I never said Jonathan fought corruption in more civilised manner than Buhari — Falana

Femi Falana

Lagos-based senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has said he never suggested that immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, fought corruption in a more civilised manner than President Muhammadu Buhari as it is being claimed in some reports.

He said at no time during during his recent interview on Channels Television did he make such a suggestion.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Falana said the false claim is being spread by misguided fellows desperately seeking to “discredit the anti-corruption programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration”

He explained that although he said during the interview that the Jonathan administration recovered $970 million from the Abacha loot and sacked three of his ministers, he did not say those actions were “taken quietly as they were announced and celebrated in the media”.

He continued, “I was alleged to have “suggested” in an interview in the channels television, that President Jonathan fought corruption in a more civilised manner than President Buhari. I never made such a stupid statement.
Hence, the “suggestion” ascribed to me is grossly misleading and downright dishonest.

“In accusing the influential members of the National Peace Committee of gargantuan hypocrisy I did say that their chairman, General Abbdulsami Abubakar even probed the dead and recovered properties and over $1 billion from the Abacha loot which are contained in the Forfeiture Decree No 45 of 1999.

“I questioned the motive of the members of the National Peace Committee in calling for “soft landing” for corrupt people. Convinced that the call was a demonstration of class solidarity I urged the Buhari Administration not to be deterred in prosecuting the anti-corruption war.

“In fact, I did not hesitate in supporting President Buhari’s anti corruption policy by citing section 15 of the Constitution which has imposed a duty on the the Nigerian State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

Therefore he challenged those that twisted and manipulated his comments to produce the statement he made suggesting that President Jonathan fought corruption in a civilised manner.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko builds world's biggest yacht, The most super yacht ever made

The superyacht with masts taller than BIG BEN's tower and sails the size of a football field: Russian billionaire designs luxury vessel set to begin sea trials later this year

Sailing Yacht A is 468 feet long and has masts taller than Big Ben's tower

Mr Melnichenko invested €400 million (£292 million) to build the vessel

It features a massive 1.8 ton curved glass observation pod in the hull

It will have a crew of around 54 and is due to begin sea trials later this year

He is one of the world's richest men and known for being notoriously shy about how he spends his fortune.

But Andrey Melnichenko, the Russian billionaire and businessman, is set to rule the seas after building the world's largest luxury sailing yacht.

Dubbed Sailing Yacht A, the vessel is an astonishing 468 feet (143 metres) long and has three masts taller than the clock tower that houses Big Ben on the Houses of Parliament in London.

Sailing Yacht A (illustrated) will be the world's largest luxury sailing yacht when it is completed. It is about to undergo its first sea trials later this year with one mast before the others are attached. The vessel is expected to be packed with technology and will break boundaries in nautical engineering

The vessel, which cost Mr Melnichenko €400 million (£292 million or $451 million) to build, is one of the most advanced yachts of its kind.

Mr Melnichenko, however, is expected to recover some of the costs by licensing the technology developed for the vessel for commercial applications.

It is thought to build on the pioneering use of nautical engineering used in Mr Melnichenko's first luxury yacht, Motor Yacht A, which used a knife like hull shape to leave almost no wake.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO KEEP A SUPERYACHT ON THE WATER?
From Russian oligarchs to Middle Eastern royalty to Hollywood producers, it takes a certain type of person to own a superyacht - crucially, they must be super rich.

Andrey Milnichenko has invested $451 million into his new vessel Sailing Yacht A.

However, the initial cost is only part of owning such a luxurious vessel.

For wealthy owners like Roman Abramovich and UAE president Khalifa Al Nahyan, owners of two of the costliest private vessels in the world, the costs associated with keeping such big boats on the water are staggering.

Insurance company Towergate estimates that 10 per cent of the initial value of a superyacht goes on operating costs.

For Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich's Eclipse, a 162.5m vessel with a missile defence system that cost the billionaire an astronomical $500milion (£332), that means $50m (£33m) a year.

The standard fuel usage for a 71m yacht is 500 litres an hour, meaning an average of $400,000 (£265m) is spent on petrol every year per vessel.

The Value Added Tax (VAT) works out at 15-25 per cent of the vessel's value while docking costs are an average $350,000 (£232,000) and $240,000 (£159,000) the standard for insurance sees the costs soar.

Add to that the expected $1million (£664,000) per year for maintenance and repairs and the wages for an average $1.4m (£930,000) for an on-board crew - which can range from less than 20 to 154 staff on the Sultan of Oman's mysterious Al Said superyacht - and it's a significant outlay.

Sailing Yacht A has eight decks and its keel incorporates one of the largest single pieces of curved glass ever made, measuring 193 square feet and weighing 1.8 tons.

The glass is used to create an observation pod on the bottom of the vessel in part of the keel known as the skeg, where it extends backwards towards the rudder.

Each of its three masts tower more than 328ft (100 metres) above the water line and carry sails that when placed side-by-side are larger than a football field.

By comparison, the height of the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben is 314ft (96 metres).

The yacht, which Mr Melnichenko is thought to have named 'A' to ensure it is listed first in shipping registers, is due to begin its first sea trials later this year.

Initially it will be tested with one mast before the others are fixed in place.

It will dwarf other famous super-yachts like The Maltese Falcon, which is 298ft (88 metres) and weighs 1,367 tons.

By comparison, Sailing Yacht A will weigh 14,224 tons.

Mr Melnichenko was also keen to pack the yacht with the latest technology and sailing engineering.

He hired master ship designer Philippe Starck, who also created Motor Yacht A, to oversee the project.

Although it will have room for a crew of around 54, the yacht will have a high-tech digital control system operated using a touch sensitive sheet of black glass in the bridge.

This will allow the crew to raise and lower the sails and even drop the anchor with a brush of their fingers.

