The troops of 25 Task Force Brigade, Nigerian Army, on have discovered and destroyed another Improvised Explosives Device- (IED) making factory in Borno.
This information is conveyed in a statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations and given to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday
It stated that the factory was discovered at Miyati and Nyaleri villages in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno.
“The troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army achieved an unprecedented feat today in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in its area of operations.
“The Brigade, during a cordon and search operation at Sandia, Kokakowa and Nyaleri villages suspected to be Boko Haram enclaves early today, discovered and destroyed the factory.
“It was situated along Maiduguri-Bulabulin-Damboa road, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria.’’
It added that three terrorists, comprising an “Ameer’’, a high contact and a foot soldier were also arrested.
According to the statement, other items discovered were a Peugeot pick up van, foodstuffs, 10-KVA Lister generator, gas cylinders, borehole pumping machine and three bags of maize.
Others are one bag of millet and 13 empty AGO jerry cans, amongst others.
It stated that the operation was a joint effort between the Brigade and Nigerian Air Force which provided air cover and tracking.
The statement added that the operation was part of the determined efforts by the military to root out terrorists in the general area and open more roads hitherto held by the terrorists for public usage.
“It is also part of the renewed efforts and vigour on the part of our troops to meet up with the set deadline that has turned the tide and momentum of the battle against the Boko Haram terrorists in our country.
“I am glad to say that the troops are on high morale and very excited with their accomplishment thus far.’’
It said the troops had also made substantial advancement to reclaim and destroy terrorists-held areas within Gamboru Ngala, Borno.

Oscar Chukwugekwu, Abuja

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the immediate past Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, has criticised the pattern of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, which has shown a willingness to orphan the South for not voting for him during the March 28 Presidential election, describing it as one that promotes exclusivity.

According to Abaribe, Buhari’s appointments so far have not only surreptitiously thrown up the prevailing circumstance, but have equally failed to encourage Nigerians’ hunger and quest to build a nation state out of a heterogeneous Nigeria.

In an emailed statement on Friday in Abuja, Abaribe, however, urged Buhari to see himself as the President of Nigeria, which is the hallmark of a statesman, rather than being the President of a section of the country.

“No one should be surprised over what is happening or the shape of the political appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari. To be fair to him, the President made himself clear in his recent state visit to the United States of America, with his now unfortunate theory of 95 percent and 5 percent reward for support.

“Again, it could be the style of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). That is to say, that the Party has chosen, as a style, to run a government that encourages alienation of a sizable portion of its people, as well as one that promotes exclusivity.

“Every political party has its style, like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that adopted its own style of running an inclusive national government, which reflected the true character and national outlook of the Nigerian people. PDP’s style was (inclusive), not minding the voting pattern of any section of the country, or where its support base was derived.

“For any party, there should not be any political barrier or alienation of any constituent part because, after elections, the President is the President and father of all Nigerians, irrespective of political leaning.

“My hunch is that the appointments so far, which have surreptitiously thrown up the prevailing circumstance, have failed to encourage our people’s hunger and quest to build a nation state out of a heterogeneous Nigeria. The appointments, as they were, do not also support the efforts to weave a more cohesive country that would metamorphose into a nation where unity and love will prevail.

“The founding fathers of our nation had this in mind when the notion of ‘federal character’ was inscribed in the Constitution and a commission created for that purpose. That a President of elder statesman status would willfully breach this fibre that holds this country together is highly regrettable.

“Well, my take is that: ‘it is a Buhari country’. It is the reality. So, he can play around with his choice as his mind and conscience direct him. After all, he did not win election in the South-East and South-South, and yet he became President.

“Therefore, the South should be orphaned for not voting for him. Perhaps that is the stark reality that the people of the South in Nigeria should face. There is an idiom in Igbo language that (says): ’20 years or more is not eternity’.

