Insecurity: Buhari, governors asked to disclose how much budgeted for 2021 security vote

 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and all state governors to disclose their proposed amount for 2021 security vote.

SERAP said Buhari and all the state governors should explain to Nigerians measures being put in place to ensure that the proposed money is not embezzled.

The organisation made the call, in the Freedom of Information, FoI, requests dated 26 December, 2020 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The request reads partly: “President Muhammadu Buhari and 36 state governors should “disclose details of proposed ‘security votes’ spending in your 2021 appropriation bills to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians, and to explain the measures your governments are putting in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes.

“In the wake of the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, and ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country, the time has come to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant to secure people’s lives and property.

“Disclosing details of spending as security votes for 2021 would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security challenges confronting the country, and what the federal and state governments are doing to respond to them. This is a legitimate public interest matter.”

- DAILY POST

23 people die as Lagos-bound cattle truck crashes at Mokwa

 

Twenty three people died early today as a Lagos-bound cattle truck loaded with additional 45 people crashed in Mokwa Niger state.

The truck departed from Kebbi and had dozens of cows and 45 people on board.

According to Niger Police Command, the truck skidded off the road and somersaulted into a bush.

The accident occurred at about 0500 hours along Bokani -Makera road in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state, according to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Usman.

Usman said the truck, registered as BBJ 666 XA, was coming from Dadin Kowa, in Kebbi state and heading to Lagos.

He said the corpses of the dead had been taken to the mortuary of Mokwa General Hospital for post-mortem.

The injured were also taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Usman attributed the accident to loss of control by the driver.

He also lamented the failure of drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations.

- PM NEWS

Gunmen kill 38-year-old businessman in Ondo hotel

 

A 38-year-old businessman has been murdered in Akure, the Ondo State capital by gunmen suspected to be assassins.

The deceased identified as Babatunde Adeluka, also known as Tunde Olubasa among his friends, was shot dead at Helena Hotel where he had lodged at Ijapo in Akure, the state capital on Boxing day.

Findings revealed that the assailants numbering about three trailed the late Babatunde to the hotel, situated some few meters from the Police Zonal Command in the state as well as the Ijapo Police Station.

A source who spoke under anonymity said the deceased had earlier attended a function in Akure before retiring to his room at the hotel.

The source explained that Babatunde had arrived at the hotel from Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state, about 80 kilometres to the state capital but was shot dead at the bar of the hotel where he had gone to get a drink.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro said it was a case of assassination.

Ikoro who maintained that the Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, has ordered a full investigation into the incident, disclosed that police operatives were on the trail of the fleeing assailants.

“I went there myself. By 4:00 I was already there. We’ve commenced investigation trying to track down who came to kill that guy.

“It’s an assassination. At the time it happened, there was nobody there, except the bar girl. The bar girl said they came in three, already waiting.

“The deceased lodged in that hotel and went out at some point, came back and left again. By the time he came back, the assailants were already at the bar drinking. When he came back, he went into his room, took a bottle of wine and then called for a bottle of soft drink from the bar.

Ikoro added that “When he got to the bar, the three guys asked a lighter from him to light their cigarettes and he said no. It was at that point they pulled out their guns and shot him. The assailants left the hotel when he gave up the ghost.

“We’re on their trail right now. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a full investigation into the incident. To us, we’re are thinking it’s an assassination. But the investigation will unravel all that happened.”

- DAILY POST

Report: It now costs as much as $4,000 to move goods from Apapa port to Lagos warehouses

 

Increased congestion at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports have pushed the cost of moving goods from the ports to other parts of Lagos to $4,000, Financial Times is reporting.

In a report titled ‘Nigeria’s port crisis: the $4,000 charge to carry goods across Lagos’ on Monday, the newspaper said the congestion is caused by ageing infrastructure; poor rail transport that forces 90 percent of cargo to go by road; and an almost complete lack of automation, which means every container must be physically inspected by customs officials.

It also reported that the land borders, which had been closed since August 2019 and recently reopened, increased sea traffic and compounded the congestion at the Lagos port.

The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index estimates that the 2020 average spot rate to ship a 20 feet container from Shanghai to Lagos is $3000 and between $3750-$4000 for a 40ft container.

The index currently puts the spot rate at $5,000.

“Cargo ships often wait for more than a month off the coast before they can offload their goods in the port — roughly how long some spend in transit to Lagos from China,” the report read.

“The congestion at the port in Lagos has become so bad that it can cost more than $4,000 to truck a container 20km to the Nigerian mainland these days, almost as much as it costs to ship one 12,000 nautical miles from China.”

Financial Times quoted senior executives at logistics firms as saying most importers now prefer to pay spot prices to fleet operators, who charge N1.5 million ($3,953) to drive a 40ft container from Tin Can to warehouses within Lagos rather than pay lower rates for a truck that could take several weeks to enter the port.

