”

Before yesterday, Ibori’s wife, Theresa, his sister, Christine Ibie, his mistress, Udoamaaka Okoronkwo, and his London solicitor, Bhadresh Gohil, had all been convicted of money-laundering and sentenced to five-year jail terms each....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Warns Nigeria May Disintegrate.....

Boko Haram: Okoh Cautions FG, Charges Christians On Self-Defence

THE Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and Archbishop, Metropolitan, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council to take a decisive action against the Boko Haram Islamic sect or risk an ethno-religious crisis capable of causing an unexpected disintegration of the country.

He gave the word of caution yesterday in Awka at the opening of the ongoing meeting of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria at St Faith Cathedral Church, Awka.

The Primate said the bombings, killings and multiple physical and psychological assaults on citizens, especially Christians, by the group were akin to the ugly events leading to the 30-month (1967-1970) Nigerian Civil War.
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He, therefore, called for a holistic Federal Government effort at stamping out the ugly acts of the group, noting that one of the quickest means of tackling the group is for them and their sponsors to have a rethink and ponder on the enormity of the calamity they have already visited on the citizens.

“We call on Boko Haram, their sponsors and admirers to have a rethink; in fact, all of us have a lot to lose in the event of a break up of the country, if pushed too hard,” the Primate said.

The Archbishop used the occasion to remember the efforts and good works of the late publisher of The Guardian newspapers, Dr Alex Ibru, whom he described as “a great man, a selfless man dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, who believed in achieving an impeccable standard in all his dealings.”

“We remember him, we pray for his wife, Mrs. Maiden Alex Ibru and their children for God’s protection and sustenance. We pray for the Foundation and the Guardian Newspapers that they may continue to make progress as good legacies of this great man...,” he stressed.

Appraising last year’s Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa Church in Madalla, Niger State and other such attacks on Christians in Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa States, the Primate noted that a situation where Christians were brazenly killed and their properties looted was no longer acceptable.
He described the unity of Nigeria as non-negotiable, but that it must stand on the attributes of justice, mutual accommodation of one another, equality, tolerance, as wall as security of lives and property.

He encouraged Christians to be prepared always to defend themselves, instead of running away from the enemy, and to stop running from place to place. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: .....dialogue to save the nation.

Again, dialogue to save the nation

THE renewed clamour by many prominent Nigerians, from all parts of the country, for a national discourse in which the country’s multifarious problems can be tabled does not deserve to be treated with disdain. For one, the call is a reminder that all is not well with the country. And for another, there is very little to show for the years, efforts and resources expended to move the nation along the path of the progress desired by all Nigerians. Rather, the leaders continue to pretend that what the country needs is no more than palliatives. This pretext, from all indications, cannot take the country anywhere.

When in the life of a nation the ship of state starts to wobble uncontrollably, it stands to reason that all those on board that vessel must sit down and consider in what ways an imminent shipwreck can be averted.

The British colonial government once presided over two distinct protectorates. In 1914, without consultation, both protectorates were merged into one and called Nigeria. At the dawn of independence in 1960, it was clear that the compulsory amalgamation of diverse, religious, cultural and ethnic entities was unworkable without the devolution of substantial powers to the federating units. The result was the creation of regional governments that were autonomous and which made contributions to the central government for the sustenance of those services, including defence and foreign affairs that were best handled by a central authority. They operated a revenue formula that was based on derivation. The entry of the military into government in 1966 saw the dismantling of the successful regional structures and the creation of essentially, a unitary form of government that was still called federal. The result is an all-powerful federal government that serves as paymaster to mostly weak 36 states, lacking in the ability to invoke the ‘federal principle,’ and have become subservient and lazy. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Aborted suicide bombing in Kaduna......

Blasts rock Kaduna army barracks

Qaqa ‘resurfaces’, denies arrest by SSS
Security agents kill eight Boko Haram suspects
Immigration arrests 213 Nigerians, Nigeriens

UNDAUNTED by the killing and arrest of its members by security agents, Boko Haram once again expressed its bloodlust by bombing a military barracks and another area close to a bridge in Kaduna State yesterday.

