RICE farmers under the auspices of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, has assured Nigerians that in June 2017 a 50 kilogramme of rice bag will sell at N10, 000.
This assurance was given by the National President, RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, while speaking on the current development in the rice industry, which Goronyo disclosed that rice farmers under the association now have direct access to fertiliser.
He said: “Fertiliser was a very big challenge, but today it has become a history. We have signed MoU where the fertiliser is sold N5, 500 per bag of fertiliser, and is now a government policy. We have more fertiliser in the country and go direct to the hands of the farmers and is everywhere in the country.
“We have already achieved rice sufficiency in the last two years because all the rice we eat is grown here in the country. With the government through the Nigeria Customs Service on the land borders, including the high exchange rate no importer can go to other countries and import rice for profit. I assure you in the next three months a 50kg bag of rice will come down to N10, 000.
“The Anchor Borrowers Scheme was conceived through collective effort by the Central Bank of Nigeria, RIFAN and other relevant key stakeholders, and we are everyday meeting with the CBN reviewing the process.
” However, the rice farmers’ boss lamented inadequate rice seeds for his over 4.2 million registered members, which according to him said past governments, have failed to provide certified and quality seeds for over 30 years.
“Seed is the most essential component of any commodity that is going to be produced. We do not have rice seeds in Nigeria. The few companies we have in the country do not have the capacity to supply the quality and certified seeds we need. What we have is grossly inadequate and not up to one percent of the need by Nigerian farmers.
“I blame the previous governments because for the 30 years we don’t have enough certified seeds. The government has played vital role in creating this problem for the farmers.
“The research centres are there and they are being paid but they are not doing what they are supposed to because government rely on them to come up with certified seeds, and we the end users, the farmers, we know that we are not getting then real certified seed.
“Even the current Anchor Borrowers Scheme that is going on we are just managing seeds from few companies that rarely have certified seeds. Most of the seeds that are being supplied are from the companies that do not have all it takes, and we do not have other options than to use what they are giving to us. The seeds released are not up to five percent of our total requirement”, he stated.
ogodogun oghenekevwe
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
How not to run a country
THE saddest occurrence in the history of mankind is that Nigerians ever featured in the human happiness index in spite of the miseries that daily rule their lives. Anytime I see Nigerians mentioned in the same bracket with that word, I usually reach for my dictionary and happiness is still defined as: “A mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment or immense joy”?
Nigeria has been ranked sixth in Africa in the latest World Happiness Report of 2017 and 95th in the World. The Report ranks 155 countries by their happiness levels.
people in Africa in spite of our many afflictions. Does it mean we are like the thoughtless Galatians? Well, we take a lot of things that make you wonder if humans can ever get so low and doubt what is left of our dignity as a people.
A resilient people
But a thorough inquiry would reveal that there is a more rigorous explanation for our state of being. And it is that we are a resilient people that should be very easy to govern by a focused leadership. Our expectations collectively are not so high. It is about a country of its size that I know where citizens would scream “UP NEPA” when power is restored instead of being angry that they have not had power for several hours. It is a place where “body language” is good enough instead of sterling performance.
Nigerians are ready to manufacture excuses for their leaders with the hope that “e go better” one way or the other. I am fully persuaded that it is this profile of the Nigerian people that has made life so easy for their leaders and also the very reason their leaders (rulers is a better word!) don’t take them very serious but show deep contempt for them. I doubt if the Nigerian politicians see much value in the electorate more than the ballot box which is brought on Election Day and returned to the store once the votes are counted.
One moment the Senate and the Customs boss are in a spat over appearance in uniform. Some have asked: what is so important in a uniform to the Senate? The corollary of that should be what is so unimportant to the Customs CG in a uniform attached to his office?
As that rages, the “grass cutter” too fires his own memo that he would not appear before the Senate. As we were savouring that, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) momentarily forgot that he is a constitutional lawyer and an appointee being paid from taxpayers’ money by declaring that he could not be summoned by the Senate because they didn’t vote money for his office. So the fund his committee is using is from his law firm or the President’s farm?
