Thailand Consortium Proposes $2 Billion Investment in Country
July 21, 2008
20 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Betrand Nwankwo
A consortium of Thailand companies made up of Rainbow Energy Limited, PTT public company and Transglobal Energy Funds (TRC) has set aside $2 billion to be invested in Nigeria’s energy sector if Federal Government approves their proposal. The targeted areas are the power sector, gas, petrochemical, and agriculture.
The company, under the umbrella of Rainbow Power Limited has also pledged to assist the Federal Government in addressing the epileptic power generation and supply through construction of three new power stations which will generate 1000 mega watts of electricity.
The group made the disclosure when they presented their proposal to the minister of energy for gas, chief Emmanuel Odusina at the weekend in Abuja.
The consortium which has earlier met with the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, finance minister, Shamsudeen Usman, minister of state for energy (Power), Fatima Ibrahim, said they planned to set up a petrochemical company in Brass, build fertilizer plan in Delta State and equally build three new power plants in Ajaokuta, Abuja and Kano that will generate 1000mw of electricity for Nigeria.
Currently Nigeria requires over 10,000mw of electricity. However, it generates less than 1000 with Federal Government planning to increase the generation capacity with massive investment in the sector which will be revealed by the long awaited state of emergency in the sector.
The group who pledged to deliver on the projects within two years of approval disclosed that 1000mw which is 16 per cent would help in a log way in addressing the current shortfall between generation capacity and generation requirement of electricity in Nigeria.
In his presentation, a member of the group, Mr. Taz Meerovich said the consortium would be a critical development in the power generation capacity of Nigeria. Explaining further, Meerovich said if approval is granted to their proposal, the company would immediately commence the construction of the proposed power stations.
According to him, the power plant that will be sighted in Ajaokuta will generate 500mw of electricity while the ones in Abuja and Kano would generate 250 mw of electricity each.
Speaking further, the group’s leader said the consortium was willing to acquire 20 per cent shares of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Brass LNG. He disclosed that the group is seeking at least 20 per cent proportional LNG off-take from Brass LNG for Thailand national needs as part of the equity.
"The consortium will assist the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to acquire a Thailand based strategic energy interests such as equity in a refinery and work towards the development of Thailand as a base for LNG from NNPC targeting Asian market", he promised.
At the moment, NNPC has 49 per sent equity shares in Brass LNG, with ConocoPhilips, Eni S.P.A, and Total S.A controlling 17 per cent shares each but the consortium is proposing to acquire 20 per cent shares from 49 per cent being held by NNPC.
In addition to the power sector, the consortium is planning to invest in the gas. It also intend to build a petrochemical company in Brass. According to the group, when completed, the petrochemical company would be capable of generating power for its consumption and for the host community. Meerovich said the company would generate additional revenue for the Federal Government, create jobs and assist in energy transfer.
In the area of agriculture, Meerovich said the consortium would also establish a fertiliser plant in Delta State. The group’s leaders who observed that 80 per cent of the raw material needed for the fertiliser production are available in Nigeria, however stated that Nigeria has what it takes to be a great nation.
East Africa: U.S. Signs Trade Agreement With Region
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Edmund Kagire
Kigali
THE United States Government on Wednesday signed an agreement with the East African Community that will see the US strengthen and increase their trade relations with the economic bloc.
Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on behalf of the US while EAC Director-General for Customs and Trade Peter Kiguta signed on behalf of the EAC.
Trade ministers and other senior officials from EAC member states Burundi , Kenya , Rwanda , Tanzania and Uganda witnessed signing ceremony.
"The EAC is one of the leading regional economic organizations in sub-Saharan Africa ," said Ambassador Schwab.
"It is making significant progress in opening up regional trade and advancing economic integration among its members.
We see the TIFA as a major step toward deepening the U.S.-EAC trade and investment relationship, expanding and diversifying bilateral trade, and improving the climate for business between U.S. and East African firms."
The U.S.-EAC TIFA will establish regular, high-level talks on the full spectrum of U.S.-EAC trade and investment topics, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round, trade facilitation issues, and trade capacity building assistance.
