Probe All Other Ex-First Ladies Or Let Patience Go

An Abuja-based anti-corruption movement, The Integrity Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Nigeria’s former first ladies or stop the “seeming witch-hunt” of the country’s immediate-past first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Warning that the continued ‘media trial’ of the ex-president’s wife could trigger off more violent reactions in the Niger Delta, the group said the onus is on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to prove its case rather than asking Mrs Jonathan to explain the source of her wealth.

At a news conference addressed by its Executive Director, Livingstone Wechie, the group contended that; “No Nigerian under any law, including Patience Jonathan is under any obligation to explain how he/she made his/her money. If the EFCC thinks anybody stole money, they should by evidence show how and wherefrom the money was stolen. “The cumulative value of the monies in the Skye Bank account that Mrs Jonathan claims is less than $10 million. The report credited to the EFCC that the monies were in excess of $30 million is completely false, malicious and misleading and this is deliberate. The EFCC is challenged to provide public evidence of its claim of $31 million lodged in Skye Bank”. The group added that, “this attack on Patience and Goodluck Jonathan may spark up avoidable security problems in the old Eastern Nigeria and we are willing to support Mr President in averting same.
“As such, our message is, arrest and prosecute all former first families including their aides and seize all their assets and money or leave Goodluck and Patience Jonathan alone and restore all their seized assets”.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Air Force Launches Operation Forest Storm In N/East

The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday opened a new vista in the fight against Boko Haram with the launch of a new operation code-named “Operation Forest Storm” in the North-East.
The operation is aimed at curtailing the outflow of Boko Haram insurgents from the northern parts of Borno to the South.

Briefing newsmen at the NAF base in Yola, Adamwa state, the Chief of Training and Operations at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Abdullahi Iya, said the special operation is expected to last for about seven days.
He said as part of the Operation of the NAF in Lafiya Dole, air surveillance conducted over the entire theater of Operations in the Northeast revealed some insurgents in the southern part of the Area of Operation and Forest Storm is specifically designed to take care of them.
Iya: “As part of our campaign against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, we have been focusing more on the north, nevertheless we conducted surveillance all over the Theater of Operations and we started noticing some insurgents in the south that is why we have launched a special operation to take care of that.
“The name of the operation is Operation Forest Storm and it is just for a few days, we are focusing mainly on interdiction, we have identified a specific target to take out through interdiction. From our calculations, it is not going to take more than three days but we are planning for seven days to take care of what we have seen”.
AVM Iya noted that since the campaign began, security has greatly improved in the northeast and the military operations have been able to degrade the ranks of the insurgents.
“We know things have improved from the nature of attacks, you no longer see them attacking in large convoys, most of them use motorcycles now”.
He assured that civilians have nothing to fear about the operation as the Air Force will ensure there is no collateral damage.
“We have conducted surveillance, selected our targets and analyzed very well before we decide on the attack, the mode and the type of weapon to use. All these are carefully planned and we do not foresee any collateral damage so there is no cause for alarm”, Iya said.

Money Laundering: Ex-Air Chief, Amosu, Others In Plea Deal With EFCC

Immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he is ready to plead guilty to charges of laundering N21billion.
Amosu and 10 others said yesterday that they were negotiating a plea deal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which proffered the charges against them.

EFCC arraigned Amosu along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.
Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.
They were accused by the anti-graft agency of converting the sum of N21billion from the NAF around March 2014 in Lagos.
They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime”, an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants kicked against a bid by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, to begin their trial.
They sought for more time to conclude the plea bargain with EFCC.
It would be recalled that after he was first arraigned in June this year, counsel to Amosu, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), argued that the former Air Chief had returned “collossal sums”.
“He (Amosu) has remitted colossal sums of money to the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies”, the Senior Advocate said.

How Shema Instructed Me To Disburse N680.2m 2015 Election Security Vote – Ex-Gov’s ADC

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Shehu Koko, the Aide-de-camp (ADC) to immediate past governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, on Tuesday, explained to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry how he disbursed N680.2 million to security agents in the state during the 2015 general elections.
Mr. Koko told the Commission in Katsina that the funds were disbursed in cash.

