AU set to re-admit Egypt

The African Union, AU, says it will re-admit the Arab Republic of Egypt following the election of a ‘democratic’ president in the country.

The AU Peace and Security Council announced this on Tuesday in Addis Ababa after a meeting of the council presided over by Mull Katende of Uganda.

“Following the constitutional referendum and the presidential election, the council decided to lift the sanction on Egypt,’’ Mr. Katende said.

According to him, the AU will re-admit Egypt during its summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from June 26 to June 27.

He said the council had earlier received the report of the Omar Konare-led AU Panel on Egypt which recommended the re-admission of Egypt following the election of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as the country’s new leader.

Egypt’s membership of the AU was suspended on July 5, 2013.

The suspension followed the announcement by Al-Sisi, who was the Minister of Defence for the country then, that he had overthrown former President Mohammed Morsi.

The council viewed the development as “unconstitutional’’, violating the AU charter and placed Egypt on suspension from the union’s activities.

Mr. Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, is still in prison while millions of his supporters, members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, were barred from the polls as the party was banned.

Confab rejects proposal for revival of Nigeria Airways

The National Conference on Tuesday rejected a proposal asking President Goodluck Jonathan to revive Nigeria Airways or in the alternative establish a new national carrier.

It also rejected an amendment that Close Circuit Televisions be installed in highways across the country.

The Conference rejected another amendment recommending that a driver who kills while driving out of reckless, negligence or drunk, shall pay N10 million to the family of the victim and if he cannot pay the said sum, he shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine.

It, however, adopted another proposal asking the Federal Government to ensure that every major airport in the country is linked to functional rail lines to boost easy access to the airports.

These are some of the decisions taken by the Conference while voting on the recommendations of the Committee on Transport and the amendments proposed to them.

The Committee chairman, Musa Adede, a former senator, had earlier presented the report after which delegates proposed amendments to its recommendations.

In the report, it observed that the existing transportation infrastructure in Nigeria comprising roads, railways, ports, airport and pipelines was inadequate in terms of accessibility and inter-operability.

It noted that the transportation sector represents “a significant proportion of Nigeria’s key infrastructure because it facilitates the links between spatially located facilities and acts as mechanism for maintaining social contact.”

Transportation, it said, affects the totality of a country’s activity ranging from its people, economy, environment and even its politics.

The report also noted that an ineffective transportation system could frustrate the efforts of government and the people, while an adequate transport system could impact positively on the national development and enhance the standard of living of the people.

“A well-planned and developed inter-modal transportation system is an essential infrastructure requirement for socio-economic development,” it said.

“Transportation goes beyond facilitating the movement of people and goods but also contributes to the regional and national development creating positive multiplier effects on all sectors of the economic activities, which will lead to job creation and poverty alleviation.”

During the debate on the report, an amendment was proposed to ask “the president to take immediate action to revive Nigerian Airways or establish a new national carrier that is private-sector driven as done in different climes.”

However, Mr. Adede said there was no need for the amendment because the Nigerian Airways had long been disbanded while the workers were being owed entitlements.

He also said that the defunct organization was still owing some debts abroad.
Other recommendations and amendments accepted are that:

Government should initiate and construct a rail line from Lagos to Enugu through Ore to ease movement of goods and passengers from the Western flanks of the country to the East and South South;

Rail lines should be made to have a dualisation policy to allow for mass movements of trains as obtained in developed rail systems in other parts of the world;

-Effective rail system should be developed such that petroleum products can be transported from one part of the country to the other in order to reduce road accidents and other associated hazards;

-Government should as a matter of urgency complete the National Hanger Project at Uyo Airport in Akwa Ibom State so that it would serve as a repair and maintenance hub to airlines operators;

-Government should ensure urgent construction of perimeter roads and fences around the airports so as to enhance airport security and prevent incidents of stray animals colliding with aircraft on the run way;

-Abandoned Onitsha Cargo Airport in Anambra State should be completed to enhance commercial activities in the South-east;

-Government should fast-track the completion of Lokoja and Onitsha ports projects; and also dredges all inland waterways;

