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Lawan advocates deployment of drones, high tech equipments to tackle smuggling of fuel

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***As he pallies with paramilitary chiefs over border security

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday advocated for the use of drones and other technology for surveillance against smuggling of petroleum products across the Nigerian borders to neighboring countries.
This was just as he decried the daily consumption figures of 100m litres per day most part of which end up in the neighboring countries because of the activities of smugglers.
He said it is more worrisome as the smuggled products adds to the burden of the subsidy payments that the federal government has been bearing

“The figures of what we consume in the country continue to fluctuate. At one point it was almost 100 million litres per day and surely this is difficult to believe that we consume almost 100 million litres per day within our borders. Certainly, a good percentage of it goes out.

“I believe there is a need for deployment of drones and other technologies that are available these days and probably the office of the National Security Adviser should be able to be in charge of that and make the information and data available to all the agencies that need them.
“I believe at one point, we will need the participation of the NCC being the major Institution in our country in charge of the enhancement of technology, the ICT particularly.
met with heads of security and paramilitary agencies and tasked them to do more to checkmate smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria.

Lawan made the observations when he pallied with some of the security chiefs concerned with border surveillance.
In attendance at the meeting were the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali(rtd), Commandant General, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, representative of the Director General of the State Security Service, San Gesto and representative of the Comptroller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Ishaka Abdulmumini

Lawan said in his opening remarks that the meeting was a follow up to the Monday meeting with Finance and Petroleum Ministers which was to find a way forward on the administration and Management of fuel subsidy in Nigeria

The Senate President told his guests: “We are all aware that some of the products particularly the PMS is smuggled out and yet we paid subsidy on what is smuggled out.

“So this meeting is to look into the ways and means of controlling the smuggling of the petroleum products with a view to minimising the cost of fuel subsidy to our country.

“I know individually, these organisations have been carrying out their responsibilities on this but I think that we are coming into a special moment. Our situation is such that we cannot afford anymore to allow this smuggling business to continue because the cost is very huge and debilitating to our people.

“At a point I will hold a meeting with the National Security Adviser who is supposed to coordinate the entire security apparatus for protecting our borders.

“I will also hold some engagement with the military especially the Navy because a lot of our products are shipped out to other countries through the water ways.

“At the end of the day what we hope to achieve is to minimise or where possible eliminate the incidents of smuggling of petroleum products that we import into the country for our people.

“This will be the first engagement but certainly this is not the last. We need to look at the strategy, maybe how we undertake our activities at the borders, the different agencies, the inter-agency cooperation that is so essential between the agencies. The application of technology in surveillance and who should host that technology.

“I want to assure you this is going to be a special partnership between the National Assembly and the executive arm of government because today’s situation demands that we do things differently.

“Our Committees in the Senate that supervise the Customs, the security agencies, will be up to date with their oversight. We need to see in the next six months, what different strategies will bring to us.

“We want to see also our citizens participating in the surveillance. We have to mobilise our citizens especially those at the borders. That when they see trucks conveying petroleum products to our neibouring countries, they should not only say something, they should say it to those who need to know. And that is to our security agencies.

“So we need to mobilise our citizens as well because this is something that affect all of us. Not about government. And anyway, government is about the people. 

“What we are trying to do is to reduce the level of snuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria and that will translate into reducing the bill that we pay as petroleum subsidy.”

Responding, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali said his agency had been doing a lot in trying to ensure that the smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria was minimised to the bearest level.

He however complained of porous borders and absence of governance at the border communities which made their job difficult.

“Let me say here generally speaking, that we have a porous border. You also know we do not have all those equipments you have made mention of in ensuring the surveillance of our borders.

“And one more critical thing is that, within our border communities, there is no presence of governance. Our border communities completely lack presence of governance.

“Therefore, those of us who are shouldered with the responsibility of ensuring that we gate keep, we find it difficult because the ordinary man in Some border does not see reason why he should be compliant, does not see reason why he should work with the security in Nigeria to protect the border.