A spokesman for Mr Melnichenko told Mail Online: 'This project was a considerable financial risk for him as he had to fund massive R&D to see if he could achieve his vision.

'But he is a man to always push the boundaries and to challenge the industries he works with to think out of the box so he can achieve something new and exciting as well as beautiful.

'Sailing Yacht A is a monument to invention.'

With an 26ft (8 metres) keel and width of around 81 feet (24.88 metres), Sailing Yacht A had to be built in one of the largest shipyards in the world in Nobiskrug in Germany.

The vessel will dwarf other luxury yachts (illustrated) with a length of 468ft (143 metres) and masts that tower 328ft (100 metres) above the water line. It will also feature a helicopter pad and a glass observation pod

Andrew Melnichenko is known in the sailing world as a pioneering owner after he commissioned his first vessel Motor Yacht A, which featured a unique hull design for cutting through the water leaving little wake. His latest project Sailing Yacht A is expected to bring similar innovations to luxury motor sailing vessels

Each of the yachts masts tower more than 328ft (100 metres) above the water line. By comparison, Elizabeth Tower (pictured) 314ft (96 metres)

The masts were built by Magma Structures from carbon fibre and will be the largest and most highly loaded composite freestanding structures in the world.

The main mast is so large that it contains a small room inside.

Special booms also had to be built to hold the enormous sails, the largest of which is 19,019 square feet (1,767 square metres).

Hamburg-based GL Yachtverglasgun GmbH had to develop new techniques to create the glass hull and then tested it in Geneva in water up to 393 feet (120m) to ensure it could withstand the water pressure.

Boat International, which has been given exclusive access to Sailing Yacht A, said: 'Andrey Melnichenko is a man with exceptional vision.

'Where other yacht owners like to blend into the background, he wants his superyachts to push the boundaries of design, creativity and technology as well as make a statement.

'His first superyacht, Motor Yacht A, rocked the superyacht world with its radical design and now he's done it again.'

It will be powered by two diesel engines and two electric motors which drive five-bladed adjustable pitch propellers.

The vessel is expected to have a top speed of 21 knots (24mph) and to cruise under power at 16 knots (18mph) with an expected range of 5,320 nautical miles.

All the windows on the yacht have been designed to be flush while a helicopter pad has also been built onto the sixth deck of the yacht to drop off and pick up passengers.

Mr Melnichenko's first vessel, Motor Yacht A (pictured) used a unique hull shape to cut through the water and has been seen a ground-breaking piece of nautical engineering. It was fitted inside with Baccarat crystal and the latest technology, a kind of luxury expected to be replicated in Sailing Yacht 

The mail uk

Broken ties: Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian 'have turned their backs on Caitlyn as resentments boil following transgender reveal'

They express support for their transgender stepfather in front of cameras and on social media, but in private, it appears there could be a family divide.

Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian have 'turned their backs on Caitlyn Jenner' during the months following the 65-year-old's very public revelation of her female identity, according to the September 9 issue of Us Weekly.

Viewers recently saw snippets of Kim and Khloe's frustrations towards their father figure - formerly known as Bruce - on E!'s I Am Cait reality series, but now close family sources have shared: 'There's not a lot of love for Caitlyn.'

Family divided: Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian have 'turned their backs on Caitlyn Jenner,' according to a new report from Us Weekly

Not happy with the person who used to be Bruce Jenner: The sisters are not as close to the former Olympian

Despite sharing selfies with Jenner on August 9, the Kardashian klan have reportedly been feeling some animosity for Caitlyn since she confirmed her transition from male to female in April.

The underlying issues behind the family feud seem to be primarily due to the Vanity Fair cover story and her statements about ex-wife Kris Jenner, 59.

'Vanity Fair was the start of the downfall,' a source told the publication. 'It came out and they looked like idiots, they first saw the article on Twitter!'

Showing face: Mrs Kanye West 'posted this selfie with Caitlyn to show she won't let haters get the best of her' (posted on August 9)

Kim Kardashian, Caitlyn Jenner disagree on Vanity Fair story

Just going along with the show? The 31-year-old reality star also shared a selfie at the same family event

Caitlyn has garnered a meteoric rise to stardom with fans taking in her every word, including well-publicized bashings against the 59-year-old momager.

'The Kardashians were furious once they realized she took jabs at Kris, a lot of times she wasn't very nice,' an insider shared.

Adding: 'They are so incensed that they may be done with Caitlyn for good. Everyone has turned their backs on her.'

So much so that communication between the stepfather and the stepchildren has nearly stopped. Texts halted as Caitlyn distanced herself at her secluded Malibu estate.

Team Kris: Kim and her sisters continue to keep their alliance with their 59-year-old momager (pictured on August 25)

You didn't think Kim Kardashian was going to ditch her heels while she's pregnant, now did you? In fact, she's gone and stocked up on some new season sandals to see her through the next few months in style!

But she didn't get there first. In fact, we spotted her sister Khloe rocking these lace up sandals back in July! And it's easy to see why they're a family favourite. They have to be the most amazing heels we've seen in a while. And we obsess over shoes. A lot.

Separation: 'They are so incensed that they may be done with Caitlyn for good. Everyone has turned their backs on her,' said a source

'Caitlyn has this aura around her that she is better than them. The bad blood has led to a cease in communication,' a Kardashian confidant explained to Us.

With such positive reception from Hollywood A-listers such as Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, the reality show family believe Caitlyn's celebrity-centric lifestyle has gone to her head.

On the August 9 episode of I Am Cait, the parent-of-10 name-dropped Ellen DeGeneres to help her trans-friend Blossom raise awareness of the LGBT community with an appearance on the talk show host's 13th season.