The Nigerian Army stated that the explosion in the barracks was as a result of an aborted suicide bombing.

Though the army authorities said that there was no casualty except the suicide bomber, an unconfirmed report disclosed that three other persons died.

An official with the National Emergency Management Agency in Kaduna, Musa Ilallah, said that “there were two separate blasts.” He said rescue officials had been deployed but were being refused access to the area by soldiers.

“From all indications, they gate-crashed into the military barracks,” said Ilallah, adding that there was talk of a suicide bomber, but that there was no official confirmation.

Residents said windows at an office complex at the military barracks were shattered. The area had been cordoned, but the office complex could be seen, residents said.

“Virtually all the glass has been shattered,” one resident said. “I saw soldiers with glass cuts on their bodies being taken out, but it’s difficult to say if there were any (more serious) casualties.”

The authorities of the 1 Mechanised Division of Nigerian Army, Kaduna, said that soldiers promptly responded to the situation. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Boko Haram’s spokesman arrested by SSS....

Intrigues over ‘arrest’ of Qaqa, Boko Haram’s spokesman

Arewa gives terms for dialogue with sect

A COMBINATION of technology and rigorous surveillance enabled the nation’s security agencies to record a breakthrough in their efforts to check the activities of Boko Haram yesterday, according to the State Security Service, (SSS.).

The spokesman of the group, known as Abdul Qaqa, was reportedly arrested using the Global Positioning tracking System (GPS) in the early hours of yesterday by the State Security Services (SSS) in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Ahmed Abdullahi, the SSS state director confirmed the arrest to The Guardian on phone stating that “we have finally picked him up in the early hours of Wednesday, through the GPS; and he is currently in our custody for questioning at the State Security Service Headquarters on the Airport road.”

This claim has however been disputed by the SSS headquarters through spokesperson Marilyn Ogar who said last night that she had no idea where the information on Qaqa’s arrest came from. “We do not have him,” she said emphatically.

It was also learnt that Qaqa who had been speaking on behalf of the group, that identified themselves as Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, locally known as Boko Haram, is a Nigerian citizen from Kogi State, and a native of Igala in Central Nigeria.

Qaqa is said to have been responsible for the issuance of all threats meted out from the hidden enclave of the sect in Maiduguri metropolis, including the ones that preceded bombings of the Police Force headquarters building, the UN building, several other coordinated attacks and bombings in the northern states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Niger, Adamawa, and of recent Kano, the second most populous state in the country, where over 185 people were killed....Read More...

Nigeria Tam tam: Threat letter to the Sultan of Sokoto by Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram Threatens Attacks In Sokoto, Warns Sultan

THE Boko Haram sect has warned the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, to intervene in the release of its arrested members by the police, as failure to do so could lead to attacks and bombings of Sokoto, as it did in Kano on Friday, January 20, 2012.

The sect alleged that many of its members were arrested by security agents in Sokoto.

Its spokesperson, Abu Qaqa, gave the warning yesterday in a telephone interview with newsmen, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Qaqa said: “This is an open letter to the Emir of Sokoto (Sultan of Sokoto), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and the Acting Governor of Sokoto State.

“Before we visited Kano, we wrote open letters to senior citizens there on the imperative of releasing our members but nobody cares to talk.

Indeed, we sent three warnings to Kano before we struck.

“What happened in Kano will be inevitable in Sokoto unless you (Sultan and others) intervene and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of our members, who were specifically arrested in the city of Sokoto last Thursday.”...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: al-Qaeda training Boko Haram Terrorism

Niger links Boko Haram to al-Qaeda

THE ranks of nations and international organisations expressing outrage at the killings by the Boko Haram swelled yesterday with the addition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Russian Federation.

But Niger Republic went beyond condemnation to give insight into the activities of the Islamic sect as the country’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum said members of the group had received training in the making of explosives at al-Qaeda camps in the Sahel region of northern Africa.

