Nigeria Can Generate N5trn Annually From Solid Minerals – Group

Nigeria can generate at least N5 trillion annually from mining and exporting of its vast solid mineral deposits, with several multiplier effects of job creation, state development and social infrastructure that could make the solid minerals sector as the main catalyst for the national development, Association of Metals Exporters of Nigeria stated yesterday.

At a press briefing at the weekend in Lagos, the association called on the federal government to provide the enabling environment for the development of the Nigerian solid minerals sector. Metallic solid minerals are the most exported solid minerals from Nigeria.

The Association, which comprises of various companies in the business of metal export, commended the focus of the minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and expressed its readiness to partner with the government in the development of the Nigerian solid minerals sector.

President, Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, Mr. Seun Olatunji, said there is need for synergy between government agencies and private operators to unlock the values in solid minerals sector.

He noted that with not less than 38 viable solid mineral deposits in sustainable export quantity in Nigeria, the solid minerals sector has the potential to generate not less than N5 trillion annually once the government put in place necessary frameworks.

He pointed out that the solid minerals industry could serve as the much-needed solution to unemployment as the development of the value chain from mining to export can create more than five million jobs.

According to him, there is need for government regulatory agencies such as Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to work with established private sector companies under the auspices of Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria to develop globally acceptable regulatory standards for Nigerian metallic exports.

He noted that Nigeria has been losing considerable value due to the absence of efficient regulations and standards for metal exports.

Vice president, Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo, underscored the need for government to consider viable public private partnership (PPP) option to develop basic infrastructure such as crushing plant and standardized weighing bay among others.

Anti-Corruption Group Makes Shocking Revelations Against Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

A group called the Peoples Coalition against Corruption has urged the federal government and its anti-corruption agencies to investigate Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike for acts of monumental and well calculated acts of  corruption as well as other high profile economic and financial crimes he perpetrated in his days as Minister of State for Education to governor of Rivers State. 

The Peoples Coalition against Corruption has urged the federal government and its anti-corruption agencies to investigate Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike for acts of corruption spanning the last five years.

In a statement signed by Peter Iloagbeze, the group accused the governor of massive theft and diversion of resources from the Tetfund; the swindling of over N100billion Universal Basic Education Fund, as well as conversion and diversion over N20billion of the Ministry of Education budgets in four years, among others.  

It also called on the presidency, the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Police and DSS to investigate various acts of stealing, diversion of public funds, corrupt practices by colluding public servants in NDDC and the Rivers State government; as well as forgery, fraud, presentation of forged documents with the intent to deceive public officials, national sabotage, money laundering and other economic crimes. 

“We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Staff of NDDC, RVSG, CICO, RCC, as well as the Bank official that colluded to swindle Rivers State and Nigeria,” the statement said.

Accusing the governor of a deliberate attempt to deceive and swindle the Rivers State Government, the group alleged that as Minister of State for Education between 2012 and May 29, 2015, he caused to be awarded to himself through his companies and cronies several contracts which he did not execute but for which he received full payment. 

“For instance, on the 28th day of June 2012, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the hand of Engr. E. Eshett awarded the CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RUMUEPIRIKOM INTERNAL ROADS (PHASE 1 & 2), OBIO/AKPO to CICO INDUSTRIES LTD for the sum of #2,673,121,782.24 (Two Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Two Naira and Twenty-Four Kobo),” it said.  “Beside the fact that CICO INDUSTRIES LTD, is not a Civil Engineering company they were awarded with the contract for the construction of Rumueprikom Internal Roads and have been fully paid by NDDC, using his crony Hon. Henry Ogiri.”

According to the statement, CICO did not execute that job. 

“Instead, in 2015, upon emergence as the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, knowing that the same road had been awarded to him through MESSER CICO INDUSTRIES LTD for which he had been paid did without any form of compliance with the Rivers State Procurement Law and in other to cover his criminal act and intention, surreptitiously awarded the same RUMUEPRIKOM INTERNAL ROADS to RENNIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (RCC) for even a high amount than the pricing of the NDDC.”

The group said its investigations in RCC revealed that the Governor then went further to compel the company to do the job for N2billion less than the cost shown on Government Records as the price of the job. 

“The investigation also revealed that the company was cajoled to do the job as a condition for them to receive payment for their Trans Amadi - Woji - Elelenwo - Akpajo Road awarded to them by the past administration in the State. As it stands on records today, NDDC has Rumueprikom Internal Road awarded to CICO (WIKE) in 2012 for over N2.6billion; RVSG has the same road awarded to RCC and another company (both for WIKE) in 2015 for over N3.4billion.”

