Arewa To Commence Oil Exploration
August 18, 2008 by 
Felix Ashimole · 2 Comments
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
August 12, 2008 by Felix Ashimole · Leave a Comment
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
July 23, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
The Chairman of NICON Group of Companies, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, was yesterday Tuesday 22nd 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 30th 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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Slok Air International Gambia not Soaring
July 10, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
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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Soludo Gets Clean Bill Of Health
June 30, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
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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Nedbank SA applies for license in Nigeria
June 5, 2008 by OCI · 2 Comments
Opening a bank in Nigeria has become easier, thanks to the Minister of National Planning, Senator Sanusi Daggash. This ascertion was made during President Yar’Adua current state visit to South Africa.
According to Nigerian Tribune, in response to a request by Nedbank South Africa’s CEO Siphiwe Cele for assistance to facilitate their current move to bring their services into Nigeria; it reports
Sanusi Daggash, the Nigerian Minister for National Planning, who was in the entourage of President Yar’Adua, reassured Cele, saying all the bank needed to do was fill in the right forms and the licence would be granted.
I do not know what you think, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth if it takes filling only the right forms for approval to be granted to a bank to operate in Nigeria. I hope the the CBN Governor thinks otherwise.
One is quick to ask, what the Minister of National Planning has got to do with banking license in Nigeria? I think it is important that these Minister know where there areas of expertise are especially in maters like this.
Application for a banking license to the best of my ability trancends beyond filling of forms. I sincerely hope, the Minister meant another thing or is being quoted out of context as the case will always be.
We look forward to a successful application process while waiting to welcome Nedbank to our great country.
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Global Food Crisis: a Nigerian panacea
June 4, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 2 Comments
The absence of oryza sativa from the menu of most families of the world, is generating a farce about the true food situation in the world, especially in Nigeria. Did your eye brawl rise at oryza sativa? You are not alone. I had to squeeze mine, dig deep into my politics fogged mind to my secondary schools days. When I finally came up with oryza sativa, the botanical name for rice, I was grateful to my Agric Master. Simply known as Mr. Furrow. Furrow was given to him as a mark of respect for his insistence that your furrow must straight.The memory of Mr. Furrow resonated for two reasons. One, the dearth of rice from the tables of Nigerians and secondly the just released JAMB result.
The JAMB result as broken down on national television, showed that less than 3 percent of the jambites wanted to study Agriculture and a more miserable percentage wanted to study education. Why won’t the price of food hit the tip of the moon? Why won’t the quality of graduates be watery? I am happy that the highest score, did not go to any student that wanted to study Law, Medicine or Petrochemical engineering. (I shall get back to this) but humbly wants to study Geography.
This apathy towards agriculture at the university level is as a result of the multiplicity of private secondary/primary schools. These private schools (a good number though) do not have space for the children to develop as African children. Their natural instincts are confined to concrete prisons. These PS, do not have a farm. Agricultural science it thought courtesy of pictures on the pages of text books. The children do not feel the earth and watch a grain of corn spring up till the comb is yellow and inviting.
All the secondary schools I attended had land mass enough for each student to have a bed, do a ridge. Even at hostel level, each house maintained a farm and the proceeds of the farm were used to augment the food stuff from the general school pantry. We even tendered the garden and our continuous assessment was based on the health of our farm. Those who could not articulate very well in writing and rote, made up with practical.
A day within the week was set aside for agriculture. The dusty aroma of damp earth after the first yearly showers is a clarion call that the farming season is around. Akin to the agricultural day, is another day set aside for manual labour.
Not only did it give us blisters, it helped us build charater. We march out, brandishing cutlasses to engage in an unequal war with the typha elephantum and other members of the gramineae not fit for consumption and declared weed.
But what do we have now on the horizon of Nigerian educational landmass? Tall buildings and tiled floors with no space for common physical education. Asking for a land for farm, is like seeking a blade of grass from the face of sky. I wonder what are the criteria for awarding license to applicants for a private school.
Before the artificial food crisis becomes real in Nigeria, those saddled with the responsibility of training our children, should review the curriculum and make sure that practical agriculture takes a place of pride. Catch them young is a popular phrase and if truly implemented, these budding agriculturists will become the pillar of food production in Nigeria.
What we have in Nigeria, despite various policies on agriculture (Operation Feed the nation; Green Revolution; Back to Land; agricultural research institutions like FIRRO,IITA), is business agriculture. A businessman with no understanding of the difference between tractor and tractor-coupled equipment gets hectares of land with active connivance of his party members in Ministry of Land and plant seedlings that are not vector resistant. After a year of bad harvest, the land is turned into an estate or a hotel and that marks the end of “the biggest mechanized farm in Africa”
Another problem is the death of farmers’ co-operatives. Securing loan for agricultural endeavours, is like squeezing stone out of water. The banks would rather give you soft loan to buy a car, household items and other utility value-less appliances from USA than a loan for agriculture. When they do in other to fulfill all righteousness, the interest rate and collateral they demand can only be met by a politician who has embezzled public funds.
If the Yar’Adua administration is sincere about tackling the “food crisis”, she should invest the 40 billion naira earmarked for the importation of rice into the agricultural sector. After all its only an insignificant percentage of Nigerians have license to import rice.
If President Yar’Adua doesn’t know where to invest, let me show him. It doesn’t require a commission of party men. A good number of silos, granaries, ranches and research institutions are lying fallow in the North; the timber, coconut and cocoa farms in the West are dilapidated while the oil/raffia palms of the East have been reduced to chaff. The fisheries of the South-South have been bleached by the billows from the devil’s excreta.
Let’s save Nigeria before Nigerians will queue for leftover relief planes from Niger Republic.
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