Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, yesterday, said he will not be distracted from defending the Rivers people and protecting their interests as defined by his oath.
Fubara made the declaration yesterday while speaking to newsmen in Ngo Town, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area of the state, shortly after inspecting the entire stretch of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road, to ascertain the extent of work that has been done.
The governor recalled that during the campaigns leading to his election, the Andoni section of the road was in terrible condition but months after the decision was taken to re-award the contract, the milestone achieved has been commendable.
He said: “I have to say that the contractor has done a very good job. However, we did observe that about 1 kilometer of road that will lead to the council secretariat was somehow not captured in the scope and I think it will be proper that we do that too.
“So, we will continue to do our best, not minding the challenges we are facing. The most important thing is that we have taken our oath to defend our people and protect their interest, and we are not going back on that.”
Fubara stated that his administration is determined to complete the road that has lingered on for over twenty years as a commitment to bequeath lasting projects that will serve the needs of the people for years to come.
The governor said: “What I keep saying to everyone is, what are we bequeathing to our people? Their interests are the most important thing and governance is about the protection of lives and property.”
“These include providing quality services and one of them is this road. Posterity has blessed me with this project; it was something that they couldn’t achieve for over twenty years but within the space of six months, I have been able to sort it out. It is a credit and a big one at that, to our administration.”
Responding to Mr. Dick Nkakeek, a youth leader, who appealed to the governor to consider the construction of Andoni’s internal roads including that of Oyorokoto town, Fubara sued for patience, assuring that his administration will consider the internal roads in Andoni once the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road has been completed and Oyorokoto Town will benefit.
The Special Investigator on the CBN and Related Entities, Jim Obaze has revealed that former president Muhammadu Buhari did not approve the Naira redesign policy introduced by the erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had named Obaze, a former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, as the CBN special investigator some months back.
According to Punch, Obaze on Wednesday submitted his final report tagged, ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable offences) to Tinubu.
The documents indicate that the former Apex Bank governor might face fresh criminal charges over the handling of the CBN naira redesign policy.
Emefiele could be prosecuted for illegal issuance of currency under section 19 of the CBN Act alongside Tunde Sabiu, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, and 12 top directors of the CBN.
The report revealed that the naira redesign policy was sold to Buhari at the instance of Sabiu and that the initiative was done without the approval of the board of the CBN.
“The investigator found that Buhari didn’t approve of the naira redesign. It was Tunde Sabiu who first told Emefiele in September 2022 to consider the redesign of the naira. On October 6, 2022, Emefiele wrote to Buhari that he wanted to redesign and reconfigure N1000, N500 and N200 notes.
“The former President tagged along but did not approve the redesign as required by law. Buhari merely approved that the currency be printed in Nigeria. The redesign was only mentioned to the board of the CBN on December 15, 2022, after Emefiele had awarded the contract to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc on October 31, 2022,’’ the documents noted.
Emefiele was said to have contracted the redesign of the naira to De La Rue of the UK for £205, 000 pounds under the vote head of the Currency Operations Department after the NSPM said it could not deliver the contract within a short timeframe.
The special investigator found that N61.5bn was earmarked for the printing of the new notes out of which N31.79bn had been paid.
House of Representatives lawmakers have issued a plea to the Federal Government, urging the prompt provision of free treatment and medications for Malaria across publicly-owned hospitals nationwide.
During a Thursday plenary session, a motion of urgent national importance was presented on the House floor by Amobi Ogah, a representative of Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State.
In the motion, the House emphasized the gravity of malaria, characterizing it as a significant illness that is transmitted through mosquito bites carrying the infectious plasmodia parasites.
The lawmaker noted that if not treated, “Malaria can cause severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing, organ failure and even death.
“Malaria is common in the tropics and does not have ‘respect’ for either race, tribe or class; it infects everybody.”
According to the lawmaker, “In 2020 (Health Essentials Report) there were 241 million reported cases of malaria throughout the world, with 627,000 deaths with the majority of the deaths (90 per cent) in Africa with more than 80 per cent involving children under the age of five years.”
In spearheading the debate, Ogah asserted that the House is cognizant of the fact that the most severe manifestation of Malaria can advance to a condition known as cerebral Malaria, potentially leading to a coma.
