Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Nigeria's Chief of Police Sacked

*AIG,M.D.Abubakar steps in as Acting IGP

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafez Ringim has been sacked by Presient Goodluck Jonathan, though, he was expected to retire from service in March,2012.
He has immediately been replaced by Mr Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
To pave way for Abubakar's emergence, all the six Deputy Inspector Generals of Police were relieved of their positions.
Ringim's sack is coming on the public outcry and government's dismay at the escape from Police custody a prime suspect and one of the leadders of the terrorists sect-Boko Haram -Christmas Day bomber, Kabiru Sokoto.
The statement issued yesterday by the presidency read:
"President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganization and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.

Mr. Abubakar who is currently an Assistant Inspector General of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from today, 25th January 2012.

Born on May 5, 1958, Mr. Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi, before his new appointment.

President Jonathan has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect. These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept), Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).

The President has also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganization of the Nigeria Police Force. The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O Osayande, DIG (rtd).

Other Members of the Committee are:
1. Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.), mni
2. Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.), fwc.
3. Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe, rtd.
4. Prof. S.D. Mukoro
5. Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN
6. Aisha Larai Tukur
7. Solicitor General of the Federation
8. Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are as follows:

1. To identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the Nigeria Police Force and make recommendations for addressing the challenges.
2. To examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the Police to determine their adequacy or otherwise.
3. To determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution.
4. To examine records of performance of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force with a view to identifying those that can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity, age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty;
5. To make any other recommendations for the improvement of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Committee’s recommendations shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force."

Monday, January 23, 2012

Fresh car bombs attacks causes chaos in Kano


Kano city, in Northern Nigeria was again thrown into panic on Tuesday as residents  claimed they heard explosions and gunshots coming from an area near the police station, following last week's deadly gun battles in which at least 185 people were killed.
Explosions and gunfire were heard early Tuesday coming from an area near a police station in the Nigerian city of Kano, where coordinated attacks and gun battles last week killed at least 185 people.
An AFP correspondent heard some 15 blasts and gunshots coming from the vicinity of a mobile police headquarters. Details were not immediately clear, and police were not available for comment.
One resident reported a similar account.
"I was awoken from sleep by explosions and gunshots coming from the mobile barracks and police station opposite," the resident said, adding that they had stopped after several minutes.
"It's terrifying ... It's too dangerous to go out, besides there is curfew."
Sporadic gunfire could still be heard after the explosions halted.
A nighttime curfew is in effect in the wake of Friday's attacks in Kano claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram.


Source: France24/AFP

Sunday, January 22, 2012

'ERA OF POORLY MAINTAINED AIRCRAFT IN NIGERIA IS GONE


says Dr Harold O.Demuren,DG,NCAA

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) has come a long way after surmounting the teething problems in 2005 and 2006, aftermath of the series of plane crashes and fatalities recorded.
In those period, the capability of NCAA as the regulator cum watchdog of the industry was called to question.This basically informed the overhaul of the management of the Authority by the Federal Government with the appointment of Dr Harold Olusegun Demuren as the Director General leading the new team with a mandate to clear the augean stable and dent brought on the civil aviation operations in the country.
The initial focus of the Dr Demuren led team was first, to stabilize the industry which was clearly in shambles,restore the confidence of the air travelers and on top of it all change the negative image of the country especially-as regards safety- in eyes of international community.Today, things have tremendously changed.
Nigeria has attained Category 1 Safety Status.Junk aircraft have given way to modern generation planes.Financial and Economic issues that had threatened the industry are been given desired attention while lopsided air service agreements are being tackled head-on.Presently,all caders of operations from administrative to technical are manned by qualified personnel.
Dr Harold Demuren
As at now, NCAA has licensed not less than 554 pilots, 913 engineers and 1700 cabin personnel.In the focus published below, the Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, shed more lights on what NCAA is doing to further ensure that the maintenance and safety systems put in place are not broken or side-tracked by any airline operator or personnel required to keep the industry functioning properly as expected and not leaving out the recent face-off with the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines.Fill your curiousity:
People have raised concerns about the alleged poor maintenance of their fleet of  aircraft by Nigerian carriers. How do you react to this?

Demuren:I beg your pardon, that’s nonsense, nothing like that, those eras are gone. Nigeria as a nation, as a matter fact, IATA Director-General just mentions in Morocco that tremendous amount of progress has been made in terms of airline safety in Nigeria.
You all know what used to happen to us in the past. That’s why we have not had any major accident again. We’ve cleaned up the process; no aircraft can fly in this country today without maintenance and safety record.
It’s not possible, that era is gone and gone for good. We have the system in place now. Nigeria  has one of the highest safety  standards. We do audit every week. It’s all over the place. We have a Safety Management System [SMS] that works in place. Our key oversight has reached the highest standard.
The International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO], an Agency of the United Nations that oversees global aviation. It carries out safety audit on member states including Nigeria regularly. We come out clean. The America Transportation Safety Administration [TSA] also carries out Security Audit on Nigeria, particularly on the major airports.
We performed creditably well. For your information Nigeria got Category 1 in the last audit of the Country by the American Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] in its International Aviation Safety Assessment [IASA] audit program.
This has enabled a Nigerian registered aircraft to fly directly from Nigeria to the United States of America. That’s what it means, that you are now number one. That’s what we’ve achieved. We are in the Premier League.
So, how can you now say somebody brings airplane with questionable safety papers to Nigeria. It’s just a figment of their imagination. What do we do? No aircraft can fly in Public Transport Category carrying passengers for hire and reward without having a valid Air Operation Certificate [AOC]. To get it is hectic. Your maintenance, your flight operation, your training, the head of your crew, everything is scrutinized. Your manual, your procedure, your systems, everything. That’s what happens.