This cost, it reports, include road access charges and bribes but does not include terminal or storage charges on the port; general prices (which can run into tens of hundreds of dollars) associated with ships parked at sea or money extorted by criminals and officials while trucks wait days in traffic jams.

In response to the congestion crisis, Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said the company plans to digitise the processing of containers and has pressed terminal operators to invest more.

The congestion at the Lagos port has been a problem for years and efforts by the government to solve the problem, including constituting a taskforce, has not yielded the desired results.

As a result, cargo destined for Nigeria are now being offloaded in ports in Lome (Togo), Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo-Brazzaville.

Lome now houses West Africa’s busiest port.

- THECABLE

Jobless Americans to get $300 weekly as Trump signs COVID-19 bill

 

President Donald Trump has signed the $2.3trillion coronavirus relief and government funding bill into law.

President-elect Joe Biden had expressed concern about Trump’s delay.

“This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences”, he warned in a statement.

The assent will forestall a government shutdown expected to begin on Tuesday.

The $900billion relief package will help Americans, registered immigrants and businesses cope with the economic shock caused by the pandemic.

Twelve million people in two pandemic unemployment programs are to receive benefits for 11 weeks.

In the breakdown, every adult and child earning up to $75,000 will get $600 direct payment. Those earning between $75,000 and $99,000 would get smaller checks.

Jobless workers will receive up to $300 per week through mid-March. Self-employed people and gig workers will also receive further assistance.

The bill provides $25billion to help families pay their rent; it extends the current eviction moratorium until January 31.

It allocates $13billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The sum of $284billion Paycheck Protection Program loans has been earmarked for small business, nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio stations.

Additionally, $15billion would be reserved for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions.

The agreement will give child care centers $10billion to safely reopen.

It provides $68billion for purchase and distribution of vaccines, as well as COVID-19 testing.

Millions will stay connected to the internet, thanks to $7billion allotment.

Transportation-related assistance include $16billion for airlines to pay salaries, $14billion for mass transit agencies, $10billion for highways, and $1billion for Amtrak.

Schools will get $82billion for reopening, while $13billion has been set aside for farmers and agriculture.

- DAILY POST

COVID-19 cases hit new daily record in UK

 The UK reported 41,385 new positive COVID-19 tests today, the highest recorded in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

The previous highest number was 39,237, reported on 23 December.

UK’s death toll also topped 71,000, with 357 new deaths recorded.

The record positive tests come as hospitals have been ordered to free up every possible bed for the growing number of COVID-19 patients.

Monday’s increase brings the total number of cases in the UK to 2,329,730.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England (PHE), said about the record figures:

“This very high level of infection is of growing concern at a time when our hospitals are at their most vulnerable, with new admissions rising in many regions.

“We have all made huge sacrifices this year but we must all continue to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus which is still replicating fast. The basics remain very important: wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from others and abide by the restrictions in place.

“Despite unprecedented levels of infection, there is hope on the horizon. We can tackle this virus by working together as the vaccine continues to reach the most vulnerable first, and then many more over the weeks and months ahead.''

- PM NEWS

My Persons Of The Year: Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu, Lai Mohammed - The Three Blind Mice By Bayo Oluwasanmi

By BAYO OLUWASANMI

 My persons of the year are the persons that had the greatest impact on Nigeria and on the lives of Nigeria this year for good or ill.

People who are visually impaired cannot see. Mice too. Such people with the kind of impairment cannot make an informed judgement and opinion on what they would have seen.

But there are some people who are not suffering from visual impairment who make statements which clearly indicate that they suffer from acute blindness. Based on the statements of Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu (both media and publicity advisers to General Muhammadu Buhari), and Lai Mohammed minister of information and culture, there’s every reason that The Three Blind Mice can’t see.

Presenting the Three Blind Mice in their own words:

Femi Adesina, Deacon of Four Square Church is a spiritual host of fabrication. On Lekki massacre: Adesina said “If President Buhari hadn’t exercised the restraint and tolerance of a father, we would have been talking of something else in the country. The rivers of Nigeria could have turned crimson, and mourning and lamentations would have suffused the land. But we are thankful for the father in President Buhari, patient and enduring, almost to a fault.” 

Justifying the unending killings, kidnapping, by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen terrorists, he said: “There were a times bombs used to go off in this country like fire crackers. There could be five, six bombings in one day. Now, you can have two, three months with no single case of bombing. Let’s be thankful for small mercies. Any mercies we receive, let’s be thankful for it and let’s not dwell on negatives alone.”

On RUGA, he said: “It will be better for those that were opposed to cattle ranching to provide lands than to die in the herdsmen attacks. What would the land be used for if those who own it are dead at the end of the day?

