Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reacted to another claim by a journalist Festus Adebayo about a supposed rift between him and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adebayo, who was appointed by the Senate President Ahmed Lawan as a spokesman but was sacked soon afterwards following widespread criticism for his critical reviews about Buhari’s administration, claimed Osinbajo fell out with his principal after two “infractions.”

First, Adebayo claimed Osinbajo engaged in a “prayer coup” when Buhari was away for medical treatment in the United Kingdom. He claimed Osinbajo with “his Redeemed Christian Church of God accomplices” in Ogun state, prayed to God to make him president.

Adebayo claimed Buhari’s ally entered during the prayer session and “the prayer warriors nearly prayed that the ground should swallow them when, upon opening their eyes, they saw the president’s ally with them.”

Secondly, Adebayo said Osinbajo primed Walter Onnoghen to “package Buhari inside a judicial casket” during the 2019 elections and the removal of Lawal Daura, erstwhile Director-General of the Department of State Services on August 7, 2018 also “rankled these owls.”

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the claim were “outright fiction and absolute mischief.”

“Was it in a church, in which case there would likely be an audio recording? Who are the prominent pastors or other persons involved that can testify to what transpired – what are their names,” Akande queried in the statement.

“Who is the “strong Buhari ally” who made a surprise appearance at the gathering and brought the story back to Mr. President?

“If, as Adedayo claims, the VP has been hounding and haranguing this Buhari ally since then, why is it so difficult for him to cry out and publicize his strange discovery?

“Who primed Onnoghen to “package Buhari inside a judicial casket” during the 2019 elections? And to whose benefit?

“If, for any reason, the Buhari election was nullified by the judiciary, how would that benefit his running mate, since they contested on the same ticket?”

Akande maintained that Buhari and Osinbajo have excellent working relationship and that the vice president respects his boss’s leadership.

“But there is a desperation in some quarters to create a division between the President and the Vice President,” Akande said.

Despite Akande’s insistence that all is well between the two leaders, critics have pointed to several instances that indicated that the once chummy relationship between the two may have gone sour.

Most recently, some of the vice president office aides were sacked, fueling the alleged rifts. But the Nigerian government said it sacked the aides in an attempt to “streamline decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of administration.”

His refusal to transfer power when travelling out of the country and signing of a Nigerian law in the United Kingdom are other instances that critics said were deliberate attempts to undermine Osinbajo.

There are unconfirmed allegations that the president is trying to silence his vice president and also sideline him from the team of men making crucial decisions about governance.

However, the presidency has always denied any rift between the president and vice president. In fact, President Buhari had vaunted the relationship he has with Osinbajo.

But critics believed his public proclamations were a mere lip service and insisted that a powerful bloc led by Buhari’s chief of staff Abba Kyari has sidelined the vice president.

The Federal Government is deepening the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act as part of measures to lower the country’s high crude oil production cost, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Sylva stated this during his first working visit to the Head Office of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend.

Emphasizing that Government’s primary target in the sector is to significantly reduce the unit cost of producing per barrel of crude oil, Sylva stated that ”local contractors tend to be cheaper than expatriates and international contractors and that’s why we want to encourage Local Content and give more opportunities to local contractors. By extension we will reduce the cost of doing business in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

“Local Content is part of cost reduction strategy. That’s why I came here, to encourage more local participation in the activities of the industry.”

The Minister also lauded the NCDMB for epitomizing its mandate by using an indigenous contractor to develop its new headquarters. He described the edifice as world class and a clear demonstration of the capacity of Nigerians contractors. “Such superlative performance on projects would pave way for the engagement of other local contractors in the oil and gas and construction sectors,” he suggested.

”When you have seen one contractor perform this good, you are encouraged to patronize more local contractors.”

He expressed confidence that the new NCDMB structure will attract a flurry of oil industry activities to Bayelsa State. He noted that ”the problem we have had over the years was that the region where oil production takes place did not have proper structures to promote lots of events. That why you see oil and gas events going to Abuja and Lagos. But when you have a befitting facility here, going forward, there will be a lot of oil and gas related activity in the Niger Delta.”

The Minister commended the NCDMB for the numerous achievements it had recorded in the implementation of the NOGICD Act. He said, ”I am quite impressed with what they have done in a very short time of existence. The new headquarters building is a testament to that impressive performance and of course, you have the 10 mega watts independent power plant. It is a modular plant that can be increased up to 25 megawatts.”