Bilateral trade between the United States and the EAC region exceeded $1.2 billion in 2007. U.S. imports from EAC members under AGOA and the Generalized System of Preferences totaled $265 million in 2007.
All five member states of the EAC are eligible for trade benefits under AGOA.
Senator May Be Prosecuted Over Power Deals
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Chuks Ohuegbe
There are strong indications that the embattled former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, may be prosecuted over his involvement in the $16 billion power sector scam.
LEADERSHIP investigations confirmed that the House of Representatives adhoc committee report that investigated the power sector, whose report would be laid on the table tomorrow, will among other recommendations call for Imoke’s prosecution.
Until last week, Imoke was the Governor of Cross River State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the Court of Appeal, in its ruling, nullified his election and ordered for a rerun.
With the loss, the ex-governor lost the immunity, which Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution conferred on him.
Imoke, served as the Minister of Power during the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo Administration.
The Hon. Ndudi Elumelu-led adhoc committee report also indicted another one-time Minister of Power and serving governor of one of the South-western states.
Our checks revealed that the indicted governor would escape prosecution because of the immunity he presently enjoys.
As at last night, there were still pressures from interest groups to sway the House leadership to defer the laying of the adhoc committee report on the table.
The thinking is that if the report is not laid on the table, it would be difficult to debate or make public its contents.
LEADERSHIP also confirmed from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) last night that the the labour group plans to stage a peaceful demonstration tomorrow at the National Assembly, wherein they would impress it on the leadership of the House not to suppress the power sector adhoc committee report.
The labour planned protest is coming on the heels of pressure being mounted by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) that called for the prosecution of the former governor.
The CNPP had warned that agencies of government, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not schedule the Cross River governorship rerun election so quickly in a bid to shield Imoke from prosecution.
Zimbabwe: Hefty Cash ‘Thank You’ for Soldiers
July 21, 2008
19 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Foster Dongozi/Bertha Shoko
SOLDIERS, partly blamed for the brutal wave of violence that gripped the country before the 27 June presidential election run-off, have been awarded hefty salary increases ranging between $3 trillion and $10 trillion.
Several Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officers confirmed the developments to The Standard amid reports that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had sanctioned a daily withdrawal limit of $1 trillion for the soldiers.
The RBZ is now responsible for procuring army supplies and salaries for the security forces.
However, while the soldiers were excited about their windfall, it was not the same story among other arms of the security forces such as the police.
"As police officers, we are not aware that we will get hefty salary increments," said an officer speaking on condition of anonymity. "The government is afraid of soldiers and we are not surprised that they have awarded them a lot of money."
Corporals saw their salaries ballooning from $150 billion to $2,5 trillion while sergeants are now earning $4,7 trillion, up from $180 billion.
This means while the rest of the Zimbabwean population is only able to withdraw a paltry $100 billion at a time — only enough to get them to and from work — soldiers are the only ones whistling merrily all the way to the bank.
Building societies and a foreign-owned commercial bank confirmed that they were providing preferential treatment to officers from the army by allowing them daily withdrawals of between $1 trillion and $2,5 trillion.
Banks, however reportedly maintained the $100 billion daily limit for members of the public — an amount hardly enough to buy a loaf of bread, now selling at $120 billion.
Efforts to get a comment from RBZ were fruitless.
But angry members of the public who spoke to The Standard said they were seriously disturbed by this preferential treatment being given to soldiers. They criticised the RBZ for failing to sympathise with the suffering masses.
Samuel Mwedzi of Kambuzuma told The Standard that he was upset that for the past week he had failed to withdraw money to buy basic commodities that have run out at home.
"It is unfair that I should wake up every single day to join a long queue just to get $100 billion, which is not enough for anything at all while the military are being allowed withdrawals of $1 trillion or more," Mwedzi said.
Many of the callers saw the preferential treatment of soldiers as an act of gratitude for their part in the ruling party’s campaign in an effort to win the presidential election run-off at all costs.
Other observers said it was important for the government to keep the military happy during a time of increasing economic instability.
