Commercial drivers within Kaduna metropolis are grumbling over the fixed rate of N1, 500 annually for the purchase of waste baskets which cost less than N200 in the market.
Some drivers told nationalTRAIL Newspaper in Kaduna that the staff of the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment have been constantly harassing them to purchase the compulsory basket from them, a development they say is further compounding the current economic hardship being experienced in the country.
Our Correspondent embarked on an undercover operation to ascertain the allegations from the commercial transporters and observed that the staff of the Ministry of Environment with those of the Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA), positioned themselves at strategic locations and threaten to impound vehicles of defaulters.
At Sabon Tasha, while disguised as a passenger, the staff of the ministry stopped a commercial bus and one of them immediately hopped into the passenger seat beside the driver, while his colleagues all wearing branded reflective jackets surrounded the vehicle in front and at behind, to prevent the driver from zooming off.
They asked him to produce his waste basket and sticker. The elderly driver politely showed them his identity card showing he was a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), but they insisted that he must purchase their basket or get his vehicle impounded.
After pleading for about 10 minutes, they let him go with a stern warning that when next they apprehend him, he would not be forgiven if he fails to pay for the basket.
Other drivers who spoke under condition of anonymity also expressed their disgust at the compulsory N1, 500 basket.
“This is unfair. How can they sell a basket that I can buy for N150 for N1, 500? We are struggling with fuel scarcity, rising cost of food items and other challenges, yet they add this one?” he queried.
“They should use their time in evacuating the barrage of garbage littering the major streets instead of this wild goose chase,” he added.
Category: News
Edo Woman To Be Extradited To UK Over Human Trafficking, Money Laundering
Twelve months after an Edo woman was arrested over allegations of money laundering using funds from trafficking of minors, a Nigerian businesswoman and fugitive from Edo state, Ms Franca Asemota is to be extradited to the United Kingdom to face criminal charges.
The order to extradite Asemota to the UK was handed down by Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. She is wanted by the UK government for trafficking of minors to Europe through London.
She was accused of allegedly organising the network that trafficked young women, mostly teenagers, most aged under 18 — from remote Nigerian villages into Europe using Heathrow airport as transit hub.
She was arrested from New Benin, Benin City, Edo state by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on March 24, 2015, and on arrest, checks on her profile revealed that she had been on the wanted list of the UK National Crime Agency.
She stands accused of accompanying about 40 girls as victims on eight separate flights into Heathrow between 2011 and 2012. The girls were promised education or jobs such as hairdressing in countries including France and Spain but were forced into prostitution.
Some were raped and the traffickers were said to have used witchcraft to terrify their victims so they would not talk to police.
A European arrest warrant was issued for her when she was thought to be in Italy but she is believed to have fled to Nigeria, where she was traced.
The UK National Crime Agency said: “Asemota’s arrest was the result of exceptional collaboration with our partners at home and in Nigeria. This operation demonstrates our global reach and our determination to track those wanted in the UK, no matter where in the world they are.”
A Nigerian member of the trafficking ring, Odosa Usiobaifo, of Enfield, was jailed for 14 years by Isleworth crown court in 2013 for conspiring to traffic for sex exploitation.
Last October David Osawaru, of Nigeria, was jailed for nine years for chaperoning two women in transit to Prague. He had been arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow.
When the case came up on January 11, 2015, Ms. Asemota’s counsel, Ugochukwu Ezekiel, prayed the court to grant his client bail to enable her seek medical attention as she had spent almost a year in custody.
But Akuta Pius Ukeyima, from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, however opposed the application, saying it would be better to ask for a short date for ruling on the substantive matter.
Consequently, Justice Kafarati adjourned to Wednesday for ruling And on this date, granted the extradition request and ordered that the accused be extradited to the United Kingdom to face trial for the charges filed against her.
Zaria Clashes: El-Rufai Names Members Of Judicial Commission Of Inquiry
Kaduna State Government has announced the composition of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the 12th-14th December 2015 clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army.
The judicial commission of inquiry established under Section 2 of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry Law, 1991, would be inaugurated next week.
According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Publicity) Samuel Aruwan, the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba will serve as the Chairman of the Commission.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, has signed the instrument establishing the commission of inquiry. The inquiry, which is expected to submit its final report six weeks after its first public sitting, has several terms of inquiry. These include to determine the immediate causes of the clashes, examine the historical circumstances and contributory factors of the clashes and to ascertain the number of persons killed, wounded or missing during the clashes.