The ADC said it was his former boss, Mr. Shema, who asked him to summon a security meeting on March 26, 2015.
“The money was disbursed as logistics and allowances to various security personnel during the Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections in 2015.
“I invited the then Deputy Commissioner of Police who stands for the CP, the then Commanding Officer of the 35 battalion, Nigerian Army, the Director, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)”, he said.
He explained that the money was provided by the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sani Makana, on March 27, 2015.
According to him, the SSS was given N158 million, Nigerian Army; N68.2 million, Customs; N8 million, Immigration; N10 million, and Prisons Service: N8 million.
Others were Federal Road Safety Corps, N8 million; NSCDC, N24 million; the present Commissioner of Police who was in the state for election duties got N10 million, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), N4 million and DCP operations; N3.5 million.
The ADC said each of the three police area commanders received N4 million, while N95 million was disbursed to the 34 Divisional Police Officers, where each DPO got N2.5 million, among others.
He added that the present ADC to Gov. Bello Masari collected for himself and on behalf of the Non-Commissioned Officers serving in the state.
Mr. Koko submitted documents on the disbursement which were registered and marked as evidences.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammad Surajo, adjourned sitting until October 26 for adoption of addresses by the counsel.
The current state Governor, Bello Masari, had constituted a commission of inquiry to investigate how funds were allegedly diverted during the tenure of Ibrahim Shema and advise government on what steps to take.
(NAN)

Saraki Disowns Lawyer Who Filed Suit against Resumption Of Trial At CCT

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday dissociated himself from a suit initiated by Timipa Jenkins Okponipare at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to quash his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Mr. Okponipare had filed an enforcement of fundamental human rights suit before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on behalf of the Senate president, declaring that the plan to resume Saraki’s trial at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He also prayed for an order of the court compelling the CCT and Attorney General of the Federation to suspend indefinitely, any plan to resume the trial at the CCT.
However, a statement by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), lawyer to Saraki, said the number three citizen never instructed Okponipare to institute such a suit on his behalf.

RELATED POST: Saraki Files Fresh Suit To Stop Resumed Trial At CCT

The statement reads: “We do not know the complainant in the purported case. Dr. Saraki has not instructed any lawyer to file a suit in the Federal High Court, Abuja, or any other court, wherein a purported issue of fundamental human rights to challenge the case before the CCT was filed. We hope the reported case is not arranged to target the decision which the CCT is billed to deliver tomorrow (today) concerning the competence of the Tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, to continue presiding over the Saraki case.
“We call on members of the public to know that Dr. Saraki will explore all legitimate avenues to prove his innocence of the charges filed against him before the CCT but he will not be a party to abuse of the court process in whatever manner”.
Meanwhile, the application filed by the Senate president concerning the competence of the CCT chairman was dismissed earlier today.
In a ruling on the application, Justice Umar said he would have disqualified himself “but for the constraints placed on the Chairman by the Constitution of Nigeria that established the Code of Conduct Tribunal”.
He said the application to recuse the Chairman has not been contemplated at the conception of the Constitution.
Mr. Umar further pointed out that for the president to even remove the Chairman or a member of the Tribunal, he must transmit a written address to the National Assembly and obtain a two-third consent from both chambers of the legislature.
The Chairman ruled that “the allegation of the applicant is based on mere conjecture of the media”.
“The application of the defendant is not well founded and it is hereby refused”, he ruled.

9 Herdsmen Arrested In FCT Over Illegal Grazing

Nine herdsmen have been arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) over illegal grazing.

AEPB stated that the herdsmen were penalised by the mobile court which imposed fines ranging from N3,000 to N7,000 on them. 25 cows and 51 sheep were also confiscated.
The acting Director of the board, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, added that 589 street hawkers were also arrested and fined by the mobile court.

When questioned about the directive from the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, that cattle found grazing in Abuja should be slaughtered by the FCT Administration, Olanipekun responded by saying compliance with the directive may lead to violence.

She said, “We don’t want a repeat of what is happening in other states, we don’t want loss of lives because of cattle.
“We have met with the cattle rearers and they promised that they would try and get their people off the streets, but unfortunately, they did not fully comply. We have been arresting them and we discovered that there is another group that we have not met.
“We are preparing to meet with them and let them know that we don’t want cows in the city. If we start killing them (cattle), like the senator wants us to do, they would react and we don’t want bloodshed here. Very soon, I promise, the cattle would be where they are supposed to be.”