Garba Shehu the arrogant, illiterate, and unpolished Fulani said this on security: “President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated unquestionable capacity to protect Nigerians. President Buhari’s integrity, uprightness and probity are intact and well known... Nigerians are convinced he is honest.” On Buhari’s performance, he said: “With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver...” When 43 Zabarmari rice farmers were killed Boko Haram, Shehu said “The farmers did not get clearance from the military before they went to the rice fields.”

Listen to Lai Mohammed, the corrupt liar profiteer: “My regret in this government is that Nigerians have failed to appreciate that the government is doing much more with much less.” On press freedom: “When it comes to freedom of the press, we are doing extremely well.” On social media: “If we don’t regulate social media, it will destroy us. If China can control over 1.3 billion people on social media, I see no reason why Nigeria cannot attempt controlling 180 million people.”

For their self-righteousness, for being exalted with a chauvinistic stink, for pledging their alliance to Buhari with their hearts upon their sleeves, for whining and moaning in defense of Buhari, for their numblingly rote statements in a kindergarten cadence, and for being obviously blind to the damage done to their conscience, God, and the Nigerian people, My Persons Of The Year Award goes to The Three Blind Mice!

1999 constitution ‘needs to be replaced NOT amended’

 

John Ayoade, an emeritus professor at the University of Ibadan (UI), says the 1999 constitution needs to be replaced not amended.

Ayoade, who was a member of the 2005 national political reform conference, rejected the ongoing efforts by the national assembly to amend the constitution which he said is “totally flawed.”

He made his views known while delivering a recent lecture at the 2020 Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) programme at the International Conference Centre in Oyo state.

The lecture, which was organised in collaboration with the university’s Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), was titled, “Nigeria: A nation of states or a state of nations”.

Ayoade said what Nigeria needs is a new federal constitution, faulting the current one as giving insufficient powers to the states.

“The 1999 constitution is long overdue for replacement. It is not a federal constitution except in name. It is a constitution that gives insufficient power to the states and uses financial power to neutralise even those powers. What we need is a total replacement,” he said.

“Secondly, the constitution is not written in a marketplace. We never produce a good constitution. How many people wrote the US constitution? Was it written by the entire world?”

He said the 1979 constitution is the best constitution we had so far, adding: “A group of 49 selected experts produced the 1979 constitution.”

“The national assembly should not have anything to do with the amendment of the constitution. The servant cannot write his own scheme of work. Otherwise, he will write for himself,” he added.

“It is only a matter of time before the strange amalgam of a unitary federation becomes full blown. The tradition of orchestrating a pandemonium in the name of making a constitution must be avoided.

“Our experience has shown that a small panel of experts who are conversant with Nigeria and the aspirations of the people will be more appropriate to draw up a constitution than the hodge-podge that are usually empaneled under the guise of representation.

“What is recommended is a slim government, which will permit the states to attain their highest political potential. Federal-state relations must be based on the principle that whatever can be done at any lower level is constitutionally assigned to that level.”

Ayoade also recommended that the states should be financially empowered “to function as governments and not as outposts of the federal government.”

”The states must enhance their ability to deliver governance to the people,” he said.

- THECABLE

COVID-19: South Africa records more than 1 million cases

 

South Africa has reached the one million mark for coronavirus cases, with 9,502 new infections announced on Sunday night.

Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, who made the confirmation, said the total number of people who have been infected with the virus now stands at 1,004,413.

Mkhize said 214 deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of fatalities to 26,735.

According to the health minister, the new figures indicate that South Africa is experiencing a second wave of the pandemic.

He further revealed that the government would need to consider further restrictions in other to curb the spread of the virus, NAN reports.

Here in Nigeria, the government has also announced a partial shutdown for the next five weeks, in a bid to stem the second wave of coronavirus across the country.

The PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, issued the advisory on Monday at the PTF briefing in Abuja.

According to Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari had authorised the Presidential Task Force to engage with the states and the Federal Capital Territory to assume full ownership of this stage of the response.

He said that bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues were considered super-spreaders of the virus.

States and the FCT are to shut down all informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities.

He also ordered that Churches and Mosques should not be filled beyond 50 per cent of their installed capacity during worship and prayer time, while face masks and social distancing are compulsory.

- DAILY POST

Messi reveals two clubs he can never play for

 Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, has vowed never to play for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

Messi almost forced his way out of the Nou Camp last summer and his current deal expires in six months.

This has led to more speculation about the 33-year-old’s next move in his career.

With negotiations over a new contract yet to begin, Messi has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

However, there are two teams he would not consider signing for.

“It’s impossible for me to leave for Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid. I’ve always said I’d like to enjoy the experience of living in the United States. But I don’t know if it will happen or not.”

“If I ever leave, I would like to return to Barça and Barcelona. When I retire, I would like to return to the club to contribute my knowledge,” Messi said in quotes posted on Barcelona’s official website.

