Hundreds of copies of Nigeria's 2016 budget have gone missing at the country's parliament, an MP who requested anonymity has told the BBC.
The senate was unable to start considering the proposed budget because of the missing documentation, he said.
The delay could worsen the country's economic crisis as it deals with the impact of plunging oil prices.
President Muhammadu Buhari delivered the hard copies of his first budget to both houses at the end of last month.
It detailed his plans to raise spending by 20% by borrowing heavily amid falling global oil prices.
The president, who came to power last May, also pledged to improve tax collection and invest in other industries including mining and agriculture to create more jobs.
Senate President Bukola Saraki held a closed door meeting with Mr Buhari late on Tuesday, but it is not clear if the issue of the missing documents was discussed.
The BBC understands that the copies of the budget for the lower house are not missing and will be distributed on Wednesday.
BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says this is an embarrassing development for the country's parliament and the government in general.
The MPs are already facing criticism for refusing to cut their salaries and allowances at the time the Africa's largest economy is facing its worst economic crisis in recent years.
Some opposition senators have reacted angrily to the news of the missing documents, accusing the government of being behind their disappearance, Nigeria's Premium Times newspaper reports.
But Mr Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu denied the allegation, saying: "Once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property."
Both houses are expected to take about two months to consider the $31bn (£20.8bn) budget.
BBC
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Nigeria Broadcasting Commission boss arrested for fraud
In a bid to put an end to the lingering corruption practices in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday arrested the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, over an alleged N15 billion fraud.
Media reports indicate that Mba was arrested in Abuja with some key accounts staffs of the commission. He was taken to the EFCC’s headquarters where he is currently being interrogated.
EFCC has been investigating the NBC in the past few months.
Some detectives recently stormed the headwaters of the NBC ransacking computers and files in the Finance and Accounts department.
Some key staff were taken away after the operation. Reports indicate that they made confessional statements to the graft body implicating Mba and some other key officials of the commission.
EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren claimed he has not been briefed on the matter as he was on an official assignment in Lagos.
However, a top official of the anti-graft agency confirmed that Mba is with the agency
“We are investigating massive diversion of public funds and we are making progress. Mba definitely has questions to answer”
The National Broadcasting Commission is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, empowered to regulate the broadcasting industry.
Africa News
Media reports indicate that Mba was arrested in Abuja with some key accounts staffs of the commission. He was taken to the EFCC’s headquarters where he is currently being interrogated.
EFCC has been investigating the NBC in the past few months.
Some detectives recently stormed the headwaters of the NBC ransacking computers and files in the Finance and Accounts department.
Some key staff were taken away after the operation. Reports indicate that they made confessional statements to the graft body implicating Mba and some other key officials of the commission.
EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren claimed he has not been briefed on the matter as he was on an official assignment in Lagos.
However, a top official of the anti-graft agency confirmed that Mba is with the agency
“We are investigating massive diversion of public funds and we are making progress. Mba definitely has questions to answer”
The National Broadcasting Commission is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, empowered to regulate the broadcasting industry.
Africa News
Nigeria U-17 World Cup winners being scouted by Arsenal and Manchester City
Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out to sign two members of the Nigerian squad who won the Under-17 World Cup.
Kelechi Nwakali, 17 and Samuel Chukwueze, 16, who play for Diamond Football Academy in Umuahia, southeastern Nigeria have been scouted by several of Europe’s leading clubs after both scored three goals at the World Cup in Chile in November. The playmaker Nwakali was named as the tournament’s most valuable player, while Everton have been linked with the winger Chukwueze.
Reports have stated Arsenal are the favourites to sign both players for a combined £3m but according to Diamond Football Academy’s general manager, Prince Apugo, they have yet to reach a decision over their futures.
“Samuel is like my son, I am his legal guardian and I have been taking good care of him for many years now. Likewise Kelechi, so naturally I would want the best for them,” Apugo told News24.
“Both players have great potentials and we cannot afford to let money becloud our judgment in choosing a club for them. Our priority is their development and we are determined to ensure this is put into consideration before we accept any offers for them. Already we are deep in discussions and have gone very far with a big club with a rich history of encouraging young players and giving them chances.
“At the fullness of time, when the deal is sealed the whole world will know and agree with us that we made the best choice for the players.”
Bayern Munich and Belgian club Standard Liège are understood to also be interested in signing the duo, who are represented by Gareth Bale’s agents, the Stellar Group.
Guardian
Kelechi Nwakali, 17 and Samuel Chukwueze, 16, who play for Diamond Football Academy in Umuahia, southeastern Nigeria have been scouted by several of Europe’s leading clubs after both scored three goals at the World Cup in Chile in November. The playmaker Nwakali was named as the tournament’s most valuable player, while Everton have been linked with the winger Chukwueze.
Reports have stated Arsenal are the favourites to sign both players for a combined £3m but according to Diamond Football Academy’s general manager, Prince Apugo, they have yet to reach a decision over their futures.
“Samuel is like my son, I am his legal guardian and I have been taking good care of him for many years now. Likewise Kelechi, so naturally I would want the best for them,” Apugo told News24.
“Both players have great potentials and we cannot afford to let money becloud our judgment in choosing a club for them. Our priority is their development and we are determined to ensure this is put into consideration before we accept any offers for them. Already we are deep in discussions and have gone very far with a big club with a rich history of encouraging young players and giving them chances.
“At the fullness of time, when the deal is sealed the whole world will know and agree with us that we made the best choice for the players.”
Bayern Munich and Belgian club Standard Liège are understood to also be interested in signing the duo, who are represented by Gareth Bale’s agents, the Stellar Group.
Guardian
Monday, January 11, 2016
Switzerland to return $300m of stolen funds to Nigeria
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday, assured Nigerians that negotiations are ongoing with a number of countries on modalities for the repatriation of some of the funds that were stolen and stashed abroad.
The minister stated that the Federal Government is in touch with Switzerland, which he said had repatriated $700m, noting that another $300m that was recovered would soon be repatriated to Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Onyeama stated that the FG was in discussion with the United Kingdom, the United States, among other foreign governments on how all looted funds could be recovered.
He said, “We are in touch with Switzerland; they have recently recovered quite a significant amount of money and I met last week with Swiss representatives to work out the modality for the repatriation of this fund.
“The Swiss government has already repatriated over $700m from Abacha loot and that agreement has been reached on how the money would be applied.
“They have also now recovered in the same context another $300m of which there is ongoing discussion to have that repatriated as well. There are discussions with other countries; United Kingdom for instance, as you all know where there are ongoing discussions there.”
The minister explained that the goodwill generated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s visits to the US and other countries had helped enormously in getting various countries to cooperate with Nigeria on the fund repatriation issue.
PUNCH
The minister stated that the Federal Government is in touch with Switzerland, which he said had repatriated $700m, noting that another $300m that was recovered would soon be repatriated to Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Onyeama stated that the FG was in discussion with the United Kingdom, the United States, among other foreign governments on how all looted funds could be recovered.
He said, “We are in touch with Switzerland; they have recently recovered quite a significant amount of money and I met last week with Swiss representatives to work out the modality for the repatriation of this fund.
“The Swiss government has already repatriated over $700m from Abacha loot and that agreement has been reached on how the money would be applied.
“They have also now recovered in the same context another $300m of which there is ongoing discussion to have that repatriated as well. There are discussions with other countries; United Kingdom for instance, as you all know where there are ongoing discussions there.”
The minister explained that the goodwill generated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s visits to the US and other countries had helped enormously in getting various countries to cooperate with Nigeria on the fund repatriation issue.
PUNCH
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