“This type represents about 15 per cent of deaths in children and nearly 20 per cent of adult deaths. According to Malaria treatment 2023 statistics, about 45 per cent of the total population of Nigeria get infected by Malaria on an annual basis.
“An estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths due to the disease were recorded in 2021. Nigeria has the highest burden of Malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.
“The House notes that Malaria is a cause and a consequence of poverty because both are interrelated, thus creating a very dangerous scenario that is very critical because a predominantly sick population cannot have any strong economic power.
“The House further notes that it is disturbing to understand that, the average cost of treating Malaria in Nigeria today by self-medication is about N5,000.00 and upon consultation with a healthcare provider with a laboratory test may cost over N10,000.00.
“Many Nigerians cannot presently afford these. Consequently, they may resort to using local herbs or sub-standard drugs that may lead to complications or even death.
“Concerned that, upon (sic) the present national economic hardship where a single meal per day is hardly affordable by most average and lower-class citizens with the exorbitant cost of living due to the removal of oil subsidy, affordability of the purchase of malaria drugs becomes even more difficult thus, the need for the intervention of the government in the provision of free malaria/treatments and drugs in government hospitals to avert the malaria catastrophe.”
He further argued that “HIV and tuberculosis that presently enjoy free treatment in Nigeria are not as prominent, widespread and even killers as malaria today.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the federal government to use “Part of the savings from the removal of petroleum subsidy to provide free malaria/treatment and drugs in all government hospitals in Nigeria.”
The Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo has said that from January 2024, airlines found wanting to have delayed passengers and whose actions cause delay or flight cancellations would be made to give affected travellers a 25 per cent rebate on their next flight with the airline.
Najomo stated this at a meeting with a group of aviation stakeholders in his office in Lagos on Tuesday, noting that the NCAA would make a wide range of decisions that would help the aviation industry in terms of consumer protection and airport certification.
He also promised new policies on the mode of handing over aerodromes to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria by the state government among others.
He said the directive had been communicated to the carriers, stressing that the action would engender efficiency in the sector that has made air travel no longer enjoyable as travellers continue to decry the attitude of many of the airlines and the total lack of consumer protection.
He, however, noted that some of the problems that cause flight delays or cancellations are caused by factors beyond the airlines’ control.
He further stated that the aviation regulatory body was doing so much in-house to reduce the menace that has taken the joy out of air travel.
Najomo said, “The airlines are biting more than they can chew. Lack of planning is causing some of the delays we are experiencing. Some airlines for instance have less than four aircraft and they want to fly all the routes. That is not possible because four aircraft capacity cannot sustain the type of operations you are doing.
“Some of the delays, and cancellations by Air Peace are because you want to go everywhere when there may not be adequate aircraft to cover that volume of operations”.
Najomo also said that a policy would be made to ensure that the state-owned airports are run by the state governments for at least five years before they are handed over to FAAN to manage.
According to him, out of the 32 airports in the country, only about six are viable — Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, Port-Harcourt International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Owerri Airport.
He said the regulatory authorities are ‘forced’ to spend revenue earned from four viable terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano to subsidise operations in these other airports managed by FAAN.
From estimation, he said at least N400bn have so far been expended on such projects by the states, a development which observers reckon as a mere conduit to siphon public funds than for economic interests.
He added, “Many of these airports are for political reasons. Most of the airports are unviable; built without traffic in mind and leaving the burden to the Federal Government to shoulder. Airports should be a catalyst for economic development. It has to be well thought through. It becomes a problem when an airport will not generate economic returns.”
A member of the Rivers Elders’ Forum and former Commissioner for Works, Chief David Briggs, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu imposed the resolution concerning the crisis in the state on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Briggs, who said he attended the resolution meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, insisted that Fubara signed the resolution under duress, following alleged threats issued by the President.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, had on Wednesday dismissed any insinuation that Fubara signed the document under duress, adding that the signature was the governor’s authentic signature.
However, Briggs, on Thursday, maintained that Fubara signed the resolution under duress.
Briggs alleged that the President only handed over “a script referred to as resolution” to Fubara to sign without his input.