The carnage unleashed by the sect was underscored as three Anambra communities of Agulu, Adazi Nnukwu and Azigbo yesterday buried 15 of the group’s victims.

Relations and friends of the victims noted that enough of Igbo blood had been spilled to keep Nigeria united.

Adazi Nnukwu lost no fewer than 12 indigenes, Agulu lost one, while Azigbo lost two, including a bank manager.

The ECOWAS Commission said yesterday that it roundly condemned the spate of terror attacks, which had recently claimed scores of lives in different parts of Nigeria. It maintained that the attacks by Boko Haram were “aggravating insecurity among both citizens and visitors.”

According to the sub-regional group, the West African leaders have noted with regret that “the latest deadly attacks in the country’s ancient northern city of Kano on Friday, January 20, 2012 happened in spite of the determined efforts by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rein in those behind these attacks.”

Only last Monday, Nigeria’s violent situation reportedly featured at the United Nations Security Council, where the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit submitted that Nigeria was among countries in the sub-region that remained vulnerable. He also warned that such vulnerability could jeopardise peace-building, democracy and stability, pointing to “worrisome developments that could come to the fore, as in Nigeria, which had been a regional linchpin, contributing much to peace and security.”...Read More...

United States (U.S.) Vs Boko Haram.....

Govt forecloses dialogue with Boko Haram

We’ll continue to confront group, Ihejirika declares
U.S. ANC urge Nigeria to unite against sect

IT is final! The Federal Government will not under any condition negotiate with Boko Haram. This position is informed by the government’s belief that the war against terrorism cannot be won through negotiation.

In fact, the government said yesterday that those calling for dialogue with Boko Haram would soon realise that the group’s menace cannot be resolved at the roundtable.

These views were expressed in Abuja yesterday by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika. He declared that the military would engage the sect in a shoot-out whenever it is warranted.

He said: “Whatever measures we put in place, we would not get the best result and fast enough unless the society as a whole reject terrorism. Those who try to justify acts of terrorism inadvertently support terrorists. And some do so only to discover later that terrorism is not a matter to be negotiated and won. The Army is not resting on its oars as it is transforming on the training of its personnel as the last batch of the quick response had just passed out and have been deployed to curtail the movement of the terrorists.”

For the second time in two days, the United States (U.S.), yesterday promised to work with Nigeria to end terrorism and urged Nigerians to unite against the activities of Boko Haram. The African National Congress (ANC) also called for global assistance for Nigeria to curb the growing insurgency in the North.

Ihejirika declared that Nigeria’s war against terrorism could only be defeated if the people joined the Federal Government to fight the perpatrators.

Ihejirika said the terrorists inflicting mayhem on Nigerians were being harboured by fellow citizens, adding that such people helped to fuel their activities.

He told the participants at the 2nd yearly seminar on national security organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) with the theme: “Nation building and national orientation imperatives for national security,” that the last batch of troops who graduated last Friday on quick response to assigned goals have been deployed as part of the onslaught against terrorism....Read More...

Braithwaite opposes foreign help, Soyinka seeks dialogue over sect

Report says sect killed 935

THE magnitude of violence being unleashed on Nigerians by the Boko Haram, notwithstanding, the Federal Government may have to tackle them without recourse to foreign support due to opposition to such a proposal.
Yesterday, the National Action Coalition being led by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, specifically rejected any plan to allow intervention from the United States (U.S.) in the fight against the Islamic sect in Nigeria.

On Monday, the Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought (BELT) led by former Minister of Steel and Petroleum Resources in the First Republic, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, expressed opposition to the United States (US) intervention in the efforts to tackle Boko Haram. Monguno said such action would be improper because Nigeria has no defence pact with the U.S.

But this caution came amid a report by the Human Rights Watch (HWR) that about 935 people had been killed since 2009 when Boko Haram began its onslaught in the country.

And for the umpteenth time, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has urged the Federal Government to immediately convoke a national dialogue for all of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities to iron out the basis of their future co-existence.