The commission of inquiry will also identify the actions of persons, institutions, federal and state actors, and determine whether such actions were necessary, appropriate and sufficient in the circumstances in which they occurred.
“In a statewide broadcast last month, Governor El-Rufai had promised to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into the Zaria clashes, as a matter of utmost importance to the public interest. During the broadcast, the governor regretted the loss of lives and detailed what the Kaduna State Government had learnt about the immediate build-up to the clashes.
The government also took steps to begin the prosecution of the people that were arrested during the clashes for crimes, including obstruction of public highways and possession of dangerous weapons.
The women and juveniles among the detainees were swiftly processed and released.
“Furthermore, the Kaduna State Government acted to ensure that the sites of the clashes did not constitute sources of public peril after the army withdrew from them. Glass shards, twisted metal and concrete were cleared from the sites and the buildings that were considered structurally unsound following the clashes were removed. In the process of clearing the sites of the clashes, three persons were rescued from the rubble.
“Since the unfortunate incident, the Kaduna State Government has been discharging its obligations to promote the public welfare. There was no reason at any point to put governance in abeyance or to abdicate the responsibility of the government to enforce the law and uphold security. Neither was it necessary for the Kaduna State Government to speak and act as if it was not in possession of any facts relevant to the matter. Government has to acknowledge as much when a building has been put up without evidence of title or the necessary planning approvals; and the state has to initiate prosecutions when valid laws have been broken. It is not in the public interest for government to decline its duty.
“The members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Zaria clashes were chosen for their professional competences as lawyers, jurists, scholars of religion, human rights activists, security experts and media practitioners.
Other members of the Commission are; Prof. Salihu Shehu Commissioner. Professor Shehu lectures at the Bayero University, Kano.
Prof. Umar Labdo – Commissioner. Professor Labdo teaches in the Faculty of Humanities, Northwest University, Kano. Malam Salihu Abubakar – Commissioner. Malam Abubakar is a former director of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Prof. Auwalu Yadudu – Commissioner. He is an accomplished professor of Law, and former Special Adviser on Legal Matters during the Abacha government.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari – Commissioner. Professor Gambari is a former minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and headed the UN department of Political Affairs.
Fashola Inaugurates Power Sector Leadership Forum
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has assured Nigerians that with the buy-in of major stakeholders in the Power sector, the newly inaugurated Monthly Leadership Meetings among operators will identify gaps, as well as collectively identify and proffering practical solutions to issues facing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The Minister who presided over the inaugural session, enjoined all operators to ensure highest executive levels representation, adding that he expects people who can take decisions and not junior levels officers who cannot take actions.
The meeting, which provided the opportunity for the sector to intensify efforts at resolving bottlenecks associated with gas supply to the power sector, was well attended by the top echelon in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Those in attendance are the Managing Directors and CEO of Generating Companies (GENCOs), Distribution Companies (DISCOs), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBETC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) were all in attendance
Representing the oil and gas industry, the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, led the team of Senior Executives in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the Gas Aggregating entities, especially the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC).
Among dominant discussion at the meeting bothered on public engagement with stakeholders. Stakeholders were enjoined to take advantage of the reach of the national broadcasting entities such as the NTA and FRCN Nigeria, as well as other media houses in their various localities to enhance public enlightenment, more importantly on tariff related matters.
On collection, payment and debt, participants resolved that operators in the sector should adopt innovative and creative strategies in dealing with issues of vandalism, reluctance of customers to pay for energy consumed as well as equipment maintenance.
Dealing with protracted Metering deficiency and better service delivery, operators vehemently agreed to embark on aggressive and sustained roll out of prepaid meters in ensuring that customers pay only for what they consume
NNPC Clinches Reuters Oil Deal Award
The Joint Finance Team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and its Joint Venture Partners, Chevron Nigeria Limited have clinched the prestigious Africa and Middle East Oil Deal of the Year Award 2015.
The NNPC stated that the Thomson Reuters /PFI Magazine award is in recognition of the novel $1.2 bn multi-year drilling financing package for 36 Offshore/Onshore Oil wells under the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture initiated under the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme executed at a Signing-ceremony in London in September, 2015.
