No more loans for state governments, FG to banks

• The federal government has barred banks in the country from giving loans to state governments 

• The decision was taken in line with the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) 

• The federal government’s economic team and state governors agreed to this plan 

The federal government has barred banks in the country from giving loans to state governments. The move is to ensure effective and transparent management of sub-national resources.

President Buhari and his team are using every means
possible to ensure that the Nigerian economy does not collapse

Finance ministry sources said the federal government was disappointed at the manner some past and current governors took loans from banks and didn’t use it for the required purpose thereby plunging their states into perpetual indebtedness.

At the moment, some states are left with very little funds to meet their recurrent obligations, after deductions are made from their monthly federation account allocations. 

Nigerian past and present state governors have
been accused of squandering bank loans

As an alternative, the federal government asked the state government to source for funds from the capital market if they intend to carry out any major infrastructural project. 

According to the government’s directive, funds sourced through bonds must not only be on bankable, measurable projects but must also be released in tranches. 

Vanguard gathered that the release of the proceeds of bond issuing will now be on the basis of satisfactory utilization of earlier released proceeds sourced and used.

READ ALSO: FG vs Banks: 3 things the Nigerian labour law says about redundancy 

The FSP aims to improve accountability and transparency; increase public revenue; rationalise public expenditure; improve public financial management; and sustainable debt management. 

The reform process includes improvement in internally generated revenue, biometric capture of all civil servants; establishment of an efficiency unit in each state, implementation of continuous audit and measures to achieve sustainable debt management. 

Nigeria’s finance minister, Kemi Adeosun is presiding over
an ailing economy and doing all that it’s possible to revive it

States that meet these conditions can access a new N50 billion facility to be guaranteed by the federal government. 

Meanwhile, finance minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, yesterday, June 14 told finance commissioners all over the nation at a meeting that the current economic challenges facing the country is reminder to state governments to be prudent and transparent.

Her words: “Nigeria’s economy is a confederation of the economies of her 36 states and the FCT. Thus, we recognise the critical importance of developing a broad-based economy, with productive activities in every region and state. 

“At the federal level, to create headroom for the urgently needed investment in infrastructure, we are pursuing a very disciplined approach to managing public funds, ensuring the maximisation of revenues and the minimisation of the costs of governance. 

“The fiscal sustainability plan replicates this far-reaching public financial management reform programme across all tiers of government and marks a turning point in the management of state finances.” 

READ ALSO: Massive inflation to hit prices of goods in Nigeria, this is why! 

Adeosun charged the commissioners to raise their states’ standard for public financial management in the areas of transparency, accountability and efficiency, which she opined will reposition the states to embark on a path towards fiscal independence. 

“On the cost side, the pressure is to cut costs, starting with the commitment to eliminate, once and for all, the menace of ghost workers by BVN checking of payroll and the requirement that all salary payments are made directly to individual accounts. 

“This will enable states control the size of their wage bill and ensure that it is affordable. The formal commitments being made to improve expense management, greater efficiency in recurrent spending and prudent debt management will combine to ensure that states can move towards improved long term financial health. 

“In the area of revenue, the FSP is based on the fundamental principle that each and every state in Nigeria must be economically viable. 

“Accordingly, it recognises the fact that Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, must be maximised and we have extended the definition of revenue beyond the traditional confines of taxes, licences and fees,” She concluded. 

READ ALSO: Unlocking retail potentials for survival, growth & sustainability of Nigeria’s economy 

In a related development, Nigeria’s inflation rate has hit an 80-month high of 15.6%. 

The last time Nigeria recorded an inflation rate as high as 15.6% was in September 2009 when the rate of inflation was put at 15.86 %.

READ MORE:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY|TROUBLE! Nigeria's inflation rate hits 15.6%

• Nigeria’s inflation rate has hit an 80-month high of 15.6% 

• The last time Nigeria recorded an inflation rate as high as 15.6% was in September 2009 when the rate of inflation was put at 15.86 %

Yemi Kale, Statistician general of the federation

According to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, inflation rose in the country due to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry which saw an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit from N87 to N145 per litre.

The NBS said the increase in inflation rate in May when compared to what was recorded in April is an indication of an overall rise in general price level across the economy as all divisions which contributed to the Headline index growing at a faster pace.

READ ALSO: SHOCKER! See how much EFCC froze from 120 bank accounts 

The report reads in part. “In May, the Consumer Price Index which measures inflation recorded a relatively strong increase for the fourth consecutive month.

“The Headline index increased by 15.6 per cent year-on-year, 1.9 per cent points higher from rates recorded in April 13.7 per cent.

“Year on year, electricity  rates as well as other energy prices continue to manifest as key drivers of the core component of the CPI.

“During the month, the highest increases were seen in the passenger transport by road, liquid fuel (Kerosene), fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment (premium motor spirit) and vehicle spare parts groups.

“Imported inflation rose by 18.6% in May 2016 from 16.3% in April 2016

READ ALSO: Fuel scarcity hits Nigeria again 

“Core Inflation year on year rose by 15.1% in May 2016 from 13.4% in April 2016 and month on month by 2.7% in May from 1.7% in April

“Food inflation, year on year, rose by 14.9% in May from 13.2% in April and month on month by 2.6% in May from 1.3% in April.”

The last time Nigeria recorded an inflation rate as high as the 15.6 per cent recorded in May this year was in September 2009 when the rate of inflation was put at 15.86 per cent by the NBS.

