[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ndependent petroleum marketers in Lagos State have threatened to withdraw their services from December 11 over NNPC’s breach of bulk purchase agreement to sell fuel to them at N133.28k per litre. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Lagos State chapter, wednesday said it was set for a showdown with NNPC over irregular fuel supply at Ejigbo satellite depot.
The association said its members had been running their fuel stations at a loss in the last eight months due to NNPC’s default in the bulk purchase agreement it signed with IPMAN to sell fuel to its members at N133.28k per litre. ”Now, a litre of petrol is being sold to IPMAN members by Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPMAN) at N141, apart from running costs, bank charges and other expenses,
“This made it impossible for IPMAN members to sell a litre of fuel at the controlled price of N145, but N146 per litre.“While the NNPC had refused to sell fuel to its members regularly, the corporation is diverting the supplies to DAPMAN at a price of N117 per litre.
“DAPMAN in turn is selling to IPMAN members at N141 per litre,’’ the association said in statement signed by its state Chairman, Alhaji Alanamu Balogun, Vice Chairman, Mr Gbenga Ilupeju and the Secretary, Mr Kunle Oyenuga.
IPMAN, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the Lagos State Governor and the security agencies to address the issue.
“If not, IPMAN members will withdraw their services and shut down all their stations in Lagos State.
“We have endured enough and are set for a showdown with NNPC for irregular supply at Ejigbo satellite depot, Lagos,” it said.
The association, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said its members were in business for profit, using bank loans and would rather stop sales of fuel than to run into bank debts or at a loss.
It noted that over 900 fuel stations were attached to Ejigbo satellite depot alone.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n order to key into the Federal Government anti-corruption drive, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has sacked 25 staff in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for involving in various corrupt practices. The agency Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi stated this in Ibadan on Thursday while fielding questions from newsmen at the 2017 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council, after he delivered a lecture titled,”Road Safety in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”.
Oyeyemi said his leadership would not tolerate any form of indiscipline among officers of the Corps, pleading for the cooperation of members of the public in achieving the goal.
He said, “Just yesterday I sacked 25 people over corruption related offences. I will still sack more. No corrupt officer has any business being in the Corps as the Federal Government has done everything within its power to make us comfortable. I will plead for the cooperation of members of the public to give information on corrupt officers and be ready to establish their allegations when they are called upon to testify against the erring officials”.
While speaking on efforts of the Corps to reduce road accidents across the country, Oyeyemi said he had instructed his men to impound all road unworthy vehicles during the yuletide season. He called for harmonisation of traffic laws in all the tiers of government to provide effective legal framework in addressing abuses on the road.
Speaking on the delay drivers’ license applicants face in obtaining the permanent copies, Oyeyemi exonerated the agency from the delay, saying the delay often come from the States that often hold the cards after they were being delivered to them for distribution.
He, however, said the Corps was proposing special distribution centers across the country where applicants would go to collect their permanent drivers’ license.
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari has launched his bid for re-election in 2018 in far-away Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire when he solicited for votes from the Nigerian community during an interactive session late Tuesday night. The president is currently attending a two-day European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit in the West African country.
After apologising for coming late to the session, President Buhari told the gathering that he had to wait for the two governors on his entourage to accompany him to the meeting so that they will convince their people to vote for him in the future.“First I want to apologise for keeping you for too long sitting, this is because I insisted on the governors attending this meeting.
“This is why I came along with them so that when we are going to meet you, when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians, if you tell them that their governors were in the company of the president, I think that will be another vote for me in the future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up,” Buhari stated. The president also reiterated a line in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 when he stated he will be for everybody and not for nobody.
He said this was the reason for supporting Akinwumi Adesina to emerge as the President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, despite serving as a minister in a PDP-led administration. Buhari was reacting to Adesina’s remark earlier expressing gratitude to the president for the support he received in his bid to emerge as the AfDB president.
