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National News

Gunmen kill police commissioner in Abuja
The Guardian

It was like a scene straight from the Hollywood: One minute, a boisterous man laughs heartily with friends and colleagues, he even seeks out some for a warm embrace. The next minute, he is dead, shot at close range by masked men who took time to confirm that their mission was accomplished before zooming off. The victim, a commissioner of police, Mr. Felix Oteka, was yesterday in Abuja shot in the head from the rear by unidentified gunmen. He died at the National Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory even before the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, could arrive to offer words of comfort. Oteka was the police commissioner in charge of the Police Mobile Force (PMF). The Guardian learnt that the deceased officer had reported for work in his office, Room 065, located on the second floor of the seven-storey building in the morning.

PDP presidential aspirants refuse to step down
The Punch

Most of the presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party may have defied the Thursday directive by the party's leadership to consult among themselves with a view to prunning back their number. Investigations by The Punch on Tuesday revealed that 28 of them had as at Tuesday day submitted their completed nomination forms at the Wadata House, Abuja, the party's national secretariat. The presidential aspirants had, after their meeting with the party's leadership promised to meet on Sunday to seeks ways of complying with the directive. But the meeting which was to be coordinated by a former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd.) did not hold. A presidential aspirant, who pleaded anonymity, said the meeting did not come up because most of the aspirants were opposed to the idea. He added that most of the aspirants that were contacted on the need to fix another date for the meeting said they were on nationwide consultations with delegates ahead of the December 16 national convention of the PDP.

Nigeria loses $1 trillion to corruption - UN
Nigerian Tribune

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in Nigeria has said Nigeria pays over $1 trillion in bribes with devastating consequences. The Country Director of UNODC, Mr. Cyriaq Sobtafo, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, at a pre-event press conference ahead of the International Day Against Corruption slated for today through Saturday. Mr. Sobtafo with the ravages corruption, the future of the citizens could not be guaranteed unless positive and concerted efforts were made to stem the tide. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), in his statement through his Special Assistant, Tunde Basari, said corruption was one of the major threats to development, democracy and establishment of the rule of law. "The corruption at the highest level of government can destroy national security, erode stability, undermine the prospects for economic investment and extinguish democratic rule," the minister stated. December 9 every year has been set aside as the anti-corruption day following the UN convention against corruption of 2003.

Diplomatic row brews between Nigeria and Britain
The Punch

There is a cold diplomatic war between Nigeria and Britain over the leadership of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs as a new secretary-general takes over next month, Empowered Newswire reports. With the completion of the tenure of Africa's Kofi Annan as the Secretary-General of the UN by the end of this month, member-states of the United Nations have been angling to get plum jobs under the new leadership of South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon. One of the mostly contested UN plum jobs is the one currently held by Nigeria's former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. He was appointed as Head and Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Political Affairs only last year by Annan. Gambari replaced the British, Sir Kieran Prendergast, who held the position for about five years before then. The British are known to prefer the headship of the UN Political Affairs Department because they regard themselves as the best political and administrative technocrats in the world. This is because of the British experience of colonial rule over a vast area of the world. Many nations at the UN flatly disagree with this British view and consider it racially deterministic.

Military chiefs meet, seek review of defence policy
The Guardian

After about four hours of deliberations, Nigeria's serving and retired military top brass called for immediate constitution of a committee to further review the nation's defence policy in order to have a smooth-running defence system built on effective and efficient management. Fifteen former Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS), Chiefs of Army Staff, Chiefs of Naval Staff and Chiefs of Air Staff, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Andrew Azazi and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike, attended the meeting held at Bridge of Generals Scorpion Mess, Abuja. In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the military top officers also said that in the envisaged review of the nation's defence policy, the Ministry of Defence Reform Paper submitted by Military Professional Resource Institute (MPRI) should be the working and reference paper.

Minister raises hope on Benin-Ore Road
The Punch

The Minister of Works, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, has said that Messrs RCC Construction Company has begun the rehabilitation of the Benin-Ore Expressway, which has attracted negative report in the recent times. Adebayo stated this on Monday in Lagos while inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ota Expressway and the Ikorodu Bye-pass. He pledged to monitor the commencement of work on the road on Thursday to ensure a speedy completion for motorists to have a smooth ride during the festive season. The minister said the Federal Government would soon award contract for the rehabilitation of the bad portions on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway once the ministry received the due process certificate on it. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the Lagos-Ota-Winners Chapel road Adebayo that Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc had been directed to speed up the completion of the project.

Obasanjo: Let 's Put an End to Ghana-Must-Go Politics
Thisday

President Olusegun Obasanjo has charged everyone aspiring to contest for any public office on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue their ambitions without monetary inducements. But despite the charge of the ruling party to its presidential aspirants to consult among themselves and prune down their numbers, 28 out of the 30 that purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms beat the deadline for the return of the documents which ended 12am last night. Speaking yesterday at Omoku, Rivers state while commissioning a new 150 megawatts gas turbine, the President asked the aspirants to join hands in putting an end to what he described as " Ghana-Must-Go politics. " According to Obasanjo, a man who bribes his way into elective office will do everything to recoup his investments at the expense of the ordinary people and the electorate.

