Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Bolaji Owasanoye, has criticised Transparency International’s (TI) corruption perception index.

Owansanoye, who spoke at a two-day training session for journalists organised by the commission in Abuja, said the TI’s reports typically paint a misleading picture of corruption in poor nations.

He claimed that TI gives poorer ratings to nations that are victims of corruption than to those that get the proceeds of the crime.

By projecting the anti-corruption activities of the commission, Owansanoye urged media professionals to help change the narrative.

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) in Osun State on Tuesday suspended the State chairman, Prince Bello Adebayo, for anti-party activities and alleged embezzlement of N34 million allowance meant for polling agents who worked for the party during the 2023 general election.

The allowance also covered the publicity of the presidential candidate of the party during the election.

Adebayo’s suspension was conveyed by party executives in his ward (ward 12) in Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State.

The suspension was announced at a press conference chaired by Hammed Sheriff.

“Our reason for suspending Bello Adebayo was hinged on Article 19(1B)(2B) subsections 2,3,4 and 5. He carried out anti-party propaganda and his failure to attend Ward meetings about 10 times without cogent reason.”

This was just as the chairmen of the party across all local government areas of Osun led by Raheem Taiwo-Ojo (Ede South) passed a vote of confidence on the LP Acting Chairman in the state, Chief Sussan Ojo, dissociating themselves from ‘illegal’ suspension of the National Legal Adviser of the party, Barrister Akingbade Oyelekan and Sussan Ojo by Bello Adebayo(ex-chairman).

Ojo alleged that N4 million that was released by LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for publicity to Adebayo was not paid to the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LPPCC) and after the 2023 General election, N30 million meant for polling agents given to him was allegedly misappropriated.

She explained that “Comrade Lanre Fadahunsi who is the SW Coordinator of Big Tent and the Chairman of Media Committee of the LPPCC, Barrister Jimoh Babalola featured on both radio and TV stations marketing Peter Obi and canvassing for votes. The funds spent on this were not given by Adebayo (as it was promised) he took the intervention of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Spokesman Dr. Umar Tanko before he could release part of the money.

“Also, polling agents tasked with the responsibility of submitting Form EC8A after the elections were not compensated despite the fact that he was given N30M to pay polling unit agents that submitted the Form EC8A. Now the leaders of LPPCC are being chased around by those who submitted these forms while Bello collected and cornered their funds.”

Meanwhile, Adebayo, reacting to the allegations, said, “there’s no substantial excos for ward 12, all executives in Osogbo local government areas are unhappy. Their tenure has expired because they didn’t even make the Congress which was may last year. So, there is no substantial exco for ward 12.

“The only money sent to us then was N300,000 naira. The N300,000 was sent to us by Chief Akinosun Tokun. Sp, the evidence is there they can contact him.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The appointment of Odumosu, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

He replaces Abdulrasheed Bawa who was recently suspended by President Tinubu to pave way for investigation into allegations of abuse of power levelled against him.

Odumosu retired from the Nigeria Police Force in January 2022, shortly after his elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) and after serving for 32 years.

He served as the first chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) and also the Commander of the State-funded Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

My attention has been drawn to speculation purported to have emanated from the Presidential Policy Advisory group erroneously classifying the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as a revenue generating Agency, thereby proposing a merger of NIMASA, CUSTOMS and FIRS. It is a very serious misconception and dangerous for the future of shipping/ Maritime industry in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was created in 2007 following the merger of National Maritime Authority (NMA) and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) deriving its powers from Merchant Shipping Act, 2007, NIMASA Act, 2007 and Coastal and Inland shipping (cabotage) Act, 2003. The Agency, is a Maritime Safety Administration responsible for regulating shipping activities in Nigeria with a view to achieving safer shipping and cleaner oceans as mandated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) through its various Conventions and Protocols.

The enabling acts give NIMASA statutory powers as specified by International Conventions and protocols for the enthronement of global best practices in ensuring safety of Navigation and prevention / control of marine pollution in the shipping industry as regulated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), in which Nigeria is a contracting member state. The agency also has responsibility for development of indigenous shipping capacity.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO), is an organ of the United Nations charged with the responsibility of regulating global shipping trade with special focus on safety of Navigation and prevention of Marine pollution as contained in the United Nations Convention on the Law of The Sea, (UNCLOS). Article 194, 211, 212, of UNCLOS specifically mandates states to adopt Laws and regulations for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution of the marine environment from vessels flying their flags or of their registry.

