News
NNPC: N4 trillion unremitted fund trigger heated argument in Senate

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts and the Head of Finance of the National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Tuesday engaged each other in a heated debate over the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report.

The report claimed that over N4 trillion derivative of oil transaction was not remitted into the Federation Account in 2016, thereby constituted an infraction on the nation’s laws, according to the audit query.

But the NNPC’s Chief Financing Officer, Umar Ajiya who spoke under oath disputed the figure, saying, government has been battling with the fuel subsidy which he disclosed, gulped N4 trillion.
The Chief Financing Officer acknowledged that, fuel subsidy, though, unintended by the present administration, has become an issue of confusion, which according to him, discussion was still ongoing in the last six years on how to handle the implication of sustained subsidy.
Umar’s reaction was as a result of query by the Auditor General of the Federation over alleged unremitted N4 trillion which, though, reflected in the records of crude oil transaction, was not in the Federation Account.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts upon the scrutiny of the report interrogated NNPC at the investigation hearing that neither the Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari nor the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timiprieye Silver was around.
At the instace of the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, who presided over the hearing on behalf of the Chairman, Senator Mathew Uhroghide, Auditor General’s query was laid bare and read by Olutoye Agesin which stated: “It was observed upon scrutiny of NNPC report to the Technical Sub- Committee of Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting held in December 2016 that a cumulative total of N4,076,548,336,749.75 remained unremitted to the Federation Account by NNPC as at 31st December 2016.
“The total revenue unremitted as at 1st January 2016 (see the table above) from amounts payable into the Federation Account by NNPC was N3,878,955,039,855.73 was.
“The sum of N1,198,138,355,860.30 was due in revenue to the Federation Account out of the total generated in 2016, however, NNPC paid the sum of N1,000,545,058,966.20
resulting in an amount withheld of N197,593,296,894.02.
“This brought the total amount withheld by NNPC from the Federation Account as at 31 December 2016.”
Auditor General, therefore, ordered the GMD of NNPC to remit all amounts due to the federation account, improve on the record of remittances of proceeds to the federation account and pay interest on the amount unremmitted.
NNPC’s Umar who was obviously uncomfortable said:
“This has to do with the domestic crude that the NNPC takes in order to refine and sell products or takes to exchange and bring product into the country and side by side the Government has also fixed the price for PMS and that entails the accumulation of subsidy. “This issue has been reoccurring for years even now it’s a topical issue in the Government circles, a lot of consultations are ongoing because at the moment there is also more or less an implied subsidy as a result of the local consumption.
“What has happened in the past is that NNPC based on appropriation, and also appropriation for pipeline and security cost and maintenance had been deducting these sums before remitting balances to the Federation account.
“It became a turbulent issue to the extent the Governors also got involved and they commission forensic audit by PPMC. The forensic audit has been done, the auditor general has a copy of the forensic audit.
“At the end of the day that forensic audit established that NNPC was owing about N797 billion, but also on the other hand the federation was also owing NNPC, the net effect was that the NNPC was being owed N239 billion, so there is nothing like N4tr withheld by NNPC.”
He said the books are with the CBN, adding that they can’t hide N4tr anywhere.
Senators who are also members of the committee wondered how the NNPC would just wave off the weighty allegation.
Senator Ayo Akinyerule said the question by the auditor general is clear saying the answer to the query should be backed by documents
“Is that the response you can give to these questions fir those of us who are not part of your management? Only two lines response is not adequate for this committee.
“We expect you to provide details as subsidy payments, pipeline repairs and management of crude oil and arrive at a figure whether NNPC is owing or it is federation account that is owing. This answer is not acceptable.
“We believe you should take us seriously at this end there should have been proper computations on how they arrived at the N4tr and your defense to nollify it is not available to this committee.
The Deputy Chairman in his concluding remarks stepped down the query and asked him one week for the NNPC to supply documents to back his response.