“I was there, so what I say is primary, not secondary. We were invited to a meeting, but that was not a meeting. What happened was that Mr President walked in with a written resolution, addressed us and declared that what he had in his hand was a presidential proclamation, therefore, he could whip; and emphasised the fact that he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anybody who tends to say no to what he was saying, it had consequences.
“That, in simple layman’s words, is a threat. He (Tinubu) wrote the resolution but refused to read it. He handed the resolution to Dr Peter Odili to read.
“Now let’s get it very clear. If you were in the position of the governor what would you do? Get up and go? Say no to Mr President with that kind of subtle but energetic threat?” he asked.
According to Briggss, most Rivers people present at the meeting, including former Attorney-General of the state, Adokiye Amiesimaka, were shocked by “the President’s undemocratic attitude” and decided to ask questions.
“One of us, specifically Amiesimaka, asked him, ‘Fubara should do this, he should do that. You (referring to the President) have not said what those 25 or 27 Assembly members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress without consulting their constituency and constituents should do.
“The President’s reaction was very clear and simple: ‘I’m the leader of the APC in Nigeria. And you are telling me when babies are born into my family I should ask them to go?” Briggs added.
According to him, there may be plans to make Fubara defect to the APC, but he commended the governor “for displaying maturity during the meeting.”
Attempts to get the Presidency’s reaction were unsuccessful, as the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, could not be reached for comments at press time.
On Thursday, a group of concerned citizens of Rivers State called on Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to abide by the resolutions reached after the meeting with Tinubu.
The group, codenamed ‘CC 23’, said after carefully appraising the situation, especially after Tinubu’s peace meeting, the tension in the state had reduced, saying it was a win-win for Fubara and Wike.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by 16 persons, including the National Publicity Secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dr Ken Robinson.
They said, “The citizens, comprising professionals, activists, community leaders, businessmen, and women, hereby, wholeheartedly, thank President Bola Tinubu, for his fatherly and timely intervention in the political crisis of Rivers State, which has mollified the tension in the state and provided a leeway for the peaceful and amicable resolution of the dispute between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“We have carefully appraised the resolutions reached at the mediatory meeting of President Bola Tinubu with the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the FCT and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and others. The outcome is a win-win situation; no victor, no vanquished!
“We salute the nationalistic bearing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his political sagacity, wisdom, and deep-rooted love for the nation, and our democracy. Certainly, Daniel came to judgment!
“We equally commend the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for submitting themselves to Mr. President’s mediation.
“We urge both parties to conscientiously uphold and abide by the terms of the peace deal. We urge them to leverage Mr. President’s intervention, put aside their differences, and bury the hatchet, to advance the peace, security, progress, and development of our dear Rivers State,”
Meanwhile, Fubara, on Thursday, said his administration had achieved the construction of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road, a project he claimed his predecessors could not achieve in the last 20 years.
Fubara spoke to newsmen in Ngo Town, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area of the state, shortly after inspecting the entire stretch of the road.
He maintained that despite the current challenges confronting his administration, he would not be distracted from his oath of office to defend Rivers people and protect their interests.
He recalled that during the campaigns leading to his election, the Andoni section of the road was in a horrible condition.
He said, “I have to say that the contractor has done a very good job. However, we did observe that about 1km of road that will lead to the council secretariat was somehow not captured in the scope and I think it will be proper that we do that alongside.
“So, we will continue to do our best not minding the challenges we are facing. The most important thing is that we have taken our oath to defend our people and protect their interests, and we are not going back on that.
“What I keep saying to everyone is: what are we bequeathing to our people? Their interest is the most important thing and governance is about the protection of lives and property. These include providing quality services and one of those things is like this road. Posterity has just blessed me with this project. It is something that they couldn’t achieve for over 20 years, but within the space of six months, I have been able to sort it out. It is a credit and a big one to our administration.”
The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, illegally lodged billions of naira in no fewer than 593 bank accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, and China without the approval of the apex bank’s board of directors and the CBN Investment Committee.
The Special Investigator on the CBN and Related Entities, Jim Obaze, found that the ex-CBN governor lodged £543, 482,213 in fixed deposits in UK banks alone without authorisation.