In the midst of all that came the accusation that Dino Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, as he claimed until the ABU VC came to testify that he did earn the university’s certificate. A day after, the senator came to the chambers in academic gown in a dramatic display of the huge joke governance has been reduced to in our country.
The clear demonstration of the denied threat to shut down Buhari’s government soon came to the fore with the refusal by the Senate to clear the 27 RECs sent by the Presidency until the resolution on Magu is complied with. It is difficult to understand what the President is up to on this controversial Magu issue. Did he expect the Senate to clear the anti-corruption dramatist with the damning report the DSS under the Presidency has turned to the legislative body?
This perhaps lends credence to the suspicion that all the shenanigans we are witnessing between the executive and legislature are scripted to make us focus on minors because they have no clue on the majors. It may not be so. The truth, however, is that none of the arms is living up to the expectations of millions of Nigerians who embraced change two years ago.
The life of this administration is just a year more before serious activities for the next elections commence; would all that is going on now be the payback for change? The APC leadership must get back to the drawing board, stop all the nonsense going on between the executive and legislature and turn a new leaf in the months remaining for the sake of our suffering people.
All that is presently going on spells how not to run a country.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
NNPC to hike fuel price, as tanker drivers suspend strike
Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural gas Workers, NUPENG, Monday, suspended their strike action to allow for further dialogue with the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
At a meeting in Abuja, called at the instance of the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, the Federal Government also kick-started the process for a hike in the prices of petroleum products, with the products likely to sell between N147 and N150 per litre.
Specifically, to satisfy the yearnings of the aggrieved tanker drivers for an increase in transporters’ margin, sources among the officials of the PTD and NUPENG told Vanguard that Baru promised to increase the Bridging Claims for the tanker drivers from the present N4 per litre, thereby setting machinery in motion for a possible hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
The Bridging Claim is the amount paid to distributors of petroleum products across the country, and was introduced to ensure uniformity in the price of petroleum products across the country.
In May 2016, the Federal Government had approved a price range of N135 and N145 for a litre of PMS. Today, all the petrol stations in the country are selling at the highest point of N145 per litre.
Any further hike in the cost of the commodity would likely bring about a hike in the retail price of the product at the petrol stations.
Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, who confirmed the suspension of the strike to Vanguard Newspaper, however, refused to respond to enquiries of a likely increase in the price of fuel. However, National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, said the strike action had to be suspended in the interest of the country and also to allow for further negotiations and discussions.
….Details later
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
At a meeting in Abuja, called at the instance of the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, the Federal Government also kick-started the process for a hike in the prices of petroleum products, with the products likely to sell between N147 and N150 per litre.
Specifically, to satisfy the yearnings of the aggrieved tanker drivers for an increase in transporters’ margin, sources among the officials of the PTD and NUPENG told Vanguard that Baru promised to increase the Bridging Claims for the tanker drivers from the present N4 per litre, thereby setting machinery in motion for a possible hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
The Bridging Claim is the amount paid to distributors of petroleum products across the country, and was introduced to ensure uniformity in the price of petroleum products across the country.
In May 2016, the Federal Government had approved a price range of N135 and N145 for a litre of PMS. Today, all the petrol stations in the country are selling at the highest point of N145 per litre.
Any further hike in the cost of the commodity would likely bring about a hike in the retail price of the product at the petrol stations.
Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, who confirmed the suspension of the strike to Vanguard Newspaper, however, refused to respond to enquiries of a likely increase in the price of fuel. However, National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, said the strike action had to be suspended in the interest of the country and also to allow for further negotiations and discussions.
….Details later
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Forex scam: Reps to drag NNPC officials to EFCC
As oil firm denies receiving $26.486m forex
THE House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of Price of Petroleum Products has threatened to drag officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged foreign exchange scam within the sector.
This is even as some oil companies which names appeared on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, list as those that accessed forex for oil activities have denied having collected such monies.
But Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, has threatened that the committee would get to the root of the matter to determine the level of involvement of officials of NNPC in the alleged foreign exchange manipulation.
