Jonathan Abeg Save My Life….Amaechi begs Goodluck

For some months now, there have been drama in Rivers  State with actors like Mr Rotimi Amaechi as Governor, Nyesom Wike as Minister of state for education, Dame Patience Jonathan as First Lady of Nigeria, Mr Joseph Mbu as Commissioner of Police, with the I.G of Police Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar as Director and the President of Nigeria Mr Goodluck Jonathan as the Executive producer.

 

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday raised the alarm over his safety and pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan, to ensure that he is not killed.

The governor, who narrated his ordeal in hands of the police and aviation authorities since he fell out with the President, said he felt unsafe.


“I don’t have an aide de camp. I don’t have a chief security officer. They’ve withdrawn so many policemen. They’ve withdrawn all policemen from the commissioners. I feel unsafe. I just know that they want to kill me. Beg Mr. President to ensure that I’m not killed because I’m sure they are planning towards that.”

Amaechi also accused his political opponents, including the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and the President’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, of using the police to intimidate him and the people of the state.

He said, “It is not just Wike that is controlling (the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph) Mbu. It is not just Mrs. Patience Jonathan that is controlling Mbu. There are some people on the street controlling him.

“They are doing two things under the watch of Mr. President and the Inspector-General of Police. They are trying to intimidate the Rivers society so that they can rig elections. And they are trying to intimidate me and expose me to danger.”

Amaechi also accused the National Aviation Management Authority of monitoring his movement and deliberately delaying his flights.

He described the level of impunity under Jonathan as worse than what Nigeria experienced under late General Sani Abacha.

Amaechi said the Nigeria Governor’s Forum crisis would be resolved at the end of the 2015 election, adding that there would have been peace in Nigeria had the President not interfered in the forum’s election.

ASUU una dey lie, says FG

ASUU got a hard knock from the  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Com. Jude Imagwe who  accused the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) of being economical with the truth on lecturers prolonged industrial action in the universities.
His words: “They initially told us that it was about infrastructure, but it is about allowances. N30b has been released for the payment of their accumulated allowances, and N100b earmarked for infrastructural development. It is important for the public to know that government did not say this is all that it will give, but government says go and start the payment with this amount and let us know the amount it will add”.
Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, will tomorrow join ASUU on strike as the union said it has mobilized its members across the country to embark on industrial action over alleged stoppage of their salaries for two months.
SSANU, in a letter, dated 27 September, 2013, and addressed to its branch chairmen in all the universities in the country, directed its members to stay away from work from tomorrow until the salaries are fully paid.
The President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, said the strike will be total, while the General Secretary, who signed the letter directing members to stay at home from tomorrow, Comrade Promise Adewusi, said no member should go back to work until a counter directive was given.
Adewusi stated that the union took the decision following its  letters to the vice-chancellors in  universities, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and Education, Nyesom Wike, as well as the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.
In the meantime, the suspended strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is to resume on Friday.
The union alleged insincerity and failure of the Federal Government to honour agreement entered with the union.
The union also passed a vote of no confidence on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), alleging that the board has failed to meet the needs and demands of polytechnic education in the country.

South East APC crys out for Ndigbo to forgive Fashola and save Ngige

Following the unreserved apology tendered by the Governor of Lagos state  Babatunde Fashola   for the unlawful deportation of 14 Anambra indigenes from Lagos to Onitsha, the south eastern chapter of APC is currently preaching to  their kinsmen to forgive Governor Fashola and deliver Dr Chris Ngige who is contesting to be Governor of Anambra state come November 16th 2013, they are seriously begging Ndigbo  to forgive and forget. The deportation which already gave Dr Chris Ngige a bad name is what the zone is trying to clean before the election day.

In a statement through the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, South-East APC warned that the mistake of some Lagos State government officials should not be used to deny Anambrarians the golden opportunity to elect Senator Ngige to complete his blue print.

It maintained that Anambrarians must be weary of those money mongers and big bankers whose only manifesto is propaganda and whose only interest is profit motive.

The statement reads in part: “Now that Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babatunde Fashola has tendered unqualified and unreserved apology, we plead with Ndigbo and Anambrarians in particular to forgive and forget.“To err is human and to forgive is divine.

