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Ondo State Shuts MTN Facilities Over N458 Million Debt

By
BWN
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The Ondo state government has shut down the facilities of MTN Nigeria in the state over the refusal of the telecoms outfit to pay about N458 million in taxes and levies it is owing the state.

MTN commented that the closure of its facilities by the state government will affect the quality of service in the state and environs and affect millions of subscribers, as they will no be able to carry out routine maintenance work or refuel the generators servicing the base transceiver stations (BTS’).

In addition, a major hub site for both fibre and microwave transmission which connects the North, South and East will be affected leading to loss of services in the whole of Ekiti State as well as parts of Edo and Niger States.

An Ex-Parte court order was taken against MTN regarding a tax claim of N458,585,783.12 allegedly owed the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue Service (OSBIRS) in Pay As You Earn (PAYE); Withholding Tax (WHT); Development levy, Business Premises and Education Endowment taxes.

Surveyors Urge LASG to Collect Land Use Charge on Income

By
BWN
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The Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has asked the Lagos State government to stop charging Land Use Charge on capital gains but on income.

The association said even in charging income, some incomes are allowable, saying that these errors have gone unchecked because its members are not involved in the administration of landed matters in the state.

The group noted that since Lagos has remained a pacesetter in all sectors of the economy, it should correct itself so that the practice will be replicated in other states of the country.

At a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Land Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, the group’s   Chairman, Mr.  Offiong Sam Ukpong in the company of other executives of the body, stressed the need for the government to partner estate surveyors in on land administration.

He said the nation’s land administration will continue to be in parlous state except there is policy direction in the right place.

While calling for the establishment of the Office of Estate Surveyor–General, Ukpong said smaller countries such as Papa New Guinea and Ghana have come up with such policy that has seen the real estate sector grow in leaps and bounds.

Agoro however agreed that Land Use Charge should be on income and not on capital gain, promising that the government would review it soon. He promised to engage more surveyors, stressing that the state government is not unmindful of the strategic importance that estate surveyors and valuers occupy in any modern economy.

He said in developed economies, the growth of the economy is measured by the robustness of the real estate sector and the state government is poised to benchmark on international best practices. He added that the state government plans to register  land and estate brokers, noting that government needs to identify those doing business with her in order to protect the public.

The PS decried a situation where the innocent public is defrauded by those who purportedly act as interface between them and the government and stressed the preparedness of government to deal with any bad egg in her system and any member of the public who engages in fraudulent activities.

He said: “If anybody or group henceforth wants to transact business with government relating to land, the person must submit himself to registration; we intend to curb the permissive illegalities we noted in the Bureau when we came in. We need to, as a matter of urgency, register all land and estate brokers so that when there is a dispute or misdemeanor we will readily know the culprit. As responsible government we owe it to every Lagosian to protect their lives and property.”

According to him, government is working tirelessly to reposition the Bureau to meet modern demands of professionalism in landed matters and real estate business.

On the proposed Surveyors Estate, he said the government will fulfil its promise by making land available for them to build the model estate but was non committal on the size of the land that will be given by government for the purpose.

House of Rep Committee to Probe UBA over N88 Million Fraud Allegations

By
BWN
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The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Public Petitions would commence investigation into an alleged fraud to the tune of N88 million reported against the United Bank for Africa (UBA) by a customer of the bank, Mr Eddy Onyenweuzo. The petition was submitted to the House on behalf of the petitioner by Hon. Obinna Chidoka (PDP, Anambra).

Speaker Yakubu Dogara, has directed the Public Petitions Committee to thoroughly investigate the issue with the intention of ascertaining the whole truth.

 Mr. Onyenweuzo stated that he was a major distributor of Unilever Nigeria Plc for over 30 years and that payments for all his transactions to the company was routed through UBA from 2001. He said the transaction went on well until 2006 when he discovered some misappropriations of over N38 million.

Onyenweuzo added that an analysis of his account through a chartered accountant revealed an enormous fraud of N88 million.

He further informed the lawmakers that he had approached many authorities, including the Bankers’ Committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Public Complaints Commission, in an attempt to get back his money but to no avail, hence his petition to the House to probe the matter in the interest of justice.