Soyinka said such a conversation would enable Nigeria to address debilitating issues, such as the Boko Haram insurgency in the North, as well as other pressing constitutional matters that have continually remained sources of destabilisation in the nation.

Speaking at an event organised by the American Consulate in Lagos, to commemorate the birthday of slain American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King (Jnr.), Soyinka agonised that Nigeria was already disintegrating before the very eyes of its citizens. He said it was now time for Nigerians to sit down as equal partners, and discuss the future of the country....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam:.....Boko Haram not spirits.....

Bayero weeps, Jonathan says Boko Haram not spirits

World leaders rally round Nigeria against sect
Ban seeks transparent probe of Kano blasts
Arewa, JNI, CAN want support for govt

AND the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, wept! As world leaders yesterday pledged to assist Nigeria to bring the Boko Haram menace to an end, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in Kano, was received by a tearful Bayero, in his palace.

Jonathan urged the country’s leaders and the citizens to be vigilant, noting that members of Boko Haram, who claimed responsibility for last Friday’s serial attacks in the state were not spirits but identifiable criminals, who should be fished out and prosecuted both now and in the future.
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He said the government was determined to end all acts of terrorism and other security challenges facing the country.

Dressed in a black caftan and a black cap during a visit to Kano to condole with the state government and victims of the bomb explosions, the President charged Nigerian to be conscious of the activities of their neighbours.
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The President said those behind the violence were “mere mortals that live among the people,” he noted that it behoves on peace-loving Nigerians to be security conscious and be on the alert at all times.

Lamenting the loss of several lives in the attacks, Jonathan said: “Those who perpetrate this dastardly acts are not spirits, they live freely with us in the society and the security challenges they pose have now made it incumbent on us to be extra vigilant of what our next door neighbour does. By so doing, we will overcome the evil forces.”

He told Bayero that the importance of Kano in the sub-Saharan Africa could not be compromised and promised to ensure increased security presence in the state and other strategic locations in the country.

The President, who visited the injured in the hospitals, commiserated with the people and government of Kano State over the unfortunate incident. He later inspected the Police Headquarters in Kano, which was also attacked by the terrorists, before he left for Abuja. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Kano Black Friday.....

Jonathan, Others Condemn Kano Attacks

Kano: Witness Claims 150 Dead, Police Report 7
Mark, Atiku, Others Condemn Attack
Govt Vows To Unmask Attackers
BAYELSA: Homes, Bridge Destroyed

THE death toll from Friday’s multiple bombings in Kano is said to be as high as 150, going by the number of bodies that were seen deposited at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital (MMH), Kano.

More bodies may have also been deposited at several other health facilities, including the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), the Abdullahi Wase Hospital and the Sheik Ahmed Jidda Hospital within the metropolis.

A source, who ventured to the MMH in search of a relation, told The Guardian, yesterday that the casualty figures were unimaginable.

A 24-hour curfew has been declared in the Kano metropolis by the state government.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan has promised to get at the root of the attacks. He described the perpetrators of the criminal acts as “enemies of our democracy”, while he commiserates with families of the victims of the blasts, said to have been caused by suicide bombers....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: .....subsidised corruption, inefficiency and not petrol.

Reps uncover eight billion litres fuel subsidy scam

IT has been long in coming but it arrived upon us yesterday and Nigerians who long suspected that the nation was being bled through the fuel subsidy policy might be right after all!

Laying bare the fraud that might have cost the country billions of Naira, the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the management of subsidy on petrol learnt yesterday that the Federal Government dutifully paid for 59 million litres of the product on a daily basis throughout year 2011, when the daily consumption capacity for the country was 35 million litres only.

Shocked by this disclosure, the Committee expressed disappointment that the gap between what was paid for and the consumption capacity - 24 million litres daily – created ample room for all involved in the subsidy regime to rip off the nation.

In a related development, former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, said the disclosures being made before the ad hoc panel on the petrol subsidy funds were a manifestation that Nigerians have been duped.

