SERAP to Buhari: It’s moral outrage for Nigerians to suffer fuel scarcity

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take bold action in tackling the persistent fuel scarcity in the country by urgently proposing a bill to the National Assembly that would explicitly recognize access of Nigerians to regular fuel supply as a human right, with specific responsibilities on the authorities to proactively prevent and combat the problem and the associated human rights violations.

The organization said, “That millions of Nigerians are suffering due to fuel scarcity is a moral outrage. Preventing and ending the problem of fuel scarcity is not only a moral duty for this government but also a legal and human right obligation.”

In a statement on Monday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, the organisation said, “Access to regular fuel supply is logically derived from the people’s right to their natural wealth and resources. Oil shouldn’t be a ‘curse’ for Nigerians; being endowed with natural resources ought to be a synonym for wealth and development, and not extreme poverty and suffering. The recognition of the right to regular fuel supply would be a building block to initiate the chain of decisions necessary to prevent the dire effects of persistent scarcity.”

According to the organization, “Given the persistent problem of fuel scarcity in the country, the appropriate course of action is to explicitly establish a human right to regular fuel supply and to criminalize hoarding of fuel by marketers. Recognition of the right to regular fuel supply is the best opportunity to thwart scarcity and its effects, and improve access for large portions of the country’s population.”

The statement read in part: “The issues involved in fuel scarcity stem largely from the lack of recognition as a human right. Fuel is required for a range of different purposes to realize many human rights. In the short-term, Buhari must move swiftly to end the fuel scarcity, and end fuel price jumps by marketers, if his government is to reverse the growing unemployment and hunger for tens of millions of poor and disadvantaged Nigerians.

“Persistent fuel scarcity is contributing to the deprivation of Nigerians’ right to secure a livelihood, which in turn is seriously encroaching upon the quality of life they enjoy.  SERAP believes that the constitutional right to life must at least ensure access to these basic survival amenities if it is to have any significance for a large percentage of our population. This constitutes an encompassing view of humanity.

“While the recognition of the right to regular fuel supply may not allay current suffering, it would place the issue of scarcity and human need at the forefront of national discourse. If recognized and implemented, an official statement of the right to regular fuel supply would force the government to be more proactive in preventing fuel scarcity, and making the necessary policy changes to ensure that access would not be disrupted in the future.

“Government would be held accountable for its action and would be responsible for adapting its policies to include the goals of repairing and maintaining our refineries and citizens’ access. Fuel scarcity will not be solved through policy decisions or legislation alone, but will also require the coordinated efforts of the entire institutions of governance and anti-corruption agencies to combat the systemic corruption and impunity of perpetrators in the oil and gas sector.

“SERAP is concerned that the exploitation of the country’s natural resources has historically gone against the interests and fundamental human rights of disadvantaged and marginalized Nigerians. We note the 1962 General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) which declares in its preamble that states’ right to dispose of their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and the well-being of their people.”

“Under international human rights law, the government has obligations relating to the provision of services such as fuel, required for the enjoyment of human rights. Even where such services are provided with the involvement of private sector, the government is responsible for ensuring quality, affordability, and accessibility and has the duty to protect individuals against abuses committed by private service providers such as oil marketers.

“Successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 have failed to ensure availability of fuel nationally, thereby rendering already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival. Buhari should send a strong message that his government will not tolerate a situation under successive governments, which permitted increasing wealth for some and perpetrating a growing poverty for others.

“According to a 200-page report by Nigeria’s House of Representatives corruption in state-run fuel subsidy scheme drained $6.8bn from the country’s treasury over a three-year period. This resulted in increased spending on oil hand-outs between 2009 and 2011. Fuel subsidies, part of a decades-old programme meant to keep fuel prices low for millions of ordinary Nigerians, jumped to 2, 587 trillion naira from 384bn in the period.

“The report identified the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, ranked the world’s least transparent state oil firm, as the key culprit. The firm was single-handedly responsible for almost half of the siphoned subsidy funds and was ‘found not to be accountable to anybody or authority’. Seventy-two fuel importers, some with allegedly close links to senior government officials, were also singled out. In one case, payments totalling exactly $6.4m flowed from the state treasury 128 times within 24 hours to “unknown entities”. - PM News

Really ? 50 percent of Okada riders in Lagos have gone back to farm – Communications minister, Adebayo Shittu

Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu on Monday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital declared that more than 50 percent of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as (Okada Riders) in Lagos State have gone back to their farms.

He said this was due to various innovations of the present government in agriculture.

