Buhari seeks fast-track of assets sale in bill to Senate

— 30th September 2016

Nigeria’s Senate yesterday confirmed it has received a memo on the proposed Emergency Powers Bill from President Muhammadu Buhari requesting to abridge the process of sale or lease of government assets to generate revenue.
The bill, which is intended to steer the country out of the current economic recession, and entitled ‘Emergency Economic Stabilisation Bill 2016, seeks to raise the value of the naira, create more jobs, boost the country’s foreign reserves, improve power supply and revive the manufacturing sector.
A source at the senate confirmed to TheCable that the upper chamber had received the memo, in which Buhari sought “to abridge the procurement process to support stimulus spending on critical sectors of the economy”.
According to the bill, the president is also seeking powers to make orders to favour local contractors/suppliers in contract awards, to abridge the process of sale or lease of government assets to generate revenue and to allow virement of budgetary allocation to projects that are urgent, without going back to the National Assembly.
Other powers sought the President include those to amend certain laws, like the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act, so that states that cannot access their cash trapped in the accounts of the Commission because they cannot meet the counterpart funding can do so; and also to embark on radical reforms in visa issuance at Nigeria’s consular offices and on arrival in the country.
Buhari is also seeking to compel some agencies of government, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and others to improve on their turnaround operation time for business facilitation.

“We have received a Presidential memo on emergency powers,” said the source. “What is in it is requesting presidential fiat to do things the National Assembly has already approved, such as the Procurement Act and extra spending.”
Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had already begun lobbying senators include Bukola Saraki, Senate president and Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the smooth passage of the bill at the National Assembly.
Since September 17, when industrialist, Aliko Dangote, advised the Federal Government to sell its stake in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and African Finance Cooperation (AFC), the debate on assets sale to finance the deficit in the 2016 budget has been raging.
Other prominent Nigerians that had backed the planned sale include Godwin Emefiele, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Emir of Kano, among others.
But among the opposing voices are Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President; George Akume, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator form Benue state; Femi Falana, human rights lawyer; and Chukwuma Soludo, former CBN governor, who emphatically said such move would be a historic mistake.
The Federal Government, though, has sought to thaw the heated debates. As recently as Wednesday, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, said the government had not taken a decision to sell national assets, as all that was being debated was merely a recommendation of the National Economic Council.
“Government is still working on the most comprehensive manner to reflate the economy and the government will make its position known very soon,” he had said.
“What the government will do is to reflate the economy. Everything you have heard so far is just suggestion, until the government makes its position known, all these asset sale, asset leasing, whatever … being bandied about there are nothing but speculations.

“The government is yet to come out with its position on how to bail out the economy and it will do that very soon. NEC will recommend but it is the federal executive council that will decide and what we decide will be the position of government.”
But with the content of the federal government’s memo to the senate, it does seem that the president is in support of NEC’s recommendation on sale of assets.

Alleged blasphemy: Dogara, Kalu, religious groups condemn murder of woman in Kano

 Alleged blasphemy: Dogara, Kalu, religious groups condemn murder of woman in Kano

— 6th June 2016

By Ndubisi Orji, Lagos and Sola Ojo, Kaduna

EMINENT Nigerians and groups including the Sultan of Sokoto-led Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), the apex Christian body, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and have lent their voices to the con­demnation of the killing of 74-year old Igbo market woman, Mrs. Bridget Agba­hime for allegedly blasphe­my Prophet Muhammed.

Agbahime was lynched last Thursday in a Kano market by mob in presence of her husband over false alarm by someone she had an argument with.

While JNI described the action as unfortunate, criminal and un-Islamic, the CAN noted that the killing of Christians under flimsy excuse was barbaric, unacceptable and called for the prosecution of those arrested in connection with the killing.

MURIC described the killing as jungle justice, noting: “There is no jungle justice in Islam.”

In a statement issued in Ibadan by its Direc­tor, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC urged the police to get to the root of the matter and deal with the culprits according to the law to prevent future oc­currence. “Nobody has the right to take the law into his or her hands; Muslims should not stand and watch while some misled Muslims smear the name of Islam”, Akintola said.

Kalu, in a statement issued yesterday, said: “Nobody has a right to take the life of another under whatever guise unless sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Kano killing is totally unacceptable to any decent human being, and is against the laws of Nigeria. The Holy books of all religions abhor and forbid taking of innocent lives, therefore no one or group of people should be allowed to vio­late the laws of Nigeria un­der religious pretence. This regrettable incident has the capacity to further height­en tension in the country, deepen the ever widening national fault lines and send a very wrong message to an already disenchanted population.”

The former Abia State governor expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Agbahime and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the lose.

While commending Pres­ident Muhammadu Buhari for swiftly condemning the killing and the Kano State Government for conven­ing a stakeholders meeting over the issue, Kalu urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are fished out and brought to book.