David-West, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the Federal Government’s directives that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate fraudulent disbursement of petroleum subsidy showed that government had over the years subsidised “corruption, inefficiency and not petrol.”...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: NNPC and PHCN the only negligent of the contry?

Why graft persists in fuel importation, by govt officials

A FRESH vista was yesterday opened at the House of Representatives’ investigation of alleged corruption in the oil industry as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said there were abuses of due process by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in petrol importation.

In the same vein, while the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, did not pointedly admit that there was a petrol subsidy “cabal,” she said that there were manipulations in the oil sector.

The Deputy Comptroller in charge of Accounts and Tariffs, Julius Ndubuisi Nwaogu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, disclosed that Customs had no access to the vessels that bring in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol to the country.

According to him, these big vessels do not get to the shores but discharge from the high sea where smaller vessels would go to trans-load.

He said the Customs could not determine the quantity of refined products imported.

The problem of Customs was further compounded by the fact that PMS is imported into the country duty free because of a 2002 waiver by the Federal Government.

Nwaogu also revealed that the NNPC was owing Customs N46 billion being the debt from duty prior to the debtwaiver.

He said the NNPC had always said that the vessels could not come to Nigerian ports because they could not accommodate them....Read More...

Reps move to break PHCN’s monopoly

Receives report of FG/Labour interface panel

THE House of Representatives has begun moves to further unbundle the electricity sector as well as eradicate the monopoly of electricity generation, transmission and distribution hitherto enjoyed by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

To this effect, a Bill for an Act to amend the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, CAP. E7, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and other matters connected therewith yesterday scaled second reading on the floor of the House.

But a spirited attempt made by Khadijat Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, urging the House to adopt a motion seeking to condemn the deployment of troops to Lagos State following the suspension of the strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the civil society groups protesting the subsidy removal was declined by members in a voice vote.

The Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, referred the proposed legislation on electricity to the House Committees on Constitution Amendment, Power and Justice for further legislative input.

The sponsor of the Bill, Patrick Ikhariale had during the lead debate argued that electricity problems had been the bane of development in the country, resulting in the reduction of socio-economic activities and other sundry sectors in Nigeria....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Civil groups allege betrayal, vow to continue protest.

Nigerians differ over new fuel price, suspension of strike

PPPRA orders marketers to revert to N97 per litre

Civil groups allege betrayal, vow to continue protest

REACTIONS by Nigerians to the Federal Government and organised Labour resolution of the one-week strike over the former’s hike of petrol price from N65 to N141 a litre, and the reduction of the pump price to N95 by President Goodluck Jonathan have been divergent.

Some hailed the decision while others ridiculed it, accusing Labour and the government of shortchanging ordinary Nigerians. ...Read More...

Strike causes N733b loss to economy

THE week-long strike was called off. The streets were being swept of the debris left behind by the protesters as at yesterday. Pockets of disillusionment were being expressed over the stoppage of the protests. But the inventory of losses showed that the country lost N733.5 billion at the end of the crisis.

The losses from figures garnered by The Guardian from major economic sectors, showed that the banks topped the losers’ chart, with about N400 billion, followed by the Information Communication Technology (ICT) companies, where operators, especially the telephone companies, lost about N159.5 billion.

The maritime industry recorded about N96 billion loss, as operators in the aviation sector put their aggregate loss at about N18 billion.

Losses from the manufacturing companies were estimated at about N10 billion, due mainly to assessed low profile of operations at the plants.

The aggregate loss figure was rated as conservative, given the non-inclusion of the informal sector, whose operators were less active during the strike. ... Read more...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Cut of petrol price end of nation-wide strike.

Govt cuts petrol price to N97

“AFTER due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre,” President Goodluck Jonathan said this morning.
He disclosed this in his second address to the nation in two weeks on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The measure which led to the removal of the contentious fuel subsidy and engendered a rise of the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol from N65 to more than N140 precipitated, since last Monday, a disruption of economic activities nationwide following a strike and protests called by Labour and its civil society allies.