The IMO has 167 Maritime Nations as members including Nigeria due to our vast Maritime Coastline. It issues conventions and protocols which all members’ state assent to, regulating global shipping trade. Such Conventions as Marine Pollution Prevention (MARPOL), and its various annexures i.e. Discharging of oily waste, Noxious substances and dangerous goods, Discharging of sewage, Garbage including plastics, Air emission, etc. Other Conventions like London Protocol on Prohibition of Dumping of Waste in the Marine Environment, International Convention on Wreck Removal (Nairobi Convention), Training and Certification of Seafarer (STCW ’95), Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS), Convention on Ship Recycling to Ensure Environmental Sound Practices (Hong Kong) Convention, to mention just a few. All these convention have been domesticated in Nigeria and NIMASA is the Focal Agency for implementation of the conventions through the discharge of its technical mandate which cannot be performed by any other Agency in Nigeria.

NIMASA being the Safety Administration of Nigeria has counterparts in 167 Maritime Nations responsible for ensuring safer shipping and cleaner oceans through the instrumentality of the technical mandate it performs viz Port states inspection, Flag states inspection, Search and Rescue, Maritime Capacity Building, Maritime Security by ensuring our waters are safe from Piracy and Sea robbers, Prevention/Control of Marine Pollution, Administers the Training and Certification of Seafarers(STCW ’95), shipping development, coastal and inland shipping (Cabotage) and maritime labour administration. All these functions by NIMASA require technical expertise and can only be performed by a Safety Administration. The same technical functions are performed by Maritime Safety Administration of UK, MCA, US Coast Guard, Safety Administration of Greece, Finland, Cyprus and all other member countries of IMO.

It is therefore my humble position that emphasis of Government should be on how to strengthen NIMASA to deliver more on its technical mandates and not merging it with Agencies that are not compatible with its philosophy and objectives. However, I am happy Ms Hadiza Bala Usman the former MD of the Nigerian Ports Authority has been appointed by President Tinubu as the Special Adviser Policy Coordination. Hadiza whom I know is very abreast of the Nigerian Maritime sector would be able to advise the President accordingly due to her expertise and experience in the industry.

I can say the proposal in my view is like suggesting a merger of Nigerian Navy with Nigeria  Civil Defence because the later has responsibility for protecting critical National assets. For instance, technically speaking, all ships that call on Nigeria waters carry minimum of five Certificates which include Certificate on safety equipment, Certificate on radio equipment, and certificate on crewing etc. These certificates are carried by all ship calling on Ports Globally. NIMASA Surveyors, under its Port states responsibility must board these ships to ensure compliance with global requirements. NIMASA also carries out flag state inspection on all ships before they are registered to determine their fitness for purpose. In this regard, the ships are subjected to preregistration survey and condition survey. All these are in line with the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Convention and STCW ‘95 Convention.

Again the activities of over forty (40) Floating production storage offloading (FPSO) and Floating Storage Offloading (FSO) like, Agbami, Bonga, Egina, Akpo engaging in crude oil exploration and production offshore Nigerian waters are potential polluters. It is the responsibility of NIMASA to monitor and ensure that there is no pollution of the marine environment to protect aquatic life and our Ecosystem. To do this, NIMASA must invest heavily on the procument of offshore Reception Facilities to collect and process the wastes from these platforms. All these are in line with MARPOL Convention, and the mandate requires technical know-how which NIMASA over the years has developed capacity to handle.

Let me quickly point out that there is no doubt that in the course of discharging her technical mandate, NIMASA generates revenue and uses part of it to prosecute its technical regulatory functions. The surplus at the end of the year is paid into the federation account in line with the target set by Ministry of Finance. However, the critical and urgent nature of some of these technical activities and the fact that they require instant response is part of the reason NIMASA is allowed to retain its funds and sometime not allowed to go through the bureaucracy of tendering e.g a vessel that is sinking or an  unexpected oil spill and pollution of the waters, or wreck that needs to be removed to ensure safety of channels for Navigation, flag state inspection, survey, regular patrol of our coastal waters and enforcement of necessary regulations.