Accordingly, we appeal to our people to put the matter behind us, especially those who wittingly or unwittingly are transferring the aggression on Senator Chris Ngige’s bid to return to Anambra State government to complete the good works he started.

“Ngige we must recall opened our eyes to what prudent management of state revenue can achieve, before then the governors only share the money and abandon projects. He did 20 percent of his Blue-Print, Governor Obi did  and we need Ngige to complete it for the interest of future generations.

“It is also germane to note the roads Ngige tarred years ago are more durable than that of Governor Obi” the party stated.

Ngige, Ukachukwu, Obiano Top INEC List Of Approved Governorship Candidates For Anambra Election

         

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today released the list of candidates qualified for the November elections in Anambra state. A release issued by INEC's spokesperson, Kayode Idowu stated that 23 candidates would participate in the elections slated for November 2013.
Below is the full text of INEC's press release and the names of candidates that made the list:

PRESSS STATEMENT ON THE GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES FOR THE ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2013
Pursuant to the Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship scheduled to hold on 16th November, 2013, twenty three (23) Political Parties submitted names of candidates they propose to sponsor at the election. The Commission after due consideration of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act,
2010 (as amended), the various judgements and orders of the various High Courts on the candidates for the election particularly those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) approved that the Form CFOO 1 (Personal Particulars) of the candidates for the election be published. Accordingly, the Form CFOOl of the following candidates as submitted by their Political Parties or as ordered by the Court are now being published in Anambra
State in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

3	GOVERNOR	DR. IFEATU EKELEM	M	ACD	59	MSPH
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHRISTIAN MADIEBO	M	ACD	59	WASC
4	GOVERNOR	ENGR. ANTHONY ANENE	M	ACPN	49	M. Eng
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	IKECHUKWU GODWIN OKAGBUE	M	ACPN	58	WASC
5	GOVERNOR	COMRADE AARON IGWEZE E.	M	AD	63	DIPLOMA
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	EBO KENNETH CHUKWUEMEKA	49	AD	49	GCE
6	GOVERNOR	CHIEF ANAYO A. ARINZE	M	ADC	53	HND, PGD
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	PASTOR DONATUS C. ATTAH	M	ADC	54	DIPLOMA
7	GOVERNOR	PATRICK CHUKWUKA IBEZIAKO	M	APA	49	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	ANADI CHUKWUNONSO GABRIEL	M	APA	33	B.SC
8	GOVERNOR	SENATOR CHRIS NW ABUEZE NGIGE	M	APC	61	BM, BCH,DIPL OMA
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	DR. MIKE AGHADIUNO	M	APC	61	PH.DMSC
9	GOVERNOR	CHIEF WILLIE MADUABUCHI OBIANO	M	APGA	58	MBA
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	DR. NKEMAKONAM CHUKWUKAODINAKA OKEKE	M	APGA	53	PH.D
10	GOVERNOR	CHIEF AUSTIN NW ANGWU	M	CPP	57	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	BARR. CHINENYE UJU OKONGWU	F	CPP	36	LLB,BL
11	GOVERNOR	CHIJIOKE GEOFREY NDUBUISI	M	DPP	52	LLB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	MICHAELSON PATRICK ARIMA	M	DPP	35	GCE
12	GOVERNOR	CHRISTIAN IKECHUKWU OTTI	M	ID	47	HND
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	NDIFE FRANKLIN IKENNA	M	ID	35	B.SC
13	GOVERNOR	CHIEF DENNIS NWAFORKA OGUGE	M	KOWA	49	WASC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	REV. CANON RUFUS OKEKE S.E.	M	KOWA	49	BA.Ed
14	GOVERNOR	PATRICK IFEANYI UBAH	M	LABOUR	42	NECO
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	PRINCE DR. EMEKA EZE	M	LABOUR	47	BMBS

