N-Power: Massive Registration an indication of public acceptance of Batch C - Policy Expert

 By Dansu Peter 

The massive registration of youths for the Batch C stream of the N-Power programme has been attributed to the transparent process the honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has introduced in the implementation of programmes and policies in the ministry.

This was stated in an interview by Dr Gbolahan Agbaje, a renowned policy and development expert. 

He stated that the initiation of the Batch C stream of the N-Power Scheme by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the leadership of Hajiya Saddiya Farooq  is indeed an indication that the government is sensitive to the plight of the youths in the country. 

"I can't but laud the honourable minister for the way and manner she has carried on with the implementation of the various interventionist programmes under her ministry. The example of the massive registration by youths for the Batch C Stream of the N-Power is quite overwhelming."

“Even though the Federal Government plans to enrol 400,000 applicants in the Batch C scheme, over 4.48 million youths have applied for the programme. This is an indication that the honourable minister is indeed thinking outside the box in ensuring that the policy of the federal government on the youths in the country is fully implemented.” 

Dr Agbaje also noted that the honourable minister has transparently handled the affairs of the ministry, and this line of action has instilled confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

"The level of transparency exhibited by the honourable minister has been outstanding and a lesson in governance in the country. I believe that if other public office holders imbibe such level of transparency in their conduct, Nigeria would indeed make substantial progress."

“The distribution of humanitarian palliatives during the COVID19 pandemic across the country is another exemplary display of transparency and accountability by the minister. We must admit that she indeed understands what it means to head such a sensitive agency." 

He further asserted that the choice of Sadiya Umar Farouq as the head of such a sensitive agency is strategic and buttresses the level of commitment of President Muhammdu Buhari towards uplifting the plight of the youths as well as the vulnerable groups in the country. 

“I have no reservation whatsoever with the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari in the choice of the minister because she has displayed a great sense of enthusiasm and commitment to the Nigerian cause. I must add that she can be regarded as a lesson in governance.”

 

“Taking the examples of the conditional cash transfer initiatives, the distribution of food items and other interventions all speaks volume of her level of integrity. I would advise her to continue in this fashion to ensure that the impact of the various government interventions reaches the intended beneficiaries.” 

“Her work ethic is infectious and that infectious attitude is what I believe she has transmitted to staffers in her ministry and the various agencies under her supervision hence the effective coordination in the implementation of various humanitarian policies of the government.” 

It would be recalled that accolades have continued to pour in for the efforts of the honourable minister of Humanitarian Affairs in the implementation of the various government policies that affected the lives of ordinary citizens. In recent times she has received awards on excellence and good governance by multiple organizations in recognition of her excellent works.

Retirement of 365 soldiers has nothing to do with Boko Haram, Independent Monitoring Project reveals

By Dansu Peter 

A report by the Independent Monitors Project (IMP) has rubbished insinuations that 365 soldiers retired due to low morale in the fight against Boko Haram/ ISWAP terorists. 

IMP said after a week-long extensive investigation and assessment of the North-East, it discovered that contrary to speculations, the troops are in high spirits, dedicated and commited to winning the war. 

In the report signed by Special Rapporteur, Udo Toby, IMP revealed that a bulk of the soldiers voluntarily disengaged on health grounds while others reached the 35- year statutory age for retirement and had nothing to do with Boko Haram war. 

Among others, the group said it uncovered a campaign to distract the troops following renewed onslaught against the terrorists led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. 

It added that some desperate individuals and groups even offered as much as $50,000 and a further promise of a monthly payment of $1,000 for one year to soldiers to abscond from duty. 

While commending the troops for remaining patriotic, steadfast and resilient, the Independent Monitors Project, however, urged the military to always engage the media with information as regards the activities of agents of the Boko Haram group.

The Independent Monitors Project

A special report by the Independent Monitors Project on the alleged demoralization of Nigerian Troops in operation in North-East Nigeria.

Introduction: 

The Independent Monitors Project an investigative Platform of online news portals undertook a strategic assessment of the operations of the Nigerian troops in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria to put issues in proper perspectives with regards to the effectiveness or otherwise of the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria.

The Independent Monitors Project consequently deployed an array of investigative reporters from member online news portals to undertake a critical study in North-East Nigeria with a mandate to highlight the actual state of things in light of the news making the rounds that frontline troops are demoralized.

Methodology: 

The Investigative reporters relied on primary sources of information that involved on the spot visits, interaction with troops in the frontline, as well as commanders. Information was also gathered from community and religious leaders in the various communities in North-East Nigeria. Emphasis was also placed on documentary pieces of evidence on the operation of the troops at the frontline in core areas of operations around the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region.

The Issues: 

There have been speculations on the operations of the Nigerian troops in North-East Nigeria citing fatigue and low morale and lack of fighting spirits from the frontline troops owing to the disengagement of over 360 soldiers.

The news alleged that this action has dampened the morale of troops and consequently led to lethargy and responsible for the recent attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group. 

Findings: 

The team of investigative reporters after an extensive two weeks investigative assessment in North-East Nigeria observed as a first-line that the situation on the ground was not a reflection of the news making the rounds in some news platforms.  