“The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), who forgot to mention that he was serving in the PDP government as minister but all the same I picked him and recommended him for AfDB. “I think it emphasised what I said during my swearing in that I am for everybody and I am for nobody. As long as you are a Nigerian, be prepared to be on the receiving end from me,” Buhari said.
President Buhari also told the gathering that he just received “a beautiful piece of information” from the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu which he was never aware of. He thanked Tinubu for the information which he did not disclosed.
“I also thank our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information, which I was not aware of it until I sat down and read it this evening (Tuesday night). Thank you very much for your hard work and I will discuss that paper with you,” he said.
The AfDB president in his speech revealed that the the Nigerian economy picked up soon after Buhari’s health challenges appeared over, adding that “so it seems there is a correlation between the President’s health and the improved economy.”
“I want to thank you immensely. I want to thank God for your health because I must say that for all of us that has been a big concern. But seeing you fit as a fiddle and seeing you back in action, we thank God for that and may God continue to give you great strength.
“Mr. President as you must have noticed, there is a very strong correlation between your health and the economy and when you came back the economy picked up after that. So we wish you great health so that the the economy can continue to pick. “I also want to congratulate you for the economic growth and recovery plan that you have put in place and the incredible plan that you have put in place to bring the economy out of recession and also in terms of the fact that Nigeria has moved up in the World Bank ease of doing business index.
“It is to your leadership, vision and commitment that we want to from the African Development Bank commend you, Mr. President, and to assure you of our strong support behind you and your government for the efforts to try and move Nigeria forward. We are solidly behind you, you can count on that.
“I also want to thank you for your leadership on the Boko Haram issue because to draw investments into Nigeria, you absolutely have to have security.
“I think that securing our borders is very very important, thanks to your leadership for that. I also thank you for all the efforts you have made in the Lake Chad Basin Area.
“I was with you in Paris where you led the efforts in reviving the Lake Chad Basin. As you know Mr. President, the bank is very strongly behind that. We put in $250 million to support the North-east of Nigeria rebuilding. I know you were criticized for rebuilding but I don’t see anything wrong, if things get destroyed they have to be rebuilt and the African Development Bank has contributed $250 million towards that,” Adesina disclosed.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Senate has begun the investigation of the alleged sale of illegal African migrants “mostly Nigerians” as slaves in Libya, which it described as a slap on the face of Nigeria.The probe was based on a motion moved by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno-Central) at the plenary on Wednesday, entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Protect Nigerian Citizens from the Libya Slavery Auction.’President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said there was the need for Nigeria to do more to protect its citizens.
He said, “As a country, truly, it is a slap on the face of all of us if Nigerians can be treated in this manner. Like somebody said, Ivory Coast that is not as big as us is taking action to see how they can bring their own citizens back. We need to be doing similar things.”
The lawmakers unanimously granted prayers of the motion, including to “condemn in totality the current depravity and sheer animalism being exhibited by these Libyans selling fellow Africans as slaves.” They also urged the Federal Government to urgently investigate how many Nigerians were affected by the slave sales.The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to urgently commence the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of Nigerian citizens “caught up in these despicable treatment and human rights abuses.”
NUPENG WARNS GOVERNORS ON DIVERSION OF PARIS CLUB REFUND
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) commends Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari for the release of the 50 percent Paris Club debt refund to the 36 states Governors to enable them pay salary arrears before Christmas.
The Union states that it is a good policy direction to end the sufferings of workers and pensioners in 21 States where they are owed out of the 36 States that makes up the federation.
NUPENG warns that it will be unfair and unjustifiable for any of the Governors to divert the funds to feather their nests in their 2019 re-election bid or for other political agenda.
The Union is disappointed at the State Governors outbursts that President Muhammadu Buhari did not tell them to clear all salaries arrears before Christmas. This shows the level of insincerity, unseriousness and insensitivity on the plight of Nigerian Workers.
The Union is also taken aback by the utterances of the Governors that the 50 percent Paris Club balance will not be enough to offset salary arrears.
