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The federal government has invested close to eight million dollars to refurbish a US Coast Guard Warship, USCGC CHASE (WHEC-718), donated to the Nigeria Navy, a senior military official said.

Commodore Sylvanius Chinweuba, the Commander of Fleet Support Group of the Nigeria Navy, disclosed this to reporters on Friday in Alameda, California, at a handover ceremony of CHASE to the Nigeria Navy.

“We have paid close to 8 million dollars, not for the purchase (it came free), but for logistics support,” he said. “They (USCG) removed some of their sensitive equipment (the entire control system) and now we have to rebuild based on our own environment.”
The US Coast Guard ship has been renamed Nigeria Navy Thunder F90 (NNS Thunder or Aradu). With this donation, the Nigerian Navy now has two NNS Aradu in its fleet. “Thunder in Hausa, a Nigerian language, is known as Aradu, and that is the flagship of the Nigerian Navy; we felt because of the capacity of this ship, it is complementary to NNS Aradu, and it can play the role of Aradu,’’ said Chinweuba.

The naval commander said that Nigeria was expecting another ship in the same mould from the U.S in the next two years. “We requested for three warships but got one and we hope that within the next two years we will get another one,” he said. “We are the only African country that is beneficiary of this gesture. A similar ship was donated to the Philippines by the US Coast Guard.’’

Earlier, Rear Admiral Aminu Ikioda, the Chief of Logistics of Nigeria Navy, said that NNS Aradu F90, docked at the Coast Guard Island in Alameda, would sail to Nigeria by mid-July and arrive in Lagos by September.

“We are ready to utilise this vessel to the fullest and we want to take advantage of the opportunity that it will provide for us to be able to carry out our statutory roles of providing credible maritime defence to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said. “We will use it for the safety of all in the Gulf of Guinea and to protect the economic lifeline of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is oil.”

Ikioda corroborated the position that some equipment removed by the USCG would be replaced while the colour of the ship would be changed to reflect the colour of the Nigeria Navy- shipside grey, before it sails to the country.

Prof Ade Adefuye, Nigeria's Ambassador to the US, who received the 378-foot cutter, described the feat as a high point in Nigeria-US relations. He said the offer had strengthened the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission Agreement signed in April 2010.

“All the four focuses of the Bi-National Commission Agreement have been fully implemented and will continue to be implemented,” he said. “One of the component of the commission is security in the Gulf region, an area where most of our oil come from. The NNS Thunder will increase our capability to ensure that there is security in the Gulf region and checking the activities of those who may wish to disrupt the free flow of oil.”

He said that both countries were good partners in the “faithful implementation’’ of the principles of democracy in the region, adding that the addition to the Nigeria Navy fleet would soar the “display of Nigeria military.’’ “This would act as a deterrent for would be-dictators and those who will not allow democracy to thrive,’’ he said.

The ambassador thanked the US for the offer, saying it came “after a successful election in Nigeria’’. He praised U.S for being very supportive in ensuring that democracy, human rights and justice thrived in Nigeria. “NNS thunder would be used as an additional component to ensure that in Africa, the principles of democracy thrive,’’ he said.

Navy Capt. Muhammad Nagenu is the Captain of NNS Thunder. He will lead a crew of 150 naval men, currently under-going sea training in the US, to bring the vessel home to Nigeria by September.
News

The federal government has invested close to eight million dollars to refurbish a US Coast Guard Warship, USCGC CHASE (WHEC-718), donated to the Nigeria Navy, a senior military official said.

Commodore Sylvanius Chinweuba, the Commander of Fleet Support Group of the Nigeria Navy, disclosed this to reporters on Friday in Alameda, California, at a handover ceremony of CHASE to the Nigeria Navy.

“We have paid close to 8 million dollars, not for the purchase (it came free), but for logistics support,” he said. “They (USCG) removed some of their sensitive equipment (the entire control system) and now we have to rebuild based on our own environment.”
The US Coast Guard ship has been renamed Nigeria Navy Thunder F90 (NNS Thunder or Aradu). With this donation, the Nigerian Navy now has two NNS Aradu in its fleet. “Thunder in Hausa, a Nigerian language, is known as Aradu, and that is the flagship of the Nigerian Navy; we felt because of the capacity of this ship, it is complementary to NNS Aradu, and it can play the role of Aradu,’’ said Chinweuba.

The naval commander said that Nigeria was expecting another ship in the same mould from the U.S in the next two years. “We requested for three warships but got one and we hope that within the next two years we will get another one,” he said. “We are the only African country that is beneficiary of this gesture. A similar ship was donated to the Philippines by the US Coast Guard.’’

Earlier, Rear Admiral Aminu Ikioda, the Chief of Logistics of Nigeria Navy, said that NNS Aradu F90, docked at the Coast Guard Island in Alameda, would sail to Nigeria by mid-July and arrive in Lagos by September.

“We are ready to utilise this vessel to the fullest and we want to take advantage of the opportunity that it will provide for us to be able to carry out our statutory roles of providing credible maritime defence to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said. “We will use it for the safety of all in the Gulf of Guinea and to protect the economic lifeline of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is oil.”

Ikioda corroborated the position that some equipment removed by the USCG would be replaced while the colour of the ship would be changed to reflect the colour of the Nigeria Navy- shipside grey, before it sails to the country.