Shittu who made this declaration while speaking with journalists during the 50th Birthday celebration of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Engineer Oluwaseyi Makinde.

He stated that they, (Okada riders) went back to farms because they have realised that farming was now more profitable than riding Okada.

Shittu while urging Nigerians to continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, also noted that Nigerians voted for him (Buhari) because he was the only Presidential candidate that could be trusted with the resources of the country.

He said Buhari was the only one who was known to be devoid of greed and corruption and that was why Nigerians entrusted their country to him.

He said though, there were a lot of work to be done, Buhari has done well for the country.

Shittu said “Before we give a message to the people of Oyo State, we must thank Almighty God for spearing our lives throughout the year, for us to be still alive,

“We should also continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari because Nigerians voted for him because he is the only Presidential candidate that could be trusted with the resources of country.

“He is the only one who was known to be devoid of greed and corruption and that is why Nigerians entrusted their country to him.

“I am confident that as an insider, the President has done extremely well and the indices are there in the area of fighting corruption, in the area of fighting insurgency in the area of repearing the economy which has been driving aground by the previous administration of profligacy.

“The work ahead is still enormous, because when you have a dilapidated structure, you need time to plan to reconstruct and rebuild. That is what Buhari government needs. I am happy that a lot of positive results are being recorded particularly in the area of agriculture and infrastructural development.

“In the area of agriculture, farmers now have for once started building houses, buying vehicles, buying motorcycles and so on.

“More than 50 percent of Okada riders in Lagos who are from the North have abandoned Okada and have gone back to their farms. Because they are now discover that it is profitable to farm than to ride Okada.

“Again in the area of employment, for the first time in this country, we have a government that employed 200,000 Nigerians.

“Again by January, all things being equal, 300, 000 more are to be employed under the N-Power programme, secondly, the School Feeding Program is taking care of about 25 million Nigerian children with one meal a day.

“The effect of that is that there will be many more demands for agric produce of all kinds and there will be more demands of hands or cooks, taxi drivers who will help these people to the various schools on the daily basis. Again, poor Nigerians are being paid 5,000 naira per month, again, this has never happen before, it is a form of Social Security.

“The Nigerian government is building a rail road, a modernise one, from Calabar to Lagos, another one from Lagos to Kano, Lagos to Maiduguri, this is building standard gauge railway line. Again, the East West Road, from Calabar to Lagos. These are things that government has been doing, you also know that in the area of fighting corruption, a lot of money previously stolen are being recovered.

“During the previous government, the Boko Haram were in total control of 14 local government areas spread across 3 states.” - Daily Post

Nigeria produces 30% of chicken consumed in the country – Gbolade

The Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) has re-iterated that lack of finance, inadequate infrastructure, lack of supply securities, inconsistencies of government policies, regulations, among others are top constraints facing agribusiness investments in Nigeria. 

Alhaji Sanni Dangote, the Group’s President revealed this at the body’s Annual Conference 2017 tagged: “Strengthening Agribusiness Investments Partnerships Platforms in Nigeria”.

The group said with the passage into law of the National Agribusiness Investment Plan for Food and Nutrition Security in Nigeria , that those constraints will surely become a thing of the past. While calling for a paradigm shift from subsistence to mechanised farming to increase productivity and facilitate farmers’ access to funds in 2018, NABD said it was pertinent for farmers to have access to long term loans, adding that the financial institutions could only do that when farmers cluster and produce in large quantity. 

Alhaji Sanni Dangote, the Group’s President said: “Part of the group’s objects in 2018 is to see a fundamental shift toward commercial farming mindset from the subsistence farming by millions of small holder farmers. “We also hope that the same shift will be achieved in the women and youths entrepreneurs for strength and ease way of accessing fund by farmers. Dangote said that other objectives of the group in 2018 are “Launch of NABG Connect Online Application for all segments under the group to engage all stakeholders. 

“Crowd funding at affordable single digit interest rates of agricultural investments up from about N700 billion to at least 10 per cent target of agricultural contribution to GDP and example of N1.8 trillion for 2016. “Scale-up of irrigation farming best practices of at least two crop cycles for grains and fresh produce to ensure supply security of locally grown raw materials that meets the demand of food and beverage processors.

“Establishment of price stabilisation mechanisms to minimise market price fluctuations for producers and processors, sharp focus on control of pests and diseases through applied research and technology transfer to farmers timely. “Targeted public-sector investments in infrastructure development such as agro-industrial parks and staple food processing zones,” he said. 

