MINISTER Of POWER,RESIGN

BARTH Nnaji, a professor and minister of Power who promised to take electricity supply to 6,000MW by December, yesterday waved a final bye to the job he did with great passion.

He was forced to resign.

President Goodluck Jonathan pushed Nnaji to throw in the towel, following an alleged conflict of interest between his office and the ongoing privatisation of the power sector – the government’s antidote to the epileptic supply that has held Nigeria down, industrially.

The alleged abuse of office was in conflict with the Performance Contract Agreement which ministers signed last Wednesday  and the Oath of Office to which they swore at inauguration.

Nnaji, a professor of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Robotics, is the first victim of the Agreement.

A company, Geometric Power, in which the former Minister allegedly has interest was involved in the bids for the privatisation of Afam Generation Company Limited and Enugu Distribution Company Limited.

Geometric Power is said to have a minority stake in the Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which submitted technical and  financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company on July 31.

Also, one of the consortia bidding for Afam Power Plant, O and M Solutions of Pakistan, was once Geometric Power’s contractor.

It was also learnt that security reports allegedly implicated Nnaji, who sat transfixed in office as at 9.40pm when our correspondent visited .

According to a source, the ex-minister was in the middle of a meeting at about 4pm when he was summoned to the Presidential Villa by the President who told him to resign.

The source, a senior government official, said: “The ex-Minister and his officials in the Ministry of Power were holding a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity with labour leaders on the exit package of disengaged PHCN workers when he   was summoned to the Villa.

“Oblivious of what fate that was awaiting him, Nnaji left instructions on how the negotiation should go. 

“But when he got to the Villa, the President told him that reports of the National Council on Privatisation(NCP) and security agencies indicated that he could not divorce his personal interest from official matters.”

The source claimed that the President wasted no time to tell Nnaji, “Go and turn in your letter of resignation.  I wish you the best.”

Another source said: “All attempts by Nnaji to justify the fact that he had left the board of Geometric proved abortive.”

Apparently, overwhelmed by the manner  – sudden and shocking – of his resignation, Nnaji could  not immediately break the news to the key directors in the ministry.

Another source added: “He remained in his office to tidy up his desk. We later went to him when we heard the news. He simply said: “it is true but I did my best. I had divorced myself from Geometric Power to serve this nation. My interest was put in a blind trust.”

Although Nnaji, who felt much concerned about his integrity, had wanted to address the media,  the session was called off last night.

As at 9.40pm, he was still in the office, preparing his handover note.

It was in line with the resignation soft landing given to Nnaji that the Presidency issued a statement that he had resigned.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Nnaji’s  resignation has been accepted.

The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has accepted the resignation with immediate effect of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.

“President Jonathan thanks Prof. Nnaji for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has cancelled  the technical bid evaluation process conducted for both companies.

The cancellation was to allow for transparency in the process.

The evaluation of the Enugu Disco, which is still ongoing, has been stopped. The evaluation team may be disbanded, it was learnt last night.

The NCP, at its meeting last Friday, announced the results of the technical evaluation conducted for the 25 bids it received last month for the six generation companies (Gencos) created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

It disclosed at the end of the  process that seven bidders  successfully met the cut-off mark of 750 and above during the technical evaluation process and were prequalified to have their financial bids opened on September 25.

They are: Phoenix Electricity, Transcorp Consortium and Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, which bid for Ughelli Power Company; CMEC Energy and GPN Nestoil Power Services Limited for Sapele Power Company.  Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and North South Power Company Limited were prequalified for Geregu, Kainji and Shiroro Power Companies.

O & M Solutions has a stake in Skipper Nigeria Limited, which had submitted technical and financial bids for Afam on July 17, the deadline set by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the submission of bids for the Gencos.

Other companies that bid for Afam, a power plant in Rivers State with an installed capacity of 776mw, are Primeniza Energy Limited and NPG Consortium.

Nnaji, it was learnt had  notified the NCP that Geometric Power has a minority stake in Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which had submitted technical and financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company Limited on July 31.

He was said to have  resigned from its board and transferred his shares to a blind trust.

Nnaji had severally maintained that since his appointment as the President’s Special Adviser on Power and later as Minister of Power, he had resigned his appointment in Geometric Power, with his shares held by a blind trust and participated in the company’s day-to-day operations. 