“The Buhari government will also come to an end one day. Nonetheless, it could have been good and politically expedient, if President Buhari sees himself as President of Nigeria, which is the hallmark of a statesman and not that of President of a section of the country,” Abaribe said in the statement entitled: ‘President Buhari and His Appointments: It Is a Buhari’s Country’.

Oscar Chukwugekwu, Abuja

The Senate on Friday inaugurated a Committee to conduct comprehensive investigation into allegations of unwholesome practices in the nation’s power sector.

The Committee, which is headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari, is charged with the task of looking closely into the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution)‎ with a view to specifically identifying the problems.

The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who inaugurated the Committee at the Senate yesterday, noted that the task before the Committee is huge

Saraki also lamented the continued absence of regular supply of electricity, despite the country’s huge investments in the sector.

In his remark, Kyari ‎provided detailed explanation into the nature of the investigation in the sector.

“A close look at the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution) calls for review of our policies in order to obtain optimum performances across the board. The abysmal performance of the generation segment is no longer news in view of the current deteriorating power supply, which hovers around 4,600 megawatts (mw) for a population of over 170 million people, despite the huge resources committed into it.

“This, compared with our contemporaries, is highly regrettable. No wonder so many companies have relocated from the shores of this nation, due to increasing cost of production.

“The issue of turn around maintenance, gas pipeline vandalism, just a mention but a few, are some of the teething problems bedeviling the sector. We must address it now in order to stem this destructive tide. The Committee will beam its searchlight in this direction to put things in proper perspectives.

“Having realised that the transmission segment is the major linkage between the generation and distribution fronts, increasing our capacity in this direction is also very necessary, since power produced must be utilised immediately. Deteriorating infrastructures in this segment must be addressed forthwith. The Committee attaches great importance to this and would work assiduously in ensuring that all these leakages or slippages in this area are brought to the front burner and dealt with.

“It is in line with this objective that the Committee would be seeking explanations from the Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the terms of their Management Contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the Company so far and the achievement recorded,” Kyari said.

On the distribution segment, Kyari said that the the Committee is desirous of ascertaining the level of funds committed into it before privatisation since the segment is currently solely private sector driven.

“It calls for vigilance as successor companies are expected to bring in investments to improve the quality of services in terms with the agreement. Signals emanating from their activities shows that excessive profiteering has been the major determinant of their decisions.

“It is on record that some of the distribution companies reject power load allocations to reduce cost. Their metering system calls for fundamental review, since the emphasis has been on estimated billings and imposition of fixed charges for services not rendered.

“There have been a lot of unwholesome practices by some of these companies, the Committee has to get down to the root of these problems especially where provisions have been made in the past through appropriation, prior to privatisation and funds were not properly utilised. We must find out what has brought us to this sorry state.

“The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was designed to fast track the improvement of electricity supply nationwide; hence, it was involved in project implementation across the gamut of the power chain. However, some of the power plants built have not been able to contribute meaningfully to the power generation through the national grid.

“The resources committed to these projects are enormous and the Committee in keeping with its mandate, would be seeking for answers in order to chart the way forward. The Federal Ministry of Power, its departments and agencies and other key players within the power sector would be appearing before the Committee to provide needed information in order to achieve our laudable objectives.

“The second arm of the Committee’s mandate is in respect of the unbundling of the power sector, which was midwifed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The Committee would be seeking inputs from the establishment on the process of privatisation as it relates to funds committed to the privatisation process, funds generated, the settlement of laid off staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and successful bidders (companies) financial profile. Of importance is the need to verify why these companies are already asking for bail out/loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“This Committee is not out to witch hunt any person or organisation. We are on a fact-finding mission, and would pursue our mandate objectively,” Kyari declared.

Member representing Aba federal constituency of Abia state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossy Prestige has accused a private hospital, Holy Wounds Christian Hospital, Aba, of inflating the bills of injured traders of Ariaria International Market, treated by the hospital

The lawmaker, who mandated the hospital to forward the bill to him when he visited the injured at the hospital, lamented that the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Uchenna Anyanwu, has taken the opportunity to inflate the bills to the sum of N2.7 million, describing it as outrageous.