Various talks held at different levels in search of a solution were deadlocked as both sides apparently did not shift grounds and Labour decided to continue its action.

But yesterday evening before Jonathan unfolded the new N97 price, he held an emergency meeting with governors and some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)....Read More...

Labour ends nation-wide strike

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called off the one-week old nation-wide strike embarked upon last Monday to protest the January 1 fuel subsidy removal announcement by the Federal Government, which raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (popularly known as petrol) from N65 to N141 per litre.
The industrial action, which equally had the full participation of civil society organisations (CSOs), had grounded the economy, resulting in the nation losing hundreds of billion daily.

The development came on the heels of the announcement of a new pump price of N97 per litre for the product by President Gooodluck Jonathan in his second address to the nation in two weeks regarding government's plans to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The President had held a marathon meeting with the governors and top officials from the executive and legislative arms of government from Sunday evening till the wee hours of Monday where the price was agreed on....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Foreign trips budget?

The N11.25bn budget on foreign trips

EMERGING indication that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government will spend a whopping N11.25 billion on foreign trips alone in the 2012 budget is deplorable, scandalous, and shamefully insensitive to the state of the nation. It amounts to no more than unbridled expenditure and wastage of taxpayers’ money in frivolous entertainment of a few privileged public officials under the guise of official foreign trips.

Given the current ugly state of affairs in the country, especially, with regard to fuel subsidy removal, which has occasioned spiralling inflation, the logical step would have been for government to shelve most foreign trips this year to reduce cost of governance, and show seriousness of its empathy, if any, with the people; rather than behaving in a business as usual manner. Government should be minded that Nigerians are deeply aggrieved over removal of fuel subsidy which, according to government, is meant to raise funds for infrastructure development, but which has not gone down well with Nigerians....Read More...

Jonathan: Why we removed fuel subsidy.....

Nigeria Tam Tam: Last News ......

Protests reign all over amid desperate search for truce

Senate to meet Jonathan, Labour Vows to prosecute...

And the rage goes on...

…Protesters show resilience on Day Two of th... Read more...

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U.S., allies edge closer to confrontation with Iran War will bring disaster, China warns

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Nigeria Tam Tam: .....Nationwide strike......People power!

People power!

Paralysis as Nigerians protest subsidy removal
Police kill one, injure four protesters
Mark, Labour in talks, govt seeks dialogue
Amaechi meets marketers, seeks price cut
Presidency officials stranded at airport
Braithwaite urges Nigerians to remain steadfast

IN compliance with the directive of organised Labour and its allies, Nigerians yesterday took to the streets to protest removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, which has led to astronomical increase in the price of petrol.

During the action which paralysed socio-economic and educational activities across the country, Labour leaders and members of civil society organisations spoke vociferously against the removal of the subsidy urging the government to reverse it and work out other strategies to take the country out of the woods.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said dialogue remains the best option to resolve the deadlock between it and the labour unions over the implementation of deregulation policy in the downstream oil sector.

It therefore appealed to Labour and its affiliate unions to call off the strike and support governments’ effort to move the country forward.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku who stated this while reacting to the protest reiterated government’s commitment to civil liberty and protection of human rights of all Nigerians.
...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Amnesty condemns ......

Amnesty condemns assault on subsidy removal protesters

Pilgrims’ leader backs policy

AMNESTY International has urged the Nigerian authorities to immediately end what it described as excessive use of force by the police and soldiers against citizens protesting the hike in the price of petrol following withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Meanwhile, a leader of Nigerian pilgrims in Israel, Rev. Fr. Vincent Nyoyoho, has called for patience with the Federal Government over the removal of fuel subsidy and solicited support for the implementation of the petroleum downstream deregulation policy.

Amnesty said the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration should respect and protect peoples’ rights to freedom of expression guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, and should instruct the police to refrain from assaulting protesters....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: .....Labour pledges to shut down economy.....

