President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his government being a responsible government is conscious of the security situation in Nigeria and ready to address all the concerns of Nigerians on the issue.
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said this during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) and 160th Anniversary of Nigerian Army on Thursday in Ibadan.
He assured Nigerians of his government’s resolve to address all threats and take care of national security challenges confronting the country within the shortest possible time.
The president said his administration would continue to do all it could and as permitted by the Constitution to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens and the nation’s unity.
“I assure the Nigerian Army and the entire Armed Forces of my commitment to their welfare, and I will address the issue of equipment, insufficient funding and other factors constraining their efficient operation,” he said.
Tinubu added that his administration has put in place a mechanism that would comprehensively address all the challenges facing the Armed Forces for them to effectively carry out their operations.
While calling on all Nigerians to unite and shun all acts capable of dividing the nation, the President commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had said the Nigerian Army was living up to its constitutional role.
(NAN).
The National Society of High School Scholars, Atlanta, United States, has selected a 15-year-old Nigerian, Oyinkansola Ewedemi, as a member.
A statement made available on Monday by co-founder and President, NSHSS, James Lewis, said Ewedemi consistently had high-Grade Point Average throughout her high school.
She is a Freshman in the STEM programme of James Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, United States.
Lewis noted that NSHSS recognised top scholars who had demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and community commitment.
He said, “On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder, Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honoured to recognise the hard work, passion, and commitment that Oyinkansola has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence.
“Oyinkansola is now a member of a unique community of scholars, a community that represents our very best hope for the future.
“We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development.
“We help students like Oyinkansola build on their academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.”
Lewis added that NSHSS members automatically become lifetime member at the time of their initial membership.
“Each step along the way, from high school to college career – NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions,” he stated.
Ewedemi plays violin in the Orchestra and her team represented her school in Robotics competitions across various cities in Texas.
She wants to be an Engineering Major to study Aerospace Engineering.
Members of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Political Parties for Good Governance (CCSOPPGG) have besieged the European Union office in protest against its report on the 2023 presidential election.
The coalition which mobilised some other Nigerians in their hundreds warned the European Union against instigating another war in Nigeria through what it described as the international body’s “biased” report on the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In its report which was tendered before the presidential petitions court in Abuja, the EU faulted the 2023 general election, premising its report on alleged violence, killings and vote buying.
The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions staged a peaceful walk through the Central Area to the head office of the European Union in Abuja.
Addressing officials of the EU who were on ground to receive the protesters, leader of the coalition, Dr Lillian Ene Ogbole, accused the EU of deliberately attempting to malign the Nigerian government and its leaders.
Noting that every election comes with peculiar problems and Nigeria is not an inception, Ogbole wondered how possible less than fifty people from the European Union would come to Nigeria and observe an election of over 17,6000 polling units and then arrive at a conclusion with just 1,000 polling units of election centres in its report.
She stated: “As you can see, we are here with thousands of patriotic Nigerians who have come specifically to raise concern about the presentation and the reports of the European Union concerning the just concluded elections.
“We have come to register unequivocally that we are not satisfied with the report of the European Union as a matter of fact, we are of the opinion that the report is not just ridiculous but a deliberate act to slides the Nigerian entity and of course by implications our leaders and the government of Nigeria. We are all Nigerians here. We were all here during the just concluded election.
“I would like to say to you very clearly that there is nowhere election in the world that is devoid of crisis and hitches. Every election in the world both in the United States of America, in the Great Britain both in Ireland and even the European Union countries.
“Yes, we are aware that the world is a global village. Therefore, people from different parts of the world converge in various countries during elections to monitor, observe and make presentations like the EU has done but what we found unnecessary, what we found not worthy is the manner in which the report was made.
“The election that just concluded in Nigeria that produced one of the man alive today in the person of his excellency, distinguished Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was one of the most transparent election in the history of Nigeria. We were taking back When the report came, the media was wash with the report of the European Union carefully and specifically saying that the election was fraudulent; that the election felt short of requirements of every credible election in the world.
“I don’t know where that is coming from. If it is the election that we were all part of, that we all fought vigorously with our lives and everything we have as Patriots and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that the election held.”
The coalition noted that if it is the same election that the EU report is referring to, then something is fishy somewhere, even as it queried why the EU had to take its reports to the election petitions tribunal.
The CSOs continued: “You would also agree with me that the report of the European Union is enough to trigger a national problem, is enough to trigger a national chaos, our security is at stake, our sovereignty is at stake, our unity is at stake.