ZNA spokesperson Colonel Ben Ncube could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone was continuously unavailable.
Insulate Niger Delta Problem From Politics - Onosode
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Lagos
Boardroom technocrat, Mr Gamaliel Onosode, has advised that the programmes envisaged for the resolution of the Niger Delta problems should be insulated from politics.
Onosode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba that what was needed to deal with the challenges in the Niger Delta was sustained infrastructure development.
Speaking on the seemingly intractable problems in the region, he called for a change of attitude in dealing with them.
"Everybody, all the stakeholders, must work together in order to deal with the challenge, which the environment presents to us in terms of infrastructure".
"The progammes that should be put in place must be prioritised in ways that will dramatise to the people that there has been a change of attitude".
" Such programme should be transparent enough to convince the people that we are not just playing politics, that we are really concerned with the challenge."
He said the problem in the Niger Delta involved not just the people of the region, but all Nigerians.
"There is no one who can rightly extract himself as not being part of the problem. So by the same token, this is our challenge," he said.
Onosode said the problem in the Niger Delta had inherent challenges to other Nigerians.
"The problem in the Niger Delta is our challenge, that is, the people of Nigeria, not just the people of the Niger Delta. It is a national issue," he said.
Nigeria: Massob Militants Plot Against Britain, Over Niger Delta
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Emma Ogu
Owerri
Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has warned Britain against sending troops to the Niger Delta, saying that MASSOB will join forces with the militants to fight such foreign troops.
Uwazuruike, in an exclusive chat with Daily Champion yesterday in Owerri, said British forces would be defeated if they came to Niger Delta because his men were ever ready to defend the people of the region.
According to him, the deployment of foreign soldiers in the region will be viewed as war between the North and South and MASSOB cannot afford to sit and watch the killing of our "brothers in the Niger Delta."
"All the problems in Nigeria today were caused by Britain. I think God is looking for a way to punish them. If they go to Niger Delta, they will be defeated. If they go to Niger Delta what you will have will be civil war between the North and South because the Igbo will see the Niger Delta people as their brothers. Though they were against us during the Biafran war, we have all learnt our lessons. The Housas merely used them against us. We have taken that behind us. If British people or whatever you call them come to Niger Delta today to fight our brothers, I tell you MASSOB will join our brothers to fight them".
The MASSOB leader said that the marginalisation of Ndigbo in positions of authority under the present administration in the country was real and that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s government was only implementing the directive principle of state policy.
According to him, it is a state policy that Ndigbo should be kept away from top positions and successive governments in the country both military and civilian, have implemented the policy to the fullest since the end of the civil war.
"It has always been like that for Ndigbo since 1970. Every regime tends to be worse for the people of the race. When Gowon was there, it was like that, when Shehu Shagari was there it was like that. Think of Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, Shonekan, Abdulsalam, Obasanjo regimes, it was the same. The thing is that immediately after the war, there was understanding between Hausas and Yorubas that the Igbo should be kept under and that is what is happening since then. It is a fundamental policy and whoever that is there will execute the policy. After Yar’Adua, another person that will come will become the worst enermy of Ndigbo".
On the issue of corruption in Nigeria, he said that the country would not make any progress in the anti-corruption war because those spear-heading it are corrupt people. According to him, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who started the programme was more corrupt than any other leader Nigeria has produced and yet the incumbent government of President Yar’ Adua refused to prosecute him.
" Obasanjo deceived the people that he was recovering Abacha’s stolen money but ended up stealing more than Abacha. Yar’Adua will end up being more corrupt than Obasanjo also. If he is sincere with anti- corruption programme why hasn’t he tried Obasanjo. The meaning of one Nigeria is stealing".
He said that the only way to salvage the country was for the people to carry out a revolution that would consume all the past rulers of the nation as it happened in Ghana.
Redefining Micro Financing Banks
July 21, 2008
OPINION
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Boniface Chizea
Lagos
I do not know how many of our compatriots have been following the revolution quietly going on in banking in this country as a result of the activities of the Micro finance banks which were recently licensed by the Central Bank to extend credit to the dominant but active poor in our country.