What type of systems check are in place to ensure aircraft are given proper maintenance either here or if flown abroad? 

Demuren: Let me explain to you, in the first instance, according to law of aviation and as it is the norm all over the world whether it is International Civil Aviation Organization[ICAO] or Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] or the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority[UKCAA] or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority[NCAA] the practice is the same.
You cannot send your aircraft to another place unless it has been approved by NCAA. You must have an approval called AMO –that is- Approved Maintenance Organization, where the maintenance of your aircraft is carried out.
They also must have approved the place, give them approval and they go there to audit their work whether or not the maintenance of the for the army aircraft of aircraft done by other countries. So, they must maintain those aircraft as scheduled. We don’t allow airline operators to do maintenance as per customers’ request. They do it as par approved maintenance schedule of NCAA. Let me give you one example.
You do your A check every twenty to twenty-five day, you do your B check every three month, you do C check every year or you do it after so many hours, so many circles. Nigeria super-imposed calendar limitations. So we are stricter that you must do it and it must go.
So, number one, before you send it, it must be approved by NCAA, then later on, before the aircraft is going to leave the service point, our people will go and verify whether those works have been done. There’s a work package, there’s a work graph that everyone follows, one by one.
Only when you have done that and the mandatory airworthiness that you must comply with.  Check interval you must not miss, all those there. We have a very solid surveillance program.Our inspectors  go round the tarmac, they burst into any aircraft without prior notice, and they show their identity [ID] and demand to see safety record the particular aircraft they enter. Where is your certificate of maintenance that was issued? Our engineers will check your record and ask questions. So, with the system we now have in place it is not possible to say we have safety issues.

You are 100% sure…..?


Demuren:Yes!If not, aircraft will be dropping from the sky.

What exactly is the standard requirements for opening an airline?


Demuren:To open an airline you must get the permission, you must have what we called economic authorizations that you want to go into the business. Economic authorization involves that you must apply to NCAA, get all your papers, you must have very good business model you want to do, what type of aircraft, where do you want to go and many more.
After that we apply to our own parent ministry, Ministry of Aviation, to tell our minister this application, this is what we are doing and they should please seek for security clearance. That is economic authorization, you will now start what we call Air Operation Certificate[AOC] proper and that is the big deal.
Those are safety requirements, how do you train your crew, you have plans for your maintenance, where are you going to do it, what about your dispatch, it goes to everything, your flight crew, your cabin crew, your maintenance engineers, every safety requirements must be met.
We go through one by one. What about your manual, where are your tools and equipment to do the work, have you train the people, how much are you giving them? There’s also what we said qualified personnel in sufficient number, for instance, this job requires twenty people to work for you, show us the twenty people. You must show me, if they are nineteen then it’s not complete yet, you must show the twenty, we call it Qualified Highly Rated Experience Personnel in sufficient number. This happen every time but when we stopped them from operating, revoke the license we don’t do it on the pages of newspapers.


Why does it take much longer time to process compensation of accident victims?

Demuren:We sued all the airlines involved at the time. Bellview paid very quickly, out of all of them Bellview did very well. Sosoliso had issues and finally decided to pay; they have to sell some the aircraft to compensate the people.
There is what we called in American Law, Family Assistance Programme, when they say people died, everybody commiserate with them, they will go, we forget there. Most likely all will be paid; to buy the aircraft back is easier to pay. But they don’t remember the passengers that died.
Our Law is very strict on it, thou shall pay……. so, we are pursuing it. What we have done has been to work with Nigerian Insurance Commission also to ensure that those insurance papers they are given to us are true and genuine ones, not that you are getting cover notes, there’s nothing there and people will pay their premium and then they call insurance to honour it and do the right thing. They have to reinsure it in Europe, America or Canada.


What new security measures are in place to fight the growing global terrorism, especially growing domestic terrorism?

Demuren:We have introduced modern explosive detection technique. This is in addition to advance profiling and background checks with special attention to insider threats.


What is NCAA doing to assist airlines that are indebted, so that they do not close down?

Demuren:We insisted that Airlines must pay the services they have enjoyed. They must pay their debts, period!

What exactly informed the price fixing investigation into British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines? 


Demuren: Specially, we’ve noticed from a lot of analysis we have done and we found out that these particular airlines because they have the opportunity of direct flight from Lagos to London, and that’s our biggest route, business route for Nigeria. Nigerians are ally of the British, they go to London every time, our children are there. So, we look at that route, we monitor the route and we found out that there has been lot of collusion, deception, unjust and discriminatory practices going on and above all, it’s an abuse of dominant position, uses that to cheat Nigerians particularly when it comes to fares in the first class, business class and even the economy is not spared. That’s why we looked into this and we now also found out that they have been fined for such issue in US and UK.

Was the investigation due to written petition/protest? 


Demuren:Some Nigerians in diasporas, wrote to me and say look, this is happening and there has been lot of concerns in the papers asking why this, why are you not doing this and that, why are you not looking at this and that. And I thought it’s best for us also to look into it.


Now, with the directive that both airlines should pay 235million dollars in fines to customers and the airlines are saying they reject your findings. What’s the next?

Demuren: They have the right to reject the findings. We have been talking with them, and we didn’t just wake up one day to do what we did. For the past six months we have been dealing with them. A lot of investigations have taken place, very, very extensive indeed. At the end of the day, we discovered  huge violation and according to our civil aviation regulations, we can impose  sanction and that’s what we’ve done. So, if they say they reject the findings, they are entitle to their opinion but the due course of law has to be fulfilled.


