Ghanaian President visits Jonathan, seeks closer ties

President John Mahama

Barely three days after he was declared winner of Saturday’s presidential election in Ghana, President John Mahama on Wednesday paid a brief visit to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mahama, the Ghanaian electoral body said, won  50.7 per cent of the total votes cast while opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, came second with 47.7 per cent votes.

Members of the opposition have been protesting against the result of the election which they claimed was flawed.

But Mahama, who became the country’s president in July after the death of former President John Atta-Mills, held a closed-door session with Jonathan on Wednesday in his first trip outside Ghana after the election.

At the end of the meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes, the Ghanaian leader told State House correspondents that he was on his way to Equatorial Guinea for the conference of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. He explained that he  decided to stop over in Abuja to pay his respect to Jonathan considering the relations between the two countries.

Ghana has been the chair of the group since 2008 but it will be handing over to Equatorial Guinea during the conference.

He said, “After election, it is significant that this (Nigeria) is the first country I should visit just to cement the relations between our two great countries.

“I am here to pay my respect  to President Jonathan and my condolences on the loss of his younger brother. I should have attended the funeral but we were at the height of our election so, it wasn’t possible.

“So, I came with the traditional drinks as it is customary with Ghana and our contribution to the funeral which I have presented to President Jonathan to be sent to the family back home.”

Mahama said he also used the opportunity to discuss with Jonathan the issue of West Africa Gas Pipeline which got broken recently.

He said he appealed to Jonathan to use his influence to get the pipeline back into operation so that Ghana could continue to receive Nigerian gas to power its electricity plants.

Jonathan led Vice- President Namadi Sambo, some ministers and top presidential aides to receive the Ghanaian leader on the sideline of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

Over 120 militants surrender arms in Delta

 
 
Ex-militants of the Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, of the late John Togo, yesterday, surrendered their arms to Delta State Government with a promise never to return to criminality.
Leader of the NDLF, Peter Perebowei, now a born again Christian, said: “We are now prepared to work with the state government to ensure peace and tranquility,” adding  that anyone caught henceforth in any criminal act was on his own.
The former dreaded leader of NDLF, John Togo, was killed by operatives of Joint Task Force, JTF, last year during a battle at his camp near Ayakoromo, in Burutu Local Government Area of the state, and his corpse is still lying at Warri Central Hospital morgue.
The arms surrendered by the repentant militants to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozorie Macauley and Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the state governor, Navy Commodore John Kpokpogri (rtd), were nine AK47m; seven GPMG; six AK47 riffles; two G3M; one FM riffle; one G3 riffle; one RPG; one FM magazine and a laptop computer.
Ammunitions submitted include 188 metal link (NATO); 111 × 7.62mm; 28 × 7.62mm special; 60 ×2.5mm pistol ammo respectively.
Receiving the arms and ammunition in the presence of top military officers in Warri, Macauley, charged them to change their ways from criminality as they had sworn to an oath before God and man never to return anti-social vices.

Poor services: Telecoms operators face penalty in January

A telecoms base station

Telecoms operators in the country risk serious penalty from the Nigerian Communications Commission in January 2013 over poor quality of service.

The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said the commission would carry out a Quality of Service test, later this month, on all the mobile networks in line with the Key Performance Indicators it had developed for them.

Any telecoms operator found wanting after the evaluation, Juwah said, would be sanctioned.

He said, “The Commission will be carrying out QoS test on all the networks later in the month and any operator, which do not meet the required standard will be sanctioned.”

He spoke at the Telecoms Executives and Regulator Forum 2012 organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.

Industry analysts, who rated the telcos low in quality of service based on feedbacks from the country’s over 100 million subscribers, argued that no operator was likely to be spared from the impending penalty.

They urged the operators to do whatever was possible to improve on their networks.

It will be recalled that the NCC had earlier this year fined MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat to the tune of N1.17bn for offering poor services on their networks.

The companies, which paid the fine, remained largely disgruntled about the development, saying operational challenges outside their control were not considered before the NCC slammed the fine on them.

Juwah, however, said though poor quality of service remained a major challenge in the telecoms industry; the sector had performed far better than the power sector.

