Media Review

NEWS REVIEW

Achebe remains arrive, begins final journey

AT 6. 00am yesterday, the remains of 82-year-old Nigeria’s literary icon Chinua Achebe, who died in a Boston hospital arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from his US-base. The body was released by government officials led by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Ayim.

Also at the airport to receive the casket draped in the National colours of green, white and green were his first son, Dr. Ike Achebe, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo and former governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu, former FCT minister, Chief Chuka Odom, former Minister of State for Education, Dr. Jerry Agada, former House of Representatives member, Dr. Wale Okediran, chairman of the Achebe National Transition Committee, Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, traditional rulers and leaders of Igbo communities, including those from his Ogidi community, and writers.

The casket, carried by pall bearers in traditional Igbo attires was ushered into the reception hall of the domestic wing of the airport in a procession led by Rt. Rev Owen Nwokolo who, in a brief sermon, prayed for the repose of Achebe’s soul saying, “We are gathered to say nno (welcome) to Achebe. He has come back, though dead but we know that his works keep him alive. We are gathered to receive him because of what he has accomplished throughout the world.”

He praised the departed literary icon for his exemplary and transparent life and called on Nigerians to learn from Achebe’s transparency and selflessness.

Also speaking, Senator Pius Anyim, extolled the virtues of Achebe and said his death was a terrible loss to Nigeria and urged the family of the author to bear it with strength.

Vanguard Newspaper

Senate, Reps okay emergency rule

• Want democratic structures to stay

• Urge army to operate within rules of engagement

• Jonathan, Ban to discuss Boko Haram at AU meeting

• ‘Why Obama may not visit Nigeria’

• Curfew relaxed in Adamawa

WITHOUT any dissent, all 100 senators present at the Senate Tuesday voted in favour of the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last week in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

But the voting was preceded by an hour of a closed-door session where the lawmakers expressed their views on the emergency rule and eventually agreed to support it.

Besides, Nigeria’s renewed confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists will form the kernel of a meeting next week in Addis Ababa at the African Union (AU) between President Goodluck Jonathan and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, just as more details have emerged on why the United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama is leaving Nigeria out of his second trip to Africa.

At the resumption of the open plenary, the President of the Senate, David Mark, enumerated the points of agreement reached at the closed-door session which were immediately put to vote and endorsed formally by all senators.

However, the method of voting was slightly different. Against the expectation of practical division and head-count method, the Senate adopted the voice-vote method.

Mark announced that after taking the count, there were 100 senators present and merely put the question to voice vote.

The constitution requires that at least two-thirds of the total number of senators should vote in favour of the declaration before the state of emergency could be considered as valid.

Announcing the decision of the Senate, Mark said that the House insisted that all democratic structures should be left to operate in the three states.

He said: “In a closed-door session, we extensively discussed some of the issues that we think are very important to this proclamation of state of emergency. We want to emphasise very emphatically that all the democratic structures must be left in place and must be allowed to operate fully and actively and they must also be involved in all the efforts that the Federal Government is putting up to bring this ugly situation to an end.”

Mark also stated that it was the opinion of the Senate that the armed forces be made to adhere strictly to their rules of engagement.

“We also would like to emphasise that the armed forces are issued a proper code of conduct where they are humane and benevolent and make sure that all citizens are treated with utmost respect so that they do not lose their respect as human beings,” he said.

On the issue of amnesty, the Senate President said: “We are conscious of the fact that the government is taking this step as a last resort but alongside that, we want to encourage the government to also urge the committee on amnesty to work alongside the current functions that are put in place to bring this to an end so that at the end of the day, government can concentrate on their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people in all the states that are affected.

Guardian Newspaper

Boko Haram: FG to Release Detained Women, Terrorists

•National Assembly okays emergency rule with conditions

•Military debunks report on withdrawal of troops from Mali

In an effort to capture the hearts and minds of the people of northern Nigeria, the federal government has approved the release from detention  some suspected Boko Haram terrorists, including all the women associated with the terrorists, who have been held in various prisons nationwide.

Disclosing this yesterday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said that the decision to release the detainees was in line with President Goodluck Jonathan's promise to achieve peace and reconciliation in the northern part of the country.

The announcement from DHQ came just as the National Assembly endorsed the state of emergency declared by the president in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed plans to release the detainees in a statement, saying that it was in fulfilment of the request by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

Olukolade said: “Consequent upon the directives of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.

“The move is in furtherance of the federal government’s position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.”

The Defence spokesman disclosed that the measure, which was in line with president’s desire to enhance peace efforts in the country, would result in freedom for suspects including all women in custody.

He said the details of the directives and those to benefit from this gesture had been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force (JTF).

“The beneficiaries will be released to the state governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations,” he said.

DHQ, however, refused to open up on the actual numbers of the detainees being released.

It also debunked reports that some Nigerian troops deployed in the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) had been withdrawn to help reinforce the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

Thisday Newspaper

Don’t overspend on military operations, Sanusi warns FG

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has cautioned the Federal Government against excessive spending on military operations in three states in the North-East, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, where a state of emergency was declared last week.