What if they resort to seeking redress in the court?

Demuren:We are ready for that. We will meet them there. We have our lawyers, team of experts and lawyers are with us, they have been working with us from day one in the past six months and so they have all the details. So, we are ready to meet them in court if that is the option they have chosen.


Many have been wondering whether it’s coincidental that your report came out at a time when the government is having a spat with the British on the slot and frequency issues.


Demuren:Honestly speaking this is totally unconnected. I said in the last six months we have been with them and they will tell you, we summoned them. We’ve been talking to them. We didn’t know about the slot issue. It just happened at this time when we were talking with the Minister of Aviation about these unfair discriminatory practices. So, it was very easy to mention it, it was just right to mention it at the same time that we already are having this investigation and we called the foreign airlines to a meeting before that time where I expressed these concerns. I told them that this must stop. Look at the prices we pay for ticket out of Nigeria and the one you pay if you are going out of Ghana, twice the amount, why? And the fuel surcharge has been so much, they are abusing it even when the price of crude oil was going down, their prices were still going up drastically. We showed all these on the table to let them know about their position and they knew what they were doing. They can buy time, they can do all sort, but it’s not going to work.


If the airlines finally agrees to pay, what happens. How do you disburse to customers?

Demuren:That is fine. Is compensation to customers, they did it abroad, they did it in America, they announced it. We would work it out in our office so that we would get all the customers who are affected duly compensated. We would do that; it’s a normal procedure. Set up a website where they can call, what they can do, show their evidences and all that. We must make sure they get their rights back. There is no compromise on this. We will continue to protect Nigerians traveling abroad from abuses and exploitation.


How does this apply to Nigerian airlines that are also guilty of similar abuses?

Demuren:We’ve just started and this is where the big ones are. When you are doing something you go to big ones first then the message is all over the place and then it goes round. But Nigerian consumers must get the value for their money and they must not be cheated, we must discourage all these acts of collusion, deception, unjust, and discriminatory fares must stop it. So, the investigations includes both local airlines as well as foreign airlines. The important thing is that they must give best service to their customers whether they are Nigerian or foreign passengers as long as the flight is originating from Nigeria or coming into our country.


What exactly are the terms of BASA?

Demuren:BASA stands for Bilateral Air Service Agreement. This is done between two nations. They sit down and talk about air service agreement, what do we do? What are the conditions for us to fly to your country? What aircraft can we bring? How much frequency can we fly? Which airport can we land?  It’s just all about that. We have intermediate points, we have the point beyond which you can go. That’s what BASA is about. But a stranger cannot enter a country as a matter of right, it’s a privilege. So, External Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Aviation get together, hold meetings whether here or abroad, agree on the terms and then designate the airlines from that country to now go out to enjoy the benefits of the agreed routes based on agreed terms and conditions.


What determines the allocation of frequency to airlines?


Demuren:Usually, it depend on the level of traffic on the route, how busy it is, how much passengers are available. You can then decide whether this is a developed route or new route in which case you have to put in a lot of capital to develop the route before you can commence flight operations. Look at Emirate, they have two flights a day out of Lagos to Dubai, British Airways [BA], two flights, one in the morning, one in the evening. British Airways is doing, one in the morning out of Abuja, one in the evening out of Lagos, Virgin Atlantic is doing one in the morning too, Arik is doing one from Lagos, one from Abuja also. And that’s how it is in the case of frequency; you have to watch it so that you don’t dilute the market.
But when you talk about slot, the slot is when you can land, what actual time of the day can you have a slot coming. That’s what is slot and that is done by the airport committee. But if you watch it these days, we have been very generous now. The foreign airlines can come in anytime  to do their business. But if our people want to go over there you give us frequency but no slot, that’s not frequency. A frequency without slot is not frequency, you must have slot. I can’t be playing in the air, I must be able to land, and it can’t be one-sided. Those were the things that were discussed at our meeting and we are trying to resolve that right now. But it is very important that what you need to do is to make sure that the slots are there and to make sure that the frequencies are there before you can operate.
Having said that, when you have the frequency you can explore the market. The market in Nigeria is open. We welcome foreigners to explore and they can prosper, they can do well. But while  our market is open for exploration, it is closed to exploitation.


What  benefits do Nigeria stand to gain on the slot issue?

Demuren:The issue at stake is this- We don’t want bilateral service domination between two countries. The two nations are meant to benefit from it. It should not be one-sided. If we are doing something together and you are not happy, I’m happy, you won’t be happy. So, if airlines of other countries can come here and land easily in our country and airlines from here can’t do the same, then it is one-sided, so we need to correct all those imbalances and make sure it is sorted out.
But again, you must have strong airlines that can compete, our airlines are not strong enough, they are only carrying crumbs under the table, the leftovers. They should be able to compete and to compete on safety records, security, good services on board must be there. Once you have that and then we should also patronize them.
Many Nigerians don’t support our own. It’s very important that we do this. But again, to do that you can’t blame Nigerian passengers, you must have inter-connectivity, it’s not everybody that are just going to London, some are going to Manchester, some are going to other destinations in Europe, some going to America, some are going to far the East.
When you get to London, you must be able to take them to those places also. So, our airlines should interline. That’s why we advice them to be International Air Transport Association [IATA] International Operational Safety Assessment[IOSA] compliant and interline so that they can sell their tickets all over the world from point to point. Once you do that, you can compete with other foreign airlines to the satisfaction of passengers.
We can therefore not really blame the foreign airlines on the BASA issue since Nigerian registered airlines are operating from a point of weakness.
Demuren:But what I’m saying is that whether competition or not why should I buy a ticket out of Lagos to London and pay twice than what I will pay if I buy from Ghana? It doesn’t make sense; it’s just a rip off. You don’t do that and it’s the same distance from Ghana to London, what’s the difference? So, why should they double the price, why? What have we done wrong? Oh! We have money? We can afford it? That’s nonsense.