It is my strong view therefore that the proposed merger will be counterproductive with huge negative implications for Nigeria in the global shipping community. Our waters may be considered no longer safe for international shipping and that can affect the volume of maritime trade and eventually lead to drop in revenue. Another implication is that our waters can become a destination for rickety ships and thereby becoming a dumping ground for ship wrecks and derelicts. As at today, Nigeria is the leading maritime Nation in West and Central Africa in terms of ship traffic and cargo. This feat was not achieved in a day. It is the cumulative effect of the reforms successive administrations introduced to strengthen the capacity of NIMASA as a Maritime Safety Administration for the country.

As former Director General/CEO of NIMASA, Executive Director (NIMASA), Assistant General Manager (NPA) and representative of Nigeria on the Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), my advise is that the Federal government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR should consult major maritime stakeholders on issues affecting the Maritime industry for proper guidance. The industry is the gate way to the economy of Nigeria and also very critical to the logistics aspect of the oil and gas industry since most of the crude oil production and exploration activities take place offshore Nigerian waters. Trial and error will not work. Rather, NIMASA being the regulator should be strengthened technically. The whole idea of merger should be set aside until wider consultation with the industry stakeholders is held.

Thank you.

Dr Ade Dosunmu, MON Former DG/CEO NIMASA

Omoyele Sowore tasks other presidential candidates to make public their campaign funding sources and expenses.

In line with the best campaign practice and the spirit of accountability as we hold dear in the African Action Congress (AAC), the Sowore Political Action Committee (SPAC) has released final breakdown of the 2023 Presidential election campaign donations, sources of funding and expenditure.

Recall that the committee gave monthly updates during the campaign and this is not the first time the Committee will be releasing a breakdown such as this. In 2019, the AAC candidate also released a complete breakdown of campaign expenses, the first recorded in the history of electioneering campaign in Nigeria’s history.

The Sowore Presidential campaign organization, then in a novel manner released detailed accounts of money received and spent, which was published on major dailies in the country. See- https://www.icirnigeria.org/sowores-presidential-campaign-organisation-publishes-statement-of-account/

Asides monetary contribution, we can not quantify the human resources put into the campaign from Nigerians who supported us day and night. Those who  stood their ground and gave their time to toeing the path of honour and integrity. We can not thank you all enough.

The Campaign Organization also seizes this medium to challenge other Presidential candidates including the one who was sworn in, to release their campaign financials, that’s if any books were kept at all.

We sincerely hope that those in particular who sought public donations during the campaign season will also show to Nigerians the donations they got from the campaign donors across Nigeria and beyond.

We can’t have a clean leadership recruitment process in this country with people who shroud their campaign spending in secrecy.

We believe that those who can’t keep books of campaign expenses and transparently account for the expenses incurred can’t run a country like Nigeria properly.

Signed:

Femi Adeyeye
National Publicity Secretary,
African Action Congress
20/6/2023.

VP decorates him with new rank of acting IGP

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed his readiness to work towards making Nigeria a crime-free nation.

Speaking with newsmen after being decorated by  Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, Egbetokun pledged his preparedness to do his duties to the country as top Police chief, saying he felt like a tiger, ready to pursue all criminals out of the country.

Asked what his feeling as new Police IG is, he said “now I have just been decorated and I’m looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning by 11am. 

“I really can’t describe how I feel currently, but if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now, I feel like a tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria.

“And some other times, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now”.

Also speaking, former Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, who appeared in mufti, expressed confidence in his successor, saying he would carry on from where he is stopping.

According to him: “It’s a stage; you come, you work and you go. I’m happy I’m handing over to somebody I know, that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stopped.

“We grew up in the job, we grew up together. I was his boss at a time, not even when I was IG, he worked under me twice, we’ve been working together and I know how he can go ahead to champion the cause of the police from where I have stopped”, Baba said.

Vice President Shettima had earlier on Tuesday, decorated Egbetokun, as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, at the Conference hall of his office at the State House, Abuja.

The event was witnessed by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Imo State governor, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodinma;

Others are the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

[ThisDay]

Former Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, has said he has no resentment regarding his removal from the position following President Bola Tinubu’s compulsory retirement directive.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that President Tinubu mandated the retirement of Mr. Alkali on Monday, along with the heads of the Nigerian military.

Kayode Egbetokun, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, assumed the position as Alkali’s successor.

After completing his handover to Mr. Egbetokun, Mr. Alkali shared his thoughts on his departure. “It’s a natural progression in one’s career. You come, you work, and eventually, you step aside. I am content knowing that I am passing the baton to someone I trust to continue the leadership from where I left off,” he stated.