-Government must, as a matter of priority, fast-track the completion of East-West Road which links the southern parts of the country to the western part to enhance effective transportation within the geo-political zones;

-Government should establish Road Development Fund for the development and maintenance of public roads and that the sources of revenue may include among others, toll gates with a provision for alternative routes, vehicle tax, weigh bridges, parking fees and petroleum tax;

-There should be a legal framework for the private sector participation in the financing and management of public roads in the country;

-The Federal Government should start work on the Nigerian sector of the Trans-African Highway as a way of easing transportation with the African continent;

-The Aviation Technical Centre in Zaria in Kaduna State and Maritime Academy should be well funded to make them more efficient;

-The dredging of River Benue and all other water ways, while the transport sector should be decentralised for efficiency; and

-Incentives should be given to the private sector to build trailer parks, while major airports should be linked to rail lines for accessibility.

The Conference declined voting on an amendment proposed that the N51 billion in the banks unclaimed dividends should be channelled to the railway and that latter claimant of such dividends may be allocated shares in the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC.

This followed warnings by some delegates that doing so would not only send wrong signals to the international community, but would create uncertainty in the Stock Market.

Explosion rocks football viewing centre in Damaturu, Yobe

There was an explosion at a football viewing centre on the outskirts of Damaturu, Yobe State, at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to news website, SAHARAREPORTERS, the attackers hauled explosives at the direction of the viewing centre where many soccer fans gathered to watch the World Cup match between Brazil and Mexico.

Many persons are reported injured in the incident that occurred along the ‘Tsamiyan Lilo’ area of the Yobe state capital and have been evacuated to hospitals‎.

The casualty figure is yet to be established.

The Yobe Police Command confirmed the incident. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Nansak Chewang, however, said he could not ascertain the extent of casualty in the blast.

“You know it happened just this night, we are yet to establish what happened and the details,” the police spokesperson told NAN.

Yobe is one of the three states under emergency rule due to the activities of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

There have been bomb attacks targeted at viewing centres in Adamawa and Plateau states leading to the death of dozens of people.

Following this spate of explosions, the Nigeria Police had a week ago advised owners of the centres to take extra security measures as well as to collaborate with security agencies to safeguard their viewers during this World Cup period.

“For the safety of your clients and customers, the operators of the centres should carry out a thorough stop and search of viewers before allowing them into the centres”, Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, had said in a statement.

A day after Mr. Mba’s statement, the Federal Capital Territory administration announced a ban on TV viewing centres in the city, and warned operators against flouting the order.

The Plateau State Police Command also issued a similar directive and advised football fans to stay away from such centres, saying they should rather watch all the matches of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup in their respective houses.

There was an explosion at a football viewing centre on the outskirts of Damaturu, Yobe State, at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to news website, SAHARAREPORTERS, the attackers hauled explosives at the direction of the viewing centre where many soccer fans gathered to watch the World Cup match between Brazil and Mexico.

Many persons are reported injured and have been evacuated to hospitals‎.

The casualty figure is yet to be established.

Yobe is one of the three states under emergency rule due to the activities of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

There have been bomb attacks targeted at viewing centres in Adamawa and Plateau states leading to the death of dozens of people.

Following this spate of explosions, the Nigeria Police had a week ago advised owners of the centres to take extra security measures as well as to collaborate with security agencies to safeguard their viewers during this World Cup period.

“For the safety of your clients and customers, the operators of the centres should carry out a thorough stop and search of viewers before allowing them into the centres”, Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, had said in a statement.

A day after Mr. Mba’s statement, the Federal Capital Territory administration announced a ban on TV viewing centres in the city, and warned operators against flouting the order.

The Plateau State Police Command also issued a similar directive and advised football fans to stay away from such centres, saying they should rather watch all the matches of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup in their respective houses.

SSS arrests 11 PDP men in Ekiti as they thumb-print ballot papers

Operatives of the Department of State Security on Tuesday night arrested 11 men, believed to be associates of ex-Governor Ayo Fayose, as they thumb-printed ballot papers ahead of the governorship election holding in the state Saturday.