A lot of speculations are out there that by doing that they are trying to make Ghana a regional hub and that since we don’t have strong airlines to compete strongly and take advantage of BASA, it may not exactly be the faults BA or VAA…..

Demuren:You can’t come to Nigeria and rip people off, whether there is competition or not. Why should I buy a ticket out of Lagos to London and pay twice of what I am paying if I go to Ghana to buy the same ticket when it’s the same distance? It doesn’t make sense. They doubled the price; it is simply outrageous to say the least. And I repeat here and now: our market is open to exploration but close to exploitation. We would not allow you to do that to us. The purpose of business for goodness sake, let’s do good business, business that all of us can do and all of us can be happy.
Both sides must benefit that’s what BASA means, between two nations so that the two nations can benefit, they can prosper in it. When it’s one-sided it is no longer a good agreement. How can I have agreement with somebody, all of us agreed and then only one side is benefiting, you have to find out what’s wrong.


What I understand you to mean earlier is that frequency without slot is no frequency.

Demuren:It’s no frequency as far as I’m concern. Are you going to be roaming around in the air and you won't be able to land. Slot is what allows you to land. You don’t just go and be signing agreements with everybody saying you have open air and everybody can come to your country when there is no place to land and you can take advantage in our own country, you must find out why that is so. And these slots are held by your airlines here and there.


Are you saying all these foreign airlines should now pay for slots in Nigeria?
Demuren: It’s the responsibility of Federal Airports Authority Nigeria(FAAN) and they are looking at it. When they are ready, they will tell us. If they tell me today they want to do that, I have no objection especially for countries that are doing it to us.

Friday, January 13, 2012

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL PROTEST IN PICTURES















Governor Fashola Opmimistic of Amicable Resolution of the Nationwide Strike

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State has described as fruitful the meeting between the Federal Government, the organised labour and the governors on the ways to end the nationwide strike caused by the withdrawal of oil subsidy.

He was speaking with journalists at the Lagos Airport on his return from Abuja where he also attended the meeting.

Governor Fashola noted,"It was a useful meeting, coming from where we were before. The very idea of meeting, is progressive and parties are ready to engage in dialogue. So, for us, it is a step forward".

On the threat by the Petroleum,Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(Pengassan) to shut down oil flow stations, the governor said,:'Well, I don’t have those facts now, but I think in a situation where we are trying to make progress, it doesn’t help the negotiations to start issuing more threats'.

'I think ultimately my own interest and I believe the interest of those of us who are involved here today and all Nigerians; the ordinary people who are at the brunt of all this crisis. One way or the other, people are suffering and we remain responsible and duty bound to ensure that the suffering and inconveniences as they are, end as quickly as possible', he asserted

