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The Ministry of Aviation has commenced a “total remodelling” of the five major airports in the country.

According to the
ministry, the development, which is part of measures to address the
level of infrastructural decay across Nigerian airports, is also aimed
at repositioning and refocusing the aviation sector in the country for
better performance, considering the critical role the industry plays in
the economy of the nation. “With Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) in the driving seat, we are embarking on aggressive airports
infrastructural development and remodelling,” said Fidelia Njeze,
minister of aviation, over the weekend during the commissioning of the
newly acquired TBM850 training aircraft for the Nigerian College of
Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

Reacting to public outcry

Explaining that the
remodelling of the airports became imperative following plights of
passengers and “excessive reporting” of the dilapidated structures
inherent across Nigerian airports by journalists, Mrs. Njeze promised
that the federal government will endeavour to complete the exercise
within two years. “As part of the remodelling and general
refurbishment, you would agree with me that when you enter the check-in
hall at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport recently, you would
have noticed appreciable change in the temperature of the lounge, and
this is because the existing air conditioning system has been repaired
and additional units procured to alleviate the troubles of travellers.

“The remodelling
designs for five airports namely, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and
Enugu have been completed and these projects will be concluded in the
next 12 to 24 months,” she said. The ministry’s helmsman disclosed that
the government will invite the public to come see the model of the
airports after making an official presentation to the president in due
course, adding that the all forms of power interruptions across
international airports in the country are currently addressed.

“With the designs out, we have written to the president to come and
do a presentation, and after this the block model and video of the
design will be brought to the public for display in the major airports
for people to see what we are doing as pertaining the remodelling,” she
said, adding “with this initiative, power outage at MMIA will be a
thing of the past as we have commenced the process of replacing the six
old obsolete generators and transformers, and provide redundancies that
will serve as backup when there is system failure.” It could be
recalled that on May 9, there was a complete blackout at the Lagos
international airport for over four hours, which totally crumbled
flight operations at the airport leaving hundreds of passengers
stranded, a situation described by experts as “disgraceful, pathetic
and unprofessional.”

The two Chinese
suspects and their Nigerian counterpart in connection with the unlawful
importation of 450.4kg of cocaine at the Tin Can Island Port, will be
arraigned today (Monday) at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The accused
persons, Fong Chui Sen, Wang Richard, and Inua Mohammed, who are to
appear before Justice O. E. Abang of the High Court, were arrested last
month by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following
intelligence from the British Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA),
and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.

In its pledge to
further unmask other persons involved in the illicit trade, Ahmadu
Giade, chief executive of the anti-narcotics agency, over the weekend
disclosed that the NDLEA has conducted its investigations scrupulously,
and that one of the suspects has been confirmed to be a Taiwanese.

“On our part, we
have conducted a thorough investigation and we have a watertight case.
Diligent prosecution by our legal team shall be the icing on the cake,”
he said, adding “like the arrest of these accused persons, Nigerians
should expect more from us in line with our operational promise to
expose drug barons, as no one dealing in drugs will go unpunished.”
Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the agency said that Count One
charge against the suspects states that “Fong Chui Sen and Wang
Richard, both male adults, between the months of March and July 2010 at
Ibadan and Kano, Nigeria, without lawful authority conspired to import
450.4kg of cocaine into Nigeria from Republic of Chile.

“They have thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of
the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation 2004,” he said.

Societal Consequences of drugs

The agency’s boss
disclosed that drug businesses, though covertly done have serious
consequences on the social order, as he called on the general public to
unite in the fight against illegal smuggling of hard drugs.

“Illicit drug
transactions affect the public in so many ways. Apart from increasing
insecurity, drugs lead to money laundering and could adversely
undermine legitimate businesses,” said Mr. Giade.

“We must unite in
fighting against drug trafficking and abuse, and though the love for
money is attracting more people into the criminal act, one sure way of
tackling the problem is to increase the penal sanctions.”

Twenty suspects arrested at MMIA in July

Meanwhile, the
agency disclosed that it arrested 20 suspects for unlawfully
trafficking drugs last month at the Murtala Mohammed International
Airport (MMIA), Lagos with a total seizure of 28.13kg of narcotics.

The anti-narcotics
spokesperson said that 18 of the suspects are male while two are
female, adding that cocaine constitutes the bulk of the seized drugs
with 25.185kg, followed by cannabis with 1.5kg and then heroin with
1.445kg.

“The only heroin seizure in the month under review was ingested by a
professional lawn tennis player, Dairo Toyin. The last five suspects
caught in July ingested four hundred and twenty three (423) wraps of
substances that tested positive to cocaine,” said Mr. Ofoyeju.

The former chairman
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has
refuted claims that he is plotting to hijack the Save Nigeria Group
(SNG) to secure his political relevance in 2011.

