Responding to a query issued by President Muhammadu Buhari over the claims of allegedly failing to pay eligible contractors despite budgetary release of over N98 billion in the 2018 allocation which led to an outstanding of N49 billion, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Bello, has implicated Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono and his Permanent Secretary, Abdulkadir Mu’azu.
In the query issued by President Mohammadu Buhari, through the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Mohammed was told to respond to the offence of financial misconduct while he was Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
However, in a copy of the response that was sent to the federal government from Mohammed, dated May 14, he disclosed that it was Sabo Nanono and the Federal Executive Council FEC that gave approval for the purchase of the building.
He described the allegations as baseless and without facts alleging that Nanono and Abdulkadir were behind his travail.
“Kindly note that we have been invited, interrogated and cleared by the EFCC and ICPC on this particular matter after glaring facts were presented to them. While denying in totality all the allegations, I hereby forward my representations and response to all the false allegations contained in the query. I am constrained to give details of the transactions I approved to set the records straight and clear my name. I will like to state the following that all transactions at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were approved through administrative processes and principles as traditioned in the conduct of government business. That FMARD runs a rolling budget year in year out as most projects are being captured as ongoing; that all contracts/procurement and payments at the FMARD followed due process. There are procedures for contracts/procurement and payments handled by various departments in all government agencies, FMARD inclusive.
“That my tenure as Permanent Secretary at FMARD commenced from January 10, 2019 to December 18, 2019 and hence cannot be held responsible or liable for actions prior to January 10, 2019. I state that contractors were duly paid. The allegation of contractors not being paid is totally false.
“All contractors whose contract was captured in the 2018 budgetary allocation were paid in accordance with budgetary releases. However, contractors whose contracts are ongoing were rolled over as ongoing. Rollover capital projects are not new in contract management.
“I will state that due process was followed to the latter in the purchase of the said building. After submission of recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture; he approved that Council Memo be made to that effect. We then sent the Memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation who then scheduled it for Federal Executive Council Approval. Consequently, the Federal Executive Council approved the purchase of the building”.
“It may interest you to know that as I left FMARD in December, 2019, MTB (Ministerial Tenders Board) met that same December 2019 and among the projects approved then includes: The remodelling and partitioning of new office complex; Procurement and installation of 1000KVA generator set; fencing of new office complex and other related auxiliaries; Procurement and Installation of ICT internet at the new office complex and; Procurement and Installation of Solar Energy in FMARD.”
Afolabi gave the warning on Sunday in Akure during an interactive session organised by the state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), tagged: “The Platform”.
He said series of operations had been carried out in different parts of the state, while some kidnappers were arrested and victims rescued since he assumed office.
The CP said that efforts made so far by the command, in terms of relationship with the people, had started to yield positive results.
According to him, the People Safety Partnership initiative I introduced when I assumed duty in the state a couple of months ago, is already paying off.
He explained the initiative was especially effective with residents of violence-prone communities on intelligence gathering.
The CP, therefore, called on the residents to immediately contact the police whenever they suspected any strange faces and suspicious movements in their areas.
He, however, said the command needed assistance from government and other stakeholders in the state, in terms of provision of patrol vans and repair of grounded patrol vehicles.
According to Afolabi, the provision of more vehicles will ensure the timely and effective response to distress calls.
“We can’t use orthodox methods to address present security challenges. Most of our vehicles are grounded. The refurbishing are ongoing through the financial assistance of the people.
“We need Military drones that can go 50km, live tracking devices to get the location where criminals are hiding, Lawful Intersection (LI), fueling of vehicles among others.
“Now, kidnapping has gone highly sophisticated and you can confirm from anybody.
“We can’t use the same old method, or maybe the approach of the 70s or the 80s or even the 90s to address this present security challenges.
“In a lot of states where they are having successes and breakthroughs, they have hi-tech machines, drones, LI machines, live tracking, but here, we don’t have them.
“So, most times, whenever there is any incident of kidnapping, you deploy your men to comb the bushes. That is archaic and you hardly can achieve much success,” he said.
Afolabi further disclosed that the successes he had achieved was as a result of the synergy with other sister security agencies in the state.
The CP also said that the command, under his watch had trained various investigative personnel periodically, whicb would enable continuous achievement of the needed results.(NAN)
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FRSC Corps Marshal sanctions Sector commander over worn-out tyre
FRSC Corps Marshal sanctions Sector commander over worn-out tyre
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has condemned the use of a worn-out tyre on one of the corps’ patrol vehicles in Ondo State.
Mohammed ordered the immediate sanction of the Sector Commander, under whose jurisdiction the infraction occurred.
This is contained in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Sunday in Abuja
The FRSC boss said that the Corps had zero tolerance for any form of compromise against its core values and safety standards.
He explained that a vehicle intercepted was booked for infraction, but the Sector Commander would be made to pay the fine for his negligence, in addition to being sanction.
“The FRSC has been inundated with a very disturbing video that has gone viral on the information environment.
“This is particularly on social media; regarding one of its patrol vehicles, under the Ondo State Sector Command, captured operating with a worn out tyre.
“While we commend the public for their watch dog role over the services we provide, it is important to state without any delay that this very act is a complete negation of the corps’ core values.
“This includes, as well as, operating procedures on maximum safety standards for all operational and administrative vehicles of the Corps,”he said.
The FRSC boss reiterated the corps’ commitment to maintaining high-quality standards, especially in vehicle maintenance, and pledged to continue enhancing its safety protocols.
Mohammed said that the corps’ management would continue to supervise field commands diligently, while commanding officers were expected to uphold the corps’ ideals.
“It is therefore apt to remind the motoring public that the FRSC remains a pace-setter amongst agencies in Nigeria and we will continue to enhance on the mileages achieved in that regard over the years,” he said.(NAN)
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How I almost lost my life – Pastor Adeboye recounts encounter with death
How I almost lost my life – Pastor Adeboye recounts encounter with death
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has recounted how he narrowly escaped death seven years ago during one of the church’s evangelism programs.
He shared the testimony of God’s grace and mercy in his life at the annual Special Holy Ghost Service, themed “Joy Unspeakable”.
Adeboye narrated how he fell critically ill due to terrible road conditions and was forced to spend Christmas Day in bed for the first time in his life.
He said his condition was so severe that he had to be airlifted from Ilesha to the camp, but local miscreants attempted to prevent the helicopter from taking off, damaging one of the windows in the process.
Despite this harrowing experience, Adeboye expressed his gratitude for God’s benevolence towards him and the ministry.
He attributed his survival to God’s grace and encouraged his congregation to thank God for sparing his life.
He said: “Seven years ago, during this same program, my body broke down completely due to the terrible road conditions. For the first time in my life, I spent Christmas Day in bed. The devil was certain he had finally got me. I collapsed in Ilesha, and to bring me back to the camp, we had to charter a helicopter. I was too weak to travel by road—if I had, I would not have made it.
“They clung to the helicopter, and in the process, one of the windows got torn. But by God’s grace, I managed to reach the camp. I had an assurance that if only I could get to the camp, I would recover. Seven years later, I am still here! I want you to thank God for sparing my life. Please, praise Him for me—give Him glory, honor, and adoration!”