British High Commission clarifies online payment for visa by Nigerians

Says Nigerians can pay for visa using naira accounts
The British High Commission in Nigeria said on Friday that Nigerians with naira credit or debit cards could pay for visas using their naira accounts.
The Commission, which made the clarification in a statement, said though the visa fee would be denominated in dollars, the payment would be deducted from the applicants’ accounts in naira; and therefore there was no need for anyone to have a dollar account.
The statement by the Communication Manager in the Office of Deputy High Commissioner, Wale Adebajo, said, “Earlier this month, the UK introduced compulsory on-line payments for visas and announced that the cost of those visas would be denominated in US dollars.
“This is purely an accounting measure, As before, Nigerians with naira credit or debit card can pay for visas using their naira account.
“Although the visa fee will be denominated in dollars, the payment will be deducted from their account in naira. There is no need for anyone to have a dollar account.”
The Commission had earlier in the month announced a new system of visa application requiring Nigerians who intended travelling to the U.K. to make payment on-line in U.S. dollars.
A statement signed by its Press and Public Affairs Officer, Rob Fitzpatrick, said the new system would commence on December 16, 2013.
“From December 16, 2013, all applications for UK visa must be completed using our on-line application system and paid for online in US dollars,” the statement said.
“Payment can be made using a verve debit card, Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards or the e-wallet PAGA. The move to online application and payment will deliver a streamlined process. It is consistent with wider global trend to online transactions and payments.”
It also explained that the new system met the requirements of the U.K. Government’s Digital by Default Initiative.
Source: Premium Time

President Jonathan to buy 11th Presidential jet worths N1.5bn

The Presidency is set to increase the number of private jets in the Presidential Air Fleet by purchasing an additional aircraft in 2014. The proposal for the new aircraft has already been included in the proposed 2014 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly.
Details of the budget proposal laid before the two chambers of the National Assembly last week by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, revealed that N1.5 billion was proposed as deposit for the purchase of the new aircraft. The proposal was included in the budget of the Presidential Air Fleet under the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
The presidential fleet also proposed to spend about N747 million to take care of its aircraft fuel cost during the year.
Though further details of the planned acquisition were not immediately available as top officials in the presidency who should know were not willing to comment on the issue, it was gathered that new aircraft would be the 11th in the luxurious presidential fleet.
Other proposals in the budget include the plan by the presidency to purchase a new embalming machine for the State House, Abuja, for which a budget of N1.65 billion has been made.
Another N17.5 million has also been set aside by the presidency for the provision of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, building and mortuary conversion machine; as well as N1.3 billion for the construction of the VIP wing of the State House Medical Centre, Abuja.
In addition, about N17.5 million would go for the construction of hospitals and health centre in the State House, apart from N37million set aside for wildlife conservation purposes in the Presidential Villa.
Another N70 million would be spent for the building and installation of oxygen and other gases generating plant at the State House; N50 million for the completion of the extension of dental wing at the State House Medical Centre; N6 million for two sauna baths; N5 million for a wildlife capture equipment, and N14.5 million to purchase two wildlife animals not mentioned in the budget.
The upgrade of Villa facilities would gulp about N1.5 billion; upgrade of Villa Telecommunication Exchange and spare parts would take N220 million; and about N215million would be spent on remodeling of the new guest house for the vice President at Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro.
About N50 million has been included in the budget for improvement of electrical installation in the State House Banquet Hall; N15 million for renovation of Horses’ stable/paddock; N8 million for the upgrade and maintenance of Villa Zoo, while N1.8 million would go for six wardrobe/towel shelves for the presidential lodge.
As part of the ongoing reform in the power sector, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which transmits generated electricity, has been allocated about N24.9 billion for its operations in 2014.
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor generation companies also have an allocation of N1.143 billion for the year.

Amosun Transforming Ogun State - Obasanjo

Coming on the heels of his recent public spat with President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind the urban renewal programme and other developmental projects embarked upon by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government in Ogun State.

Obasanjo noted that things were now getting better in the state which is under the control of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former president, who spoke at the 2013 Ogun State Christmas Carol held at the June 12 Cultural Center,        Kuto, Abeokuta, on Sunday, noted that the massive road projects and construction of ultra-modern model schools had brought landmark improvements to the 20 local governments of the state.

He further described Amosun’s achievements as breathtaking and a right step in the right direction.

Former Primate of Anglican Church Peter Akinola "Kidnapped" and Rescued by Ogun State Governor

Archbishop Peter Jasper Akinola

UPDATE: A senior government official in Ogun state has disclosed that the kidnapped primate has been rescued by a security team led by the Ogun state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
The official, who asked not to be named, said, “When the governor heard of the incident, he personally led his security team on a patrol of the area. The gunmen were tracked down, and they abandoned the primate and his car. They were cornered at Ijoga Orile in Ogun West.
“The primate is on his way home now.”
He did not say whether the gunmen were arrested.
When asked whether Mr. Akinola’s driver was rescued as well, the official said, “I don’t have full information about the rescue operation yet. I’m waiting for the governor’s team to return.”