For the cameras: The exes were spotted attending a birthday dinner for their youngest child Kylie Jenner in Malibu on August 7

'It's about my life': Caitlyn Jenner makes Vanity Fair debut

In the middle: Kendall and Kylie 'are stuck in the middle and have forgiven Caitlyn'

'The girls laughed. They made a joke that Caitlyn wouldn't have met Ellen if it weren't for them,' a source said.

Caitlyn is scheduled to appear on Ellen during the premiere week airing September 8.

'They feel Caitlyn needs to understand that the platform she has now, and her money, are because of Kris. She had nothing before Kris. Don't bite the hand that fed you.'

Making a name for herself: With such positive reception from Hollywood A-listers such as Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, the reality show family believe Caitlyn's celebrity-centric lifestyle has gone to her head

From the beginning: Caitlyn received loving support in the beginning stages of her transition seen here during her first Father's Day as a transgender woman

 The Mail UK

Football: Ronaldo named world’s most charitable sports star

Cristano Ronaldo

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world’s most charitable sports star after donating million of pounds to causes across the globe. Ronaldo topped DoSomething.org’s Athletes Gone Good 2015 list and beat the likes of John Cena, Serena Williams and Barcelona star Neymar. The former Manchester United winger has been recognised for his generosity – where he has raised money for various causes and used his global status as a spokesperson for charities.

Ronaldo is first having supported Aid Still Required, Cahonas Scotland, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list for going above and beyond on the field and in his charity work.

The futbol star raised money for various causes including donating more than $83,000 to a 10-year-old fan in need of brain surgery and giving more than $165,000 to fund a cancer center in Portugal that treated his mother,’ Dosomething.org said.

‘Ronaldo has also used his fame as a global spokesperson for a variety of causes including childhood hunger, obesity and biodiversity.’ Olympic diver Tom Daley was also listed alongside Ronaldo, Serena and LeBron James in the top 20 list. The 21-year-old, whose father lost his life to a brain tumour aged just 40, is a patron of The Brain Tumour Charity.

Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is third behind wrestler Cena as figure skater Yuna Tim and Neymar complete the top five. Daley, meanwhile, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share an image of his pet dog and said: ‘Nothing better than cuddles with MINCHI’

Top 20 charitable sports stars

1) Cristiano Ronaldo – Football

2) John Cena – WWE wrestling

3) Serena Williams – Tennis

4) Yuna Tim – Figure skater

5) Neymar – Football

6) LeBron James – Basketball

7) Heather O’Reilley – Football

8) Maria Sharapova – Tennis

9) Mo’ne Davis – Baseball

10) Richard Sherman – American football

11) Charlie White/Meryl Davis – Figure skater

12) Dan Carter – Rugby

13) Roman Reigns – WWE wrestling

14) Ronda Rousey – Judo

15) Lindsey Vonn – Skier

16) Tom Daley – Diver

17) Bethany Hanmilton – Surfer

18) Saina Nehwal – Badminton

19) Paul Rabil – Lacrosse player

20 Shahid Afridi – Cricket

Vanguard

Portharcourt Probe on monorail: How general swindled Rivers, by witness

•Amaechi

Witnesses at the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the sale of state property by a former administration in Rivers State yesterday told members how a retired brigadier-general allegedly defrauded the state of N11 billion through the controversial monorail project contract.

Former Governor Chibuike Amaechi was absent at the sitting and did not send any legal representation.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Stella Ebere Wigwe, and the Head of Department of Safety and Aviation in the ministry, Saya Antioch, made the allegation in their evidence at the hearing.

They told the members that a company belonging to a former military administrator entered into an agreement to complete the 21-kilometre Phase I of the monorail project, which covers between Station Road’s junction at the town axis to Air Force junction at Rumuomasi, for N50 billion.

The agreement was reportedly reached under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the state.

The state government was to contribute 20 per cent equity while the company would bring the remaining 80 per cent.

According to the witness, while the state complied with the payment of N11 billion, the company defaulted.

It allegedly opted out of the agreement after receiving the N11 billion, representing more than the agreed 20 per cent equity contribution.

Despite the development, the government continued with the project.

The government was said to have signed a consultancy agreement with ARCUS GIBB Nigeria Limited, a South African company (as project consultant only), while the government took full responsibility for the project.

Nigeria: The Army we presided over, by Badeh, Minimah

With a degree of candour, alien to military establishment in the country, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Kenneth Minimah gave Nigerians food-for-thought at their pull-out parades.

The duo said the Army their headed was inadequately kitted for modern operations.

In his validictory speech to a violence-weary nation, Air Chief Marshal Badeh said the military he headed lacked the equipment to do its job. He said at a pull-out parade organised in his honour last month: “Permit me to also add here that the nation’s militaries are equipped and trained in peace time for the conflicts they expect to confront in the future. Unfortunately, that has not been our experience as a nation.

“Over the years, the military was neglected and under-equipped to ensure the survival of certain regimes, while other regimes, based on advice from some foreign nations, deliberately reduced the size of the military and underfunded it.

“Unfortunately, our past leaders accepted such recommendations without appreciating our peculiarities as a third world military, which does not have the technological advantage that could serve as force multipliers and compensate for reduced strength.

“Accordingly, when faced with the crises in the Northeast and other parts of the country, the military was overstretched and had to embark on emergency recruitments and trainings, which were not adequate to prepare troops for the kind of situation we found ourselves in.”

The ex-CDS was echoed by the immediate past COAS (Gen. Minimah) who admitted that he was “confronted with a decay in the service due to long periods of neglect the Army had suffered. “At the time he settled into office, there was spate of bombings across the country. Attacks on soft targets such as civilians and vulnerable communities were on the increase. The Armed Forces and security agencies appeared helpless to address the situation and sadly, the nation began to lose confidence in its army and military.