Sanusi, while addressing journalists shortly after the end of a two-day Monetary Policy Committee meeting held at the CBN headquarters in Abuja, argued that excessive spending on military operations posed a major risk to the inflation outlook.

Headline inflation increased from 8.6 per cent in March to 9.1 per cent in April, remaining within the target single digit range for the fourth consecutive month in 2013.

The figure, according to the central bank boss, reflects a combination of base effect and the success of tight monetary policy, which have led to a muted growth in the monetary aggregates and exchange rate stability.

He said while the principal risks to the inflation outlook remained fiscal spending and possible pressures on the exchange rate from any attrition to reserves caused by declining revenues as a result of output leakages, there was the need for prudence in monetary policy action.

Sanusi said, “The committee noted with caution the high Gross Domestic Product growth projection in view of the extant risk factors such as widespread insecurity, weak infrastructure and probable flooding from the projected heavy rains in some parts of the country.

“The state of emergency in the North-East and the accompanying military operations in that axis have the potential to adversely affect economic activities generally, including agricultural production and food prices as well as consumer demand.

“In addition, the recent military action in the North-East will result in additional spending. Although the government has announced that there will be no supplementary budget, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance has already announced that there will be a drawdown on a contingency vote embedded in the 2013 budget to cover emergencies.

“Overall, the committee is of the view that government spending will constitute a major risk to the inflation and exchange rate outlook, thus advising prudence in monetary policy action at this time.”

Punch Newspaper

state of emergency ’ll worsen economy —CBN gov •Soldiers in heavy fighting with Boko Haram militants from Libya

GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, has declared that the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in the North-East have the potential to adversely affect economic activities.

The CBN governor, while briefing the media in Abuja, on Tuesday, after the 89th edition of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, noted that the accompanied military operations in that axis would also adversely affect agricultural production and food prices, as well as consumer demand.

The apex bank chief said it had retained lending rate at 12 per cent, noting that the high level of spending for the military operations may increase the rate of inflation, though inflation was said remain at single digit in the next six months.

He further disclosed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 6.72 per cent forecast for the second quarter of 2013 may not be achievable, in view of the extant risk factors such as widespread insecurity, weak infrastructure and probable flooding from the projected heavy rains in some parts of the country.

The CBN governor, who stressed that most sectors of the economy showed improved performance in the first quarter, when compared with the first quarter of 2012, stated that the MPC was concerned over short term prospects in the oil sector, mainly around possible reduction in oil prices and continuing leakages in oil production, due to bunkering and other illegal activities.

Reviewing the economy in the first five months of the year, Mallam Sanusi said headline inflation increased from 8.6 per cent in March to 9.1 per cent in April, remaining within the target range for the fourth consecutive month.

He said food inflation was 10 per cent year-on year in April, compared with 9.5 per cent in March, while core inflation declined further to 6.9 per cent  from 7.2 per cent  in March.

Stressing that the inflation outlook remained relatively stable in the next six months, the governor attributed the feat to a combination of a base effect and the success of tight monetary policy.

He said the committee noted with satisfaction the continued recovery in the capital market, as equities market indicators were positive in the period under review.

The all share index increased by 19.1 per cent  from 28,078.81 on December 31, 2012 to 36,907.81 on May 17, 2013, while market capitalisation also moved up  by 19.1 per cent from N8.97 trillion to N10.69 trillion during the period under review.

Tribune Newspaper

FG activates $500m AfDB loan for intervention in power sector

The Federal Government has activated a $500 million African Development Bank (AfDB) loan aimed solely for intervention in the power sector.

The loan, to be released in $100 million tranches, was activated by the inauguration of a technical monitoring committee yesterday at the ministry of power headquarters in Abuja. Notably, the induction of this committee was mandated by the AfDB as one of the pre-conditions for drawing on this budget support loan.

In the meantime, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been given priority and asked to access the initial $100 million.

Currently, the nation’s transmission grid remains a weak link in the power value chain, with a wheeling capacity of about 4,800 MW. By year end, National Independent Power Projects (NIPPs) are expected to provide additional generation capacity of about 2,200 MW. With government objective to achieve 10,000 MW in 2014 and 20,000 MW in 2016, the urgent need to expand the transmission capability to evacuate the projected additions becomes all the more imminent.

According to the government, about $3.4 billion will be needed to upgrade the transmission network to the standard that it would evacuate the expected generation capacity coming on stream.

“We have been challenged by the problem of not being able to evacuate power beyond 4,500 MW. If we have appropriate funding in the next one year, we will be able to double our transmission capacity. The technical committee is critical, as it is required by AfDB to access the loan,” said Nebo, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Godknows Igali.

The committee is constituted by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Finance, ministry of power, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and TCN.

The minister, while challenging the members of the committee, said that the Federal Government expects much from them, as their efforts would help fast-track the disbursement of this initial $500 million loan and the possibility of accessing even more funds.

