REPUBLIC Of Looters !! Nigeria Airways: Reps to revisit report on looted N60bn

The House of Representatives has resolved to set up a special committee to revisit the probe of the N60 billion allegedly looted by some political office holders and civil servants in the defunct Nigeria Airways.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate Justice Obiora Nwazota-led Commission of inquiry’s report into the activities of the defunct Nigeria Airways which was moved by Rep Abiodun Faleke (APC Lagos).

Faleke, in his submission, argued that there was need to ensure the release of the White Paper and implementation of recommendations of Justice Nwazota’s panel.

DAILY POST reports that the commission of enquiry was conducted in 2002.

He noted that the resolve of Federal Government to commence the payment of N22.6 billion outstanding entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited, being first tranche installment payment, should be scrutinized.

He said: “The House notes that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced payment and offsetting 50 percent of the outstanding entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited in total sum of N22.6 billion only being the first tranche installment payment, while the other part payment of the balance of 50 percent in same amount is expected to be paid in 2019 due to paucity of funds.

“The House further notes that long before the advent of this administration, precisely in 2002, the Obasanjo-led Federal Government had established the Justice Obiora Nwazota judicial commission to probe into the operations of the company.

“The House is aware that the commission turned in a report which revealed the mind-bogging corruption and looting to the tune of N60 billion.

“The White paper was approved by the Federal Government and further directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Police to recover the stolen funds and prosecute the indicted culprits.

“The House is worried that till date, nothing has been heard of the report and those indicted in the report are believed to be largely visible in the public arena, while the ex-workers continue to languish in abject poverty, having been denied rights to their entitlements, with many of them reportedly dead without receiving their entitlements.”

The House unanimously resolved to investigate, reveal and make public the identities of those indicted in the White Paper report. - DAILY POST

Really ! Emefiele: Forex ban on 41 items lifted Nigeria out of recession

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the restriction of forex supply on 41 items including rice and toothpicks helped in lifting the economy out of recession.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a seminar for finance correspondents and business editors in Lokoja, he said the policy helped in reversing the multiple challenges of dwindling foreign reserves.

“In today’s world, countries have used trade protection repeatedly as a policy to resolve negative perceptions and shocks in their respective countries,” the governor, who was represented by Moses Tule, director of CBN’s monetary policy department, said.

“In other words, should Nigeria, with an insatiable taste for foreign goods to the detriment of the domestic economic realities, throw its borders open to the indiscriminate importation of goods and services?

“This was the prevailing condition in Nigeria before the introduction of restriction of official foreign exchange for the importation of 41 items.

“The implementation of the (restriction of forex for the importation) 41 items, in addition to the other complementary macroeconomic policies, no doubt, was effective in lifting the Nigerian economy out of recession.”

The CBN had on June 23, 2015, placed a ban on providing forex for the importation of 41 items to conserve reserves and encourage local production of the items.

Some of the items are textiles, tomato paste, cement, poultry, furniture and roofing sheets. - THECABLE

Russian, Chinese spies hack Trump’s phone

President Donald Trump’s cellphone conversations are being intercepted by Russia and China to gather information on his associates and policy positions.

According to New York Time, discovery was made by White House officials who were alerted by individuals working within these foreign governments.

The names of the White House officials and individuals working within these foreign governments have remained anonymous for security reasons.

They said the Chinese have determined a list of contacts with whom the president speaks most frequently.

The president keeps two official iPhones with modifications by the National Security Agency, and a third personal phone for personal contacts, White House officials said.

But using any cell phone poses some risk. The report indicated Trump prefers using his cell phones over the White House’s more secure landline.

China has sought to use the information to form ties with Trump’s associates or “friends of the Trump friends” to ensure Beijing’s views will be delivered to the president, according to the officials cited in the report.

Two men named in the report were businessmen Stephen A. Schwarzman and Steve Wynn, who both have dealings in China. Both declined to comment for the paper.

Fox News reached out to the White House early Thursday to confirm elements of the report but did not immediately get a response.

Russia does not monitor the president’s phone conversations to the extent of China because of Trump’s supposed affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But Trump’s aides have reportedly warned that Russian spies are “routinely eavesdropping” on his calls, the report said. - PM NEWS

Nigerian Govt to spend N10bn green bond on Education Programme

The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, says the Federal Government will spend N10.6 billion green bond to execute its Energising Education Programme.

Jibril told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday on the sideline of the ministry’s preparation for the 12th National Council on Environment meeting that it would be executed through provision of solar in higher institutions.

