Sunday, May 19, 2019

A Nigerian UN Peacekeeper killed in Mali

A Nigerian UN peacekeeper has been killed and another injured by unidentified assailants in Timbuktu, in northern Mali, the UN says.

A separate incident in Tessalit left three Chadian peacekeepers injured.

Nearly 200 members of the UN mission have died since it was set up in 2013, making it the deadliest peacekeeping operation in the world.

Peacekeepers were deployed to Mali after Islamist militants seized the north of the country in 2012.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has condemned the attacks, saying he is "deeply saddened" over the death of the peacekeeper.

He has called on the Malian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, and said that targeting UN peacekeepers "may constitute war crimes".

After large swathes of northern Mali were taken by jihadists they were pushed back in a French-led military operation.

But parts of the country are still out of the government's control.

source:BBC

(French version)

Un soldat nigérian de la paix des Nations Unies tué au Mali

 Un soldat nigérian de la paix des Nations Unies a été tué et un autre blessé par des assaillants non identifiés à Tombouctou, dans le nord du Mali, a annoncé l'ONU.

 Un incident séparé à Tessalit a blessé trois soldats de la paix tchadiens.

 Près de 200 membres de la mission des Nations Unies sont décédés depuis sa création en 2013, ce qui en fait l'opération de maintien de la paix la plus meurtrière au monde.

 Des soldats de la paix ont été déployés au Mali après la prise du nord du pays par des militants islamistes en 2012.

 Le secrétaire général de l'ONU, António Guterres, a condamné les attaques, affirmant qu'il était "profondément attristé" par la mort du gardien de la paix.

 Il a appelé les autorités maliennes à traduire les responsables en justice et a déclaré que le fait de viser des soldats de la paix de l'ONU "pourrait constituer un crime de guerre".

 Après que des djihadistes se soient emparés de vastes étendues du nord du Mali, ils ont été repoussés dans le cadre d'une opération militaire dirigée par la France.

 Mais certaines parties du pays échappent toujours au contrôle du gouvernement.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

AIB Gaining Momentum in International Cooperation and Recognition - signs ETCP with France


The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria today made further trail blazing strides in achieving its organisational objective to become the bastion and reference point of excellence in air accident investigation in Africa.

AIB-N and the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) France, yesterday in Paris, France signed an Executive Technical Cooperation Programme geared towards fostering mutual cooperation between both countries in respect of air accident investigation and capacity building.

Engr. Akin Olateru, Commissioner/CEO of AIB while signing the Executive Technical Cooperation Programme (ETCP) in Paris yesterday, remarked that the pact is aimed at strengthening the relationship with its counterpart in France; with intentions of tapping into, and benefiting from its wealth of experience, expertise, and technical know-how in aviation accident investigation, for the common good of AIB and other African countries that may be happy to draw assistance from AIB’s resources.

Impressed by the quality of work coming out of AIB Nigeria, relative to aviation accident investigation: and the effectiveness of its service delivery exemplified by its role in undertaking air accident investigation for Republic of Sao Tome and Principe in 2018, and the several others within Nigeria, France through BEA, came up with the ETCP to assist and support AIB through capacity building, information sharing and knowledge transfer.

Olateru stressed that “what we just did today is to help both countries fulfill our obligations as regards the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convention on accident investigation and walk the talk with the theme ‘No Country Left Behind’”

The BEA Director Remi Jouty, commended the strategic direction and performance of AIB-N particularly in the last two years. 

In his remarks, Jouty expressed joy at the sealing of the pact: and added that ‘Akin you are doing a great job here establishing a solid structure that will survive your administration’.

The ETCP Agreement borders around the following;

1.       Cooperation in the conduct of aircraft accident and incident investigation, investigation training and sharing of information and expertise, consistent with Annex 13;

2.Assist each other in the use of air safety investigation, manpower, facilities, recorders, management organization, Aviation Security and Safety;

3.       Exchange of specialist and any other request incidental to fostering the cooperation at the time of the request to the other party as deemed appropriate and as resources may permit;

4.       While ensuring confidentiality, both parties will share information and Air Safety investigator; assign responsibilities;

5.       Exchange visits or regular meetings with the aim of exchange of exchanging experience and technical knowledge

6.       Discussion on any problem that may arise regarding activities in the field of aviation safety in terms of SARPs.