“This is simply because there is no presence of governance. In some areas, this border community cross to other country to get basic amenities,” Ali said.

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Legislature

Akpabio rejects one minute silence for dead innocent civilians in Okwoma

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***Insists, killers of soldiers may not be Niger deltans, Nigerians

The President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday rejected an ammendment to the prayer for a minute silence for innocent civilians just like the 16 soldiers who were gruesomely murdered in Okwoma in Delta State because the Senate was yet to ascertain their number.

Akpabio had also expressed doubt that those involved in the gruesome murder of 16 soldiers in Delta State are from Niger Delta or even Nigeria.

This was as the prayer for a minute silence for Innocent civilians who also lost their lives in the Okwoma community was turned down by Akpabio.
Some military personal who were involve in not just trying to keep peace but to ensure that the resources of the country are not stolen on Thursday, March 14, were attacked and killed at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. 

While reading out the Prayers in the motion on the Killing of Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State and the Necessity for an Urgent investigation sponsored by Senator Abdulariz Musa Yar’adua Chauman, Senate Commitiee on Nigerian Army, Akpabio read the first prayer which was to observe a minute silence for the murdered soldiers.

Prayer one, “Observe a minute silence in honour of the military personnel who lost their lives on Thursday 14th March, 2024 in Okwoma community in Delta State which was unanimously adopted by the senate

He asked if there was any ammendment and Senator Ede Dafinone who wanted an ammendment said, “I will like to suggest that the Senate also recognized the innocent civilians in Okwoma who also lost their lives in this process, if we are observing a minute silence for the soldiers that were brutally murdered in this fracas, I believe also the innocent civilians in Okwaoma should also be recognized in a similar way. I am talking of the innocent Civilians sir.”

However, Akpabio interjected saying, 
“The number of the innocent civilians you are talking about are not yet known to the Senate. I am not saying that no innocent Civilian died. I am saying that what we know is the death of our gallant soldiers were murdered in a very horrific manner. 

“So I will take your ammendment to say that observe a minute silence in honour of those military personnel who were murdered in a horrific manner on Thursday the 14th day of March in Okwoma community of Delta state.

Ned Nwoko (Delta North) had Seconded the motion ably moved by Senator Dafinone that prayer one be amended to include a minute silence for the innocent Civilian who lost their lives on the 14th of March and Akpabio acknowledge it to be the second prayer however

However, he read the second prayer which urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended and are made to face the full wrath of the law through a fair and transparent legal process fir which the ayesha had it.

Again, Senator Dafinone moved for another additional prayer to urge the NEMA to reach out and bring relief materials to innocent civilians in Okwoma

However, Akpabio again interjected saying the innocent civillians you are referring to, we don’t have the record of them yet, to give relief materials to those who are killed? Or those who killed, how when they were the ones who killed?

‘I don’t believe that these people are from Niger Delta, those who did the killings because we respect our men and women in uniform, that is why I am saying your additional prayer should actually be to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came in to commit this crime, because I dont think these people are Niger Deltans.
“We are not at war, even in the field of war to lose such number of personnel, no community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.
“I think the first point should be that we should first establish the culprits who committed this crime. We must take it seriously, supposen they arenot from Niger Delta? supposen they are not even Nigerians? We will now come and talk of giving relieve materials to people that have killed. People should stand up for the consequences of their crime we don’t support relief materials.

“Like I said this is a very shocking, horrifying and unfortunate incidence and every right thinking man must condemn it and must also mourn the lost of our personal who were involve in not just trying to keep peace but to ensure that the resources of the country are not stolen because that is Niger Delta.

“Whatever it is we have to find a way to reduce the involvement of the military in internal security so that police can do their work. 

“This has happened, while we condemn it we must as a senate set up a committee to do proper investigation and then of course come up with recommendations particularly to ensure that the culprits are brought to book and then we find a way to console the families and then also console the leadership of the Armed Forces of the country.”

Another resolutions of the Senate was to urge the recruitment and training of more police personnel to take up the job of policing responsibilities while the Nigerian Army plays its primary role in the affairs of the country.