Geometric Power, a pioneering independent power producer, was set up by Nnaji and built the 22mw Emergency Power Plant in Abuja. The company is also about completing the construction of an integrated power plant in Aba, Abia State

5000 NOTE, WILL WORSEN THE ECONOMY-NLC,ANC

Opposition mounted yesterday against the planned introduction of N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Nigeria Labour Congress accused the CBN of trying to legitimise further devaluation of the nation’s currency.” It warned that the proposed introduction of the currency is capable of spurring a demand for wage increase by workers.

The ACN said the plan’s “uninvited consequence and collateral damage may outweigh the benefits of the new measure.”

The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), in its online professional forum, at the weekend, described the decision as an avenue for corruption and inflation.

ICAN’s past chairman (Ikeja District, Lagos) Joshua Oderinde, said: “It is going to increase inflation and corruption. Besides, it contradicts the principles of cashless economy which we are all supporting. It is simply a contradiction of the whole idea. The naira notes we have currently are okay.”

The CBN said last week that the N5,000 note will  go into circulation early nest year. It also said N5, N10 and N20 notes will be coined.

The faces of woman activists – the late Gambo Sawaba, the late Margaret Ekpo and the late Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, are to adorn the N5,000 note, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said.

But NLC Vice-President Issa Aremu, who is an economist, in a statement yesterday, said the apex bank was further devaluing the naira as there is a direct relationship between higher banknotes and devaluation.

According to him, Nigerian workers are opposed to the proposed introduction of the N5000 notes. The government should concentrate on revamping the manufacturing sector, he counselled.

The Labour leader said: “We oppose the proposed introduction of higher banknote of N5000  next year as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria under its currency redesign programme tagged `PROJECT CURE.’  

“The current highest banknote of N1000 was introduced in 2005.  We had currency review in 2007 and 2009. It should not be customary for every CBN governor to change the nation’s banknotes.  

“Incessant turning out of higher banknotes is an attempt to legitimise the devaluation of the Nigerian currency. There is a direct relationship between higher banknotes and devaluation of the currency.

“The CBN should concentrate on stabilising the value of the Naira rather than legitimising the devaluation of the currency.  CBN under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi should continue with the good work they are doing with respect to revival of manufacturing sector and management of inflation and interest rates.  The double digit inflation rate as we currently have cannot take us out of the economic crisis.

“Psychologically, for the working people, it means they work so much for little notes with the introduction of N5000. This may fuel crisis of expectation for more wage increase as bigger banknotes will be chasing fewer goods. Nigeria is better with smaller banknotes that can deliver goods and services rather than higher bills without any value”.

But the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, described the planned inscription of pictures of Mrs. Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba on the N5,000 currency as a welcome development.

 Emodi in a statement entitled “N5,000 Note: A plus for Nigerian Women and democracy” commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his “thoughtfulness” in approving that the “soon-to-be-introduced N5000 note bears the pictures of three distinguished and highly respected Nigerian women, namely Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba, in recognition of their contributions to the development of this nation.”

She added that the inclusion of the logo of the National Assembly on the new notes is worthy of praise as it is not only a symbol of democratic governance but indeed a micro Nigeria. 

She stated that the move is historical for Nigerian women “as it marks the very first time any government, whether military or civilian, would bestow them with this magnitude of recognition and respect.”

Emodi also said that the unprecedented appointment of many Nigerian women into the Federal Cabinet and other key positions in government “not only affirmed that Jonathan could be trusted to keep his promise to elevate women to where they rightly belong in the scheme of things.”

Jonathan, she said, “is indeed a fair-minded leader who believes in gender equity and Nigerian women have more to offer than they were previously given opportunity to offer.”

HOW WE ARE TALKING TO BOKO HARAM, BY PRESIDENCY

Govt states its stand as sect dismisses peace moves as false

The Presidency is insisting that it is in talks with the fundamentalist Islamic sect Boko Haram, contrary to the reports of the group’s denial of such moves.

Besides, the Presidency argued yesterday that the refutal might be coming from one of the goup’s factions. 

Abu Muhammad, who claimed to be the second in-command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, alerted Nigerians to ongoing talks between the government and the sect.

But, Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa, in an e-mail statement last week, denied that the group had been meeting with government officials as widely reported in the media.

“We believe that the purported Abu Mohammed – who was quoted to have blown the lid over the alleged talks from Saudi Arabia – is the creation of the Nigerian government in order to mislead Nigerians on the crusade we are waging and that by the grace of Allah, they will not succeed.”