The AIB CEO reiterated that AIB Nigeriais building a world class institution and brand and has thus positioned itself to become a force to reckon with in Africa in the area of accident investigation and capacity building adding that Nigeria had the needed resources to assist other African countries. 

‘It is in the light of the foregoing, that the aviation accident investigation counterpart agencies of countries including Saudi Arabia, 

South Africa and two other African countries have expressed intention to sign MoU with AIB-N for its assistance and cooperation.’

 

 



Saturday, May 11, 2019

FG alleges Jonathan and ex-oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of collecting bribe over OPL 245

Nigeria has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan and his then oil minister, Diezani Alison Madueke of accepting bribes and breaking the country’s laws to broker a $1.3 billion oil deal eight years ago, a London court filing shows.

The deal, in which Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell and Italian peer Eni jointly acquired the rights to the OPL 245 offshore oilfield, has spawned legal cases spanning several countries.

In papers advancing a London commercial court suit against Shell and Eni, lawyers for the Nigerian government said Jonathan and Diezani conspired to “receive bribes and make a secret profit”, keeping the government from getting what it was owed from the deal.

“Bribes were paid,” the filing, reviewed by Reuters, states. It says “the receipt of those bribes and the participation in the scheme of said officials was in breach of their fiduciary duties and Nigerian criminal law.”

The 2011 deal is also the subject of a corruption trial in Milan in which two middlemen have been convicted and former and current Shell and Eni officials are also on trial.

An Eni spokesman said the Italian firm was assessing whether UK courts had jurisdiction on a case of “such duplication” to the Milan proceedings and repeated its view on “the correctness and compliance of every aspect of the transaction.”

The London lawsuit relates to payments that Shell and Eni made to acquire the licence.

The companies transferred more than $1 billion to the Nigerian government, according to the filing. Milan prosecutors have argued in their case that the bulk of that money was sent on to Malabu Oil and Gas, which was controlled by another former oil minister, Dan Etete.

Eni and Shell retain the rights to develop the field, which has yet to enter production but is one of the biggest untapped oil resources in Africa, with reserves estimated at 9 billion barrels.

In the London court filing, the Nigerian government said it only received a $209 million signature bonus in relation to the deal, and that it estimates the value of the oilfield to have been “at least $3.5 billion”. It said it would seek to calculate damages on that basis.

The Nigerian government has also filed a London case against U.S. bank JPMorgan for its role in transferring over $800 million of government funds to Etete, who has been convicted of money laundering. JPMorgan has denied any wrongdoing.

Dutch prosecutors are also preparing criminal charges against Shell.

Despite the international cases, only Nigerian officials can rescind the rights to the block.

Oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has said the case should not hinder development of the field. His office did not immediately reply to a further request for comment.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is pursuing a criminal case against other former officials in relation to OPL 245.

President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected in February, campaigning on the same anti-corruption message that helped him defeat Jonathan in 2015. But opinions within the cabinet differ over how to handle OPL 245.

Some have cited what they view as a lack of evidence, while others point to concerns that taking away the rights could hinder the field’s development in a nation where oil accounts for around 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings


Monday, May 6, 2019

Med-View Airlines Support Grassroots Soccer In Lagos

…Sponsors 4th Consecutive U-16 Boys & Girls Tournament

Med-View Airlines has again for the Fourth consecutive year shown its support for grassroots soccer development in Nigeria by sponsoring the just concluded under 16 Boys and Girls soccer tournament in Lagos.

The tournament tagged: “Med-View Airline Eko Youth Cup 2019”, in conjunction with the Lagos State Grassroot Soccer Association, came to an end as the finals took place at the Campos Mini-Stadium, Ajele on the Lagos Island.

The tournament, having recorded success in the last four years, the Managing Director of Med-View Airline, Alh. Muneer Bankole after the finals of the competition said he is looking beyond Lagos in order to make other parts of the country to have a feel of the grassroots soccer tourney.

