Managing Nigeria’s Revenues Prudently

EMERGING details of Nigeria’s earnings from various sources are at variance with our status as one of the world’s poorest countries and our dilapidated infrastructure.
A country where $90 billion in oil revenues flowed into in 2012 and which earned another N5 trillion in domestic taxes ought to have something tangible to show for it. Though not all the $90 billion would have accrued to the Federation Account as Joint Venture oil partners and others took some part, the figure shows that we still earned a tidy sum from oil and other sources. That such high earnings have been flowing into the coffers of the three tiers of government since 1999 strongly confirms the waste, corruption and ineptitude that have characterised public administration in Nigeria.
Data compiled by the Energy Information Administration of the United States Department of Energy showed that, of the $1.15 trillion earned from crude oil by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries member states in 2012, Nigeria received $90 billion, the fourth highest among the 12-member cartel. This represents a significant improvement over the $65 billion the EIA said accrued to Nigeria from crude oil sales in 2011. And just a week ago, our own Federal Inland Revenue Service reported that it collected about N5 trillion in 2012, an improvement over the N4.62 trillion it collected in 2011. Of the total collections in 2012, non-oil taxes brought in N1.8 trillion or 37 per cent, while oil taxes brought in around N3.2 trillion or 63.53 per cent, compared to N1.55 trillion from non-oil taxes and N3.07 trillion from oil in 2011.
These figures raise some cause for concern. Since under our federal system funds accruing to the Federation Account are distributed among the federal, state and local governments, complemented by other revenue streams available to each of them, one would have expected that, over the years, there would be massive infrastructural development and a reversal of our high poverty rates, using ever rising revenues.
Regrettably, report after report continues to place the country at the bottom rung of rankings in human development indices. A recent United Nations Development Programme study identifies Nigeria as one of the worst places on earth for a child to be born, a dubious honour she shares with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Chad. Our infrastructure is appalling, with roads that have become death traps, dysfunctional and archaic railways, rundown and ill-equipped hospitals, chaotic ports, dilapidated dams and irrigation works and poor airports. Though oil-rich, we continue to import refined petroleum products as our four state-owned refineries are comatose and no new one, public or private, has been built since 1988.
What have the various governments done with revenues from oil and other sources? When, recently, a former minister, Oby Ezekwesili, raised posers on how the $45 billion foreign reserves and $22 billion in the contentious Excess Crude Oil Account left by the departing Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2007 was spent, officials of the current Goodluck Jonathan government responded with brickbats at the former World Bank vice-president. But the government has refused to be accountable. It has failed to explain how, despite higher oil production of 2.2 – 2.4 million barrels per day and persistently high prices of over $100 per barrel, our reserves had just $43 billion and the ECA only $9.2 billion in December 2012.
The discovery of oil in many nations and increased oil output in the United States, where oil production rose to a 14-year high in 2012, demand that we quickly and wisely invest our oil revenues while we still have them, cut down on the excessive cost of governance by, for example, reducing the presidential aircraft fleet, number of aides and other luxuries, while also slaying the dragon of corruption.
President Jonathan must lead the way. The National Assembly must cut down on the obscene allowances it has awarded to itself, exercise effective oversight over the Executive and insist on accountability from all agencies of the government.
Naij

Reporter Who Broke Story On Kate Middleton’s Dead Nurse Found Dead

Metropolitan Police are sifting through the online correspondence of a popular journalist who is believed to have committed suicide after running a story about Kate Middleton’s late nurse Jacintha Saldantha, who was the target of a prank phone call by a pair of Australian radio hosts pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles before she too committed suicide.
Journalist Jerry Williams, 38, was found dead in the burnt wreckage of his home in the London suburb of Neasden after an off-duty pot dealer thought the smoke pouring out of the front door, which had been left slightly ajar, was an invitation to enter the late reporter’s residence.
The pot dealer’s untimely death was reported later the same afternoon, and is thought to be unrelated to the case involving Mr. Williams, according to statements issued by local police.
“Jerry had just sent us his piece about that unfortunate nurse who had to kill herself to preserve the honor of her family when I really realized how good of a journalist he really was. He certainly will be missed,” Terry Barlow, the editor of the newspaper Mr. Williams worked for told reporters just hours before his own death in a freak bathroom accident. The newspaper ran Mr. Williams’ story on the front page of today’s paper, which is being distributed nationally.
A copy of the latest edition of the newspaper has reportedly been found next to the dead bodies of all of its readers, all of whom are believed to have committed suicide.
An investigation into the string of deaths is ongoing and information is scarce.
Naij

Burkina Faso Returns To Face World Cup Reality

SOWETO (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations runners-up Burkina Faso return home Monday after an amazing campaign to face the reality that their chances of playing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil are remote.