It also urged the Federal Government to embark on enlightenment campaign to sensitize the public on their civic responsibilities as it affects their relationship with security agencies.

The Senate had condemned in clear terms the gruesome murder of 15 Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State and call for an investigations into this act of criminality. 

This is as it called for a compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers whilst investigations are ongoing.

Presenting the motion, the chairman of the Senate Commitee on Nigerian Army, Senator Yar’Adua noted that the recent tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a Commanding Officer, 2 Majors, a Captain, and 12 soldiers, highlights serious threat to the security and stability of the country. 

“Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crises between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State. 

“The tragic incident involving the attack on military personnel from the 181 Amphitropous Battalion during the peace mission to Okuama community in Delta State underscores the urgent need for justice and accountability without resorting to retribution.”

The lawmaker voiced concern over the understaffing of the Nigeria Police which has made Nigeria’s military to take over internal policing duties such as, organised crime, oil theft, communal crisis, kidnapping, banditry and other policing responsibilities. 

He also recalled when the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) previously reported in August 2023 the loss of 36 Military Personnel in Niger State, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by the Armed Forces in carrying out their duties. 

“There is a critical requirement for a more streamlined and deliberate collaboration between the armed forces and law enforcement agencies on one side and the Nigerian populace and communities on the other. 

“This collaboration is essential to foster trust, enhance security measures, and promote a sense of shared responsibility in preventing such tragedies in the future,” he added.

On his part, Senator dafinone requested the Senate to show some concern in handling the situation.

According to him, if the matter is not carefully handled, it will lead to a further breakdown of law and order

“We need to commensurate with the people of Okuama Community over the loss of lives of some of the innocent indigenes in the unfortunate incident. 

“I therefore plead with the President, the Defence headquarters and the Chief of Defence Staff to please tamper justice with mercy and not punish an entire community of Okuama for the sins of a few unscrupulous elements,” he added.

Contributing to the motion, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) lamented over the inhumane act of the murderers of the military men. 

He said, “What happened is despicable. It is inhuman and it is something that cannot be accepted. We need to commensurate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and indeed the entire nation, to condole the immediate families of the fallen heroes and the Nigerian military for what happened. 

“These were men that were trained by the Nigerian government and huge resources spent on them to defend the territorial integrity of this country and keep us safe as a nation.

“Now, they were killed for no reason; not at a time of conflict, not at the war front, they were just murdered in the worst fashion that you can think about. 

“It should be condemned, what happened is inhuman and no stone should be left unturned in trying to find out the culprits who are responsible and they must face justice and this should never happen again in this country.

“The military is doing their best trying to deal with kidnappers, bandits and a host of others challenges, trying to make us safe and now some people decided to go and murder these people and I believe that it is something that we should all condemn and proffer solutions too,” he added. 

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Legislature

Anchor borrowers loan Default: Senate asks CBN to debit commercial Banks at Source

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Apparently piqued over the level of loan default by beneficiaries of Anchors Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Senate has ordered the apex bank to debit the account of commercial banks that guaranteed the loans

The Senate adhoc Committee set up to investigate the printing of N30 Trillion by the CBN through its Ways and Means overdraft and the disbursement of Anchors Borrowers Programme under the Muhammadu Buhari administration issued order at its inaugural sitting on Tuesday.
At its session with officials of the apex bank led by Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, CBN, Bala Bello, the Senate adhoc team led by Senator Jibrin Isah, was peeved that the outstanding sum of N358billion stands the risk of being categorised as bad debt.