“Because religion was wrongly evoked by those that committed this crime, I also call on the Islamic leaders everywhere in Nigeria and particularly in Kano, to rise and publicly condemn this barbaric act and distance such crimi­nality from Islam which forbids the taking of innocent lives. At a time like this, national lead­ers should take the high moral ground and ensure that acts this are roundly condemned and eradicated. It is by so doing that we will ensure the essence of hu­man sanctity,” he stated.

Also, Dogara said: “We live in a society governed by clearly stated rules and laws. When such crimes of high magnitude, or any at all, are allowed to go unpunished for any reason, we risk descending into a state of lawlessness and anarchy where anyone can assume the role of judge, jury and executioner.

“The rule of law must prevail. I urge all security agencies to ensure that they carry out a thorough in­vestigation into the events that led to her untimely death and ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to face the full wrath of the law.”

JNI in a statement signed by its Secretary-General yesterday in Kaduna, said it was hardly believable that such dastardly acts could happen in the name of religion, considering the various enlightenment pro­grammes on interfaith and mutual co-existence being put in place by the Muslim scholars and the leadership.

“In the light of the above, we commend the various untiring efforts of the Kano and Niger state govern­ments and also the Ulama in nipping in the bud, the unfortunate crises that would have engulfed both states…

“The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI calls on all to remain calm and avoid all actions that could lead to the breach of law and order. The gener­ality of Muslims are also implored to fervently pray for the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria bearing in mind that with­out Nigeria there will be no Nigerians. On the other hand, respective state gov­ernments must rise to the occasion in protecting the lives of the citizenry, for it is a primary constitutional responsibility upon which their legitimacy is derived,” the JNI statement added.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna, regional spokes­man of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, wondered why such gruesome and barbaric incident always feature in Kano, a foremost commercial city in the country.

Hayab noted that infor­mation made available to the group indicated that Agbahime was deliberately killed.

The CAN spokesman called on the state govern­ment to, apart from arrest­ing the key suspect, fish out other perpetrators and prosecute them in accor­dance with the law of the country.

He also called on the police to at all times, carry out their constitutional role of safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerians without fear or favour.

The CAN’s spokesman said: “We got it on good authority that the slained woman never blasphemed the Prophet Mohammed. That the mastermind of the killing was fond of always provoking the deceased and so, on that fateful day, we learnt, the said man was do­ing ablution in front of the woman’s shop and was cau­tioned. That was all. The man raised the alarm that she blasphemed Prophet Mohammed.”

The cleric added: “The man deliberately provoked the woman in question just to carry out that gruesome and barbaric acts.”

MASSOB,BIM appeal to UN to divide Nigeria into 6 republics

MASSOB,BIM appeal to UN to divide Nigeria into 6 republics

— 6th June 2016

From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha

MOVEMENT for Actuali­sation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) have­called on the United Na­tions and other world leaders to divide Nige­ria into six geo-political zones to solve problems facing the nation.

The group said granting the six geo-political zones in Nigeria self rule would be the only solution to the many problems in the country.

In a release signed by the Director of Informa­tion of the pro-Biafra group, Mr. Chris Mocha, the two groups appealed to the UN and other super powers to consider the lives of people that are killed on a daily basis in Nigeria arising from the insurgency in the North East and Fulani herds­men said to be allegedly affiliated to ISIS and Boko Haram.

Mocha said the pro­posed nations inlcude South East, (Biafra), South South (Niger Del­ta), North East, North West, South West, (Oduduwa) and North- Central.

He stressed that no amount of preaching on nationalism can change Nigeria as it is today.

Mocha said when the proposed zones are grant­ed independence, assets of the citizens of the dif­ferent countries will be protected by internation­al laws, just as bilateral agreements will guide the future relationship of the new republics.

The group, however, in­sisted that several mem­bers of BIM/MASSOB were killed last week dur­ing the Biafra anniversary at Nkpor and Onitsha.

“While all the mem­bers of BIM/ MASSOB in Anambra central senato­rial district including Nk­por town in Idemili North Local Government Area celebrated at Ifite Dunu, our counterparts in Anambra North including Onitsha converged at the zonal secretariat, project site at Nteje in Oyi coun­cil area of Anambra State.

Buhari goes abroad for 10 days to see doctor (s)

Buhari goes abroad for 10 days to see doctor (s)

— 6th June 2016

By Adetutu Folasade- Koyi

AMID reports that Presi­dent Mohammadu Buhari has “an ear problem,” the Presidency, yesterday, an­nounced he will spend the next 10 days in London, the United Kingdom, starting today.

Buhari is expected to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist “for a per­sistent ear infection. This was the recommendation of his personal physician and an ENT specialist in Nigeria,” his Special Ad­viser on Media and Public­ity, Mr. Femi Adesina said yesterday. “Both Nigerian doctors recommended fur­ther evaluation purely as a precaution,” he added.

Adesina, who featured on a live programme Poli­tics Today on Lagos-based Channels Television, fur­ther added that aside the ear infection, the president is hale and hearty.