The group president also called for immediate passage of Fertiliser Quality Control Bill and the Seed Bill. Dangote noted that the increment of fertilizer supply into the Nigerian market without a functional regulatory framework has exposed the farmers to the danger of burgeoning cases of product adulteration, underweight bags and other malpractices by unscrupulous fertilizer manufacturers, importers and distributors. 

He said that the Seed Bill had passed the first and second reading at the House of Representatives and now currently at the third reading stage.

Dangote called for commitment to institutional framework for price stabilisation through risk sharing and increase in agriculture crowd funding to at least N1.8 trillion. - Vanguard

Manchester United's Premier League title hopes fade away

Man United's lingering Premier League title hopes were dealt another blow despite them coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Burnley on Tuesday.

Mourinho's side were facing a defeat at Old Trafford for only the second time this year thanks to first-half goals from Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour, before Jesse Lingard came off the bench to earn his side a point.

The Red Devils endured a tough week before Christmas as they exited the EFL Cup to Bristol City before conceding a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 league draw with Leicester City, and they found themselves behind after only three minutes when Barnes capitalised on their failure to defend a free-kick.

United pushed for an equaliser, but were dealt a sucker punch when Defour, once linked with a move to the club, struck a superb free-kick before the interval.

Lingard came off the bench to flick home and give his side a lifeline, and Burnley were denied a first away league win over United since September 1962 when the England international fired home in second-half injury time.

The draw sees Burnley stay in seventh place and keeps United in second, one point above Chelsea, but the result has surely struck a hammer blow to their hopes of hauling in their neighbours at the summit. 

It means United have still only lost to Manchester City at home in 2017, but they will be 15 points behind the runaway Premier League leaders if Pep Guardiola's side beat Newcastle United on Wednesday. - Goal

See 10 Good Reasons Why You Should Block Someone On LinkedIn

1. They spam your LinkedIn inbox with marketing messages.

2. They use LinkedIn as a dating site.

3. They reach out to your contacts without your knowledge or permission,  representing themselves as a close friend of yours.

4. They use rude or inappropriate language.

5. Their LinkedIn profile is fake. The profile photo, name, job title and summary paragraph don’t correspond to one another. You can Google Search a LinkedIn user’s profile photo by right-clicking on it. It may be a photo swiped from an advertisement, or the portrait of someone famous the fake LinkedIn user is pretending to be.

6. They add you to their newsletter subscriber list and spam you to death.

7. They try to sign you up as an affiliate partner of their website — although you have no interest in the topic and have never suggested that you do.

8. They ask you to invest in their dubious project.

9. They want you to endorse them as an expert in some topic or other, although they know you have no knowledge of their work.

10. They creep you out, plain and simple. - Forbes 

Hunger, snake bite have killed 13 Chibok girls in custody

Thirteen of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 have died in the insurgents’ custody, according to Wall Street Journal.

Boko Haram fighters had kidnapped the girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno state.
Of that number, 163 are now free: 57 fled in the early days after their abduction, three more escaped later, and a Swiss-coached mediation secured 103.

In a revealing report on the kidnap incident, WSJ quoted officials in the know regarding the abduction as saying 13 of the girls have lost their lives during their nearly three years in Boko Haram custody.
“Of the remaining 113, at least 13 have died, officials say. Some were felled by malaria, hunger or a snake bite,” WSJ report said.

“The majority died in airstrikes. Among those forcibly married to fighters, at least two died in childbirth.”

TheCable was unable to independently verify any of the claims.

The Bring Back Our Girls Movement (BBOG) has been on the forefront of the campaign for the girls’ release.

The group recently resumed their match to Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, asking questions concerning the girls’ whereabout while they also continue to hold a daily sit-out at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.

After the release of the last batch of the girls numbering 82, President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to ensure the last of the girls return home.

SHOCKER: ‘BOKO HARAM CAME FOR THE SCHOOL’S BRICKLAYING MACHINE, NOT THE GIRLS’

The report also said contrary to what is now common knowledge, the insurgents had only come to steal the girls’ school’s bricklaying machine.

It was only after they had stolen the machine that one of them raised question: “What shall we do with them (the girls)?”

The report said: “The night of the attack, when the girls emerged in the courtyard, they could see the men were not soldiers. They wore unkempt beards, flip-flops and tattered uniforms. Several were raiding the school cafeteria, stealing sacks of rice, beans and pasta. Others poured gasoline on the school to torch it.

“Boko Haram had not come to abduct the students. It had come to steal the school’s brickmaking machine. The insurgents had been on a kidnapping spree, and their camps faced a housing shortage.