The meeting is to hold between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, in Akure, Ondo State.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Environment is partnering the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing in its Energising Education Programme to provide solar power in the nation’s higher institutions.

“We have already raised N10. 6 billion when we launched green bond last December. This money is targeted towards renewable energy.

“Therefore, we are partnering the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing in its Energising Education Programme to provide solar power in the institutions of higher learning.

“This will serve as alternative means of raising fund to address climate related issues,” the minister said.

He said that the ministry issued the Green Bond as alternative source of funding because of the huge capital outlay required to finance the nation’s renewable energy projects.

Jibril expressed optimism that the bond would boost the nation’s economy and protect the environment.
The Federal Ministries of Environment and Finance, in collaboration with Green Bond Advisory Group launched the green bond in December, 2017.

The Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Ms Patience Oniha, said the Federal Government borrowed the N10.6 billion, in line with its borrowing agenda as stated in the 2017 budget. - PM NEWS 

Many feared killed, worship centres razed in Adamawa communal clash

Many persons have been reported killed and several others injured in a communal clash between two communities of Lafiya and Boshikiri in Lamurde and Guyuk Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

It was gathered that the crisis erupted after three vigilante men who responded to a distress call from a farmer were murdered by unidentified persons in a bush, resulting in a reprisal.

The crisis was said to have taken a new dimension when both Muslim and Christian places of worship were razed.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abubakar Othman, also confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

He, however, said the police had not gotten the report of anyone killed while those injured have been taken to the hospital.

Mr. Othman added that houses were burnt while four other persons were missing.

“It was quite an unfortunate situation,” he said.

“These two local governments have been living peacefully for quite some time; that is Lamurde Local Government and Guyuk in Adamawa State,” he added.

The Command’s spokesperson explained further, “unfortunately, two young men left for their farms on this fateful day and they never returned. A day after, one of them was discovered dead and the other one critically injured.”

Othman, however, said normalcy had since returned to the communities after the Commissioner of Police deployed personnel to bring the situation under control. - DAILY POST

2019: What Nigerians should do to politicians who campaign in communities without power supply – Adegboruwa

Rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has called on Nigerians not to allow politicians campaign in communities where electricity supply is still not stable as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.

He made the appeal in a statement he personally signed and sent to DAILY POST on Thursday.

According to him, the call was necessary following the challenge by the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who recently claimed that Nigerians now use less of generators due to improved power supply.

The rights lawyer argued that if those in government could not give the people power to better their lives, then they were not fit to govern them.

Adegboruwa said: “Most often times, we are forced to depend on generators. The transformers are archaic, old, exposed and thus liable to vandalism by criminals, all of which is still the same story of blackout.

“How can we be in a country like this? And in just two years, Egypt has done the impossible.

“So, I urge Nigerians to rise up and take up the electricity challenge.

“Let no politician, whether in APC, PDP, APGA, PSP or whatever, be allowed to campaign to us in any community, town, village or city where there is blackout.

“It is tiring. All resources are channeled on diesel, fuel and repair and servicing of generators, virtually for everybody.

“This is not to talk of the health hazards and environmental issues involved in relying upon generators, which has led to deaths of families, who slept and inhaled generator fumes, the noise all over the land, etc.

“This is not to mention it’s ripple effect on crime and criminalities, when kidnappers, armed robbers and terrorists hide under the cover of darkness to perpetrate wickedness.

“Enough is enough.

“Give us constant, permanent and reliable power supply or no vote. It is that simple.

“If you can’t give us POWER (electricity) to better our lives, you’re not entitled to POWER (governance) from us, to better your pockets. Simple as ABC.” - DAILY POST

Ooni of Ife raises alarm, warns ladies desirous to marry him to beware of fraudsters

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has raised the alarm over ladies being duped by fraudsters who gave them assurances of facilitating marriage relationship with the monarch.

The monarch in a statement by his Spokesman, Moses Olafare advised young ladies to report whoever promised them marriage in his name to the security agencies immediately.

He called out one of the victims, Miss Elizabeth Odunlami who said the monarch dated and jilted her, but Oba Adeyeye denied any relationship with her.

The statement reads: “While we sympathize with Miss Elizabeth Odunlami who obviously has become a victim of a fraudulent act perpetrated by a scammer disguising to be Ooni Ogunwusi, we find it pertinent to debunk this sacrilegious and unfounded allegation which is not unlikely to be another calculated ploy adopted by some unprovoked detractors using pseudo-identities.

“Members of the public, especially ladies are hereby cautioned against communicating with anyone presenting himself to be the Ooni Ogunwusi and advised to swiftly report such a matter or person to the relevant security agencies.” - DAILY POST