Prof Ade Adefuye, Nigeria's Ambassador to the US, who received the 378-foot cutter, described the feat as a high point in Nigeria-US relations. He said the offer had strengthened the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission Agreement signed in April 2010.

“All the four focuses of the Bi-National Commission Agreement have been fully implemented and will continue to be implemented,” he said. “One of the component of the commission is security in the Gulf region, an area where most of our oil come from. The NNS Thunder will increase our capability to ensure that there is security in the Gulf region and checking the activities of those who may wish to disrupt the free flow of oil.”

He said that both countries were good partners in the “faithful implementation’’ of the principles of democracy in the region, adding that the addition to the Nigeria Navy fleet would soar the “display of Nigeria military.’’ “This would act as a deterrent for would be-dictators and those who will not allow democracy to thrive,’’ he said.

The ambassador thanked the US for the offer, saying it came “after a successful election in Nigeria’’. He praised U.S for being very supportive in ensuring that democracy, human rights and justice thrived in Nigeria. “NNS thunder would be used as an additional component to ensure that in Africa, the principles of democracy thrive,’’ he said.

Navy Capt. Muhammad Nagenu is the Captain of NNS Thunder. He will lead a crew of 150 naval men, currently under-going sea training in the US, to bring the vessel home to Nigeria by September.
News

A whopping N500 million has been earmarked by Federal Government to mark the inauguration ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria for the next four years later this month.

Also, former president of Brazil, Mr Lula Da Silva, has been slated to deliver an inaugural lecture as a mark of honour for of the president with about 35 presidents and heads of governments across the world having signified their intention to be part of the inauguration ceremony.

The lecture, with the theme: “Consolidating Democracy For National Transformation,” is billed to come up on the 27th of May  in Abuja.

In the same vein, an inaugural football match between the Kaduna United Football team of Kaduna and the Eyimba Football Club of Aba is slated for the Abuja Stadium on May 28.

According to investigations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will chair the inauguration committee, which also has eight serving ministers as members. The inauguration ceremony, it was learnt, is tagged; ‘A Celebration of Nigerians.’
Source

A whopping N500 million has been earmarked by Federal Government to mark the inauguration ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria for the next four years later this month.

Also, former president of Brazil, Mr Lula Da Silva, has been slated to deliver an inaugural lecture as a mark of honour for of the president with about 35 presidents and heads of governments across the world having signified their intention to be part of the inauguration ceremony.

The lecture, with the theme: “Consolidating Democracy For National Transformation,” is billed to come up on the 27th of May  in Abuja.

In the same vein, an inaugural football match between the Kaduna United Football team of Kaduna and the Eyimba Football Club of Aba is slated for the Abuja Stadium on May 28.

According to investigations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will chair the inauguration committee, which also has eight serving ministers as members. The inauguration ceremony, it was learnt, is tagged; ‘A Celebration of Nigerians.’
Source

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former Director of the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Sani Teidi Shuaibu, alongside five other persons, following the alleged roles they played in the illegal diversion of N12 billion from government coffers through fictitious contract claims.

Others who took turns yesterday to plead “not guilty” to a 134-count criminal charge bordering on corruption, abuse of office and advance fee fraud, were former Deputy to the pension boss, Mrs. Phina Chidi; his personal assistant, Aliyu Bello, Abdullahi Omeiza, Garba Abdullahi Tahir and Emmanuel Olanipekun

The anti-graft agency insisted that they conspired and swindled the Federal Government through over 130 bogus contracts purportedly awarded to 25 different companies, adding that the alleged scam was perpetrated between 2008 and 2010.

EFCC went ahead and listed 26 companies that participated in the alleged fraud as defendants in the case, just as it, yesterday, discharged one of the earlier accused persons, Mohammed Katun Ahmed.

Having pleaded not guilty to all the 134-count charge, counsel to the accused persons, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, and S.I. Ameh, SAN, pleaded the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Consequently, Justice Adamu Bello granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N10 million each and adjourned the matter to June 30 for hearing.
Vanguard

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former Director of the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Sani Teidi Shuaibu, alongside five other persons, following the alleged roles they played in the illegal diversion of N12 billion from government coffers through fictitious contract claims.

Others who took turns yesterday to plead “not guilty” to a 134-count criminal charge bordering on corruption, abuse of office and advance fee fraud, were former Deputy to the pension boss, Mrs. Phina Chidi; his personal assistant, Aliyu Bello, Abdullahi Omeiza, Garba Abdullahi Tahir and Emmanuel Olanipekun

The anti-graft agency insisted that they conspired and swindled the Federal Government through over 130 bogus contracts purportedly awarded to 25 different companies, adding that the alleged scam was perpetrated between 2008 and 2010.

EFCC went ahead and listed 26 companies that participated in the alleged fraud as defendants in the case, just as it, yesterday, discharged one of the earlier accused persons, Mohammed Katun Ahmed.

Having pleaded not guilty to all the 134-count charge, counsel to the accused persons, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, and S.I. Ameh, SAN, pleaded the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Consequently, Justice Adamu Bello granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N10 million each and adjourned the matter to June 30 for hearing.
Vanguard