When contacted, counsel for Emefiele, Mathew Bukkaa, SAN, asked one of our correspondents to send him a text message. He has yet to reply to the message as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Obaze submitted his final report tagged, ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable offences) to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.
The report partly read, “The former governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele invested Nigeria’s money without authorization in 593 foreign bank accounts in United States, China and United Kingdom, while he was in charge.
“All the accounts where the billions were lodged have all been traced by the investigator.”
In a letter dated July 28, 2023, sighted by The PUNCH, President Bola Tinubu had named a former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Obazee, as the CBN special investigator
Emefiele, who is currently in Kuje Custodial Centre, is being prosecuted for N1.2 billion procurement fraud.
He has not been able to perfect the N300m bail granted him by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on November 22.
However, documents obtained by our correspondent on Thursday indicated that the former apex bank governor might face fresh criminal charges over the handling of the CBN naira redesign policy.
Emefiele could be prosecuted for illegal issuance of currency under section 19 of the CBN Act alongside Tunde Sabiu, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, and 12 top directors of the CBN.
It was gathered that the naira redesign policy was sold to Buhari at the instance of Sabiu and that the initiative was done without the approval of the board of the CBN.
No approval
The investigator found that Buhari didn’t approve of the naira redesign. It was Tunde Sabiu who first told Emefiele in September 2022 to consider the redesign of the naira. On October 6, 2022, Emefiele wrote to Buhari that he wanted to redesign and reconfigure N1000, N500 and N200 notes.
“The former President tagged along but did not approve the redesign as required by law. Buhari merely approved that the currency be printed in Nigeria. The redesign was only mentioned to the board of the CBN on December 15, 2022, after Emefiele had awarded the contract to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc on October 31, 2022,’’ the documents noted.
Emefiele was said to have contracted the redesign of the naira to De La Rue of the UK for £205, 000 pounds under the vote head of the Currency Operations Department after the NSPM said it could not deliver the contract within a short timeframe.
The special investigator found that N61.5bn was earmarked for the printing of the new notes out of which N31.79bn had been paid.
As of August 9, 2023, findings revealed that N769bn of the new notes were in circulation.
The probe of the CBN also revealed the fraudulent use of N26.627tn Ways and Means of the Apex Bank as well as the misuse of the COVID-19 intervention fund.
For instance, the CBN under Emefiele at its 661st meeting held on October 27, 2020, approved that the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account should be debited with the sum of N124.860bn, and the decision was implemented on October 9.
Similarly, the Committee of Governors at its 670th meeting held on December 9, 2020, granted anticipatory approval ‘’pending receipt of a formal request by Mr President and ratification by the board of directors the payment of the sum of N250bn only to the Federal Government of Nigeria to address challenges as a result of low revenue inflow and the payment of salaries.
The decision was implemented on December 15, 2020.
Anticipatory approval
Also on December 30, 2020, the committee of governors at its 672nd meeting granted another anticipatory approval for N250bn to the Federal Government for payment of salaries pending receipt of a formal request by Mr President and ratification by the board of directors.
The apex bank’s management through the Finance and General Purpose Committee equally granted anticipatory approval on the investment of $200mn in equity warrants of the Africa Finance Corporation.
According to section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007, the CBN could grant temporary advances to the Federal Government in respect of temporary deficiency of budget revenue at an interest.
The section also provides that such advances are to be repaid by the end of the financial year in which they are granted otherwise, the CBN shall be stopped from granting such advances in the subsequent year.
The advance is not to be repaid by way of promissory note, securitization or issuance of treasury bills.
The CBN investigator discovered that the CBN Ways and Means was abused under the Buhari administration.
The document further said, “In an instance, they (senior CBN and government officials) padded what the former President Muhammadu Buhari approved with N198,963,162, 187. There are instances where no approvals are received from the former president and yet, N500bn is taken and debited to Ways and Means.
“There are more shocking instances where the erstwhile CBN governor and his four deputy governors connived to steal outright in order to balance the books of the CBN.
“This was by violently taking money from the Consolidated Revenue account and then charging it to Ways and Means. It was a total of N124.860bn. They even created the narration as a presidential subsidy and expanded the ways and Means portfolio to accommodate crime.