The initiative, which was designed by the NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counter-part funding of JV upstream activities, earned the apex corporation the award for conceptualizing, structuring and delivering an oversubscribed deal in a challenging macro-economic environment.
Code-named Project Cheetah, the $1.2bn alternative financing package, was the first to combine funding of both oil production as well as domestic gas to support power generation in Nigeria from a medley of carefully sequenced offshore and onshore wells.
The deal is projected to fund 36 wells and deliver 41, 000 barrels of crude oil per day and projected peak incremental production of 127 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) in the years ahead.
Also the package is projected to generate between $2-5bn of incremental revenues to the Nigerian government over the life of the project (subject to prevailing oil price in the upcoming years).
The funding package is being financed by a consortium of Nigerian and International lenders led by Standard Chartered Bank and UBA.
The global award which is one of the most prestigious in the International financing market is based on feedback from peers and market operators with full endorsement by the judges at Thomson Reuters /PFI.
Lamorde’s Fate Hangs In Balance
Nigerians are still wondering whether erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, is still in the Police Force or not, having gone under soon after he was removed and shortly after a probe of his tenure was muted.
While our correspondents report that contrary to earlier speculations that Lamorde fled the country, the man is still in Nigeria, though he has failed to report back to the Police from where he was seconded to the EFCC. This perhaps explains why the Police last week dribbled on our enquiries on Lamorde’s status in the Force, as Police spokesperson, declined comments on the issue when inquired by our correspondent.
nationalTRAIL reports that, Lamorde, until he was relieved of his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, late last year, was a serving Police Officer, on the pay roll of Nigeria Police Force, but since his removal from office, his status in the force remains a matter of conjecture, as he never reported back to duty, nor was he announced to have been retired, or dismissed.
It may be recalled that, the status of one of his predecessor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was dogged with similar controversy, when he was removed as EFCC Chairman, and the issue generated a lot of public debate until his status was eventually clarified by the Police.
Nigerian Police Spokesperson, was not in a hurry to clarify Lamorde’s status until she gets explanations from higher authorities, which did not come until the time of going to press.
There are however, strong indications over the last two weeks that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has commenced a detailed investigation into some financial transactions during the tenure of the immediate past chairman of the commission.
The anti graft body which initially appeared reluctant to indict its own, may have set the machinery for the probe, even as Lamorde, who has stoutly defended fraud allegations during his tenure in the dying days of his chairmanship obviously did not wish to carry the cross that is now his lot.
In addition to the series of petitions which eventually led to his ouster, our correspondent gathered that, the commission has not been able to pay its staff ‘s allowances throughout the period Lamorde held sway as the Chairman of the agency: an action which earned him disdain amongst staff.
Sources within the commission confirmed this much, as according to it, the fear of the former Chairman made it impossible for them to even demand for their entitlements, saying, “it was a reign of terror, staff were blackmailed and allowances withheld without explanations from the office of the chairman”
nationalTRAIL reliably gathered that Lamorde, who was recently relieved of his appointment as the Chairman of EFCC may have come under investigation for an alleged abuse of office and which sordid details included the alleged diversion of money recovered by the commission before and during his tenure.
It could be recall that the Senate Committee had invited him to appear before the National Assembly , to explain his role in alleged missing funds in the Commission.
The fraud allegedly perpetuated by Lamorde was said to have dated back to his days as the Director of Operation in the commission: between 2003 and 2007, as well as acting Chairman of the commission between 2007 and May 2008, when the then Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was away for a course at National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies , NIPPS, Kuru Jos.
Goerge Uboh, The Chief Executive Officer of the Panic Alert Security System, a security firm in another petition dated July 31, 2015, specifically alleged that Lamorde was involved in under remittance, and non disclosure of proceeds of corruption recovered from criminal suspects, including Tafa Balogun, and late Diepriye Alamiesyehga.
nationalTRAIL learnt that Lamorde may also be investigated for offshore recoveries and mismanaging of some of the assets recovered by the Commission.