- DAILY POST

Jump into lagoon if you don’t accept Kukah’s comment on Buhari : Fani-Kayode

 

Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode has thrown his weight behind the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah for accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism.

He said those who refused to accept the truth should jump into the Lagoon.

In his Christmas message on Friday, the bishop said there could have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president did a fraction of what Buhari has done.

According to Kukah, Buhari’s government owed the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as the nation seemed to journey into darkness.

“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country.

“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.

“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.

“There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions,” he had said.

Kukah’s comment drew lots of criticism from the Federal Government, as Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed  cautioned the cleric, saying his words bred hatred and disunity.

Reacting this development, Fani-Kayode said the  bishop had spoken courageously the bitter truth and called a spade a spade.

He said those who were not comfortable with his words and not ready to accept the truth should jump into the Lagoon.

“Bishop Kukah has courageously spoken the bitter truth & called a spade a spade. Those that are not comfortable with his words and are not ready to accept that truth should go & jump in the lagoon or hug a transformer.

“Kukah has said what I have been saying for the last 5 years!” he tweeted.

- PM NEWS

Traditional ruler shot dead in Enugu

 

Unknown gunmen have killed Emmanuel Mba, traditional ruler of Oruku community, Nkanu-east local government area in Enugu state.

According to NAN, Mba was shot by unidentified gunmen on Saturday at about 4:30pm.

Mba was reportedly attacked in a meeting hall while addressing residents of the community, and was pronounced dead at the National Orthopedic Hospital where he was rushed to for treatment.

Aggrieved youths of Oruku community were said to have protested the murder, and set fire to properties of persons suspected to be behind the death of the traditional ruler, but the police arrived to restore normalcy.

A statement by Daniel Ndukwe, police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, quoted Ahmad Abdurrahman, commissioner of police in Enugu, as promising to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“Following the act of violence that occurred in Oruku community over the alleged shooting and death of its traditional ruler by armed men suspected to be policemen, normalcy has been restored by police operatives,” Abdurrahman was quoted to have said.

“I have promptly ordered the deployment of operatives of the command to the area and the launch of a full-scale investigation into the incident.

“The command will meticulously investigate and bring the perpetrators of the alleged murder and the ensuing acts of violence to book.

“I also call on residents of the community to remain calm while eschewing acts capable of inciting further violence in the area, pending the outcome of the investigation.

“Anyone found wanting will be made to face the full weight of the law.”

- THECABLE

Fake COVID-19 result certificates on sale in Lagos – LASG

 

Lagos State Government on Monday raised the alarm over fake COVID-19 certificates on sale in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this at a press conference to give update on second wave of the virus in Lagos.

He said it has come to the attention of the government that a number of people who came into the country were patronising individuals who sell fake COVID-19 results certificates.

Abayomi said government was currently putting machinery in place to apprehend those doing such unscrupulous businesses.

The commissioner also raised the alarm that there had been an increase in positive cases from inbound travellers, which rose to eight percent this week.

In his words: “Positivity for inbound travellers is on the rise (8% this week, 4% cumulative) as Nigerians in Diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos.

“It has come to our attention that a number of people are patronizing individuals that sell fake COVID-19 results.

“We are currently putting in processes to identify both buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute either to the full extent of the law.''

Abayomi also said the reason for the second wave of COVID-19 was due to reopening of schools, General Laxity, False Sense, of Security and Non-adherence to guidelines; opening of the economy, variant, large religious
congregation and social gathering and entertainment.

He disclosed that Lagos State had increased its testing capacity per Day (August – December 2020), as the state is now testing between 2,000 and 3,000 per day.

- PM NEWS

Boko Haram: Terrorists kill 10 people in Borno

 

Ten (10) people, including four security personnel, were reportedly killed on boxing day during an attack by Boko Haram in Shaffa, Azare and Tashan Alade villages in Hawul local government area of Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

The attack in the northeast, which started in Garkida where six people were killed and eleven persons persons on Christmas eve, prompted Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum to visit Hauwul local government on Sunday to condole with the people.

Residents of the area said they had knowledge of the attack on the 21st December, 2020 and informed the security agencies.

“They came in six gun trucks and burnt down five churches, and many houses in our villages” Usman Audu said, adding “They also killed 10 people and injured many others. We all slept in the bush, including our aged parents.”

He said the assailants went from village to village.

“In Azare they burnt a police station and killed two policemen, a member of the civil defence and a vigilante,” Bulus James said.

“We recovered five dead bodies with gunshots on them from the bush, along with six women with gunshot injuries. They were all hit while trying to escape,” he added.

The attackers while at Tashan Alade forced residents to flee into the mountaints.

“They burnt down three churches and houses; two people were also killed in Azare,” Kanadi, a resident said.

- DAILY POST