Business & Economic News

Nigerian Breweries names new MD
The Punch

Nigerian Breweries Plc on Tuesday, named Mr. Michiel Herkemij, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to replace Mr. Festus Odimegwu, who stepped down on November 30. Herkemij, the current Managing Director of Danish multinational, Royal Freisland Foods WAMCO Limited, will assume the new position on April 2, 2007. A statement signed by the Interim Managing Director, NB Plc, Mr. Paul Hamers, confirmed the appointment. "This will follow an intensive induction period with the Heineken Group which will commence on January 15, 2007," Hamers added. Herkemij's appointment came three weeks after the company announced the decision of Odimegwu to step down. Known for his aggressive marketing of NB brands, Odimegwu's decision to step down as the helmsman of the brewery giant on November 30 was seen as a spin-off of his controversial support for the failed tenure extension plan of President Olusegun Obansanjo.

Obasanjo restates 10,000MW target as Omoku project comes on steam
The Guardian

President Olusegun Obasanjo has restated his administration's resolve to ensure that the nation's electricity power generation capacity is enhanced by additional 10,000 megawatts (MW) before the end of 2007. He said this is in cognisance of the fact that in today's technology-driven globalising world, uninterrupted power supply is fundamental to the country's growth, development and economic regeneration. President Obasanjo spoke at the commissioning of the 150MW Omoku Gas Turbine and Power Transmission Line built by the Rivers State government at the cost of over N50 billion in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council of the state. Obasanjo, who described the power project as a major landmark in the country's desire to boost the power sector, recalled that prior to 1999, Nigeria's power sector was moribund "because for over 10 years, there was no investment in that sector."

New owners take over Ikoyi Federal Secretariat
The Guardian

Moves by the Federal Government to divest itself of its property in Lagos went a step further yesterday as the old Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi was formally handed over to new owners. Phases one and two of the sprawling complex were offered to Resort International Limited with N7 billion expected as proceeds. The arrangement, under the Federal Government's Private Investor Participation scheme, confers the ownership of the multi-storey complex to the new owners after they successfully paid N2 billion out of the N7 billion expected. Briefing reporters and representatives of both parties during the handing over ceremony at the complex, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Olusegun Mimiko, said after the public advertisement for the bidding of the complex, Resort International Limited succeeded as lessees at the appropriate premium, which he puts at N7 billion.

15 airlines may fold up
* As FG gives March 31 deadline for Recapitalisation
Nigerian Tribune
At least 15 of the 23 registered domestic airlines in the country may lose their operating licences following the March 3, 2007 deadline given to the airlines by the Federal Government to recapitalise. The directive, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stated, was part of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to clean up the aviation industry. According to the new directive, domestic airlines operating within the country would have to recapitalise to the tune of N500 million, while those on the regional and international routes are required to beef up their capital base to N1 billion and N2 billion respectively. Before now, the airlines were paying half of these various amounts for their respective routes of operation, with the highest being N1 billion. The Federal Government's White Paper on the Paul Dike report on the aviation industry directed all operators currently holding an Air Transport Licence (ATL) to attain the new capital base by 31 March, 2007.

New naira notes, coins out
Nigerian Tribune

The much awaited redesigned naira notes and coins which are expected to be smaller in size and texture will soon be in circulation as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has started distributing them to commercial banks across the country. A Deputy Director at the CBN, Mr. A.O Ikuseedun, disclosed this on Tuesday at the ongoing seminar for finance correspondents and business editors being held at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, while presenting a paper on promoting the use of coins in Nigeria. The new notes include N5, N20 and N50 while the coins include 50k, N1 and N2 and are expected to be formally introduced in the first quarter of 2007 into the system. He said the delivery of the notes was at an advanced stage while the distribution to the various locations would be carried out simultaneously.

Oil block sale: Court dismisses Danjuma's bid for reversal
The Punch

Justice Abdullahi Mustapha of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, dismissed the application of Lt-Gen Theophilus Danjuma's oil firm – South Atlantic Petroleum Limited – asking the court to reverse the sale of the remaining portion of his Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 246) by the Federal Government. Danjuma had earlier urged the court to stay the execution of its October 4 judgment that favoured the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, pending the determination of his complaints at the Court of Appeal in Lagos. Dismissing the retired general's application, Justice Mustapha held that the court had no powers to grant the relief sought by his oil firm. He added that the matter was no longer pending before his court.

Govt transfers rail line to private firm
The Guardian

Ahead of the planned concession of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in 2010, President Olusegun Obasanjo has approved the transfer of Itakpe Ajaokuta -Warri rail line to a private firm, the Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited. Under the arrangement, the management of the firm is expected to "take advantage" of the initiative aimed at ensuring an uninterrupted movement of steel and other products within the zone. The Federal Government in 2005 described the arrangement as provisional, adding that it would be terminated at the conclusion of the planned concession of the corporation. The Minister of State for Transport, Habib Aliyu, who confirmed the development, said Global Infrastructure could only operate successfully if given access to a functional rail line.