Protests linger, Labour pledges to shut down economy

Govt probes marketers over alleged protest funding

NLC, TUC ask citizens to stockpile foodstuff

Police absolve selves of Kwara killing

ORGANISED Labour yesterday picked up the gauntlet inevitably thrown before it by the Federal Government with the new year day removal of subsidy on petrol by calling for a general strike beginning from Monday, January 9, 2012.

In a two-page joint communique by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the two central labour unions said only a recapitulation on the part of the government by way of a reversal of the policy before midnight of Sunday, January 8, 2012 could stop the strike.

The communique was signed by President, TUC, Peter Esele and his NLC counterpart, Abdulwahed Omar yesterday in Abuja.

Stressing that all offices, airports, seaports, markets and banks would be shut down for the strike, Labour charged Nigerians to stockpile foodstuff in their homes.

The communique read in part: “After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the Presidency immediately reverse fuel prices to N65....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: .....Nationwide strike......Police battle citizens.....

Labour may begin Nationwide strike on Monday

THE Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) may on January 9 commence series of national strike actions in protest against the recent withdrawal of fuel subsidy in the country.

The labour unions threatened to launch indefinite strikes next week if the government does not revert to the N65 per litre petrol price.

“After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the presidency immediately reverses fuel prices to 65 naira,” a statement signed by the heads of the two unions said.

“If the government fails to do so, they direct that indefinite general strikes, mass rallies and street protests be held across the country with effect from Monday, 9th January, 2012.”

The NLC and TUC, had held meetings earlier in the day to work out strategy.

Author of this article: Editor

Police battle citizens as subsidy protests spread

One dies in Kwara

NLC mulls suit against Kolade panel

May call general strike next week

Plateau bans rallies

FOR the second day running, Nigerians opposed to the removal of subsidy on petrol took to the streets across the country, meeting with mixed ‘reception’ in the hands of security agencies.

While the protests were peaceful in the main, a man in his mid-20s was killed yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State where protesters put up bonfires on several roads in the state capital, chanting anti-deregulation slogans.

However, the protest turned violent at the Post Office junction at about 10:30 a.m. when the protesters were tear-gassed by armed security agents, causing pandemonium and forcing businesses to close up for the day.

It was also gathered that there were sporadic shootings by the law enforcement agents, who came to the scene apparently to discourage the protesters from going towards the Government House Area, along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin.

A stray bullet allegedly hit one of the protesters on the chest....Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: .....a New Year ‘gift’.....

The pains of a New Year ‘gift’

Motorists, commuters groan under Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA)-induced fuel hike

LIKE the Biblical thief in the night, the fuel subsidy removal came on New Year Day with its concomitant implications on the socio-economic life of Nigerians.

If the sudden upward review of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, was soaked in the New Year celebration on Sunday, the spectre has begun to show its fangs.

What with apprehensive motorists out in search of filling stations willing to sell, commuters stranded at bus stops, available commercial buses raising fares as much as 100 per cent, the pain is endless.
In Ipaja area of Alimosho Local Council in Lagos, a fare that was N50, commuters now payN70, while most filling stations in the area sell a litre of Petrol for N140.

A conductor who simply gave his name as Ikechukwu told The Guardian, they now buy a litre of petrol for N140 and it became obvious that it was the commuters that would bear the cost

“On the first day of the year, we could work because most of the petrol stations were locked. But today (yesterday), we were able to get fuel but at N140 and for us to meet up our target we had to increase the fare. Initially a trip from Ipaja to Iyana Ipaja that used to attract N70 now goes for N100. If we don’t do this, we cannot meet up our target,” he said.

A commuter, Innocent Andrew, said the government had finally done its worst by taking away the only thing Nigerians enjoyed, adding that: “It is now clear that this government does not mean well for Nigerians because if it meant well, it would not go ahead with the subsidy removal despite the overwhelming campaign against the idea,” he said.

Andrew, an executive in a financial institution, added, the hardship would become obvious when work resumes all over the country after the holiday. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: ....regime of high petrol price ….