“Nigeria is a great country in Africa, the most populated country in west Africa and the pride of the African countries. If the European Union is beginning to address our election and of course whatever is daring the way they have presented this report then we are scared. We are scared not just going to affect Nigeria as a country but is going to affect the whole of the African countries in the country.
“We understand the role they played but again there comes a time where we have to stop. They should know where to stop and they should know where to continue. Why on earth should they take the report of this election to the tribunal. Is there a report should be recieved?
“There are procedures and they have procedures in their counties, when they come to Nigeria, they act out of protocol. They must begin to have protocols, they must begin to respect our rule of law, they must begin to respect our Nigerian People.”
The coalition told the EU officials that Nigerians were not forced to vote Tinubu but were convinced with his track records and capacity.
Ogbole continued: “We are saying enough is enough. We have a president who is doing very well, we have a president that have started on a right footing, we have a president that is doing what several presidents in Nigeria have not been able to do. All that we need at this point is to support him. He is our Son, and we are his children, he is our leader and we willingly voted for him.
“No man, no woman, no country compelled us to vote for him. It is our right to vote for him. It is our right to vote for the candidate of our choice and that was what exactly what we exhibited in the last election. Our election we all witness was free to an extent which was almost 100 percent free.
“It was an election that was devoid of so many things we used to witness in the past. Our democracy is growing in an accelerated rate and we must warn the international community to take cognisance of that. We want to let them know that never again! Never again!! Never!!!”
The Prince’s Trust International, a non-profit organisation established by King Charles III of England, has been launched in Nigeria to address the urgent issue of youth unemployment on a global scale.
The launch, which took place at a reception in Lagos on Wednesday, was attended by high-profile functionaries, including the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones.
Speaking at the launch, Llewellyn-Jones said the PTI’s launch in Nigeria would bridge the existing skills gap, giving more young people would have access to quality training that would make them more employable.
He said, “This is the launch of the Prince’s Trust International initiative in Nigeria to help train young people and get them ready for work to bridge the gap that we have with respect to youth unemployment and youth underemployment here in Nigeria.
“So, it is a really positive initiative. His Royal Highness is the President of the Prince’s Trust. The initiative is trying to reach more countries, Nigeria being the latest. The PTI is a charity. It is in line with the UK government’s ambition in Nigeria to help young people get jobs, get the proper training and the proper skills.
“It is about training. It depends on the kinds of roles young people want to take up. It is about providing them with modern workplace skills, modern workplace etiquette and the ways in which they can approach things, helping them with some of the softer skills and some of the harder skills as well.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Prince’s Trust International, Will Straw, said the initiative was billed to commence in the aftermath of King Charles’ visit to Nigeria in 2018 but was delayed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, in the last 18 months, the trust has been helping young people gain the skills they need for the world of work.
Straw said, “Prince’s Trust is nearly half a century old. It was founded by King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales in the UK in 1976. It has grown to be the largest charity in the UK, supporting a million people. In 2015, the King founded Prince’s Trust International with a mission to work with local partners around the world to tackle the youth unemployment crisis.
“In 2018, he visited Nigeria, and as we heard this evening, he asked government officials, he asked business leaders whether his trust could support employment efforts here in Nigeria and in Ghana. The answer was yes. The expertise that we have could help with local efforts. So, we began with the support of our Africa advisory board, which includes great business figures in Nigeria like Atedo Peterside and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to explore how we can set this programme up.”
On her part, PTI’s trustee and former Vice President of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh, said that 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population is youth; hence, any investment in young people was worthwhile and sustainable for development.
Oteh, who was also a former Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, expressed excitement at the possibility the programme portends for young Nigerians, employers and the country.
According to her, Nigerian youths are hardworking, creative, and resilient.
She added that the launch of the PTI in Nigeria would catalyse more changes and development in the country.
Also, the Director-General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr Oyerinde Adewale-Smatt, said unemployment was a great challenge in the country and was projected to grow to 40 per cent in 2023.
Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, has asked the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun to stop the monthly pension being paid to him by the State government.
Daniel, in a letter titled, ‘Request To Suspend My Monthly Pension and Allowances’, Daniel asked that the N676,376.95 pension/allowances he is entitled to as a former governor be suspended.
According to him, the suspension of the pension was in compliance with his conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator, who hitherto was a former State governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such a state.