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote confirmed that Local Content implementation lowers the cost of crude oil production, particularly in the long run. He listed other key elements that contribute to high crude oil production cost in Nigeria to include security and infrastructural challenges as well as protracted contracting cycle.

He affirmed that several Nigerian oil service companies had executed several projects at costs much lower than their international counterparts. He also clarified that countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Norway that had practiced Local Content in their oil sector for decades had long enjoyed significant cost reduction in their per barrel cost.

Wabote also explained that Local Content serves as an opportunity cost for the Federal Government to empower its citizens and get them involved in the activities of the oil and gas industry.

On Wednesday, November 6, students of uMfolozi TVET College province of KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa gathered for a memorial service of a final year civil engineering student shot dead by armed robbers in South Africa

The deceased identified as Mbongeni ‘Doctor’ Mthombeni, was shot and killed during a robbery gone wrong in eSikhaleni, few hours before he was to write his final examination.

It was gathered that two armed robbers approached Mthombeni and a female friend near Jabulani City at about 8 pm on Thursday, October 31. The student was accompanying his friend back to her house after she had returned his laptop at his rental cottage.

During the robbery, shots were fired, and according to reports Mbongeni and his friend fled the scene and ran in different directions.

The frantic friend reported the incident at the eSikhawini police station minutes after it happened.

Police attended to the crime scene but found no clues. Mbongeni’s whereabouts were unknown.

On Friday students walking to campus discovered his body in bushes with a gunshot wound in his lower abdomen.

The incident sent shock waves through the residents, posing a question about the safety of students living in rental cottages outside the campus.

‘Many students have reported cases, yet there are no responses from the police. We demand justice for our brother and we won’t rest until criminals here are rooted out,’ said SRC president, Ndlelenhle Mlaba.

Umfolozi TVET College expressed its condolences, saying Mbongeni was a humble and respectful student.

"He will be sorely missed by his lecturers and fellow students,’ said the statement.

The Nigeria Customs Service has suspended supply of petroleum products to petrol stations within 20 kilometres of all the border posts.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali ( retd.), gave this directive to all commands through the Deputy Comptroller- General Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation, Agustine Chidi, late Wednesday in Abuja.

He stated that petroleum tankers must not be allowed to discharge content within 20 kilometres to borders.

But residents of border communities, who spoke to our correspondents on Thursday, expressed concern about the government’s directive.

They said the decision would worsen their suffering.

However, in spite of the government’s order, smuggling of petrol products was still going on in border communities visited by our correspondents on Thursday.

Ali had in a letter dated November 6, 2019, titled, “EII/2019/Circular No 027 suspension of petroleum products supply to filling stations within 20 kilometres to all borders,” ordered all customs zonal coordinators, Operation Swift Response and other sector heads to effect the suspension of sale of petroleum products at borders.

The letter stated, “The Comptroller-General of Customs has directed that henceforth no petroleum product no matter the tank size is permitted to discharge fuel in any filling station within 20 kilometres to a border. Consequently, you are to ensure strict and immediate compliance please.”

The Federal Government had on August 18, closed borders between Nigeria and its neighbours, citing massive smuggling and illegal immigration as the reasons.

On Monday, it gave conditions for the reopening of the borders. It said Nigeria would no longer accept repackaged imported goods from its neighbours. The Federal Government also insisted that all aliens coming into the country through the land borders must have travel passports.

Border filling stations, conduit for smuggling – NUPENG

Unions in the oil sector supported the government’s decision. The General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Afolabi Olawale, said the union was in support of the suspension of the supply of fuel to border filing stations.

He said the number of filing stations within 20 kilometres radius of Nigerian borders were more than the number of filling stations inside the towns.

Olawale said, “One wonders what economic motive drives the establishment of such a large number of filling stations close to the border.

“The only explanation would be that they are being used as conduit pipe through which smuggled petroleum products are taken out of the country.”

He said the effect of the action would not be felt by Nigerians, adding that 10 litres of fuel was enough to drive around 20km distance.

He said, “We are in full support of the move. It is in continuation of the efforts to stop smuggling of petroleum products and other goods across the borders.”

