Jonathan Declares Air Expo Open

The Air Expo is an international event organized to exhibit Nigeria Air Force capabilities.

The event, which was held to also commemorate the 48th anniversary of the commencement Air Force operation in Nigeria, was held under a very tight security with soldiers, police and other security personnel drafted to all roads to ensure there was no attack by the Boko Haram sect that had in the past targeted military and security formations in the country.
Delivering his speech at the event Jonathan said in spite of the inability of the Federal Government to contain the dreaded Boko Haram insurgence ravaging the north, he assured of the readiness and commitment of his administration to ensure security as well as maintain law and order in country.
While accepting that the country is presently facing a serious security challenge, he promised it would soon be history as efforts have intensified to tackle the challenge.
The President commended the Air force and other military formations for their roles and efforts to provide security at what he termed “this trying period”.
After declaring the event open, the president together with Kaduna Governor, Patrick Yakowa, Emir of Zazzau and other dignitaries inspected the newly acquired fighter jets, aircraft and other weapons of war.
Men of the Airforce displayed their skills and Airforce capabilities to protect the country against any form of external aggression

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Nigeria broke; cannot pay Youth Corpers

Sources in several state governments as well as the Federal Ministry of Finance have disclosed to Sahara Reporters that Nigeria’s cash flow woes appear to be worsening. For the second month in a row, the Nigerian government was unable to meet the schedule for disbursing monthly allocations from the federation account to states.

Our sources accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of depleting the country’s foreign reserves and recklessly overspending budgeted funds.
One source revealed that the Federal Ministry of Finance has paid March monthly allocations only to some states. The allocations for April and May 2012 remain unpaid. As a result of what some of the sources described as a major cash flow crisis, many civil servants and National Youth Corps members have yet to receive their April salaries or allowances.
In addition, the meeting of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has been postponed indefinitely after the secretariat said the earlier meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow was no longer feasible. SaharaReporters obtained a text message announcing the cancellation of the meeting. Sent by Philip K. Angulu, the terse message apologized to recipients for any inconveniences caused by the postponement.
SaharaReporters learnt that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not been able to make regular payments to the federation accounts as oil marketers and corporation are now deducting their share of profit in offshore accounts to avoid dealing with local bureaucratic bottlenecks.

A source within the Presidency described Mr. Jonathan as a confused pawn in the hands of members of his security team who manipulate him to approve huge “security votes” for the so-called fight against terrorism. “Many of the president’s security advisers just keep deceiving him into releasing more and more cash to them – and they have nothing to show for it,” said the source.
Another source in the Central Bank told SaharaReporters that fuel marketers continue to defraud Nigerians with undocumented and fraudulent claims. “As we speak, I can tell you that the government has virtually spent this year’s budget for fuel subsidies – and we are only in the middle of May,” said the source. He added, “Nigerians are calling on President Jonathan to prosecute those who committed fraud in collecting fuel subsidies in the past. They don’t know that the fraud has actually increased this year.”
One of our sources accused Christopher Kolade, the chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) Committee, of deliberately misleading Nigerians when he claimed that N60 billion has been saved for the implementation of the phantom palliative program put in place by Mr. Jonathan’s government to pacify Nigerians who thronged the streets of Nigerian and foreign cities in January to protest the removal of fuel subsidy. “Dr. Kolade knows that no such fund exists,” said the source, a ranking official in the federal government.

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Fed Govt is biggest Boko Haram, says Buhari

By The Nation: Tony Akowe, Kaduna

 

  General Muhammadu Buhari

Former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in last year’s presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday described the Goodluck Jonathan administration as the biggest Boko Haram in the country.
Buhari said he would make up his mind on the 2015 presidential election when his party reorganises.
Addressing Niger State CPC members, who visited him in Kaduna, the former military leader noted that “since the leaders do not listen to anybody but does whatever they wish, there is nothing the North can do”. 
He added: “I will like to quote Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who said there are three Boko Harams, including the original one, led by Muhammed Yusufu, who was killed and his supporters tried to take revenge in attacking the law enforcement agencies and politicians.
“There is another developed Boko Haram of criminals, who steal and kill. The biggest Boko Haram is the Federal Government.” 
On his political future, Buhari said: “God willing, something will happen in 2015.”
Buhari said the government has two options to conduct free and fair elections in 2015 or face humiliation from the people. 
He said: “If what happens in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon will all be soaked in blood.”
The former Head of State said whether or not he contests the presidential election in 2015, the party should be well organised while he re-considers his stand.
Buhari said: “That’s what I told those who have visited me in the past, but the press wrote that I said I have changed my mind about re-contesting.”
The former Head of State noted that the Jonathan administration has destroyed the petroleum industry, saying what is happening in the industry can only happen under the type of the leadership Nigeria has now. 
He said: “There’s nowhere in the world where such things happen. There’s nowhere in the world where a government can increase the cost of petroleum product by more than 120 per cent. It is most insensitive. Besides the air people breathe, the next important thing to them is petroleum. 
“Unfortunately, I know more about the petroleum industry than others in the government, because I was there for over three years as a leader. We started with Port Harcourt refinery producing 60,000 barrels per day. It was upgraded to 100,000 barrels per day. Another one was built there, also in Port Harcourt, producing over 150,000 barrels, making a total of 250,000 barrels per day. These were slated purely on Nigeria’s crude oil. 
“I personally asked the owner to sign the contract for Warri and Kaduna refineries, 100,000 barrels each. There were more than 20 depots, more than 3,200 pipelines and there was even a time we were exporting 100,000 barrels per day of refined products. But the current leadership has destroyed the industry.”

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Mikel declares I'll give 100% to Nigeria

By Our Reporter

 

Mikel Obi

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has again declared 100% effort and commitment to Nigeria ahead of a hectic month of qualifiers.
Mikel told MTNFootball.com he will be available for all the Super Eagles qualifiers against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda, if picked by coach Stephen Keshi.
Nigeria host Namibia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 3 in Calabar and a week later they are away in Malawi in continuation of the qualifying tournament. They will then welcome Rwanda in a second leg qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on June 17 after both teams played out a 0-0 draw in Kigali in February.
Keshi has demanded for assurances from the Chelsea midfielder before he would be picked for these games.
"I am always happy to play for Nigeria and my commitment should never be in doubt,” said Mikel, who has yet to feature for the country under Keshi.
“I am 100% ready to play for Eagles under new manager Stephen Keshi, who has been doing well since he took charge.
“I am ready to honour all the call-ups and give my best on the pitch."
Mikel informed MTNFootball.com he was delighted to meet with president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu Maigari in London recently.
"It was a great honour for me that my country’s federation president was in London to watch me play in the FA Cup final,” he said.
“We were together after the match, had a great time and discussed at length on how to move the Eagles forward so that we will return to the good, old days.
“I gave him my word that I will do my best to see that the Eagles are great again."
Mikel has also allayed fear surrounding his ankle injury, saying he will be fit and ready for Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
"I am okay now. I trained on Friday, so no cause for alarm. I will play the final of the Champions League," he told MTNFootball.com.

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