News

Fresh Crisis In Bayelsa Over N207bn Debt

Published

14 years ago

April 4, 2012

A staggering sum of N207billion debts left behind by the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva may hurt projects development in Bayelsa, if the reports of the Financial Management Review Committee is anything to go by.

The committee headed by one-time Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe submitted its report on Monday with the disclosure that the former regime of Timipre Sylva left behind a liability of over N207 billion.

The committee requested the government to recover funds from alleged questionable payments of contracts of N123.18 by the previous government.

Among the alleged questionable payments to the said contractors included, Moreno Construction Company, N10.2billion, Vehicles purchase N2billion, FAK Engineering, N9billion, SENECO N14.28billion and Ratana N2billion.

Chief Alaibe, who disclosed this in Yenagoa when presenting its report to Governor Seriake Dickson, revealed that only N4,500 cash was in the state treasury when the present government emerged.

The committee recommended that government should tactically reduce the cash flow in the state and review the biometric process of payment of civil servants to expunge “ghosts” on government nominal roll.

He highlighted that N660billion was received during Sylva’s government in the past four and half years, stressing that only N2.89billion was discovered in government bank accounts which cannot be assessed.

The 11-man committee was inaugurated on February 27 by the state governor to investigate the income and expenditure of the last administration.

Alaibe said the N47.18 billion bond collected by Sylva’s government at the capital market was not repaid, as he noted that government would pay back N104.2billion.

The committee recommended that competent hands should be appointed as accountant general of the state and director of treasury to enhance internal control mechanism to provide checks in the treasury department.

Alaibe called for a fresh valuation exercise of all existing contracts in the state before performance certificate is issued to them for payment and also recommended short, medium and long term planning to increase the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR)in the state.

The report also revealed that the former Acting Governor of the state, Nestor Binabo, awarded contract of N1.8billion on February 7, immediately approved payment and the release of the contract funds without the jobs being executed.

To this end, the committee recommended that the contracts should be revoked.

Earlier, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, said the committee report would serve as living document and assured that government will look at its recommendations and take action where necessary.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timi Sylva, has said that the outcome of the report of the committee set up by the Bayelsa State Government constituted another means of witch-hunting him.

Sylva said the probe committee, headed by a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe, was another obsession with his ghost.

According to a statement by his aide, Doifie Ola, Sylva said the outcome of the probe committee was premeditated.

He said the report never indicted him of any wrongdoing.

The statement by Ola reads in full: “Our attention has been drawn to a committee report administered by Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe in which phoney allegations of grand financial crimes were made against the government of Chief Timipre Sylva.

“Sylva dismisses these allegations as unfounded, and a failed attempt to divert attention from the calamitous political parodies committed in Bayelsa State by these accusers.

“The report of the kangaroo committee is as ridiculous as it is unsurprising to any Nigerian. The composition did not belie its intent as another mock team impulsively set up to deliver a pre-determined judgement. In their continued battle with the ghost of Sylva, those who have installed a puppet administration in Bayelsa State have once again demonstrated their loss of touch with the essence of government and their choice of shadowboxing as state policy.

“To be sure, government is an administrative structure set up to govern human beings with needs. Any normal investigation of government expenditure would try to demonstrate how the financial laws were flouted. The Alaibe committee did not attempt to do this. It simply compiled the incomes that accrued to Bayelsa State within a carefully selected period targeted to smear Sylva, and assumed that there were no needs met in the period.

“The Alaibe report did not demonstrate any flouting of the state’s financial laws and regulations. If anyone had proof of such contravention, they knew where to go. And where to go is not an illegal committee unknown to the laws of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

“Besides, the allegations thrown up by the power usurpers in Bayelsa State are too weighty to be handled by people with vested political interests in the state and whose track record and history smell of corruption.

The report by the Alaibe committee is at best biased, petty, and heavily tainted. This is yet another manifestation of the constant distress in the camp of those who recently usurped power in Bayelsa State as they live in perpetual fear of Sylva, and guilt of the harsh judgement of democratic humanity.

“As we near a judicial resolution of the manifest political travesty in Bayelsa State, those who believe they should do nothing other than fight the ghost of Sylva should learn to mitigate their desperation, at least, for the decency of what remains of our democracy that they have tried so hard to compromise.”

In the report by the Alaibe committee, presented to the state government on Monday, Sylva was accused of mismanaging the N660.45 billion his government received from the Federation Account from 2007 to 2011.

Sylva was also accused of accumulating almost all the N207 billion liabilities on the state government in terms of debts and frittering the N50 billion bond he received in December 2009 from the capital market without utilising the funds for the capital projects it was meant for.

The Alaibe committee, tagged the Financial Management Review Committee, told the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, that the state under Sylva received N99.5 billion in 2007; N164.7 billion in 2008; N106.3 billion in 2009; N110.6 billion in 2010; and N189.1 billion in 2011.

Alaibe said though government expenditure increased from N165 billion in 2007 to N208 billion in 2010, the chunk of the money was used to finance recurrent expenditure such as personnel, overhead and other contingency costs.

He said the recurrent expenditure maintained steady increase from 48 per cent in 2007 to 80 per cent in 2010 and 2011, observing that there was 48 per cent decline in capital expenditure within the period under review.

Alaibe added: “This accounted for the absence of funds for the implementation of capital projects. In the same period, recurrent expenditure had increased to 123 per cent from 2007 to 2010. In contrast, there was 48 per cent drop in capital expenditure during the same period.”

The report said most of the spending was without supporting documents, noting that security and ‘Government House emergency expenses subheads were used as a conduit to move the cash.

It further alleged that apart from the conventional security votes contained in the recurrent expenditure, the immediate past administration claimed to have spent on security N3.3 billion in 2010, N10.3 billion in 2011 and N3.87 billion in January and February 2012.

Sylva allegedly withdrew N1.6 billion in 2010, N7.4 billion in 2011 and N155 million in January and February 2012 from the treasury under the subhead: Government House Emergency Expenses.

Alaibe said in the report: “These payments were in spite of the regular monthly security payment made out of recurrent expenditure amounting to N3.19 billion in 2010; 7 billion in 2011 and N890 million for January and February 2012. Clearly these payments are abnormal payments. They are frivolous and in fact fraudulent.”

Dickson vowed to implement the recommendations of the committee as he lamented the collapse of institutions and processes in the past administration, adding: “It is difficult to believe that this kind of thing happened amidst poverty and so many challenges. “Never again will the state return to the time when all institutions and processes vanished.”

News

NDLEA Intercepts 1.63m Tramadol Pills, Arrests 80-Year-Old Suspect

Published

4 days ago

July 20, 2026

The Tide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.

The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.

According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.

Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”

He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.

Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”

He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.

“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.

According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.

He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”

The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”

He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.

News

FG Alerts Nigerians Of N50,000 Allowance Registration Scam

Published

4 days ago

July 20, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.

The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.

It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.

“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.

It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”

The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.

The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.

The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.

Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.

News

Minimum Wage Review: We’re Battle Ready For Major National Struggle -NLC

Published

4 days ago

July 20, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.

Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.

He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.

According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.

“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.

“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.

“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”

Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.

“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.

He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”

The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”

He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.

“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.

Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.

“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”