Daniel, who is the new Senator representing Ogun East, was inaugurated alongside other Senators on June 13 at the National Assembly.
The Senator noted that he had not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it medical, furniture, transportation and others since he left office in 2011.
The letter addressed to Gov Abiodun read: “I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of 676,376.95 (gross) (Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Six Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo) being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State.
“This request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such state.
“It would be recalled that on Tuesday 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as members of the 10th National Assembly.
“It is pertinent to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefitted from any welfare packages be it Medical, Furniture, transportation etc. Thanks in anticipation.”
One David Oshoffa, a pastor, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correction Centre over the death of two siblings who were seeking spiritual deliverance.
A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, remanded the cleric for allegedly poisoning two siblings, Michael and Mahoklo Agbah, to death around the Seme Border, in the Badagry area of the state.
Oshoffa is a cleric of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish. Magistrate Patrick Nwaka ordered his remand on Wednesday.
He was arraigned on three counts bordering on murder.
The siblings were taken to the cleric’s parish for spiritual deliverance when he alongside two fleeing accomplices allegedly poisoned them.
According to the prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, the defendant prepare the concoction using deadly chemicals which he knew were harmful to the children and gave them to drink in the name of dispossessing them of an evil spirit.
Nurudeen told the court that Oshoffa committed the offence on June 18, 2023, at his church’s premises, adding that the offence contravened Section 222 and was punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge read in part, “That you, David Oshoffa, and two others at large, on June 18, 2023, at Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish 4, Seme Border, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Michael Agba, 12, Mahoklo Agbah, 8, by poisoning them with a concoction containing black soap and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
Meanwhile, the defendant’s plea was not taken in court.
The prosecutor asked the court to remand the defendant pending the outcome of the legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Granting the prosecutor’s request, Nwaka ordered the remand of the defendant to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till August 4, 2023
President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to confirm the newly appointed Service Chiefs.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter sent to the lower legislative chamber,
The letter was read on the floor of House by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Thursday’s plenary.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker and read at Plenary, the President asked the lawmakers to consider swift confirmation of the Service Chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff in accordance with extant laws.
The service chiefs to be confirmed are Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff and AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.
The president in the letter said that the request was in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. Cap A20 Laws the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Tinubu had appointed the service chiefs while the National Assembly was on break.
The letter read in part, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004, I am pleased to present, for confirmation by the Senate, the four nominees listed below as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The House of Representatives is invited to note the current security situation of our country which requires concerted efforts of both the legislature and the executive to ensure a well-protected Nation.”
The letter added, “: Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff and AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.
“This informed the review of our Defence Architecture and appointment of new leaders to work in synergy with one another to achieve the level of optimal performance expected of the Military.
“While I hope that the request will receive the expeditious consideration and confirmation of the House of Representatives, Please accept, R.t Hon. Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration
The Federal Government has given the mandate to National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to find solutions to the current climate change and other related issues that could bring growth and development to the country.
The Team Leaders and Director of Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, Jos, professor Oluwofunmilayo Para-Mallam stated this while donating some books to the Institute For Governance Studies, at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
According to her, Government is determined to find solutions and create awereness in various learning institute as way of tackling climate change and curtail the effects of the climate change in the country.
"Indeed, the Ogun State is among the climate change compliance in the country as far as the NIPSS members is concerned, we are so impressed with the facilities and machineries put in place to mitigate the effect of the climate change.
"These structures and facilities with that of Tai Solarin College of Education is a pointer to the fact that Ogu. State is totally ready to fight the effect of the climate change in the country", Prof. Para-Mallam said
She explained that the persistent in climate change and weather conditions has given the Institute the mandate to do research technology incubation and come up with a framework to cushion or mitigate the effect of climate change for overall development of the country.
The Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Ayodeji Agboola said the University has been contributing more on research technology in climate change which is key to the development of the social economic growth of the country.
He used the opportunity to seek for more support from various stakeholders in the educational sector for the development of the institution, saying the government alone could not shoulder the educational responsibilities of the country.
Meanwhile, The Paramount Ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, appreciated the NIPSS for the doantion of books to the institution, saying it was out of passion for education that he built the structure, named after him.
Oba Adetona promised to support NIPSS members and other stakeholders ready to partner the state government in developing educational sector of the State, saying it is better to educate the society, so as to be freed of crime society.
He gave the assurance when the members of NIPSS, Senior Executive Course 45, 2023, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Ijebu-Ode.