The Stallions made a poor start to Group E, drawing 0-0 at home to Congo Brazzaville and losing 1-0 away to Gabon, and the lone point they collected disappeared after FIFA ruled that they fielded an ineligible player.
Cameroon-born full-back Herve Zengue did not meet eligibility requirements, accoring to the world governing body, and a goalless turned into a 3-0 defeat for the Burkinabe.
With two of the six rounds played, the Stallions anchor the table with no points and a minus-four goal difference, while Congo have six points and Niger and Gabon three each.
Burkina Faso face Niger (home/away) during March and June, Congo (away) also in June and Gabon (home) in September and could need an unlikely maximum 12 points to top the winner-takes-all group.
But even that miraculous recovery would not guarantee Belgian coach Paul Put and his stars a ticket to Brazil as the 10 group winners will be paired and the victors of five home-and-away ties qualify for the tournament.
New Cup of Nations champions Nigeria are much better placed as they seek a return to the World Cup having made a disappointing 2010 exit in South Africa after losses to Argentina and Greece and draw with South Korea.
They started Group F last June with a narrow home win over Namibia followed a week later with a precious draw away to Malawi and appear likely winners of a mini-league completed by under-achieving Kenya.
However, difficult tasks loom for Mali and Ghana — who finished third and fourth respectively at the Cup of Nations — if they are to survive the first round.
The Malian Eagles are third in Group H, level on points with Algeria and one behind Benin, in a pool that looks like it could go to the wire with the three countries having realistic hopes of progressing.
Ghana are in a tough pool and after slamming seven goals past hapless Lesotho at home they lost by a solitary goal away to shock 2012 Cup of Nations champions Zambia.
Sudan, who defeated Zambia in Khartoum, top Group D with four points and Ghana and Zambia have three each, but a series of boardroom decisions could have a vital bearing on the final standings.
FIFA ruled that Sudan used an ineligible player against Zambia and changed a 2-0 victory into a 3-0 defeat, but the east Africans have appealed to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Ivory Coast, who failed for a fifth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournament to justify the tag of title favourites, top Group C thanks to a home victory over Tanzania and an away draw against Morocco in a section completed by modest Gambia.
Naij

Great News! Nigerian Railway Corporation Begins Cargo Services After 10 Years

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced cargo operations after 10 years with the first haulage of goods from Ogun State to Niger State last week.

The first cargo operation in ten years commenced several days ago with 675 tonnes arriving Minna from Ogun State after 48 hours journey, about twelve hours quicker than its usual operation in the past.
The manager public relations of North Western District of the railway corporation, Abdulraouf Akinwuye said the cement transported was contracted from Luferage Company makers of WAPCO cement at Ewekoro in Ogun State. Akinwuye said that apart from less cost intensive nature of the train haulage services, the cargo train had the capacity to create job opportunities for the youths in the state and also enhance economic activities.
He explained that 50 youths were expected to benefit from the loading, off-loading and transportation of the goods in terms of employment.
The manager said with the cargo service of the train introduced in Nigeria there would be less pressure on the roads. He said for instance that the cement received in Minna would be distributed in Niger State and Abuja and would be regular to ensure people’s awareness of the service.
Naij

Fashola: We’ll Build 100 Inner City Roads This Year

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State says his government will build 100 inner city roads this year. He also gave reason for the introduction of cable car in the Lagos metropolis.
Fashola spoke at the annual Interdenominational Service of the Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, held at the Apostolic Church International Convention Grounds in Ketu, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria at the weekend. According to the governor, his administration awarded 198 contracts inner city roads across the local governments last year and that this year, government was planning another 100 roads across the state for construction. He reiterated that the roads had been chosen in such a way that all areas, including Epe, Badagry, Shomolu, Kosofe and even far flung places like Agiliti, Ijedodo, Shibiri, and Eleran Igbe were not left out.
The governor reported that just as he acquainted the people about developments and challenges on the Mile 12 road project last year, construction had started to expand the road which links Ikorodu town with the expectation that the residents and commuters on the axis would have some relief when it is completed. Fashola added that the same scenario played out in the Lekki Epe axis when construction work started but that the pain was getting lighter as progress was being made. On the Blue line of the Lagos Light Rail Mass transit project, the governor said, "We are now at a point where we have started laying the rail tracks from the section from Eric Moore going to Mile 2. There is still work to be done including crossing the Lagoon and bringing the train and the system ultimately to Marina but I am happy that things have not remained as they were last year and we have moved them forward."
On the planned introduction of cable car, Fashola explained that it was meant to help in mitigating traffic gridlock in Lagos and allow the people to choose the means of transportation they wanted. "Very soon, we would be beneficiaries of an urban cable system that would help reduce traffic from Apapa to Central Lagos which is often the most congested part of the state. We are providing choices to our people," he stated. On complaints about BRT buses, the governor said there were challenges with the management and maintenance of the buses because they are not manufactured in Nigeria and has always created the need to train people on how to manage and maintain the buses. Fashola also spoke on the State Traffic law, saying it had made provisions to take care of some transgressions which people engaged in while driving, adding that the average engineer who designed a car and put some safety measures like seat belt in it knew its importance and wondered why people would rather not use it until they were compelled to do so.
He added that some people would rather drive a vehicle without affixing a registration number, saying that the question that should agitate the mind of an average person was "What if such a vehicle was used to kidnap an innocent person, how would the security agencies be able to track the criminals? It was also observed that most commercial drivers often drive under the influence of one form of drug or the other and have largely been responsible for major road accidents. Regrettably, the debate on the implementation of the State Traffic law has been reduced to a debate on okada operations in the state. The State Traffic law is all encompassing and is about safety and well being of the people in the society. I know the number of artificial legs that the administration has bought for people who have been maimed by activities of the commercial motorcyclists while not talking about the several who have died and have also been robbed."
Naij

