The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Thursday, reiterated its commitment to the fight against corruption in the country ,insisting that it had always been in the vanguard of the fight and that it was not ready to stop now.
The assurance was given by the President of the Association, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena , while receiving the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji. Lai Mohammed , on a courtesy call on the Association at its Secretariat in Maryland , Lagos
” We will help you fight corruption because it is antithetical to development” he stressed.
On hand to receive the minister among others , were the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, Mal. Ismaila Isa, both Life Patrons of the Association, former governor of Ogun State,Chief Segun Osoba, Mr. Ray Ekpu (both past Presidents of the Association) as well as Executive Council members and other members of the Association.
Mr. Obaigbena who is also the Publisher of Thisday newspapers, in welcoming the new vista with which the goverment is pursuing its anti- corruption drive, noted that more mileage would be garnered and the campaign more enduring, if government fights corruption by building strong institutions.
To achieve greater result, he said it was imperative to first find the root cause of corruption, avoid arbitrariness and follow the rule of law . Also, there was a need to respect the doctrine of innocence under which an accuse is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
It would be unjust and unfair to lump people together, and label everybody thieves, without separating the wheat from the chaff,he added.
In his address, the minister sought the support and cooperation of the media owners, adding that it was not the intention of the government to intimidate anyone or group of persons.
Goverment’s current drive he argued, was motivated by the higher ideal of bringing happiness to the greater number of the citizenry. This he said would remain an illusion without curing the corruption cancer that had eaten deep into the nation.
Mohammed drew a nexus between corruption and development, explaining that it would be difficult to develop infrastructure like roads, railway, schools, etc if government revenues are stolen.
Taking on the economy without first fighting corruption, he argued, would be an exercise in futility.
He recalled his earlier pronouncement how the nation could be transformed into an eldorado, providing roads, schools, hospitals etc , if the funds stolen had been judiciously applied.
For instance, he said the total amount Nigeria was seeking to borrow from the World Bank or the African Development Bank or others is $3.5 billion, adding that if only a few who had stolen from the nation’s revenues had returned a fraction or that the issue of the $20 billion had been resolved, the nation would not need to borrow.
Mohammed said in the next few weeks government would be launching a National Re – orientation Campaign tagged ” Change begins with me”. The campaign is to compliment other campaigns already launched such as National Security Awareness Campaign and the National Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption He pleaded for the support of the media for the new campaign.
Others on hand to receive the minister included Deputy President and Chairman, Media Trust, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, the General Secretary and Publisher of the Source Magazine, Comfort Obi, President of Leadership Group and former Presidential aspirant, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Assistant Secretary and Publisher of Blue Print newspapers, Alh. Mohammed Idris,Group Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, Mrs Nwadiuto Iheakanwa and President of Tell communications, Mr. Nosa Igiebor.
Also present were Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Editor-in-Chief, The News, Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard ; Publisher of Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, Mr.Ted Iwere, Managing Director of Daily Independent, Mannging Director of New Telegraph, Mrs Funke Egbemode and Deputy Managing Director of The Sun, Mr. Steve Nwosu.
With Vanguard
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Task Force arrests suspects over oil pipe blasts, Niger Delta
Spokesman for Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Isa Ado, said in a statement that the arrest followed a charge by the Commander of the Joint Force, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola to apprehend those behind the acts.
Ado said in the statement that the suspects, who are in custody, were being interrogated to ascertain their degree of involvement and to help in arresting others.
The statement said patrols in the region had been intensified to ensure that all the suspected militants behind the line pipes sabotage were brought to book.
“Operation Pulo Shield remains determined to track and arrest perpetrators of the recent multiple attacks and bombing of some oil pipes and installations across Niger Delta Region.
“Some suspects were arrested and currently undergoing thorough preliminary investigation to ascertain their degree of involvement before handing them over to prosecuting agencies, while effort is on to track and arrest fleeing vandals.
“The arrest was due to highly intensified Patrols and Cordon and Search of the waterways, creeks and communities by the Joint Force.
“It is in line with the directives of the Commander, Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Alani Gafar Okunlola to apprehend those behind the criminal act”, said the statement.
The statement quoted the commander of the Joint force as assuring the people of Niger Delta of Operation Pulo Shield’s determination to wipe out all acts of illegalities in the region.
It called on the people to give useful information that will aid the joint force in its operations in line with its mandate in the Niger Delta.
It warned the perpetrators of the crime to desist from further destruction of oil facilities or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that a blast on a crude and gas line pipes at Escravos, Delta, resulted in the shut down of Warri and Port Harcourt refineries and cut in gas supply to some power plants.
Another blast on Agip’s facility on Jan. 28 resulted in a drop by 16,000 barrels out of Agip’s 40,000 barrels daily export from Brass Oil Export Terminal of Bayelsa coastline.