The Monarch also said that national security is an issue that affects every one and as such, all Nigerians must take it more seriously especially now that the country is facing challenges.
He commended tthe NIPPS or its regular Study tour of the state, urging it not to relent in its duty of keeping the citizenry updated on climate change, emergency situations, security and other related issues that could foster growth and development of the country.
HUMAN Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has lamented that “plutocracy has replaced democracy in Nigeria,” the effect of which is that “people have lost confidence in the democratic process.”
Falana stated this in a keynote address, titled: ‘General Elections in Nigeria 2023: A Review of the Nation’s Political Culture and Electoral Integrity’, and delivered at the 2023 Law Week Programme of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin branch, held in Benin City, Edo State.
Falana urged the NBA to put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to “address the problems of the late arrival of INEC officials and ballot materials at the polling stations, malfunctioning BVAS machines, and limited or non-transmission of the results from the polling units to Results Viewing Portal, IReV.”
According to him, “out of the 93 million voters that were registered; only 22 million voted in the presidential election.”
The paper reads: “INEC must also address insecurity at some polling units, including violent attacks on voters and officials, voter intimidation, snatching and destruction of voting materials, significant cases of vote-buying, and limited access facilities for persons living with disabilities.
“The Benin branch of the NBA should prevail on the national body of lawyers to convoke a national summit to review the 2023 general elections as soon as the curtain is drawn on the election petitions by the various election petition tribunals, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“The NBA should ensure that the summit is attended by the representatives of all relevant stakeholders. At the end of the programme, the NBA should collaborate with the judiciary committees of both houses of the national assembly in drafting amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to institutionalise credible elections in Nigeria.
“All mass-based organisations must mobilise the Nigerian people to take their political destiny into their hands by participating in the democratic process.”
The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the immediate-past governor of the State, Dr. AAbdullahi Umar Ganduje, not to honour the invitation extended to him by the State’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) over the alleged dollar videos saga.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the State chairman and secretary of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas and Alhaji Zakari Sarina, respectively.
The party said it has realised that the reenactment of the politically motivated issue of the Dollar videos by the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which is before a court of law, was part of a sinister ploy to dent the image of the former governor.
It noted that similar scenario was played out to scuttle the former governor’s chance of securing reelection ticket for the party’s gubernatorial election in 2019.
The statement added that this time, the detractors were engaged in the campaign of calumny to draw a wedge between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ganduje, whom they described as one of the president’s strongest allies in the North.
The Kano APC stated that while Ganduje’s contributions to the Tinubu political project right from the conduct of the primary election, was widely appreciated, his relationship with the President remains cordial.
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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has appealed to “those jumping ship” from the party to “calm down,” saying the party must not go down.
Chief George stated this in an interview with Arise TV on Wednesday.
George urged aggrieved members of the PDP to stay put and resolve the party’s problems.
Recall that the G5 — an aggrieved faction of the party — met with President Bola Tinubu at the state house in Abuja a few weeks ago.
Similarly, former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, and foremost member of the G5, had also met with the President several times.
The meetings have left the public with speculations that the members of the G5 were considering a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the issue, George said PDP members “must never allow this party to crack up.”
He said, “We are still in court, and everyone still thinks they can win. Until the court decides who actually won the election, it will be a futile exercise trying to bring all sides together.
“In fact, I want to advise those who are jumping ship now to calm down because you can hear the APC leadership complain about the crack in the leaders of the party in the senate.
‘When you have a problem in your house, it is better to stay in that house and resolve the problem. There is nothing impossible to do if you have a fear of God.
“I want to appeal to all sides. Let us not allow this party to go down. We must never allow this party to crack up.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a warning to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) in the country to exercise caution when conducting transactions with businesses and individuals in certain countries. The countries specified by the CBN are the Russian Federation, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, and Cameroon.
The cautionary message from the CBN is in response to these countries being placed on the high-risk jurisdictions list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body responsible for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
The CBN’s warning was communicated through a circular, with reference number FPR/AML/PUB/BOF/001/029, issued by CBN director of financial policy and regulation, Mr. Chibuzo Efobi.
The FATF sets global standards aimed at preventing illegal financial activities and the associated societal harm. Apart from the aforementioned countries, other nations on the list include the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Croatia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
The CBN’s decision to issue this warning is based on the resolutions reached at a recent plenary session of the FATF, held last month.