Recall that two CBN directors were arrested last week by the EFCC over alleged manipulation of forex allocation.
Already, the committee has summoned Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to appear at the investigative hearing on Friday to explain, among other things, alleged discrepancies in the documents submitted by the CBN and most of the oil marketers and their agencies.
Oil firm denies receiving $26.486m forex
In a letter dated March 13, 2017, the committee alleged that one of the indicted companies, H. A. R Petroleum Services Limited, obtained forex worth $11,878,471.67 at the bid rate of 160.01 for importation of PMS in January 2015 and an additional sum of $14,607,992.69 at the bid rate of 310 for importation of PMS in June 2016.
But responding, Andrew Haladu, a Director of H. A. R Petroleum Services Limited, denied the receipt of the forex from the apex bank, explaining that it handled logistics related services and never participated in importation of petroleum products.
He said: “Please note that H.A.R Petroleum Services Limited is primarily involved in the provisions of logistics support for bulk supplies belonging to select majors and Independent who are clients.”
“H.A.R petroleum services limited acts in an agency capacity to its clients for the sourcing and delivery of bulk supplies to nominated facilities as instructed by same clients. We undertake all logistics related to ensuring that the Daughter vessel of the client is berthed and discharged to their nominated facility with strict adherence to the requirements of security and regulatory agencies present at the seaport.
“We as a company, at no time, have had cause to purchase Gasoline from NNPC Retail, PPMC or any other source, neither have we at any time approached or received authority to import Gasoline into Nigeria from the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. In like manner, we could not, therefore, have received forex from CBN for gasoline.
“In regards to the documents requested, we are unfortunately unable to provide these, as these documents would be in custody of our clients, who have imported the cargoes you seek clarity.
For the transactions specifically mentioned in your letter, these would seem to both be Gasoline imports of Total Nigeria PLC for which we handled the logistics of managing the supply to their facilities.”
Worried by the failure of the company’s Chief Executive Officer to appear before the adhoc committee, Igbokwe had last week, asked the Inspector General of Police and Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, to determine the whereabouts of the official and ensure his appearance on Friday, April 7, 2017.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
THE House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of Price of Petroleum Products has threatened to drag officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged foreign exchange scam within the sector.
This is even as some oil companies which names appeared on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, list as those that accessed forex for oil activities have denied having collected such monies.
But Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, has threatened that the committee would get to the root of the matter to determine the level of involvement of officials of NNPC in the alleged foreign exchange manipulation.
Recall that two CBN directors were arrested last week by the EFCC over alleged manipulation of forex allocation.
Already, the committee has summoned Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to appear at the investigative hearing on Friday to explain, among other things, alleged discrepancies in the documents submitted by the CBN and most of the oil marketers and their agencies.
Oil firm denies receiving $26.486m forex
In a letter dated March 13, 2017, the committee alleged that one of the indicted companies, H. A. R Petroleum Services Limited, obtained forex worth $11,878,471.67 at the bid rate of 160.01 for importation of PMS in January 2015 and an additional sum of $14,607,992.69 at the bid rate of 310 for importation of PMS in June 2016.
But responding, Andrew Haladu, a Director of H. A. R Petroleum Services Limited, denied the receipt of the forex from the apex bank, explaining that it handled logistics related services and never participated in importation of petroleum products.
He said: “Please note that H.A.R Petroleum Services Limited is primarily involved in the provisions of logistics support for bulk supplies belonging to select majors and Independent who are clients.”
“H.A.R petroleum services limited acts in an agency capacity to its clients for the sourcing and delivery of bulk supplies to nominated facilities as instructed by same clients. We undertake all logistics related to ensuring that the Daughter vessel of the client is berthed and discharged to their nominated facility with strict adherence to the requirements of security and regulatory agencies present at the seaport.
“We as a company, at no time, have had cause to purchase Gasoline from NNPC Retail, PPMC or any other source, neither have we at any time approached or received authority to import Gasoline into Nigeria from the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. In like manner, we could not, therefore, have received forex from CBN for gasoline.