“The CBN officers and even the then acting CBN governor could not produce the Presidential Approval of most of the expenses described as ‘Ways and Means.’ When confronted, to provide the breakdown of the supposed N22.7trn that was presented to the 9th National Assembly to illegally securitise as ‘Ways and Means’ financing, they were only able to partially explain a total of N9.063 trn or N9.2trn depending on which official you are considering his submission and an unreasonable attribution of non-negotiated interest element of N6.5tn.
“This shows that this was the point where the officers of the immediate past administration as well as the erstwhile CBN governor and his four deputy governors connived, defrauded, and stole from the commonwealth of our country with the aid of civil servants.’’
Continuing, the report said, “The true position of the Ways and Means as documented from the reconciliation between the CBN and the Ministry of Finance at the time is N4,449,149,411,584.54.
“This may have been the main reason the past administration hurriedly sought that the advances of N22.7trn be securitised by the 9th National Assembly on December 19, 2022, which they also hurriedly did despite the fact that it contravenes section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007.”
Legal fees
The CBN under Emefiele was also said to have spent N1.7bn on questionable legal fees for 19 cases instituted against the naira redesign policy.
The investigator also discovered how Emefiele misrepresented the presidential approval for the NESI Stabilisation Strategy Limited approved by former president Goodluck Jonathan.
The document read, “The Presidential approval granted by then President Goodluck Jonathan was rightly stated by him NESI should be a company limited by guarantee but the Committee of Governors misled the Board of the CBN by relying on non-existent advice by the office of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to incorporate a company limited by shares for which the allotted share capital exceeded the authorised share capital (See 380th meeting of the Committee of Governors held in January in January 2015) and allotting unauthorised share capital to Mr Godwin Emefiele and Mr Mudashiru Olaitan without lawful approval by the President.
“N1.325bn was stolen pre-incorporation and the money funnelled to four companies, including a legal firm which got N300mn.’’
Between 2015 and 2021, an investment company was said to have collected unlawfully a total of N4.89bn.
A breakdown indicated that the firm received N262mn in 2015, N464mn in 2016, N550mn in 2017, N726mn in 2018, N762 in 2019, N684 in 2020 and N1.44bn in 2021, totalling N4.89bn.
Emefiele also allegedly paid N17.2bn to 14 deposit money banks participating in the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility.
“A total of 14 DMBs engaged in the manipulation by unlawfully arranging and collecting 1.9535 per cent of the total disbursements paid to the DMBs participating in the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility.
The fees are paid to the banks in the ratio of their contributions to the NEMSF disbursement, according to External Auditor’s Notes to the Financial Statement of NESI Stabilisation Strategy Limited.
“The CBN also went further by authorising the issuance of debenture for the NESI SPV, starting with N64.8bn in 2015. By 2021, N952bn debenture had been issued. The investigator said the money was diverted from public funds,’’ the document further stated.
It was further gathered that Emefiele could be tried for alleged manipulation of the naira exchange rate, fraudulent implementation of the e-naira project, and exemption of three foreign firms from paying income tax.
Meanwhile, the investigation has uncovered the strange illegal withdrawal/theft of $6.23mn from the CBN vault by two persons who used a forged presidential letter.
The suspects currently in custody were said to have presented a forged letter on February 7 and 8, 2023, purportedly signed by Buhari to withdraw the money allegedly meant for payment for foreign election observation missions.
The Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) has lost its final appeal against Nigeria in an eleven-billion-dollar arbitration case.
The P&ID sought to overturn an October judgement by a London High Court that halted the enforcement for damages over a failed gas processing project.
The High Court had earlier ruled in October that the British Virgin Islands based company, paid bribes to a Nigerian oil ministry official in connection with the gas contract signed in 2010, and failed to disclose this when it took Nigeria to arbitration over the collapse of the deal.
In his ruling, Judge Robin Knowles rejected P&ID’s argument that the case should be returned for arbitration and affirmed that the damages award should be thrown out completely.
Judge Knowles had on October 23 ruled in favour of Nigeria in the enforcement of a $11bn Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited arbitration award.