A few hours to Christmas, unknown gunmen have kidnapped the retired primate of the Anglican Church, Peter Akinola, one of the most respected Christian leaders in Nigeria today.
It was learnt that the cleric and his driver  were kidnapped in front of the main entrance of the Peter Akinola Foundation’s Centre for Youth Industrial Training located along the Abeokuta-Lagos expressway at about 3 p.m.
Mr. Akinola established the centre to give vocational skills to unemployed youth without charge.
Sources said the clergy was returning from the youth training centre after inspecting some ongoing projects when the gunmen blocked his vehicle and started shooting sporadically into the air before forcefully whisking him and his driver away in an SUV.
The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, saying the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered a manhunt for Mr. Akinola’s abductors.
Mr. Adejobi however said it was too early to conclude that the incident was a kidnap.
“We are aware of the incident but it is too early to jump into conclusion that it is kidnapping,” the police spokesperson said. “We were told that some armed men waylaid him and went away with his vehicle.
“But we have seen cases where armed men will steal a vehicle and go away with its owner or occupant for their own safety. Therefore, it’s too early to draw the line that it is kidnapping.
“However, we have alerted our men. We have details of the vehicle. By God’s grace, it won’t be a sad situation. The primate will be safe. The CP (Commissioner of Police) and the Area Commander are out to make sure he is safe.”
Mr. Adejobi urged members of the public to assist the command by volunteering information on the incident and other criminal activities in the state.
Meanwhile, a non-government organisation has called on the gunmen to release the cleric without delay.
Gbenga Gbesan of the Nigeria Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NARCO), said,  “We appeal for the immediate release of the revered Primate without any condition attached to it whatsoever”.
Mr. Gbesan added that  the Primate had always fought for the poor and downtrodden  and that that was why he set up the Youth Industrial Training Centre to help unemployed youth to acquire skills to enable them live meaningful lives.
Archbishop Akinola, 69, was born in Abeokuta and was  Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria. He was also Bishop of Abuja and Archbishop of Province III, which covered the northern and central parts of the country.
He is believed by many Nigerians to be one of the most effective and influential presidents in CAN’s history.

Falana and Civil Society Hails Jonathan For Replying Obasanjo’s Letter But Says Key Issues Weren’t Addressed

Human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for responding to the allegations raised in chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s 18-page letter but lamented that it failed to address key issues raised by the former president.

Falana, who spoke yesterday in Warri, Delta State, also urged the president to review the letter and tidy up loose ends, on issues bordering on corruption, abuse of power
and extra-judicial killings.

He said: “There are areas of the reply that are rather woolly. I think it is not enough to attempt to engage in blackmail; the President must now go further to cause an investigation and prosecution in some of the cases he mentioned rather tangentially (in his reply).

“At the international level, this country has been exposed to ridicule, with the handling of the cases of Halliburton, Wilbros, Siemens and the rest of them. To the best of my knowledge, with the information at my disposal, the US government has made not less than $2bn in terms of fines imposed on those companies for bribing Nigerians.

“It is not enough (for President) to say Halliburton, Siemens and all that did not happen under his regime. Since there is no statute of limitation and these cases exposed Nigerians to ridicule, President Jonathan must now go the whole hog, no matter whose Ox is gored”.

Besides, the former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA) gave Mr. Jonathan knocks over the way he handled the Stella Oduah bullet proof car scandal and the alarm of missing $49.8 billion NNPC unremitted fund, raised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido.
He also dismissed the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonzo-Iweala’s explanation that there was a misunderstanding on the purported $49.b billion missing crude oil proceeds and that the only a fraction of that money ($16bn) was yet to be reconciled.
Falana maintained that President Jonathan must adequately clear the mist over similar cases to assure Nigerians that his administration was not cuddling corruption as he was accused of in the letter.
He said: “I also find that area in the letter disturbing where the president said the Governor of the Central Bank didn’t mention his name. He (CBN Governor) came out publicly to say $49bn is missing and now he has apologised.
“It is not enough to apologise; if the Governor of CBN could go all out and tell the whole world that $49bn is missing, it is not enough for Minister of Finance to call a meeting and after the meeting and say ‘we are reconciling, only $12bn has not been traced’.
“No; the Minister of Finance is not the Auditor General of the Federation; it is not her business to audit the accounts of the federation or any account belonging to the Federal Government.
“So President Jonathan must direct the Auditor General of the Federation to audit the account of NNPC, CBN and Ministry of Finance and ensure that we get to the root of criminality in our country or the grand looting of the treasury of our country.
“A minister has been indicted by a panel set up by the President, by the House of Representatives and by the EFCC. What rule of law, what due process are you (President) waiting for? You must fire her; you must also fire other corrupt ministers and government officials that are giving the impression that the regime is comfortable with corruption,” he said.
The lawyer is not pleased with Jonathan’s response to extra-judicial killings, noting the president’s position that the killings occured before he came to power, was not tangible.
“He must now set up proper investigation – because they were covered up in the past – to ensure that we get to the root of these killings, including the killing of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice under President Obasanjo, the late Chief Bola Ige (SAN)”, Falana said.