“In regards to the documents requested, we are unfortunately unable to provide these, as these documents would be in custody of our clients, who have imported the cargoes you seek clarity.
For the transactions specifically mentioned in your letter, these would seem to both be Gasoline imports of Total Nigeria PLC for which we handled the logistics of managing the supply to their facilities.”
Worried by the failure of the company’s Chief Executive Officer to appear before the adhoc committee, Igbokwe had last week, asked the Inspector General of Police and Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, to determine the whereabouts of the official and ensure his appearance on Friday, April 7, 2017.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Uduaghan denies alleged defection to APC
State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has described media reports that he had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as an “April Fool” story, adding that it was a lie.
Reacting to the report, the former governor, on his Facebook page said: “Anybody who believes that April Fool story about me will also believe that Arsenal will win the English league this season.”
The governor, also in another statement, yesterday, warned mischief makers and those seeking cheap popularity against using his name to seek relevance for their evil plots. Uduaghan, in the statement by his media aide, Sunny Areh, said: “This is obviously the work of mischief makers and those seeking cheap publicity.
It is a joke taken too far. It is obviously meant to create disaffection between me and my successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP and the Federal Government.
“People close to me know that is not my style. I have deliberately maintained a low profile to allow those in power today to have enough space to fulfil electoral promises to the people.
” It is not my style to seek cheap publicity or disrupt a peaceful process that is delivering democracy dividends to the people.”
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Reacting to the report, the former governor, on his Facebook page said: “Anybody who believes that April Fool story about me will also believe that Arsenal will win the English league this season.”
It is a joke taken too far. It is obviously meant to create disaffection between me and my successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP and the Federal Government.
“People close to me know that is not my style. I have deliberately maintained a low profile to allow those in power today to have enough space to fulfil electoral promises to the people.
” It is not my style to seek cheap publicity or disrupt a peaceful process that is delivering democracy dividends to the people.”
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Monday, 3 April 2017
I wish I have powers to reverse Ndume’s suspension — Saraki
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said he was not in a position to reverse the suspension of the senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume.
Saraki said he lacked the powers to unilaterally recall Ndume, saying the suspension was a decision of the Senate.
Similarly, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said crisis was a natural ingredient of democracy.
Both leaders, who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting held behind closed doors.
Asked whether the visit of Borno State governor, Kassim Shettima, to him at the weekend on behalf of Ndume would make him reconsider his position, Saraki said it was not in his place to decide, but promised to take the issue back to the floor of the senate.
Ndume was suspended for 180 days last week, following allegations that Saraki bought a jeep without paying Customs duties and that Senator Dino Melaye was not a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU.
Saraki said: “We should try and understand how the parliament works. I wish I had such powers, these powers you give me. I wish I had them. The Senate President or Speaker is first among equals.
‘’They are just presiding officers but unfortunately, you know the legislative arm is the youngest, people don’t understand. People give us these powers that we have.
“Decisions that are taken in plenary are decisions of all but I have a role to be able to convey the message. I will convey the message of the governor of Borno and the Senate is one. We are all one family. There will be issues like that, there is nothing that is sacrosanct or rigid.”
Also speaking, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said his visit to the Presidential Villa was routine, noting that there would always be crisis in a democratic government.
He said: “It baffles me when people see you visit Mr. President, they will think something is wrong. Nothing is wrong. It is routine visit. This is a democracy we are running and we have to open the space to civil society, to everyone who feels aggrieved to be able to air his grievances.
‘’So, if they have grievances against the institution of the legislature, we will take it. You see the point is we should never run away from crisis. Crises are always wonderful opportunities for us to begin anew, to begin to examine things in a new way. So we should welcome crisis.”
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Dog dies fighting suicide bomber at Maiduguri wedding party
Dozens of people were saved at a wedding party in Maiduguri, yesterday, as a teenage suicide bomber, who attempted to detonate a bomb at the ceremony was attacked by a dog. Both the dog and suicide bomber died in the explosion that resulted from detonation of the bomb, following the dog attack.
