At last, FG dissolves PHCN, pays workers N360bn

The Federal Government on Friday officially dissolved the Power Holding Company of Nigeria after it handed over the 14 successor companies created from the unbundling of PHCN to their respective new owners across the country.
Speaking at the official physical handover ceremony of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to its new owner, Kann Utility Consortium Nigeria Limited, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, stated that the government had paid N360bn to workers of the defunct PHCN.
He explained that there might be some teething issues such as an increase in electricity tariff as soon as the new power owners commenced operations in earnest, but stressed that the problems would abate with time.
He said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, PHCN has essentially cease to exist. We now have (electricity) distribution, generating and transmission companies. So it is no longer PHCN.

N255m bulletproof car scandal: Oduah denies wrongdoing, blames NCAA DG, aides

The embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah,   has been   accused by the  House of Representatives Committee on Aviation of approving  N564m for the purchase of 54 cars   beyond her power.

The committee alleged that Oduah, who  finally appeared before it  on Thursday after  failing to honour  earlier invitations,  did not follow the budget approved for the Aviation ministry and its agencies  by the National Assembly.

  The minister, who wore a striped blue ankara dress with a matching blue head scarf, walked into the hall at 11.42am looking somewhat disturbed.  She also wore white beaded jewellery to complement her embroidered blouse.

Oduah   first walked to take a seat facing the committee  members and made to sit but changed her mind.  She    went halfway between her seat and the high table, where she exchanged pleasantries with the Chairman of the committee, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha.

After that she walked out of the hall, spending about 10 minutes before returning   to   her seat to make a presentation.

Wizkid is not a threat – Davido

PUNCH - Davido is one artiste who sure knows how to blow his own trumpet. But, who won’t, when one has certain things going on well for oneself or when ‘the lines have fallen unto pleasant places’ as the Psalmist says. A rich father, a successful career which is barely three years old, a multi-million naira endorsement deal, sold-out concerts, a string of hits, a personal home, an enviable fleet of cars and a growing fan base – Davido boast all at the moment.

At 20, he has no doubt garnered what has taken many artistes years to achieve, that is, if God and mother-luck shines generously on them.

Ever since he drew the attention of millions of music fans to himself when he introduced himself as ‘Omo baba olowo’ in his 2011 hit song titled ‘Dami duro’, there has been no looking back for the singer, who says he is currently a part time student at Babcock University, Ilishan Remo.

“Everything is just God because I just wanted to do music, be happy and comfortable but He just turned my fortunes around and I thank Him for that,” he quips.

For some established artistes, fame and wealth can be a tad difficult to manage. But for Davido, it’s been a tough call especially since he has achieved both at a young age.

UNN graduate wins Gulder Ultimate Search, gets N10m

Twenty-year old graduate of Electronics Engineering from the University of Nigeria,  Nsukka, Daniel Okike, has emerged winner of the 10th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Reality Show.

With the victory, the Abia State native has won N10m and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero.

The guy that had initially said he intended to establish a successful international import and export business outsmarted Edmund Umeabuani and Ifunanya Onike in the waters of the Usaka River, where the battle for the ultimate symbol held.

But it is a fair story for Onike, too, as she is the Last Female Standing, winning an added  one million naira.

Also, a  final year student of Industrial Mathematics in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Kalu Kalu,  emerged the first winner of the first ever fans edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search.

Kalu also won  a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLX MT, courtesy of CFAO Motors, the automotive partner of Gulder Ultimate Search 10.

Cholera: Death toll rises to 86, says FG

The Federal Government has said 86 persons out of the 1,623 persons reportedly infected by the cholera outbreak in some parts of the country have died.

The government also directed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to immediately coordinate all its response activities and report to the Ministry of Health daily on both the patterns of occurrence.

It said the efforts were to achieve total control of the outbreak.

The cholera  outbreak has affected a number of states including Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Lagos.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Communication), Mr. Dan Nwomeh, on Monday, also directed all federal  health facilities in the country to provide free services to cholera patients.

Jonathan, Amaechi, Dickson hold secret talks

THERE were indications that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Seriake  Dickson, on Thursday had a closed-door meeting in Rivers State.

The venue and agenda of the meeting were not clear as at the time of sending this report.

However, sources said the ongoing feud between the Peoples Democratic Party and the seven rebel governors loyal to the New PDP could be part of the discussion.

It was gathered that Amaechi and Dickson flew in the same chopper with Jonathan from the Port Harcourt International Airport to Okrika in Rivers State, where the remains of the President’s wife’s foster mother, late Mrs. Charity Oba, would be buried today (Friday).

A Government House source said Jonathan, Amaechi and Dickson might have met in the private residence of the President’s wife, Patience.