According to him, though people are always quick to criticise telecoms operators for poor service quality, the telecoms industry has performed far better than the power sector.

“The telecoms industry has performed better than the power industry. There are times that I stay without electricity for two weeks in my house at Lekki, but people make calls everyday. Though you may call the number twice before it goes through, telecoms services are still better than power services,” Juwah said.

The EVC promised that quality of service would soon get better in the country.

Juwah also blamed mobile operators for the delay in the implementation of Mobile Number Portability, which was earlier scheduled for December 2012.

Mobile Number Portability allows subscribers to change from one network to another without losing their numbers.

Though the NCC had since 2010, been faltering on implementing the MNP in the country, Juwah said operators were largely responsible for the delay.

He said, “MNP delay is not attributed to the NCC because the NCC is pushing it more than the operators. Each of the operators is failing in one area or the other. The operators are slowing the pace.

“They are not giving MNP the priority that it deserves. The major issue is that they have yet to upgrade their billing infrastructure.”

He said the MNP would take off in the first quarter of 2013, adding that this would happen after a three-month infrastructure testing.

He said, “Following the approval of the Mobile Number Portability framework, the commission began plans to develop the regulatory, legal and technical framework for the implementation of MNP in Nigeria.

Money Laundering: Governor Lamido's Son Released On Bail

Aminu Sule, the eldest son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state who was arrested yesterday for money laundering has been released on bail today after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed charges at a Federal High court in Kano.
EFCC officials in Kano said the governor's son was released on administrative bail as there were no judges available to take his plea today due to "judges conference" taking place in Abuja.
Aminu was arrested yesterday at the Mallam Aminu Kano International airport by EFCCC officials after failing to disclose that he had $50,000 in his possession. He had only declared $10,000 until a search turned up extra $40,000 cash in his traveling bag.
An aide to the governor in a letter to SaharaReporters last night claimed Aminu was traveling to Egypt to cater to his daughter who was receiving treatment for a spinal cord disease in Cairo.

10 students, nine others die in Ogun crashes

Emotions ran high, yesterday afternoon, when a truck rammed into a school building in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, killing no fewer than 10 students, while 50 vehicles were damaged.
Also, no fewer than nine persons lost their lives in two other separate accidents along Abeokuta-Ibadan and Lagos-Ibadan expressways in Ogun State.
An eyewitness, who was part of the rescue team before the arrival of officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, told Vanguard that it involved students of Itori Comprehensive High School.
According to the source, the students had just closed for the day and were heading for their homes when the truck rammed into them.
Vanguard learnt that the truck, with plate number LAGOS YZ 628 AKD, was said to be coming from Abeokuta, the state capital, when it veered off the median and ran into the students.
Confirming the incident, Itori Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Fatai Bakare, however, said only five students were confirmed dead.
He said the driver lost control and veered off the road before it fell on the school pupils.
Vanguard also gathered that the inability of the local government to assist the injured angered the residents and parents of the victims, who then went on rampage.

ACCIDENT: The truck that ran over students of Itori Comprehensive High School, reportedly killing 10 and injuring others, yesterday. PHOTO: Daud Olatunji.

The residents of the area unleashed violence on motorists caught up in the ensuing traffic, vandalising about 50 vehicles.
Meantime, corpses of victims have been taken to the nearby morgue of the local government, while several injured students were reportedly rushed to Ifo General Hospital.
Four on Abeokuta-Ibadan road
According to an eyewitness, four persons died when a Toyota Camry, marked Lagos MUS 948 AR, and a Mazda bus, marked Lagos JP 602 AAA, collided at Olodo village along Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway.
The source added that sympathisers had to use axes, saws and other sharp objects before the corpses could be freed.
Confirming the accident, Sector Commander of FRSC in Ogun State, Ayobami Omiyale , attributed the crash to dangerous driving and over-speeding.
Five others on Lagos-Ibadan
In another accident, yesterday, five persons lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred at Ogere village, old toll gate, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the accident, saying it was caused by a cement-laden truck.
He said the truck fell and blocked the road after Ogere in Remo axis on the way to Ibadan, as against the insinuation that the victims were killed by robbers operating on the road.
Also confirming the incident, Federal Road Commander in Ogere, Mr. Godwin Sangbana, said the accident occurred when an articulated vehicle heading to Ibadan lost control and rammed into three commercial vehicles.
According to him, the corpses were deposited at a nearby hospital.