“The situation was no less grim in the Northcentral and Northwestern zones where armed bandits, cattle rustlers and militias held sway. The nation seemed to be heading towards the much publicised disintegration many had predicted would occur in 2015.

“A nation is as strong as its Armed Forces and the strength of the Armed Forces is in the quality of the individual soldier and his fighting spirit. Fighting spirit imbues him with confidence to stand up to the adversary rather than flee like we witnessed in the recent past, while adequate attention to his welfare demonstrates his nation’s commitment to his wellbeing and motivates him to sacrifice everything, including his life. Government must provide the necessary and right political environment to recruit, train, equip, kit and remunerate our servicemen,” he advised.

Nigeria: See profiles of new SGF, Chief of staff, others

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the following appointments:

SGF, ENGR. BABACHIR DAVID LAWAL

Engr. Babachir David Lawal

The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engr. Lawal hails from Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, north east of the country.

He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.

He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

CHIEF OF STAFF, ABBA KYARI

Abba Kyari

Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology.

He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years. He hails from Borno State in the north east of the country.

COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, HAMEED ALI

Hameed Ali

The new Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ali holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology.

He was military administrator of Kaduna State, north west of Nigeria from 1996 to 1998.

He is from Gombe State, north east of the country.

COMPTROLLER-GENERAL, NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE, MARTIN ABESHI


The new Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Martin Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State, north central zone of the country. He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller. His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

SSA ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MATTER (SENATE), ITA ENANG

Senator Ita Enang

Senator Ita Enang,was the immediate past Chairman, Rules and Business Committee of the 7th Senate of the National Assembly.

He hails from Akwa Ibom State. Until the last general election in March and April, he was a staunch member of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, now in the opposition.

He recently decamped to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

SSA ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MATTER (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)


Hon. Suleiman Kawu was a vibrant member of the 7th House of Representatives. He hails from Kano State and a staunch member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Nigeria: Buhari approves 65 licences for private refineries in his first 10 days in office

By Clara Nwachukwu

President Muhammadu Buhari

*Decision taken within 10 days in office

*DPR feigns ignorance
President Muhammadu Buhari has granted licences to 65 Nigerian companies to construct modular refineries.

The companies were selected from about 285 applications that were screened for the purpose.

Modular refineries are mini-refineries with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 barrels per day, bpd, which can be assembled and separated easily for enhanced performance and efficiency.

The decision to award Licence to Establish, LTE, which was taken within 10 days of his assuming office in June, may not be unconnected with his desire to see the increase in domestic refining capacity to meet local demand, thereby reducing huge import bills for subsidy.

Although the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the industry regulator, feigned ignorance of the development, one of the beneficiary companies confirmed to Vanguard that the measure is also meant to cushion the impact of crashing oil prices at the international market.

The shock is not only in the period the approvals were given, but also in the numbers granted considering the fact that 18 LTEs were granted in 2002, but only one of them had come on stream with just 1,000 barrels per day, bpd, capacity.

The refinery is operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, NDPR, which produces only automotive gas oil, AGO, popularly called diesel.

How approvals were granted
Chief Executive officer of the beneficiary company, who spoke in confidence, said the number was not unilateral, but “the mop up of all applications for private refining since 2007.”

He admitted that the process took a period of six months, dating back to former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, adding “the process was rigorous as they looked at many issues including, land, investment, technical competence, design and a host of many others.”

He added that licences were offered on a two-year tenure, after which it will elapse, and that “the beauty of these awards is that there was no lobbying, as the whole exercise followed due process.”

In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with the high number of awardees, arguing that “for a country like Nigeria, the more in-country capacity, the better for us, because in a falling oil price regime, the more you refine, the more value you add and the more revenue you earn from your crude.”

DPR guidelines

A top management staff of DPR, when contacted, simply told Vanguard on telephone: “I am not aware of any such huge approval.”

When prodded further, he added: “What I know is that DPR recently released guidelines for the establishment of refineries, and we had road shows in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, to sensitise investors.”

Ordinarily, there are three levels of approval for setting up private greenfield (new) or modular refineries in the country.

They are Approval to Establish, LTE; Approval to Construct, ATC, and Licence to Operate, LTO.

An investor must overcome the requirements in each level of approval before proceeding to the next, as shown in the guidelines.
DPR had explained that the guidelines for the establishment of modular refineries in Nigeria was configured with the aim of shortening the approval time for licensing of refineries.

To woo investors to the project, DPR also reduced the licensing fee for new refineries from $1 million to $50,000. Government is desirous of refining at least 50 percent of its crude output in-country, not only to reduce import dependence, but also be an exporter of refined petroleum products.

Challenges

Also confirming the development, a petroleum expert from the Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Profesor Chijioke Nwaozuzu, said he was more concerned with the challenges for establishing such refineries.

According to him, such challenges are tied to political, land, funding, crude feedstock and market availability.

He said: “These refineries are going to be located mainly in the Niger Delta, and the state governments may want to get involved because it is a high revenue earner, which grants only 28 days credit cycle.

“Also, refinery requires huge land, and there may be issues with acquisition from the land owners and to cap it all, refinery of any capacity requires huge capital. You need at least $30,000 per barrel, which is a huge sum even for a 1,000kbpd refinery.”

Feedstock… as in power sector
Furthermore, he noted that if Federal Government does not guarantee feedstock for those who complete the approval cycle, Nigeria may have a repeat of what happened with the initial 18 licences granted in the past.

Nwaozuzu, urged government to guarantee feedstock to the refineries, as it is doing with the existing 445,000 combined capacity four refineries, in addition to also guaranteeing the off-take of the products for the local market.

He noted that “if there is no guaranteed market, we will face a similar situation like what is happening in the power sector, where meter manufactures have manufactured millions of meters, but the distribution companies refused to take them.”