CBN Agrees 5% Lending Rate for Farmers

By
BWN
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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed to five per cent interest on lending rate to farmers in the country.

Ogbeh made this known on Tuesday, while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day national workshop on a “New Agricultural Policy for Nigeria.’’

The workshop was organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) in collaboration with the ministry and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

According to the minister, the agreement followed discussions with key officials of the apex bank on Tuesday morning.

The minister said that agriculture and solid minerals remain the alternatives sectors to which the country could diversify now to survive current economic situation.

He said: “The challenge before us is how to make this happen. The time for lamentation is over. The time for action is here.’’

Ogbeh said unless this was done, the problem of youth unemployment and youth restiveness would continue to plague the country.

“We have 100 million young people in the country who are below the age of 50 years and if we do not give them job, they are likely to take care of us in a very rough manner,’’ he said.

Ogbeh said outbreak of bird flu and pastoralists/farmers clashes remained challenges to the sector, adding that in the last two months, the flu had killed between five and six million birds.

He, however, disclosed that a vaccine had been found for the virus.

$2.1 Billion Arms Deal: Dasuki files Fresh Application for Dismissal

By
BWN
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Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), has filed a fresh application before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from prosecuting him.

Dasuki had through his his lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, filed the application dated January 11, 2016, asking the court to discharge him of the alleged crime of diversion of funds said to be meant for the procurement of arms for the military fighting Boko Haram.

He argued that EFCC and the Federal Government who are prosecuting him should not be allowed to continue after a “brazen disobedience” of orders of the court that granted him bail on December 21, 2015.

Others standing trial alongside Dasuki include, immediate past Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment.

Relief in Ogun Over Ongoing Measles Campaign

By
BWN
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The Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, said that government would do everything to boost the welfare of the state residents as he lauded the ongoing Measles campaign 2016. He also appreciated donor partners, including the United Nations Children Fund, World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund Agency, for supporting the campaign.

Ipaye said, “All mothers and caregivers must take advantage of the vaccination exercise by taking their children to designated centres to get them immunised.” A UNICEF logistician, Miss Michelle Arnot-Krugger, said UNICEF was interested in the programme.

According to the Medical Health Officer, Obafemi Owode LGA, Dr Adebola Bamgbose, the exercise had been going on smoothly, adding that the response of mothers was reassuring. Also that the government had sent additional teams to the council in order to reach all children in the LGA.

“The government has provided additional teams in the local government area, and we appreciate this gesture. The teams will complement the existing vaccinators in the LGA.

“Some children were left out in the previous exercise, but with the additional teams, the missed children, particularly those in the hard-to-reach communities, would be vaccinated.” he remarked.

FG’s $25 Billion Infrastructure Fund Receiving Favourable Interests – Osinbajo

By
BWN
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According to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the plan of the federal government to raise a $25 billion infrastructural fund from the global community and establish long term bankable projects is fast  gaining attraction,

“We have seen considerable, favorable interests from some sovereign wealth funds and other nations,” the VP told a delegation of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry that paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in his office.

Explaining the idea of the Fund to the delegation, Prof. Osinbajo said the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority which manages the country’s sovereign wealth fund was leading the project, adding that the Infrastructural Fund would create opportunity for commercial partners to participate in the building of the nation’s infrastructures alongside the federal government.

This would be done through the establishment of bankable projects that involves such commercial partners.

He disclosed that the China-Exim Bank has agreed to finance the railway projects linking Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar.

The Vice President reiterated the federal government’s determination to raise revenue internally to fund the budget, including through an expansion of VAT coverage but not an increase of the VAT rate.

The delegation of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry was led by Chief Mrs. Nike Akande, who declared the support of the Chamber for the federal government’s fight against corruption.

Mrs. Akande, a former federal minister for Industry called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to find a foreign exchange regime that would boost the confidence of investors and remove uncertainly.

The Vice President told the delegation that the federal government is focused on finding solutions to the economic situation including through a focus on building infrastructure and also diversifying the economy, especially through agriculture. Besides, the government is also focussing on creating an enabling environment for business and investments in the country.

Power Ministry Targets Additional 2,000 Megawatts Increase in 2016 – Fashola

By
BWN
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Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed that power generation would increase by an additional 2,000 megawatts by the last quarter of 2016.