Senator Isah who was not impressed with explanations offered by officials of the apex bank to restructure the loans asked the apex bank to go after the collaterals offered by the defaulting beneficiaries, through the Commercial Banks
He said:”They defaulted and why do they default. You can’t restructure the loan forever.! You can go after the collateral, you must up your games, we need to recover these monies. We can’t continue to restructure forever.
“We are talking about N358b that hasn’t
been repaid and at the risk of default.
“For those that have defaulted, I suggest that we put a peg on the interest . Our focus should be on the principal. On that, those loans must have been guaranteed by the banks. I want to believe that those banks must have covered their backs through collateral. I am sure no bank will grant loans without collateral . “They must open up to you. We have the power to go through the whole hog by debiting them at source. We can do that, let them go to Court.”
Deputy Governor, CBN, Corporate Services, Bala Bello expressed regrets over the lack of supervision by the immediate past management of the CBN under its erstwhile Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
He assured the lawmakers that the new management was doing everything possible to recover outstanding loans.
“On our own part, I want to tell you that the new management of CBN have given us a mandate to get the money back. We are under responsibility to recover these money, they belong to tax payers. It saddens my heart to answer questions on things we don’t know. But we inherit both assets and liability. Things could have been done better.”
Speaking on the Ways and Means advances, the Chairman of the Senate adhoc Committee expressed disappointment that the CBN Act was observed in the breach by its immediate past Governor, Godwin Emefiele whom he noted unilaterally approved loans without recourse to the statutory approving authority, the Committee of Governors.
“Under the Ways and Means, Committee of Governors should have been the approving authority. But the CBN Governor did not do that, he unilaterally approved.
“We also want to know the total figure of the Ways and Means because what we have here, the figure didn’t add up. We want to know who got what . ”

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Reps panel on Housing, Habitat Receives New REDAN President

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***Sets up Joint Committee to Review RECON Bill

By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat led by Hon. Aminu Balele on Wednesday received in audience the newly elected President of Real Estate Developer’s Association of Nigeria (REDAN) Prince Adeoye Akintoye in his office.

The committee members who were excited to receive the REDAN 7th Executive members unanimously agreed to turn the visit into interactive session.

Hon Balele while welcoming the Prince Adeoye Akintoye and his Executive members to the National Assembly said the committee is ready to work with them particularly in the area of amending some acts that will help regulate the housing sector in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the committee and its members therefore agreed on a joint committee with REDAN to look into the RECON Bill.

According to Hon. Balele, “we appreciate your coming at this critical time where there is a lot of changes.

“We are going to work together and we are going to come in where you want us to come in, particularly in an area whereby we can amend some acts and other things. An area whereby we can collaborate with other committees to work hand in hand to better the housing situation in Nigeria.

“There are a lot of areas we can touch together, like the issue of people running houses without certificate, this is something we should look into. We need to do this urgently. And so, we are going to set up now a joint committee between you people and our committee to seat down and look at the area that needs an amendment. We assured you that we will push it with our colleagues in Senate and through to the President for absent.”

Earlier, the President of Real Estate Developer’s Association of Nigeria (REDAN) Prince Adeoye Akintoye said REDAN as an advocacy group that will always advocate for the cost of housing and all matters pertaining to allied matters around Housing sector.

Prince Adeoye Akintoye said Housing industry remains one of the avenue to provide employment in a very humongous capacity.

While he strongly believe that working together with the committee will go a long way to change the face of housing in Nigeria, he therefore solicited for the National Assembly help in scaling through the RECON Bill which the 9th Assembly earlier passed but was not absent to by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“There are so many things that we can push together, concerning the land administration system in Nigeria , I think we have to do more. We practitioner represent property development companies today and the sector is not well controlled. We have signed a strategic agreement with SCUML, EFCC to collaborate with them in shipping out the bad eggs in the built industry.

“We brought a bill and the bill was passed by this honourable house at the last assembly. Both the senate and the House of Representatives, passed the Bill, but getting to the presidency it was not signed and I think that bill has lapsed now.

But today, we will be seeking the help of this honourable committee because we like to bring the bill back. So , our plea is in the area of Synergy, the area of collaboration and the area of advocacy. We assure you that we will not do anything that is outside the law. whatsoever subject that we are asking you to involve in, it will definitely be to the benefit of Nigerians and for the good of the country. When REDAN starts to lend their voice and participate in the renew hope agenda, many Nigerians will get more shelter.

The REDAN President however reminded the committee that, Alh Jakande was the 1st president of the group and by the grace of God he is the 5th president.

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