Naira Falls to N490: Nigeria Blames Neighbors

Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Association of bureau de change operators of Nigeria (ABCON), says the free fall of the naira is due to activities of Nigeria’s immediate neighbors.
Over the week, the naira has been on a free fall at the parallel market, moving from 439 per dollar on Monday to 490 to the greenback on Friday morning.
The British pound and euro are also currently trading at N600 and N520 respectively.
According to Gwadabe, foreigners are mounting pressure on the naira by bringing in their dollar demand to Nigeria, hence, mopping up the dollars in the system.
“For the past few days, what we have been witnessing in the market is a kind of spike, a lot of volatility in exchange rate, and this has to do with fear,” Gwadabe told CNBC Africa.
“A lot of people are developing fear, and as a result of that, no naira is being kept. People are moving from naira to dollar.
“A very worrisome factor that we have been witnessing in the market is that the market has recently been bombarded by people from neighbouring countries to meet their demands.
“What I mean by neighbouring countries is that a lot of demand is coming from Benin Republic, from Chad. International demand is also accumulating; we see a lot of Chinese traders coming into the economy, mopping up any available dollar.”
Gwadabe said ABCON and Travelex are now into a partnership, which would take off soon, thereby easing the stress on the local currency.
The bureau de change boss expressed support for the proposed sale of some national assets to beef up foreign reserves and support the naira.

Violent Protests as PDP Rejects Outcome of Edo Guber Election

Violent protests erupted in different parts of the Edo State on Thursday September 29, 2016.  As early as 7am, the roads leading to the State INEC office were blocked by angry youths amidst chanting of  "All we are saying, give us democracy.”
Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has rejected the outcome of Wednesday’s election, saying the results were different from those collated at the polling units and declared at different wards.
The security men were forced to fire teargas and many gunshots to scare the protesters away from the vicinity of the INEC office.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in his house in Benin City along with the Edo State PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbihwhile the results were still being announced local government by local government, Ize-Iyamu accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with Adams Oshiomhole and security agencies to declared fake results.

Asset declarations: CCB set to probe Fashola, Amechi, Ogbeh, others

 

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has expressed its resolve to verify all assets declared by top serving and former public officers at the federal, state and local government levels.

A statement by the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba on Thursday, September 29, 2016, said all officials concerned are expected to appear physically before the commission for the verification.

He stated that by virtue of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “every public officer is required to submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

 

He added that any statement in the declaration, found to be false by any authorities or persons authorized to verify it, “shall be deemed to be a breach of the code”.

Saba said, “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter Cycle of Conference and Field Verification of Assets of top public officers. Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, service Chiefs and other top public officers.

“All invited public officers are to note that failure to honour the invitation by the CCB in this regard is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and could lead to prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Public officers not yet invited are to await their letters of invitation.”

 

He listed 76 public officers that had been invited by the bureau, with a threat of the possibility of prosecution if they failed to honour the invitation.

Among the 76 invitees are 30 ministers who, according to the bureau, are yet to present themselves for the exercise.

The bureau identified Ministers who have not yet submitted themselves for the verification to include: Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Kachikwu (Petroleum Resources (State); Abubakar Malami (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice); Adebayo Shittu (Communications); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals and Steel Development); Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Others include: Senator Aisha Alhassan (Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Youths & Sports Development); Osagie Ehanire (Health (State)); Usani Usani (Niger Delta Affairs); Prof. Anthony Anwukah (Education (State)); Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), and Gen. Ali Mansur (retd.) (Defence).

The list also includes: Senator Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Ibrahim Jibril (Environment (State)); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources and Rural Development); Mustapha Shehuri (Power (State)); Prof. Claudius Daramola (Niger Delta Affairs (State)) and Kemi Adeosun (Finance) as those who have not submitted themselves for verification.

The rest are Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health); Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade, Investment and Industry); Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs ); Muhammadu Bello (Federal Capital Territory); Senator Hadi Sirika (Aviation (State)); Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Foreign Affairs (State)); Senator Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment); Heineken Lokpobiri (Agriculture and Rural Development (State)); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology); and Abubakar Bwari (Solid Minerals (State)).

The rest of the public officers still expected to submit themselves to the bureau are the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Oyo-Ita Ekanem; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadique; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok.

Also on the list are the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro; Controller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Babandede Mohammed; Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Waziri Adio; Director-General of National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Amazu; and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Also yet to turn up for the CCB verification are the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Development Authority, Kashim Tumash; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; Controller-General of Federal Fire Service, Anebi Garba; Director-General, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission, Ibrahim Umaru.

Others include the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Adamu; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mrs. Hadiza Usman; Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Ahmed Kuru, and Controller-General of MSCDS, Muhammad Abdullahi.

The Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, who are on the list, are Ntom Chukwu, Folusho Adebanjo, Emmanuel Inyang, Maigari Dikko, Joshak Habila, Shuaibu Gambo, and Hyacinth Dagala.

An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Bube, is also on the list.