Ashipa’s Palace Invasion: IG Orders Removal Of Oyo CP

The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar has ordered the removal of Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu over last week’s occupation of the palace and ancestral home of Ashipa of Oyo.
Daily Sun had exclusively reported last week that 250 policemen, accompanied by two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) stormed the Isale Oyo area of the town and sealed off the palace.
Although nobody was arrested, women, children and owners of shops adjoining the palace were chased away by the security men while the personal vehicle of the head of Ashipa family and Alago of Ago-Oja, Chief Ganiyu Busari Ajiboye was taken away by the invading policemen.
The IGP was said to have been embarrassed and infuriated by the action of his men, especially when there was no court order for such exercise. Reliable source within Oyo State command confided in Daily Sun yesterday that IG Abubakar immediately ordered the removal of CP Mbu, pending the time the hierarchy would consider what next to be done on his case.
“As I am talking to you now, he is yet to be re-posted to any command. His action really embarrassed the IGP,” the source stated.
Meanwhile, embattled head of Ashipa family, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye has slammed a N1 billion suit on the IGP for illegal and unwarranted invasion and subsequent occupation of Ashipa palace, where he and his family lived. Joined in the suit were Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dasuki Galadanci; Oyo State Commissioner of Police; Executive Governor of Oyo State and Attorney-General of Oyo State.
In the motion on notice, Ajiboye urged the court to order the defendants to pay the ‘sum of N500,000,000 as general damages against the respondents severally for psychological trauma and personal inconveniencies including loss of the use of his vehicle and arbitrary and illegal deprivation of his personal effects arising from the infringement of the applicant’s rights.’
He also pleaded with the court to grant an order ‘awarding the sum of N500,000,000 as aggravated damages against the respondents severally on account of crude methods adopted by the respondents, their arbitrary conduct, abuse of state powers and unwarranted intimidation.’

Ajiboye also sought the order of the court for the award of the ‘sum of N2,000,000 against the respondents severally as cost of damage to the applicant’s vehicle. in the course of forcefully towing the vehicle to Police Area Command, Durbah, Oyo.’
Ajiboye also demanded a public apology for the embarrassment caused him and his family as well as immediate action to unseal the palace. It was gathered yesterday that some police personnel were still sighted within the premises of the Ashipa ancestral home while shops already locked up due to the police invasion were yet to be re-opened.
Naij

7 Years After, Beko’s Spirit Marches On, Activists Insist

Pro-democracy and human rights groups across the country converged on Lagos yesterday for the 7th memorial anniversary of former president of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti who they described as icon of democracy.
Speakers at Beko’s cenotaph at Anthony area of Lagos included former Lagos State governor, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu; CD President, Dr. Joe Odumakin; Arewa Youth Consultative Forum President, Mallam Shettima Yerima; Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams; former Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) president, Ms Ayo Obe; Voters Assembly Convener, Moshood Erubami; National Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran; Beko’s daughter, Mrs. Nike Nedun and his mother, Mrs. Abosede Ransome Kuti, among others.
The speakers said though Beko was dead, his spirit was marching on, saying that he never died in vain since his ideals were still being pursued by those he left behind.
According to them, Beko’s ideal included “restructuring of the polity through the convocation of the Sovereign National Conference (SNC), enthusing that “the SNC would soon be a reality since the agitation for it has become a national anthem.”
While agreeing that “the most befitting honour we can accord our departed leader is to continue to push for the convocation of the SNC,” they urged Nigerians not to relent in the struggle to make it a reality since those in power would not let go easily.
Chairman of National Democratic Coalition, Ndubisi Kanu said activists were taking it easy with the authorities because they wanted it peacefully, warning that doing otherwise would not augur well for the country.
Naij