Labour rejects planned removal of petroleum subsidy
The Guardian

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday rejected the Federal Government's desire to reduce the subsidy on some petroleum products. The umbrella body of most workers specifically asked the National Assembly not to agree to the proposal submitted by the Federal Government to that effect in the 2007 budget. At a courtesy call on the Senate President, Ken Nnamani, the NLC also pleaded with the legislature to review the Labour Union Act with a view to bringing it in conformity with the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole who led the delegation, declared that should the National Assembly approve a downward review of the subsidy on petroleum products as requested by President Olusegun Obasanjo during his 2007 budget presentation speech, another spate of industrial crisis would be inevitable in the country. At the moment, the Federal and state governments are said to be contributing N150 billion as subsidy, shared as N75 billion apiece. But President Obasanjo has asked the National Assembly to reduce the Federal Government's contribution.

Militants prevent resumption of gas supplies
The Punch

Hopes by the Nigerian Gas Company to restore gas supply to Power Holding Company of Nigeria and other industrial concerns have been dashed by militants in the Niger Delta region. It was learnt that the militants last week, prevented the NGC from assessing and effecting repairs on its pipeline that was vandalised in Okerenkoko in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State in February. Also trapped are about 500,000 barrels of crude oil production shut in as a result of hostile action by the militants. The gas shut in has also led to drop in electricity supply from over 3,200 megawatts to less than 2,000MW. Sources familiar with the issue told The Punch that a team of officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and NGC, who visited the hideout of the militants in Okerenkoko last week to assess the extent of damage to the ruptured pipeline, were prevented from gaining access to the location by the militants, suspected to be Ijaw.

CBN seeks to criminalise naira spraying
The Punch

The Central Bank of Nigeria is seeking afresh to criminalise the spraying of naira and marching on currency in the country in its proposed amendment of the CBN Act, which is currently before the National Assembly. The Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr. Patrick Ataman, and the bank's Legal Adviser and Director of Legal Services, Prince Anthony Olatujoye, said this in Ibadan on Tuesday at the ongoing currency management seminar organised by the bank for journalists. He said, "We have put our proposal to the National Assembly in making the spraying of naira at social functions/gathering a criminal offence. This is now at the National Assembly for approval." He, however, noted that the responsibility of enforcing criminal laws lay with the Nigeria Police and not the bank.

International News

Scaramella: I warned poisoned spy
CNN.com

The Italian security consultant who met with Alexander Litvinenko the day the Russian former spy was believed to have been poisoned said he met with the ex-spy to warn his life was in danger. "I received several e-mails from another source he [Litvinenko] introduced to me some years before, saying that him and me were under the special attention of hostile people, so to take care," said Mario Scaramella. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Scaramella told of the November 1 meeting he had with Litvinenko. "The problem for me was these mails were so full of details, so specific that they didn't seem genuine." Litvinenko died on November 23 in a London hospital. He is believed to have been killed by polonium-210, a rare radioactive element. Doctors have also found low levels of polonium-210 in Scaramella's system, though he said he does not feel ill. In an interview from his hospital room, he said he tried to warn Litvinenko that they were being targeted by "people linked with some clandestine organizations, not directly under control of Russian establishment but from Russia ... generally retired people from the security service."

US to have permanent base in the moon
Nigerian Tribune

United States space agency, NASA, has said it plans to start work on a permanently-occupied base on the moon after astronauts begin flying back there in 2020. The base is likely to be built on one of the moon's poles and will serve as a science centre and possible stepping stone for manned missions to Mars. The US has already said it plans to build a new lunar spacecraft to succeed the last Apollo mission in 1972. Funds will be moved from space shuttle flights, due to be scrapped in 2010. The structure of the base and the exact duties of the astronauts stationed there have not been decided. It is not also clear when the base will begin functioning. "We're going for a base on the moon," Scott "Doc" Horowitz, NASA's associate administrator for exploration, said. The agency's deputy head, Shana Dale, is quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the "fundamental lunar approach" will be very different to earlier moon missions.

Britain, Australia, New Zealand protest coup in Fiji
The Guardian

After a week-long standoff between Fiji's military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, the military boss yesterday announced that he had seized control of the country. The face-off between the two leaders is rooted in tension between the South Pacific nation's indigenous people and its ethnic Indian minority. According to the Associated Press, Bainimarama told a news conference that he was using special powers under the constitution to assume the powers of the president and replace Qarase. The military commander said he would soon return the powers to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom he expected to appoint a full interim government. Elections to restore democracy would follow, he said. Qarase said he was under effective house arrest and that he was powerless to stop the coup, which came after troops surrounded his house, set up checkpoints in the capital, Suva, and seized official vehicles from government ministers.

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