Wife Of Nigerian CBN Governor, Margaret Emefiele Kidnapped

Saharareporters has confirmed that the wife of the Nigerian Central Bank Governor has been kidnapped. Mrs. Margaret Emefiele was kidnapped by gunmen along the Benin-Agbor road and it is the highest profile kidnap in the country.
The News agency also reported that the kidnappers have reached out to demand ransom from the family.

Ekweremadu, Ezekwesili reject call for national assets’ sale

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, have opposed the proposed sale of Nigeria’s national assets as part of the means of moving the country out of economic depression.
Ekweremadu expressed his opposition against the suggestion of business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday when he led other senators at a plenary to reject the call for the sale of the country’s national assets.
The senators at the plenary also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet as part of measures to take Nigeria out of the current economic woes.
The advice against the sale of assets come barely 24 hours after Saraki urged the Federal Government to consider the partial sale of some key national assets like the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Holdings to raise needed foreign currency to revive the economy and stabilise the naira.
He also suggested that some airports should be privatised or put up for concession.
During the Wednesday plenary, the senators urged Buhari to consider a cabinet reshuffle to give bite to his economic team.
Specifically, they asked that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and National Planning counterpart, Udo Udoma, should be considered for other appointments.
Ekweremadu, in his contribution, advised against the sale of national assets, insisting it would be counterproductive to sell assets for short-term gains.
Ekweremadu said, “The President needs to look at his cabinet. He has to put square pegs in square holes. Your Excellency, distinguished colleagues, Udo Udoma is my friend, an accomplished lawyer for that matter, but in fairness to him, I believe he can do better in another ministry especially like trade and investment but certainly not budget and planning.
“The minister of finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time we need somebody who is more experienced to man the ministry of finance so that he can coordinate the strategies for this recovery.”
On the issue of the planned sale of national assets, he said, “I have heard about the issue of selling of our assets. I need to caution that other countries are not doing the same. The United Arab Emirate, does not even allow you to get to their oil wells let alone selling them.
“…So, if we must sell we have to sell the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and create employment. We need to amend section 162 especially from 3,4,5,6 where every money in the federation account is enjoined to be shared among the other levels of government.”
Speaking in a similar vein, Senator George Akume (APC Benue North West), said, “The thing is very straight: there is a buyer market and there is a seller market, if you want to dispose of your oil assets at this time when the prices of oil has crashed, precisely how much are you going to realise?
“We are making a mistake here. What we are intending to do is to very unpatriotically ensure that those who are within the bracket of the stolen dollars will still come to buy.
“I believe that this is not the time to sell these assets. Fortunately the Central Bank of Nigeria governor made a very powerful statement that the worst days of the recession were over and therefore we had to look elsewhere and not sell our assets. We should rather focus on industrialisation through agriculture and try to revamp this economy.”
Ezekwesili, who is a former Vice-President of the World Bank’s Africa Division, made her submission on her official Twitter handle on Wednesday.
The ex-minister added that what Nigeria needed was economic reform and better economic management.
She said, “Managers of the economy must resist our ‘wonderful’ politicians now chorusing quick fixes like asset sale. There are no easy options here.
“It seems that the default instinct of our political class is ‘sell and spend’. Sell oil. Spend. Oil fails? Sell assets. Spend. It won’t work.
“Any asset sale at all should be within the context of an empirically guided, deliberated and deep structural reform of the sector of the said asset.
“The economy can’t get back to the high and sustainable growth rates necessary for wealth creation and poverty reduction without macro-economic stability.”
She said rather than the sale of assets, the Federal Government should embark on key structural reforms such as petroleum sector deregulation and liberalisation; civil service reform and increased investment in agriculture.
The ex-minister argued that without restoring macroeconomic stability, growth could not resume and without growth resuming, more people would fall into poverty.
Ezekwesili said it was unfortunate that despite the billions of dollars generated from oil over the years, Nigeria failed to save for the rainy day.
She said taking foreign loans would only be effective if the money was well-spent.
The ex-minister said, “A country that earned over $600bn within this decade during a six-year oil boom period now cheerfully goes ‘a-borrowing’. Wow.
“Other times this country went ‘a-borrowing’, what followed was ‘a-sorrowing’. By all means, borrow to stimulate and recover growth but be wise!”
Ezekwesili, who is the co-founder of Transparency International, said the Buhari administration should not take all the blame as the cause of the recession was cumulative.
She, however, argued that the inability of the Buhari government to act quickly contributed to the problem.
The ex-minister added, “Baggage from the past can’t be waved off nor can the indefensible delay by the current. In economic management delaying right action is costly.
“This Federal Government was handed a lemon package by the former but it worsened that heritage by a mix of delays, uncertainty and wrong policies.”
When asked by one of her Twitter followers if Buhari’s economic team was competent, the former minister said it was not bad.
She, however, argued that the team must do better
Ezekwesili added, “I am not one of those that think this Federal Government does not have bright lights on its team and I’ve said so before. It does. But they must do better.”

