Jonathan approves forensic audit of NNPC accounts

Reports of missing oil funds from the nation’s coffers have elicited a response from the Federal Government as President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have approved a forensic audit of the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The president is said to have approved the appointment of reputable international organizations to conduct the exercise.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, who is said to have stated that the government is determined to get to the bottom of the allegation.

Mr. Abati said that President Jonathan was actually interested in investigating the issue contrary to Sanusi Lamido’s accusations that the government was trying to sweep the allegations under the rug by getting rid of him.

The Central Bank governor revealed last year that oil funds were missing from the federation account and he was suspended last month by the president.

Exposed: Governor Rochas is not an indigene of Imo State – Governorship Aspirant

An Imo State governorship aspirant, Dr. Osmond Imo Ukanacho, on Thursday ruled out the possibility of re-electing Rochas Okorocha as the Governor of Imo State in 2015.

Speaking to journalists shortly after attending the Igbo International Colloquium in Enugu, Ukanacho of the United Progressives Party, UPP, said Okorocha, was ignorant of the needs and feelings of the Imo people having lived outside the state for so long.

He noted that the Governor returned to Imo from where he was doing business for several years and was elected in 2011 “merely because Imo people were fed up with Ikedi Ohakim and needed a change at all costs”.

He said “Rochas has done according to his capacity, but we understand what the people want, we understand how Imo people feel, I live there, I grew up there, had my education there, I have my core businesses in Imo State.

“Rochas just came, he is a businessman living outside the state, so with my orientation, I will give our people the best”.


“We need a government that in Imo State that will be responsible to the people, a government that will understand the need of the people, that will understand that government is meant for people that cannot put food on their table”.

On the likely challenge the All Progressives Congress, APC, could place on his way, the guber aspirant noted that “APC is dead on arrival, it is not an Igbo party, so, as you can see, we are going to take over from Rochas with a party that has Igbo identity”.

Ukanacho further stated that he would make health and education his priority, stressing “it is only a healthy and sound person that could do other things needed to make life better”.

Speaking on the Igbo colloquium which ends Friday, he expressed the hope that all the issues raised would help Ndigbo galvanize ideas to move the region forward.

How A 14 years old girl was Raped in Lagos (video)

Emotions ran high yesterday, March 11, 2014 in Lagos, following a 14-year-old girl’s startling account of how she was robbed and raped in Oko Oba area of Agege, last Sunday, by an unidentified man.

The Osun State-born victim said she left her home town for Badagry, to assist a relative who had just been delivered of a baby.

However, on arriving in Lagos, it was late and she reportedly decided to pass the night at Agege.

She said: “As I was sleeping in fro
nt of a shopping complex, a man came and started rough handling me. He tied his belt round my neck and used his shirt to cover my face and mouth.

“After raping me, he collected my transport fare and my phone. He later came back and beat me when I shouted for help. He had his way thrice, saying if I attempt to escape, other boys elsewhere would have me in turn.

“I passed out the fourth time, only to open my eyes and found some people around me.”

It was gathered that sympathisers gave her water to wash her blood-stained body before contacting policemen at Elere Division, who referred her to Orile-Agege General Hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the Deputy spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Damasus Ozoani said no arrest had been made but assured that the culprit would soon be brought to book.

“Investigation is ongoing, while the teenager is responding to treatment at the Orile-Agege General Hospital,” Ozoani said.

FG plans to link state capitals by rail this year

The Federal Government on Thursday assured that it would extend rail lines to all state capitals to enhance economic activities in the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan gave the assurance in Katsina when he visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, in his palace.

Jonathan, who was responding to a request by the Emir, said: “I assure you that the federal government will include this project even if it was not in our projection.’’

“We believe that for the government to provide mass transit to over 170 million Nigerians, it needs to extend rail network linking all the major cities, including Katsina,’’ he said, adding that it had plans to reach all state capitals by rail.

He said that rail service would help reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products to Nigerians and enhance socio-economic development of the country.

Jonathan also assured that the government would develop the Zobe Water Project to provide drinking water to the people and enhance agricultural activities in the area.

He said that agriculture was an area the government had earmarked to create wealth for the people.


On the Windmill Power Project at Lambar-rimi, the president said that the project was not directly under federal government supervision.

He assured that government would ensure that the project was completed within a short time.

Earlier, the Emir lauded the federal and Katsina State governments for the numerous projects being executed in the state, adding that they had direct bearing on the poor.

Kabair commended Jonathan for the visit, and urged Nigerians to continue to pray for peace in the country. (NAN)

Oil And Gas Exploration Activities In Chad Still Ongoing, Says Alison-Madueke

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday said that the oil and gas exploratory activities in Chad were still ongoing.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Omar Ibrahim, Acting Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in Abuja.

The statement, however, stressed that because of the heightened insecurity in the area, not much was done in 2013.

It explained that the tightness in the petroleum products supply chain was as a result of hoarding and diversion of the products by marketers.

The statement warned that anyone found diverting or hoarding petroleum products would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

It stated that based on the actual funds released to the ministry in 2013, the budget performance stood at 89.6 per cent.

The statement stated that the capital release recorded 50.2 per cent, while recurrent recorded 100 per cent.

It revealed that over N60 billion was projected for the 2014 budget in line with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

The statement assured that the ministry would complete some of the ongoing projects that were started in the previous financial year.

It said that the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Framework in the 2014 budget was geared toward having a robust LPG development in the country.

The statement said that the ministry was collaborating with NNPC Retail to ensure that the LPG project receives full implementation.

On the status of the planned privatisation of the refineries, it stated that the Federal Government had stepped down the privatisation policy of the state-owned refineries.

It stated that though government had aggreed to step down privatisation with the labour unions, the best way forward was still remained privatisation.

In his remarks, the Senate Joint Committee Chairman, Sen. Emmanuel Paulker, said the budget performance of the ministry in 2013 was based on the funds released to them.

He urged the ministry to find a lasting solution to the delays recorded in the procurement processes to fast track the capital projects in the oil and gas sector.

Similarly, the House of Representatives Joint Committee Chairman, Rep. Muraina Ajibola, called on the minister to perform the magic of restoring normalcy to the supply of petroleum products.

He said this was necessary in order to reduce the pains being witnessed by Nigerians across the country. (NAN)