According to the
press statement by his aide, Chido Onumah, the recent utterances by the
pastor of the Latter Day Saints, Tunde Bakare, suggests such and does
not in any way reflect the plans of Mr Ribadu. “Nuhu Ribadu’s attention
has been drawn to claims in the Sunday (August 15, 2010) sermon of
respected preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, to the effect that Mr Ribadu
desires to hijack the Save Nigeria Group for the purpose of his
political ambition,” stated Mr Onumah. “Mr Ribadu strongly refutes this
claim and affirms that he has the highest regard for Pastor Bakare and
for his patriotic vision espoused through the SNG.”

The former
anti-graft czar added that he still salutes the sacrifice, energy, and
resources many Nigerians have invested in building the SNG, and hopes
it will continue to grow in strength to become a major movement that
will deepen democracy and national development. “I am convinced that
Pastor Bakare came to his conclusion on a mistaken brief, and I look
forward to meeting him soon to assure him that nothing like that ever,
or could ever happen, because of the kind of person I am and the
philosophy that guides my pubic conduct,” he said.

Mr Ribadu stated
that no one can deny the role SNG played, and continues to play, “as
our country tries to chart a path to greatness 50 years after
independence.” “The SNG has become a mass movement of patriotic
Nigerians from different walks of life and political persuasion whose
common vision is a new and better Nigeria,” he said. “It would not only
be presumptuous but tragic for any individual to think he or she can
‘hijack’ such a people-oriented organisation.”

Turbulence within

Last week, the SNG,
a coalition of civil society and human rights group, suspended Mr
Bakare, Yinka Odumakin, and Salihu Lukman from the group. According to
the coordinator of Lawyers of Conscience, Benedict Ezeagu, and the
Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, Willy
Ezugwu, the three were suspended because they refused to heed to
warnings to stop activities that are contrary to the goals of the
group. Mr Ezeagu said the suspension order stands till the proper
constitution of the organization leadership structure was sorted out,
revealed that frontline activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, was urged to
convene a stakeholders meeting within two weeks.

They three members were accused associating with some politicians
and presidential aspirants, and making some negotiations with them on
behalf of the group. Mr Bakare and the other two members were said to
have met with the former EFCC boss. SNG said the trio were suspended
because their actions contrasted with the group’s objectives, insisting
that the group is non partisan.

Former President,
Olusegun Obasanjo, the current Chairman, Board of Trustees of the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), , yesterday evening held a
meeting with governors of south-west states elected on the platform of
the PDP, to strategise on common positions ahead of the forthcoming
party primaries and polls in the governors’ respective states.

The closed-door
meeting, which took place at the private residence of Mr Obasanjo at
the Hilltop, Abeokuta, lasted for over four hours. It had in attendance
the Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Oyo State governor, Adebayo
Alao-Akala; Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni; Osun State governor,
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as former Ondo State governor and party
leader in the state, Segun Agagu.

Speaking with the
press afterwards, Mr Obasanjo said the meeting was convened at the
request of governors of the south-west. “We resolved to hold
consultative meeting among ourselves; me as the BOT Chairman, they as
leaders of the party in their respective states,” he said.

Putting heads together

Mr Obasanjo further
said, since the PDP has resolved the issue of zoning, “we have decided
to have a preliminary meeting to put our heads together in the
south-west.” The BOT Chairman, who said another similar meeting would
take place soon, stated further that the issue of zoning has been laid
to rest. “We are going to have another meeting in due course and when
we hold that meeting, we will be talking to you in a more relaxed and
more prepared fashion than this impromptu.”

On the visit of the
party National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, to Ogun State today over
the unresolved political crisis in the state, Mr Obasanjo declared that
the party chairman is not coming to pay him a visit, hence, he is not
interested in addressing the issue further.

Similarly, on the proposed visit of Goodluck Jonathan to the state
next month, Mr Obasanjo also told journalists that he is not aware of
the president coming to the state. “I am hearing of the visit of the
president for the first time,” he said.

The dissolution of
the Abia State executive on the orders of the PDP national chairman,
Okwesilieze Nwodo, has pitched him against party leaders in the state
who described the action as unilateral.

Executive members
of the party from the 17 local government area chapters of the party,
who met at the weekend in Ntigha, Isiala North, described the
dissolution of the Ndidi Okereke-led State Executive Committee as
“fraudulent”, as it did not emanate from the PDP National Working
Committee, as claimed by Nwodo.

The meeting, which
was convened by Reagan Ufomba, one of the numerous governorship
aspirants within the PDP, was attended by executive members of the
party from all the wards, the zone and some members of the dissolved
state executive committee.

Participants resolved to stop Mr Nwodo from taking unilateral decisions that were capable of causing disaffection in the party.

They said they were
not, in any way, against the readmission of the state governor,
Theodore Orji, to the party, as the PDP umbrella was large enough to
accommodate more people.