When questioned about his familiarity with his successor, Mr. Alkali replied, “We have a longstanding professional relationship. We have worked together closely, and I have even been his superior during my time as IG. He has served under my command twice, and I am confident in his ability to advance the objectives of the police force.”

“Today, as I receive my decoration, I eagerly anticipate assuming my new role tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Words cannot fully capture my present emotions, but I can tell you that right now, I feel a ferocious determination within me, akin to a tiger, ready to combat crime across Nigeria. At other times, I sense the strength of a lion, prepared to vanquish all internal adversaries of our nation. Such is my sentiment at this moment,” Mr. Alkali concluded.

[PoliticsNigeria]

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated an amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to address the flaws in the legislation.

Diri also said the review would go a long way in tackling the ongoing crisis between oil companies and their host communities.

Describing the Act as a time bomb, the governor emphasised that since the country operates a federal system of government, it was an aberration for the federal government to deal directly with oil producing communities while excluding the states and local governments.

Diri stated this on Tuesday when the new Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Eugenio Ferreira, and other officers called on him in Yenagoa.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the oil producing states and the local governments were now being called upon to intervene in resolving issues between the oil companies and their host communities.

He said: “We are happy we have a PIA that guides the industry. However, we saw a lot of flaws even before the Bill was assented to. At that point, l referred to the Act as a time bomb.

“I also said that there would still be serious crisis between the oil producing communities and oil companies and by extension, the Federal Government. One of such indications is that the Federal Government in that Act successfully excluded the state and local governments to deal directly with the communities.

“In recent times, we have started seeing crisis between the communities and oil companies over the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and other issues. And the state governments have been called to intervene. So that Act needs further amendment.”

Diri said both state and local governments should be incorporated into the oil industry legislation
to enable them contribute towards ensuring peace and stability in the industry.

He also called for collaboration between the oil producing states and relevant institutions to bring development closer to the people as one of the surest ways in tackling oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining activities.

According to him, “while as a government, we would not support anybody involved in oil theft, illegal oil refining and all other acts that contribute to pollution, underdevelopment and killings, we would also like to state that the best way to tackle the issues is to fast-track development to these areas. We can assure you that these same people will become protectors of oil installations domiciled in the Niger Delta.”

The governor welcomed Rear Admiral Ferreira and urged him to join hands with the state government in surmounting the security challenges in his area of operation.

Earlier, the new OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Ferreira, said he was posted to the command in May this year.

He noted that the OPDS was established with a mandate to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta and ensure a stable and peaceful environment for all.

While expressing gratitude to the state government for the support given to the command, Ferreira said they had achieved 80 per cent success of attaining their mandate, which he attributed to the kinetic and non-kinetic approach of the military.

He commended the governor for his support to the task force and pledged that the command would continue to cooperate and collaborate with the state government to ensure peace and security of the state.

[Vanguard]

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), a non-governmental organisation, says it plans to hold a one-week intensive training for  National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on business management.

The training is in collaboration with the Lagos Business School (LBS).

In a notice on social media, the nonprofit said application is currently ongoing and would end by July 18, 2023.

The organisation said the training, which is part of its ‘venture in management programme’ (ViMP), is for selected NYSC members.

“The goal of ViMP is to prepare NYSC members for the world of business as managers and entrepreneurs,” JAN said.

“This opportunity is designed to expose future business leaders to the responsibilities, opportunities, and demands of a career in management.

“The weeklong programme includes rigorous and stimulating classroom meetings (led by facilitators from the Lagos Business School), case studies, panel discussions, study groups, guest speakers, and recreation, culminating in a strategy workshop, during which the participants present solutions to different business problems.

“The learning environment mirrors that of the top business schools around the world with case studies focusing on business ethics, accounting and finance, marketing, strategy, social enterprise, general management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”

“Participants also engage in a community service project and teach JAN programs in nearby elementary schools.”

According to JAN, qualified applicants must be serving youth corps members or recently finished; must be 27 years or younger; must have excellent academic records (minimum 2:1).

The organisation also said applicants must possess a proven interest in general management, and have a track record of leadership, adding that participation in previous JAN program will be an added advantage.

Applicants, the NGO said, must complete the application form online, have a curriculum vitae (must be saved with your full name), and a proof of service (NYSC ID card or call-pp letter).

JAN said interested persons can apply here.

[TheCable]