Kano Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Expresses Disappointment And Surprise At Arrest Of Top Officials of State Legislature

Governor Kwankwanso

The government of Kano State has expressed “utter disappointment and surprise” with Monday’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gambo Sallau, and other principal officers and Clerk.
A statement by Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the Director of Press and Public Relations to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, stated that the officials were apparently arrested in connection with the government’s 2013 budget amendment, which the governor has already signed into law.
“It is crystal clear that the above mentioned public officials were arrested by the EFCC on the orders from the above, because of the legislators’ defection to APC, in support of Governor Kwankwaso,” the statement said.  It stated that the officials were only exercising their constitutional responsibilities of ensuring that budgets are properly articulated to ensure probity and accountability in public expenditure and enable the citizens enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“This action is obviously to intimidate and cow them into submission for choosing to move to the progressive fold,” the government said. “This action is not only despicable and absurd but also capable of igniting crisis in the polity, thereby breaching the relative peace that is being enjoyed in Kano state.  It is regrettable that the EFCC is allowing itself to be a tool of witch-hunt in the hands of powers that be.”
The statement confirmed that in addition to Alhani Sallau, also arrested were the Deputy Speaker, Isyaku Ali Danja, the Chief Whip, the Deputy Chief Whip, the Majority Leader and the Deputy Majority Leader.
The Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, and the Clerk of the House were also arrested.

Source: Sahara reporters

Amaechi Is One Of Those On Jonathan’s Secret Watch List?

governor Amechi with other APC leaders

Some of the secrets exposed by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan are at the moment generating a lot of controversy, even within with PDP as some of those who had thought that they are close to president have learnt that their names too are on the list.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State have also disclosed, based on information at his disposal, that he is one of those they are allegedly training snipers to take out should it be difficult for the ruling party to rig the 2015 general election. “I’m number one on the list. They want to kill me,” Amaechi told a huge crowd in Port Harcourt.

The governor made the shocking revelation during an exciting rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement – a political group backing Amaechi’s stand on the state’s political future.
Amaechi, who is also the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman, said: “Today (yesterday), I am not declaring. I said I would declare at the new stadium. The reason for gathering today is to remind Nigerians that the current Federal Government is carrying on with impunity. There is no rule of law in Nigeria. They are using police to molest us. Where police fail to molest us, they are using thugs to shoot dynamites and guns against innocent people.
“I read the President’s (Jonathan’s) letter and he said ex-President Obasanjo should prove the 1,000 names on the watch list. I am number one on the list. They want to kill me, but they have no God. The God we worship will protect me. Before the end of the year, I will address the state.
“They will shoot you. They have no fear for your blood. They want the position at all costs. Whether you all die, they do not mind governing just the land. You must know that if you read the story of revolution, you must sacrifice. Somebody said my son should come to the front. If you want my son tomorrow, I will produce him.
“If I have surrendered myself and I am ready to be in front, let them shoot. Anytime you start a street march and you do not see me in the front, you must know something must be wrong and you must know that they have arrested me. I am not a big man governor. I am a governor that is on the streets with his people.
“One other thing that is bothering me is that all those who are on the other side, saying they want South-South President, I agree with them. In politics, you are not here today (yesterday) because you like Amaechi; you are here because of your own political interest. If a South-South President refused to give you water, you will push him out.”
Governor Amaechi continued: “They said Buhari is not a Christian. Buhari is a Muslim. We are not preaching religious politics. Everybody in Nigeria has the right to worship where he wants to worship. I am a Catholic and I will worship Christ. I will die a Christian, but do not bring politics into good governance.
“It is only when there is bad governance that they begin to look for who is an Ikwerre man, who is an Ijaw man, who is an Hausa man, who is a Yoruba man. If there is good governance, you will be talking about schools (developments). Have I told you I am an Ikwerre man? I told you I have done schools, health centres and roads. I am facing power. They should tell us what they are doing. We are prepared for a debate with them.
“If you listen to them closely, our brothers, who are on the other side, they are hungry. They have been out of power for nearly eight years. If you vote them into power, what will happen? They will steal all the money. They are broke. The ones that are not broke, that are in government, they are busy stealing and building mansions everywhere. They have no fear. I have never seen corruption like this in Nigeria before.”

All the top APC leaders were at the rally at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt. “President Jonathan said in his letter that former President Obasanjo should apologise on the issue of $49.8 billion. Right on television, a debate between the Minister of Finance (Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) and the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) Governor (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi). The CBN Governor said they had reconciled, but they had not found $12 billion, but the Minister for Finance said it was $10.8 billion. Even if it is $1 billion, it is stealing. $1 billion is N170 billion. There are some states that their budget (annually) is N130 billion. Bring our money. I have never seen corruption like this before”, Amaechi stressed.