“Well, the question is; ‘is he (president) okay?” He has always been okay. Noth­ing is wrong with him…” Asked why the president’s deputy had been represent­ing him at state matters recently, Adesina replied it was not unusual.

“Yes, we are in a democra­cy, particularly presidential democracy. The president can always devolve duties to his deputy who is the vice president. That’s what the president has done. But, in terms of his health, the president is fine,” he said.

Social media platforms had speculated that Buhari suffers from Ménière’s dis­ease, a disease of unknown cause affecting the mem­branous labyrinth of the ear, causing progressive deafness and attacks of tin­nitus and vertigo.

The ill health was said to have been the reason why the president couldn’t go to Lagos where he was billed to commission some projects penultimate week. The same scenario played out last week in which the president failed to show up at Ogoniland, Rivers State where he was to flag off the clean up of oil spill in the area.

…Agitating Igbo groups form Biafra Peoples National Council

 …Agitating Igbo groups form Biafra Peoples National Council

— 6th June 2016

 … Call on Commonwealth of Nations to expel Nigeria

From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu

IGBO groups agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra may have begun a major move to actualising their dream by streamlining ef­forts and re-strategising.

The Igbo groups, in the new effort, have formed a unified body called Biafra Peoples National Council (BPNC) which the leaders believe would expedite ac­tion in actualising Biafra.

The new body does not however include Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s Bi­afra Independent Move­ment (BIM) or faction of MASSOB and detained Nnamdi Kanu’s Indig­enous People of Biafra (IPOB). The groups and leaders who formed BPNC include Uchenna Madu faction of MASSOB; Felix Obioha, Eastern Peoples Congress; Austin-Mary Ndukwu, Biafra Libera­tion Council; Osita Chuk­wuagbanarinam, Salvation People- Biafra; Jackson Nebechukwu, Ekwenche Organisation. Others are Adiele Chikadibia, Biafra Nations Youth League; Rev. Dr. Stanley C. Ajah, Biafra Revolution Organ­isation; Prince Oliver Chi­dozie, Biafra Liberation Crusade; Mr. Ayers Shi­mobi, Biafra Movement for Sovereignty; Godwin Offor, Biafra Regional Emancipation Movement; Joseph Ohanenye, Bilie Organisation and repre­sentative of Biafra in the Diaspora, Dr Chukwuma Egemba.

In a communique signed by all their leaders, after the All-Biafran Conference (ABC) organised by the Organisation of Emerging African States (OEAS) in Accra, Ghana from May 27 to 31, the newly formed BPNC would form a col­legiate parliament com­prising representatives of Biafra ethnic nationalities and pro-Biafra organisa­tions.

They also agreed that “Biafra shall be a state founded on equity, fair­ness, justice, participatory democracy and egalitari­anism and even develop­ment.”

To achieve this, they also agreed that the adminis­trative and political capi­tal of Biafra should not be concentrated in one loca­tion but spread across the Biafran land.

“These capitals shall in­clude but not limited to; executive, legislative, ju­dicial, cultural, economic, science and technology, agriculture and defence,” they disclosed, agreeing to draw up a legal framework for the new Biafra state.

Leaders of the new group frowned and con­demned “the attitude of the Commonwealth of Na­tions towards the sense­less, cruel, inhuman, de­grading and extra-judicial killings of more than 700 unarmed civilians of Biaf­ran origin and pro-Biafran activists by various securi­ty apparatus of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its militias under the disguise of Fulani herds­men.”

Accusing the Common­wealth of playing double standards by not invoking sanctions on the Federal Government, they called on the body to “imme­diately begin a process of expelling the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Na­tions.

N’Delta Avengers launches new website

N’Delta Avengers launches new website

— 6th June 2016

BARELY 24 hours after its old website, was shutdown, Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group operating in the South-South region of Nigeria, has launched a new website, www.nigerdeltaavengers.org.

The militant group had, in the last one month, pro­moted attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta, using its website, Facebook page and Twitter handle, @ NDAvengers.

At the weekend, the group shut down its website, lead­ing people to believe it was no longer online. However, yesterday afternoon, the group stated, via its Twitter handle, that its old website was never shutdown, but un­derwent maintenance.

Missile launch: NAF ready for showdown with militants

Missile launch: NAF ready for showdown with militants

— 6th June 2016

• Deploys more fighter jets, equipment in Niger Delta

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

ALL is now set for the battle of supremacy between the new militant group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), as the group’s deadline to launch six missile in the region expires tomorrow.

Already, NAF says it had deployed ad­ditional platforms, comprising fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveil­lance aircraft to enhance its capability to undertake offensive air operations and intelligence gathering in support of the surfaces forces.

NAF says it would not fold its arm and allow a “small group of criminals” dictate the pace.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadiq, who made this known while com­missioning some projects on NAF bases at Yola, Adamawa State and Maiduguri, Borno State said already, the NAF, has in­tensified its deployment in the Niger Delta region to deal with the emerging threats of economic sabotage.