15	GOVERNOR	PASTOR SIMON CHINWEUBA OKAFOR	M	MPPP	44	NABTEB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	REV. EZE C. MIRACLE	M	MPPP	49	WASC
16	GOVERNOR	OKONKWO EMEKA WEBSTER	M	NCP	43	DVM
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	IKWUEMESI TOCHUKWU JAMES C.	M	NCP	35	B .SC
17	GOVERNOR	PRINCE LEONARD UCHENDU	M	NNPP	44	WASC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	BARR. ANTHONY ANAZOR	M	NNPP	34	LLB, LB, BL
18	GOVERNOR	NICHOLAS CHUKWUEJEKWU UKACHUKWU	M	PDP	COURT ORDER
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR			PDP
19	GOVERNOR	EZEEMO, GODWIN CHUKWUNENYE	M	PPA	59	HND
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHIKWENZE ANANWUDE RAPHAEL	M	PPA	55	PH.D
20	GOVERNOR	HON. BASIL IWUOBA ORANEKWU IJEDIMNA	M	PPN	49	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	OKOYE CHIJIOKE JACINTA	F	PPN	39	HND
21	GOVERNOR	ONUARAH BASIL ONYEACHONAM	M	SDP	36	LLB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	EZEMA OBIAGELl LETICIA	F	SDP	47	BA,MPA
22	GOVERNOR	BARR. OKOYE GODSON MGBODILE OHAENYEM	M	UDP	50	LLB,BL
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	NEBE BRIAN CHINEDUN ONYIBO	M	UDP	44	B.SC
23	GOVERNOR	PRINCEAKANEEBUOGOCHUKWU N.C	M	UPP	61	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHUBA SUNDAY NWACHUKWU	M	UPP	54	B.SC, MBA
		SUMMARY	GOYENOR		DEPUTY GOVERNOR
	Total No. of males		23		18
	Total No. of Females		0		4

2. The Commission enjoins all Political Parties to ensure that only the candidates above listed engage in campaigns as candidates of the Political Parties.




U.F. Usman
For: Secertary to the Commission.

Nicholas Ukachukwu approved as Anambra PDP Gubernatorial Candidate as court drops Tony Nwoye

Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu has been declared the rightful gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Anambra state by Federal High Court in Port Harcourt . The court disqualified the party’s official candidate, Mr Tony Nwoye, from contesting the governorship election on November 16, 2013.
In his ruling today, Justice S. A. Aliyu directed the party to forward the name of Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the election.
The judge gave the ruling after listening to arguments by Mr. Ukachukwu's lawyers, led by Rickey Tarfa, and the PDP’s lead lawyer, Mr. K. K. Eleja, who was accompanied by other counsel. Justice Aliyu stated that, “based on the dictates of paragraph 4 (a) Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections of the PDP that the first defendant, Tony Nwoye was not eligible to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election conducted on the 24th August 2013 by the second defendant for the selection of its candidate for the Anambra state governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16 2013 or any other date.”
Citing Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Justice Aliyu said Mr. Ukachukwu was the only qualified aspirant who pooled the highest number of votes in the August 24 governorship primaries in the state. He then declared that Mr. Ukachukwu “is the duly elected candidate of the PDP to contest for the Anambra state governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16, 2013.”
The judge stated that “an order of injunction is hereby made restraining the first defendant (Tony Nwoye) from parading himself and or representing or holding out himself as the candidate of the second defendant (PDP) in the forthcoming Anambra state governorship election or otherwise representing that he was validly elected/chosen by the PDP as its candidate [in the governorship election] scheduled to hold on November 16 2013 or any other date.” He also made an order “restraining the second and third defendants from holding out, parading, recognizing or in whatever manner presenting to the 4th defendant any other person than the plaintiff (Ukachukwu) as the candidate of the second defendant (PDP) for the Anambra state governorship election scheduled to take place on November 16 2013 or any other date.”
Justice Aliyu also gave an order “restraining the 4th defendant from accepting, recognizing or acting upon, any name other than the name of the plaintiff as the PDP candidate for the Anambra state 2013 governorship election or in any way publishing, displaying, screening, putting on the ballot paper or howsoever dealing with any person other than the plaintiff as the second defendant’s candidate for the Anambra state governorship election scheduled to take place on November 16 2013 or any other date.”