Prestige said that the bill which was made available to him by Anyanwu, was highly inflated because he (Anyanwu), thought that having promised to take care of the bills of the victims, he must pay any amount sent him.

The lawmaker who is a member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA), added that though he is not a medical practitioner, he is aware that operating and removing a bullet from a man’s foot cannot cost up to N600, 000. He maintained that he was annoyed at Anyanwu’s attempt to defraud him and won’t allow himself to be deceived to pay an outrageous bill.

“How can the Hospital say the cost of treating four victims is N2.7million which amounts to N675, 000 each? I’m not a medical practitioner, but everybody knows it is outrageous.”

When contacted, Anyanwu who is the Managing Director of Holy Wounds Christian Hospital accused the lawmaker of failing to fulfill his promise of offsetting the bills for the injured traders.

He refused to disclose the bill, but added that it is not outrageous if the nature of medical attention and drugs afforded the victims are considered.

Anyanwu further disclosed that when the treatment was completed and the victims due to be discharged, he sent text messages to the governor, the state commissioner of Police and Hon. Ossy Prestige because the victims want to go.

“My efforts to get in contact with these people have not been successful. But two days ago Hon. Ossy Prestige came here and told me that he cannot foot the bill anymore. That I should call the governor. He said that they were based on salary that the money is too much and beyond what he can handle. I do not want to disclose the bill openly because of security reasons. But I must assure you that the bill is too small for them to pay. It is so small that an individual can pay without raising alarm as Ossy Prestige has done.”

…Says President’s Action May Resurrect Biafra

A socio-political group known has South East Progressive Assembly(SEPA) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for shunning Ndigbo in the appointments so far made since he assumed office as President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces.

In a statement titled “President Buhari’s Appointment and Ndigbo” signed by Ebere Uzoukwa, president of SEPA and made available to newsmen, the group posited that the recent appointment of Secretary to Federal Government, Chief of Staff, Controller General of Customs and Immigration from the northern part of the country has clearly proven that President Buhari does not have any plan to include Ndigbo in his government.

SEPA, however warned that total exclusion of Ndigbo at the APC-controlled federal government may resurrect Biafra agitation by Ndigbo who are afraid that they are not wanted in Nigeria.

The statement reads: “The South East progressives Assembly (SEPA) has observed with dismay the lopsided and the glaringly non-federal character compliant appointments so far made by President Mohammed Buhari since he assumed office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The most recent appointment of the Secretary to Federal Government (SGF), Chief of Staff, Controller General of Customs, Controller General, Immigrations, as well as Senior Special Assistants on Legislative Matters (House of Representatives) from the northern part of the country has clearly proven that South East zone in the eyes of President Mohammad  Buhari, is not a component of Nigeria.

“Recall that President Buhari has vindictively disengaged about five persons from South East holding various plum positions at the federal establishments and hurriedly replaced them with his northern kinsmen. This is even as the furore generated by President Buhari over the alleged appointment of his cousin, Mrs. Amina Zakari and brother, Alhaji Daura as INEC acting chairman and Director of DSS respectively, is still raging in the political arena.

The deliberate exclusion of the South East from President Buhari- led federal government portends grave implications. First, the resurrection of Biafra agitation by majority of Ndigbo. Secondly, total rejection of APC in the South East. Thirdly, political and fatal downfall of some APC leaders in South East zone.

SEPA said it sympathizes with South East APC  political leaders in APC who not only campaigned vigorously for President Buhari, but risked their precious lives to prevent electoral manipulation and rigging from the zone that could have returned the former president to office.

“Also recall that His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha had predicted a better political deal for Ndigbo under the umbrella of the APC. According to him, Ndigbo could have settled for the Vice Presidency, Senate Presidency, Speaker of Federal House of Representatives or the National Chairman of the governing party.