According to the judge, the award against Nigeria by the company was obtained by fraud.
The judge had found out that P&ID paid bribe to Nigerian officials who were part of drafting of the gas supply and processing agreement in 2010.
Also discovered by the Judge was that P&ID was illegally in possession of Nigeria’s privileged legal documents during the arbitration hearings.
Nigeria had urged the court to set the award aside, saying that some individuals in the case were being tried for money laundering and graft.
But after listening to the arguments by lawyers to P&ID which included that the documents found in their possession played no role in its initial victory at the arbitration, the Judge on Thursday refused to grant the permission to appeal.
P&ID cannot apply for permission from the Court of Appeal.
Background
In January 2010, P&ID, a Virgin Islands-registered company founded by two Irish business partners, signed a Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) with Nigeria to develop a processing plant in Calabar, the Cross River State capital but the deal failed in August 2012 and the company sought a $5.96bn compensation from Nigeria with arbitration proceedings against the country at the London Court of International Arbitration.
In January 2017, the arbitration said Nigeria breached the contract and ordered the country to pay the company $6.6bn with interest starting from May 2013. Before the verdict, the interest fixed at seven percent ($1m daily) had accumulated to over $11bn.
Subsequently, Nigeria filed an appeal against the enforcement of the award and the court granted the relief sought by the country in September 2020. The Nigerian side argued that there was enough evidence that the contract and the arbitration award were procured by fraud.
The Nigerian side thereby urged the court to set the award aside, saying that some individuals in the case were being tried for money laundering and graft.
In his October ruling, the judge not only agreed that the arbitration awards were obtained by fraud but also that the manner that they were procured were contrary to public policy.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appointed new directors for civil aviation agencies in the country one week after the Federal Government sacked all directors and chief executive officers of the agencies.
In a statement on Thursday, a spokesman for the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, said the fresh appointments were in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The concerned agencies include the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
“All the newly appointed Directors are to get in touch with the Director, Human Resource Department of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to collect their letters of appointment as the appointment is with immediate effect,” the statement partly read.
“Also a new Directorate called the Cargo Services has been created at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria to ameliorate issues besetting the sector.”
The newly appointed directors are as follows:
| NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET) | ||
| 1 | PROF VINCENT EZIKORNWOR WELI | DIRECTOR, WEATHER SERVICES |
| 2 | PROF ODJUGO PETER AKPODIOGAGA OVUYOVWIROYE | DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND TRAINING |
| 3 | ONYEGBULE GLORY AMARACHI | DIRECTOR, APPLIED METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES |
| 4 | ABDULKAREEM HAMID OLAYINKA | DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES |
| 5 | FUNKE ADEBAYO AROWOJOBE | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION |
| 6 | SHOLA GABRIEL | DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES/ COMPANY SECRETARY |
| 7 | NASIRU SANI | DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION |
| 8 | ALEX AKOJI YUSUF | DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS |
| 9 | AIRIOHUODION HENRY OMONZOJIE | DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES |
|
NIGERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (NCAA) |
||
| 1 | ENGR BALANG GODWIN | DIRECTOR, AERODROME AND AIRSPACE STANDARDS |
| 2 | YINKA BOBOYE | DIRECTOR, AIR TRANSPORT REGULATIONS |
| 3 | CAPT. DONALD SPIFF | DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS, LICENSING AND TRAINING |
| 4 | MICHAEL ACHIMUGU | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION |
| 5 | OMOGO BERNARD ONWE CHINEDU | DIRECTOR, AVSEC REGULATION |
| 6 | OLUFEMI ODUKOYA | DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS |
| 7 | ENGR. VICTOR GOYEA | DIRECTOR, AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS |
| 8 | BARR MARY TUFANO | DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES/ COMPANY SECRETARY |
| 9 | ANASTASIA GBEM | DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION |
| 10 | HORATIUS EGWA | DIRECTOR, SPECIAL DUTIES |
| 11 | REBECCA EYIUCHE AGHADINAZU | DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES |
| NIGERIAN AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NAMA) | ||