Meanwhile, Nigerians are in for hard time as the country’s apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been told to limit across-the-counter withdrawals to N10,000, following a major drop in customers’ deposit.

The call, made by Bankers Committee was due to with the industry recording a decline of about N1.03tn in total deposit.


READ MORE:

Chinese spy ship shadows U.S., Japanese, Indian naval drill in the Western Pacific

A Chinese observation ship shadowed the powerful U.S. aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis, in the Western Pacific on Wednesday, a Japanese official said, joining warships from Japan and India in drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis 

The show of American naval power comes as Japan and the United States worry Beijing will look to extend its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes its territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea.

Beijing views access to the Pacific as vital both as a supply line to the rest of the world's oceans and for the projection of its naval power.

The 100,000 ton Stennis, which carries F-18 fighter jets, joined nine other naval ships including a Japanese helicopter carrier and Indian frigates in seas off the Japanese Okinawan island chain. Sub-hunting patrol planes launched from bases in Japan are also participating in the joint annual exercise dubbed Malabar.

The Stennis, which has been followed by the Chinese ship since patrolling in the South China Sea, will sail apart from the other ships, acting as a "decoy" to draw it away from the eight-day naval exercise, a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force officer said, declining to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Blocking China's unfettered access to the Western Pacific are the 200 islands stretching from Japan's main islands through the East China Sea to within 100 kilometres of Taiwan. Japan is fortifying those islands with radar stations and anti-ship missile batteries.

By joining the drill Japan is deepening alliances it hopes will help counter growing Chinese power. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo recently jumped after a Chinese warship for the first time sailed within 24 miles (38 km) of contested islands in the East China Sea.

The outcrops known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China lie 220 km (137 miles) northeast of Taiwan.

Wary of China's more assertive maritime role in the region, the U.S. Navy's Third Fleet plans to send more ships to East Asia to work alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

For India, the gathering is an chance to put on a show of force close to China's eastern seaboard and signal its displeasure at increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. India sent its naval contingent of four ships on a tour through the South China Sea with stops in the Philippines and Vietnam on their way to the exercise. (Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo.; Writing by Tim Kelly in TOKYO.; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

READ FULL STORY: Chinese spy ship shadows U.S., Japanese, Indian naval drill in the Western Pacific

• EFCC is set to arraign Waripamowei Dudafa, a former senior special assistant on domestic affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, for an alleged N1.6bn fraud 

• Dudafa was arrested for his alleged role in the sharing of about N10bn to delegates at the PDP presidential primary in 2014 

• He would be charged alongside one Iwejuo Nna, who is also known at various times as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah

Waripamowei Dudafa, former senior special assistant on
domestic affairs to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

Hard fighting antigraft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Waripamowei Dudafa, a former senior special assistant on domestic affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, for an alleged N1.6bn fraud. 

Dudafa was arrested by the EFCC at the Lagos airport in April for his alleged role in the sharing of about N10bn to delegates at the PDP presidential primary in 2014, where Jonathan was the sole candidate.

READ ALSO: Exposed: EFCC is the reason why Buhari’s ministers are not telling him the truth 
According to a report by Punch, Dudafa would be charged alongside one Iwejuo Nna, who is also known at various times as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah.

They will be charged before Justice Mohammed Idris at a Federal High Court in Lagos. The first count states that the accused persons on or about June 11, 2013, in Lagos, “allegedly conspired amongst themselves to conceal the sum of N1.667bn said to be the proceeds of crime.”

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a) of the same Act.

READ ALSO: Is it a crime to own property? Diezani fumes over seized $18m mansion by EFCC

In the other charges, Dudafa also allegedly used six companies – Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Ebiwise Resources, Pluto Property and Investment Company, Rotato Interlink Services and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Limited – to conceal varying sums of money between June, 2013, and April, 2016.

EFCC says it has lined up 21 witnesses including representatives of some banks to testify against the defendants.

Meanwhile, after over a month in the detention of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission is set to former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode for an alleged N1.5bn fraud.

To be charged alongside Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman; a firm, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited; and one Jimoh Yusuf.

READ MORE:

Niger Delta Avengers list conditions for peace talk

• Militant group reveals reasons for seeking dialogue with the federal government 

• Informs President Buhari on what will happen if the proposed dialogue is made political 

• Warns that pipeline bombings may not easily cease if there is no change in the forms of negotiation 

Niger Delta Avengers ready for dialogue with the Nigerian government.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has revealed that it is ready for a dialogue with the federal government in order to stop its pipeline vandalism.
The group which has been bombing pipelines of major oil companies in the Niger Delta region for some months, stated via a press statement made available on their website, informed that all they want is peace with honour and not a peace of “our time”.

The statement signed by Brigadier Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the group’s spokesperson, reads in part: “The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk.


“We want the federal government to commit members states of the multi national Oil Corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.

READ ALSO: MEND forms a team to hold talks with government

“The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.

“If they refuse be heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue.” 

The group also issued warnings to social media agitators who have been used by politicians as a way of promoting the government officials’ criminal ways in the affairs of their region.

“We are using medium to warn and condemn the activities of all brands of social media agitators being peddled around by some politicians to promote their criminal ways in affairs of the Niger Delta.

“This genuine spirit behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of connivance by politician, traditional rulers, settled ex- agitators and criminals moving around to fill their pockets.