Haruna Mohammed, chairman of the Committee and ministry of finance director for international economic relations department, speaking on-behalf of the group, observed that the members were all well informed on the problems in the sector and promised that all of TCN’s projects through this loan, would be properly tracked and assessed, to ensure successful execution.

“We need to leverage on execution of these initial projects to be able to access other available funding, moving forward,” Mohammed said.

Businessday Newspaper

Insurgents fight with Libyan weapons – Army

AS NASS OKAYS EMERGENCY RULE

ABUJA — The troops deployed to flush out Boko Haram insurgents from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, yesterday, encountered intense resistance from sect members who were armed with sophisticated weapons from Libya.

This came as the National Assembly, yesterday, endorsed the proclamation of a state of emergency in the three states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A senior military official told The Guardian of London that “they (Islamist militants) have been putting up fierce resistance and they are very, very well-armed with weapons from Libya.”  He said most of the militants who have waged a bloody four-year battle to create an Islamist state had scattered across the semi-desert borders.

A renewed military campaign, including aerial bombardments of Boko Haram training camps in the three states declared under emergency rule this month, has led to the capture of almost 200 militants and the death of dozens in a week, according to the military. In one raid, a helicopter gunship was hit by anti-aircraft and anti-tank fire, a military source said.

However, a resident of the besieged states said:“It’s only by the goodwill of soldiers and by virtue of my position that I was able to leave the city. All the entry points to and from Maiduguri are blocked by the military but they let me through.”

Outside the city walls, he said, trucks carrying food and market produce were lined up awaiting entrance.

“We have been used to seeing soldiers and checkpoints for the past two years in Maiduguri, but it is having a real impact on the economic activity,” he added.

In Maiduguri, where militants are deeply enmeshed in the population, soldiers carrying out house-to-house searches after placing a 24-hour curfew in some neighbourhoods discovered stockpiles of weapons including rocket-propelled grenades, a defence spokesperson said.

Vanguard Newspaper

London police arrest two Arik cabin crew members over alleged drug trafficking

• Airline may be fined, NDLEA begins probe

TWO workers of Arik Air were on Tuesday arrested at London Heathrow Airport in connection with alleged drug trafficking.

Both the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Arik Air are investigating the circumstances that led to the drug trafficking by the duo said to be cabin crew members of the airline.

The airline, however, said it would wait for the outcome of the investigation before it could come out with a statement on the situation.

There are indications that Arik Air may be fined if the suspects are found guilty of the illicit act in line with aviation practice.

The frequency of drug trafficking aboard Brazilian national airline, Varig, was one of the reasons the carrier ceased operations to Nigeria 19 years ago.

The same reason was adduced for the cessation of operations of Air India to Nigeria many years ago.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has ordered the investigation of the two crew members of Arik Air.

It was learnt that one of the suspects was found in possession of 6kg of cocaine while the other was found with 60 packets of cigarettes.

The Arik Air flight reportedly took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Monday. Eight out of 10 crew members that travelled with the flight were said to have been cleared while the remaining two were still being held in London.

According to the NDLEA chairman, “we have received a report of the arrest and I have ordered a full-scale investigation of the incident. Anyone found wanting shall be brought to book as no effort shall be spared in protecting the image of our country.”

The Spokesman for NDLEA, Jarikre Ofoyeju, recalled that on August 8, 2007, officials of the NDLEA arrested a Virgin Atlantic crew member with drugs on a London-bound flight.

The crew member was caught at the Lagos airport with 1.743kg of cocaine. The drug, which was concealed in a black polythene bag inside a hand luggage, was found in the flight compartment.

Guardian Newspaper

Jonathan orders release of detained B’Haram suspects

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Defence Headquarters to release some members of the Boko Haram sect in custody in connection with terrorist activities.

Already the directive to release the detainees has been communicated to all the units of the Joint Military Task Force.

Both the Presidency and the Defence Headquarters confirmed this on Tuesday.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement said, “Consequent upon the directive of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.

“The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.”

Olukolade was however silent on the number and the category of terror suspects expected to benefit from the presidential peace overtures but all women in various military formations, especially by the Joint Task Force in the North-East, would be set free.

He explained that the decision to release the terror suspects was part of the President’s response to a request by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

He said, “The measure, which is in line with Presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody.”

“The details of the directive and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

“The beneficiaries will be released to the state governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations.”

When asked whether the Police had received a similar directive, the Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said, “I am not aware of any such directive.”

Spokesman for the President, Reuben Abati, told one of our correspondents that Jonathan’s directive was evidence of Federal Government’s multi-dimensional approach to tackling the security challenge in some parts of the country.

Punch Newspaper

LEARNING SIDE OF THE NEWS

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Let us all undertake our tasks today with diligence and do it right, the ‘XL way’.

LIGHTER SIDE OF THE NEWS

The cross eyed judge looked at the three defendants in the dock and said to the first one, "So how do you plead?"
"Not guilty" said the second defendant.
"I wasn't talking to you" the judge replied.
"I never said a word" the third defendant replied.

Have a nice day!