Our team observed that what was on the ground was a professional fighting force exhibiting a very high level of dedication and commitment to winning the war against the Boko Haram terrorist group. 

It also observed that there is a strong level of teamwork in the operations of the troops in the frontlines with a detailed command structure that has indeed yielded the much-desired result in confining the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

The information gathered from some top military commanders indicated that there is an ongoing campaign to distract the troops which are borne as a result of the renewed onslaught against the Boko Haram group led by the Chief of Army Staff and other top commanders in North-East Nigeria. This stance indeed restricted the operations of some groups that are sympathetic to the Boko Haram group.

It was also identified that the introduction of strict clearance procedures for the operations of NGOs and humanitarian workers in North-East Nigeria restricted access to the theatre of operations unlike in times past where some NGOs were granted unhindered access to the theatre of operations from which some unscrupulous ones consequently render logistic support to the Boko Haram group. 

This new stance of the Military has strategically cut off medical and other logistic supplies to the Boko Haram group from the Nigerian territory as well as from the neighboring countries as a result of the renewed commitment of the Multinational Joint Task Force in operation. 

The team of reporters observed that the troops enjoy an excellent relationship with the various community and religious leaders in areas of their operations. This alliance has indeed made the operations of the Boko Haram group difficult and hence the campaign of smear against the Nigerian Military sponsored by some agents of terrorist cells the Boko Haram group has affiliations with. 

The team of reporters gathered from credible sources that there is an ongoing drive to influence officers and soldiers stationed in the frontline to abscond from their duty posts and the Nigerian Army in return for substantial monetary rewards. It was gathered that some soldiers were offered as much as $50,000 and a further promise of a monthly payment of $1,000 for one year should they elect to resign their commission from the Nigerian Army.  

It was also discovered that the news of the disengagement of 360 soldiers was anchored on the earlier plan to influence the mass exodus of officers and soldiers from the Nigerian Army in the frontline. It was gathered that the news was meant to complement and amplify the mass decommissioning of officers and soldiers. 

The team of reporters gathered that overtures were also made to soldiers in the frontline to join the ranks of the depleted Boko Haram group in return for hefty rewards. This move was countered by the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff to the Theatre of Operations after a restructuring of the Command and Operations which saw to the redeployment of officers and soldiers that might have been compromised or with tendencies to fall for the bait offered by agents of the Boko Haram group. 

Conclusion: 

The Independent Monitors Project after a careful analysis of the various issues in the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria, it concludes that there is no iota of truth in the news making the rounds on the demoralization of the troops in the frontlines.

What is indeed the case is a troop highly committed to preserving the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The troops are in high spirits and working as a team in its operations. The commanders in the Theatre of Operation have been leading in an exemplary manner that has put the troops in prime position to counter the pockets of threats posed by the remnants of the Boko Haram group.

The troops are motivated to fight and win the war against the Boko Haram Insurgency. 

Recommendations: 

The Independent Monitors Project as a result of the observations in the Theatre of Operations as a result of this makes the following recommendations:

It is imperative for the Nigerian Army to continually engage the media constituencies with information as regards the activities of agents of the Boko Haram group.

The military authorities must take control of the narrative at every point in time to ensure that the troops are not distracted by the antics of the Boko Haram group.  

Akpabio, Ojugboh and the 40 thieves, By Fejiro Oliver

By Fejiro Oliver

"When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn’t swallow the hypocrisy"

... Barry White

My Dear President

I bring you Calvary greetings. Before I start, I swear that everything you will read here is nothing but the truth and a reflection of the minds of well-meaning sons and daughters of the Niger Delta extraction. So help me God.

When you set up the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) after stepping down the initial names sent to the National Assembly, we didn’t scream down the heavens because we were already tired of the thieves who masqueraded as MDs and Executive Directors of the commission over the years and truly yearned for the long awaited forensic audit to be carried out.

Little did we know that the worst sets of rogues that will make Lawrence Anini look like a Saint that will ever grace the NDDC and turn the place into what Warri folks call “their cocoyam farm”. Since Godswill Akpabio was appointed the Minister of Niger Delta, the place has known no rest. He has imported the looting syndrome that he inflicted in Akwa Ibom into the NDDC and abandoned the other works that his ministry is supposed to do and channeled all his energy on NDDC.

With his appointing of Cairo Ojugboh, a known soldier of liars as the Acting Executive Director of Projects, the restiveness became worse than the actual days of agitation and struggle for the recognition of the Niger Delta as the region that lays the golden eggs. Rather than sanitizing the place, the duo has turned it into their conquered kingdom, awarding contracts to friends and cronies. Contractors daily cry out on how they pay Cairo Ojugboh 30% of payments made to them and anyone who does not agree to this is not paid. It is an open secret that for years, 10% was the norm but the Minister and Cairo have been alleged to up the game by taking more from these contractors who borrow money from banks to finance these projects. How do we expect them to deliver quality jobs when they know that Akpabio and Godswill are by the corners like hungry vultures waiting to descend on the monies that will be paid them?