The minister also disclosed that the government has privatised power generation which has steered towards the full privatisation of the sector with transmission aspect being managed by Manitoba International of Canada.

Fashola has also revealed that the 2016 budget focuses more on the transmission, completion of ongoing projects, refurbishing power plants and tackling gas supply issues.

The Minister further stated that the ministry plans to take its role as a policy maker more seriously while the agencies would be tasked more on implementation and execution of government’s agenda for the sector.

NEMA Relocates IDPs to New Camps After Boko Haram Attacks

By
BWN
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Efforts are currently ongoing to depopulate the growing population of Internally Displaced Persons in the camp set up at Dikwa local government area of Borno State, the National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with Borno State Emergency management agency, has started moving the IDPS to new camps set up in Ngala, Marte, Bama and Mafa councils.

Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alh Usman Dikwa, accompanied by chairmen of the affected local governments was at Dikwa, where a team of Emergency and Humanitarian workers led by zonal coordinator NEMA North-East, Muhammed kanar delivered food items and health care facilities for the upkeep of the IDPS in their new locations.

Buses and trailers were provided to transport the IDPS and their belongings to their local Government of origin, among the places declared safe by the military.

NEMA mobile clinic and medical team were on hand to provide medical care, while excavators were provided to dig trenches in the new locations to make them more fortified.

Best Era of Petroleum Sector Development Happened Under Obasanjo – President Buhari

By
BWN
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ACFTA

President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the lack of infrastructural investment in the petroleum sector since the 1970s.

The president maintained that the best development in the industry happened under the then General Olusegun Obasajo administration under which he served as commissioner for petroleum.

The president, who was in Ogun State for a two day visit, recalled that the then military government built all the refineries in the country and the country was even exporting exporting refined petroleum.

He also lauded the developmental strides of the Ogun state governor, senator Ibikunle Amosun describing the strides as ‘confusing and disorientating’.

Buhari, who recalled that Abeokuta was his first station as a commission officer in 1963 confessed that with what Amosun had done with the state, he cannot find his way around the state due to the giant transformations.

AviaDev Africa Launches – To Connect Aviation & Hospitality Stakeholders

By
BWN
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AviaDev Africa, a unique platform bringing together airlines, airports, hotel and hospitality investors for the first time, is being launched this year in Rwanda.

The inaugural forum on aviation route planning and development will run in parallel with the prestigious Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), providing government and industry with a valuable opportunity to take a strategic approach to the expansion of travel across the continent.

Leading airline, airport and hotel executives, alongside government representatives, will be able to explore the crucial link between aviation and hotel investment and discuss potential new airline routes in exclusive one-to-one meetings.

The conference is timely. 7 of the 10 fastest growing passenger markets over the next 20 years will be in Africa, according to a 2015 IATA report, and Rwanda, the host country, is among them.

The event will include workshops on the rise of the “airport city” in Africa, organised by leading experts WiedemannConsultants GmbH, as well as the environmental factors needed for success. International consultants, InterVISTAS, will also run a route development masterclass.

Delegates will have the opportunity to organise route development meetings with a range of airports and airlines to help realise Africa’s full potential.

AviaDev Africa will open at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre in Kigali on 4 October, joining the main AHIF conference on 5 and 6 October.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, which organises AHIF, said: “AviaDev Africa will be a valuable opportunity for leading executives from aviation and hotel development to have some serious and fruitful discussions on how to develop the future connectivity of the continent.”

Mario Fulgoni, CEO of Air Djibouti, said: “We need to get at a high level, the airline community and hotel investors and brands together to have a co-ordinated response. Africa is a little different to Asia, Europe and the States, because the hotels are really not in place. My view is that if you build it they will come. The hotel owners would say if we had the services, we’d build the hotels. So we’ve got to get past the chicken and egg situation. Build a co-ordinated investment programme so we can develop the two things side-by-side.”

Belise Kariza, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, said: “We want to showcase Rwanda as a key destination to do business. The AHIF conference is a vital part of that, and the addition of a forum focused on aviation developments, AviaDev, provides an important platform for the aviation and hotel sectors to discuss future development projects and forge new relationships.”

AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting over 500 high-calibre executives from 45 countries, as well as key Government representatives.