D’banj, K Switch signs with UK Sony Music… as Oliver twist gets four nominations at World Music Awards

In a mega deal that would shock both friends and competitors, D’banj has signed a distribution pact with UK giant music label, Sony Music Entertainment’s RCA Africa label; one of the flagship labels under Sony Music Entertainment.
The mouth watering deal we are told also takes on his younger brother; K Switch who now enjoys a multi-album, worldwide exclusive contract with RCA.
Sony also signed a strategic partnership with D’Banj’s Nigerian record label DB Records, who’s catalog includes artists and producers such as J.Sol, Jay Sleek and DeeVee. DB will now have their records distributed by RCA.

*D’banj at the signing

As if this is not enough, D’banj hits us with another big news; his hit single Oliver twist has been nominated in four categories at the 2012 World Music Awards, the highest nomination by any Nigerian artiste.
The song is nominated in the Best African Act, Best Music Video, Best Song of the Year and Best World Artist
D’banj is also booked to perform at the Awards which will hold December 20th in Miami, Florida.
RCA is home to Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Mario, Monica, and Pitbull.

Unknown Gunmen Kill Four In Plateau Villages

Unknown gunmen have killed four persons in two attacks in the past 24 hours, in a Berom village in the troubled Riyom local government area of Plateau State.
 A senior security official who pleaded for anonymity told SaharaReporters that two people on their way to their farms were killed yesterday and two more this morning.
He said that today’s killings occurred in broad daylight as the gunmen appeared abruptly in front of the two men, gunned them down and then disappeared into the forest as stunned villagers watched.  They did not give chase.
The source added that security officials have searched the area but have been unable to locate the killers. Two suspects are in custody for yesterday’s killings.

‘I took to crime because of Christmas’

A suspected oil pipeline vandal, Muritala Kareem, who was recently arrested by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Lagos, has said he took to crime because of the lavish spending required of him during Christmas.

Other suspects arrested alongside Kareem in Konu area of Ikorodu, Lagos, are; Musiliru Ashiri, Ahmed Lamidi, Jelilat Olalekan and Elizabeth Folorunsho.

Kareem, 41, who lives in Awori village in Epe, said Olalekan introduced him to the business.

He said, “I was a happily married and contented man till the day I met Jelilat (Olalekan). She came to my shop one day with a proposal that she wants to introduce me to oil business.

“I told her that I was not interested in illegal product but she insisted that it was genuine and I joined her in the business. I was introduced to Florunso and one Taye, who sold 50 litres of Diesel for N4, 800.

“It was later that I discovered that I was buying illegal products. Initially I wanted to stop but because Christmas is fast approaching, I decided to do one more deal. It was while we were on our way out of Konu that the police on patrol arrested us.”

On how much the products are sold, Kareem said each 50-litre keg of petrol sold for as low as N6, 000.

“If you go to a filling station, you will buy 50 litres for N7, 750. This explains why we have so many customers. We also sold to some petrol stations,” he said.

Kareem admitted that greed, made him to patronise vandals.

“I am so sorry, I only did it to raise more fund in order to enjoy Christmas. My children will be so disappointed in me. Please forgive me for the sake of my children,” he said.

Another  suspect, Folorunsho, a 36-year-old widow, said it was the financial hardship that accompanied the death of her husband that pushed her to crime.

“I am quite aware that my suppliers are vandals but there is nothing I can do about it. It is better than to sell my body to men for money. I am so sorry and pray that government will help people like us to find an alternative  source of livelihood,” she said.

Another female suspect, Olalekan, said she went into pipeline vandalism when she discovered that the stolen product belongs to government.

The police authorities said the suspects were arrested on December 5, 2012, by the taskforce operatives  on patrol.

 The policemen impounded one DAF truck with registration number XA813JND containing 100 gallons of 50 litres of petrol.

Confirming the arrest, Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the task force, said the need to reduce pipeline vandalism made the task force to intensify surveillance of target areas.