The incident occurred barely hours after the police in Borno confirmed that three suspected male suicide bombers were killed in separate foiled attacks at Muna and Dusuman village on the outskirt of Maiduguri.
The dog which, according to the police, belonged to a resident of the neighbourhood where the wedding was holding, stopped the teenage suicide bomber from detonating her explosives in the crowd.
The suicide bomber was about making her way into the gathering at the wedding ceremony before the dog pounced on her. The girl, whose original mission appeared to have been thwarted, detonated her explosives while battling to wriggle herself from the canine grip of the dog.
The gallant dog, it was learned, paid the supreme sacrifice as it died alongside the suicide bomber. Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in Borno State, Victor Isuku, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the incident happened at about 7.30 a.m. at Belbelo community of Jere Local Government Area in Borno State.
Meanwhile, the police in Borno State, yesterday, confirmed that three suspected male suicide bombers were killed in separate foiled attacks at Muna and Dusuman village at the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Spokesman of the state police command, Mr Victor Isuku, said in a statement that the first incident happened around Muna garage near the entrance of the city when two suspected male bombers were killed.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
The incident occurred barely hours after the police in Borno confirmed that three suspected male suicide bombers were killed in separate foiled attacks at Muna and Dusuman village on the outskirt of Maiduguri.
The dog which, according to the police, belonged to a resident of the neighbourhood where the wedding was holding, stopped the teenage suicide bomber from detonating her explosives in the crowd.
The suicide bomber was about making her way into the gathering at the wedding ceremony before the dog pounced on her. The girl, whose original mission appeared to have been thwarted, detonated her explosives while battling to wriggle herself from the canine grip of the dog.
The gallant dog, it was learned, paid the supreme sacrifice as it died alongside the suicide bomber. Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in Borno State, Victor Isuku, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the incident happened at about 7.30 a.m. at Belbelo community of Jere Local Government Area in Borno State.
Meanwhile, the police in Borno State, yesterday, confirmed that three suspected male suicide bombers were killed in separate foiled attacks at Muna and Dusuman village at the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Spokesman of the state police command, Mr Victor Isuku, said in a statement that the first incident happened around Muna garage near the entrance of the city when two suspected male bombers were killed.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
Masquerades attack Catholic seminarian with machetes
Nsukka— Some masquerades in the university town of Nsukka, Enugu State have beaten up a Catholic seminarian attached to Nsukka diocese to a pulp, robbed him of cash and his mobile phone and left him with machete cuts.Reacting to the incident, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Bishop Godfrey Onah, condemned the activities of masquerades popularly called Oriokpa.
Speaking, yesterday, in Nsukka during a church service at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, Bishop Onah urged law enforcement agencies to treat masquerades that block roads, beat, harm and extort money from people as terrorists and cultists. “It’s unfortunate that in this 21st century, some youths in Nsukka area would cover their faces, block roads, beat and extort money from people who go about their legitimate businesses in the name of masquerades,” he said. According to the Bishop, “on Wednesday, March 29, a seminarian serving in Nsukka diocese, Lawrence Ezugwu, while on his way to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, Nsukka district office to pay electricity bill was beaten to a pulp by a group of masquerades that blocked Enugu road at Ugwuoye Nsukka. “The seminarian has been in the hospital since Wednesday when the incident happened.
“This is a sacrilege and an abomination. The church will ensure that all those involved are brought to book as well as fight to bring this evil culture to an end. As bishop of this diocese, I am ready to lay down my life to stop this man’s inhumanity to man by masquerades who block roads, harm people, rape young girls, extort money from road users and intimidate innocent residents with weapons in the name of culture.
“The Nsukka Oriokpa masquerade is an evil cult. Anybody engaging in it is worshipping idol.” Contacted, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident and said one of the masquerades was already in police custody. “Investigation has been intensified to ensure that all those involved in that unfortunate incident are arrested and charged to court,” he said.
OGODOGUN OGHENEKEVWE
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