2016 Budget: House of Reps Holds Budget Allocation Defense

By
BWN
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Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, Nigeria's House Representative Denies Media report

On Tuesday, top officials of Ministries and Agencies in Nigeria appeared before the House of Representatives  to defend their budgetary allocations.

One of the agencies at the defence was the Nigeria Prison Service, which made an appeal for extra budgetary allocation to help it take care of the over 65,000 prisoners in its custody.

The Comptroller General of Prisons, Ezenwa Ekpendu, who represented the agency, said more funding would enable the agency upgrade prison facilities to adequately cater for inmates.

The House of Representatives had suspended plenary for two weeks to allow committees concentrate on the 2016 budget.

Part of the officials of the other ministries that appeared before the lawmakers was the Minister of Environment, Hajia Zainab Ahmed.

At the interactive session, the Minister said Nigeria was predisposed to severe negative impacts of climate change due to lack of proper coordination to mainstream climate change concerns into national development planning process.

Some agencies under the Ministry of Interior were also before the House Committee on Interior to defend their budgets, Other Ministries present are Nigerian Immigration service, Nigeria Railway Coporation represented by Haliru Mohammed whose view at a point resulted into arguments.

The Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, was also at the hearing.

The investigative hearing panel is expected to submit its findings to the House in plenary for deliberation.

Success of 2016 Budget Depends on Non-Oil Revenue Sources – Saraki

By
BWN
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President of the Upper House of Assembly, Bukola Saraki, has warned that the 2016 Budget would only be successful, if emphasis would be on the non-oil and independent revenue generating sources.

Senator Saraki, while fielding questions from Senate Correspondents after commissioning the newly upgraded Senate Press Centre at the National Assembly, said the 8th Senate would focus attention on the revenue generating areas and ensure that all leakages were blocked.

The Senate President stated that though the 2016 budget proposal was ambitious, it could be achieved if all that is necessary to make it work was put in place.

“Some of the things that we will begin to look at and which we are going to advise the executive is that while we are working on the budget now, they too should begin to start working on how to make a plan for implementation.

“What tends to happen is that even after we have passed the budget, the administration bureaucracy sometimes make the budget delay,” he said.

The Senate President further stated that it was likely that the Senate would come out with an amendment bill as regards certain areas of the procurement bill.

He further expressed happiness that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had made some comments about the deficit in the budget and how it would be funded, he however stressed that funding the deficit is key to ensure that the ability to raise those funds are there.

FG to Save $1 Billion as Direct Sale of Crude Oil Kicks Off in March

By
BWN
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Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, says the Direct-Sale–Direct-Purchase (DSDP) arrangement will take off in March. The DSDP replaces the crude-for-products exchange arrangement also referred to as crude swap.

The Minister who said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the NNPC’s offshore processing and crude swap arrangement for the period between 2010 to date.

At the hearing held at the complex of the National Assembly in Abuja, Dr. Kachikwu told lawmakers that the DSDP would introduce and entrench transparency into the crude oil for product transaction.

Under the crude swap arrangement, crude oil was exchanged for petroleum products through third party traders at a pre-determined yield pattern.

The Minister stated that the DSDP option would eliminate all the cost elements of middlemen and empower the NNPC to take control of sale and purchase of the crude oil transaction with its partners.

“The initiative will save one billion dollars for the Federal Government.

He also explained that the DSDP initiative would reduce the influence of the Minister in the selection of bid winners.

He mentioned other benefit of the new plan to include growth of indigenous capacity in the international crude oil business and generation of employment opportunities for indigenous companies that are selected.

It will also give other government agencies like the Bureau of Public Procurement and Nigeria Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative the opportunity to be a part of the bidding process in order to promote compliance with due process.

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTION AND MONITORING OF OIL AND GAS EXPORTS.

By
BWN
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

          FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTION AND MONITORING OF OIL AND GAS EXPORTS.

  1. INTRODUCTION

   In line with the provisions of the Nigeria  Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) Acts. No 10 of 1996 (Law of the Federation 2004),the Federal Government intends to engage the services of reputable and competent Service Providers for the Pre-shipment Inspection and Monitoring of Oil and Gas Exports from the country.