Military officers, whose names appear on the list, are Real Admiral Joseph Osa (Commandant, Operation Delta Safe) and Major General M. A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc).

The CCB also listed a number of Federal Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission and three Group Executive Directors of the NNPC, who are yet to submit themselves to the CCB’s verification.

In the statement, the CCB stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and five other ministers, among 15 other former and serving public officers, had submitted themselves to the asset verification.

Buratai was recently accused of having choice $1.5m properties in Dubai, but was cleared by the army.

“The Chief of Army Staff was the first to be issued his certificate. We started issuing to others last week,” the CCB Chairman said.

The five cleared ministers are Abdulrahman Dambazau (Interior); Zainab Shamsuna (Budget & National Planning); Adamu Adamu (Education); Aisha Abubakar (Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry (State)); and Amina Mohammed (Minister of Environment).

The rest of the former and serving public officers already cleared by the CCB are the immediate past Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood; a former Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, and a former Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, Ezenwa Peter.

They also include the Acting MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission, Semenitari Tamunoibim; Controller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Ali (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; and Federal Commissioner, Civil Service Commission, Hope Ikrirko.

Calabar: Army kills 7 armed militants in Bakassi, recover arms

Troops from the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar, at the early hours of Friday, September 30, 2016, repelled an attack on its soldiers by killing seven armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Capt. Kayode Owolabi, Army Public Relations Officer (APRO) who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Calabar, said that the militants attacked the Army post in Efut Esighi.

 Owolabi linked the militants to be `boys’ of the most wanted militant leader, Benjamin Ene a.k.a `G1’ who has been on the wanted list of security agencies in the State. “The very determined troops from the 13 Brigade and Operation Delta Safe repelled an attack from armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi Local Government Area this morning. “The militants tried to attack the Army post in Efut Esighi. Some of them were wearing Nigerian military camouflage. “We recovered 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, rocket propelled gun luncher, GPMG belt links and various charms on their bodies. Other militants escaped with very serious gun shots injuries. “There was no casualty on the side of the military. Our men were in full combatant during the attack.

UNILAG shut down as students protest ‘unjust rustification’ of ULSU members

The authorities of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, have shut down activities at the institution’s main campus, Akoka due to a protest by students.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and its Joint Campus Committee affiliate protested at the gate of the institution against the unjust rustication of some members of the students’ union.

The association described the action of the school’s management as “killing the future of the youths and repressing their right to express their grievances.”

 

The rusticated students are leaders of the students’ union body that were suspended due to a protest that held in April, 2016 over poor electricity and water supply in the institution.

 

NANS Lagos Joint Campus Committee, JCC, Chairman, Samson Adewale, who led members of the association from Adeyemi College of Education, Lagos State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology among others, said it was unfair for the management to punish those advocating improved welfarism on behalf of others.

Adewale said the protest was necessitated by the need to support their counterparts in the struggle against unjust victimisation.

 

He said: “The people that have deem it fit to fight for the right of others have been suspended. They are leaving the students with no option, with no voice and you can see it right now as we are here; hardly can you find any student of University of Lagos joining the protest because they are afraid. Once their voice is heard, they will be rusticated.

“Just like what happened to Mr Femi Adeyeye, who went on social media to address the issue. He was rusticated and the management said he violated the code of conduct of the institution. Does the code and conduct affect social norms? I want to say that conflict is inevitable. The fact that there is a conflict between the management and the students does not mean those involved should be killed or be stopped from having a future.

“They should give these people the opportunity to negotiate their procedures in solving the conflict. We are always going to be here since they have assumed their personal image is more than the image of an institution. If UNILAG management deem it fit that conflict is the best way to go and by coercing the students is the best way to have good authority, then we are saying this to them: come today come tomorrow, we are not leaving here until we receive a meaningful response from them,” he added.

The UNILAG main gate has been blocked by the protesters’ vehicle, and also locked by the campus security leading to the restriction of movement in or outside the campus.

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Edo Governor-elect, Obaseki Promises ‘All Inclusive’ Government

 

 

The Governor-elect of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has promised to run an all-inclusive government when his ad­ministration is inaugurated.

In his speech after he was declared the winner of last Wednesday’s governorship election by the Independ­ent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) in Benin, Obaseki said that he would not discriminate against any individual, group or political party because they opposed his candidature.

He appealed to the oppo­sition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which came up sec­ond in the fiercely contest­ed race, to join him to build a new Edo where everyone would be proud to associ­ate with.

According to the re­sults announced by INEC, Obaseki, the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) candidate won in Akoko-Edo, Ikpoba-Okha, Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Cenral, Owan East , Ovia North, Oredo, Uhunwomnde, Ig­ueben, Egor and Owan West local government areas.

His closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, won in Esan North Central, Esan West, Orhionmwon, Esan South East and Esan North East local government areas.

Obaseki polled a total of 319, 483 votes as against the 253, 173 votes recorded by Ize-Iyamu.

