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Arms Saga: Military Audit Report Clears Jonathan

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The final report of President Muhammadu Buhari’s probe panel, tagged the Presidential Arms Audit Panel has exonerated former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from complicity in the alleged shoddy arms deals.
A pro-democracy group, Hope for Nigeria, which disclosed this to newsmen, yesterday, said that the final report of the panel, inaugurated at the outset of Buhari’s administration, was not made available to the public because the prime target, Goodluck Jonathan, was exonerated by the investigators to the disappointment of the government.
The 13-man presidential panel, set up by Buhari to audit arms purchased between 2007 and 2015, the group said, confirmed that the former president was not involved in any procurement and never allowed his office to be involved in arms purchases within the period under review.
According to the document obtained by the group from the Presidency, the panel went further to state that arms were actually bought, but admitted that some of them did not go through due process.
The panel, in its preliminary investigations, had claimed that it discovered the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) diverted N13.2 billion (not $2.1billion) of funds meant for procurement of arms for the Nigeria military.
The panel report did not mention anything like purchasing unserviceable weapons or substandard arms as reported in the media and claimed by some government officials.
The panel made up of distinguished Nigerians toured military formations across the country to undertake physical verification of military hardware and equipment either bought or claimed to have been bought during the period under review.
The panel submitted its first interim report in November, 2015, and presented the second report in January, 2016, the document noted.
During the investigation, some members of the arms probe panel were accused of receiving bribes from individuals and companies that were being investigated by the same panel.
Some serving security officials also said the panel had accused groups and individuals via the media without giving them opportunity to defend themselves in court.
The interim report of the audit panel confirmed that the administration of the former president purchased arms and equipment for the military, which were distributed to various military formations across the country, particularly the North-East geo-political zone for counter-insurgency operations.
The group alleged that the final report, which is still held in secrecy by the Presidency, stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan did not involve himself and his office in procurement, and demanded proof of purchases and delivery in most cases.
Issues like, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorized thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes, and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act, were generally addressed by the panel.
The arms probe panel report stated that some award letters for the equipment and arms purchase contracts contained misleading delivery dates, suggesting fraudulent intent in some of the contracts.
There are several indictments on serving military officers and companies that failed to perform their contract obligations, the report added.

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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