Further to the provisions of the Public Procurement Acts,2007 and extant regulations thereto, and in compliance with International competitive bidding process, the Federal Ministry of Finance hereby solicits for Expression of Interest from qualified and competent  Service Providers. The interested Service providers can either be Foreign Firms, sole Nigeria Firms, or Joint Ventures of Foreign  and  Local Firms (with  Notarised  Joint  Venture Memorandum of Understanding Specifying the roles and responsibilities of parties)

.     Pre-shipment Inspection of Crude Oil Exports

.     Pre-shipmen Inspection of Gas Exports

.       Monitoring and Evaluation of Inspectors of Crude Oil and Gas   Exports

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Pre-shipment inspection by an inspecting agent shall be with respect to their quality, quantity and price comparison

  1. C)  FORMAT FOR THE EOI

      EOI for the aforesaid assignment must include the following

  1. A brief company profile in narrative form with supporting documents for its registration, Article of Association/Memorandum of Association and Annual turnover of last 3 years. In the case of association be included Indicating the lead party.
  2. Capability statement giving details about the experience and expertise of the service providers related to the interest. Please provide an outline of assignment/ projects of similar nature executed in the last 3 years. In the case of Joint Venture each party’s capability statement must be submitted.

  3. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

         Interested Service   Providers should meet the following requirements:-

  1. Be incorporated as a company, evidenced by certificate of incorporation with Corporate Affairs   Commission   (CAC) or its equivalent for foreign companies who must be ready to register equivalent for foreign companies who must be ready to register  with CAC within six months of award.
  2. Have at  least five key staff, with relevant  qualifications and experience (incude mini-bios of the personnel).
  • Own or have assured access through lease, hire, or other such method, of the essential equipment, tools, computers software and patent right, in full working order with necessary permits and licenses.
  1. Provide audited financial statements for the last 3 years (2012,2013 and 2014) and matching tax clearance certificate.
  2. Submission of satisfactory bank references  and documents demonstrating availability of funds/liquid assets and/or credit facilities from reputable banker(s) of not less than N200million or one million dollars equivalent.
  3. Have carried out similar assignments in the area of interest. All assignments  must be evidenced by submission of award letter(S) and verifiable Certificate of satisfactory execution.
  • Companies incorporated in Nigeria must possess the following requirements wether expressing interest  solely or in joint ventures with foreign technical partners:
  • Clearance Certificate from National Pension Commission as evidence of compliance with Pension Reform Act 2004 (as amended).
  • Evidence of compliance with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF)  (Amendment Act 2011). Certificate  of clearance from the Fund to be provided.
  • Evidence of registration with BPP National Data Base and other relevant Professional bodies.

  1. NOTE:

  2. Failure to provide the above requirements  will automatically result in disqualification.
  3. The Federal Ministry of Finance reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any claims on the documents submitted.
  • The Federal Ministry of Finance reserves the right to reject documents that do not meet the criteria without giving any reasons.
  1. The Federal  Ministry   of  Finance  reserves the right to reject any proposal.
  2. Only service providers that are found suitable will be pre-qualified and shortlisted to obtain the Request for Proposal (RFP) for  next  stage of the procurement.
  3. The Federal Ministry of Finance reserves the right to reject all bids at any time prior to the acceptance of a bid, without incurring thereby any liability to the bidders.
  • The Federal Ministry of Finance reserves the right to cancel the procurement proceedings in the public interest ,without incurring any liability to the bidders.

4. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS

Three copies of Pre-qualification Documents shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope for any of the services intended  (as provided in paragraph 2a above) clearly indicated at the back of the envelope. The documents shall be delivered to the Office of the Director Procurement  Room No  040,  ground floor Federal Ministry of Finance phase 11 not later than 12 noon on 15th February,2016.

  1. Pre-qualification bid documents will be publicly opened immediately after the submission deadline at the  Ministry’s  Main Auditorium.
  2. Service Providers are expected to send one representative to the opening ceremony.
  3. The relevant Professional Bodies and Non-Governmental Organization are also invited to attend

Nigerian Airforce Destroy Boko Haram Base

By
BWN
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The Nigerian Air Force says its Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has destroyed a logistics base used by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The UAV destroyed the base of the insurgents in Borno on Tuesday.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the UAV was on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission when it came across the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists at Garin Moloma, about one kilometer north of the Sambisa forest.