The airwaves are now dominated by news of Micro finance banks which are extending credit to women mechanic or you read of products which would require patrons to develop a relationship by opening accounts with initial deposits which are as low as 200 to 500 Naira and daily repayment which is as low as 20 Naira per day. I should guess that it has never been contentious that a predominant proportion of our population is poor and very poor indeed. Various estimates of the poor in our society have varied from 50 to 65 per cent of the population. Often this incidence of poverty from the perspective of global relative positioning is benchmarked by the estimation of the percentage of the population that lives with less than one dollar a day. But from the perspective of access to institutional credit it is estimated that the totality of the poor averaging 65 per cent cannot avail themselves of credit from the banks and other related formal institutions. Therefore the only recourse for credit by the poor has been the informal market where money lenders and other organized informal channels such as; isusu, etc rule the waves.
But in the context of this realization we cannot realistically be talking of making any meaningful impact on poverty alleviation if such a dominant proportion of our population cannot be mainstreamed into accessing institutional credit. And this situation no doubt constrains the capacity of the monetary authority to deliver on its mandate of regulating money supply and the much sought after price stability. For the interest of the reading public we would like to seize the opportunity of this discussion to shed some lights in lay man’s terminology on what really is a micro finance bank, what are there antecedents? What are the imperatives for the establishment of a micro finance bank that avert our minds to some of the noticed incipient challenges of this category of banks.
Micro finance banks as already indicated are distinguished by the quantum of deposits they accept, the smallness of the loans they extend, the simplicity of their operations and the fact that they are not expected to do asset based collateral lending which is a proven impediment that had marginalized the poor from accessing institutional credit. The authorities in an attempt to mitigate these constraints to access to institutional credit have involved various schemes over the years some of which are well thought through and some from there conceptualization were ab initio not designed to be sustainable and long lasting. In this regard one would recall the introduction of the People’s Bank during the Babaginda era which had as its pioneer managing director, my friend of blessed memory, Mrs Maria Shokenu, and which pulled the feat of having that irrepressible iconoclast, also of blessed memory Tai Solarin as the pioneer Chairman. The People’s Bank from its modus operandi was like an attempt to give some handouts to the poor. There was no concerted effort made to put robust structures in place and from the perspective of the quality of management, the systems and procedures and the quality of internal control it was obvious that sufficient home work was not done before the establishment of the Bank and therefore it was little wonder that this effort before long came a cropper!
Then the concept of community banks was introduced which on inception in 1990 had an initial mandatory capitalization of N 250,000 but which had been raised to five million Naira at the onset of the Micro finance banks. The community banks were essentially supposed to be unit banks which were owned by the community hence the name of this category of banks, and which were meant to operate, catering to the needs of the community and eschewing sophisticated aspects of banking operations such as dealing in foreign exchange and the finance of international trade. They were in fact not supposed to be involved with clearing arrangements and where they used checks it was that of their correspondent commercial banks. But the reality was that the management of community banks in their pursuit of the profit motive could not but breach the requirement regarding the scope of services they could render. They were soon into offering products and services that were the exclusive preserve of the regular banks. In the hey days of community banks the country witnessed the establishment of 1,308 community banks in 1996 which had reduced to 1,014 by 1999 due to incipient incidence of distress. Before long the community banks were affected by problems which arose because of their weak capital base and poor quality management which resulted in pervasive distress. The community banks that survived until the commencement of the micro finance banks have been mandated to transmute to micro finance banks having satisfied the basic requirements for operation.
The Micro finance banks which were meant for cater to the needs of the active but dominant poor segment of our population were licensed by the Central Bank in two distinct categories. There are the unit micro finance banks that would operate from just one location which were licensed to commence operations with a minimum capitalization of 20 million Naira but which could expand based on their ability to muster additional 20 million Naira for each subsequent location. And there is the other category which is allowed to commence operations statewide but which would need an initial minimum capital of one billion Naira. All the micro finance institutions must have the words "micro finance" attached to their name. Like most things in this country the race is on to license micro finance banks and they are beginning to proliferate. In fact someone has argued that this a clever way for the Central Bank to respond to the criticism of the consolidation exercise, that of one size fits all, from the perspective of the uniform capitalization requirements for all banks in the country.