EFCC freezes Patience Jonathan’s personal $5m account

Patience Jonathan said she does not trust the representatives of the companies that pleaded guilty to money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen Patience Jonathan’s personal account, titled ‘Patience Ibifaka Jonathan’, which is domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.
Impeccable sources within the agency told our correspondent on Wednesday that the move had become necessary due to the prima facie case established against the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife.
As part of investigations into alleged diversion against a former Special Adviser to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, the anti-graft agency had frozen four companies’ accounts in Skye Bank with a balance of $15,591,700.
However, before the EFCC could arraign the four companies in court, Jonathan’s wife deposed to an affidavit, claiming that the money belonged to her.
Despite Patience’s claims, however, the EFCC arraigned the four companies –Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; and Globus Integrated Service Limited.
The companies pleaded guilty and the EFCC had already begun moves to ensure that the money is forfeited permanently to the Federal Government.
A detective at the EFCC told The PUNCH, “Recall that we had frozen the four companies’ accounts, which Patience Jonathan later laid claim to. We have been able to establish that the money was part of proceeds of crime.
“She had no evidence that the money in the four accounts belonged to her. All she had were platinum debit cards, which she was using to withdraw money and the cards are not evidence of ownership.
“Initially, we had traced $5m to her personal account, which we did not touch but I can confirm to you now that the $5m account, bearing Patience Jonathan’s name, has also been seized since she claimed that the monies in the company accounts and the one in her personal name all emanated from the same source.
“We are tracing other accounts belonging to Patience. It will interest you to know that despite all the letters she has written, she has never stated where she got the money from. She claimed to be a housewife and yet she has $20m.”
Patience had recently written a letter to the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, where she claimed that she needed the money for her medical treatment abroad.
She had also sued Skye Bank for N200m, accusing the bank of freezing her accounts unjustly.
In a letter written by her lawyers, Granville Abibo (SAN) and Co, Patience said, “It is noteworthy to emphasise that the said accounts, which were in US dollar denomination, were card-based accounts and our client is the sole signatory of these accounts.
“The said bank officials also assured our client that they will change the account names accordingly and issue to our client new credit cards for the said accounts which was not done despite repeated demands.
“However, our client has been operating the said accounts using the cards for her medical bill payments and purchases for her private purposes without any let or hindrance.
“Our client was therefore surprised when the said cards stopped functioning on July 7, 2016 or thereabout. Our client immediately thereupon contacted Skye Bank Plc through our solicitors. It was only then that the bank officials informed our client that the said accounts were placed on a ‘No Debit Order’ following investigations and instructions from your commission and this is without notice to our client by either the bank or the commission.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that we urge you to use your good offices to vacate the ‘No Debit/Freezing Order’ placed on the said accounts.”