“A commander fired his rifle in the air and demanded to know where the machine was kept. Once they found it, the fighters hoisted it onto a truck.

“As they prepared to leave, one militant, motioning to the students, asked a fateful question. What shall we do with them?

“The unit’s commander turned to the girls. ‘Shekau will know what to do with them,’ he said.

“The fighters ordered the students to climb into their trucks. The teenagers linked hands and arms as they stumbled through the dark.”- Cable Nigeria

Monarch kidnapped at gunpoint

A paramount ruler of Mgbuolua in Rundele community in Rivers state, Eze G.A.O Omodu has been abducted by gunmen.

It was gathered that Omodu was kidnapped at gunpoint at his residence in the early hours of Tuesday and taken to an unknown destination.

His car was found later but the monarch is yet to be seen.

The public relations officer of the state police command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said security operatives have been deployed to the area to ensure the monarch is rescued.

“Around 2:30a.m. today (Tuesday) unknown gunmen invaded the house of the paramount ruler of Mgbuolua who just travelled home with his family yesterday for the Christmas and kidnapped him and also made away with his car.

“We are aware and our men have been deployed to the area to ensure the safe and quick release of the victim. There is no cause for alarm. The monarch will be rescued,” he said. 

Notorious Robber Killed In Ogun

A fleeing member of a robbery gang who shot and injured the former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogbere Division, Mr. Adeyinka Akingbade, was shot dead on Christmas Day during a gun duel with policemen in Ijebu – Ife, Ogun State.

The suspect, who fled to Delta State after shooting Adeyinka, was placed on the wanted list of the Ogun State Police Command.

The former DPO was shot and gravely injured by the gang during one of their robbery operations at Itele- Ijebu where policemen had gone to engage them in a gun duel.

The injured officer is still recuperating at an undisclosed hospital in Ogun State.

The state police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that police got a tip-off that the suspect was sighted in a drinking joint in Ijebu – Ife but on getting to the location, he had left.

Abimbola added that further search led the police to his house where he was shot dead during the gun duel between him and policemen.

“Luck, however, ran out on him on Christmas day when police operatives received information that he was sighted in a beer parlor at Itawade Area of Ijebu Ife."

“Upon the information, the policemen swiftly moved to the place, but before getting there, he had left the place."

“He was however traced to his in-law's house where the police operatives caught up with him. Having realized that the game is up, he brought out a pistol and started firing at the policemen."

“The operatives were left with no other alternative than to fire back consequence upon which he was shot dead."

“Recovered from him were a locally made pistol, a matchet, assorted charms, and a Toyota Highlander Jeep with two different registration numbers,” he stated. - The Nation

US Woman Receives A Shocking $284 Billion Electric Bill

People may expect to receive larger electric bills after setting up their Christmas lights, but one woman from Pennsylvania received quite the shock when she went online and saw that she owed her provider an alarming

$284 billion (£210 billion).

Mary Horomanski told GoErie.com that she was stunned when she logged onto her Penelec account to see the large bill, and questioned if it was because she and her family had somehow put their Christmas lights up wrong.

"My eyes just about popped out of my head," she said. "We had put up Christmas lights and I wondered if we had put them up wrong."

She even told her son that she wanted a different Christmas present—a heart monitor—because of her shock over the bill.

Not only was the bill total a stunning $284,460,000,000 dollars (£210 billion), but her minimum payment for the month of December was $28,156 (£21,076). She was given a full payment due date of November 2018, but it was still a major shock.

However, Horomanski's son quickly contacted Penelec, which confirmed it was an error. The amount was corrected to $284.46, and a spokesman for the company said they weren't quite sure what caused the initial error.

The $284 billion (£210 billion) charge was larger than the national debts of several countries around the world, including the combined debts of Hungary and South Africa.

In addition, the bill may have even been larger than the total national debts of several other countries, including New Zealand, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

Overall, the bill was actually roughly two percent of the U.S. National debt as a whole, which according to the U.S. News and World Report, stands at $14.6 Trillion.

The total charge was even larger than the kind of bill that would have been seen by an industrial customer under proposed rate hikes from FirstEnergy, which owns Penelec, back in 2016. According to a press release from that time, Penelec was looking to increase rates for average residential customers approximately 17.1 percent, commercial customers nine percent and industrial customers 1,5 percent. That 1.5 percent increase for such a customer, who used 20 MW for 474 hours, would lead to a total bill of $682,841.44.

Horomanski's bill was a whopping $284,459,317,159 greater than that amount. - IBT