The Union believes that the Governors are selfish, parochial and don’t have the interest of the masses at heart by owing workers salaries for about 6 – 10 months.
The Union warns that the attitude of the Governors portends danger that can cause revolt and prolonged industrial crisis, if they refuse to obey President Buhari’s order to use the money to pay backlog of salaries owed.
NUPENG calls on the President to set up an independent monitoring team to know how the State Governors spent the monies and where cases of diversion are established, the State Governors should be sanctioned.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Executive Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano has recently issued a warning and vowed to sack any member of his cabinet that fails to perform during his second term.
Governor Obiano, in a statement issued to newsmen, yesterday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, Prince Oliver Okpala, said he was duty bound to provide democracy dividends to the people of the state that voted for him in the November 18 governorship election.
He said: “I promised that during my second term in office things must change and be done within the ambit of the rules and regulations guiding government business and the civil service.
“I advise anyone who feels that he or she cannot cope with the new order to be introduced to kindly take a bow or be forced out of service.
“There is no room for any corrupt individual in my government; probity and accountability must be ensured henceforth in every government transaction.”
Comptroller Jibril Musa & His proactive Senior officers
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Jibril Musa is a stickler to Nigeria customs rules,he unveils his strategy to fight malpractices by being thorough and not compromising with government revenue. The dynamic and sterling leadership prowess of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Jibril Musa who firmly insists on and maintains the implementation of all strategies and blueprints devised by the Command to block all revenue leakages while enhancing trade facilitation and security.
The Comptroller, officers and men of the Apapa Area Command in line with the change mantra of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali and his management team are poised to surpass the revenue target as is expected by the service leadership. All patriotic members of the ports business community are assured of a friendly atmosphere as they ensure total and strict compliance to all government fiscal policies.
The Nigeria Premier port and the flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command has continued to sustain her lead in revenue collection over the last ten months.The command total revenue collection stood at two hundred and eighty eight billion, six hundred and forty-seven million, eight hundred and fifty six thousand, five hundred and one naira, eleven kobo only (N288,647,856,501.11) was collected between the months of January and October, 2017.
Further breakdown shows that the Command collected the sum of N25.9B, N24.7B, and N26.7B respectively for the months of January, February and March 2017.Out of the collection, N25.1B, N33.6 and N29.4B was recorded for the months of April, May and June while the sum of N30.9 B, N32.1 B, N28.0B and 31.8B respectively was collected for the months of July, August, September and October 2017.
Comparatively, the Command in the corresponding period and year (2016) collected the sum of two hundred and forty four billion, one million, one hundred and fifteen thousand, seventy eight naira, forty-nine kobo only (N244,001,115,078.49). This implies that the Command recorded an increased revenue collection of forty four billion, six hundred and forty six million, seven hundred and forty one thousand, four hundred and twenty three naira, thirty eight kobo only (N44, 646,741,423.38).
The command has continued to engage in painstaking and diligent scrutiny of all documents, insistence on thorough 100% examination of profiled cargos, implementation of the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business and continuous stakeholders’ engagement for collaboration, interfacing and robust synergy among all government agencies and stakeholders involved in cargo clearance. This is evidenced in the improved compliance, honest declaration, integrity and transparency recorded by the command.
It is also worthy of note that the newly created platform of heads of security/government agencies in the ports have had series of meetings which led to prompt resolution of emerging challenges in the Apapa ports especially in the areas of security and improved vehicular movement along Apapa roads.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Aremu Modupeola Adeyanju needs no introduction as a Nigerian. She is not a stranger to Customs revenue collection and enforcement . Her bonding with Nigeria Customs Service is akin to the umbilical relationship between a child and the mother right from the womb and last all through a lifetime. Her antecedents and achievements in Nigeria Customs Service speaks volumes. she is a perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, the perfect gentleman. Indeed, some leaders are born, some achieve leadership, some have leadership thrust upon them, while only very few have all three embedded in them. Comptroller Aremu is a woman of immense mettle and a completely detribalized human being with a profound depth of character, whose humility, devoid of discrimination, embraces all and sundry. she soars like an eagle and exudes reverence and integrity. A pragmatic leader full of benevolence; she gives hope to the hopeless, welfare succor to the poor and needy. To everyone who crosses her path, she is a light. she is a friend to the staff , a role model to the young,a helper to many and a visionary woman.