PENGASSAN backs Customs on petroleum

Also, the spokesperson for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Fortune Obi, told one of our correspondents that the move was in order.

He said, “It is a good development because this is one of the things we have been talking about. Why do we often have products’ insufficiency in Nigeria?

“Why is this so when those who share borders with us are taking the products, which, of course, is not good for the country?

“We import petroleum products with huge foreign exchange, so why should it be smuggled out of the country when we don’t even have enough at times in the country?”

Customs’ incompetence responsible for smuggling – Community leader

But while NUPENG backed the action, residents and community leaders of Idi-Iroko , Imeko-Afon and other border areas in Ogun State have frowned upon the decision of the Federal Government.

They said the suspension would compound their plight.

A former Chairman of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Tosin Adeluyi, said, “The Federal Government is trying to compound the suffering of the people at the border areas. No matter how laudable the idea is, the border dwellers should not be suffering because of customs’ ineffectiveness because the fuel tankers can only go through the normal road and they know the capacity of each community .”

A resident of Idiroko border area in the state, Adewale Bamgbose, said, “We still have fuel for now but, definitely our problem will soon start.”

Smuggling persists despite govt’s order

A source in the area, however, said that despite the closure of the borders, contraband goods were still being brought into the country.

Checks by one of our correspondents revealed that at Jibiya and Kongolam border towns in Katsina State, fuel stations in the towns continued to sell fuel.

An attendant at a fuel station at Jibiya said he had not received any instruction directing him to stop selling fuel.

He stated, “Nobody tells me to stop selling fuel. Even, the security operatives at the border post were here this morning to buy fuel for their vehicles.”

At a fuel station at Magamar-Jibiya, suspected smugglers were seen loading several 25 kilogramme kegs of fuel into a vehicle with the intention of taking them to Niger Republic.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the practice had been going on before the Federal Government’s directive.

At the Seme border, a petroleum product dealer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Smugglers have reconstructed their fuel tanks or built bunker under the vehicle to contain up to 200 or more litres of petroleum products.

“They will drive to Owode Apa and environs discharge and sell out to ever- waiting customers.”

Border closure not against Ndigbo – Ali

Meanwhile, the Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, Ali, on Thursday dismissed a claim that the border closure across the country was targeted at businessmen and women from Igbo extraction.

Ali, who spoke during a meeting with stakeholders, including businessmen and women, in Aba, Abia State, explained that national security and improvement in the country’s economy were the reasons behind the closure of the nation’s borders.

Maintaining that the policy was not a punitive measure against Igbo importers, the customs boss, who was represented at the event by the Public Relations Officer of NCS, Joseph Attah, urged members of the public to disregard such speculation.

“This question of targeting Igbo importers over the border closure has come repeatedly. When you go to the North, the people there will ask you; are you sure that the intensity with which you carry out this here is what you do in the South-West?

“When you go to the South-West, they will ask you if what you are doing there is what you are doing in the South-East. And here, we are in the South-East; we are getting the same question.

“Let us face the facts; what is being done is about national security and economy. Over a period of time, trans-border crimes and criminalities have affected our safety on our roads, our homes and have affected our ability to yield dividends from our investments,” Ali added.

In a related development, the Africa Finance Corporation plans to invest $450m in the automation of the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service in 12 months.

The Managing Director, Bionica Technologies West Africa Ltd., Mr Umar Kuta, made this known in Abuja on Thursday when he appeared before the joint House of Representatives Committees on Finance; Customs and Excise; and Public Petitions.

The House had mandated the joint committee to probe into the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Kuta explained that the modernisation would improve revenue generation by the NCS and enhance security at the country’s borders.

He said, “A complete automation of the activities of the NCS within 12 months will boost revenue and eliminate all forms of sharp practices in the system.”

According to the presentation made by the MD to the committee, a copy of which journalists sited after the meeting, his firm has five technical partners, namely Paramout Group, Huawei Technology, Smiths Detection, Larsen & Toubro Group and Nuctech of China.

The partners, he said, were mobilising about $450m in investment to attain the complete turnaround of the customs.

Kuta told the committee that the Africa Finance Corporation had also indicated its interest in supporting the customs’ automation programme.

Also on Thursday, the NSC said it had impounded a number of prohibited items worth over N2bn and arrested 239 illegal immigrants since August 20, 2019.