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session yesterday, following a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, over alleged infringement of members’ right and privileges by the former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. reps The House, presided over by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, resolved to refer the matter and Jibrin to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper investigation, with a mandate to report its findings and make appropriate recommendations within a week. Jibrin had accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of being behind the alleged padding of the 2016 budget. Jev in the motion, had stated that the privileges of members, practices, precedents were breached by Jibrin, adding that the punishment for the act was suspension for a period not less than six months. But he was interrupted by the Jibrin supporters, led by Aliyu Madaki, who represents Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was shouting point of order to stop him from delivering his motion. This threw the House into a rowdy session. While supporters of Dogara urged Jeff to go ahead, those of Jibrin, including members of the Transparent Group, made spirited but unsuccessful efforts to stop the motion. Jev, who moved the motion about 11:48am, had in his introductory remarks, stated that there were expectations, especially from the media that the House was going to be rowdy, adding, “we will disappoint them.” He said: “I am asking for permission to move a motion on the collective breaches of privileges of members.” This was greeted with repeated shout of nay from Jibrin’s supporters, and for about one hour, the House was rowdy as the sergeant-at-arms quickly formed a ring around the Mace to protect it. This did not, however, deter Jev who went ahead to read his motion, which was later passed through a resounding voice vote and referred to the Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led Committee on Ethics and Privileges. As the melee continued, Jibrin left the chamber, while supporters of Dogara who were in majority, started distributing green muffler bearing the name of the speaker. Jev, in his motion, noted that Jibrin was relieved of his appointment as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation on July 21, 2016, adding that a day after his removal, he (Jibrin) allegedly embarked on a campaign of calumny and denigration by making false and scandalous statements and publications in the print, electronic media and internet against the entire membership and institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. He said the contemptuous statements made by Jibrin against the House and its members were punishable by six months suspension. However, the embattled former Appropriations Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said yesterday he would not appear before th ethics committee. He said he would only appear on the condition that the Ethics Committee conducted its investigation in public. Jibrin, who represents Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said: “I attended the sitting of the House today (yesterday) and carefully observed the proceedings concerning the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I leveled against Speaker Dogara and three other principal officers.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/budget-padding-reps-rowdy-session/

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session yesterday, following a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, over alleged infringement of members’ right and privileges by the former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. reps The House, presided over by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, resolved to refer the matter and Jibrin to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper investigation, with a mandate to report its findings and make appropriate recommendations within a week. Jibrin had accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of being behind the alleged padding of the 2016 budget. Jev in the motion, had stated that the privileges of members, practices, precedents were breached by Jibrin, adding that the punishment for the act was suspension for a period not less than six months. But he was interrupted by the Jibrin supporters, led by Aliyu Madaki, who represents Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was shouting point of order to stop him from delivering his motion. This threw the House into a rowdy session. While supporters of Dogara urged Jeff to go ahead, those of Jibrin, including members of the Transparent Group, made spirited but unsuccessful efforts to stop the motion. Jev, who moved the motion about 11:48am, had in his introductory remarks, stated that there were expectations, especially from the media that the House was going to be rowdy, adding, “we will disappoint them.” He said: “I am asking for permission to move a motion on the collective breaches of privileges of members.” This was greeted with repeated shout of nay from Jibrin’s supporters, and for about one hour, the House was rowdy as the sergeant-at-arms quickly formed a ring around the Mace to protect it. This did not, however, deter Jev who went ahead to read his motion, which was later passed through a resounding voice vote and referred to the Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led Committee on Ethics and Privileges. As the melee continued, Jibrin left the chamber, while supporters of Dogara who were in majority, started distributing green muffler bearing the name of the speaker. Jev, in his motion, noted that Jibrin was relieved of his appointment as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation on July 21, 2016, adding that a day after his removal, he (Jibrin) allegedly embarked on a campaign of calumny and denigration by making false and scandalous statements and publications in the print, electronic media and internet against the entire membership and institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. He said the contemptuous statements made by Jibrin against the House and its members were punishable by six months suspension. However, the embattled former Appropriations Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said yesterday he would not appear before th ethics committee. He said he would only appear on the condition that the Ethics Committee conducted its investigation in public. Jibrin, who represents Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said: “I attended the sitting of the House today (yesterday) and carefully observed the proceedings concerning the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I leveled against Speaker Dogara and three other principal officers.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/budget-padding-reps-rowdy-session/

Meet the Pilot Who Flies President Muhammadu Buhari’s Official Plane (Photos)

For those who say Muhammadu Buhari is a tribalistic president, here’s another reason to have a rethink as we recently stumbled on Captain Chinyelu Chizoba Ndibuisi.

For those who don’t know him, Captain Ndibuisi is President Muhammadu Buhari’s official pilot who flies the Nigerian Air Force 001.