| 1 | MUONEMEH NDUBUISI LOTENNA | DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS |
| 2 | JOHN TAYO | DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS |
| 3 | ABIMBOLA LADIPO | DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION |
| 4 | ENGR IJEOMA IHENACHOR | DIRECTOR, SAFETY ELECTRONIC AND ENGINEERING SERVICES |
| 5 | RITA ISEMIUHONMON EGBADON | DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES/COMPANY SECRETARY |
| 6 | ABDULAHI MUSA | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION |
| 7 | ABBA AHMAD | DIRECTOR, SPECIAL DUTIES |
| 8 | IBRAHIM ALIYU | DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES |
| NIGERIAN SAFETY INVESTIGATION BUREAU (NSIB) | ||
| 1 | ENGR ABDULAHI BABANYA | DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING SERVICES |
| 2 | ODITA FRANCIS ISIOMA | DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS |
| 3 | ENGR NWOBU PATRICK | DIRECTOR, TRANSPORT INVESTIGATION |
| 4 | ESOSA EREMWANARUA | DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES/ COMPANY SECRETARY |
| 5 | ENGR LAWAL ABDULMUMIN | DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES |
| 6 | MRS BIMBO OLAWUNMI OLADEJI | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION |
| 7 | DR MRS OKUNDAYE-OKE ITOHAN FOLAKE | DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS |
| 8 | BARO HENRY MINABOWANRE | DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES |
| FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA (FAAN) | ||
| 1 | ENGR. MUNIRU ADEJARE ABIOLA | DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING SERVICES |
| 2 | CAPT. ABDULLAHI MOHMOOD | DIRECTOR, AIRPORT OPERATIONS |
| 3 | AYODELE OLATIREGUN | DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS |
| 4 | LUQMAN OLATUBOSUN ENIOLA | DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION |
| 5 | IGBAFE AFEGBAI | DIRECTOR, AVIATION SECURITY SERVICES |
| 6 | MRS BRIDGET GOLD | DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES/ COMPANY SECRETARY |
| 7 | JENSEN ASABA | DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES |
| 8 | OBIAGELI ORAH | DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION |
| 9 | HENRY AGBEBIRE | DIRECTOR, SPECIAL DUTIES |
| 10 | ADEBOLA JOY AGUNBIADE | DIRECTOR, COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| 11 | TO BE APPOINTED SHORTLY | DIRECTOR, CARGO SERVICES |
France will close its embassy in Niger, where anti-French sentiment has grown since a July coup, because a staff exodus following an attack left it unable to function, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
“After the attack on our embassy July 30, and the setting up of a blockade around our building by Niger forces, most of our diplomatic staff left in late September,” the sources said.
“The French embassy in Niger is therefore no longer able to function normally or fulfil its missions. Taking note of this situation, we have decided to close our embassy.”
Local staff members have been dismissed and compensated, the sources added.
Relations between Niger and former colonial power France soured after the military ousted elected leader Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26.
The Sahel country’s new rulers scrapped defence deals with its traditional security partner, expelled the French ambassador and has forged closer ties with Russia.
French troops based in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist mission are due to complete their withdrawal this month.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted the planned demolition of about “200 houses” in the Nuwalege community of Abuja to make way for the expansion of the presidential fleet.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, Obi said he was shocked and at the same time pained by the development. He described it as “an inconsiderate project at this critical time when the country is going through untold hardship.”
“I am shocked by the recent report of the planned demolition of about 200 houses in the Nuwalege community in Abuja, to make way for the Presidential Fleet.
“I am again pained that we are embarking on such an inconsiderate project at this critical time when the country is going through untold hardship,” he said.
The ex-governor of Anambra State the preoccupation of leaders at the moment should be on how to do away with the Presidential Fleet, or reduce it to the minimum, “to cut costs and save up for more critical projects to help the people, instead of demolishing people’s homes”.
Obi said instead of increasing the presidential fleet, the government should rather look for ways to reduce or eliminate costs.
“We cannot continue to encourage those who have kept us suffering to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle far beyond our legitimate means. A democratically elected people-oriented government must always care for the people, above itself,” the Labour Party chieftain said.
“I, therefore, advise that we have a rethink, and most importantly, ensure that our fellow Nigerians are not rendered homeless for the sake of an unproductive presidential fleet.