Abubakar, while saying that the NAF will not rest on its oars “until we ensure the protection of every inch of the country’s territory and infrastructure” urged mem­bers of the public not to panic on sighting low level flying aircraft.

He equally enjoined the public to go about their legitimate businesses even as he appealed for useful information that would lead to the whereabouts and activi­ties of the militant group.

The new militant group threatened to commence the testing of its six missiles which would last for three days.

However, there were discordant tunes within the militant groups operating in the region with other group warning against the killing of soldiers and oil workers.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) which claimed responsibility for the ongoing attacks on oil installations, disassociated itself from threats to launch missiles in the region.

It said it would allow the Nigerian mili­tary to first start the war so that “when it is time to engage the military in combat the whole world will know they started the war, not the Avengers.”

But the NAF said it would not take the discordant messages from the group for granted saying that its deployment was necessitated by the recent spate of attacks on the nation’s oil and gas installations.

To this end, the NAF said it increased air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

“These include but not limited to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bonny in Rivers; Qua Iboe Termi­nal in Akwa Ibom State and Opuekeba in Ondo State,” NAF said.

The deployment to Niger Delta accord­ing to the NAF chief was in support of the military operations code named “OPERA­TION PULO SHIELD” against militancy, economic sabotage and all forms of crimi­nalities in the South-south region of the country.

Cult war: 16 killed in Rivers communities

Cult war: 16 killed in Rivers communities

— 5th June 2016

From: Tony John, Port Har­court

NO fewer than 16 persons were feared dead in cult war supremacy in Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Ar­eas of Rivers State.

Sunday Sun gathered that armed men on Friday night invaded Omuoda, Omuigwe, Omuahunwo and Omuchiolu communities in Ikwerre Lo­cal Government Area, where about 14 persons, including a nursing mother and baby were shot death. Sources from the Aluu town in Ikwerre Lo­cal Government and some of the affected communities said houses were razed by the armed invaders and people have fled the place for fear of reprisal attack.

According to sources, people now live in fear, as the supremacy cult battle between Icelanders and Degbam rages on.

Yesterday, security op­eratives were on red alert in readiness for any eventuality in Aluu communities. A com­munity source, who did not want his name in print for fear of attack, confirmed that the clash was between Degbam and Iceland. In the ensuing encounter, he said, 14 people lost their lives, while some es­caped with bullet wounds.

He said many people had deserted the community be­cause of the threat of reprisal attack by the rival group.

In a related development, two other persons were also allegedly killed in a sepa­rate cult clash in Obite com­munity in Etche Local Gov­ernment Area of the state. A source, who witnessed the heavy shooting, said the cult group invaded the community at about 9 pm, destroyed and looted people’s property.

One of the deceased vic­tims was said to have been shot dead as a result of mis­taken identity, as the group took him for the chief security officer of the community.

At the time of filing the report, the state police com­mand was  yet to confirm the incident.

Kano murder: IGP sues for calm, assures victim’s family of justice

Kano murder: IGP sues for calm, assures victim’s family of justice

— 5th June 2016

By Olakunle Olafioye

THE Inspector General of Po­lice, Solomon Arase has called for calm following the extra-judicial murder of one Bridget Abahime, who was reportedly killed by a mob in Kano over alleged blasphemy.

The IGP also assured the family of the deceased and indeed the general public that justice would be done in the case. Arase in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, equally confirmed that the Kano State Police Com­mand has arrested two key suspects in connection with the incident.

Those arrested, accord­ing to the statement in­clude Dauda Ahmed and Su­beiru Abubakar.

The statement read further: “In order to ensure a diligent and professional investiga­tion, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Depu­ty Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Crimi­nal Investigation and Intelli­gence Department (FCIID) to deploy the Homicide Section of the department to immedi­ately take over the investiga­tion of the case and ensure a meticulous investigation and speedy prosecution of the ar­rested suspects.

“The Inspector General of Police has also directed the Commissioner of Police of Kano State to sustain the com­munity engagement actions which he is currently initiat­ing with all strategic security stakeholders and community leaders in the state with a view to dousing the tension being generated by the condem­nable incident. In addition, detachments of mobile and conventional police as well as the intelligence assets of the Force have been deployed to protect law abiding citizens, reassure the public, prevent the incident from degenerat­ing into a major security threat and aid the Homicide Section being deployed in the loca­tion and apprehension of other suspects who are currently at large.”

While condoling family and friends of the deceased, the Po­lice chief condemned in stron­gest terms the violation of right to life of citizens under any guise and stressed the Force’s resolve to uphold its mandate touching on criminal justice delivery in the most firm and speedy fashion in similar case and in other cases of this na­ture.