READ ALSO: Money used to explore oil came from north – Senator Adamu 

“The issues of the Niger delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa. Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’ Adua.

“We are warning this government of President Muhammadu Buhari, not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have being sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to safe faces before the government of the day.

“Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repairs works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue,” the statement read, with the group adding: “We Want a peace with Honour not a Peace of our time.”

 Earlier today, it was reported that the militant group issued warnings to seven governors to release pro-Biafra protesters being held in police and military custodies in their states or face their full wrath.

In a statement signed by Agbinibo the militants gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the governors to release the pro-Biafra supporters under arrest in their states.
The governors threatened include: Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Willie Obiano of Anambra, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Rochas Okorocha of Imo states.

READ MORE:

Buhari lacks understanding of Nigeria - Akintola

• Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari does not understand Nigeria 

• He says that Buhari will not implement the recommendations of the  2014 National Conference 

• Akintola says that there is great need for Nigeria to operate a federal system 

• He said Jonathan was not sincere enough to make some implementation of the confab report 

Chief Akintola says Buhari lacks
 the true understanding of Nigeria.

The senior advocate said he doesn’t see Buhari implementing the 2014 conference report because Buhari “isn’t a politician and he doesn’t understand the political arithmetic of Nigeria and he doesn’t understand the political geography.

Of course, he has been Head of State before, he has been governor, he has been a minister but he still doesn’t understand the complexity of the structure.

He isn’t in the mould of an Obasanjo or a Babangida. Even when you look at his exposure and administrative style, it is a style that is patterned after his military background.

Everything he does, even in speech presentation, even in body language. So, he isn’t a politician in the mould of Obasanjo and Babangida who are military-politicians.

For instance, IBB knows everybody that is somebody in this country; he will address them by their first name; Obasanjo knows everybody that is somebody in every nook and cranny of the country. These are people who understand Nigeria and they know it in and out.”

READ ALSO: Exposed: PDP reveals Sheriff’s ties with Buhari, APC 

Akintola further opined that “Buhari belongs to that old, conservative school; so you cannot cast him in the same mould with Atiku. Atiku is a seasoned politician and he has interacted and he is still interacting with people across the length and breadth of the country and he knows the danger that is ahead of us as a nation; he knows that we are yet to build a nation, that we are still a country of many nationalities and  there is need for us to operate a genuine federal system of government.

There is no different federal system of government; you are either practising it or you aren’t and one of the cardinal principles of federalism is that every component part should be allowed to develop at its own pace. But see what we are having today.

Why are many states having problem? Why should states, like Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi, be comparing themselves with Lagos, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers? It is only mad people that will be doing the same thing, using the same method and be expecting different result. What we are practising cannot help this country and it is high time we appreciate that.

For instance, I am from Oyo State; my state doesn’t have crude oil and its likelihood of it having it is remote, but we have the population, which is an asset and we have the capital base. If you practise true federalism, my state will be richer than Bayelsa and Rivers put together.

The state of California doesn’t have crude oil but it is richer than Texas. If you pass your pipeline through my line, you pay for every inch it occupies! We brought that to the fore at the confab that there is no need for any state to be afraid. It is ignorance of the principle of federalism, of the law, of the political arithmetic of the country that is causing the problem.

If people truly appreciate what federalism entails, how it is practiced in civilized world, they will know that a state like Kano should be the first to embrace it because of its huge population,” Akintola stressed.

Drawing an analogy, Akintola said: “Why do you think the South African president rushed to Nigeria because of MTN?  It is because of our population; they have the technological know how in Africa, they own Shoprite, they own MTN but they don’t have the market base.

So, when Nigeria sneezes, South Africa will catch cold.  States like Sokoto, Oyo, Kano, have no reason to fear the oil producing states because they have what it takes to even be richer than them. Bayelsa will not drink its oil, neither will  Lagos drink its oil. They need the market, but people don’t appreciate this.

So, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was talking sense and it is gratifying that it is coming from him now that we are approaching another election. Before 2019, this country should be restructured, along true federal system of government, so that all of us will not be caught napping.

At the rate at which we are going, we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Like I did say, may God pacify our brothers in the Niger- Delta, pacify our brothers of the South Eastern Nigeria and ensure that no group of young men will start similar thing from the South West. But the day it comes, simultaneously, forget it!  If the South West joins the fray, then we should forget about the federation called Nigeria.”

READ ALSO: Unbelievable! Read why seven Buhari’s ministers may leave his cabinet 

Further enunciating his point regarding the resurgence in the agitation for the restructuring of the country with regards to the call from former Vice-President and chieftain of the ruling APC, Akintola told Daily Sun that the call is not unexpected.

He said: “I refuse to buy that argument that the call is from an unexpected quarter.  You see, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian, well informed, highly exposed and highly cerebral. The mere fact that he isn’t a flippant person, he doesn’t talk much,  mean that you cannot  take away those qualities away from him.

“He understands the political arithmetic and political geography of Nigeria and he knows that the present structure cannot last us for another 25 years, to put it in a generous way. You cannot sustain this structure like this and expect it to stand.

“As a matter of fact, the structure has been standing as it is because there has been no possible unity of purpose among the Southerners. The day they come together, that will be the end of the federation as it is today. As a matter of fact, Jonathan tried to bring the Southern states together under one umbrella and the Yoruba said no, because of the marginalisation of the Yoruba by Jonathan.