Mr President, this is not the time for you to turn blind eyes to these wanton stealing of the NDDC funds especially to the tune of over N50 billion that Akpabio and Cairo have squandered on irrelevant projects that makes no meaning to any Niger Deltan? How do we begin to explain in future to our children that a certain Cairo Ojugboh and his gang of 40 thieves paid themselves N1.5 billion under the time of COVID-19 while they shared only noodles to the people and it was under your reign? How do we tell the next generation that you were the President and Akpabio alongside his Man Friday Cairo paid almost N1 billion for image management and reputation that were never done but money channeled into their private purses and you did nothing? Pray Mr President, how do we write the history of Niger Delta and say that you appointed a Minister who imposed IMC on you and awarded media jobs to a shabby engineering company, awarded procurement of Lassa fever kits to a roadside company that sells electric bulbs in Port Harcourt as well as another company that sells hair creams in same Port Harcourt? Just imagine the curse those unborn kids will place on you and Yusuf for watching while their future was toyed with by two failed professionals; one who read law but never practiced. As a matter of fact, his call to bar certificate do not bear correct names and he’s not aware till date, except now that he will be reading this article. The other one read Medicine and didn’t also practice but jumped into politics where he has turned to political Hushpuppi. Maybe you can begin to ask him about some properties that his godfather Tony Anenih showed to him but are nowhere to be found today.

That a former Acting MD of the Commission, Joi Nunieh, who should know better and truly know has accused the Minister of bombing pipelines just to sabotage the economy and he has not been picked up by the security agencies makes one begin to wonder if he has not placed the Presidency under a spell from the mystical city of Punjab, India. In his days in Akwa Ibom as a governor, he was serially accused of practicing mbiam which is diabolical. He is yet to deny it till date. Could he have blown the mbiam breeze on Mr President during one of their meetings or via handshake? If he has, may Allah in his infinite mercy open upon your eyes to do the needful and save NDDC from total collapse.

Joi Nunieh did not just make allegations but backed it up with witnesses from the Presidency and staff of the commission. They are too grave to be ignored. 

For Cairo Ojugboh, you should truly believe when Joi alleged that he said he can kill for Akpabio before asking the reason why he sent him on such a dangerous mission. Mr. President, it is said in Delta North that Cairo is a dreaded killer who masterminded the murder of security details attached to Nduka Irabor during their tussle for the House of Representatives. That incident left a lifetime emotional trauma on Irabor that he never contemplated running for any election again as long as Cairo Ojugboh remains alive. If that was a one off gist, stories abound on how he slapped a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Martins Okonta with magical hands during a shouting bout that almost made him run mad. I don’t believe in fairy tales but the bible admonishes that in the mouth of two witnesses, truth is established. Perhaps, we can begin to source for these witnesses who will tell us how dangerous it is to have Cairo Ojugboh as a member of NDDC even on part time basis.

For anyone to begin to insinuate that the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege who has been your biggest supporter from the South South is behind the scandals surrounding the IMC NDDC is enough for Mr President to not only dissolve the entire board but even shut down the entire NDDC for one year. For heaven sake, has Cairo Ojugboh no honor left in him that he will accuse the most performing Senator from the Southern part of the country of instigating crisis when he has never benefitted one contract from NDDC, has no payment there that the forensic audit will expose and does not even know the MD’s office to send people to collect jobs.

Just like every well-meaning Niger Deltans, the DSP is concerned that 20 years after establishing the NDDC, it has no meaningful projects to claim and just when he though the IMC is the Daniel come to judgment, he began to weep when he began reading of allegations of billions missing. It is natural that as the major representative of the South and political leader of the South South which includes both PDP and APC, he backed his colleagues in the hallowed chambers to support the probe of the IMC. I do not believe that as a President, you sent Godswill there as the supervising minister to steal ahead of his Vice Presidential aspiration for 2023 or Cairo Ojugboh to loot ahead of his 2023 Senatorial ambition. It is important that even the watchman is watched.

Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who watched over the anti-corruption agencies was also watched by the SSS and NFIU. Today, their reports which the Presidential panel is acting on has led to his suspension and possible dismissal. If you could order Magu’s arrest, detention and investigation, Godswill Akpabio and Cairo Ojugboh should be immediately arrested. They cannot continue to seat in the same office where they have every opportunity to doctor documents, steal files and destroy evidences against them. 

Mr President, without sounding undemocratic, I will urge you to just switch your brain back to 1985 and tell SARS to pick up Akpabio and Cairo, tie them to two drums and have ten SARS officers stay in front of them and behind them to be shot to death. Their looting has caused many deaths to Niger Deltans and we will not shout as sons and daughters of the soil for ordering the shooting of these two useless sons that God mistakenly sent to our soil instead of Iraq. They need no fair hearing again Sir, for Joi Nunieh statement and many reports in the public is all that is needed to do this. If this is done Mr President, I can assure you that in years to come, we will reap the benefit of this benevolence and probably name the NDDC building after you, and God willing even name the commission to Muhammadu Buhari Development Commission (MBDC). 

Yours in Anti-Corruption struggle

These little things matter

Fejiro Oliver, an investigative journalist can be reached on +2348022050733 (SMS ONLY). He tweets with @fejirooliver86 and IG Handle @kingofqueendom

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