29042019 - Economy bleeds as power system collapses

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Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019—9 PENSION: Officials of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, attending to pensioners, during the on-going parastatals pensioner’s verification exercise in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN Abuja-Kaduna Road kidnappings create chaos at Idu, Kubwa train stations •Military top brass abandon road for train journey By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief & Emmanuel Elebeke ABUJA—THE rising incidents of kidnapping along the Abuja-Kaduna highway has created a chaotic situation at Idu and Kubwa train stations in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Vanguard gathered that the activities of the dreaded kidnappers and armed robbers, operating with sophisticated weapons now make even some of the top brass of the military and security organisations to park their cars and take trains between the two cities. The insecurity on the Abuja-Kaduna road, has forced a lot of travellers to abandon the road, thereby exerting pressure on the train service, with unprecedented large number of passengers moving to the stations, leaving a rowdy ticketing process. Our investigations have shown that although the Abuja-Kaduna journey takes an average of about two hours, travellers who want to ride on the trains could spend more than those two hours to obtain tickets. It was gathered that obtaining train tickets has become so difficult that a would-be traveller needs to know an official of the station at Idu, Kubwa of Rigasa, the Terminal point in Kaduna, to get a ticket. The alternative has been to stay at the train stations for several hours or buy tickets from corrupt station officials and their collaborators, touts for prices twice or thrice the fare. Tickets racketeering Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested eight of such people early this month, specifically on April 7 2019, following intelligence reports on their activities. According to the EFCC, those arrested and questioned include Clement Zakka, Udim Sunday Samson, Adams Danladi, Otitomoni Omobolanle and Hassan Dauda. Their mode of operation is to deny travelers tickets, saying tickets for the next train had been sold out. Later they would surreptitiously approach desperate would-be travelers and tell them they could arrange tickets for them, if they would pay more than the face value. Officially, the Economy ticket costs N1, 300 but the racketeers sell it at between N2,000 and N5,000, while the First Class tick which goes for N2,500 is sold between N7,000 and N15,000. In spite of the EFCC raids on the stations, it was learned that in less than one month, the touts are back, conniving with ticketing officers to reserve tickets for the highest bidder. Train passengers want ticketing automated Commuters who spoke to Vanguard, suggested that the ticketing process be automated, reminiscent of what obtains in the aviation industry. They complained that there was currently huge loss of man-hours, with some travelling back and forth between Kubwa and Idu in order to obtain tickets. Nyaku A. B, a businessman, said of his experience: "My experience about the journey has been a pleasant one, it is comfortable from the train station to the point of arrival, I can say it is very satisfactory. ‘’However, the process of obtaining the train ticket and sometimes the boarding, is where the issue is. Coming to ticketing process, I find it so disappointing and embarrassing that in this period of technological development, the ticketing system being practised is shameful. ‘’Today I sent somebody to queue and buy ticket for me, he went there about 11 o’clock in Kaduna for a train of 2 o’clock. They told him they would not sell ticket to him until around 12 o’clock. Reason for choosing rail travel ‘’It is for obvious reasons, the insecurity on the Abuja- Kaduna route, even though there are issues of insecurity everywhere, the Abuja-Kaduna route in particular has become notorious for kidnapping. Army generals abandon road, join the train —Commuters ‘’Even the Generals and security officials are also parking their cars to join the train in order to avoid the risk. So that is why we are joining the route to minimise the risk. Reacting, Haida Mahmoud, a student in Kaduna, said: ‘’This is my first time of coming to Idu train station. In other stations one has to suffer before getting ticket compared to Kubwa and Kaduna. At Kubwa I could not get ticket since 12 o’ clock, that is why I came here. ‘’I chose train because it is safer, unlike the road which is not safe, with robbery and kidnapping. The train is better. There should be improvement on the ticketing process. At Kubwa, we had to write our names and queue just to get ticket, I do not think it is ideal for us to queue and pass through the rigour people are currently going through. Buhari, APC out to cover corruption, incompetence —PDP By Dirisu Yakubu ADemocratic BUJA—PEOPLES Party, PDP, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, of desperation to remain in power at all costs, to continue to exploit Nigerians, protect corrupt leaders in its fold, cover their incompetence and conceal the humongous sleazes in the administration. According to PDP, this is the reason APC and the cabal at the Presidency resorted to violence, intimidation as well as manipulations and alteration of results at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rig the February 23, Presidential election. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party maintained that the desperation informed the reason APC agents and certain Presidential aides have been making desperate efforts to distract the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and derail the course of justice by making and promoting baseless judicial interpretations and externalizing the proceedings of the court. The statement read: “The President Buhari-led APC administration wants to remain in power to prevent Kokori: Labour issues May 1 ultimatum to Ngige on NSITF Board By Victor Young & Johnbosco Agbakwuru L AGOS—ORGANISED Labour has given the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, up to Wednesday May 1, to inaugurate the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust, NSITF, with Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, as chairman, or face its wrath. Labour also warned Ngige against the dropping of the name of President Muhammadu Buhari in the substitution of Chief Frank Kokori as chairman of the board and accused the Minister of employing delayed