He ordered INEC to “recognize, screen the plaintiff (Ukachukwu), publish and put his name on the ballot paper as the authentic candidate of the second defendant for the Anambra state governorship election.”
Clashing factions of the PDP in Anambra held two parallel governorship primaries on August 24, 2013. Senator Andy Uba emerged as the governorship candidate in one of the primaries supervised by INEC, while Mr. Nwoye, a former medical student who was thrown out in his first year by the authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was proclaimed winner of the other primary that was supervised by PDP officials from Abuja.
 

Irresponsible Honourables fight in House of Representatives

 

It started when the coming of the great Baraje was announced as members of the old PDP proved their loyalty to Tukur.
Immediately the meeting started at about 3.30pm, Rep Henry Ofongo representing Bayelsa State raised a point of order during protocols, which other Reps considered unusual and pounced on him.
Chairs and all available objects were used to hit Ofongo.

 

However, the hefty Ofongo, who is about 6ft 3inches tall retaliated by throwing blows at his attackers.
His colleagues came to his aid and immediately shouts of No!No!! No!!! rent the air and followed with thunderous claps that further disrupted the meeting.
At about 3.45pm when Baraje stood up to deliver his speech, the claps and shouts of Tukur! Tukur rent the air making it virtually impossible to hear his speech.
But immediately the Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal mounted the rostrum to deliver his speech, peace and order were restored.
As soon as he mentioned “leaders of our great party”, the old PDP lawmakers took over again, but this time, the chant was” PDP Goodluck! PDP Goodluck!!

'Please Nigerians, lets forget the past' - Abacha's son pleads

Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, the son of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, has pleaded with Nigerians and the people of Kano State, to forget the past.

Mohammed was at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Monday where he declared that he had rejoined the party, which he left in 2010 for the Congress for Progressive Change.

He was a staunch member of the defunct CPC in Kano State and aspired to be its governorship candidate.

Though he was said to have won the primary, but the national leadership of the party, led by a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammad’s Buhari (retd) said there was no way the party would allow the son of the former head of state to flag the party’s flag during the election.

When Mohammed was asked whether the role played by his father in the politics of Nigeria was responsible for what befell him in CPC, he resorted into preaching.

He said, “History is for yesterday. Whatever has happened, happened yesterday. Yesterday belongs to history and it is one of the things we have left behind.

“We must forget the past and move on. We need not to talk about it as if we can forget.”

It will be recalled that many Nigerians were either killed or imprisoned unjustly during the regime of the late general.

Some members of his family also looted the national treasury, but the Federal Government was able to recover some of the funds, majority of which was kept in foreign countries.

Mohammed is believed to be eyeing the governorship ticket of the PDP in 2015.

He, however, said he is yet to inform the Governor of the state, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso about his return to the party.

But he said he had been given assurances that things would work out well in the party, which he said he left due to lack of internal democracy, during his second coming.

He said, “I did not consult the governor before returning to the party. Power belongs to God.

“We left the PDP in 2010 due to lack of internal democracy but we have had so many experiences and have come to realise that there is no other party that captures Nigeria, every tribe and religion like the PDP.”

Asked if be party had promised to give him a waiver, Mohammed said it the issue of waiver was not discussed.

The PDP constitution says a returnee to the party will have to wait for two years before he could be allowed to contest using its platform, unless he is granted waiver by either the National Working Committee of the party or its National Executive Committee.

We are working hard to deliver democratic dividends – Jonathan

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his administration is working relentlessly to deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizens, noting that the Federal Government has been making conscious efforts in the critical sectors of the economy to generate employment for Nigerians.


Jonathan said this through the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday during the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) 2013 annual national management conference.

The President said that with NIM’s willingness to partner with the Federal Government to better the life and well-being of Nigerians, the government was poised to creating jobs and ensure that Nigerians derived maximum benefits from his administration.

Describing the theme of the conference, “Essentials of good governance in the progressive transformation of Nigeria” as apt, Jonathan said the theme was in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He said, “By choosing this theme as the focus of this year’s conference, the institute has further demonstrated that it is always committed to supporting the Federal Government in achieving its drive to reposition and turn around the nation’s economy.

“The numerous and conscious efforts we are making in the critical sector of the economy, to get it up and run it again cannot be overstated.