“No nation grows or develops by subjecting the people to avoidable inconveniences to accommodate the luxurious excesses of its rulers,” he said.
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The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Aviation to invite the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to brief it on the status of the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, as of the time he left office. The former minister is expected to provide insights on a wide range of controversies surrounding the project.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Tarkighir Dickson at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the motion, he said the former minister in 2016 proposed an aviation road map with national carrier as the signature project, and that he promised to deliver the project by the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to the lawmaker, the former minister approached Ethiopian Airlines a few days before the handover to provide an aircraft that could be made available to Nigerians as an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air. He added that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority issued an Air Transport License to Nigeria Air.
Dickson added, “The last administration spent billions of naira ostensibly to acquire the said new national carrier but the status of the project remains unclear, regardless of billions of taxpayers’ funds utilised on the project.
“If the negative trend is not investigated, it may lead to issues with accountability and continue to be a recurring expenditure item in the federal budget.”
The House adopted the motion and directed the committee to also invite the NCAA to brief it on the Nigeria Air project and its certification.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had in September suspended the Nigeria Air project and the planned concessioning of some airports.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday arrived in Lagos State for the Yuletide.
The president’s plane touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammad Airport in Lagos at 3.55 pm.
He was received at the airport by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, other members of his cabinet, and a crowd of supporters, before boarding a chopper to Dodan Barracks in Ikoyi.
The Nigerian leader will be joining the Christian faithful to mark the Christmas celebration.
See photos below…
The Acting Governor Of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa today Thursday presented the 2024 appropriation bill of the state to the State House of Assembly.
According to the 2024 budget details presented by Aiyedatiwa, a sum of three hundred and eighty – four billion, five hundred and thirty- three million naira (N384,533,000,000.00) only was projected for the year.
Out Of Which The Sum Of One Hundred And Seventy- Two Billion, Five Hundred And Eighteen Million, One Hundred And Forty Thousand, Three Hundred And Fifty Three Naira (N172,518,140,353.00) Only, Is For Recurrent Expenditure, While The Balance Of Two Hundred And Twelve Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred And Fifty -nine Thousand, Six Hundred And Forty Seven Naira (N212,014,859,647.00) Only, Is For Capital Expenditure For The Services Of Ondo State.
The budget presentation is being witnessed by 26 State lawmakers and members of the State Executive Council including the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu as well as other top politicians and government’s officials.
Further details later……
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS)’ aimed at assisting senior citizens aged 65 and above in all 36 states of the country.
The scheme, which was unveiled on Thursday with an approved sum of N950 million, is themed “Better Days Ahead”
During the inauguration in Abuja, the first lady who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, said each state would receive N25 million, and each of the targeted beneficiaries would be granted N100,000.
She said that the scheme would support a total of 9,250 vulnerable elderly citizens, across the federation, and 250 from each state Federal Capital Territory (FCT) inclusive.
Beneficiaries will also include veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
The primary objective of the scheme is to alleviate the challenges posed by the current economic situation and to provide relief to elders during the festive period.
Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that the scheme was not just to distribute items but also to express gratitude and respect for the wisdom and experience that elders bring.
“In the fast-paced world we live in, it is essential to pause and appreciate the pillars of our community—the elderly. Their stories, guidance, and enduring spirits have shaped our collective journey.
“A simple gift can bring a smile, warmth, and a sense of belonging to those who may feel overlooked or lonely especially during this time of the year.
“I understand that the mission of the Renewed Hope Initiative is not just about distributing material items.
“It is also about fostering a sense of community, compassion, and respect for our elders, youths, girl child and widows,” Mahmoud said.
Furthermore, Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, in her remark outlined the range of humanitarian services the scheme will provide, including free medical check-ups, drugs, eye examinations, glasses, high blood pressure checks, counseling, and enlistment in the National Health Insurance scheme amongst others.
She expressed gratitude to the FCT Administration, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and Minister of State Mahmoud for implementing President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, evident through the creation of the FCT Women’s Secretariat.
“This is exemplified in the creation of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, and of course, which culminates in our various intervention programmes we have carried out so far, especially our gathering here today,” she said.