•Buhari’s wife, Gaidam back establishment of development commission Commission

From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara yesterday said years of insurgency in the North East contributed to the level of poverty in the region.

Speaking at the opening of a public hearing on North East Development Commission Establishment Bill, Dogara said the commission became necessary in order to coordinate the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the region.  The bill, sponsored by Dogara, passed Second Reading in the House on December 15, 2015. 

Meanwhile, wife of the president, Aisha and Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam declared support for the commission’s establishment.

Her position was contained in a memorandum she personally presented at yesterday’s public hearing.  “I believe that for rapid development to come to the region, a concerted and organised effort must be made. I am Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and I support the NEDC bill 100 percent.”

On his part, Ibrahim Gaidam, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Lamin, called for the headquarters of the commission to be cited at the state capital, Damaturu.

Lamin said Damaturu was better suited for the headquarters as it is more central for administrative purposes  “Yobe State ,with headquarters in Damaturu, has minimal federal presence in terms of provision of infrastructure and socio-economic development compared to the older states like Adamawa, Bauchi, and Borno.”

The bill seeks to charge the commission with the responsibility to “receive and manage funds from the allocation from the federation account and international donors for the settlement, rehabilitation and  reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises of victims of insurgency.”


FG trains 800 repentant Boko Haram members –NEMA

•Mulls amnesty for insurgents

From Fred Itua, Abuja

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, has disclosed how 800 repentant Boko Haram members are now undergoing skill acquisition training.

The NEMA boss who stated this at a two-day public hearing on the North-East Development Commission Bill, 2016, said the skill acquisition exercise is being handled by the military and monitored by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Sidi did not say where the exercise is taking place.

He disclosed this in response to a comment from a former member of the House of Representatives, Kaka Kyari Gujbawu, who canvassed general amnesty for returning Boko Haram insurgents.

“It is not true that the Federal Government has no amnesty package. There is what is called safe corridor. I do know that 800 plus (Boko Haram) have been registered. I don’t want to be specific. They have exited Boko Haram through the window. They are currently receiving various skill sacquisition training. The military is handling it. It is being monitored by the Office of the CDS,” he said.

Hon. Gujbawu had, in his presentation at the event, said the NEDC Bill should include amnesty for repentant Boko Haram because most the insurgents were conscripted and forced to fight along Boko Haram members. He said a second life should be given to the repentant insurgents.

Chairman, Joint Committee on the bill, Senator Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako assured that the panelwould consider the amnesty aspect “critically” as well as discuss with the Executive on the issue.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who declared the public hearing open noted that what had been witnessed in the North East demanded special attention from all well-meaning Nigerians and not just from government.

“We must all rise up and say never again. We have seen families wiped out, children orphaned, incomes plunged below a tenth of what they were a decade ago…,” he said.

“Families that have survived this onslaught have largely survived with little to live by and now rely directly on handouts for food rations.

Nyako said that it is only after such critical consideration that the committee would determine whether amnesty would party of the Bill.

He acknowledged the motion against the insurgency that was moved by Senator Thompson Sekibo and 40 others as part of the off-shoot of the Bill.

He said that the NEDC Bill was sponsored by 18 Senators of the North East zone across party lines led by the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammad Ali Ndume.

Nyako added that Nigerians should come to terms with the alarming fact that the North East zone is rapidly deteriorating as a result of the insurgency that began in 2009.

He said: “We often consider death as the most noticeable effect of this insurgency, but we need to look at our current situation holistically.

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“Hundreds if not thousands of schools have been reduced to rubles; magistrates courts that used to resolve communal conflicts have been destroyed; hospitals and small clinics that used to treat nursing mothers, children and the elderly are non-existent, police and law enforcement structures have been demolished; homes, markets, public parks and community centers are completely ruined; women, men and children fleeing their homes have been forced to take shelter in completely foreign  communities; our fellow brothers and sisters have been murdered, tortured, raped, dehumanized and rendered homeless.”