The spokesman for the Federal Government Strategic Communication Team, Joseph Attah, disclosed this at a forum in Owerri attended by the representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency as well as fish and poultry farmers.

Attah, who listed the items seized to include 4,321 bags of 50kilogrammes of par boiled foreign rice, 8,982 jerry cans of petrol, 399 vehicles, life cartridges and hard drugs, explained that the borders were closed because of the abuse of ECOWAS protocols by some neighbouring Africans.

He said the closure of the borders would continue until such errant nations began to abide by the ECOWAS protocols.

“Having gone through deep crisis which almost destroyed the very foundation of our guild over the years, we have commenced work immediately towards healing the wounds of the past,” he said.

“We are resolute in building a strong and united body for Nollywood actors with a view to restoring total peace, forgiveness and reconciliation amongst all aggrieved parties, for our strength lies in our unity.”

“I open my hands of fellowship to all for us to rebuild this Guild, for there cannot be a good leader without good followers.”

A 32-year-old motorcylist, Aremu Oriyomi, has been remanded in the Federal Correctional Centre, Ilorin for allegedly having carnal knowledge of one Tawakalitu in Shao, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Oriyomi was arraigned before the Kwara State family court presided over by Magistrate Shade Lawal.

He stood trial on two counts of criminal assault and rape, contrary to sections 266 and 282 of the Penal Code.

The FIR stated that Tawakalitu asked the defendant to take her home, but took her to a hotel with the pretext that he wanted to collect something there.

The First Information Report revealed that Oriyomi, in a bid to perpetrate his nefarious act, wasted the victim’s time by taking her to a filling station to buy fuel and later to an uncompleted building in the bush.

While riding towards the uncompleted facility, the police report disclosed that Tawakalitu tried to escape by jumping out of the motorcycle, which made her to sustain injuries on her left hand.

The defendant was said to have come down from the motorcycle, threatened Tawakalitu with a knife and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her in the bush.

The prosecutor, Inspector Ogunleye Olasupo, prayed the court to order the remand of the defendant in prison.

The prosecutor said the offence of the accused was not bailable and that police investigation was still ongoing.

The magistrate, who acceded to the submission of the prosecutor, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison.

In another development, the Kwara State family court on Thursday granted bail to an 18-year-old man, Michael Clement, who was accused of raping a minor (name withheld), in Owu-Isin, Isin Local Government Area of the state.

PDP, others not campaigning in Kogi –APC
Clement was dragged before Magistrate Shade Lawal for the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child contrary to Section 31 of the Kwara State Child Right Law.

The FIR stated that the defendant with his friend, Pius Peter of Oke Imole compound, accosted the victim while she was selling soya bean cake.

The police added that the duo asked the victim to follow them to their house on the pretext that they would buy her goods.

Peter reportedly asked the victim to help them prepare yam flour with the promise that they would buy the soya bean cake after she had made the meal.

After she had finished cooking, the police report stated that she took it to the room where, to her dismay, she met only Clement.

The defendant allegedly grabbed the victim and pushed her on the bed where he forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

The prosecutor, Adisa, said the landlord, one Mr Bakare, rescued the victim.

He prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison, adding that granting him bail might not be healthy for the society as he might commit a similar offence.

Magistrate Lawal, in his ruling, granted the defendant bail while the matter was adjourned till November 13, 2019 for hearing.

50-year-old Sani Hayi, a former security guard at GSS college Kawo, Kaduna state, has been arrested for allegedly raping many female students of the school, repeatedly.

According to a statement by the Kaduna state Human Services and Social Development office, Sani was reported in 2016 to have repeatedly raped a 16 year old student of the school where he worked. The girl when interrogated, confirmed that the abuse took place on a daily basis (sometimes in the morning & afternoon) and mentioned 5 other school mates who were also abused. According to the victim, Sani took her to different locations where she was also abused by men or a group of women.

The agency said that Sani took advantage of the poor financial and mental status of the girl's parents. He was arrested in 2016 and handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for investigation and prosecution where he escaped custody and went into hiding.

He was rearrested recently after the agency received a tipoff that he had resumed work as a security guard at the Sardauna Memorial College. The agency in collaboration with men of the NSCDC, picked Sani up in his new workplace.