Also, in the area of funding, he noted that “some modular refining equipment manufacturers in the US can partner with the licencees by contributing their equipment as equity investment in the project, while some can work with the US Export-Import, EXIM, Bank to finance their equipment.

“However, the bank will need government collateral or guarantees.”

… on incentives
Against this backdrop, he urged government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to provide such collaterals for ease of take off for the refineries.

Besides these guarantees, he suggested other incentives to boost the modular refining operations to include guarantee of 100 percent crude oil feedstock for all refiners for at least 10 years; discounted price of crude oil for domestic consumption; a minimum of 60 days credit for each cargo of crude oil, at least for the first five years of operations; supply of crude feedstock should commence as soon as DPR can certify mechanical completion of each new plant.

Others are guarantee of 100 percent refined products off-take by government (NNPC); government guarantee of foreign loans for domestic companies wishing to set up refineries; plants should be granted tax exemption for at least three years from date of commencement of operations;plants should be exempt from import and export duties and value-added tax, VAT, for at least five years; plants should enjoy accelerated capital allowance of about 95 percent and the percentage of assessable profit for the purpose of capital allowance recovery should be 70 percent at most.

Experts’ views
Other industry experts also noted that “these mini-refineries will not only reduce or even eliminate Nigeria’s dependency on imported products, subsidy and traffic congestion, it will also revive the local economy, make roads to last longer and be safer, and return Nigeria to exporting refined petroleum products.”

They added that such refineries are already in operation in many countries of the world, including Africa.

One of them said: “While Senegal runs one with a 27,000bpd capacity, Cameroon has one with 42,600bpd; Congo, 21,000bpd; Niger Republic, 20,000bpd; Chad, 20,000bpd; Zambia, 34,000bpd, and Gabon, 25,000bpd.”

Besides, they pointed out that “a few African countries are refining to meet their needs through the regular and modular refinery models.

“Apart from oil-producing countries like Algeria and Libya, which refine 499,000bpd and 380,000bpd, respectively, South Africa and Egypt also do same with 626,500bpd and 1,102,550bpd, respectively.”

Vanguard

Lagos: Ambode shifts reforms to councils, may sack 57 Exec Secs

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Gov. Ambode

There are strong indications that the on-going restructuring and reforms in the Lagos State Civil Service will soon be extended to the 20 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs in the state.Presently, the affairs of the councils are being managed by Executive secretaries appointed in the twilight of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration to replace the former chairmen after the expiration of their tenure, pending the conduct of fresh election.

The implication of this is that the 57 executive secretaries may be replaced by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in order to conduct a credible election into the offices, considering the fact that Ambode’s reforms have been characterized by several replacements of heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.

It is instructive to note that Ambode, at a recent public function, had pledged to embark on local government reforms with the aim of making the 57 councils more responsive to the needs of the people.

The governor, who made the remarks during a parley with members of the various Community Development Associations, CDAs, Community Development Councils, CDC and other stakeholders, said the intention of his administration was to give governance back to the people in line with his objective of running an all-inclusive government.

Inclusive government

He said his administration’s commitment to make community governance the spring board for economic and social development in the state, prompted the establishment of a Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs which has thus placed community development in the heart of its policy formation.

The career civil servant governor, upon assumption of office, set up a Local Government Reform Committee headed by Mr. Nurudeen Adeyinka Ojora-Adejiyan in a bid to reposition the councils’ system for better service delivery and ensure even development and synergy in governance in the State.

The committee, after deliberations, urged the state government to cascade major reforms of the state public service to the local government level. The committee was mandated to examine the structure and current practice of local government administration in the state, identify factors militating against optimum performance and quality service delivery by local governments and examine the modalities for instituting inter service exchange of staff, knowledge and skills between the state and local government services.

In his comment at the presentation of the report to the Head of Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji, Ojora-Adejiyan disclosed that the committee made very starling findings that revealed that local government system had become a shadow of itself, grappling with structural, funding and administrative problems.

The committee therefore, called for a review of local government administration law and other laws regulating the operations of local government in the state. It also called for a functional template to assess the performance of local governments based on available resources and context of operations to be evolved for local government system.

The committee also discovered that there was inadequate community participation characterized by seeming disconnection between the communities and managements of local government which has created a huge service gap with on adverse effect on its service delivery capacity to the people.

Execution of policies

“We however, recommend that local governments should as a matter of policy involve community development associations and other stakeholders from the planning to execution of policies and projects, thus ensuring that the yearnings and aspirations of the people are met the committee chairman said.

The committee came up with the recommendations, following cutting edge consultations with inputs of critical stakeholders. Furthermore, in order to curb fraudulent acts in the local government system, the committee recommended strict sanctions on any officials and local government personnel found culpable.

Ojora said: “There is no doubt that Ambode will make positive use of this as he understands the place of the Local Government in governance and had met with Executive Secretaries to sensitize them on the various reforms going on in the state and the need to bring everyone on board as the reform is critical for even development and progress.”

Presently, the state governor is critically looking at the recommendation of the committee aimed at ensuring prompt implementation for the benefit of the people.

Tour of 57 councils: To this end, last week, Ambode concluded plans to embark on a tour of the 57 local governments in the state, saying it would afford him the opportunity to listen to the challenges of the people first hand and address them accordingly. “We believe strongly that we should scale up community governance in this state. It is more about communities, its more about our people and what they want,” he said.

Lagos assembly on budget template for 57 councils

Lagos State House of Assembly, recently, fashioned out a standard budget template for all the 20 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs), in the state. The House, through the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, had earlier approved the 2015 budget estimates for LGs/LCDAs, following the report of a 7-man Ad-hoc Committee.