When he was asked on the effort to take the tournament beyond Lagos during a chat with journalists after the event, he said: “We will look at the regional level. We will start with the South West Region of the country, then, we will move to the center which is the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and then move to the South East. It is good for the whole nation to have the opportunity.

On the educational development of the players given their age range, Medview CEO advised the parents of the players, that the education of these children is so important that playing soccer by the children should not be a hindrance.

Harping on the social benefits derived from the organization of the game, Bankole said: “This tournament has reduced negative vices by the children because they are busy channeling their energy to a productive course. Instead of thinking of how to negatively influence the society, they are doing something good with their time and energy.”

Looking at the skills displayed by the players, Alh. Bankole said ‘three of the players who participated in the previous edition of the tournament are already part of the national team. More will emerge as we can see quality of display by the players so far.’

“We hereby acknowledged the heart-warming gesture of our sponsor, Med-View Airlines. The airline has generously attended to our needs as regards the grassroots football development in the country,” said Aliu Ganiyu, the secretary of the Lagos State Grassroot Soccer Association while appreciating the airline's Managing Director, Alh. Bankole for the love he has for the youth of the state through developmental support through sports.

The competition was wrapped up with presentation of medals, trophies and cash prizes.

-- 


Lists of failed contractors released by Minister of Works& Housing

Minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola has released names of firms that were contracted by the federal government on power projects but failed to deliver the projects.

Fashola listed the contractors in a letter to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), who had consistently pressured the former Lagos State governor on the alleged corrupt contractors.

The minister in a letter with reference number FMP/LU/R2K/2016/T/40 signed by the permanent secretary of power ministry Louis O.N. Edozien listed the firms.

The letter said, “Pow Technologies Limited, an Abuja based company, was in 2014 awarded a contract for the supply and installation of test and maintenance equipment relays, etc to various NAPTIN regional training centers (RTCs) (LOT15), with the total contract sum of N87,763,302.40, out of which N79,404,892.66 was paid to Pow Technologies Limited.”

Fashola explained that the contracts were awarded in 2014, stating that only 13 of the 19 items have so far been supplied, with 6 items outstanding.

In the letter, the minister said different measures were being harnessed to ensure “completion of the project, address criminal breach of contract and take remedial action.”

The minister said that while the contractors undertook to take remedial action, they have failed to complete the project for which funds have been released.

He noted that it submitted a petition to Abuja police commissioner on 13th January 2016, and that the police instituted a case for the prosecution of Messrs Pow at the Upper Area Court.

The ministry also said it has sought and received legal advice to pursue a civil action at the FCT High Court while a report of criminal breach of contract has been made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In response, SERAP demanded additional information on the companies to deliver the projects they were contracted to deliver.

“We welcome Mr Fashola’s latest response and the information regarding Pow Technologies Limited. But we need details of names of other contractors that have collected public funds yet failed to execute power projects,” SERAP said in a tweet.

“We will continue to push the Ministry and its agencies to reveal more details of alleged corrupt contractors and companies, as contained in our FOI request.”

Prior to the disclosure, Fashola had told SERAP that “the Ministry has searched for the requested information on details of alleged contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects and failed to executive any projects, but we could not find it from our records.”

But SERAP disagreed saying, “The public expectation is that government information, when in the hands of any public institutions and agencies, should be available to the public, as prescribed by the FOI Act. The FOI Act should always be used as an authority for disclosing information rather than withholding it.”

Fashola, however, promised to “refer the request for details of alleged contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects and failed to executive any projects to the Ministry’s agencies for necessary action and appropriate response.”

He explained that “There may be instances of part-payment against certification of commensurate value for materials and services in achieved contract milestone eveun though the entire contract is not 100% performed.”

SERAP thereafter made an FOI request with suit number FHC/L/CS/105/19 filed in February at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The suit is seeking “an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling Mr Fashola to provide specific details on the names and whereabouts of the contractors who collected public funds meant for electricity projects but disappeared with the money without executing any projects.”

Buhari presents 2021 Budget to National Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday , 8,October, 2020, formally tabled the Executive’s proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year to a joint s...