Air Force bombs Boko Haram base
The military averted another suicide attack on Maiduguri when troops intercepted two bombers who attempted to enter the city.
Residents said two suicide bombers made desperate efforts to enter the city through the outskirts but were gunned down in the process.
Regardless, Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustapha Ankas confirmed that the bombers were intercepted by military troops at Muna Dalti after fruitless attempts to infiltrate the city. “The suicide bombers were halted but refused to stop. In the process, they blew themselves up,” Ankas explained at a media briefing yesterday.
He, however, said there was no casualty other than the two bombers.
Elsewhere, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said its Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV), destroyed a logistics base used by Boko Haram.
The base, NAF said, is located at Garin Moloma, about one kilometre north of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. This is just as the military and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will collaborate in the war against crude oil theft.
A statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said the UAV was on an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission in the area when it detected the gathering of the terrorists.
He said Garin Moloma that had been under surveillance, houses terrorists’ operational vehicles which were destroyed.
The military officer also said the multiple explosions and huge fireball from the location, as recorded from the enclosed video of the UAV strike, “strongly suggests that it may be either an ammunition/fuel storage or weapons/technical workshop.”
According to him, the operation was a major setback for Boko Haram, and a big gain for the military in its fight against insurgency.
Meanwhile, the ministry and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) are perfecting the synergy between the two organisations towards curbing crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was at the DHQ where he was briefed by the committee set up to evolve the modality for protection of oil and gas pipelines across the country.
The issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism was extensively discussed few months ago when Dr Kachikwu, then the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, visited the DHQ.
The aftermath of that visit was the setting up of the committee to provide guidelines for the protection of oil and gas pipelines by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin.
With AIT
Buhari assures EU of commitment to human rights protection
Addressing a special session of the parliament on in Strasbourg,France, president buhari said that his government shared the European union's commitment to peace and security, respect for Human rights, democracy and good governance, equality and tolerance, as ways of developing prosperous and strong Societies.
The president also spoke of Nigeria's concerns about the Economic partnership agreement between the European union,
African, Caribbean and pacific group have states (acp), collectively Endorsed by the economic community of west African states.
He said that Nigeria was yet to sign the agreement because pertinent technical issues raised by the federal government have not been satisfactorily addressed.
The president also sought greater support from eu curb the theft of Nigeria crude oil as well as corruption in its oil and gas sector.
President buhari assured the parliament that Nigeria would collaborate with the European union to address illegal migration to Europe.
The president also sought greater support from eu curb the theft of Nigeria crude oil as well as corruption in its oil and gas sector.
President buhari assured the parliament that Nigeria would collaborate with the European union to address illegal migration to Europe.
With AIT
Senate begins investigation into fresh allegation to extradite senator Buruji Kashamu
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu while meeting with the senator and his solicitor on the allegation in Abuja, said the committee would carry out its mandate.
He directed that all parties involved in the allegation, including former Chairman of (NDLEA), Ahmed Giade and the Director-General of NDLEA, should maintain status quo pending the committee’s investigation.
`` Having heard from you the Solicitor to Senator Kashamu, you may now leave and be rest assured that we will hear from the other correspondents and we will come up with a position on this issue.
``Meanwhile I think it is obvious that when we make our investigation we will put down our report to the entire Senate.
``We have to invite the parties involved and not in representative capacity to answer to the allegations.
``This matter is before the senate and we think status quo should remain until we look at the issues in the petition and come up with a position,’’ he said.
Anyanwu said that the committee would investigate to know if the case was before any court before proceeding, given that it received varying correspondents from the parties involved.
He added that while Mr Giade and the Attorney General had agreed to appear before the committee on the matter, the NDLEA boss wrote to be excused because the case was before the Court of Appeal.
`NDLEA DG wrote that the matter is in the Appeal Court and she should be excused from the matter.
``Meanwhile the Attorney General asked to be given between 9th and 12th of February to appear before the committee and Alhaji Ahmed Giade asked for more time to prepare and submit 12 copies of the written presentation before the committee,’’ he said.
The Solicitor to Sen. Kashamu, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, alleged that there were plans to extradite the lawmaker to the United States to be tried afresh.
``Recently it came to our attention that there was a move again, not to extradite him.
``This is what is being planned currently against Sen. Kashamu and we have it on very good authority and you will see we have quoted from an agent of the NDLEA, a sympathetic agent.
``The reason we are here is that you should be able to look into this matter. Yes, there are certain aspects of this matter pending in court but there are aspects of it that the court can never look at.
``The court is not going to look into the internal workings of a government institution and find out whether those who have been appointed to hold office in that institution have carried out their duties in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
`` It is only this chamber that has the supervisory power to look into what the executive is doing and find out whether the executive is actually complying with the statutes that emanate from this chamber.
He appealed to the Senate to use its powers to ensure that appropriate action was taken on the matter to protect the life of his client.
With NAN
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