The committee which was inaugurated on June 18, 2015, and chaired by Hon Rotimi Abiru, submitted its findings to the House on July 30, 2015. Members of the Committee include: Bisi Yusuff, Yinka Ogundimu, Adekanye Oladele, Mojeed Fatai, Lawal Mojisola Lasbat and Alimi Kazeem. The 7th Legislative Assembly had earlier, mandated its house committee to carry-out the exercise in consonance with Section 3 of the Local Government Council Committee Law, 2007, which states inter alia that:

Estimates of revenue

“The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Local Government in accordance with the provisions of Sections 33, 34 and 40 of the Local Government (Administration) Law. Provided that with respect to the preparation of annual estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Local Governments, such shall be laid before the House of Assembly for debate and approval.”

Based on the above law the committee swung into action but could not conclude the assignment before the dissolution of the House on Monday, 1st June, 2015. The findings of the committee, revealed that most LGAs and LCDAs in the state performed poorly in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), hence, their reliance on Federal Allocation.

That the overhead estimate of the LGAs and LCDAs in the state were bloated to the detriment of the capital expenditure which does not augur well for development at the grass roots as well showing that the Councils do not have a uniform template for budget preparation. To this effect, the Ad-hoc committee chairman directed all the council representatives to appear with all the documents which include capital receipts, Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) from January till date, breakdown of the overhead cost, breakdown of teachers’ salaries and bank statements.

Abiru said the purpose of the exercise was to prepare a uniform template for the councils. He therefore, urged councils to give priority to capital expenditure that would enhance physical development at the grassroots.

PDP reacts

Meantime, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos chapter had accused Ambode, of planning to delay the yet-to-be conducted local council elections in the state. PDP had claimed that the All Progressives Congress-led government in Lagos was not interested in conducting elections into the local government councils. Its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, also accused the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, of working with the APC to delay the polls.

The statement said, “The Lagos State chapter of the PDP has reiterated her conclusion that the APC government in Lagos is not popular among the electorates, especially for any grass roots elections and as such deliberately frustrating the conduct of local council polls long overdue since October 2014.

“The PDP has at this time accused LASIEC as an electoral body which has exposed itself as an appendage of APC in the state and not at all independent in its decisions and administration.” According to Gani, Ambode was planning to delay the polls until after one year in office.

“The delay to conduct council polls in Lagos is deliberate to eventually give undue advantage to the APC. The defence put up by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters (who was quoted to have blamed the delay in the conduct of the council polls on the Independent National Electoral Commission claiming that the electoral body has not concluded the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards and thus the polls cannot be conducted at this time) is preposterous, repulsive and clearly an indication that APC will turn out to be a party of impunity and inconsistencies,” he said.

The Lagos PDP’s spokesman further alleged that the state’s councils were operating contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. “This is an aberration to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees only democratically elected local government administration. The APC is unpopular and thus avoiding any grass roots election,” Gani said.

NCP sues Lagos INEC on failure to hold LGs poll

The national Conscience Party, NCP, had taken the state government to court over the delay in the conduct of LGs poll. The case number LD/318MJR/15, NCP/Lagos INEC which was filed before Hon Justice A.M Lawal, sitting at the foyer court 53, Lagos High Court, Igbosere was later adjourned for hearing to sometime in October, 2015. Adeleke Akele, a chieftain of NCP, however expressed optimism that justice will be done at the hearing by the court.

Vanguard

Politics: APC may fail, PDP not an alternative – Okupe

Okupe: Mind my roar

Snr special assistant to former president Jonathan (public affairs), Doyin Okupe has described both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its counterpart All Progressives Congress, APC as two sides of the same coin saying that APC may fail but PDP will not be an acceptable alternative to majority of Nigerians now or in future.

Okupe made the remarks in a statement he published on his Facebook account on Thursday on the necessity for PDP to reform itself as political party.

Read his full statement

It was a great news to hear the formation of a body to drive the mobilisation of members of the pdp under the distinguished leadership of High Chief Dokpesi.
I personally felt good that at last some people were thinking of the future of the party.

However I sincerely do not think mobilisation is the immediate thing the Pdp needs now.

The party has suffered very serious bashing if not bastadisation from the sustained avalanche of assaults from the gigantic propaganda machinery of the now ruling party the APC.

The credibility of the party as a veritable political alternative to the APC has been nearly irreparably damaged.

Some of the recent disclosures and more that may come up from the impending probes will further damage the national acceptability of the party.
At the end of the day the APC may not meet up the expectations of Nigerians or may in fact fail out rightly over time but the pdp as it is presently constituted will not be an acceptable alternative to majority of Nigerians now or in future.

The APC and the pdp has become two sides of the same coin. No clear philosophy. No ideology or central motivating theme. No clear policy objectives. No true leadership. No defining party character or style. Only contestants, aspirants and office seekers No party discipline, pedigree or ethics..

The truth is that some people put together a strong coalition to wrestle power from the military. That coalition gave birth to pdp which held the power for 16years until some other people put up another coalition for the sole purpose of wrestling power from pdp. This they successfully did in march 2015.

The time has come for the PDP, if it must remain politically relevant, to total overhaul and REFORM itself, engage Nigerians in a new coalition for the sole purpose of putting our dear country on the true path to the true, real and the enduring change that will once and for all establish us as a major global player. Not pretenders that we presently are.

The PDP must reform lest it dies, God forbids, a painful and insidious death.

Vanguard

Taxi driver picks up a shiny penny and instantly wins £1.8 million

Happy days for Sean Lloyd (Picture: Gareth Jones Photography/Camelot/PA Wire)

‘Find a penny, pick it up, and you’ll win the lottery.’

That isn’t quite how the saying goes, but it worked for taxi driver Sean Lloyd, who won £1.8 million after picking up a shiny coin.