Some of the criticism of the operations of Micro finance banks so far stem from some of the operators who decry the fact that the regular banks are also reaching back to open micro finance banks making the playing field unleveled for those who do not have such pedigree. Well, the Act allows such banks to do so and therefore unless the Act is reviewed there is not much anyone can do about that. My particular concern is the question of mindset! Can the leopard change its spots? Will these banks establishing micro finance banking be able to cultivate a mindset that would enable them to play according to the rules? Or would it be another opportunity for contamination through the perpetration of sharp practices? There are also complaints regarding the level of interest charges by micro finance banks. My view is that we must put things in perspective. Where are we coming from? What rates prevailed in the particular markets that hitherto catered for the needs of this category of borrowers? I am sure that whatever the charges are currently, they must represent a fraction of what prevailed in the market hitherto. The operators have justified the charges based on the rationalization of lack of economies of scale in their operations and the need to make a profit to make the sector attractive and vibrant and most importantly to sustain a going concern. We commend the efforts of some of the operators who have been quite aggressive with attracting concessional resources and we hope that the operations of the micro finance banks would successfully mainstream the dominant poor but active segment of our population in their access to institutional credit, facilitate the deepening of the financial sector and contribute to the rapid growth and development of the national economy.
Kenya: MSF Teams Blocked From Assisting Civilians Affected By Conflict in Mount Elgon
July 21, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
For the last three weeks, staff working for the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been stopped at road blocks and prevented by local authorities from providing medical assistance to the affected civilian population of Mount Elgon in western Kenya. MSF is calling on the authorities to lift the restrictions and allow the resumption of vital humanitarian relief.
"We were helping thousands of civilians until a few weeks ago and are extremely concerned for them,” said David Michalski, MSF’s operations coordinator in Kenya. “Some have contacted us in great despair. Referrals to hospital of patients with emergency conditions are hampered given the lack of transportation which used to be provided by MSF, and vulnerable people are being left in harsh and cold living conditions without access to vital assistance,” he said.
Since MSF began providing free medical care to people affected directly or indirectly by the conflict in Mount Elgon in April 2007, over 35,000 medical consultations have been carried out by MSF teams, together with the Kenyan Ministry of Health. As recently as mid-June, MSF publicly called for an immediate increase in aid as well as an end to indiscriminate violence against the population.
The reality is that, today, MSF’s assistance is being curtailed. Despite repeated attempts to discuss the matter with local and national authorities, no explanation has been provided.
Adding to MSF’s concerns, the blockage comes at a time when its teams are receiving reports of further attacks in one of the areas they used to serve. People who had sought refuge in the highlands of Chebongweny told MSF that their houses, shelters, and food reserves were burnt down nine days ago by armed forest guards. Blankets were either stolen or destroyed and the clearly identified MSF medical unit, where many people had spent the night in search of safety and shelter, was also burnt down.
“Intentionally attacking medical structures and hampering relief agencies from working, whether during conflict or periods of instability, are serious acts prohibited under the Geneva Conventions," added Michalski. "This attack shows, once again, how the civilian population in Mount Elgon is the first victim of this conflict and is in desperate need of assistance. MSF is calling on the authorities to meet with us, and to lift the current restrictions so that we can continue providing humanitarian aid to the people of Mount Elgon as we have always done — in a neutral and impartial manner."
Background materials:
MSF is one of very few humanitarian organizations providing assistance to people affected by the conflict in Mount Elgon. Dealing with the consequences of the violence against civilians, MSF’s activities since April 2007 have focused primarily on providing free medical care through support to primary health care structures, immunisations, and mobile clinics in more remote areas. MSF has also established a hospital referral system for medical emergencies and distributed clothing and blankets.
Saraki Condemns NUT Strike
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Funmi Komolafe and Demola Akinyem
Lagos
Governor Bukola Saraki has condemned the four-week old strike of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and called on all well-meaning Nigerians to do the same.