“Having lost the above positions and even the APC principal positions in the

two-chamber National Assembly, Ndigbo were believed to have set their eyes on the SGF position with Dr. Ogbonna Onu highly favoured for the position. Today, President Buhari has not only disgraced and reduced his party leaders in the South East, but his lopsided northern dominated appointments have summarily excluded Ndigbo from his government.

“With over 25 appointments so far made by President Buhari without anyone from the South East, it is now glaring and incumbent on Ndigbo irrespective of party affiliation to return to the drawing board and probably rediscover themselves in the Nigerian political space. Finally, we wish to use this medium to sympathize with Igbo political leaders in South East especially Gov. Rochas Okorocha, Chief Ogbonna Onu, Chief Ben Apugo, Sen. Chris Ngige, Chief George Moghalu Dr. Nyerere Anyim, Barr. Okey Ezea, Sen. Osita Izunaso and many others. We dearly admonish them not to despair even in the face of President Buhari’s disappointment and obvious hatred for Ndigbo.”

Contrary to reports that the data from the card reader was automatically uploaded from the card reader to INEC ICT database in Abuja on election day, an Assistant Director in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Abimbola Oladunjoye, has disclosed that it took more than six weeks after the governorship election of April 11 for the information to be uploaded.

At the resumption of hearing of the petition brought by APC’s Ortega Emerhor against the election of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as Delta State governor at the State Election Tribunal, Mrs Oladunjoye shocked the court when she told the court that “we had data upload span over about six weeks after election.” S

She further raised doubts about the integrity of the INEC ICT Unit when she told the Tribunal that the unit was manned by twelve different people with each person having their individual passwords. The INEC Assistant Director then presented two different results on the Delta Governorship election obtained from the ICT server in Abuja.

Under cross examination by Alex Iziyon (SAN), Counsel to Governor Okowa, Mrs Oladunjoye said the servers “were shut down in June” on the orders of the INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega even though the upload had not been concluded. The following dialogue then ensued between the counsel and the INEC Assistant Director who was called as witness by the APC.

Witness: About six weeks after the election, servers were shut down

Counsel: Did you reopen them again?

Witness: No, we did not.

Counsel: Can you remember the date of that shut down?

Witness: No

Counsel: As at that time had you finished your uploading?

Witness: I can’t say if information was still coming in as at that time.

Mrs Oladunjoye also told the Tribunal that “it was possible” all the results were not uploaded adding that she did not have information as to how “many card readers were transmitted and how many were not.” According to her, the card readers were necessary only for the “purpose of identification (to check the card brought by a person to the polling unit, verification (to verify that the card is an INEC authentic card, and authentication after the card has been verified.”

The INEC Director insisted that the card reader was “for authentication different from accreditation” which is done with the voters register. She told the Tribunal that “the number of PVS collected in Delta State is 1, 939,952”

The letter backing the deal, released Thursday, touted the signers’ pro-Israel bona fides, and said the agreement “halts the immediate threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.” Congressional rejection of the deal, the letter warned, would “put Iran back on the path to develop a nuclear weapon within two to three months.”

Its signatories include former Michigan Senator Carl Levin, and former Congressmen Barney Frank, Mel Levine, Steve Rothman and Robert Wexler.

“Military options remain on the table should Iran violate the agreement, while rejecting this deal would weaken the deterrent value of America’s military option,” the letter said. “We championed the U.S.-Israel alliance as members of the House and Senate, and we all strongly support this agreement because it will enhance the security of the U.S., the State of Israel and the entire world.”

Meanwhile 190 former generals signed a letter opposing the agreement.

President Obama is inching closer to lining up enough Democrats to prevent opponents from blocking the historic agreement.

Read more: http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/319860/11-jewish-ex-lawmakers-back-iran-deal/#ixzz3k5UbKM9Z