Comptroller Aremu the present Controller in charge of PTML Customs Command, Lagos fits into the mold where scholars conclude that great men and women achieve success through hardwork and resilience. She remains the luckiest in terms of favourable circumstances. She is one of the few officers that have served round trip the most successful commands in Nigeria. Comptroller Aremu is not disposed to unnecessary talks and frivolities; a no nonsense woman who had all through her leadership role in the service proved herself to be a leader that matches words with actions.
Since she was redeployed as the Customs Area Controller of PTML Customs Command in May, 2017, she has magically turned around the operations of the command revenue wise with unprecedented revenue generated since she took over. She has hitherto raised the performance bar of the unit to an exampled level in the history of the command. This is due to the fact that the refined officer is adjudged according to industry watchers to be a revenue oriented officer as well as her encomiums emanated from commands with performance based on revenue. Many senior customs officers hailed the Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) led management’s decision of redeploying Compt. Aremu to the PTML Customs Command to pilot the affairs of the unit knowing fully well she is a great performer and a goal getter; bearing in mind that the command is one of the nerve centres of the Nigeria Customs Service.
When the Grassroots Publishers paid her a visit the first time, she said that her aggressive approach and the proactiveness of the Command officers have resulted to increase in revenue generation of the command adding that Nigeria Customs Service main target is revenue generation and trade facilitation with much efforts and emphasis on blockage of revenue leakages through 100 percent examination of cargoes.
Compt. Aremu Modupeola Adeyanju said that since her assumption of office at PTML having served in several other commands including Apapa Customs Command, she has vigorously pursued an aggresive approach through resilience, and discipline towards 100 percent examination of cargoes to sustain continuous increase in revenue generation at the command. This is evident in the recent records on revenue generated at the command and made available to Grassroots Publishers.In the month of August, 2017,the command generated N10.16 billion as against N6, 284 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2016 representing an increase of N38.14 billion. The amount according to her was the highest revenue collected in a single month in the history of the command.In the month of January 2017, the command collected N6.933 billion while N4.734 billion was collected in 2016. In February, N5.074 billion was collected as against N3.847 generated in the corresponding month of 2016.For March and April, N9.036 billion and N5.751 was generated while N4.856 billion and N4.138 was collected respectively in the same period of 2016. In the month of May, N6.785 billion was collected as against N4.792billion collected in 2016 while in months of June and July, 2017, N7.166 billion, and N8.647 billion were collected as against N5.110 billion and N4.926 billion recorded in 2016 respectively. PTML command generated N10.16 billion for the month of August 2017 as against N6.284billion in the corresponding period of 2016, representing an increase of 38.14 percent.
On the other hand, it is said that a tree does not make a forest,like she said that her command is blessed with seasoned and proactive officers who want her to succeed . with this in mind, the onus lie on the stakeholders,terminal operators, men and officers of the command and indeed the media to join hands with this great performer and volunteer information that will help the command achieve its set objective because the success of Compt. Aremu at PTML Customs Command translates to the success of the service and indeed the good and welfare of the entire citizens.“The days and time of doing the wrong things in the PTML Customs Command can be said to be a thing of the past because of Mrs Right .is now in charge.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pplying makeup has its own rules and regulations which most people choose to ignore either because they do not know the implications or because they do not care. However, for optimum beauty effects, makeup has to be used in the right quantity and at the right time. For example, there are various makeup rules for different seasons so that the effects can come out very nicely. It is advised to use less makeup in the rainy season so that it does not smudge and run when you get caught up in the rain. For the current harmattan season, here are some makeup rules to follow:
1. Less lipstick, more lip-gloss. Colored but cracked lips do not look good in any weather and we all know how much these dry winds blow in harmattan season. Instead of applying a lot of lipstick, try putting on more of lip-gloss so that your lips do not get dry or cracked as a result of the harsh weather. It is also advisable to keep a tube of lip-gloss with you in your bag so that you can touch up whenever you need to.