tactics, while remaining the ‘sole administrator’ of the Fund. Efforts to reach the minister last night for his reaction proved abortive, as he was said to be in the church and could, therefore, not react. But Labour in a statement yesterday by President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, accused Ngige of turning NSITF into personal estate, perpetrating several illegalities, including unapproved recruitment. It equally accused Ngige of not only being economical with the truth, but also lying to remain sole administrator of NSITF, warning that after May Day, if Ngige failed to inaugurate the board with Kokori as chairman of the board, labour would make public some of the infractions of the minister at NSITF. The NLC in a four-page statement decried the statement by the ministry calling labour leaders that attended the botched inauguration thugs. NLC stated: “The statement, which was filled with many unbelievable barefaced lies and uncouth language, alleged, among other things, that the inauguration had to be postponed …to avoid the degeneration of the situation where thugs were already manhandling some officers of the ministry and policemen attached to the office of the minister. “The Minister’s statement asserted that the violent gate crashing and the illegal forceful seizure of the conference room of the Honourable Minister by thugs numbering hundreds and persons who clearly had no business with the inauguration of the board is totally unacceptable.’’ Wabba accused Ngige of several infractions at NSITF, saying “unknown to the Presidency, the Minister had within this period that he was the sole manager of NSITF, recruited hundreds of people, majority of whom are from his community. EFCC arraigns Bauchi gov-elect for alleged bribe-taking By Soni Daniel A Economic BUJA—THE and Financial Crimes Commission will today slam six criminal charges against Bauchi State governor-elect, Senator Bala Mohammed, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The charges marked CR/ 177/17 border on accepting gratification and acquisition of landed property. Specifically, the former FCT minister is charged with accepting gratification in the form of a house valued at N550 million on No 2599 and 2600 Cadastral Zone, AO4 Asokoro District, Abuja, from Aso Savings and Loans Plc in 2014. The commission, through its prosecuting counsel Mr. Wahab Shittu, said the alleged gratification was accepted as reward by Mohammed “for performing your official duties”. The alleged offence, according to the commission, is contrary to Section 18 (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 18 (d). He is also accused of making a false statement to an EFCC investigating officer, Ishaya Dauda, that he acquired the Cadastral Zone property through a mortgage facility from Aso Savings and Loans. Mohammed is also accused of failing to make full disclosure of his property on 54, Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, Abuja in the course of filing his asset declaration form at the EFCC. The commission said the offence is contrary to Section 27 (3) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3) (c). The prosecution also accused Mohammed of failing to declare a property on Agwan Sarki Kaduna in Kaduna State. The anti-graft agency also said thst the governor-elect made a false declaration that a property on CITEC Kwara House 5, AP Street, Mbora, Abuja belongs to him.
C M Y K 10 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019 2019 POLL: Fulani elders flay Miyetti Allah official over Tinubu L Concerned AGOS—THE Fulani Leaders Forum, CFLF, yesterday, distanced itself from one Alhaji Bello Bodejo who claimed to be President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, saying he lacked the mandate and moral standing to speak for the Fulani. Bodejo, in an interview with a national newspaper, had moved to whittle down the alleged 2019 presidential bid of All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. But in a statement, spokesperson for CFLF, Muhammad Musa Bawa said Bodejo made the statement to serve some dubious interests. The statement reads: “We note with dismay a publication in The Sun Newspaper of Saturday April 27, 2019 and attributed to one Alhaji Bello Bodejo, the self- acclaimed President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, an association mischievously conceived to serve some dubious interests. In the p u b l i c a t i o n , Bello Bodejo was quoted as casting aspersions on the person of All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. “Bello Bodejo’s statement is u n f o r t u n a t e and repulsive in all ramifications. Such a person cannot be taken s e r i o u s l y o r be highly regarded as to speak for others. “Bello Bodejo stands for everything unethical. His questionable antecedents speak volumes about him and his ways. When he realised he cannot actualize his nefarious activities under any decent association, he resorted to desperate moves, contacting prominent politicians, soliciting for patronage and claiming to be a leader of the Fulani under Kautal Hore, a handbag association where he is law unto himself. "He does not command any decent followership as his criminal records speak volumes about him. He is a fraudster with questionable background who derives pleasure in intimidating people using his clandestine activities. “On the issue of 2019 he raised, no one can arrogate to himself the power to decide who should lead or aspire to lead the country. The generality of the Nigerian people will take that crucial decision. Only a charlatan like Bello Bodejo, masquerading as a leader would make such sweeping statements credited to him." Tinubu remains a visionary leader — Akinyelure By Olasunkanmi Akoni LAGOS—A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South West, Chief Pius Akinyelure has expressed confidence in the leadership quality of National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying, “Tinubu remains a leader to be reckoned with in Nigeria.” He also expressed confidence in Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat to transform the state and position it among developed states in the international community. Akinyelure said this, weekend, during an Appreciation Dinner and victory party, organised by supporters of Sanwo- Olu to express gratitude to residents for electing the governor-elect and his running mate. Akinyelure said: “Tinubu remains a leader to be reckoned with. He is a great political strategist and a visionary leader who can read and understand issues and see things ahead. His ability to see things ahead had helped to promote governance in the state. We will continue to follow him. “With his vision and service to the people, he has helped to promote the development of the state.” 