“In fact, those of us from Oyo state, we boycotted it at the confab. We felt that there was no reason for any unity between the South East and South West, because they spearheaded the marginalisation of Yoruba under Jonathan. So, we regard those who were attending the meeting then as traitors. Throughout my stay at the confab, nobody from Oyo and Osun states attended Southern solidarity meeting. Those who attended were either PDP members or those who had sympathy for Jonathan. It was that bad.

“So, there has been no basis for that unity and that has been keeping the federation going; now that there is agitation in the Niger Delta region, and there is clamour for Biafra in the South East, imagine if the Yoruba now come out.

“Now, back to Atiku being a seasoned politician, who appreciates the political arithmetic of Nigeria as it is today, he knows that it is better to have small of nothing than to lose everything. He appreciates that much; he is a seasoned politician and don’t forget that even before he came out to speak about restructuring and devolution of powers, Ibrahim Babangida too said that last year.

READ FULL STORY: Buhari lacks understanding of Nigeria - Akintola

Fundamental: adverse to our Nigerians leaders.

 The major issues we have has a nation, which we are having right at hand are resulting from our injustices in the nation. How would one part of the nation is cheating other parts of that the same nations and “the problem has been for decease and Nigerians refused to learn from those mistakes and now it daggering us to the ends of Nigerians unity. And if anything that will make Nigeria stand and united has a nation is fair justices of resources which belonging to the right region of the country.”

Niger Delta Currency 

just think if is the northern that has oil as the Niger Delta do and the Niger Deltans don’t have any oil resources and almost all the oil blocks from the North are owned by Niger Deltans. 

what would be their reaction towards that?  

Imaging; what would have happened?

Even now because of political differences making Northern to do anything to hold down the power which there wants always by the north to rule. And the common Nigerian believes that the power belongs to all regions of the country as well as the north, east, west and south. Yes of course the power is for all Nigerians to rule the nation.

While thinking about the country it was, and now it is. We have no future generation in unity because there are no fair justices when it comes to resources control. This has been a problem since 1914 amalgamation. I don’t want go far but all we need has a nation to be in unity, is that we must be very sincere and say no to unfair injustices and give what belong to who owned it.

Let's be specific;

Niger Delta has all the Natural resource such has fish, Oil $ Gas.etc. And the most valued resource is the OIL and GAS which has been the national resources for Nigeria as a whole. And it happed that this region which has everything do not benefit from what there have.

 “Why the North’s are afraid of Restructuring Nigeria, and they can behead to keep the status Quo.”     

          This is the mean problem of Nigeria and Niger Deltans.

1. 1.      The Amanyanabo of Okrika kingdom has a lot of wells situated in his kingdom. He has no oil well. But the sultan of Sokoto has over 10 oil wells in Niger Delta.

1. 2.      The Amanyanabo of Bonny in Niger Delta has oil wells in his kingdom, but has no oil well in to his name but the Emir of Kano has over 5 oil wells in Niger Delta territories.
2. 
   
3. 3.      The Amanayanabo of kalabari has so many oil wells in his kindom but he has no oil well to his name in his kingdom but the Emir of Gwazo has over 5 oil wells in Niger Delta territories.

1. 4.      In Ogon land there are so many oil wells but none of the kings in ogonlands have any oil wells but General danjuma has over 10 oil wells in ogonlands in Niger delta.

The list can go on but Niger Delta people and their kings don’t have oil wells. In such a situation, will you say it is fair to the Niger Delta people in Nigeria? Let’s restructure and live in Unity. The cheating is very bad and not fair. This is the bane of the corruption in Nigeria.

“If Mr. President Want to fight corruption let him start from his house hole first before going to others. Because his people are the cause of all the problem of Nigeria because of their greediness and he know and now trying to turn it down on Niger Deltans.” If truly he wants to do the right thing that is the right thing.

This will bring Nigeria to unity again if not sorry, Nigeria has No Future Generation Unity, enhance we Divide and live in peace and enjoy our resources.

Has a Niger Deltan I have to say it again and again that we need resources control in our region. So we can develop our oil cities like the developed nations, such as Dubai. Etc. We need our resources control. If not we go our own way. Of cause our republic.

thismostreachAsoRock.

TKP.       

   

President Muhammadu Buhari will soon name his immediate predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Federal Government envoy in latest move to quell the hostility in the region

Barring last minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari will soon name his immediate predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Federal Government envoy in latest move to quell the hostility in the region, News Punch has reliably informed.

Buhari's latest trip to London is not only for medical reasons but also there to find a way around the onslaught against oil installations in the Niger Delta, which has reduced oil output from 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to less than 1.3 million bpd, some senior government officials confided in our source, TheNiche Newspaper

That may lead to Buhari appointing former President Goodluck Jonathan his special envoy on Niger Delta affairs.

He has been conferring with Jonathan, representatives of international oil companies (IOCs), British government officials, and a faction of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) since he arrived London on June 6.

“For the record, Buhari is not coming to London for ear infection treatment but for a secret negotiation meeting with the Niger Delta Avengers,” an insider who is privy to the behind the scene arrangement told TheNiche on the condition of anonymity.

Jonathan met with Buhari in Aso Rock on June 3, and flew to London on June 6 to deliver a lecture organised by Bloomberg.

Buhari, who is expected into the country on Friday, June 17, may also announce the appointment of Jonathan as his special envoy on Niger Delta affairs, sources said.

They added that this proposition became crucial following the rejection of the peace deal by the NDA which was brokered by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the governors of oil producing states last week.