“The transformation agenda is about taking implementation measures today in order to give our people a brighter future. It is about creating jobs and ensuring the greater deals for Nigerians.

“This is an onerous task that requires the support of all our country men and women. Also central to the transformation efforts is the creation of political and stable environment in which economic development activities can flourish.

“To this end we are strengthening our democratic institutions and confronting the challenges facing our country with great determination and firmness. We can emphatically say that as a result of our economic policy, there have been significant improvements in our economic transformation drive.”

I’m through with presidential ambition, says IBB

 

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida said yesterday his time for seeking the presidential seat was up.

The general said he would work with other northern governors to emulate Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s agricultural skills acquisition programme for the revival of agriculture in the region.



He said: “If that is done, the region would have made tremendous breakthrough and boosted its economic strength.”

Babangida, who visited Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, spoke in Sokoto when he inaugurated a Modern Agricultural Skills Acquisition Centre at Milgoma, Bodinga Local Government Area.

The centre is among the various projects executed by the state government and inaugurated by the former military leader across the state.

Babangida was accompanied by AVM Hamza Abdullahi (rtd) and Hassan M. Jalo, among other personalities.

He said: “The stage is now for the likes of Wamakko.

I want to be convinced that Wamakko is working based on what we have seen

Dangote, richest African in the world

 

THE Forbes Magazine has declared Aliko Dangote as the world’s richest African in the world, just as the world’s richest black woman, Folorunsho Alakija, is conspicuously missing in the magazine ranking of the 21 richest Nigerians.
Alakija, an oil tycoon and fashion designer, reportedly worth at least $3.2 billion edged out African American Oprah Winfrey, worth more than $2.7 billion, in Forbes 2012 list of richest black people.
However, Forbes said the value of shares held in quoted companies, size and market share of their companies, number of companies they own and its assumed value and the impact of the companies on the Nigerian economy were the yardstick used in compiling the new list.
Full list of the richest 21 are Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, richest man in Africa and richest black man in the world; Mike Adenuga, Conoil, Equitorial Trust Bank, Globacom; Femi Otedola, Zenon Oil and Gas; Orji Uzor Kalu, Slok Group; Cosmos Maduka, Coscharis Group; Jimoh Ibrahim, Nicon Insurance, Global Fleet; Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank, Visafone; Pascal Dozie, MTN Nigeria, Diamond Bank; Oba Otudeko, Honeywell Group Nigeria; Sayyu Dantata, MRS Group.
Others are Umaru Abdul Mutallab, former Chairman First Bank Plc, Mutallab Group; Samuel Adedoyin, Doyin Group; Dele Fajemirokun, Chairman Aiico Insurance, Xerox Nigeria, Chicken Republic, Kings Guards; Cletus Ibeto, Ibeto Group; Raymond Dokpesi, Daar Communication, AIT; Tony Ezenna, Orange Group; Molade Okoya Thomas, Chairman CFAO Nig and other six french companies; Ifeanyi Ubah, Capital oil and gas; Leo Stan Ekeh, Zinox Computer; Fola Adeola, GTBank; Ade Ojo, Elizade Motors Nig Ltd, Distributor of Toyota cars.

Anambra Guber: Court upholds Andy Uba as PDP candidate

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still has a high hurdle to scale ahead the November 16, 2013 Anambra gubernatorial election. A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday ruled that Senator Andy Uba remains the PDP candidate for the Anambra gubernatorial race.

It ordered the Ken Emeakayi-led PDP in Anambra state to maintain the status quo pending the final decision of the court. It also ordered that the PDP should recognize the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of the party – as the authentic faction.
In the ruling handed by Justice H.A Nganjiwa, the court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify with the Ejike group that produced Uba as the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP.
It’s season of endorsements for candidates
SIXTY-FOUR days to the November 16 governorship election, the Anambra polity is awash with endorsements for the various candidates running the race. It is a season of endorsements, as it were, from hordes of groups cutting across all strata of the polity.




 

I am going back to university to teach, says ex-Minister

 

One will wonder the university Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa'i wants to go to when she could not resolve the ASUU issues, She was among the nine ministers relieved of their positions by President Goodluck Jonathan in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, and she says she will be going back to the university to teach.