2. Enough foundation, less powder. Foundation serves as a base that covers your face and hides the spots and blemishes you want it to while still appearing natural, but powder changes your tone a bit and blends your complexion into the shade you need. However, in this season, you do not need to apply much powder because the foundation does the job well enough. With the dusty environment, you cannot afford to have too much powder on your face and you should have a towel to wipe off the dust if it settles on your face.
3. Take it easy on the eyes : Except you are going for a special occasion where you do not have to expose your eyes to the harmattan winds, it is advisable to use eye makeup in moderation. Some people tend to squeeze, scratch and scrub the eyes if something enters into it, thereby smudging and rubbing makeup into them, avoid this by applying minimal eye makeup during this harmattan.
4. Wash everything off : This forever remains a timeless makeup rule, although you might disobey the rule and get away with it if you do not have sensitive skin and in favorable weather. However, in this season, you must wash your makeup off at the end of the day when you want to sleep. Keeping the makeup on with all the germs that must have settled on the face during the day could cause you acne.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]oday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced his exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party “has failed and continues to fail our people”. He also accused the party of arbitrariness, unconstitutionality, and disregard for party stalwarts.
He further lambasted the fold for instituting “a regime of draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.”
Atiku’s lamentation, contained in a 15-paragraph statement his office emailed to newsmen on Friday morning, is similar to the complaints he made before fleeing the PDP for the APC on February 2, 2014.
Below is the full text of what the politician said in 2014 before embracing the APC.
Press Statement by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Turaki Adamawa and former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on his Resignation from the PDP and his Joining the APC.
In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that we worked tirelessly with other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our country.
We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership of the party and the country promised a new direction, a direction of inclusiveness, of internal democracy, of an end to impunity, adherence to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.
Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept. In addition, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises. It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed.
To demonstrate the seriousness of the challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in Abuja.
As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalized and excluded from the affairs of the party. For instance as a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its National Executive Committee. However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections. We have, therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed. In short the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories.
More worrisome though is the danger posed to the continued existence of this country by this culture of impunity and arbitrariness. We continue to have threats from officially protected political extremists. Increasingly our people are recklessly being divided along the lines of religion, ethnicity and region for political gains. Our history and that of many other countries in Africa and Eastern Europe ought to teach us that this is very dangerous and must stop.
We can and we must do better. Our people deserve better.
It is against this background that we should understand the visit by the leaders of the APC and their invitation to me to join hands with them to save the country. Consequently, I have been consulting my supporters and associates, my family and friends for the past few weeks. My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our country first. This country has done so much for me personally and it deserves all that we can do to help rebuild it and serve our people better.
Following this extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.
This is the right decision. As in 2006 it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision. Let me emphasize that this is not about me. We have to have a country before people can aspire to lead it, but as it is today we may be losing this country. That is not acceptable.
I encourage my political associates and friends to register andjoin the APC once the registration exercise commences, so that together we can change this country for the better.
The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is indeed difficult. And it is not a lineal process. There would be alignment and realignment of political forces. There would be ups and downs and zig-zags, triumphs and challenges. Amidst all that, patriots must remain focused and do what has to be done to save and build the country and serve our people better.
That is what I have decided to do. I will do all within my God-given powers to help the APC win elections all over Nigeria and bring true change to our country and its long-suffering people.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Turaki Adamawa)
Former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We wish to inform the general public to beware of impostors who use the name of grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network to solicit for interviews, adverts or award presentation to always confirm the authenticity of such transaction through the following numbers:
09029375906 | 08149835420
As this body will not be held LIABLE for any unauthorized transaction with anyone. BE WARNED!