The militants insisted in a tweet that “we are not negotiating with any committee. If the federal government is discussing with any group, they are doing that on their own.”

They announced in the same tweet that at 10: a.m. on Wednesday, June 8 they blew up an oil well (Well RMP 20) belonging to Chevron located 20 metres away from Dibi flow station in Warri North Council, Delta State.

It was learnt that the IOCs and the British government prevailed on Buhari to leverage on the goodwill of Jonathan in the Niger Delta and use him to stabilise things there, otherwise it would be bad business for everyone.

How Abuja intends to fund the N6.07 trillion 2016 budget remains tricky if it fails to resolve the impasse which has left the treasury broke.

Calvin Harris Ended Relationship with Taylor Swift After Being 'Intimidated' by Her Success, Source Says

• Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift's relationship ended because the DJ was "intimidated" by her success, a friend of the singer tells PEOPLE.

• Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday that the couple had called it quits after 15 months, with another insider revealing that there was "no drama."

Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift's

"[Harris] said on multiple occasions that he was intimidated by Taylor, which is why he would not attend any events where she was being honored, or any award shows unless he was nominated," explains Swift's friend.

Harris, 32, was notably absent when Swift co-chaired the Met Gala last month, as well as at the Grammys ceremony in February, and when the "Bad Blood" singer accepted an award named after her at the May BMI Pop Awards.

But Swift is holding her head high, adds the pal. "Taylor is an independent young woman, and she realizes it will take a very secure man to handle her success," says her friend.

A source close to the DJ – whom sources confirm ultimately pulled the plug on the relationship – tells PEOPLE that the split "wasn't a shock" for Swift because the couple had ongoing issues. "They come from very different worlds," the source explains. "Taylor is used to being treated a certain way."

The Harris insider added that he didn't feel like the relationship was "leading anywhere."

Swift, 26, and Harris first began dating in March last year, making their official outing as a couple at the Billboard Music Awards one month later. Just three months ago, the couple went on a romantic tropical vacation to celebrate one year together.

"It wasn't an equal relationship. Their age difference might not be significant for many couples, but for them it was part of the problem too," says the Harris source. "Taylor somewhat lacks real-life experience. They will not be getting back together."

Taylor and Calvin, before the breakup 

Regardless, the insider says that Harris still has high praise for his ex, noting that the Scottish star "very much admires her as a person and what she has been able to do with her career. This is what drew him to her in the first place."

"She works incredibly hard for things that she believes in," the Harris source says. He always saw that as an amazing quality. They are still friendly."

Swift spent time with her family in Nashville ahead of the news, and is getting support from longtime BFF Abigail Anderson.

IBB should not leave us now - Niger state governor

• Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger state governor has added his voice to the number of eminent Nigerians who have spoken about the health condition of Nigeria’s one time military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida 

• Governor Bello said the nation still needs the amiable retired army general to be alive for his words of wisdom especially now that the country is facing serious economic and political challenges 

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Nigeria’s former military president

The former president who returned from Germany on Friday, June 10 at about 3 o’ clock in the afternoon was welcomed by Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello; former Niger state governor, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure; Mohammed Babangida, Aisha Babangida, Umar Ndanusa and a former federal permanent secretary, Idris Adamu Kuta.


The former military president was reported to have been to the European country for medical treatment. Governor Bello said the wise advice of IBB is needed in order to help Nigeria find solution to the various national problems the country is facing as of present.

READ ALSO: Babangida finally breaks silence on his health condition

Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of Niger state

While speaking to journalist at Minna, the Niger state capital on Friday, June 10 to welcome Babangida, the Niger state governor thanked Allah for preserving the life of the ex-Nigerian leader.


“General Ibrahim Babangida remains one of the few leaders in this country that we still need around to tap from their wealth of experience and knowledge and we are grateful he is back and kicking like the old soldier he is. 

“Your safe return has finally put a lie to the rumour and the evil machinations of those who are playing God. We are grateful to Allah (SWT) that He has silence them.

” While explaining further, Jibrin Baba Ndace the chief press secretary to the Niger state governor released a press statement stating: “The rumour of his death was awash in the social media last week before it was refuted by his son Mohammed Babandgida. 

“The governor then advised the media, especially the new media to be cautious in spreading death rumour, stressing that such practice was not only unethical, it was un-cultured and immoral. 

“It is high time media practitioners, especially those in the social media refrain from broadcasting or publishing falsehood. Aside from questioning the integrity of the media, it portend danger for the society that the media cannot be trusted. 

“The media should be guided by the ethics of the profession. If you are not sure, don’t share. The social media purported death of General Babangida was reckless, unethical and unwarranted”

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BREAKING NEWS| New militant group makes outrageous demand

• A new militant group called the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta (UWND) has emerged 

• The group has threatened to continue vandalism in the Niger Delta if their demands are not met 

• UWND has asked the government to give 60 percent oil blocks to the Niger Delta region 

• The group has also made some other demands, including commencement of academic at Federal Maritime University

The new militant group which spoke for the very first time on Wednesday, June 8 also demanded that the federal government allow the $16 billion export processing zone otherwise called Delta Gas City project begin operations in earnest.

It, however, gave the government a two-week ultimatum to ensure that their demands were adequately met for a lasting ceasefire in the region.


Spokesperson of Ultimate Warrior, as it chose to be addressed, Sibiri Taiowoh, in a statement said if the FG truly wants peace in the region, it should award 60 per cent oil blocs to indigenous people from the region as its primary demand for a ceasefire.