“While the members of the public will be updated on prog­ress of investigation into this case, they are advised to go about their normal activities and resist any temptation to capitalize on the incident to threaten national se­curity as any such attempt will be firmly dealt with. The Inspector General also calls on Kano eh State residents and indeed, all citizens to imbibe the culture of tolerance, rule of law and peaceful co-exis­tence and to trust and cooperate with the police as we strive to ensure justice in this case,” the statement read.

N’Delta Avengers warns militants against missile launch

N’Delta Avengers warns militants against missile launch

— 5th June 2016

From Paul Osuyi, Asaba

MEMBERS of the emergent mili­tant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have warned other militant groups in the Niger Delta to desist from attacking soldiers and targeting aircraft with anti-aircraft missiles.

Avengers had claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on oil facilities in the renewed wave of hostilities in the Niger Delta region. But new militants including the Joint Niger Delta Libera­tion Force (JNDLF) recently came up with a threat to launch assault missiles against aircraft. However, spokesman for the NDA, Mudoch Agbinibo in a statement yesterday, stated that the intention of the group was to cripple oil production in the region and not to shed human blood, whether military or civilian.

NDA which had earlier dissociated itself from Wednesday’s killing of two soldiers and four civilians in Delta State vowed to deal with any group that refuses to heed its warning not to attack soldiers.” The high command of the avengers is calling on you not to attack any soldier and those claiming to have anti aircraft missiles should desist from targeting any aircraft.

Let us be careful not to offend God in the process of trying to liberate our people from the shackles of the Ni­gerian government, because we need God more than anything right now.

“We also need the international bodies as well. Hence, we must desist from any life threatening actions that will derail our genuine struggle for our people. All groups are hereby discour­aged from indulging in harassing oil workers and soldiers. We urge you all to help any oil worker or soldier you see in distress. “The military war­planes hovering round our towns and villages have not struck a soul, or de­stroyed any property. So those groups with anti aircraft missiles should dry their gunpowder. When it is time to engage the military in combat, the whole world will know they started the war, and not the Avengers.

“The Niger Delta Avengers high command will pass the message round that it’s not time to engage in gun bat­tle. So far, we have not engaged the Nigeria military in combat; despite the heavy presence of the military at the pipelines. We still find a way to carry out our actions without attacking sol­diers. “The avengers will deal with any group that refuses to heed this warning, and attacks the military.

The high command is calling on all groups in Rivers, Ondo, Delta, Bayel­sa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom not to indulge in any act of kidnapping and attacking of soldiers. The war is on oil installations: ‘Operation no flow of oil.’

Oil well bombings: 2016 BUDGET ENDANGERED

Oil well bombings: 2016 BUDGET ENDANGERED

— 5th June 2016

 ■ NDA widens battlefront

By ENYERIBE EJIOGU, ADEWALE SANYAOLU and EMMANUEL OGOIBGE

THE unrelenting bombing campaign launched by the Niger Delta Avengers on the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure has deep­ened concerns over the N6.06tril­lion 2016 budget, which was trailed by controversies before it was eventually passed by the National Assembly, almost five months after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the legislature.

Even after the Appropriation Act was signed into law, strong reservations were expressed that it may not be possible to fully im­plement it given that much time had elapsed from the time it was presented last December 2015. Now those fears are rapidly becoming real in the face of the extensive destruction of strategic components of the country’s crude oil and gas production and export infrastructure.

As at the last count, over 40 major pipelines have been bombed and destroyed across the Niger Delta by the ferocious militants group, which goes by the name Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as the group pursues its avowed goal of crippling the country’s oil and gas industry.

Already, the combined effect of the successful attacks so far carried out by the group since February 10, when it bombed the Soku Gas Plant operated by Shell, which supplies gas to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant in Bonny for ex­port, there has been a precipitous drop in crude oil production and export by the major operating partners of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

On June 1, Wednesday, 3.40am, the militants destroyed Chevron’s RMP 23 and RMP 24 at Bibi, which were said to be the company’s highest producing Niger Delta. The attack further reduced Nigeria’s daily production as the destroyed facilities had a productive capacity of 90,000 barrels per day.

Then in the early hours of Friday, June 3, NDA bombed the 48-inch Shell Petroleum Devel­opment Company’s (SPDC) export line at the Forcados Terminal in Burutu, Delta State, for the second time, because of what it described as the intransigence of Shell, following the oil compa­ny’s resolve to proceed with repair works in the area.

The militants were said to have used sophisti­cated weapons to blow up the pipeline at another section as repairs on the section destroyed in the previous attack was almost being completed.

While claiming responsibility for the latest attack, the militants said through their Twit­ter handle, @NDAvengers: “At 3am today @ NDAvengers blew up the SPDC Forcados-48- inch export pipeline. We warned SPDC not to go ahead with repair works but they refused. This is an example to all other multinationals.”

With several vital facilities destroyed and shut down, oil production has been drastically reduced to less than 1.5 million barrels per day, a far cry from the peak figure of 2.2 million barrels per day.

Nigeria’s 2016 budget is based on the as­sumption that the country would sell 2.2 million barrels per day to generate a substantial part of the estimated revenue of N3.86 trillion.