On his, Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno North) noted that the Borno State Government was already doing something for the Civilian JTF.

He noted that the state government has trained them under the supervision of the military and provided vehicles and uniform for the group. Kyari also said that the state government is paying stipends to members of the Civilian JTF out of its meager resources.

He noted that it would wrong to say that nothing is being done for the members of the Civilian JTF.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who inaugurated the Public Hearing, noted that what had been witnessed in the North East demanded special attention from all well meaning Nigerians and not just from government.

He said: “We must all rise up and say never again. We have seen families wiped out, children orphaned, incomes plunged below a tenth of what they were a decade ago.

“Families that have survived this onslaught have largely survived with little to live by and now rely directly on handouts for food rations.

“More than a quarter of the children in this area are either malnourished or in danger of malnourishment. Schools have become deserted and the social fabric of our national unity severely perforated in this area, threatening to create deep set divisions amongst us, fueling animosities amongst Muslims and Christians, leading to the entire economy of the region bleeding profusely.

  “It is in this unique and dire context that we must appreciate the importance and urgency for us as a legislature and government to act, to restore hope and rebuild the North East.”

Saraki said that for members of the 8th National Assembly, the Bill is more than a National priority, because “ it reflects our mandate to make laws for the good governance, peace and security of the entire country.”

He said: “The effort at this bill therefore, is aimed at creating the legislative framework to enable government provide the basic structures and capacities that will enable it rebuild the North East.

“It will also provide an avenue for external collaborators such as international development agencies to make effective contributions towards the region; further ensuring internal stability, a base for restoration, rehabilitation and conflict resolution.

“All the aforementioned are crucial not only for the sustained futures of the people of the North East but also for the country as a whole.

“This is a peculiar time in our history. Thankfully we can talk about rebuilding due to the remarkable bravery, patriotism and courage of our Armed Forces who continue to take the fight back to the Boko Haram who have now largely retreated to sporadic soft attacks. We are therefore here to show solidarity to their gallantry and act like leaders of a united and indivisible nation.

“However, we must not forget that this war against terrorism cannot be won by might but through the hearts and minds of citizens who are certain that they have a secure and guaranteed place within the fabric of our society and thus choose to live and act in harmony towards collective growth. Thus, in making a conscious, collective decision to focus development efforts in this region, we are fostering a strong sense of place and rebuilding a positive, shared identity.

“It is my firm hope that your contributions to this public hearing would further enrich the bill, deepen our discussion at Senate plenary and help provide us the missing links if any towards the process of giving back hope, belief and optimism to our people that wherever they may be, their welfare and security will remain the central purpose of government.

“I urge you to make haste in bringing this Bill to pass. Every day we wait to take legislative action, we delay the opportunities that ought to abound within and from the North East.”

Ends…

It said this gave negative margin of N3.95 billion after considering overhead of N6.87 billion.

The report also said that a total of N85.66 billion was collected as sales revenue from white products sold by PPMC in the month of March 2016 compared with N85.23 billion collected in the previous month.

“Total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period April 2015 to March 2016 stands at N775.90 billion where PMS contributed about 88.85 per cent of the revenues collected with a value of N689.41 billion.”

The NNPC recorded total export proceeds of $170.12 million in the month under review with crude oil export accounting for $98.31 million, while gas export accounted for $71.81 million.

On dollar payments to Joint Venture Cash Call, it said total export proceeds of $141.87 million were recorded in March this year consisting of crude oil receipt of 88.36 million dollars.

It added that Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, and Escravos Gas to Liquid, EGTL, recorded proceed of 1.52 million dollars and Miscellaneous receipts amounting to 51.99 million dollars.

“The drastic slump in total export receipt is largely due to shut in of about 300,000 barrel of oil per day (bopd) at Forcados Terminal following the force majeure declared by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on 15th February, 2016.

“Hence, all un-lifted February and March cargoes were deferred until the repair is completed.”