More facts emerge on Oduah car scandal

PUNCH - More cans of worms were thrown up  on Wednesday in Abuja  during  the public hearing  by  the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the controversial N255m bulletproof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

But the woman at the centre of the scandal, Ms Stella Oduah, dared the committee   as she again reneged on her promise to honour an invitation earlier extended to her.

Her absence however  led to  a near  disagreement between the Committee Chairman, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and a member, Jerry Manwe.

Manwe had complained that the committee started proceedings without first clarifying why Oduah, who is the Minister of Aviation,  was absent.

He said, “We adjourned  (on Tuesday)to take the minister today (Wednesday). Why is she not here?

“She should have been the main issue today (Wednesday).

Ikeja Disco tackles crazy billing, unveils CAPMI scheme

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has inaugurated the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation scheme aimed at making prepaid meters available to the over 600,000 customers under its jurisdiction.

The company has also partnered with six indigenous prepaid meter manufacturing companies for an effective meter procurement and installation.

The implication of this, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja DISCO, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, is that estimated billing will be reduced.

He said the scheme was necessary to urgently address complaints by consumers about estimated billing and other components of service delivery by the company.

According to him, consumers can, under the scheme, apply and pay for meters, which will be installed within 48 hours and get their money reimbursed over a period of time as a means of discount on their electricity consumption.

APC leaders, rebel govs’ meeting rattles PDP

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was rattled by the meeting of the leadership of the All Progressive Congress and some of the aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto, Sokoto State on Tuesday.

The APC leaders, who were in Sokoto for the inauguration of the Sokoto State University , where the meeting was held, were a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Members of the New PDP who were in attendance were the governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

Three of the aggrieved governors, Aliyu Babangida(Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), were absent at the event.

No overage players in Eaglets – Manu

Golden Eaglets  coach Manu Garba has dismissed Iran’s accusation of age-cheating after their defeat by Nigeria  at the FIFA  Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Three-time champions Nigeria were too hot for Iran at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City racking up three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 win against the Asian side in the Round of 16.

Afterwards Iranian coach Ali Doustimehr questioned the ages of some of the players representing Nigeria at the championship.

But Manu told BBC Sport,  “I personally feel it is just something that is borne out of frustration at losing to a tactically and technically better side.

Forbes names Dangote Africa’s most powerful man

The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.

Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.

Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.

B’Haram: Death toll in Yobe attack hits 127

A five-hour battle between Islamic extremists and army troops in the capital of Yobe State killed at least 127 people, all but two combatants, according to reports from army and police officers.

This has raised doubts about military claims that they have the upper hand in Nigeria’s fight to halt an Islamic uprising in the northeast.

AFP reported the stench of rotting corpses from the morgue hung over Damaturu Specialist Hospital on Tuesday, where a reporter counted 31 bodies identified as those of extremists.

Details still are trickling in about the attack, which militants began at dusk Thursday on an army barracks 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside Damaturu, the state capital, where they overpowered the soldiers, seized an armoured car, looted the armoury and set the barracks ablaze with improvised explosive devices.

The reports were given to Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam by military officers as he toured the destroyed sites with a heavily armed escort on Monday. Journalists accompanying the tour heard the reports.

The attackers then moved down the main road into the city where they rammed the armoured car through the gates to the headquarters of the Police Anti-Terrorist Squad. There, they burned down three buildings.

While some of the extremists exchanged fire with the police, the armored car and others in all-terrain pickup trucks and on foot went on to shoot up and set fire to the police Criminal Investigation Department offices and four other police offices scattered across the city until they arrived at the Mobile Police Base, where the armored car caught fire and was abandoned.

Boy, 14, rapes nine-year-old girl to death

PUNCH Metro - The police in Lagos State have commenced investigation into how a nine-year-old girl died, after sustaining injuries caused by alleged consistent rape.

According to police authorities, the deceased was raped over five times, by a 14-year-old student, Onyi Adimabua, in the Ikorodu area of the state.

The father of the deceased, Simeon Jigo, told PUNCH Metro that Onyi is the son of the proprietor of the school his daughter attended.

He said his daughter opened up about the rape when she started having medical problems.

The 77-year-old man said his daughter died on October 3, 2013.

He said, “Up until my daughter’s death, she was a pupil of Fulfilled Greenland School, Ikorodu, and she was in primary three. One day, she came home and started complaining of pains around her vagina, stomach area. We rushed her to Ikorodu General Hospital.

Strike: Education minister, ASUU in secret meeting

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Abuja.

It could not be ascertained if the meeting which lasted barely one hour produced desirable results.

The ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge and the minister refused to speak with journalists after the meeting.

Fagge did not respond to questions on the outcome of the meeting and the  next line of action of the union.

He simply told one of our correspondents that, “I am not in a position to talk.”

At the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole and a few national officers of the union.

Also, Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday met briefly with stakeholders in the nation’s education sector.