Qaqa added: “The media should know that as far as we are concerned, there is no difference between those that are fighting us with weapons (security forces) and those that are fighting us with their tongues and pens.”

However, the Presidency said there is nothing to worry about over the issue. 

Reacting to the controversy, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati, assured that President Goodluck Jonathan is tackling the matter through multi-faceted levels.

The presidential spokesman revealed that the said dialogue is not the conventional talks.

He noted that the government has adopted the back room channels to reach the  Boko Haram sect.

“When government says it is already talking to Boko Haram, the form of that dialogue must be properly understood. I think a lot of people are under the impression that the dialogue involves a situation whereby government officials are sitting on one side, Boko Haram persons are sitting on the other side in an air-conditioned room and there are negotiations across the table. 

“That is not the form of the dialogue. The form of the dialogue is that back room channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are, what exactly can be done to resolve the crises, in the overall best interest of ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria and the security of life and property. 

“And all of this is consistent with the position of Mr. President. So what is called dialogue is at many levels: through back room channels and through multi-level, constructive interventions to address a difficult issue that is multifarious.”

Abati added: “One thing that is noteworthy is that the Boko Haram spokesperson made it clear that they were prepared to go a step further to ensure that persons who are using the name of Boko Haram for political and criminal purposes are identified and checked. 

“What that original statement indicated was that indeed Boko Haram has many faces. It confirms that this thing called Boko Haram is such a multifaceted phenomenon. 

“The true situation has already been stated by the Minister of Information on two different occasions. First in an interview, second through a press release, namely that the Federal Government is involved in dialogue with Boko Haram. 

“You will recall that what led to this is that a spokesperson for Boko Haram issued a statement confirming that government and some leaders of Boko Haram were already discussing; in that particular statement the issues being looked at were clearly identified. 

“You will recall that in one instance, during a Presidential Media Chat, President Jonathan had made it clear that the Boko Haram phenomenon, the terror phenomenon in Nigeria, is quite a novel phenomenon and that many of the persons involved in the low level insurgency are not known, they have not come forward. However if such persons should come forward, government will grant them a listening ear to know what it is that they are after. Again the President is on record, as having made it clear that government’s approach to checking the Boko Haram insurgency is at many levels. 

“The available option, according to Mr President, is not solely one of military action or police action and it is on the basis of this that he had reached out to leaders of political thoughts in the parts of the country that are affected. 

“It is on this basis that President Jonathan held a lot of meetings with politicians from the Northern states. Because his position is that look, this people, yes they may not come forward but they are not ghosts, they live in communities. They are members of the Nigerian community, there would be persons who know them. There would be leaders in these communities, in these villages, in these towns who may have an idea and such persons needed to be carried along to assist in addressing the Boko Haram issue. When government adopts this approach, it does not mean government is abdicating its responsibility to ensure that persons who go against the law are sanctioned. 

“There is even a third level of intervention, the economic and social level of intervention. In this regard, President Jonathan has made it clear that many of the efforts being directed towards the affected parts of the country are meant, in fact, to redirect the energies of the youths and this is the whole point of using the agricultural sector to transform lives, to create wealth, to create a value chain, the end of which is to create jobs and to engage young people more effectively. This government has a robust agricultural transformation programme that has been justly praised by IFAD and the World Bank.”

Abati also said: “The Jonathan administration has been providing wider opportunities for many of the youths in the affected parts of the country to be able to go to school. No other government before now has done as much. Get them off the streets, engage them meaningfully and then, of course, you know that the government introduced the You Win programme, and several other pro-people initiatives and policies. 

“So, this is the issue at this stage, but one thing you should also note is that the Boko Haram, as has been admitted, even by its spokespersons, is a phenomenon that has mutated. So it is not unusual that you will find a situation whereby a variant of the mutation may express a view that sounds like it’s contradicting the other. What is certain is that government is considering all of this, government is taking on the issue frontally and through back room channels, with the assistance of a number of persons who have an understanding of the sociology and the character of the problem.

“You must admit of course that a lot is being achieved. Within the last one year and more, you can see that a lot has changed in terms of the knowledge that has been gained about the nature and character of the problem. A lot has been done, and a lot has been achieved in terms of the capacity of the state to deal with the problem. What President Jonathan is asking for as his government tackles this issue from the various dimensions that we have identified, the political, the economic, the social and also, law enforcement, what he calls for, what he demands from Nigerians is support.”