Monday, January 9, 2012

NATIONWIDE STRIKE GROUNDS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA

By Lateef Lawal

Economic  activities across Nigeria was for most part of the day today brought to a standstill in the first day of the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and other  organized  labour entities to protest the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
Before the subsidy removal, petrol sold for N65 per litre; it now sells at N141 per litre, and even for more in some areas.
The House of Representatives on Sunday during an emergency session urged the federal government to reinstate the subsidy in the interest of the masses.
From Abuja, the Federal Capital to Lagos, the Commercial nerve center of the country, all public and private business centers including banks,financial institutions,markets and motor parks were shut.
In Abuja despite the heavy presence of policemen and other security operatives, the huge crowd of protesters led by the President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed  Omar took to the streets  and proceeded to Eagle Square but met human shield mounted by heavily armed securitymen.
At 10.15am, the surging crowd of protesters overwhelmed the security shield and the police had to give way to the unprecedented crowd who carried placards with various anti-government and pro-subsidy inscriptions such as ‘Jona Haram’, ‘Its only truth that exalt a Nation’, ‘On N65 we stand’.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, NLC President said until President Jonathan revert to the old pump price of N65, the protest would continue while commending members of the House of Representatives for siding with the popular wish of Nigerians.
He hoped that the Senate would tow similar line so as to tell the executive in clear term that the people would not take the executive lawlessness on issues concerning welfare of the people.
He queried the rationale behind the N3.5m annual salary of the President with additional N1billion for State House food and N11billion for presidential travels in 2012 and the affluence the ruling elite enjoyed while the people are made to suffer untold hardship through lack of water lack of good roads and electric power supply.  
In Lagos, people started trooping to the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota in readiness for the rally/protest which got to its peak at about noon with the large crowd virtually taking over the  express way and other adjacent thoroughfares.
Those that could not converge at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, staged the protests at their various local government council areas.
The event was unique in the history of protests in the country as it had colour added to it with various notable musicians rendering popular lyrics to the dancing foot of the protesters. The musician include Ras Kimono, Femi Anikulapo  Kuti, Dede Mabiaku and others.
Prominent among those at the protest are the fiery preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare,J.Odumakin,Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Mrs Gani Fawehinmi  and many others. Lagos State Government ordered the closure of all public and private schools until the nationwide strike is called off.  
Leaders and members of the joint aviation unions also picketed the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
Though  none of the domestic airlines was able to operate a single flight  while the strike lasted.
This was attributed to lack of passengers to board their planes as like others, airline passengers stayed back in their homes.
Arik Air which landed last night from London in Lagos, attempted to fly its Port Harcourt bound passengers from the domestic terminal early today, but could not as some essential staff at the terminal withdrew their services in compliance with the nationwide strike called by both the NLC and TUC.
Despite the strike however, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) said today that  the nation’s  airspace was not closed to air traffic.
According to the General Manager, Public Affairs of NAMA, Mr Supo Atobatele,:’we confirm also that the control towers this morning were manned by our controllers contrary to speculations from uninformed quarters.  
The agency as at this afternoon had handled more than a dozen flights at the Lagos airport. The flights include-Virgin Atlantic ,Arik Air operating on London route,Middle East , Kenya Airways,DHL ,Ethiopian all in bound,and a presidential jet (out bound). Airlines like KLM,Air France,British  Airways among others had filed in their flight plans for today’.
One death was however recorded in Ogba area of Agege, Lagos where a  team of Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police policemen on patrol shot and killed a young teenager simply called Ademola, who was said to have been playing street football.
It was learnt that the armed policemen on patrol attempted to disperse a group of young teenagers who had gathered at the junction of their street near Yaya Abatan in the Ogba area to show their support for the labour strike action when the police fired shots in the air and on the ground and in the process, stray bullets hit 4 bystanders, killing one instantly.
The other three injured were taken to County Hospital for treatment. However the body of the young teenager who was shot has been carried away in a wheel barrow by the angry mob who surrounded the Area G police station.
In Oyo State, protesters trooped out in large numbers especially in the State capital, Ibadan where they moved through Iyaganku and many places and later converged at the Freedom Square opposite Mapo Hall where the Chairman of the State Chapter of NLC, Comrade Bashir Olanrewaju addressed thousands of protesters.
At a stage when the protesters massed toward the government house to deliver their message to the government for onward transmission to the President Jonathan in Abuja, policemen fired tear gas canisters and warning shots  in the air to disperse the crowd.
Five people reportedly sustained injuries from stray bullets while scampering for safety. The protesters later re-group and went back insisting that their voice and message must be heard.
In Ondo, Ekiti , Ogun and Osun States the scenarios recorded were the same as people trooped out in their thousands to express their displeasure at the Federal Government’s insistence on removal of petrol subsidy which has led to increase on transport fares, food items and other domino effects on both social and economic spheres of life.
In Ogun State, government postponed school resumption date indefinitely and advised parents to keep their children at home till after the strike is called off.









            

Sunday, January 8, 2012

NIGERIA: Tension In the Land

Nigerians have braced up for nationwide strikes begining today over the removal of fuel subsidies on January 1,2012 while the killing of dozens of Christians claimed by the Islamist group Boko Haram has sparked fears of widespread religious conflict in the country.


Nigeria has entered one of the most crucial phases in its recent history with attacks on Christians sparking fears of religious conflict and nationwide strikes set to begin on Monday(today) over soaring fuel prices.
The killing of dozens of Christians in recent days claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram has raised fears of a wider religious conflict and ignited anger among Christian leaders, who have compared the attacks to the run-up to the country's 1960s civil war.
Meanwhile, a deeply controversial policy that removed fuel subsidies on January 1, causing petrol prices to instantly more than double, has united much of the country in opposition to the move.
Protests have grown increasingly volatile, while police have fired tear gas and been accused of using excessive force to disperse demonstrators.
A union accused police of shooting dead a demonstrator last week in Ilorin, Kwara State, but authorities denied it and said he was killed by a mob.
A nationwide strike is set for today in a bid to force the government to back down, raising the risk of further clashes in Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer, while putting the security agencies under heavy pressure.
The situation in Nigeria is "quite precarious and worrisome. There's lots of uncertainty," said Onah Ekhomu, a Lagos-based independent security expert.
"We have a potential sectarian crisis looming, and now to cut the subsidies -- almost the entire country is boiling."
With the escalation of attacks targeting Christians mostly in the predominantly Muslim northern regions, President Goodluck Jonathan on December 31 imposed a state of emergency in parts of the country hard hit by the violence.
Christian leaders have warned they will defend themselves, raising particular concern in a country roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
The mounting crises have posed major risks for Jonathan's administration, which has come under intense pressure over both the violence and the fuel subsidies.
"I think what is going on is not just a question of fuel subsidies, but a whole question of how the country is being run," said Clement Nwankwo, head of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, a local NGO.
"Lots of people are not satisfied with the way the country is being run. They think there are huge levels of incapacity, incompetence, coupled with huge corruption."
The irony of the fuel subsidy removal policy is that economists and government officials see it as a vital move that could allow the country to improve its woefully inadequate infrastructure and ease pressure on its foreign reserves.
The government says it spent more than $8 billion (6.3 billion euros) on subsidies in 2011.
But Nigerians view the subsidies as their only benefit from the nation's oil wealth and lack any real trust in government after years of deep-rooted corruption.
The move saw petrol prices more than double in a country most of whose 160 million people scrape by on less than $2 a day.
Elizabeth Donnelly of London-based think tank Chatham House sees Nigeria as undergoing "pains of an evolving political situation."
What is happening in Nigeria is a "combination of things -- a legacy of declining governance over a number of decades ... greater corruption and lack of investment in basic infrastructure like health care, education."
"It's part of an evolving democracy. This is a huge and diverse country and it's still trying to build a model of democracy that is appropriate and works for Nigeria," Donnelly said.