3 arrested over sale of poisonous ponmo By Chioma Obinna LAGOS—THE Lagos State Government, yesterday, arrested three persons in connection with the sale of toxic cowskin popularly known as Ponmo in Ojo Local Government area and Iba Local Council Development Area of the State even as it warned Lagosians to desist from consuming unwholesome food product. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made the disclosure, noted that the government has confiscated a large amount of the poisonous cow-skin following preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out in the areas. Idris said the three persons involved have been charged to court while samples of the confiscated Ponmo had been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption. He said: “The attention of the Lagos State Government was drawn to •As LASG warns against consumption of poisonous foods the activities of traders who deal in the sale of the poisonous cow-skin at odd hours in different locations in Ojo and Iba local government areas of the state. "Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active between 4:00am and 6:00am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, Iyana Iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within Ojo and Iba local council areas of the State. “A company, said to be located at Ijedodo area of Iba LCDA, was indicted as the source of supply of this toxic Ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance.” The Commissioner, however, called on the public to be vigilant and report suspected activities and sale of unwholesome foods and food products to an environmental health officer in their nearest local government or to the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Agriculture. He also advised Lagosians against purchase and consumption of foods perceived to be hazardous to human health. GLO WINS ICT AWARDS: Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, speaking at the induction of Globacom into the ICT Hall of Fame at the Beacon of ICT Awards held in Lagos at the weekend. The company also won the “Most Innovative Mobile Player of the Year” at the event. Applauding are Mr Eric Uwaoma and Mrs Oluwakemi Akinyele, who represented the company at the event. ExxonMobil laments frequent attacks on facilities by Akwa Ibom youths By Harris-Okon Emmanuel U MANAGEMENT Y O — of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Eket, Akwa Ibom State has lamented the frequent attacks on its facilities, saying that it had recorded over 25 cases in the past four months. General Manager, Joint Venture Operations, Tom Benjaminsen disclosed this at the NNPC/MPC joint venture community investment meeting weekend in Eket, the commercial nerve centre of the state. He said: “The unprecedented harassment, badge seizure and attacks on our contractors by a handful of individual in the communities are constituting a major impediment to the continuous survival of our business. We have recorded more than 25 such cases, and counting, from January 2019 to date. “I appeal to the community leaders to continue to monitor the youths to always explore peaceful avenues for resolution of issues rather than adopt violent confrontation as the only mode of engagement. “The NNPC/MPN joint venture is for the long haul and is repositioning to deliver greater value to the community, the state and the nation.” In his address, chairman of the ceremony, Brig. General Anthony Etukudo (retd) commended the oil firm for the programmes and called on the youths to desist from using violence as a mean to resolve conflict, but should follow the path of peace. Glo shines at BoICT Awards Night Lsecond AGOS—NIGERIA’S largest telecom operator, Globacom, was at the weekend awarded and inducted into the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Hall of Fame for its unwavering support for the telecom industry. It took place at the 10th anniversary of the Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) Awards held in Lagos. Globacom got the ‘Most Innovative Mobile Player of the Year’ award at the colourful ceremony attended by distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life. In addition, Globacom was inducted into the ICT Hall of Fame for its remarkable contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications He said: “The Community Investment Programmes, CIP, initiated by NNPC/MPN joint venture for the development of the four neighbouring communities of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno is a very welcome development though long overdue. “It must be noted that we will no longer tolerate youth restiveness through street protests and blocking of roads. Dialogue is cheaper industry. Globacom’s representatives, Head, Enterprise Solutions, Eric Uwaoma; Training Development Unit, Oluwakemi Akinyele and Head, Mobile Money, Raj Narayan received the award on behalf of the company. The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo described Globacom as the game changer of the telecom industry. Adebayo said the innovation of Per Second Billing (PSB) system introduced by Globacom fast-tracked telecom growth in the country. He said: “For that unique innovation and many more others it has introduced since then, Globacom deserved this award.” The ALTON chairman and globally accepted to violence.” Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr Orman Esin, who represented the state government urged the management of the firm to review the budgetary provision for CIP. ”We are calling on MPN to review the CIP upward because the results you get from the programme, money cannot buy,” he said. described the telecom sector as the “most reliable” sector in the country and a “major driver” of the economy. Adebayo urged the government to look into the issue of multiple taxation in the industry and make conscious efforts to protect the industry’s critical infrastructure; just as he described the threat by the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority to close down operators’ base stations as a threat to national security which will have grave consequences for the country. Founder and CEO of Communication Week Media Limited and organisers of the BoICT Award Series, Ken Nwogbo described the Beacon of ICT Awards series as the last most prestigious annual event available in the ICT industry in Nigeria.
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29042019 - Economy bleeds as power system collapses

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