FG REVIEWS NATIONAL GENDER POLICY

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said the review of the National Gender Policy 2006 and its strategic implementation will bring the much-needed peace and development in Nigeria.

In a statement after a National Stakeholders Forum on Friday, the minister said the exercise would enable the administration to fine-tune its priorities on women development and gender balance in national life.

According to her, the much-needed peace and development in Nigeria would only be achieved with a quality investment in women and girls, whom she described as the nation’s hidden treasures and resources.

“This review therefore, is another major step to further build a true platform for the development and real empowerment of women and other vulnerable members in our society,” Maina said.

She added that the current administration under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, had demonstrated unflinching commitment to ensuring that men and women have equal rights and opportunities in all spheres.

“As we undergo this phase of our policy document review, all stakeholders are being presented with another opportunity to note and correct the past wrongs,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary, George Afamefuna, also said the exercise was long overdue.

“This meeting is coming up six years after its adoption as a transformation agenda to engineer social change and women’s empowerment in Nigeria. We need to review the policy implementation so as to identify gaps, challenges and evolve strategies to strengthen it,” he said.

He stated that the review process was a practical demonstration of the ministry’s quest to promote not only the advancement of women but gender equity and equality in Nigeria.

“The ministry expects that this review will carry all stakeholders along and facilitate a better operational policy document and create an environment for government to develop mechanisms that will assist in the achievement of the national goal of gender equality,” he added

11 PERSONS DIED IN YOBE FLOOD AND ABOUT 200 HOUSES DESTROY

A top government source has just informed SaharaReporters that at least 11 persons died two days ago in a flood that swept through Gashua, Yobe State. Our source said the flood “drowned some parts of Gashua town,” leaving hundreds of residents homeless. The flooding was caused by a heavy downpour that occurred in the area.

Our source added that nearly 200 houses were destroyed. He stated that property damage had not been estimated, but suggested that it would be substantial.

Our correspondent learnt that the torrential rainfall had also caused flooding problems in other parts of Yobe as well as in Bauchi and Jigawa states.

The traditional ruler of Gashua, Abubakar Umar Suleiman, disclosed that his aides were advising residents to refrain from discarding their garbage in drainages. In addition, he stressed the need for residents to keep their environment clean in order to reduce the severe effects of flooding after heavy downpours.

Abdullahi Bego, a spokesman for Governor Ibrahim Geidam, said the government had set up a committee on the flood. He said he was in no position yet to say the exact number of casualties, adding that the committee would soon submit its findings.

Source: SarahaReporters

OIC: NIGERIA REMAINS A SECULAR STATE SAYS FOREIGN MINISTER

THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday said Nigeria remains a secular state regardless of its membership of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

Its membership of OIC, he maintained, does not amount to the Islamisation of the country.

Ashiru, spoke exclusively to The Nation on Sunday in Abuja against the backdrop of the fresh controversy sparked by the recent OIC session.

He asked Nigerians to shun attempt by some people to stoke the fire of religious crisis in the country.

He said there is no move to Islamise the country as OIC has already   condemned the activities of Boko Haram as being out of tune with the tenets of Islam.

A statement credited to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Nurudeen, has been generating reactions from the Christian community.

The minister was quoted as saying, “Nigeria is one of the most Christian-populated Islamic nations in the world.”

But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ashiru said there is no cause for alarm because Nigeria is a secular state as expressly stated in the 1999 Constitution.

He said he suspected that the Minister of State might have been misquoted.

Ashiru said: “The position is very clear, Nigeria is a secular state with the population of Christians and Muslims evenly divided at approximately 50-50. So, the statement credited to the Minister of State might have been quoted out of context.

“Our constitution is very clear that we are a secular nation and our Foreign Policy derives from that constitution. We will remain a secular state.

“We are members of OIC since the military regime of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of our Muslim brethren.  “In any case, we have been in OIC for many years we should not raise any issue about that. In fact,  a Nigerian, Amb. Hammed Opeloyeru is the Assistant Secretary-General of OIC.

“Our membership of OIC does not tantamount to the Islamisation of Nigeria. In any case, we have worked well with OIC to our own advantage.

“I assure all Nigerians that our policy as a secular state, which is enshrined in the constitution has not changed.

