Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-iweala No Money Missing

yohaig.ngShocking corruption reports coming, says govt

Ritics of the Muhammadu Buhari government's anti-corruption campaign yesterday got a response - blackmail or no intimidation will prevent the war.

Minister of Culture Lai Mohammed and Information said Nigerians should be prepared for more mind boggling disclosures in the 2014 and 2015 report, which is not yet been released.

Mohammed raised the alarm that treasury looters had resorted to fighting back, using various means.

But he assured the nation that the government isn't going to give in to their own distractions.

The authorities, he said, has achieved what it set out to reach, which is to sensitise Nigerians.

He explained: "Well, I can let you know today that corruption is fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored articles have begun appearing in the papers and in the social networking while 'Talking Heads' have began making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding this Government as well as the fight against corruption. Not stopping there, they've been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media label the President a budding fascist, to deride the Government's policies normally and also write off his 2016 budget. We understand the sole purpose of these attacks would be to distract attention from the war on corruption.

"It's saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly allowed themselves to be railroaded to the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra. They engage in sophistry to try and muster Nigerians against the anti-corruption battle. One hack writer said the disclosure that 55 Nigerians supposedly stole N1.34 trillion between 2006 and 2013 didn't activate any anger among Nigerians! A disclosure that made the front page in more than a dozen Nigerian papers, played extensively in the international media and attracted the attention of the world's most effective nation and world-wide financial institutions cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

"Additionally, among people who gained from the Dasukigate even had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as 'selective', when in saner climes he should happen to be so ashamed of himself that he could have apologised to the nation and hunkered down...for good. These sponsored attacks aren't about to quit. In the days ahead, they'll be much more intense and much more organized in reality. But the good thing is that we're winning the war. Nigerians are actually talking about corruption. Nigerians are currently counting the cost of corruption with their lives.



nigeriacelebrates50.org"We call on Nigerians to not be taken in from the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war. The treasury looters, who've so much resources in their own pot, and their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink at this Administration, But we don't have any doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to be aware of the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

"This Administration will neither be deflected nor intimidated by anyone into giving up or weakening the struggle against corruption, which will be a war of survival for our nation. The fight will not be stopped by any quantity of alternative attacks or media. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in heir quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight."

The minister said the info on corruption was meant to sensitise the nation on the evil of corruption.

"Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give cases of mind-boggling acts of corruption, our objective is not to vilify anyone but to sensitise Nigerians regarding how dangerous corruption will be to the nation as well as the individuals. The truth is that what we now have revealed so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should stay tuned for more shocking disclosures in the days ahead."

The minister said they should investigate the advice he supplied to know if it was true or not for those questioning the claims.

"Let us talk more about the cost of corruption. Have you noticed that whereas Nigeria's national budget has grown from just over N900 billion in 1999 to finished N6 trillion in 2016, poverty has also grown almost by the same proportion? The reason just isn't far fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters."



ogenwaozuzu.comHe included: "Do you understand that What has so far been revealed as per taking in the Dasukigate is about N54.8billion Whereas, in the whole 2015 all the zonal intervention act cost N52 billion. This really is the expense of corruption for you personally.

The final result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer as well as die in road accidents that are avoidable when the money meant to build roads is looted. When the cash supposed to provide electricity is looted, we all are sentenced to darkness. We are not able to reduce infant and maternal mortality when a few pocket the cash meant for healthcare. These really are the costs of corruption. Let us not merely talk about corruption in the abstract, let us be counting its cost to our lives as a way to drive home the point that corruption must be handled decisively for Nigerians to feel the effect of government."

Mohammed spoke of two courts of corruption - the court of public opinion and the court of law. "The court of public opinion can also be as significant as the court of law," he said.

On the aspects he gave on alleged treasury looters did not include 1999-2005, he clarified that only intervals were covered by the compilation when the anti-corruption law became completely operational and that was around 2006.

The minister said by some time the facts of 2015 and 2014 are released, the state will probably be shocked.

His words: "When we make following disclosures, you'll be more shocked than you're now."

He also decried the situation where it takes about seven or maybe more years to prosecute the "so-called strong" individuals.

On the function of the judiciary in the struggle against corruption, the minister reiterated his earlier appeal that both the Bar and Bench should begin to see the fight as a national campaign.

He explained " and I will ensure you that we have made a demonstration And Also the judiciary is willing and prepared to cooperate with us. So we realize that judiciary is crucial, and we're reaching out to them, we're appealing to them to realize that there are some structural reforms that need to take place and we're working to them.

The government was criticized for trampling on the rights of accused individuals or disobeying court orders. Mohammed differed.