Okada riders, police clash in Lagos over traffic laws

Protest by commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, over the new Lagos State Traffic Laws, turned violent, Wednesday, in Majidun area of Ikorodu, as they clashed with a team of policemen.
The Okada riders numbering over 300, reportedly took to the street at about 8am, wielding dangerous weapons. In the process, they reportedly attacked a Lagos State Bus, LAGBUS, and also set bonfire on the road.
Passengers were forced to trek long distances before boarding buses to their respective destinations.
An eyewitness said on sighting a team of policemen approaching, the commercial motorcyclists began to hurl stones at them while fleeing in different directions.
In the process, one of them reportedly abandoned his bike and jumped into a lagoon, apparently to avoid being made a scapegoat.
Aside the protest over the new traffic laws, which bars commercial motorcyclists from plying 475 of the state’s over 9,000 roads, Vanguard gathered that another reason for yesterday’s protest was not unconnected with the seizure of several motorbikes by some policemen during Tuesday’s protest.
Effort to reach the command’s spokes person, Ngozi Braide proved abortive.

Jonathan in late night meeting with Mark, Tambuwal, others

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night met with the leadership of the National Assembly behind closed door at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which started at about 7 p.m. was held at the First Lady’s conference hall in the Villa.

JONATHAN, MARK and Tambuwal

It had in attendance the Senate President, Sen. David Mark; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Also in attendance were the Director-General of Budget Office, Dr Bright Okogu and some other presidential aides.
Emerging from the meeting, the Senate President told State House correspondents that the meeting was inconclusive and would continue on Thursday.
He, however, declined to reveal the issues discussed at the meeting.
Shortly after the brief interaction with newsmen, the attendees proceeded to a private presidential reception hall, House 7, also in the villa for a dinner with the President. (NAN)

FG, Swiss govt vow action against terrorists’ financiers

The governments of Nigeria and Switzerland, Tuesday, reiterated their commitment to denying sources of financing for terrorists activities in Nigeria and West Africa in general.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi  and Ambassador of Switzerland in Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel,  made the commitment during the opening of  the training workshop  on “Countering the Financing of Terrorism” in Abuja.
The workshop organised by the West African anti-money laundering group, GIABA, with support from the Swiss Confederation and Nigerian government, brought together West African  anti-money laundering agencies, governors of central bank of West African states as well as experts in countering terrorists financing.
Ambassador Uhomoibhi reiterated Nigeria’s commitment take all necessary steps to choke off any avenue of financial life line to terrorist activities, as one of the tools of dealing with the menace.
He noted that the preponderance of cash economies, couples with weak financial control amongst other variables makes collaboration with major global financial centres to counter terrorist financiers inevitable.
“As you are aware, countering the financing of terrorism is one of the major tools  in curbing or even eliminating acts of terrorism.  Terrorist groups need money to operate. By denying them sources of funding, the prospect of winning the fight against terrorism becomes brighter”
“Given the preponderance of cash economies, weak financial control, ineffective collaboration of national law enforcement agencies as well as international co-operation , it is obvious that the challenge in our region is daunting” he said.
Ambassador Uhomoihbi  said Nigeria is determined to improve its national response to acts of terrorism within the country, adding that, besides collaborating with sister countries, as well as multilateral organizations, it has also introduced legislative initiatives, with the signing into law of the  Terrorism Prevention and Money Laundering Bills by President Good luck Jonathan.
In his remarks, Ambassador  Hodel  condemned all acts of terrorism, assuring that the Swiss government has since 1998, through it due diligence law removed the veil from  its banking secrecy as part of measures to expose politically exposed persons who brings questionable monies into the country’s  banking system.
He said, “It is a core interest of the Swiss financial sector that financial hubs are not misused  to launder money and to finance terrorism. Swiss laws and procedures to combat money laundering, corruption and the financing of terrorism are effective means of keeping out illicit funds of politically exposed person.