The circular states, “Banks and other Financial Institutions should take note of the outcomes of the Financial Action Task Force Plenary conducted from June 21-23, 3023, and the subsequent addition of Cameroon, Croatia, and Vietnam to the list of jurisdictions under ‘Increased Monitoring.”
It further emphasised that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, and Myanmar remain on the high-risk jurisdictions list and are subject to a ‘Call for Action.’
In light of these developments, the CBN directs financial institutions to implement enhanced due diligence measures and, in severe cases, consider implementing countermeasures to protect the international financial system.
The circular also reminds financial institutions that the suspension of the Russian Federation from the FATF remains in effect.
Financial institutions are urged to stay vigilant and alert to potential emerging risks resulting from attempts to bypass measures designed to safeguard the international financial system.
Given these new developments, financial institutions are instructed to take note of all additions to jurisdictions under ‘Increased Monitoring’ and high-risk jurisdictions subject to a ‘Call-for-Action’ and take necessary steps to effectively mitigate these risks.
Twitter has reacted to newly launched rival social media app, Threads, by Meta on Thursday, threatening to sue the latter’s parent company.
According to a report by Semafor, citing a letter delivered to Mark Zuckerberg, a lawyer for Twitter said the company “has serious concerns that Meta Platforms (Meta) has engaged in systematic, willful and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter’s trade secrets and other intellectual property.”
“Twitter intends to strictly enforce its intellectual property rights, and demands that Meta take immediate steps to stop using any Twitter trade secrets or other highly confidential information,” Alex Spiro wrote in the letter.
Representatives for Twitter and Meta are yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit.
LEADERSHIP reports that Meta launched its competitor to Twitter in 100 countries. The new app had garnered 30 million sign-ups less than 24 hours after launch.
The Senate on Thursday condemned the administration of Muhammadu Buhari for “secret” concessions of some airports across the country.
It passed a legislation and ordered a thorough probe.
The upper house took the decision following a motion by Senator Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South), who queried the manner in which Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Nnamdidi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and other international Airports were concessioned.
He recalled in his motion that the Federal Executive Council, on 17th May 2023, approved the concession of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano for 30 years, to Messrs Corporación America Airports Consortium.
He argued that the Federal Ministry of Aviation (and Aerospace) does not own or run any airport in Nigeria, rather, that power is vested on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, based on the governing Act.
“The Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission procedure document states, with respect to the agency that wishes to concession a facility that, ‘The public entity should have enabling authority to transfer its responsibility enabling legislative and policy framework or an Administrative Order to that effect;
“This reflects that the combined import of the FAAN Act and the ICRC procedures manual is an evident manifestation that the entire airports’ concession is based on an incurably faulty foundation.
“There is no doubt that it is the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, not the Ministry of Aviation, that has the power to transfer its responsibility’ to a would-be concessionaire,” the lawmaker argued.
He chastised the Ministry of Aviation for usurping the ‘legislative and policy framework.’
“I am convinced that if the claim that the FEC has approved the concession of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport has any substance, then the FEC has indeed been misguided in its decision, and that action cannot amount to anything than a nullity;
“I am worried about the rationale in borrowing and spending public money to upgrade the airport only to hand it over to foreign businesses for a period of 30 years in the name of a concession.”
He lamented in his motion that “Nigeria is receiving a concession fees or upfront of $1.5m while the total amount of money that the Kano airport is accruing to the government is $97.4m.
“Disturbed that this concession is clearly dubious and raises questions on the process and what the actors stand to gain.”
While noting that the unions had embarked on strike during the commissioning process as FAAN was sidelined, he said “the concession by the Buhari-led administration raises a fundamental question of injustice on why an elephant project with huge public investment would take place just at the end of the administration.
“It is also observed that there are faulty gaps inherent in the concession that would lead to an array of lawsuits and thereby embarrass the current administration.”
The red chamber, in a decision said, “the committee on Aviation when constituted should investigate the ministry and agencies concerned to report back to the Senate.
“Condemned in strong terms the concessions of Aminu Kano Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and other airports that were conceded in the same way as they were not conceded in public interest
“Urged the federal government to review the entire exercise and give a level playing field to all stakeholders.”
Speaking before the ruling, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, said Hadi Sirika carried out certain policies in secrecy hence the need for thorough investigation.
“Concession is what is in vogue all over the world because the government is a bad manager of business, even the Heathrow airport was conceded to a Nigerian. And the airport is doing really well.
“Although these things must be investigated, I would still vote for concession, but it must be done in a transparent manner,” he said.