The Punch reports that UWND further asked for commencement of academic activities at Federal Maritime University established during the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

READ ALSO: Niger Delta Avengers to MEND: Your criminal days are over

Warning further, it said failure to meet its demands, would warrant total shutting down of vital oil facilities including Chevron BOP, Okan Platform, MEREN Gas Gathering Compression Platform and Chevron Tank Farm.

The statement added, “We are also behind the recent pipeline bombing in the Niger Delta region and I can assure you we will not stop until the EPZ project and the Maritime University are totally completed and start operations.

“We want to be the ones to be safe guarding oil pipeline in our area so as to create more jobs for our people. We would resist any attempt to give surveillance contracts of pipeline in our backyard to foreigners. We want the pipeline jobs to be given to our indigenous people.”

“We also want 60 per cent of the oil blocs to be allocated to the Niger Deltans just as the Federal Government has also allocated 80 per cent to those who are not from the oil producing area and just as 50 per cent of the resource was used to develop the non-oil area when we were producing cocoa and groundnut as main economic resources, the same 50 percent should be use to develop the Niger Delta region because we are the ones suffering the brunt of oil pollution and degradation in the region”, it further added.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Avengers have announced that they will not negotiate with the federal government.

The militant group also revealed that it blew up a crude oil pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).

Niger Delta Avengers made this know via their official Twitter handle. It was also confirmed by a source that the pipeline had been earlier attacked by militants using the same ‘modus operandi’.

In recent times, new militant groups have been emerging within the now embattled Niger Delta region. It would be recalled that about a fortnight ago, another militant group name the Red Egbesu Water Lions announced their emergence, vowing to team up with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in ensuring zero production of oil and gas in the region if the NDA’s demands are not met.


Among others, the group demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader and the discharge of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki from prison custody.

It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to defreeze the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

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Chad sends thousands of soldiers to Bosso

• Troops from Chad will storm Niger’s Bosso searching for the Boko Haram insurgents 

• Chad plans counter-attack on the town following the massive onslaught by the insurgents last week

Chad sends thousands of soldiers to Bosso

Some two thousands soldiers from the Multinational Joint Task Force led by Chad will storm Bosso, Niger after the attack of the deadly Boko Haram sect last week, Daily Mail reports.

The source, who asked not to be named, said that the “heavily armed” troops from the force will “search everywhere for Boko Haram.”

READ ALSO: Niger plans counter-attack on Boko Haram for killed soldiers 

Chad is a key member of a multi-national force fighting the Nigeria-based insurgents who have extended their attacks to neighbouring following intense campaign against the terrorism by the incumbent Nigerian president.

“An estimated 50,000 people or so fled,” UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Adrian Edwards told journalists on June 7.

The attacks in Bosso commenced last Friday, June 3 on army post in Niger’s Diffa region. The Boko Haram fighters killed 26 soldiers comprising two from neighbouring Nigeria.

Niger authorities said that a total of 55 terrorists from the Nigeria-based sect were killed and “many” wounded.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram kills 32 soldiers in Niger Republic

While one of the sources claimed that the insurgents had overrun the town, Niger’s defence minister Assoumana Malam Issa has said that the army had regained control.

Last year, Chad sent soldiers to Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to fight Boko Haram. The regional MJTF comprises the four countries.

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FEC meeting: Ministers pray for 3 members

• Yemi Osinbajo presides over today’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as acting president

•  Three ministers who are sick were prayed for during the meeting

•  Only 22 ministers were present at the meeting

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, June 8, chaired his first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as acting president of Nigeria.

 According to The Nation, only 22 ministers out of 36 ministers were present when the meeting which started by 12.06 p.m in the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. 

READ ALSO: Buhari presides over FEC meeting (photos) 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the minister of information, who offered prayers in Islam praying generally for good FEC deliberation, while Babachir David Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), offered prayers in the Christian way praying specifically for three ministers were down with sickness. 

He first prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in London on medical vacation, then for the minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan, who is recuperating from surgery. 

Lawal also prayed for the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, who is suffering from back pain. 

 As the ministers were settling down an unidentified voice reminded the SGF that he forget to include the minister of state for environment, Ibrahim Jubril. 

Recall that President Buhari has handed over power to Osinbajo before going on medical leave. Osinbajo will serve in acting capacity for the 10 days during the president’s absence. 

This is the first time President Buhari is transferring power to Osinbajo since they both came into power in May 2015.

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BREAKING NEWS| Manchester United sign Bailly

• Ivory Coast central defender Eric Bertrand Bailly has joined Manchester United 

• The 22-year-old has penned a four-year deal, with the option for a further two years 

• He arrives for a reported fee of around £30 million, subject to a work permit 

The Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho
has made his first signing as Ivory Coast defender
 Eric Bailly has joined from Villarreal.

The Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has made his first signing as Ivory Coast defender Eric Bertrand Bailly has joined from Villarreal.

The 22-year-old has penned a four-year deal, with the option for a further two years.

Bailly, who was part of the Africa Cup of Nations-winning Ivory Coast team in 2015, arrives for a reported fee of around £30 million, subject to a work permit.



Bailly told the club’s official website: “It is a dream come true to be joining Manchester United. To play football at the highest level is all I have ever wanted to do.”

Bailly made 47 appearances for Villarreal since joining on January, 29, 2015.