Fuel scarcity may wane in Lagos towards yuletide

THERE are indications that the current fuel scarcity bedeviling Lagos and the entire nation may wane just as oil marketers are expected to discharge reasonable quantities of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from their depots.
One of the marketers, Techno Oil, a major player in the downstream  oil sector, is expected to discharge 60,000 metric tonnes of PMS or petrol, during the yuletide season.
This is expected to complement supplies from the Nigerian National Petrol Corporation, NNPC, within the same period.
The company which is currently discharging 10,000MT of petrol from its Kirikiri depot also confirmed that the nation’s most strategic pipeline, System 2b, currently on shut-down, would be up and running well ahead of the yuletide.
The Executive Vice Chairman of Techno oil, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, disclosed to newsmen that PMS is currently available in their depot and would be made accessible to the public.
“We are currently discharging 10,000 metric tons of PMS from our allocation and between now and December we will have discharged 60,000MT,” she said.
She, however, pleaded with the Federal Government to expedite payment of subsidy claims to companies that were indicted in the subsidy scam.
It was earlier reported that a total of 24 vessels, out of which 15 are laden with PMS, bearing a combined total of 483,343 metric tons (about 638 million litres) were awaiting berth at the ports.

Jonathan seeks US support to tackle Boko Haram, oil theft

President Goodluck Jonathan has solicited the support of United States of America (USA) government to fight the Boko Haram menace as well as crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
He made the call when he received the Commander of the United States’ Africa Command, AFRICOM, General Carter Ham,  who paid a courtesy call to the State House,Abuja, yesterday.
The President called on theUnited Statesto assistNigeriato find lasting solution to the security challenges, such as Boko Haram, policing the nation’s extensive maritime borders, crude oil theft and kidnapping.
While commending the global role of theUSAin promoting global peace and security, Jonathan said the role played by theUSAhad engendered a safer and more secure world.
According toJonathan,Nigeriadeeply  “appreciates the commitment of theUnited Statesto assist in ensuring that the world is safe and secure.”
He also briefed General Ham on his visit toMaliand the efforts by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict in that country, adding that the situation could still be contained if the right steps are taken quickly.
Earlier, Gen.  Ham had revealed that he had taken advantage of his paper presentation  at theNationalDefenceCollegeto hold talks with security agencies on ways to strengthen the partnership between Nigerian and American forces.
He promised that theUSAwas ready to cooperate withNigeriain areas such as maritime security, communications, development of civil-military capabilities, and resolving the conflict inMali.
Gen. Ham commendedNigeria’sDefenceCollegefor the harmonious working relationship between military personnel and civilians with participants from neighbouring countries on security issues.

Strike: Healthcare services grounded at LUTH

 
Healthcare services were grounded, yesterday, following an indefinite strike by members of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Branch of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH-ARD, over alleged excessive taxation by the hospital.
The new tax law which took effect at LUTH since August this year is said to be the directive of the Joint Tax Board of the Federal Government.
A visit to the hospital showed a crisis situation. The Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital known to be a beehive of activities was a shadow of itself even as new patients were denied admission. Almost all the wards in the hospital were empty.
Further investigations by Vanguard revealed that the hospital can no longer care for the patients already on admission. As a result, the management has resorted to forceful discharge of patients whose cases are less serious.
Unfortunately, most of the patients who were discharged have refused to leave. When Vanguard visited LUTH, yesterday, many of the patients who refused to obey the discharge order have continued to groan without being attended to.
In some of the wards like Female Surgical Ward, Ward D, Children Emergency and Modular Theatre, Vanguard investigations revealed that there were skeletal services there, thanks to a special arrangement by nurses, patients and some sympathetic doctors
Confirming the forceful discharge , a patient, Mrs. Chukwuma Ijeoma, said: “I was actually discharged two days ago but where else do I go with a little amount of money left on me. I would have loved to try other places, especially now that no doctor is attending to me but where is the money for deposit over there. I pray the strike is over today.”

We are following JTB directive — CMD

Reacting to the development, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Akin Osibogun who lamented the unfortunate incident said the management of the hospital was following the directive of the Joint Tax Board in implementing the new tax law.
He noted: ”We are obeying the law. We are following directives by the Joint Tax Board.”
At press time, it was gathered that the striking doctors were holding a meeting with the hospital and government’s representatives towards finding a lasting solution to the industrial action.