An Abuja high
court, presided over by U.P Kekemeke, had on August 11, 2010, ordered
that the status quo be maintained, pending the hearing and
determination of the motion on notice in a suit filed by Mr Ufomba
against the PDP, Mr Nwodo, Olisa Metu and Mrs Okereke.

Consigned to dustbin

Mr Ufomba said the
“illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic” actions of Nwodo in
dissolving elected state executives have vitiated his claims that he
was on a mission to reform the party, instil discipline and ensure that
internal democracy was restored.

“Most unfortunately
and regrettably, what we’re witnessing are hordes of illegalities,” he
said. “Some of us have risen in defence of the party, in restoration of
the sanctity of the soul of the party.”

He said Nwodo even
acted fraudulently by claiming that the decision to dissolve the Abia
PDP executive was taken by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the
party, noting that it was Nwodo’s decision. “PDP constitution has no
provision for one man to just wake up and dissolve a duly elected state
executive committee,” he said.

Mr Ufomba also
explained that the NWC meeting was held on August 4, 2010 in Abuja, and
the issue of dissolution of the SEC was not discussed.

“The issue was not discussed, but one man just woke up and consigned all of us to the dustbin,” he said.

Ibrahim Babangida officially affirmed his presidential ambitions on Saturday after declaring: “I’m back.”

The declaration is
the culmination of a busy fortnight which has seen the former military
ruler launch a campaign website and set up offices in 32 states of the
federation.

No manifesto

Speaking at his
house in Minna, the retired general dismissed all the recurrent
obstacles that have been put forward to dissuade his ambitions.
However, during a two hour press conference he repeatedly failed to put
forward any clearly defined policies. He conceded that policy making
was not his strongest point and that he will entrust such matters to a
“trusted team of experts.” He however defended some of his old policies
such as the controversial Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) which he
said foreshadowed many of today’s democratic policies.

“When you look at
SAP, it set out to achieve some things that are now being praised.
Deregulation, opening up the economy and stabilising the naira were all
things we set out to do with SAP and I am very proud of those things.”

He said that
although he presently had no clear manifesto, he will “unleash”
outlined policies to the public in “two or three weeks.”

Fighting the clock

At 69, the former president dismissed suggestions that he was too old for the job.

“I have a daughter
who makes sure I go to the gym every day so I have never been
healthier. If you look at other countries [Hosni] Mubarak is 82,
[Shimon] Peres is 87 and [Muammer] Ghadaffi is my age.

So I don’t think age matters much.”

Mr Babangida came
close to apologising for the annulment of the June 12 1992 elections
calling it an “ugly spot that one has to live with.”

He stopped short
however by saying that the decision was a collective one during his
regime. He fully expected Nigerians to forgive his regime’s decision
because he believed “we are a godly nation that embraces forgiveness.”

The former
president challenged anyone who could claim he has ever offered a bribe
to speak up. He said he had made a similar challenge when he was
president and, to date, no one has been able to bring up credible
evidence. If elected, he said that he would take the same “vigorous
stance” against corruption as he has always taken.

“I am getting tired of people who say I institutionalised corruption,” he said.

“People forget that
I disciplined a military administrator over N300, 000. Today people in
office are accused of N300 million, N15 billion and they are still
there.”

Okigbo report

Mr Babangida
absolved himself of any blame in the Okigbo report saying his critics
were using it in the most “blindly controversial and distorted manner.”
The panel was set up, he said, not to investigate his regime but to
“examine operations and make recommendations for activities of the
Central Bank of Nigeria.”

He added that he was never subpoenaed nor was he linked to any acts of financial impropriety in the entire report.

The former
president once again distanced his regime from any culpability in the
1986 killing of the Newswatch editor, Dele Giwa.

“I wish to state
for the umpteenth time, that I did not murder Dele Giwa,” he said. He
added that no agency under his regime was found guilty of the “heinous
act.” Last week, the Peoples Democratic Party, which Mr Babangida aims
to represent in the elections, failed to take a decisive stance on who
it would back for the presidential elections. He said although there
was still ambiguity he was happy that the race was thrown open this
year.

Reasons for
returning The former president said he had hoped that, seventeen years
after leaving office, Nigeria would be in better economic shape but
that had not happened.

“I left that house
seventeen years ago and I had wished that things would be different
now. I can assure you that Nigeria was far better off between 1985 and
1993 than from 1999 to present day.” He further argued that he achieved
greater economic stability and security with far less resources than
were available in the democratic years.

Money has seldom
been far from any discourse relating to Mr Babangida and he said his
campaign would be funded by both himself and “good friends who
benefitted from his policies.”

The former president paid tribute to his late wife saying that she
would be “difficult to replace.” He added, however, that he had not
entirely ruled out the possibility of remarrying.