The men were arrested at Anisulowo Resort in Are Ekiti, a facility belonging to the Director General of the Fayose Campaign Organisation, Dipo Anisulowo, as they prepared ballot papers they ostensibly planned to use in rigging the election in favour of Mr. Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election.

This newspaper understands that the security operatives deployed to the state on special election duty swooped on the resort after residents of the town alerted them to the movement of strange materials into the facility.

When the operatives stormed the location, our sources said, 22 men were found sitting around a heap of ballot papers, and other election materials.

Eleven of them were arrested and driven to the SSS headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, where they are currently being detained. The others reportedly escaped.

Babafemi Ojudu, a Senator, and close associate of Governor Kayode Fayemi (the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the election) said the men were arrested hours after “some viligant residents raised the alarm that three planes landed in Akure with ballot papers and other election materials which were later loaded into buses and moved to Ekiti”.

Mr. Fayose and his associates did not respond to requests for comments. The PDP governorship candidate did not answer or return calls, just as Mr. Anisulowo, who leads his  campaign. Both individuals are also yet to respond to text messages sent to them.

The SSS Director in Ekiti, a Mr. Tamuno, also did not answer or return calls. He is also yet to reply a text message sent to him.

The arrest of the 11 men came four days after the Nigerian military announced it apprehended three persons with a truck laden with outdated election materials in the state.

The Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, Aliyu Momoh, a Brigadier General, said the men were caught moving ballot papers from 2008, 2009 and 2011; Independent National Electoral Commission’s reflective jackets; 2014 INEC rubber stamps and pads.

However, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Aliyu Pai, later told Punch Newspapers that the materials were waste papers and had been auctioned by INEC.

“It is approved by the National Commission for the company to evacuate the obsolete materials to enable us prepare for the coming election because these are junks that have filled the store,” he said.

“There is an approval by the National Commission. They are known to us and they are in no way connected to this election. They are materials of 2007, 2009 and there is approval for its evacuation.”

The run-up to the June 21 election has been characterised by violent clashes with the major political parties pointing accusing fingers at one another.

Matters got to a head about two weeks ago when mobile police officers shot at the governor of the state, Mr. Fayemi, and his supporters during a rally in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti poll: Aircraft with suspicious cargo in Akure

Two planes landed at the Akure Airport bearing an unknown cargo, believed to have something to do with Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

The planes arrived before noon and one of those at the airport was a minister who watched as the cargo was offloaded into a bullion van marked BL271AGN.

Sources said the content of the cargo might have been cash which a political party wanted to use to influence voters, but a political pressure group raised the alarm over an alleged rigging plan.

The Ekiti Youth Emancipation Movement (EYEM) alleged in a statement by its President Taiwo Olatunji, that in the bullion van were fake thumb-printed ballot papers and result sheets which were ferried to Ado Ekiti from Akure.

Also in the cargo according to the group, were fake military and police uniforms.

Challenging security agents to investigate its claims, the group also alleged that some political leaders of one of the top political parties, desperate to win the election by hook or crook, were behind the plot.

It also alleged that a meeting to fine-tune the rigging plan was held at an Akure hotel on Monday before the items were brought in yesterday.

The EYEM President said if security agents were really out to work, they should find out the destination of the fake thumb-printed ballot papers.

“These people are unbelievably wicked and desperate. In fact, part of their plan on Saturday is to start jubilation that they have won even while elections are still ongoing,” EYEM said.

But the Independent National Electoral commission described the allegation as an “idle talk”.

Mr Kayode Robert Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, said: INEC is not aware of it. It is definitely an idle talk. You know this is election time and people will be saying all sorts of things. Anybody can say anything.

You can also ask the military authorities and you will confirm what I said. INEC is not aware of it; I seriously think it is an idle talk.”

Wanted Boko Haram chief among 486 suspects held

The Defence Headquarters said yesterday that a wanted terror suspect was among the 486. I
It also said other security agencies and para-military organisations had joined the ongoing screening of the suspects.

$22.5m Safe School Fund takes shape

The Safe Initiative Trust Fund initiated during the World Economic Forum for Africa in Abuja has gone into effect with $22.5million.
Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala explained yesterday in Abuja how the money will be spent.