Intrigues, Threats, Blackmail Attend N200Bn Probe
By Sam ADEGBE, Abuja
Fund Stuns Senate, Exonerates Bogoro’s Management Team
How Petitioners Mislead Senate Into Controversy
Available facts may have exonerated the management of the Tertiary Institutions Trust Fund, TETFund, which is facing a committee of the Nigerian senate to defend allegations of mismanaging of over N200 Billion, alleged to have been remitted into the coffers the fund, between 2012 and 2013, being proceeds from 2% tax deductions on contracts across the country.
nationalTRAIL findings indicates that the Nigerian senate may have goofed by inadvertently being dragged into acting out a script for some desperate office seekers, which may eventually rubbish its proclaimed transparent oversight, following revelations that the celebrated N200Billion alleged scam was a hoax after all.
Senator Abdullahi Aliyu, from Niger state, somehow unsure of his own figures, who raised the alarm on the floor of the Nigerian senate last December, may have inadvertently misled his distinguished colleagues into a needless controversy, and a wild goose chase, an exercise generally viewed by the public with suspicion.
The senate Committee on tertiary institutions which was mandated to probe the allegation, must have been stunned by TETFund’s submissions to the effect that the search for the money in its coffers was misplaced, and the petition a mere conjecture, lacking facts to warrant the interest the Nigerian senate seem to show on the matter.
Our correspondent reports that, proofs being placed before the senate committee include the fact that Professor Suleiman Bogoro, the executive secretary of TETFund, and ostensibly the target of the attack, came on board on April 14th 2015, and the issues being complained about took place long before he came to the office. To this end, he was not in the best position to explain the actions being queried, even if such actions were wrongly taken.
This is even as nationalTRAIL findings further reveal that, records point to the fact that, contrary to what the petitioner wanted the Senate to believe, and probe, TETFund never accessed the said money, and could not have mismanaged what was neither remitted to its accounts, nor given to it in whatever form.
On the other hand, a Presidential committee, headed by former Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswan, may have accessed N273.9 Billion, directly from the Central Bank in 2013, with the express approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and disbursed the funds to 59 tertiary institutions across the country under the NEEDS Assessment programme of the then Federal Government.
Although the NEEDS Assessment Intervention could have been ordinarily covered by the Act establishing TETFund, the then government in its wisdom did not deem it expedient to channel the funds through TETFund, though, TETFund and other stakeholders were part of the Suswan’s Committee, which was reported to have done a swell job, as many projects have been verified to have been undertaken under the intervention.
These revelations in TETFunds submission before the senate, since the petition was tabled on the floor of the senate, tends to lend credence to the suspicion that the Senate was being cajoled into acting out a script used to mischievously set up Professor Suleiman Bogoro, and his the management at TETFund, to ensure their ouster so as to pave way for a preferred candidate as head of the organization.
Be that as it may, the management of TETFund, our correspondent learnt, has made a good defense of its position over the matter, revealing to the Nigerian Senate that, it eyes are being deliberately covered from the achievements of TETFund under Professor Bogoro , by portraying his management as corrupt. The fund explained that it was not ready to compromise the integrity for which it has been known for over the years.
It remains a fact that TETFund has been adjudged for three consecutive years as the most performing and transparent Government agency, just as it is a truism that, the fund has sponsored the execution of projects in virtually every tertiary institution in Nigeria under its purview.
Records indicate that TETFund has sponsored amongst many others, the completion of projects at the Moddibo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State Polytechnic, also in Yola, Gombe State University, Kebbi State University of science and technology, Aliero, Yaba College of technology, Lagos, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Akure and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, amongst several others.
Available records also indicate the sponsorship of projects at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Michael Okpara University, Umudike, the University of Jos, Nasarfawa State University, Keffi, College of Education, Akwanga, the University of Ilorin, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Bayero University Kano, as well as the Federal College of Education, Zaria.
Amongst other universities positively affected by TETFund, outside the controversial N200 Billion, include, the University of Port Harcourt, University of Benin, Akwa Ibom State University, Niger Delta University on Wilberforce Island, Federal College of Education, Obudu, the university of Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic Damaturu and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, to mention but a few.
According to our findings, while the petitioners misfired in falsely accusing TETFund of mismanaging funds that never accrued to it, the issue of bias in the sponsorship of projects has been proven to be false as TETFund projects cut across all tertiary institutions in the country, depending on their size and needs. Access to TETFund intervention is usually predicated upon performance and usage of previous allocations, we learnt.
Stakeholders in the education sector, as well as staff of TETFund, while giving TETFund management a pat on the back for prudence, and visibility of projects across tertiary institutions, were quick to dismiss attempts at linking Professor Bogoro’s management with unwholesome practices.