He made 15 appearances for his country and was part of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, having appeared in all six matches during the competition.

 

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Buhari not in London for ear treatment - Presidency speaks up

• President Muhammadu Buhari is on holiday and not on a medical trip to treat an ear infection, the presidency has said 

• Femi Adesina said the president did not violate any rule in the treatment of his ear infection 

• He said the ear infection has been treated by Nigerian medical experts who recommended further evaluation while he is in London 

The Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari did not break any rule by traveling out of the country. 

Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Buhari traveled to London on vacation and not on a medical trip, The Punch reports.

Speaking on Tuesday, June 7, Adesina said contrary to news making the rounds, Buhari was in London to rest and not to treat his ear infection.
The president has been accused of violating a federal government rule that says government officials will not be paid foreign medical treatment, unless the illness cannot be treated within the country.

Adesina noted that Buhari did not violate any rule in the treatment of his ear infection because he was first treated by Nigerian medical experts before they recommended for him to travel.

READ ALSO: Presidency opens up on Buhari’s ‘illness’, asks Nigerians to pray for him 

He maintained that the president was on vacation and would seize the opportunity of trip to carry out further evaluation.

The presidential spokesman said: “You can check the statement we issued on Sunday again. The president did not go to London for treatment. 

“We made it clear in that statement that he had been treated in Nigeria here. 

“The medical experts here only told him that since he will be in London, he can seize that opportunity for evaluation. 

“The president has not broken any rule.” 

In the statement issued on Sunday, Adesina had pointed out that Nigerian doctors had examined and treated the president’s ear infection and “recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.”

READ ALSO: Exposed! Buhari has another infection aside ear, may extend vacation 

“President Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London from Monday June 6th, to rest. During the holiday, the President will see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist for a persistent ear infection. The President was examined by his Personal Physician and an E.N.T Specialist in Abuja and was treated,” the statement issued on Sunday had read.

The Peoples Democratic Party was the first to publicise the alleged illness of the president. The party claimed that Buhari is likely to be flown for medical treatment abroad on the guise of a foreign trip.

However, the presidency denied the report, claiming the president was hale and healthy, thus casting doubts on the rumours. The presidency later made a u-turn and accepted that the president had what it described as “persistent ear infection,” and would embark on a 10-day vacation to London.
Adesina has maintained that Buhari is not ill, saying it was wrong  for people to refer to his ear infection as illness.

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CNN RELEASED THE LIST OF 20 MOST CORRUPT NIGERIANS, TOPPING THE LIST ARE THE NORTHERNERS FOLLOWED BY THE YORUBAS.

In a recent publication, CNN has gone ahead to publish a list that shows how corrupt our former leaders are and how much they looted from our treasury.

 I think this should guide President Buhari in his corruption fight looking at the amount of money this guys looted, though his Minister Rotimi Amaechi is at number 11. Obasanjo ranks number one in the list,
above IBB. Other ones would shock you.

1. Oluesgun Obasanjo – He stole $25 billion from 1999-2007 ($16.4 from power sector alone)

2. Ibrahim Babangida – He stole $15 billion from 1985-1993 ($12.4 billion from oil wind fall in 1990)

3. Abdulsalam Abubakar – He stole $9 billion from 1998-99

4. Sani Abacha – He stole $7 billion from 1993-1998

5. Ahmed Bola Tinubu – He stole and continues to steal from Lagos State treasury since 1999 till date. It’s estimated that he has stolen $6 billion so far.

6. TY Danjuma – He fraudulently got enriched through oil blocks from the Niger Delta worth $20 million in the 70s after the counter coup. Those oil blocks worth billions of dollars in today’s value.

7. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – He stole $1.2 billion as CBN Governor from 2008-2014.

8. Bukola Saraki – Through his father, Olukola Saraki, their bank, Societe Generale and as a governor of Kwara State (2003-20111) he stole $1.1 billion

9. Nasir El Rufai – Before he was made the FCT Minister, El Rufai was broke, homeless and was looking for loan to import taxis from the UK. After he was made the minister, he seized landed properties that belonged to Nigerians and resold them with huge profit. It’s estimated that he stole $1 billion from 2003-2007.

10. Tunde Fashola – He is the poster boy of Tinubu. Boht of them looted Lagos dried and left it in debt of about N1 billion. Fashola, among other thing built his personal website for N78 million, drilled borehole for over N100 million per each and built a kilometre road for N1 billion. He stole $900 million from 2007-2015. He is now a minister, he will continue the looting

Oando Oil firm signs N94.6B restructuring loan

In April Fidelity Bank said it had placed a 22.4 billion naira loan ($113 mln) to Oando on a watchlist and taken a special provision of 5 percent on the advice of Nigeria's central bank to all lenders exposed to the company.

Oil firm signs 94.6 bln naira restructuring loan (Oando)

Nigerian oil firm Oando said on Monday it has secured a 94.6 billion naira ($475 mln) loan facility from 10 domestic banks under plans to restructure its finances and return to profitability this year.

The financing led by Access Bank, includes Diamond Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, UBA, Union Bank and Zenith Bank.

The facility is a five-year term loan, paying Nigerian interbank rate plus 2 percentage points with a three-year moratorium on principal.

"In a bid to return to profitability in 2016, I am happy to announce the successful completion of restructuring our overall debt profile," Chief Executive Wale Tinubu said in a statement.

Oando is still due to post results for 2015, having reported a $246 million loss in the nine months to September. The company posted a record loss of $1.10 billion for 2014.