The 48-year-old believes his luck came from the penny he found moments before buying the jackpot ticket.

In total he won £1,804,955 on a Lotto quadruple rollover.

The witty Sean immediately called up his colleague and said: ‘Can you cover my shifts – for the rest of my life.’

Sean’s wishing well comes complete with a fountain and a replica of his lucky penny (Picture: Ross Parry)

Having been able to buy his dream home in Ashton, near Manchester with his wife, Sean now hopes his lucky penny will bring good fortune to his friends and family as well.

But he is doing more than that to help them – he has built a ‘wishing well’ in the garden of his new

‘Since finding the penny, and the lottery win, I have kept the penny safe in my wallet and often rub it on other lottery tickets I’ve bought as well as lending it to friends,’ he said.

‘It is still proving to be lucky – I’ve had lots more smaller wins since the big one earlier this year.’

The dad-of-three, who also has five grandchildren, treated his large family as well after the win, by taking them all on a ‘holiday of a lifetime’.

Metro

BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian Ambassador To The U.S. Ade Adefuye Is Dead

Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Adebowale Adefuye

Mr. Adefuye died at a yet to be disclosed hospital in the US

A former professor of history, Mr. Adefuye was in 2010 appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s ambassador in the US. An outspoken person and fierce defender of Nigeria, the deceased diplomat tackled critics of Nigeria in the US. He vociferously lobbied against Nigeria’s classification as “a country of interest” in America’s terrorism watch list.

Mr. Adefuye hailed from Ijebu-Igbo in 1947, and studied at the University of Ibadan where he earned his first degree in 1969 as well as a PhD in history in 1973. He also received a Fulbright Fellowship that enabled him to do research work at Columbia University, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Ambassador Adefuye, who wrote several history texts, taught at the University of Lagos, earning a professorship and heading the History Department 1985 to 1987.

Prior to his appointment to Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington, DC, Mr. Adefuye served as his country’s ambassador to Jamaica (where he was concurrently accredited to Haiti and Belize) from 1987 to 1991. In 1991, he was appointed Nigeria’s Deputy High Commissioner in the U.K., leaving to work for fourteen years as a Deputy Director at the Commonwealth. On leaving the Commonwealth, the former professor accepted a position as an advisor at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

Mr. Adefuye was recalled to Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President. He was still waiting to hand over to a new ambassador when he suddenly died today.

This couple had a weed tent at their wedding and it was smokin’

High there (Picture: Getty images/ METRO/ Mylo)

In the words of Snoop: ‘Smoke weed every day.’

A couple from California have hit a new high in the world of pothead weddings.

Not content with a cheeky post-ceremony spliff, John Elledge and Whitney Alexander had a purpose built weed tent at their nuptials in Oregon last month.

Like an alcohol bar, the weed tent had a variety of different types of weed – 13 different strains to be precise – as well as a dedicated ‘budtender’ to advise people on the perfect pot for them.

The move may seem risky, but John – who works as a professional marijuana grower in California (yes, that’s actually a real legal job there now) – told USA Today: ‘We were shocked, utterly shocked at the response, people loved it.

‘I’m still getting 15 to 20 texts a day from people saying what a life changing event that was and what a great experience it was to have a smoke tent there.’

And he confirmed that guests of all ages got in on the action, saying: ‘The oldest person we had in the tent was an 81-year-old woman who hadn’t smoked weed since the ‘60s. She loved it.’

Nora Sheils, owner of Bridal Bliss who planned the wedding, said: ‘People either love it – they think it’s such a fun idea, or hate it – they think it’s just disgusting.’

No prizes for guessing which side we’re on.

Metro

Teacher jailed for filming 104 days worth of indecent footage with school spy cameras

Jonathan Thomson-Glover (Picture: PA)

A former boarding school teacher who filmed dozens of pupils using hidden cameras set has been jailed for more than three years.

Jonathan Thomson-Glover, 53, who taught at Clifton College in Bristol, admitted 36 counts of making, taking and possessing indecent images of children.

Taunton Crown Court heard 130 victims were filmed by secret cameras at the school and an address in Cornwall over a 16-year period.

Thomson-Glover recorded more than 2,500 hours of footage to spy on pupils aged around 12 to 17 as they engaged in sexual activity and used the bathroom.

One of the hidden cameras the teacher placed at the school (Picture: PA)

He was caught after the National Crime Agency (NCA) traced an IP address used for downloading indecent images of children to one of his four computers.

Police then discovered footage of pupils on his computers, as well as 330 VHS tapes and a number of Hi-8 tapes found at three addresses relating to him.

There is no suggestion Thomson-Glover, who described his filming as ‘a compulsion fuelled by the internet’, shared his footage or made physical contact with pupils.

His IP address was traced by police (Picture: PA)

Judge David Ticehurst jailed the teacher, who bowed his head throughout proceedings, for three years and nine months.

‘This activity took place while you were a highly respected and trusted teacher at a school in Bristol,’ the judge said.

‘You set up concealed cameras so as to enable you to watch and record the intimate and private acts of young boys and girls.

The footage lasted 104 days (Picture: PA)

‘Time, money and effort would have been spent by you in setting up these cameras and recording devices.

‘The planning would have to have been meticulous – extreme care would have been taken by you to avoid the risk of detection.’

Thomson-Glover was first arrested at his parents’ house in Cullompton, Devon, in August 2014, following the NCA investigation.

The haul of tapes and DVDs (Picture: PA)

Searches were carried out at the home, the address in Cornwall and his term-time address at Clifton College.

Hundreds of VHS tapes were seized, as well as laptops, hard drives and discs, leading to officers discovering footage taken from covert cameras.

This footage, lasting 104 days, matched ten scenes across Clifton College and the Cornwall address – with marks found where cameras had been installed.