He said that the multiple explosions and huge fire ball from the location, was suspected to either be an ammunition/fuel storage or weapons/technical workshop.

“At the time of the UAV attack, the location, though under surveillance for quite a while, had a large gathering of Boko Haram terrorists and vehicles.

“This strike is thus a major setback for the Boko Haram Sect, and a major plus for the fight against insurgency by our own troops,” he stated.

Ex-NIMASA Boss Trial: ‘I was paid N905 Million for Unexecuted Project’ – Prosecution Witness

By
BWN
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The fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,  NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others, testified at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday.

The witness, Uche Obilor, who is the Managing Director of Ace Prothesis Limited, Seabulk Offshore Limited and Southern Offshore Limited, told the Court how his three companies were paid N905 million by the NIMASA for a contract he did not execute.

Led in an evidence by the counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness also disclosed that he was approached by the NIMASA’s Executive Director for Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, who was the second defendant in the case.

He told the court that it was the Captain, who told him that his companies had been awarded the contract to assist NIMASA meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code for 2014.

The witness further testified that shortly after the money was paid, he was told by the Captain to stay execution on the contract.

He was subsequently directed to transfer the money into different accounts until N54 million was left in the accounts.

The N54 million, he said, had since being transferred to the coffers of the Federal Government.

Under cross examination, the witness admitted to the court that though, he held several meetings with the second defendant, he never met the first defendant, Akpobolokemi, neither did he receive any instructions or discuss with him.

The witness also admitted that despite being given the job description for the contract, his company lacked the capacity to carry out some of the functions.

The defence sought to prove that this was the reason for the stay of execution he received from NIMASA.

The cross examination of the witness would however, continue at the next adjourned date of February 5.

The former NIMASA DG was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with the three other defendants, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

In a 22-count charge filed against them by the EFCC, they were accused of converting a total of N2, 658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 2015.

The defendants had all pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

4 Ecobank Staff Arrested for Diverting N2.7 Million from Customers’ Accounts

By
BWN
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Three staff of Ecobank have been arrested after they allegedly skimmed N2.7 million off customers’ accounts with the bank.

The suspects – Adetunji Oluwatoyin, Obademi Oluwatosin and Ogunshina Olushola – worked at the Iyana Ipaja branch of the bank and were said to have connived to commit the alleged fraud between July 10 and 24, 2015. It is revealed that a whooping sum was diverted from some customers’ accounts to a private account through forging of their signatures to help with the transaction.

The bank wrote a petition to the police, leading to their arrest. According to police, Oluwatoyin already admitted to the crime. The suspects were arraigned at Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on three counts bordering on forgery and fraud by a police prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. K.B. Ayeye, admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till February 22, 2016.

EU Partners Nigerian Government on Reliable Power Supply

By
BWN
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The Federal Government and the European Union, German Government set out to promote the use of the International Standard (ISO 50001) for Energy Management System (EnMS) in Nigeria. Its implementation would lead to a minimum of 20% energy savings, through the reduction of greenhouse emissions and also assist in the fight against climate change.

According to the Head of Programme for the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Ina Hommers, the EnMS constitute a proven method for sustainable energy efficiency and improved performance in industries across the world. Thus encouraging stakeholders to participate in the successful implementation of the ISO 50001.

However, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Justice Eka, spoke of a coming legislation that would promote the use of energy efficient variants of refrigerators, air conditioners and other appliances.

“Incidentally, there exists an international standard that organizations use to reduce their energy consumption. That Standard is titled ISO 50001. It is an Energy Management System standard. What that standard does is that it gives the organization guidelines on what it needs to do to establish a management system that would enable it to continuously reduce its energy consumption.” he said.

He also added that the organisation should establish a policy of their energy consumption, set objectives and ascertain how much energy they want to reduce its usage.

MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE JOBS | Pfizer Nigeria Fresh Graduate and Exp. Job Recruitment 2016

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BWN
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Pfizer – Good health is vital to all of us, and finding sustainable solutions to the most pressing health care challenges of our world cannot wait. That’s why we at Pfizer are committed to applying science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to provide access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW JOB DETAILS AND APPLY

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