Eaglets beat Iran, set up Uruguay clash

The Golden Eaglets on Tuesday advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup after they trashed Iran 4-1 at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates.

Nigeria will engage Uruguay, who defeated Slovakia 4-2  in another Round of 16 fixture in Ras Al-Khaimah  earlier in the day,  in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

The Eaglets  began on a lively mood and Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali should have scored in the early minutes.

Iran got into the game gradually but it was the Eaglets who got the lead in the 23rd minute when left-back Samuel Okon tapped in a low ball from Musa Yahaya past the outstretched hands of  Iran goalkeeper Mahdi Amini  to send the Nigerian supporters into rapturous celebrations.

Just two minutes later, Iheanacho got his fifth goal of the tournament. The impressive forward started the move off a counter-attack in the Nigerian half, sending a long ball to Taiwo Awoniyi, who controlled before passing to the onrushing Iheanacho to finish beautifully from the edge of the box.

Meeting with Jonathan ’ll decide our next move – Rebel govs

Chairman Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has said the outcome of discussions between aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors and President Goodluck Jonathan; hold the key to the group’s next move.

Aliyu, who is also the Governor of Niger State, said this while hosting leaders of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, in his office in Minna, on Tuesday.

The governor also used the occasion to debunk media reports that he had pulled out of the group of seven aggrieved PDP governors.

He described the media report as the handiwork of his detractors who would stop at nothing to break the ranks of the rebel governors.

He said the report which claimed that he had withdrawn from the group because he did not attend the last meeting was an act of mischief.

Aliyu said, “This is not the time for anyone to pull out of the party when out of respect for the office of the President, and the President himself, we are discussing.

“There is no way you can wake up and say you are pulling out when you are already negotiating. You cannot pull out at this moment. The time for decision to be taken will be when we have concluded discussion with the President.”

He explained that he was shocked to read in the papers that he had pulled out of the group in which he remains a leading figure.

PUNCH

Jonathan places Oduah on ‘tactical suspension’

President Goodluck Jonathan may have placed the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, on  “tactical suspension,” findings by The PUNCH have revealed.

A reliable Presidency source   said Jonathan decided on the  “tactical suspension,” hours before the signing of the Bilateral Air Service  Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. George Ossi,  had on October 24 told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah   led a Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.

The House committee  is probing the  purchase of  two  bulletproof cars  at  a whopping N255m  price by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the minister.

Our source explained that  it was the ‘tactical suspension’ that made Jonathan to direct the Minister of  State (1) for Foreign Affairs , Prof. Viola Onwuliri, to sign the  agreement instead of  Oduah.

PDP ex-chair, Ahmadu Ali, others get board appointments

Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, on Monday commissioned 12 governing councils of parastatals and institutions, as well as two committees on Need Assessment for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

Chairing the Board of the National Universities Commission is a former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, while Mrs. Yejide Ogundipe chairs the National Board of Technical Education.

Others appointed as chairmen are Prof. Greg Iwu, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria; Chief Emmanuel Edohoeket, Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry; Dr. Tosin Awolalu, National Institute for Nigerian Language, Abia State; and Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.), Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State.

Another plane crash averted in Abuja

Another air disaster was averted at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja on Monday as a Med-View Airlines aircraft from Lagos suddenly took to the air again at the point of landing in Abuja.

The pilot told the passengers that he took to the air again to avoid a collision with another aircraft on the tarmac.

The airline Flight VL2104 took off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at noon and was scheduled to land in Abuja at about 1.05pm.

The pilot had already announced final descent into Abuja and asked all passengers and cabin crew to fasten their seat belts but the pilot suddenly took off to the air again with barely 30 seconds to touch ground.

The plane had 150 passengers on board. A correspondent of The PUNCH was one of the passengers.

After about three minutes of gaining altitude, the pilot announced that he decided to take off again to avoid colliding with an aircraft that was on ground.

Our grouse with Jonathan – Rebel govs

The seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party  on Monday opened up on the cause of their dispute with President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP.

They said the President had refused to act on the issues they raised during their meetings with him and some leaders of the party on how to restore the crisis rocking the party.

They added that the President had refused to act on issues discussed with the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led Elders Committee and the reports presented to him.

Rather than act, they said President Jonathan and his supporters bluntly turned down the report.

The governors stated this in the communique issued after the meeting, which they held in Abuja on Sunday night.

The communique was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze.

N255m car scandal: Finally, Jonathan moves against Stella Oduah

President Goodluck Jonathan may have finally succumbed to public pressure to  move against the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, who is currently being probed over the N255m  bulletproof cars bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The development came to the fore with the last-minute decision to stop Oduah from signing the much-publicised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Israel.

The ceremony was given by Presidency officials as the  main purpose of her inclusion in the President’s entourage to Israel for this year’s Christian pilgrimage.