The college said it was shocked by the discovery (Picture: PA)

A spokeswoman for Clifton College said the discovery of Thomson-Glover’s activity had been ‘profoundly disturbing’.

‘We have been shocked and appalled by the findings, which amount to an unforgivable breach of the trust placed in him by our community,’ she said.

‘The college has taken considerable steps to ensure, so far as it is possible to do so, that nothing like this can ever happen again.’

She said a series of reviews, including an external safeguarding review, had been carried out as well as physical searches of college buildings but no cameras had been found.

‘These revelations have shocked us all and we are determined that if there are any further lessons to be learned, we will learn them,’ the spokeswoman added.

Metro

U.K Transport: Public transport in London is the most expensive in the world

It’s the most expensive in the world – and we have to put up with this! (Picture: Getty Images)

London has the most expensive transport fares in the world, according to research carried out by the campaign team of Labour mayoral hopeful Dame Tessa Jowell.

Tube users pay more than double what the residents of any other major city in the world pays except Washington, according to the study.

The investigation revealed that a zone one to six fare costs more than three times the equivalent ticket in New York and four times more than Paris.

This is on top of the fact that London’s roads are the most congested of any city in Europe.

A zone 1-6 single fare in London is...

…Three times the cost of a comparable fare in New York (costing $2.75 or £1.76)

Four times the cost of a comparable fare in Paris (€1.80 or £1.28)

More than 4 times the cost of a comparable fare in Tokyo (¥240 or £1.24) or Singapore ($2.50 or £1.16).

Eight times more expensive than Shanghai (¥6, £0.61) and more than ten times more expensive than Moscow (£0.50).

The daily cap on pay as you go in London is more than double its equivalent in Paris (€7, £4.96), more than five times more than its equivalent in Hong Kong ($26, £2.17) and more than 6 times its equivalent in Shanghai.

Ms Jowell has promised to freeze the fare if she’s elected Mayor (Picture: John Stillwell/PA Wire)

Ms Jowell, who has promised to freeze transport fares across the capital’s transport network, said: ‘London is now the most congested city in Europe. That is bad for London’s economy and bad for health.

‘More affordable public transport is therefore important for many interconnected reasons. It’s time Londoners are given a break from ever rising prices.

‘If I become the next Mayor of London I will freeze fares as a first step and hope to go further. I’ll introduce One Zone Weekends and one hour bus tickets to help Londoners get round our city.’

The research compared fares in London with a list of the world’s top 20 cities that have a metro system.

A peak time pay as you go single in London from zone one to six costs £5.10 and the daily price cap is £11.70. The study found that the next most expensive city is Washington DC where the highest fare would set you back £3.79 while a day ticket costs £9.32.

Metro

This mum and daughter have spent £56,000 earned through stripping to look like Katie Price, but has it worked?

(Picture: New Dog Media)

Georgia Clark, 38, and her daughter Kayla Morris, 20, have spent a whopping £56,000 to look exactly like Katie Price.

While the ‘exactly’ isn’t quite there, the pair say they’re the ‘closest we’ve ever been’ to looking like their idol’, although they’re still planning on spending thousands on butt-lifts and nose jobs to complete their looks.

Kayla has entirely funded the duo’s transformation, earning the cash through stripping and getting herself a sugar daddy.

(Picture: New Dog Media)

The obsession with the glamour model began when Georgia spotted her on page 3. She then encouraged Kayla to idolise her too, and was thrilled when at the age of 11 Kayla started to talk about wanting boob surgery because ‘I always wanted her to be that way.’

Georgia, before her transformation (Picture: New Dog Media)

During her teens, Kayla would spend her pocket money on manicures and fake eyelashes, and at the age of 14 her mum bought her hair extensions. When she reached the legal age for surgery she decided she needed to find a way to fund it, and began stripping at a club for £1,300 a week.

She then found a ‘sugar daddy’ in his late 50s who agreed to pay her £800-a-week.

‘We swapped numbers and chatted for a while. I told him about the surgery that I wanted and we came to an arrangement where he paid me £800 per week.’

(Picture: New Dog Media)

Kayla entirely funded both hers and her mum’s beauty treatments with the hand outs. They’ve had regular botox, boob jobs, teeth whitening and semi-permanent makeup.

Georgia said of her daughter: ‘When Kayla told me that she wanted a boob job and plastic surgery, I was glad because I wanted her to be that kind of person. I’m so proud of her.’

She also doesn’t mind how she pays for it all.

‘I don’t mind her having a sugar daddy or stripping to pay for our cosmetic work because we’re living the dream.’

(Picture: New Dog Media)

They annually spend £5,000 on their beauty upkeep, including sun beds, lip injections, hair extensions, cheek fillers, the Mail Online reports.

‘My mum is my best friend,’ says Kayla. ‘I love treating her to plastic surgery and getting closer to our dream of looking more like Katie Price. I love the way we look now.’

(Picture: New Dog Media)

The pair say their surgeries have helped them ‘bond’. The obsession started when Georgia began watching Katie Price’s reality show having spotted her on page 3, and fell in love with the model’s look and lifestyle.

‘I had four kids and was focused on being a normal mum. I fell into a rut and my looks were the least of my priorities.’

The pair now watch episodes of the reality show on repeat, have read all of her books, and have bought tickets to see her.

(Picture: New Dog Media)

So far the spend on beauty treatments has included £5,000 on a boob op for Kayla, £20,000 on sunbeds five times a week, £6,300 on hair extensions, £3,900 on regular lip fillers and £5,760 on manicures, with more going on other hair treatments, teeth whitening and semi-permanent make-up.

(Picture: New Dog Media)

However, they’ve hit a snag – the wife of Kayla’s sugar daddy has since found out, so she’s now on the look out for a new one.

Metro