News
Shehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence

Civil Rights Activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has debunked the former Governor, Malamn Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that Governor Uba Sani has diverted the Local Government Councils allocation to buy properties abroad.

Shehu Sani said El-Rufai’s allegation is “falsely crafted to smear the name of of the Governor because of the N420 billion investigation hanging on him like the sword of damocles.”

Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Shehu Sani challenged the former Governor to release proofs of purchases of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London by Uba Sani publicly.
He said, Kaduna people would not forget in a hurry how Nasir El-Rufai plundered the State in eight years as Governor of the State, stressing that he should stop pushing falsehood into the public space.
He said: “As Kaduna indigenes, we are all living witnesses to how El-Rufai plundered the State and now investigation has indicted him and he should face it rather than pushing falsehood into the public domain.
El-Rufai should be bold enough to show proofs linking governor Uba Sani in the purchase of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London, then we will take him serious.
“But he should be ready answer for the whereabouts of N420 billion because that money is substantial enough to develop Kaduna State to an extent”, Shehu Sani maintained.

News
Bill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate

The Nigerian Senate has passed for first reading a Bill to establish the National Cashew Production and Research Institute to be sited at Idah in Kogi East Senatorial District after it was laid on Wednesday last week.

The Bill which was sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District said, the propsed research institute will be situated at Idah, headquarters of Igala kingdom and the institute will be charged with the responsibilities of cashew research, processing and boosting production for local and export consumption.

According to the documents of the proposed bill made available on Monday, it pointed out that the Federal Government could leverage on the abundant cashew production in Kogi East and by extension Kogi State and other parts of the country to ensure that the quality of cashew is processed in line with the global standards, notwithstanding that the current quality of cashew from Kogi State is sought all over the world.
He said the legal framework of the Research Institute will identify the value chain and processing, ensuring that at each level, there is job creation for the teaming youths and not just for the raw nuts to be exported, stating that the current handling of cashew nuts was unacceptable as it tended to bypass the needed revenue that would been generated into government coffers.
Senator Isah said: “This will not only improve the quality of cashew products but also provide support to farmers and cashew business owners in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi East, which is known for its high cashew production.
“The institute will also attract investment, create jobs, and ensure better pricing for cashew farmers, thereby strengthening the local economy in Kogi East, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.”
DAILY POST recalled that a fortnight ago, Kogi State government was urged by the State House of Assembly to safeguard cashew and other economic trees in the State by putting in place stringent measures against abuse.
The regulatory measures which the State parliament said will be put in place, urged the State government to enforce the laws with serious sanction for any erring persons and to also stop foreigners from accessing cashew farms in the State.
The resolution was the outcome of a motion sponsored by Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency in the House of Assembly, adding that the State Ministry of Agriculture should properly monitor and regulate the activities of exploitative foreign businessmen in the interest of revenue for the State and security of the people.
Kogi continues to be the leading State in cashew production in Nigeria which the State government attributed to robust and sound agricultural policies.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo once said: “Kogi State is the biggest producer of cashew in Nigeria because of our sound agricultural policies geared towards empowering farmers with improved seedlings, mechanization, agrochemicals as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest in cashew production.”

News
Report of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police

The Rivers State Police Command has described reports on several news outlets that hoodlums have attacked the Port Harcourt residence of Nyesom Wike as false and misleading.

The police said nothing close to attack ever took place on Sunday on the residence of Wike who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory as mischievously reported in sections of the media.

On Sunday night, several online media platforms alleged that Wike’s residence was under siege and had been torched by unidentified individuals.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, described the reports as false and misleading, stating the the report was a connivance between some elements and the media to cause unrest and further create panic.
The statement read: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”
She further stated that the state remains peaceful, and there has been no such attack on Wike’s residence or any other major security breach.
“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state,” she said.
The police spokesperson warned against spreading misinformation, emphasizing that those found guilty of fabricating such reports would face legal consequences.
According to the spokesperson, “The Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form.”
She reassured residents of the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in Rivers State and urged the public to rely only on credible sources for information while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

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