Nnanna Anyim-Ude making sense of Policy and Macro Econonic Stability

Nnanna Anyim Ude, is the Chief Operations Officer of Agon Continental Limited. In this interview, the builder relives his experiences at the last World Economic Forum on Africa, with LEO SOBECHI of The Guardian newspapers. He maintained that Nigeria is yet to show signs of seriousness in the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations especially as it concerns shelter; and in other areas too. Excerpts:

Meeting MDG target on shelter:

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Arewa To Commence Oil Exploration

As a sequel to the position of the 19 Northern States governors that the region can survive without Niger Delta, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Abubakar Yar’Adua has revealed that NNPC will soon commence exploration in the North to ascertain if there is oil deposit in commercial quantity in the region. According to the GMD, the NNPC will use 3D seismic technology as against the 3D that was used in the Niger Delta. The GMD said that the 2D technology was prone to error and can only be used where the base rock is accessible.

The GMD made this disclosure while briefing newsmen on the activities of the NNPC over the past one year. It will be recalled that the GMD drew the ire of MEND when while testifying at a Senate Committee that the NNPC paid about 12 billion naira to the militants in the creeks of Niger Delta to secure oil pipelines.

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CAC Holds Customers Forum

After a protracted delay and numerous abortions coupled with .attacks by our own Che Oyinatumba, the Corporate Affairs Commission held her Customers Forum (CF) at the Obecha Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja. The essence of the CF, is to provide an amiable environment for the administrators of CAC and the customers to find ways of solving the daily problems bedevilling CAC customers. It was also an opportunity for the commission to put across her side of the story in light of the unbalanced and unsubstantiated editorial by one national daily newspaper.

In recent times, CAC has been having problems with regards to quality and timely services. According to the Registrar General (RG) Al Mustaph these problems are surmountable and in most cases, it is the customers of CAC that generate these problems. According to the RG, who marshalled statistics from customers questioners to buttress his point, a good number of availability print outs are never collected hence clogging the sorting process. To solve this problem, the RG proposed a print on demand programme and or sending the availability directly to an accredited customers’ mail box either an internet based or a CAC internal network box. Power fluctuation was not left out as part of the problems c

While promising that services will be better once CAC moves to her new site in Mitama, the RG said that he will not leave any stone unturned in the quest to make the CAC the best institution in the world.

I.n order to be paperless compliant, the RG unveiled a uniformed Memorandum and Article that was unanimously agreed will take effect from November this year. He further said that adequate computers have been provided for in the new office which will eliminate middleman syndrome and allow customers to search for a name before requesting and paying for availability with the commission.

On the issue of dress code that has been a source of friction between the customers of CAC and the security men at the gate, the RG reiterated that proper dressing, is the hallmark of a lawyer and that the commission is willing to contest up to Supreme Court any decision allowing lawyers/customers of CAC to wear jeans while engaging in an official legal capacity. This position of the commission, received the backing of the NBA Unity Bar. Abuja chapter of the NBA, was represented by the able chairman, Akingboro Esq., who not only identified problems encountered by lawyers transacting business with CAC but acknowledged that the commission is making concerted efforts to serve her customers better.

One the lingering issue of touting by CAC staff, the commission has set up a Central Disciplinary Committee to investigate allegation of touting against some staff caught with incorporation documents. The RG urged lawyers to be vigilant and report any staff engaging on such and should not connive with the staff to perpetuate crime.

A lawyer who spoke to our correspondent, paid glowing tribute to the RG and commended the commission for rapid responds to the plight of CAC customers. She further said it’s not yet uhuru as any institution run by human beings is prone to problems and it’s only a responsive administrator that can proactively nip the problems in the bud. She also wants the customers of CAC to take RG at his words and complain if these novel ideas are not put in place and functional in 3 months time.

Another lawyer said that the Customers Forum, though started one hour behind schedule, was worth it, as it gave room for the customers to bare their minds and have their ruffled nerves calmed by the reassuring words of the RG in the presence of the NBA Abuja Branch Chairman.

The Customers Forum, ended with a pool side buffet befitting a king’s wedding.

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Jimoh Ibrahim in EFCC Net

The Chairman of NICON Group of Companies, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, was yesterday Tuesday 22^nd July 2008, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 6 count charges of fraud and forgery, totaling N1 billion Naira.

Counsel to EFCC, explained to the court that Jimoh Ibrahim was not able to be in court because the EFCC had granted him administrative bail. The Court adjourned the matter to 30^th Day of July for the EFCC to bring Mr. Ibrahim to enter plea.

In the wordings of the charge, in September 2005, Mr. Ibrahim with intend to defraud, forged a board resolution of a company VGC communications to obtain a loan of I billion Naira.

From the recent arraignment, it is clear that the EFCC under Mrs. FaridaWaziri is after Obasanjo boys the manner in which Obasanjo ran after Abacha and politicians he considered obstacle to his third term bid. Before Mr. Ibrahim, it was the loquacious and brash Femi Fani-Kayode and Aborisade, the most recent past aviation ministers and pillars or rock in the Obasanjo administration.

A little unknown Jimoh Ibrahim was catapulted into National image when the Obasanjo administration sold her shares in NICON Insurance to Jimoh Ibrahim there by making him the largest share holders of the government owned NICON.     

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3.2

Slok Air International Gambia not Soaring

Slok Air Gambia is not soaring to greater heights if news emanating from far away Gambia is true. News from Gambia indicates that the formal Nigerian registered Airline is having difficulties in its operations and may be at the brink of bankruptcy.

Reports reaching the Daily Observer indicate that Slok Air International, a scheduled passenger airline, is owing its staff at least two months salary, amid fears of financial bankruptcy.

Our reporter who was at the Slok Air headquarters on Kairaba Avenue, met some staff who were grumbling about their unpaid salaries and allowances. Some of them pointed fingers at their superiors in the airline for the prolonged problems.

One of the disgruntled staff accused the management of ignoring their plight, saying that they have been working under difficult circumstances without a pay.>>> READ MORE

It will be recalled that SloK Air was suspended in Nigeria and its operating license was withdrawn in 2004 and it found a new home in the Gambia and have since been making waves.

Whatever, the reasons are we hope the company finds a way out of it present predicaments.

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1.5

Soludo Gets Clean Bill Of Health

The crisis that rocked the Nigeria Financial sector with the allegation that the Central Bank Governor invested $480million in Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) appears to have settled with absolution of Professor Chukwuma Soludo of any blame by a The committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the investment. The panel was also mandated to ascertain the source of the authority for the withdrawal of the sum of $480 million for the purchase of equity in AFC by the CBN.
After conducting its investigations the panel found nothing incriminating against the CBN Governor.

Despite “this nothing to incriminate Soludo” finding, the panel have sat for over three months trying to doctor their findings as it has been gathered that some people want Soludo to be incriminated at all cost.

Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, a first class product of University of Nigeria Nsuka, has been having rough times since the inception of Yar’Adua’s administration. His first rude shock came when the Federal Executive Council over ruled him on the redenomination of Naira. Professor Soludo had wanted N20 (Twenty Naira) to be the highest denomination.

The high point of  Professor Soludo’s wizardry was the merger of all the mushrooming banks in Nigeria into mega 25 banks, whose minimal share capital base is 25 billion. Since after this merger that many critics believed will not work, there has been significant improvement in the banking sector and a good number of customers are happy, forgetting the ghost of failed bank and trapped deposits.

Professor Soludo’s tenure at the Central Bank is guaranteed for 5 years by the constitution and renewable.

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2.5

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