 

 

source:AFP

"On Petrol Subsidy Removal I Stand", says President Jonathan

Read the unedited text of Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan 48hours before the planned nationwide strike called by the organised labour.
Dear Compatriots, A week ago, I had cause to address Nigerians on the security challenges we are facing in parts of the country, which necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in 15 Local Government Areas in four states of the Federation.

That course of action attracted widespread support and a demonstration of understanding. With that declaration, government had again signaled its intention to combat terrorism with renewed vigour and to assure every Nigerian of safety.

The support that we have received in the fight against terrorism from concerned Nigerians at home and abroad has been remarkable. We believe that it is with such continued support that progress can be made on national issues.

Let me express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has expressed a commitment to support us as we strive to improve on the country’s security situation, and build a stronger foundation for the future.

The recent mindless acts of violence in Gombe, Potiskum, Jimeta-Yola and Mubi are unfortunate. I urge all Nigerians to eschew bitterness and acrimony and live together in harmony and peace. Wherever there is any threat to public peace, our security agencies will enforce the law, without fear or favour.

This evening, I address you, again, with much concern over an issue that borders on the national economy, the oil industry and national progress. As part of our efforts to transform the economy and guarantee prosperity for all Nigerians, Government, a few days ago, announced further deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. The immediate effect of this has been the removal of the subsidy on petrol.

Since the announcement, there have been mixed reactions to the policy. Let me seize this opportunity to assure all Nigerians that I feel the pain that you all feel. I personally feel pained to see the sharp increase in transport fares and the prices of goods and services. I share the anguish of all persons who had travelled out of their stations, who had to pay more on the return leg of their journeys.

If I were not here to lead the process of national renewal, if I were in your shoes at this moment, I probably would have reacted in the same manner as some of our compatriots, or hold the same critical views about government.

But I need to use this opportunity as your President to address Nigerians on the realities on the ground, and why we chose to act as we did. I know that these are not easy times. But tough choices have to be made to safeguard the economy and our collective survival as a nation.

My fellow Nigerians, the truth is that we are all faced with two basic choices with regard to the management of the downstream petroleum sector: either we deregulate and survive economically, or we continue with a subsidy regime that will continue to undermine our economy and potential for growth, and face serious consequences.

As you all know, the subject of deregulation is not new, we have been grappling with it for more than two decades. Previous administrations tinkered with the pump price of petroleum products, and were unable to effect complete deregulation of the downstream sector.

This approach has not worked. If it did, we would not be here talking about deregulation today. I understand fully well that deregulation is not a magic formula that will address every economic challenge, but it provides a good entry point for transforming the economy, and for ensuring transparency and competitiveness in the oil industry, which is the mainstay of our economy.

As a President, elected and supported by ordinary Nigerians, and the vast majority of our people, I have a duty to bring up policies and programmes that will grow the economy and bring about greater benefits for the people. Let me assure you that as your President, I have no intention to inflict pain on Nigerians.

The deregulation of the petroleum sector is a necessary step that we had to take. Should we continue to do things the same way, and face more serious economic challenges? Or deregulate, endure the initial discomfort and reap better benefits later? I want to assure every Nigerian that whatever pain you may feel at the moment, will be temporary.

The interest of the ordinary people of this country will always remain topmost in my priorities as a leader. I remain passionately committed to achieving significant and enduring improvements in our economy that will lead to sustained improvement in the lives of our people.

I am determined to leave behind a better Nigeria, that we all can be proud of. To do so, I must make sure that we have the resources and the means to grow our economy to be resilient, and to sustain improved livelihood for our people.

We must act in the public interest, no matter how tough, for the pains of today cannot be compared to the benefits of tomorrow. On assumption of office as President, I swore to an oath to always act in the best interest of the people. I remain faithful to that undertaking.

To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices. On the part of Government, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of governance, including on-going and continuous effort to reduce the size of our recurrent expenditure and increase capital spending.

In this regard, I have directed that overseas travels by all political office holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.

For the year 2012, the basic salaries of all political office holders in the Executive arm of government will be reduced by 25%. Government is also currently reviewing the number of committees, commissions and parastatals with overlapping responsibilities.

The Report on this will be submitted shortly and the recommendations will be promptly implemented. In the meantime, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies must reduce their overhead expenses.

We are all greatly concerned about the issue of corruption. The deregulation policy is the strongest measure to tackle this challenge in the downstream sector. In addition, government is taking other steps to further sanitize the oil industry.

To ensure that the funds from petroleum subsidy removal are spent prudently on projects that will build a greater Nigeria, I have established a committee to oversee the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. I sincerely believe that the reinvestment of the petroleum subsidy funds, to ensure improvement in national infrastructure, power supply, transportation, irrigation and agriculture, education, healthcare, and other social services, is in the best interest of our people.

Fellow Nigerians, I know that the removal of the petroleum subsidy imposes an initial burden on our people, especially the rising cost of transportation. Government will be vigilant and act decisively to curb the excesses of those that want to exploit the current situation for selfish gains. I plead for the understanding of all Nigerians. I appeal to our youth not to allow mischief-makers to exploit present circumstances to mislead or incite them to disturb public peace.

To address the immediate challenges that have been identified, I have directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to embark immediately on all projects which have been designed to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal in the short, medium and long-term, as outlined in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Document.

Tomorrow, 8th January, I will formally launch a robust mass transit intervention programme to bring down the cost of transportation across the country. The programme will be implemented in partnership with state and local governments, labour unions, transport owners, and banking institutions, and supported with the provision of funding at zero interest rate as well as import duty waiver on all needed parts for locally-made mass transit vehicles, which will create additional jobs in the economy.