It stress that the most painful part of the matter is that as of now, not even up to 35% of the work scope has been achieved despite these such huge amounts having been swindled from the treasures of Rivers State and Nigeria. 

PDP LADY WHO WISHED PRESIDENT BUHARI DEAD DURING THE 2015 CAMPAIGN DIES pdp-lady-who-wishelllead-during-2015-campaign-dies-see-her-hate-posts

Esther Okono, a diehard Akwa Ibom supporter of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, who during the 2015 campaign among others wished President Muhammadu Buhari dead, reportedly died last Friday, January 22 according to posts on her facebook page.

She had been reportedly recently taken ill.

Esther joins a list of PDP big personalities and politicians who have died mysteriously since the campaigns.

Esther Okono was the former S.A. Media and Publicity to Former Governor of Akwa Ibom Akpabio and The National Coordinator of PDP National Youth Congress.

Esther is remembered for her vitriolic posts against Buhari.

See some of her posts:

Read more: http://newsrescue.com/pdp-lady-who-wished-buhari-dead-during-2015-campaign-dies-see-her-hate-posts/#ixzz3yL0BaF3r

$2.1BN: COLONEL EXPOSES ILLICIT LOOTING DEALS

ABUJA — Indications emerged last night that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has received some  lead on how some of the indicted top serving and retired military officers looted the nation through fraudulent arms contract and direct diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

Findings revealed that the arrest and detention of a serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army in relation to the diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase in the Office of the National Security Adviser, exposed the illicit deals undertaken by the indicted officers.

Findings also showed that the Colonel, who hails from Delta State and served as a Personal Assistant to the embattled ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been telling the anti-graft operatives all that he knows about the arms deals and those who masterminded the looting of the nation’s resources in the name of arms purchase.

It was on the strength of the revelations by the detained military officer and others, that the EFCC, last week, wrote to the Defence Headquarters to release the affected officers and their retired counterparts, for immediate questioning.

INDICTED OFFICERS ALREADY ON OUR RADAR —EFCC

A top EFCC official, who spoke in anonymity,  last night, confirmed that some of the indicted men were already under their radar.

The officer, who declined to give details of what they were doing about the indicted officers, said that EFCC would take immediate steps to carry out the Presidential directive arising from the indictment of the military officers by a panel, which looked into the arms deals.

The official said: “We intend to carry out the Presidential directive in accordance with our extant rules. Don’t forget that before the directive came, we had already moved to fish out some in the military top brass whose names came up in the course of investigation into the $2.1 arms deals.

“We also have a serving military officer, who has been telling us some of the things that took place in the name of arms purchase in the ONSA. All these will certainly advance our work.”

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, ordered the EFCC to prosecute many top military officers and companies indicted by a Presidential panel that probed the procurement of arms for the country between 2007 and 2015.

THOSE TO BE  INVESTIGATED
Among those mentioned in the panel report as having cases to answer were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd); former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (retd), and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu (retd).

The others are Major-General E.R. Chioba (retd), Air Vice Marshal I.A. Balogun (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Tsakr (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Idowu (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.M. Mamu, Air Vice Marshal, O.T. Oguntoyinbo, Air Vice Marshal T. Omenyi, Air Vice Marshal J.B. Adigun, Air Vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo, and Air Vice Marshal J.A. Kayode-Beckley.

Others are: Air Commodore Sa Yushau (retd), Air Commodore A.O. Ogunjobi, Air Commodore G.M.D. Gwani, Air Commodore S.O. Makinde, Air Commodore A.Y. Lassa, Colonel N. Ashinze, and Lt. Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Also to be investigated are: Himma Aboubakar, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Messrs Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts Nig Ltd, among others.

According to the statement, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and characterized by irregularities and fraud, while in many cases, the items procured failed to meet their required purposes, especially the counter insurgency operations in the north east.

NIGERIAN AIR FORCE OPENS APPLICATION FOR RECRUITMENT

The Nigerian Air Force has announcement the commencement of recruitment of Airmen and Airwomen.
The Service in a statement signed by Air Vice Marshal C. N. Chukwu on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, gave the details of the procedures for applying.
The statement by Chukwu reads in full:
APPLICATION FOR NIGERIAN AIRFORCE AIRMEN/AIRWOMEN RECRUITMENT EXERCISE (BMTC 2016).

GUIDELINES:
1.All applicants must be Nigerians not less than 1.68m tall for male and not less than 1.65m for female.
2. Interested applicants are to apply free of charge online at www.careers.nigerianairforce.gov.ng.
3. Applicants are to print out the underlisted documents after completion of application online:
a. Local Government Attestation Form.
b. Parents/Guardian Consent Form.
c. Acknowledgement Form.