In her stead, Minister of State I, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Zeer Elkin, signed on behalf of the Israeli government.

In Israel, Jonathan, govs, 3,000 others fast, pray for Nigeria

The symbolic city of Jerusalem in Israel, yesterday stood still, as over 3, 000 Nigerian pilgrims, including President Goodluck Jonathan gathered to offer prayers for the country. The church service tagged: “A Day with Jesus for Nigeria In Israel,” had in attendance state governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, led by the Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, clergymen and regular pilgrims to the Holy Land.
The church service was the climax of a fast observed by over 3, 000 Nigerian pilgrims in Israel, including President Jonathan. The church service, which kicked off with prayers, hymns and songs, was led by high ranking clergymen, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
The 1st reading was taken from the Book of Psalms 122: 1-7 and chapter 125: 1-3. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu took the reading. According to the passage of the scriptures, ‘as the mountains Jerusalem, so will God surround Nigeria.’

I can be world’s best – Enyeama

Super Eagles  goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama believes he can be  the best shot-stopper  in the world.

The Lille star  kept another clean sheet in the 1-0 defeat of  Nantes  in the  French Ligue 1 on Friday to help   Les Douges to the second place in the table.

“It’s about work, work and even more hard work. I believe in hard work,” he told the club’s official website, www.losc.fr.

Enyeama is enjoying the best spell of his professional career and he took the time to explain the steps he has taken to get to the top.

The former Enyimba keeper said, “I have been watching videos and looking at (my) mistakes. I keep striving day and night to correct them.

“When I make a mistake, I am hard on myself….more than I could get on someone else if he made the same mistake.

“That’s the way I am. I have set very high standards for myself. I believe I can be the best goalkeeper in the world.”

Enyeama has been capped 86 times for Nigeria since making his debut for the Super Eagles in 2002.

We’ve been monitoring Iran —Eaglets

Golden Eaglets assistant coach Nduka Ugbade says the  team have been working on plans to beat Iran in their UAE 2013 FIFA  Under-17 World Cup Round of 16 clash in Al Ain City on Tuesday, after monitoring their last game.

The Eaglets, who have won the  tournament  three times, face a tough task to beat the hard tackling   Iranians  to reach the quarterfinals.

“We have been keeping tabs on all our likely opponents and I paid so much attention to the game between Iran and Austria on Friday,  which they won 1-0,” the former Super Eagles defender,  who captained Nigeria to win the maiden edition of the Under-17 World Cup in China  in 1985, said.

“The Iranians are a good side no doubt, but with all modesty, we should be able to cope well against them.”

The Tunisia’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner said the  Eaglets were  determined to win the tournament for the fourth-time, saying the players would give their best against Iran.

Bulletproof cars: We don’t have documents, NCAA tells Falana

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has denied having any documents relating to the  two BMW bulletproof cars it bought for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah.

The denial came two days after Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), gave seven days ultimatum to NCAA to supply his law firm with the information.

Falana’s request, dated October 21, 2013, was made on the strength of the provisions of the Freedom of information Act.

But a copy of the reply to the request dated October 23, 2013 by the NCAA Director-General, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.

In his reply through the NCAA Legal Adviser, Mr. E.K Chukwuma, Akinkuotu also claimed not to have in the possession of the NCAA any documents relating to previous purchase of such cars.

Leave PDP now, Wike dares Amaechi

THE Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Sunday dared the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and his supporters to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for another political party.

Wike said Amaechi and his supporters should go to another party if they believed they were popular, promising that he (Wike) and his followers would celebrate the exit of the governor from the PDP.

The minister, who made this remark during a rally organised by the Grassroots Development Initiative in Port Harcourt, said they would resist any attempt to rig the 2015 election.

He explained that Rivers State Government had collapsed, adding that a revolution was taken place in the state.

Wike said, “If you think you are so popular, why not join another party. The day they join another party, we will do thanksgiving. We will have to celebrate their exit and we will tell them that nobody can rig elections in Rivers State any longer.

NCAA DG, others earn N4.2bn yearly

The Director-General of the troubled Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, nine directors of the agency and 956 other members of staff earn N4.2bn as salaries and allowances annually.

This personnel cost represents 27.92 per cent of the annual budget of the NCAA, which stood at N15.3bn this January.

The “Certification” page of the NCAA’s 2013 budget, which our correspondent obtained in Abuja on Sunday, read, “The management of the NCAA, under the supervision of the Minister of Aviation, is hereby authorised to spend the sum specified in the schedule outlined here from the funds of NCAA during the year ending 31st December, 2013, not exceeding N15,316,850,000.”

A copy of the document was also lodged with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation investigating the N255m bullet-proof cars the NCAA bought for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

The agency has nine directors on its payroll, taking home N164.07m yearly. This is broken down into N18.6m (basic salary) and N142.4m (allowance).