The Federal Government, as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udo­ma explained while giving the budget breakdown, proposed to embark on massive infrastructural and social intervention projects, all aimed at rebuilding the economy by investing in power, works, housing, agriculture, energy and education.

He said: “The 2016 Budget has an outlay of N6.06 trillion. States and LGs share of distribut­able pool amount to N3.24 trillion, while Federal Government will receive N2.48 trillion.

Specifically, about N350billion would be in­vested on infrastructural projects, with N35.6bil­lion set aside for construction of 1,973 blocks of 7,068 Housing Units in the six geopolitical zones and FCT.

The Federal Government also intended to di­rectly impact the lives of more than eight million Nigerians through different social investments that would “provide succour and be a ready-made palliative to ordinary Nigerians,” Senior Special Assistant for Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, had said during an interaction with the press in Abuja after the budget went through the legislative process.

Elaborating on the new details and a break­down of the interventions and palliatives, he said a direct payment of N5,000 would be made monthly to one million extremely poor Nigeri­ans for 12 months, for which N68.7billion has been appropriated; direct provision of very soft loans – cash for market women, men and traders, including artisans and agric workers. This would be for a total of 1.76million Nigerians, without the requirement for conventional collateral. Some of the traders will likely get about N60,000. For that purpose, a total sum of N140.3billion was appropri­ated in the budget; payment of between N23,000 to N30,000 per month to 500,000 unemployed graduates who would be trained, paid and deployed to work as vol­unteer teachers, public health officers and extension service workers among other responsibilities.

They would also be given electronic devices to empower them technologically, both for their assignments and beyond. Similarly, 100,000 artisans would also be trained and paid, and to fund this intent, Akande said N191.5billion had been set aside in the budget.

The budget also envisaged that at least 5.5 million Nigerian primary school children would be fed for 200 school days under the free Homegrown School Feeding Programme. The first phase of the initiative is envisaged to take off from 18 states, three of which would be chosen from each geopolitical zone. To fund the school feeding programme, a provision of N93.1billion was made in the 2016 budget.

To encourage the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, 100,000 tertiary students in these disci­plines plus education would enjoy a grant of N5.8billion to be paid directly to the students.

Altogether, in this year alone, more than eight million Nigerians would benefit from the social investment aspects of the budget.

Besides, continued funding of revived power sector and major road construction projects stalled by the 2015 transition and long delay in passage of the 2016 budget, would sustain existing jobs even as new projects, such as the Abuja-Kano and La­gos-Calabar railway lines, expected to take off under the new budget, would create numerous new job opportunities.

In the face of the present onslaught by NDA against oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta, there is now clearly a big question mark on the realization of the laudable objectives of the 2016 budget, which now seems endangered. Already, the bombing of gas pipelines has prac­tically crippled power generation in the country thereby pushing the economy into a deeper slump as millions of micro-enter­prises that depend on public power supply are now practically comatose.

Against this background there is real disquiet in the country as NDA digs in and has shown its determination and ca­pacity to expand the battlefront notwith­standing that the massive deployment of military forces by the Army, Navy and Air Force in and around Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Govern­ment Area in the search for Government Ekpemuopolo, aka, Tompolo, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and has been frequently accused of being behind the new wave of militancy in the Niger Delta. But he has consistently and stri­dently denied the allegations.

To demonstrate the ability of its opera­tives to strike in the region, NDA 

chose to strike at the Chevron facility in Egbema creek in Warri North LGA of the state.

In a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, it gloated via Twitter: “With the heavy presence of 100 gunboats, four warships and jet bombers, NDA blew up Chevron Bibi oil well RMP 23 and RMP 24 at 3.44 am this morning (Wednesday). This is to show the whole world that the Nigeria military is good at harassing innocent civilians. RMP 24 and RMP 23 are the Chevron swamp highest producing wells.” Prior to attacking the Chevron fa­cility, the group had vowed to continue its relentless bombing of oil and gas installa­tions in the Niger Delta despite the Federal Government’s deployment of fighter jets and the military in Delta State.

The group, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Brig-Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, on Tuesday, NDA said it remained unde­terred by the heavy presence of the mili­tary in some parts of Delta State, adding that the troops deployment would not stop them from their planned action that would shock the whole world.

Even more worrisome is that NDA, which has vowed that it would neither retreat nor surrender is already garnering support from another consolidated group of militants under the aegis of Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), which on Thursday threatened to launch six missiles in the Niger Delta region.

The group said it would commence test­ing the six missiles for three days on June 7, and warned that no airplanes should fly in and out of the country within the period, claiming that the weapons were capable of hitting any object despite its size.

MASSOB backs Niger Delta Avengers

MASSOB backs Niger Delta Avengers

— 5th June 2016

From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka

THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday declared total support for the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other pro-­Biafra groups from the Niger Delta region.