QUALIFICATIONS
4. Non Tradesmen/Women.
a. Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 22 years by 31 December 2016.
b. Applicants must possess a minimum of 3 credits including Maths and English in SSCE/NECO/GCE.

5. Tradesmen/Women: a. Applicants applying as tradesmen and women must be between 17 and 24 years by 31 December 2016.

b. Applicants must possess a minimum of 3 pasess including English in SSCE/NECO/GCE and must possess at least a lower credit in ND/NCE or any relevant trade certificate from reputable and approved government institutions/organisations.
NOTE
6. Online registration starts on 8 February 2016 and closes on 25 March 2016.

7. Zonal recruitment exercise will start from 11 – 29 April 2016.

8. NAF Online registration and all other recruitment processes are free of charge and no payment should be made.

9. The Local Government Attestation/Indigeneship certificate must be accompanied by the passport photograph and photocopy of the signees drivers licence or international passport. The signee is also to authenticate the passport photograph of the applicant behind.

10. For further information see the instruction page on the website as from 8 February 2016 or e-mail: airforce.support@swglobal.com

LASSA FEVER PATIENT ESCAPES FROM HOSPITAL

EBONYI: A male patient who tested positive to LASSA FEVER was reported to have escaped from a hospital in Ebonyi state to an unknown destination.

The minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewole who expressed dismay concerning the situation stated that the patient could not have absconded on his own without the help of some of the healthcare givers in the hospital and has so far directed‎ that the patient must be looked for and treated immediately.

“He should be traced and taken back to the facility. He should be reassured that he will live if the treatment is done promptly as he could not have absconded on his own without the support of the health officers.

He lamented that so much is been expected from the Ebonyi state government as it has not done enough. He said there was no need for patients to be transferred to‎ Irrua in Edo state when the state has a functional healthcare centre

In curbing the wide spread of the dreaded Lassa fever‎, the federal government has cleared the air concerning the handling of dead bodies by relatives of the deceased by stating that they would be allowed to do so as religious and cultural beliefs must be respected. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Abdusalam Nasidi, made the views and observations on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the emergency National Council on Health on Lassa fever outbreak. He said relatives of the deceased must oblige to disinfect dead bodies which should be carried before and after in double body bags as well as ensuring that graves are dug very deep. “Families will not be denied the bodies of their deceased relatines because there must be respect for religious and cultural beliefs. 

The real problem is that the culture of some people to wash dead bodies before burial. However, we warn against contact with the bodies as a bid towards curtailing the virus. “Relatives will have to ensure that the bodies of the deceased are disinfected with chlorine and it is recommend that the bodies should be packaged in double body bags. We also advise that graves must be dug very deep.”

NNPC: CRUDE FLOWS TO TWO NIGERIAN REFINERIES SHUT AFTER ATTACKS

Report reaching our news desk indicates that the NNPC may have ordered a shut down of crude oil flows to two of its four refineries after  the weekend's attacks on pipelines, a company spokesman said on Monday, frustrating government hopes to start weaning the country from expensive imports.

The refineries in the northern city of Kaduna and Warri, in the southern Niger Delta, were affected, said Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation spokesman Ohi Alegbe.

"We have shut down flows for now, the military are on top of the matter," he said, without offering details of the attacks.

Nigeria is plagued by violence, corruption and poor infrastructure. Despite being Africa's largest crude exporter, it imports almost all its gasoline but officials had hoped national refineries would produce up to 30 percent of its gasoline needs in the first quarter of 2016.

The 125,000 barrel per day (bpd) Warri refinery and the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery had resumed output in December after several months of maintenance. The Kaduna refinery receives its feedstock oil via the Warri refinery.

Nigeria also has a third refining complex with two plants in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, although only the newer of the two plants is currently functioning.

No group claimed responsibility for the weekend attacks, which follow last week's arrest warrant for former militant leader turned businessman Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, as part of a crackdown on corruption. Several former top government officials have been charged with fraud.

A statement issued by the military's operation Pulo Shield in the oil-rich Niger Delta region vowed to hold "community leaders responsible for any act of sabotage".

"This warning is coming as a result of recent, multiple attacks on oil facilities and platforms by suspected militants in the Niger Delta region," the statement issued on Sunday said, without offering further details.

The attacks follow years of relative calm in the country's oil-producing region after an 2009 amnesty halted frequent attacks on oil installations and kidnappings of expatriate workers.

OPEC member Nigeria is facing an economic crisis and dwindling foreign reserves as a result of the sharp drop in global oil prices.

President Muhammadu Buhari, elected last year, wants to revamp the country's long-neglected refining system and produce enough fuel, particularly gasoline, to reduce expensive imports.