She handed over the affairs of the education ministry to the Minister of State in the ministry, Chief Nyesom Wike, as directed by the president, and told newsmen that she would be going back to continue with her job as a teacher.
Before her appointment as a minister, Rufa'i was a professor of Curriculum Studies at the Bayero University, Kano.
"I called you here to witness the handing over because as you are all aware my tenure as minister has expired along with eight others.
"I am going back to resume my job as a professor of Curriculum Studies at the Bayero University Kano, that is where I came from on secondment.
"We should know that a time like this will come because if it does not, death is surely an end."
She expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity given her to serve as a cabinet minister.
"I have enjoyed a close working relationship with the President.
"Of course, there were times we had our disagreements, but overall we enjoyed working together."
Rufa'i, who also thanked Wike and other officials of the ministry for the support she enjoyed during her tenure in the ministry, tasked them not to relent in achieving the sector's goal of Access and Quality.
In his remarks, Wike described Rufa'i's exit as ''painful'' but said that "when we are not in control, there is nothing we can do".
He said because of the cordial working relations between them, the two had never been summoned by the president to define their roles.
Wike thanked the former minister for her good leadership.
"I therefore implore you, please do not abandon the ministry, continue to give us the advice you would have been giving if you were here," he said
Also in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr McJohn Nwaobiala, said the change was "like being hit by a thunderbolt".
Nwaobiala, who described Rufa'i as totally different, pledged that the ministry would build on the foundation she had laid.

Dangote signs $9bn deal to build oil refinery, petrochemical complex

The Dangote Group Wednesday made history by signing of a combined $ 9.05 billion facility agreement with a consortium of local banks and international investors for the establishment of a refinery, and petrochemicals cum fertilizer complex in Nigeria.

Agreement
Under the agreement signed at a crowded ceremony in Abuja, a $ 3.3 billion medium term loan will come from local banks and international finance organizations; $2. 25 billion from the Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, and Dangote’s equity contribution of $3.50 billion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also made a contribution of N50 billion with interest rate of 7 per cent to be repaid in 15 years.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, described the complex to be located at the OK-LNG Free Trade Zone, between Ogun and Ondo states, as the largest industrial complex in Nigeria’s history and that he embarked on the project as a demonstration of his confidence in the Nigerian economy.

His words: “As an investor who believes in Nigeria, knows Nigeria well and whose prosperity was made in Nigeria, we have responded to the challenge with our decision to invest $9 billion in a refinery/petrochemical and fertilizer complex to be located at the OK-LNG Free Trade Zone. This complex will be the largest industrial complex project ever in the history of our great nation.”

Dangote said the project had effectively taken off, with the award of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contract to Saipem of Italy for the fertilizer plant, noting that the Basic Engineering Design and optimization for the refinery had also been awarded.

When completed, the chairman said, the fertilizer plant would produce 2.75 metric tons per annum of Urea and Ammonia; while the refinery would process 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

We ‘ll produce high grade petrol —Dangote
He said the refinery would produce a higher grade of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, compared to imported ones, saying “in addition to high grade petrol, the refinery will produce: diesel, aviation fuel, household kerosene, slurry as raw material for carbon black, as well as 650,000 metric tons of polypropylene per annum. Our mission is to through industrialization, reverse the historical trend of the export of foreign exchange and jobs and replace it with foreign exchange conservation and job creation.”

Dangote added that the recent discovery and development of the shale oil and gas in “our traditional markets has further stressed the urgent need for us to diversify our economy on a fast track to avoid a reversal of the current steady improvement in all indices of economic performance.”

Ngige wins Anambra APC primaries

  The result of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, conducted in all the 326 wards in Anambra State Monday for the selection of the party’s candidate for the November 16 election has been announced.

Senator Chris Ngige scored 53255 votes to defeat Chief Godwin Ezemo who scored 9554 votes.

The result was announced at the Emmaus House, Awka collation center by the chairman of the primaries committee, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Shekarau commended members of the party in all the wards in the state for their peaceful conduct during and after the exercise.