Some staff of the organisation, told our correspondent on conditions of anonymity that, Suleiman Bogoro, from Bauchi State, who is billed to appear before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education on Tuesday, to re-echo TETFund defences, may be facing religious persecution by some forces, who have not hidden their disdain for his rising profile and continued stay in the office, at the expenses of their own preferred candidates.
To some, it was rather curious that issues in the petition had been subjects of past investigations, and its resurgence on the floor of the senate smacks of political witch hunting, given the fact that Bogoro was appointed by the immediate past administration which most people perceive as corrupt in all facets. “The petition stems from a recycled issue which had been investigated and dismissed by appropriate authorities”, one of them intoned.
Professor Bogoro, a minority Christian from Bauchi state has declined comments on the perceived tussle between him and some political forces from the north East, but our correspondent who has been following developments around him reports that, he seems to be getting too relevant in the politics and governance of the country, which in turn makes some people uncomfortable, given the unfolding trends in the politics of Bauchi State in particular.
Investigations in the senate reveal that most senators who initially believed the allegations contained in the petition and supported the probe are beginning to soft paddle, as it is becoming clear that they were misled into crucifying the organization, which many others are looking up to as a model.
Slain Civilian JTF Family Cry Out For Justice
By Yahaya WAKILI, Maiduguri
Parents of a Civilian JTF volunteer, Abdulmajid Ahmed, who was killed on duty, has taken the Borno state Government to task, over the manner the deceased family was neglected since the incident which took the young man’s life occurred.
Hajiya Rakiya, Abdulmajid’s mother told nationalTRAIL in Maiduguri that her son was one of the five Civilian JTF volunteers who were blown to death by a suicide bomber around Jiddari Polo, in Maiduguri sometime last month, but neither the Borno state Government which claims to care for the volunteers, nor the high command of the Civilian JTF has condoled the family since then.
“I lost beloved son Abdulmajid in a bomb blast on the 27th December, 2015 by 7:00 pm at Jiddari. My son is a Civilian JTF Sector 5 with I.D No. 710.
My son died in active service by protecting his nation and the people in his unit. Since the inception of civilian JTF my son has been very active he was even appointed as discipline master of his unit, but no officials from Civilian JTF neither the Borno state government has come to condole me’, she lamented.
“It is really surprising as i was thinking that my son was helping his nation that is why i allow him to take part in the work, only Almighty Allah will condole me”, Hajiya Rakiya further said, stressing that the state Government only pays lip services to the issue of welfare of boys involved in this very dangerous duty.
According to her, she is aware that the Government has visited and even compensated other families of JTF personnel who died on active service, but her son’s case was made different because they are not Kanuris.
Abdulmajid was amongst five Civilian JTF volunteers who were lured by a female suicide bomber, who pretended to be sick and needed help, only to detonate an explosive device strapped on her body as they approached to give her helping hands.
All five volunteers were killed, and according to their families, the Government which recruited them has abandoned them to their fates, as there was not even a word of condolence from the governor, Kashim Shettima, as was the case with others.
We Owe No Workers Salaries-Edo Govt
By Monday EBALU, Benin City
Edo state government has reiterated that no workers in the state is owned salary, saying that December salary was paid before Christmas day.
Reacting to the coalitions of tertiary institutions workers who protested round some major streets in Benin demanding for their five months salaries owned them by the Edo State Government, the state commissioner for Education, Gideon Obakhan said the state government does not owe any of its works force, including workers of the state owned tertiary institutions.
Gideon Obakhan said yesterday while interacting with some journalists on the issues said Edo state government is the few state in Nigeria today that have been able to pay salaries.
“The issue with the coalition of tertiary institutions union is between them and their management. Every month the state government gives subvention to these institutions and they are expected to also generate revenue internally to be able to runs the schools.
“I think it is either misunderstandings of how these institutions are run on the part of the coalitions or people are just trying to be mischievous.
“It is untrue that the ministry have not wadded into the crisis between the union and their management. We have series of meetings in my office where they appeal for support and bailout and in December last year, close to the Christmas period, the governor, in order to reduce the pressure on the workers who were saying the schools have not paid them, approved a bailout for them which was paid to the institutions.