He said: "What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the 55 persons more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again, I would like to make it clear that we usually do not disobey court orders".

When prodded to supply info on the 55 persons, he explained the easiest way is to attend the court or the EFCC to find out who they're as they all have one pending case or the other in the court.

"On our own part too, we make sure when the administration of legal justice is actualised, it's going to reduce the length of time it takes now to prosecute a case because under that law, I believe the maximum time allowed for adjournment is two."


Nigeria: New Nigerian Releases Special Edition in the Memory of Sardauna

The New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) Ltd, publishers of the New Nigerian group of papers, released a special edition Friday in memory of its founder, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria News and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello who died on January 15, 1966; just two weeks after creating the paper on January 1, 1966. Is the lead headline, In Memoriam, using the rider, 50th Commemoration of the death of Premier of the defunct northern Area Sir Ahmadu Bello; with a big picture of the hero in his trademark apparel.

Their expectations from current leaders of the North were cut short substantially as the management and staff of the NNN made a statement by coming up with all the special variant of honouring the celebrated founder of the paper. Recently, the 50th commemoration of the passing on of the late Sardauna was held in the North in section and attendance of the programme with distinguished personalities in Arewa House in Kaduna was the debut of some variations of the New Nigerian published for the occasion. The concept was to raise cash for NNN to commence operations.

And about three hundred copies of NNN edition were rolled out. However, the result wasn't the first aim as the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai simply enjoined folks to purchase the special publication, saying that it has details of times and the late Sardauna's life. Daily Trust on Sunday so assembled that the copies sold at the occasion were not up to 40 (at N300 each), while the remaining copies were distributed to the sellers.

It will be recalled that creation was stopped by the workers of NNN since January 2013 following the inability of the management to keep on paying their wages. Workers were owed several months of wages along with other entitlements along with the cause of the default was said to be operational insolvency. Since that time, there have been continued attempts to revitalize the business to no accessible First, two editions: New Nigerian Weekly and New Nigerian on Sunday were suspended. The daily edition was printing less than 2,000 copies.

Additionally, some were removed by the management 'redundant' staff but failed to pay them their benefits. Now, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the months of unpaid salaries and cease of work influenced on the staff. Later on, the Joint Workers Consultative Union of the New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN), Kaduna called off the 31-month strike which commenced on January 22, 2013. A statement to that effect was signed by Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Chairman NNN Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Bulus Shabayan, Chairman National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW) NNN Chapel. The workers said they'd concluded to resume responsibility. But upon resumption of obligation, contents for work are not provided by the management as well as the workers managed to commence online publication. And because NNN was among the leading legacies of the late Sardauna and the responsibility of the 19-state Northern authorities, attempts were made by the workers and direction to re-launch it to businesses during the 50th commemoration of his death. But the move was unsuccessful.

One of the workers of NNN who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday said that the move to raise resources for NNN at the 50th commemoration of the passing of Sardauna has failed, it will be back to status quo along with the battle will continue. He explained the claims and counterclaims involving the workers and also the direction and between the workers along with the 19 Northern governments will even continue. According to him, if any ceremony demands and project its interest and related to Sardauna cannot give the attention that was required to NNN, he wondered what else can. On whether the governors and dignitaries understood they were to raise cash on the occasion for NNN, he said they ought to have understood because it absolutely was in the programme.


Nigeria: airline takeover, Press awash with Buhari's vacation, trial of senate president

The five days vacation taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, Supreme Court's nod for the trial of senate president and the state takeover of Aero Contractor airline led many Nigerian papers on Saturday.National Mirror explained that eight months after he took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday proceeded on vacation.

It said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would do the functions of the President.

State is excited that the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Friday got the green light in the Supreme Court to carry on with all the 13-count bogus advantage statement charge brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

This Day reported that the premise of complete possession of Aero Contractors, a premium airline in Nigeria, WOn't change its flight operations, as Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), takes over the airline because of debt.

Vanguard said President Buhari has revealed that his administration has within three months saved N2.2 trillion for the country through the enforcement of the Treasury Single Account, TSA.

Guardian said as issues of poor power supply, lack of facilities, excess billings, lack of care and others endure, Nigerians have questioned the rationale behind the increase in electricity tariff.

Daily Independent said Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, will hold a combined meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and top executives of Electricity Supply Companies next week to avert the planned picketing of the Discos by members of the NLC.



nigerianewspapers.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NigeriaArmyPost.jpg%253Ffit%253D506%25252C383%2526ssl%253D1" style="max-width:410px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;"></a>The Sun reported that five military personnel deployed to checkmate pipe~line vandals at Abule area of Ikorodu, Lagos State were killed in the wee hours of Friday as they participated the vandals who have been armed to the teeth.