“On the issue of Boko Haram, OIC is one of the organisations that spoke against attacks by the group. It is an association that has been mutually beneficial.”

He appealed to Nigerians “not to allow the nation to be divided along religious lines.”

N400B FUEL SCANDAL: GOVT INSIST ON FULL REFUND

THE Federal Government is acting tough on the refund of oil subsidy collected by indicted marketers.

It insists that the refund be made in full and not the 30 to 49 per cent that some of them have been repaying.

Beside, the Presidency has barred oil marketers on trial from travelling abroad except on extreme medical grounds.

A statement yesterday night said the government has listed four other companies to the one earlier released. A statement from the office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said all the 25 indicted oil marketers will face criminal investigation.

 The statement by Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, the Minister’s Senior Assistant said the information shows that some of the companies  claimed payments for consignments brought in “by ship which investigations revealed were either non-existent or were somewhere else in the world.”

 The statement released the extract of the report detailing the cases against the 25 companies. 

However, the Minister may meet with the 25 indicted oil marketers alongside some cabinet members tomorrow.

It was gathered last night that the meeting might cover reconciliation of subsidy accounts, refunds made so far, and commitments on the balance.

The session might also involve legal experts based on the marketers for what a government source described as “judicial soft-landing,” following request for plea bargaining.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some of the indicted oil marketers have only succeeded in refunding about 30 to 40 percent of the excess subsidy cash outstanding against their names.

A government source said the refunds were allegedly made to a dedicated account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Sources said government was not sucked in by the part payment and has directed that the money be paid in full.

The marketers are Conoil Plc; MRS Oil and Gas; Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd.; Aluminnur Resources Limited; Brilla Energy Ltd.; Caades Oil and Gas Ltd.; Downstream Energy Source Ltd; Eterna Plc and Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd.

Other marketers are Sifax Oil and Gas Company; Tonique Oil Services Ltd; Top Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd; Lumen Skies Ltd.; Majope Investment Ltd.; Matrix Energy Ltd.; Menon Oil and Gas Ltd.; MOB International Services; Nasaman Oil Services Ltd; Natacel Petroleum Ltd; Ocean Energy Trading and Services; and Pinnacle Contractors Ltd.; Heyden Petroleum Limited; Downstream Energy Limited; and Ceoti Limited.

An authoritative government source said: “The government is uncomfortable with the 30 to 40 per cent refund made by some of these marketers. Nothing less than 100 per cent will be acceptable to the government.

“They have been begging but the heroes of this recovery programme are the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) who have developed exceptional will to damn the consequences to recover the excess subsidy cash.

“The fears of these marketers border on the fact that after the refunds, they might still be prosecuted and their firms blacklisted by the Federal Government. They have been begging the government for soft-landing.

“These Ministers have been under intense pressure but they are insisting on allowing justice to prevail. It is not easy prosecuting a son of the National Chairman of a ruling party, it requires courage.”

The source claimed that the Coordinating Minister of the Economy might meet with the embattled oil marketers on Monday to reconcile subsidy accounts, refunds made so far, and the commitments they are bringing to the discussion table.

“Besides the Coordinating Minister, some cabinet members and the CBN might be at the session. What the government is after is full recovery of the excess subsidy cash, even if it means selling off the tanks or other assets of some oil marketers.

“I think some of the marketers would like to discuss some terms with the government team. They are after plea bargaining and other soft-landing measures.”

Meanwhile, the Presidency has mandated security agencies  to disallow any of the indicted oil marketers or those undergoing investigation from travelling out of the country until the subsidy cash matter has reached “appreciable bend” that the court will grant them permission to do so.

It was gathered that the refusal of a Lagos High Court on Friday to deny Mahmud Tukur, Abdullahi Alao, and Felix Ochonogo permission to go overseas was based on security reports.

Another government source added: “It will be a slap on the anti-corruption campaign of the Federal Government to allow these accused persons to travel out. Security reports do not favour such application.

“They have been arraigned and the hearing of the substantive matter has not started, yet they sought to jet out of the country. This is a wrong signal.

“The EFCC has established that they have a case to answer, let them stay to defend their action.

“But, if we have confirmed cases of health challenges, the government will allow them to travel out. And if in the course of trial, the court deems it fit to ask them to go abroad, the government will stick to the rule of law.

“So far, the government has asked security agencies. To watch-list these indicted marketers until they make substantial refunds. They cannot travel out in the present circumstance.”