The governor who spoke through the Secretary to his Government, Alhaji Saka Onimogo at a Stakeholders Summit on Labour Administration and Employment Generation held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in Ilorin, Kwara blamed government, employers and labour for increasing labour disputes in the country.
He said, " Labour leadership would not seem to appreciate that strike (or its ancillaries) is an anachronism. Indeed, it is because of its antithesis to desired development that strike has been dumped as a weapon of resolving industrial conflicts , elsewhere in the world".
The governor continued, " It is against this backdrop that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn all on-going strike actions in Nigeria, including that of the Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT) and the picketing threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress".
Governor Saraki said, " Government as a regulatory body, has not mustered and exerted enough and firm political will on labour issues. Government , as employer of labour and NECA have not been able to initiate and institutionalise ready mechanisms to preempt industrial conflicts arising from all wages and remuneration- related issues".
He said, " Labour is nothing better. It glorifies in venting grievances through strikes or threats of strike and picketing."
Governor Saraki said neither government, employers nor labour have given any serious thought to the "quantifiable and unquantifiable economic, social and security costs of industrial conflict resulting in strike."
However, labour minister, Dr. Hassan Lawal in his message read by his permanent secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Kassim emphasized the need for the dialogue among the social partners.
The minister said, " the principle of collective bargaining in labour and industrial relations has dialogue as its hallmark. This simply implies that between the labour and employers of labour, there should be a meeting point".
Dr. Lawal said " the era of table banging is gone and gone for good" and urged stakeholders to always try to resolve issues by dialogue.
He advised, " As stakeholders, in the project Nigeria, the survival of this country should be of paramount concern to us".
Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap Delta SSG’s Father
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Victor Efeizomor
Asaba
Father of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Secretary to Delta State Government, was yesterday kidnapped from his country home at Boji Boji Owa, in Ika North-east Local Government Area, by a four-man gang suspected to be militants.
The gun men, stormed the number 2, Amokwu Street , off Efeizomor road, home of Chief Arthur O.U Okowa, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, at about 11a.m.
The 70-year-old man was said to have returned from an early morning Sunday Church service, at Anglican Church, Boji Boji Owa, at about 10:30a.m., and was in his bedroom when a househelp informed him that he had some visitors.
Oblivious of what was in stock, Okowa, who is the Ojuyagbe of Owa Kingdom, asked the househelp to usher in the visitors into the house, after having been told that they were carrying bags, and on business trip .
According to a family source, Okowa emerged from his bedroom, when the four-man gang pulled the gun and asked him to cooporate or he will be shot dead.
THISDAY gathered that the gun men, who had been hanging around the neighbourhood for about five hours, tied his hands and sealed his mouth.
The househelp was also tied and locked in one of the toilets in the house. Okowa was subsequently led into his Operus Hyundai Executive Saloon car, with the inscription, "Ojuyagbe" on the number plate and whisked away.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Jacob Oshiomoh, when contacted through the telephone, simply said, "I have not been told , I am going to call the area commanders for further confirmation."
However, the State Police Public Relations officer, Mr Charlers Muka, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that "we haver just recived a signal that somebody has been kidnapped in Boji Boji Owa," but advised that THISDAY speaks with the Commissioner of police for more details.
The Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Owa Oyibu, Police Post , in Ika North East Local Government area, Mr Stephen I . Musa, also told THISDAY that his command had been informed of the kidnap and that his men have been sent out to comb the area for clues.
THISDAY was in the a middle of an interview with Muka, when he received signals that the police have recovered Okowa’s car along Agbor-Uromi road junction.
When THISDAY visited Okowa’s residence, politicians, Owa Royal Chiefs and friends were seeing milling around, discussing in low tones.
Those at the residence include, Chief Ben Obuh, PDP Chairman Delta North, Chief Ogada Omola, Chairman PDP Ika North-east, Dr E.O Efeizomor, Obi of Owa Kingdom and Chief I.I Erigbuim, among others.