“I have received messages from these institutions that they have received same and have also paid their workers.
“Like I said earlier, their agitation could be due to the misunderstanding on how the processes works or people just want to be mischievous for political reasons.
“Says they (coalition) have raised several issues which are largely internal to them and we have sent messages to their management in that regards and awaits responses from them.
“I cannot rely on hear say or act based on what I heard from one party. When I get the responses from management of these institutions, I would decide on the next line of action to take.
According to the commissioner, “How the government operates is that we give subvention to these institutions on a monthly basis depending on their size to support the running of the institutions.”
“One thing I want to state here is that these schools are largely autonomous. For instance, AAU get a subvention of about N254 m, USEN get something of about N25m.
“What they are expected to do with the fund is to run the schools which involves the payment of salaries, provision of facilities, although they also get support from TETFUND. Government provide some counterpart funding to run this.
“These institutions are also to generate revenue internally through school fees, and other legal means. This is expected to be argument to the subvention in the running of the schools.
“Payment of salaries is solely their responsibility. They decide the number of lecturers and administrative staff they employ. The prudence of how these funds are expended rest with the management of these schools.
“We do not interfere in the management of these institutions. They decide whether properly staff or whether their internally generated revenue is sufficient to argument what they received as subvention from the government.
“If they decide today to reduce the staff strength to meet up with their financial requirement is entirely up to them. We do not interfere on how with how they pay but we support them through monthly subvention.
“So when this people come out to say government is owing them, it shows their lack of understanding of the processes or being sponsored by opposition.
“But I expect that haven being in the system for so long, they should know how these schools are run.”
Responding to the commissioner comments, the president of the coalitions of tertiary institutions said, “it is not true as I have said several times. We didn’t request for bail out but said they should pay us our salaries. They are owing the Colleges in the coalition between 3-5 months. We embarked on another street protest in December because the state government was still owing us and as I speak with you now, they are still owing us.
“The problem started about two years ago since we started our agitation. At a point they used the trust fund or corporative to pay us. After the first tranches of about N89 million naira they paid in 2014 to bail the school out of the crisis, and they set up an investigative panel and after that it never came out with any other payment. The government is owing us and we are embarrassed.”
$14bn Refinery: CBN Assures Dangote Of Support
Following its proposal to build a refinery worth $14 billion, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that it would assist the Dangote Group to access foreign exchange to facilitate the project.
This was disclosed by the Central Bank, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele during a tour of the refinery which is projected to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Speaking during the tour of the facility at its location within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, the CBN governor said that the support was to ease the importation of equipment needed to bring the Dangote refinery to reality.
Your ongoing 14 billion dollar refinery investment will enjoy our support, no doubt.
We are doing this to fast-track the importation of equipment you need for a speedy completion of that project and to encourage other Nigerians to follow your lead,’’ Emefiele said.
According to him, the tour is necessary to lend our support to this laudable project that will transform Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
The Dangote Group approached us to indicate their interest to invest in refining crude, such that petrol-chemicals, fertiliser and fuel will be produced, about three years ago.
Today, the three projects, which are valued at 14 billion dollars (N2.8 trillion), are on course and this is highly commendable, ‘’ he said.
Emefiele said the CBN would continue to support tremendous and impactful projects that would improve the socio-economic profile of the country through such investments.
He said the diversification of the Dangote Group was worthy of emulation by other industrialists.
By the time this refinery is completed, it will not only service the needs of our domestic economy but shore up our international oil investments.
“Projects like this and our support will encourage more Nigerians to begin to think like the Dangote Group,’’ the CBN boss added.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group, said that the refinery would commence commercial operations at the early period of 2018.
We are set to unveil the world’s largest refinery which will make Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum products refining and also become a major exporter of oil.
This project will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s search for local refining of crude oil.
We will ensure the value chain in crude oil production is uplifted and other facilitators properly integrated into our scheme,’’ he said.
The chairman said that the fertiliser production aspect of the refinery would be completed by 2017.
Dangote said: “This project is generally about saving foreign exchange and earning more for our nation through the diversification of the economy.
We started with local production of cement and today we export more than 12 tons of it.
We don’t need dollars now to continue to produce Dangote Cement and that is the same thing we will do with this refinery.
This refinery will have the capacity to serve this country optimally and it is part of our contribution in the vanguard to diversify our economy”, he added.