Nigerians in a regime of high petrol price …

A FEW Nigerians will remember that between January 1966 and September 30,1978, the price of a liter of petrol was 8.8 kobo. And the story of the hikes began in 1973, when the military government of Gen. Yakubu Gowon increased the price of petrol to 9 kobo per litre. Nigerians agitated but could not raise enough resistance.

On October 1, 1978 the then head of state, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo increased the price to more than 15 kobo per litre.

Between 1978 and January 1, 2011 the price of petrol had undergone changes.

What many will remember is that the politics and economics of the removal of oil subsidy crept into the national lexicon in 1986 during the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. On his way to initiating what would a major intervention in the pump price of petrol, the then military president had told Nigerians that due to the devaluation of the national currency, the domestic price of fuel had become unreasonably cheap and was therefore burdensome to the government’s purse! The price of petroleum products was therefore going to be raised to 70 kobo per litre. ...Read More...

Nigeria Tam tam: The New Year 2012.....

The New Year 2012

QUITE naturally, Nigerians rue today, as the beginning of a new year Two Thousand and Twelve A.D., as a time to dream new dreams and hope new hopes. It is an opportune moment to take a critical look at one’s life, or the life of the group during the passing year, and make necessary resolutions for a more successful, more peaceful and more prosperous new year. Sadly, Nigerians are welcoming the year 2012 amid heightened insecurity and pronounced uncertainty.

It is time again to wonder just what it is that has held this country in the throes of poverty, corruption, and social insecurity; forces that have conspired to stultify and stunt its growth across many key fronts. Nigerians are however a very hopeful people, even though the events that shaped the expired year are hardly a good enough basis for such hopes. ...Read More...

PPPRA Announces Removal Of Petrol Subsidy

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has finally announced the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy, meaning Nigerians will now pay N141 per litter of petrol starting from January 1, 2012.

Full text of the statement signed by Reginald Stanley, Executive Secretary, PPPRA, reads:

PPPRA Announces Formal Removal of Subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)

''Following extensive consultation with stakeholders across the nation, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) wishes to inform all stakeholders of the commencement of formal removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in accordance with the powers conferred on the agency by the law establishing it, in compliance with Section 7 of PPPRA Act, 2004.

By this announcement, the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry is hereby deregulated for PMS. Service providers in the sector are now to procure products and sell same in accordance with the indicative benchmark price to be published forthnightly and posted on the PPPRA website.
...Read More...

Nigeria Tam Tam: Nigeria's ghettos.....

Creating glamor in Nigeria's ghettos

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN

(CNN) -- In the ghettos of the Niger Delta, one woman is on a mission to bring glamor to the region while at the same time educating and inspiring promising young talent from the area.

Caterina Bortolussi has always been interested in fashion. But what started as the dream of a young girl from a small town outside of Venice, Italy, has become a reality years later in the ghettos of Port Harcourt in the south of Nigeria.

In December 2010, Bortolussi started her fashion label Kinabuti. With designs inspired by Nigeria, reflecting the vibrant colors and traditions of Africa, Bortolussi decided on an ethical twist to her organization.

She wanted to use fashion as an instrument for change in the region.

"I thought, 'Why can't we use fashion as a vehicle to make a difference?' We should lead by example," says Bortolussi.

"We should do something that will make a difference and inspire other people. That is what I want to do with Kinabuti: positive action."

Green is this season's color at Nigeria Fashion Week

The label's ethos is to engage with the local community as well as provide opportunities and training to the people who need it most, says Bortolussi.

She held casting sessions in various local communities, choosing 21 young girls aged 16 to 25.

With no prior experience in modeling, they underwent training at "Buti Camp" in professional skills such as make up and hairstyling, runway walking, posing and other fundamental tricks of the trade.

These women became the "Kinabuti girls" and work with the label to promote and model the designs.

Their role also gives them the opportunity to meet people, work with other designers and learn skills to take with them in the future. ...Read More...