We will keep these incentives in place for as long as it takes. I want to assure you that Government will not rest until we bring down the cost of transportation for our people. Let me thank the transporters’ associations that have agreed to reduce transport fares. I have directed the Minister of Labour and Productivity to work with these associations to come up with a sustainable plan to guarantee this within the shortest possible time.

In addition, I have ordered the mobilization of contractors for the full rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt –Maiduguri Railway Line and the completion of the Lagos-Kano Railway Line.

I have also directed the immediate commencement of a Public Works programme that will engage the services of about 10, 000 youths in every state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. This will create an additional 370, 000 jobs.

Government has taken these decisions in the best interest of our economy, so that we not only have benefits today, but to ensure that we bequeath even greater benefits to our children and grandchildren.

Let me assure Nigerians that every possible effort will be made to ensure that we march forward, with a collective resolve to build a Nigeria that can generate greater economic growth, create and sustain new jobs, and secure the future of our children.

This Administration will aggressively implement its programme to reposition and strengthen our economy, while paying adequate attention to the immediate needs of our citizens.

I assure you all that we will work towards achieving full domestic refining of petroleum products with the attendant benefits.

As I ask for the full understanding of all Nigerians, I also promise that I will keep my word.

Thank you. May God bless you; and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President

Federal Republic of Nigeria

January 7, 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

AVIATION WORKERS SET TO CLOSE NIGERIA'S AIRSPACE TO PROTEST SUBSIDY REMOVAL

*World Federation of Trade Unions supports labour agitation

Aviation workers including Pilots and Engineers are set to shut down Nigeria’s airspace to both domestic and foreign airlines commencing next Sunday mid-night in accordance with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC) to protest the removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government.
To strategize for the planned nationwide protest, all the aviation unions/associations in the industry have started mobilizing their members to ensure the total shut down of the country’s airspace with the summoning of all executive members of all the aviation unions and association to an emergency meeting on Friday,6,January,2012 at an undisclosed venue.
This was disclosed by the acting Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE),Comrade Abdul-Kareem Motajo while shedding light on the commitment of aviation workers to follow to the letter the directives from the TUC and the NLC saying that organized labour movements and especially Nigerians can no longer afford supporting a "deaf and dumb" government that derive pleasure on inflicting pains and unbearable hardships on the masses.
According to Comrade Motajo, a circular has been issued to all employees and stakeholders in the air transport sector and allied organizations directing them to " close down operations at 00.00hrs Sunday-meaning Monday 9thJanuary,2012" and added that they must ensure full compliance in the interest of all Nigerians and "our industry".
The circular was endorsed by Comrade Olayinka Abioye,Deputy General Secretary of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Comrade Abdul-Kareem Motajo, Acting General Secretary of NUATE and Comrade Umoh Ofonimeh,Assistant General Secretary of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE).
Expatiating on the planned strike action, Comrade Motajo said that the government should not be deceived that if the labour leaders are arrested, the total nationwide strike would be scuttled. He said, "arrest or no arrest the Nigerian people are ready for the total stagnation of economic activities throughout the country come Monday, 9th, January 2012 unless the government listen to the voice of reason and revert to N65.00 per liter of petrol that subsist before the unpopular hike of the pump price of petrol to N138-N141".
The unions, he further assured are reaching out to other professional bodies in the industry, especially the Air Traffic Controllers, Aeronautic Engineers, Aeronautic Information Service and others ensure success of the strike and send a signal to President Goodluck Jonathan that he was in the saddle at the instance of popular support he enjoyed during the last presidential election and he should therefore listen to the voice of the people and desist from going down into ignominy as the worst president Nigeria ever had.
Re-echoing the stand of the NLC and the TUC ,he enjoined the police and the military not to in anyway disrupt peaceful protest by Nigerians, because they are also part of the polity with "our families and theirs going to the same market, all our children and family members going on public transport whose fares have been hiked by over 100 per cent by the unpopular removal of subsidy by the government".
If President Jonathan refused to revert to the old price of N65 per liter, Comrade Motajo said the organized labour would be in the fore-front of calling for his impeachment as he no longer serve the interest and welfare of Nigerians he swore to protect at his inauguration and that the killing of an unarmed protester in Ilorin was an act of deliberate man’s inhumanity to man as is being unfolded by the Jonathan administration and that,"we are ready to prosecute this inhuman act at the international court of justice in the Hague".

Meanwhile,the World Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU),has expressed its total support for the on-going struggle by the organised labour against the removal of oil subsidy by the Nigerian government and the planned nationwide protest slated for next Monday. 
In the statement issued by the secretariat of the global labour union on January 4,2010, from its base in Athens, Greece, it stated that,” on behalf of its 82million members from 120 countries, denounces the decision of the Nigerian government to end the fuel susidy for the people which will bring the further increase in the petrol price up 50% until 130%, in additionto the existing living conditions of the Nigerian people, the poverty and the high prices for the daily essentials that are already a huge burden for the popular family.
“Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in the sub-saharan Africa. The wealth-producing resources of the country are exploited by multinationals and monopolies leaving only hunger and poverty to the majority of the population while the capitalists are gaining huge profits.
“The World Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU) demands from the government of Nigeria to immediately take back this anti-labor decision.
“We express our support to our brothers, the working people of Nigeria and we express our international solidarity to the strikes and their struggles.”

