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Presidency Budgets N100m to Purchase Bullet Proof Tyres

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  • Presidency Budgets N100m to Purchase Bullet Proof Tyres

The ongoing budget defence in the National Assembly yesterday revealed how in contrast to general beliefs about President Muhammadu Buhari’s perceived frugal lifestyle, the State House has since last year been spending whopping sums of money to purchase printed tyres, otherwise known as bullet proof tyres.

Against this backdrop, the Presidency has planned to spend about N100 million for the purchase of same tyres as contained in 2017 budget.

The disclosure which appeared to be coming to public knowledge for the first time, was shocking to some watchers at the meeting who wondered why presidency officials should be using bullet proof tyres in the face of biting economic recession.

Making the disclosure while defending the 2017 budget of the State House before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, said the N100 million budgeted for printed tyres this year was only 50 per cent lower than what was budgeted in 2016.

“Another area of interest Mr. chairman, distinguished senators is the purchase of tyres, a total sum of N94.5 million is proposed for 2017, representing 50 percent of actual sought for the 2016. This will hope will address the shortfalls and complement the requirements of this sector which are mostly printed tyres procured at exorbitant prices. Mr. chairman, some of the tyres being purchased are bulletproof and hence, constitute the bulk of the budget cost.

“Let me re-emphasise Mr. chairman that the state house has been consistent and indeed conservative in the budget estimates as we are always mindful of our current challenges in the areas of revenue generation over the years,” he said.

Jalabi, who however, disclosed that only paltry sums of the total budget for 2016 was released, said the State House only got N46 million capital release throughout the year adding that of N2.4 billion budgeted for State House Clinic in 2016, only 800 million, representing 30 per cent of the budget was released.

He said the poor releases had resulted in various hiccups and debt accumulation in the Presidential Villa including huge indebtedness to electricity providers. According to him, N319.6 million has been budgeted in 2017 to upset electricity bills owed by the Villa.

“A sum of N45.3 million only was approved in the 2016 budget for this purpose. Suffice it to inform that the State House electricity bill for 2016 alone as forwarded by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for state House Abuja was N252 milliom with another outstanding liabilities of over N300 million for state House, Lagos facilities.

“Clearly the provision in the 2016 budget could not accommodate this. It may interest Committee to note in 2016, it took the management of the State House the installation of meters to ensure proper billing and that was what reduced the bill to a reasonable figure. However, since these bills are currently subject ofreconciliations, we have made a modest provision for sum of N319.6 million for 2017 to settle current and part of outstanding bills,” he said.

He also disclosed that the Villa owed an accumulated bill of N52.8 million sewage charges.

“There is a proposal for the sum of N52.8 million in the 2017 budget. The Committee may wish to be informed that the bills received from Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB) for liquid waste disposal for the state House for 2016 is in figure sum of N15.6 million with outstanding liabilities of previous years standing at N37.5 million (totaling N52.8m).

This figure has remained consistent over the years.

“This informed the provision of the same figure amount in the sum of N52.8 million in 2017. This position was the same sought for in our 2016 proposal but only paltry sum of N6.1 million was appropriated. We have however, commenced negotiation with AEPB in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable charges henceforth,” he added.

The situation however, irritated the committee which said it was unfortunate that the State House which it described as the symbol of the nation’s sovereignty and authority could be brought into such disrepute by owing sewage and electricity bills.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Why I’II Never Support Peter Obi Again – Doyin Okupe

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A former Director-General of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has declared that he would never support the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, in any of his political ambitions again.

Okupe, who had recently resigned his membership of the LP and withdrew his backing for the former LP’s presidential flagbearer, expressed displeasure at Obi’s remarks on economic situation in the country.

Specifically, Okupe, while featuring on a national television programme, responded to some remarks credited to Obi on the hardship ravaging the nation.

Obi had been reported to have critisised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that people from the South-West are feeling the heat of the hard times just like other citizens from other parts of the country.

For Obi, Tinubu had campaigned on the mantra that he is a Yoruba man and that it was his turn, stating that people in Yoruba land are not even getting food items and other essential commodities at cheaper rates notwithstanding that the President is from their region.

However, Obi’s submissions had attracted mixed reactions on social media with some criticising him while others supported his assertions.

Weighing in on the raging controversy, Okupe joined the critics, describing Obi’s remark as an “insult” to people in the South-West.

He argued that Obi’s statement publicly belittled the South-West, despite receiving support from prominent Yoruba leaders and other residents of the zone during his presidential electioneering ambition.

Okupe claimed that people from the South West felt insulted hearing Obi uttered such remarks, noting that many, including himself, who supported him regretted it.

He mentioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the prominent Yoruba indigenes who backed Obi’s presidential bid, saying although he did not regret supporting Obi, he would never support him again.

Okupe attributed his initial support to the agreement that a southern president should emerge, specifically from the South-East, insisting the betrayal he felt by the criticism of the South-West by the former governor of Anambra State.

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Donald Trump Projected To Occupy White House, Congratulated By Nigerian President

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President Trump Signs Executive Order In Oval Office Of The White House

There is an indication that the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump may become the 47th President of the US.

Trump became more confident in his political comeback in American history after securing his third battleground victory on Tuesday evening by clinching Pennsylvania, bringing him closer to a White House win.

The 78 presidential candidates of the Republican Party already won 266 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrat Party.

Trump reversed his 2020 losses in the crucial states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — running up big margins among his white rural and working-class base while making significant inroads among ethnic minorities.

Addressing supporters in Florida, Trump claimed victory, saying his performance is unprecedented in the history of the country.

He promised to help the US to heal, stressing that the country needs help very badly.

He also assured citizens of fixing critical infrastructure and other necessary areas of the country.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Tinubu expressed his eagerness to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

His congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Identifying synergy and cooperation with the US government as a means of fostering economic prosperity, the President of Nigeria noted that the relationship would promote peace, and address global challenges that affect their citizens.

He said Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership.

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EFCC Nabs Ex-Delta Governor, Okowa, For Alleged N1.3trn Fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

Sources with the EFCC revealed that Okowa visited the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday before he was subsequently detained by officials.

The N1.3 trillion reportedly represents the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

It was gathered that Okowa was at the Port Harcourt office of the Commission following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him.

The former governor was said to have been apprehended no sooner than he arrived at the anti-graft office.

Okowa was also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

Sources said the former governor reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project.

The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

They noted that investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.

Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 election.

He was the governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023 and was succeeded by Sheriff Oborevwori, the incumbent Governor.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest but declined further comment on the matter.

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