The decorated aviator, who was a former Air Peace pilot flew the President to the United States for the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly #UNGA in New York.
See more photos below:

Nigerians desperately hungry: 13 takeaways from Saraki’s resumption speech (pics, video)

The Nigerian Senate resumed from its Sallah recess on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 with Bukola Saraki, its president, reminding his colleagues and the executive arm of government that the citizens of the country are desperately hungry.
Nigeria is currently suffering from an economic recession and rising cost of food and Saraki did not fail to confirm this,
While proffering solutions to the country’s many challenges, he also promised that the National Assembly would work with the executive arm of government to get Nigeria out of the woods.
Read some of the most important statements he made while addressing his colleagues on the floor of the Senate:
1. I recall unforgettably, how one of the women came straight to me with a look of utter desperation and all she could mutter out was, please our Senator, do what you can to put an end to this suffering, it is becoming unbearable. I don’t know what your experience was, but if your experience mirrored mine, then the challenge before us could not have been made clearer. The words of this woman reverberated across the hall with such unison that it was impossible to under estimate the desperation in the land.
2. Yes, the collapse in oil prices from over $100 per barrel to about $48 recently meant the Nigerian economy would experience serious challenges. However, low sovereign savings have compounded our situation with FX reserves having declined from over $65bn in 2007 to about $30bn by 2015. The implications of this is that we must do something drastic and quick to restore confidence back into the economy and get people investing and spending again if we are to end the despair in the land.
3. It is clear to me that when people are desperately hungry, what they need is leadership with a clear vision; leadership whose daily actions reflects the very urgency of the people’s condition. Therefore, our response to the current challenge must be dictated by the urgency of the hardship that the people suffer on a daily basis.
4. The simple question for our debate must be; how do we tame the widespread hunger in the land? How do we save our businesses from collapse? How do we save jobs for the majority and create even a lot more? Only a few months ago, Naira was exchanging to the dollar at 200; today it is approaching 500. How do we arrest this drift so that our businesses can compete and our children can go to school wherever they may find opportunities.
5. Even as desperate as our people may be for solution, I did not feel that what they expect from us is a miracle. I believe what they want to see is that as leaders, all our hands are on the deck. They don’t care about our politics; they don’t care about our political affiliations; they don’t care if we are APC OR PDP; north or south. What they want is for us to lead the way out of this crisis and deliver on the promises that we made to them.
6. We will work in concert, not at cross-purposes. Our goal is clear; to work together with the Executive to get our economy out of recession. We will proffer our solutions on policy issues, and where necessary enact necessary legislation to ensure that investor confidence returns to the market.
7. The executive must immediately put in place leadership-level engagement platform with the private sector. This must be one that is pro-business and shows unequivocally that government is ready to partner with the private sector towards economic revival. This is a critical signpost towards market confidence which is a key ingredient to help us revamp the economy out of recession.

Saraki with a member of the Senate

8. The executive mist raise capital from asset sales and other sources to shore up foreign reserves. This will calm investors, discourage currency speculation and stabilize the economy. The measures should include part sale of NLNG Holdings; reduction of government share in upstream oil joint venture operations; sale of government stake in financial institutions e.g. Africa Finance Corporation; and the privatization and concession of major/regional airports and refineries.
9. The executive and CBN must agree on a policy of monetary easing to stimulate the economy and harmonise monetary and fiscal policy until economic recovery is attained. We must ensure local government borrowing does not crowd out credit for the private sector.
10. The executive must retool its export promotion policy scheme with export incentives such as the resumption of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG); and introduce export-financing initiatives.
11. The executive is urged to engage in meaningful dialogue with those aggrieved in the Niger Delta and avoid an escalation of the conflict in the region. The National Assembly is very ready to play any role in the process and offer ideas on approaches that will deliver quick win-win in order to move the region and the economy forward.
12. The executive must as a deliberate response consider immediate release of funds to ensure the implementation of the budget for the near short term to inject money into the economy.
13 Distinguished colleagues, I must at the point like to re-emphasis the fact that we need togetherness to tackle this problem and it will be naïve to consider the problem we face today as the problem of the administration alone, or that those who brought us to this situation should see us out, that would be doing a disservice to our people who elected us to help them out when they are in need.