He said that, “It is with great humility and abiding faith in God Almighty that I accept this pronouncement of my victory as the next gover­nor of Edo State. This is a his­toric victory for all Edo citi­zens and our party, the APC. It underscores clearly your preference for the continuity and consolidation of our pro­grammes.

“More importantly, by your votes you clearly af­firmed your faith in my ability to lead our State forward into a new era. This is a responsibil­ity Philip Shaibu, my running mate, and myself do not take lightly. Our promise to build a State anchored on a produc­tive economy that will trans­form and empower our citi­zens is sincere.

“The elections are over; it is time to bury the hatchet and close ranks for the good of our dear State. Our State is superi­or to all other interests and we must, as individuals, subordi­nate our personal ambitions to that of the collective.

“Let me say that a new future beckons. I pledge to work tirelessly for the good of all Edo people, irrespective of gender, social status, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation”.

Buhari's Minister Indicted For Fraud: Presidency Keeps mum

The presidency has decided to keep mum on a Minister who was indicted for fraud when he held office in a different capacity.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, was indicted for financial impropriety for his role when he held office during the military era.
PREMIUM TIMES claims it is in possession of a government white paper which documented Mr. Usani’s indictment after he was found guilty of fraud in 2000 by a panel established by the Cross River State Government.

Mr. Usani, who had just finished serving as the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, appeared in 1999 before a government committee set up to investigate financial impropriety among officials of the preceding military administration in the state.
The committee, officially known as Financial Impropriety/Verification Standing Committee, was inaugurated in 1999 by the then governor, Donald Duke.
It was chaired by Orok Oyo, and had Andy Ikpeme, Ekpe Ita, Otu Oka and Akomaye Adie as members.
According to the document, Mr. Usani, because of his alleged intent to defraud the government, was said to have refused to apply government approved scales, when he paid out some money as fees to Gersh Henshaw & Company, a firm of estate surveyors and valuers, which handled the contract for the valuation of vehicles, workshops and equipment belonging to the Cross River State Water Board.
The valuation was said to be part of the African Development Bank water project in the State.

At Least 3 Killed, More Than 100 Reported Hurt, Passengers Trapped After Train Crash at Hoboken, NJ Station

At least three people were killed, more than 100 were hurt and others remained trapped after a crowded train slammed into a busy station in Hoboken, N.J., during the Thursday September 29, 2016, morning commute, investigators and local media reported.
E-L-P confirmed three people died. At least one was female, a law enforcement source told E-L-P. Many of the injured were in critical condition, New Jersey Transit spokeswoman Jennifer Nelson said.

Commuter Jim Finan, of River Edge, N.J., told E-L-P the train "never slowed down" before it crashed through barriers into the terminal's reception area. One emergency worker described a "horrendous exploding noise" and said passengers were crawling from the scene on their hands and knees.
"We ran over and there were a lot of people kicking out windows trying to exit the train," the man, identified only as Mike. "...The second half of the first car was completely destroyed."

Photos showed major structural damage to the Hoboken terminal, including a crumbled wall and mangled beams.
More than 100 people needed treatment, emergency workers said. Witnesses said a woman was pinned under concrete and many other people were bleeding, some with head injuries.
Hoboken has the highest percentage of transit ridership of any city in the country. More than 50,000 people use the terminal daily.

The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, sources told E-L-P. The National Transportation Safety Board told Fox News it was gathering information. The locomotive was at the back of the train but the engineer was in the leading car, workers said.
Speaking on "America's Newsroom," Finan said people were trying to smash out windows after the crash. He described it as feeling like he was "in an off-road vehicle," adding, "It was bumpy. You were getting bounced around and then slammed forward."

Hoboken N.J Commuter Train crash: At least 3 Dead

E-L-P Sources confirm that there is now chaos after a deadly commuter train crash inside the commuter train terminal in Hoboken, N.J. More than 100 people were injured, some critically, when a commuter train ploughed into Hoboken station, a New Jersey Transit spokeswoman has said.

The train from New York crashed during the Thursday morning rush hour.
It caused serious damage to both the train and station.
Witnesses reported injuries, including one woman who was trapped under concrete and many people bleeding.
The spokeswoman, Jennifer Nelson, says she does not know yet how fast the train was going when it ran into the rail bumper at the end of the line.

Ms Nelson continued: "We have multiple injuries, multiple critical injuries right now. The terminal is shut down."

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TV footage and photos from the scene show damage to the rail car and extensive structural damage to the Hoboken station.

Protest Outside UNILAG Gate Over Suspension Of Student Activists

A protest organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and its Joint Campus Committee affiliate is underway at the gate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The students have reportedly gathered to protest against the suspension of the Students Union and student activists.
At the time of publication, the UNILAG gate has been blocked by the protesters’ vehicle and also locked by campus security.
Movement in or outside of the campus has been restricted since the protest commenced.

UNILAG Protest

 

UNILAG Protest

 

UNILAG Protest