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

NATIONWIDE STRIKE SET FOR 11,JANUARY,2012 BY LABOUR TO PROTEST FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

*Rejects government's committees
The two umbrella bodies of labour movements in Nigeria have slated Wednesday, January 11, 2011, for the commencement of its total nationwide strike to protest the federal government’s sudden withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, an unconfirmed source has hinted.
The decision was reached after a meeting of union leaders held on Tuesday.
The federal government had constituted a committee led by former CJN, Justice Alpha Belgore to dialogue with union leaders, activists and stakeholders, but labour has opted not to have any dealings with the committee.
President Jonathan has been under fire since the sudden announcement to cut subsidy was made on New Year Day. An emergency meeting Wednesday with members of the federal executive council is expected to debate extensively on the subsidy savings plan.
It is however unclear how the federal government would react to labour’s ultimatum.Meanwhile, the NLC in a statement Tuesday by its President Abdul Waheed Omar, announced the death of one protester, who it said was shot dead by the police.
"It is with a heavy heart that the NLC announces the murder of an anti-fuel price hike protester, who was shot dead by the police today, Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
"The victim was shot dead near the Post Office in central Ilorin, Kwara State. The perpetrators of this crime were armed policemen from the Area ‘A’ Division, close to the UBA, Ilorin, and the State Police Command on Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.
"The NLC had cautioned the Goodluck Jonathan administration against the use of brute force and arms against unarmed Nigerians who protest publicly their rejection of its murderous policy of hiking fuel prices by between 120 and 200 per cent.
"The police are directly under the control and command of the Presidency and it is the Jonathan administration’s inhuman policy that has resulted in the murder of an innocent citizen. The NLC holds the Jonathan administration liable for this murder and advises it to fish out its agents who shot at protesters in Ilorin and bring them to justice."
The NLC in the statement also praised all those that joined the protests nationwide.
On the committee set up to negotiate with stakeholders, the NLC said, "The Presidency, on Monday, January 2, set up a committee, headed by the retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, purportedly to dialogue with Labour. We think this is an afterthought and meant to give Nigerians the impression that the Government wants to consult Nigerians."
Making its position on the Kolade-led committee known, it said "Labour is seeking legal opinion as to the constitutionality of spending public funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.
"No one would have believed that the revered office of the President could stoop so low to tell a lie. In a bid to defend the Presidency on the misleading and callous imposition of astronomical increase in fuel prices on Nigerians, the Special Adviser on Media to President Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati told the media that Labour was in support of the subsidy removal.
"His claim that Labour was consulted and had given support to whatever government does on the issue of removal of subsidy is a blatant lie. In the first place, the leadership of the Labour Movement had held only one meeting with the Federal Government on the issue of oil subsidy. This was on Tuesday 20th December, 2011 and that meeting was not conclusive, as it was agreed that a follow-up meeting will be called by the Presidency.
"Secondly, the outcome of that meeting was immediately made public through a press statement, and up till now, the presidency has not disputed its content. At the meeting, the Labour Movement had noted that it was not only impossible for the Federal Government to implement a fifth of the projects outlined in the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE), but that the presentation by the Presidency on the issue of oil subsidy was simply a repetition of the presentations made by the Babangida and Abacha regimes and the Obasanjo administration, and that none of those promises were kept.
"The report of that meeting as we have stated, is in the public domain. We reiterate what we told Government, that Labour and the people stand opposed to fuel subsidy removal and hikes in the price of fuel. No amount of blackmail, propaganda or intimidation will deter Nigerians from reclaiming their country.
"Tomorrow (Today) Wednesday 4th January, 2012, the NLC and TUC will issue a clear directive on the date coordinated nationwide general strikes, mass rallies and street protests will commence, and the methodology of the protests," the NLC stated.
Meanwhile,members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been directed to attend an emergency meeting of the Council slated for Wednesday, January 04, 2011, at the Presidential Villa.They were earlier set to resume on 11,January,2012 after their December break.
They were summoned to discuss issues relating to the sudden removal of subsidy on petroleum products and the nationwide anger and protests that have trailed the announcement.
Labour unions and activists have assured government that they will ground the economy if the decision is not reversed. The unions are currently meeting to strategize plans for protests nationwide.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Widespread Protests Across Nigeria over Fuel Subsidy Removal


*Policemen join in street march in solidarity with the people

Widespread street protest today greeted the fuel subsidy removal as thousands marched through the streets in several states chanting anti government slogans.
In Lagos, men of the Nigerian Police numbering over 400  joined the protest along with members of the public and the civil societies.
The  policemen were seen in their uniform marching along Oregun road and heading towards Alausa, the seat of government in Lagos. The policemen were chanting anti-government slogans.
Pockets of protesters have  successfully staged protests in various parts of Lagos State. Angry protesters took over major roads like Ikorodu Road, various roads around Ojuelegba in Sululere, Mushin and Idioro amongst others.
Following the removal of oil subsidy by the President Goodluck Jonathan on the new year day, a liter now sell for between N138 and N200  depending on your location.While in parts of Lagos it si being sold at N140-N150, in Igbogila area of Ogun State it is N160 and in Sango-Ota axis of the State, it goes for N145 per litre resulting in the increase of transport fare by over 120 per cent with a journey that used to cost N40 is now N150.
Reports also indicated that protesters blocked the Abuja-Lokoja road in Kogi and Niger States for several hours today disallowing vehicular movements while from the Federal Capital, Abuja, protesters led by the former member of House of Representatives, Dipo Melaye who were earlier arrested along with six others have been released. Tear gas cannisterns were shot at the Abuja protesters by the police
Speaking shortly after his release, Melayo said no amount of intimidation would stop him from mobilizing more people to fight against government’s removal of subsidy which has compounded the suffering of the people.
Reports also noted that there are also protests in Kano State,Kwara State, Ilorin and Zamfara State.

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