Declaring support for the Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB in a statement issued by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu said the movement was happy with the firmness and sincerity with which NDA was supporting the struggle for Biafra realization.

MASSOB also said that the acceptability of Biafra by their brethren across the Niger had made nonsense of negative positions of some leaders of ethnic nationalities in the South-­South that were brainwashed to speak against Biafra.

The MASSOB statement read in part: “The consistency, selflessness and pragmatism of these Biafra warriors gladdens our hearts, it shows and proves the positivity and acceptability of Biafra by our brethren across the Niger. It has also rubbished the earlier diversionary, stupid and negative comments, statements and position of some leaders of ethnic nationalities of the South-­South who are brainwashed by Hausa Fulani-­Yoruba oligarchies against Biafra.

“The activities of the current Niger Delta warriors are natural confirmation that Biafra stretches towards the gulf of Guinea. The natural inhabitants and indigenous people of these lands are Biafrans by birth but Nigerians by citizenship.”

Madu noted that though MASSOB chose the non-­violent approach that it would also support every genuine and legitimate methodology and approach chosen by any group towards Biafran self-determination. Because of our non-­violent approach,

the Nigerian security forces have killed thousands of MASSOB members and other groups since 1999, when the current struggle started. “These extra judicial killings of non-­violent and unarmed

Biafra agitators have gone unchecked by the Nigerian government and the international watchdogs against human rights abuses, brutalities, genocides and pogroms, including the United Nations.

“The Western world seems not to react against the ethnic cleansing of our people because of economic and diplomatic interests in Biafra natural treasures which they aligned with Nigeria and kept

their hypocritical eyes closed against the fate of over 60 millions Biafrans.”

While describing the present Nigerian leadership as a confused one, MASSOB maintained that those pursuing the Biafran agitators would see shame. “Our comrades from Niger Delta who are more united and focused than groups from Igbo-­based hinterland should not relent as the knees of our oppressors shall bow soon.

They will beg Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the others,” the group said.

Buhari condemns Kano killing, hails suspect’s arrest

Buhari condemns Kano killing, hails suspect’s arrest

— 5th June 2016

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has condemned in strong terms the killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, who was accused of blasphemy, describing the incident as sad and regrettable.

He assured that justice would be done in the matter, and urged the people not to take the law into their hands.

President Buhari also condoled with the husband of the deceased, Pastor Mike Agbahime, the family and relations, praying  that God would give them the fortitude to bear the loss.In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also commended the law enforcement agents for apprehending the prime suspect behind the killing, as well as the Kano State government, which summoned a meeting of Christian and Islamic leaders, widower of the deceased, and security agencies, as soon as the sad event occurred.

He equally charged those who may want to use the development to fan the embers of religious or ethnic hatred to remember that two wrongs never make a right, and that when law and order breaks down, those who become victims are never distinguished on the basis of religion or ethnicity. “The incident at Kofar Wambai Market, Kano city, is utterly condemnable, and the state government has been quite proactive. Let us ensure that we keep the peace, as justice will be done. Let us learn to respect each other’s faith, so that we can know each other and live together in peace,” he was quoted to have said.

Don't attack any soldier or oil worker- Niger Delta Avengers appeal to other militant groups

Don't attack any soldier or oil worker- Niger Delta Avengers appeal to other militant groups.

-4th-June-2016,
By: Nwana A.c

The Niger Delta Avengers released a statement on their website this afternoon appealing to other militant groups fighting for the region, not to attack or harass oil workers or any soldier. In the statement which was signed by their spokesperson, Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the group said militants should be careful not to offend God as they try to liberate the people of the region. Read the statement below ...

"Good Afternoon Niger Deltans. The liberation of the Niger delta people has taken a new swing with the daily emergence of new groups all over the region. The avengers are calling on all groups in the region to be strong and resolute as it is obvious that God is on our side. The groups are much now both real and unreal but if you really fighting for the liberation of the Niger delta people.

The high command of the avengers is calling on you not to attack any soldier and those claiming to have anti aircraft missiles should deist from targeting any aircraft. Let us be careful not offend God in the process of trying to liberate our people from the shackles of the Nigerian government because we need God more than anything right now. We also need the international communities as well. Hence, we must desist from any life threatening actions that will derail our genuine struggle for our people. All groups are hereby discouraged from indulging in harassing oil workers and soldiers. We urge you all to help any oil workers or soldiers you see in distress.

The military warplanes hovering round our towns and villages have not strike a soul or destroy any property, so those groups with anti aircraft missiles should dry their gunpowder. When it is time to engage the military in combat the whole world will know they started the war not the Avengers. The Niger delta avengers high command will pass the message round that its time to engage on gun battle when the time comes. So far, we have not engaged the Nigeria military in combat; despite the heavy presence of military on the pipelines. we still find way to carry out our actions without attacking soldiers.

The avengers will deal with any group that refuses and attack military. The high command is calling on all groups in Rivers, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom to not indulge in any act of kidnapping and attacking of soldiers. The war is on oil installations; “Operation On Flow of Oil” God is our strength; he is going to see the people of Niger delta through. God bless the Niger delta republic.

Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo Spokesperson

'I've met all my bail conditions, charge me to court' Femi Fani-Kayode

'I've met all my bail conditions, charge me to court' Femi Fani-Kayode.
-4th-June-2016
By: Nwana A.c
Femi Fani-Kayode said yesterday that he has met all his bail conditions, that the EFCC should release him or charge him to court. A statement signed yesterday by his media assistant, Jude Ndukwe reads;
This is to refute the false information being peddled by a section of the media that former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who has remained illegally detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since May 9, 2016, has not met his bail conditions as set by EFCC. Chief.
Fani-Kayode has since fulfilled the conditions for his bail but rather than take the honourable path of releasing him pending any charge brought against him, the anti-graft agency moved him from Abuja to Lagos where they obtained a questionable warrant to further detain him illegally for another three weeks. 

This is all in a bid to forcefully extract statements from him that would implicate his principal, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and other PDP leaders including serving governors whom he served as Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Organisation. It is obvious that the EFCC have other opposition leaders whom they have referred to as “big fish” in their radar and see Fani-Kayode as the only avenue through which they can “nail” such leaders, hence, the anti-graft agency’s puerile attempt to keep him in their custody beyond the legally required length of time in order to break him, his family, and force him to implicate innocent people just to achieve a more sinister motive of further silencing the opposition.

It is even more worrisome that the activities of the anti-graft agency has reached an all-time low as they are insisting that the former Minister of Culture and Tourism should name publishers, editors, journalists and bloggers he allegedly gave money to during the election campaigns. What has journalists who covered the PDP campaign as much as that of APC got to do with this? This is the height of it all!

The further insistence by EFCC that Chief Fani-Kayode should deposit a sum of $1m before he could be let go shows how desperate the agency is to keep him in their custody and deny him his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 33,34,35,37 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

This further confirms our position that even though he has met his bail conditions, the EFCC have no intention of letting him enjoy his bail nor do they have any intention of playing by the rules. While we have copiously acknowledged in the past and still do that EFCC have a constitutional and mandatory duty to carry out their statutory function as empowered by our laws, it is also our sincerest belief that these functions can be carried out within the ambit of the law and without being tainted with vendetta, vindictiveness and politics.

These are what discredit the agency and cast doubts in the minds of Nigerians about the sincerity of the fight against corruption. In other climes where the fight against corruption has been largely successful, suspects are thoroughly investigated discretely, arrested after investigation has been concluded, charged to court and punished if found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. But here, we declare our targets guilty in the media, arrest them before commencing investigation and use the courts to obtain contentious orders to keep the suspects in custody indefinitely in lieu of a court-imposed post-prosecution sanction.

The EFCC should allow Femi Fani-Kayode his freedom especially after having met their set bail conditions or charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction forthwith. He is not afraid to defend himself! - Jude Ndukwe SA Media to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

Update on the woman murdered in Kano over alleged blasphemy

Update on the woman murdered in Kano over alleged blasphemy.

-4th-June-2016,

Nwana A.c

A family member of the woman who was killed in Kano this week claims she was not beheaded like it's being speculated in the media. Writing exclusively to LIB, the lady said the woman was beaten to death because she asked a Muslim man not to pray in front of her shop. Read the person's version of events after the cut...
Mummy Bridget is 74years old. She was seated at her shop at kofar wambai which a market for plastic as at 3-4pm thereabout only for a Muslim guy to come in front of mummy's shop towards closing time to perform ablution (washing of their feet before their prayers). Mummy then told him not to do that in front of her shop, instantly he the guy started arguing with her, saying she has insulted Allah for preventing him from performing his ablution. He then went to alert his fellow muslim brothers..

Her husband daddy was with her as at that time. They took her to report the issue to a head in the market..Which was too late because an angry muslim mob were already forming, chanting Allahu Akbar and that she must be killed for blasphemy.. Preventing the young man from performing his ablution was what they termed blasphemy.

Immediately daddy saw it has generated into a mini riot, one of their Alhaji's drew mummy into his office addressing the crowd that they should calm down and protocols will be followed which they refused and were stoning things at the man in his office.

When they prevailed, they dragged her and her husband. When daddy was sitting down, he was looking at the way they were hitting mummy on her head with iron rods and sticks but he dared not say anyhing if not he will be lynched too. Mummy's blood was splashing on daddys body as they kept hitting her. Eventually she died.

Then the police came to disperse the crowd and took her body to the mortuary.. As of yesterday, her corpse was lying at Aminu Kano teaching hospital but was to be transferred to a more secured hospital cos the Muslims were saying that they wanted to smuggle into the hospital to get her body then behead her cos that's their punishment for blasphemy..

Mummy was not beheaded she was beaten and stonned to death.
Yes she's a member and top leader in Deeper Life Bible church, Kano state..