It paid $1.5 billion to acquire ConocoPhillips' Nigerian business in 2013, when oil prices were at a peak. But high financing costs coupled with the plunge in oil prices have hit profits, leaving it unable to service its debt.

In April Fidelity Bank said it had placed a 22.4 billion naira loan ($113 mln) to Oando on a watchlist and taken a special provision of 5 percent on the advice of Nigeria's central bank to all lenders exposed to the company.

Fidelity then said the central bank had given lenders a deadline to reach a deal to resolve the debt issue, which would include a sale of assets.

Oando said on Monday its restructuring plan would include the sale of assets worth $350 million this year. ($1 = 199.00 naira)

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In South Africa |Private sector expands for first time in 12 months

The Standard Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by Markit, rose to 50.2 in May from 47.9 in April, climbing above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.

In South Africa Private sector expands for first time in 12 months

May for the first time in a year, a survey showed on Friday, as new orders and exports grew even though the subdued economic climate continued to curb output.

The Standard Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by Markit, rose to 50.2 in May from 47.9 in April, climbing above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.

The sub-index for new orders also rose, to 50.6 from 47.5 in April. That meant job creation rebounded after the largest rate of job cuts on record in April.

However, the sub-index for output, at 49.5 in May compared with 47.4 in April, showed production by companies continued to shrink, albeit at a slower pace. A third of respondents noted that input costs had risen, increasing purchasing and staff costs. The index for output last exceeded 50 in April 2015.

"The rise in the PMI was driven by new orders on the back of rising external demand as well as new clients and investments, which also had a positive impact on employment during the month," said Kuvasha Naidoo, an economist at Standard Bank.

"However, challenging economic conditions resulted in actual output remaining in contraction." South Africa's central bank expects economic growth of only 0.6 percent in 2016. It foresees inflation remaining above the upper end of its 3 to 6 percent target band as a severe drought and weak currency put pressure on prices.

"The improvement in May's PMI to above 50 points for the first time in 12 months is a welcome turning point in the data. However, more above-50-point prints will be necessary to make a trend that instills investment confidence," Naidoo said.

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In Nigeria First quarter trade account turns negative as oil prices fall

First-quarter imports dropped 15.8 percent to 1.45 trillion naira ($7.3 bln), the statistics bureau said, pushing the trade account crossed into the red for the period.

Nigeria First quarter trade account turns negative as oil prices fall

Nigeria's trade account turned negative in the first quarter after exports fell by almost half, the national bureau of statistics said on Monday, as lower prices for crude oil slashed government revenues and caused the economy to contract.

Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy, faces its worst economic crisis in years. The value of its exports, mostly crude, plunged 52 percent to 1.27 trillion naira ($6.4 bln) in the three months to March from a year ago. Much of the hard currency it needs to finance imports evaporated.

With limited manufacturing capacity, Nigeria imports most of what it consumes. First-quarter imports dropped 15.8 percent to 1.45 trillion naira ($7.3 bln), the statistics bureau said, pushing the trade account crossed into the red for the period.

The balance of trade for the first quarter was minus 184.1 billion naira ($925.13 million), down from plus 937.4 billion naira in the same period a year earlier. Net trade balance stood at $14.5 billion for 2015.

"The total value of Nigeria's merchandise trade at the end of Q1 stood at 2.72 trillion naira. This development arose due to a sharp decline in both imports and exports," the statistics office said.

Nigeria's exports fell 34.6 percent by March from the last quarter and imports declined 7.8 percent. The decline in crude oil exports, which accounted for 64.7 percent of total domestic exports, hit the economy the most.

Nigeria's economy shrank by 0.36 percent in the first quarter, compared with 3.96 percent growth last year, as currency controls started to bite. The limits on currency were imposed by the central bank to support the naira as oil prices fell.

The dollar restrictions have also caused inflation to spike. This month, the statistics office said, annual inflation climbed close to a six-year high of 13.7 percent in April.

Nigeria's central bank said last week it would introduce a flexible currency regime and abandon its naira peg to the dollar, a policy U-turn designed to improve exports, local manufacturing and stave off a recession.

However, the bank has yet to clarify how the new policy would work, spooking foreign investors, long worried about getting caught in the middle of a currency devaluation. Nigeria's stock market posted its biggest daily decline in 16 months on Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari also has backed central bank's decision to move away from the dollar peg, which is seen as overvaluing the naira, after rejecting earlier calls to devalue the currency.

Nigeria exported mainly to Asia and Europe. Imports were dominated by machinery, petrol, chemicals and related products from Asia, Europe and Americas. Imports within Africa grew by 5.7 percent.

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Russia deploys troops westward as standoff with NATO deepens

Russia is building an army base near its border with Ukraine, the latest in a chain of new military sites along what the Kremlin sees as its frontline in a growing confrontation with NATO.

Russia deploys

While there have been no clashes between the former Cold War rivals, Russia is building up forces on its western frontiers at a time when the NATO alliance is staging major military exercises and increasing deployments on its eastern flank.

A Reuters reporter who visited the Russian town of Klintsy, about 50 km (30 miles) from Ukraine, saw a makeshift army camp, large numbers of newly-arrived servicemen and military vehicles.

Two soldiers in camouflage gear who were manning a checkpoint in a forest turned the reporter away, saying they were guarding a "special military site".

Last year, Reuters also reported on construction of two other bases further to the south on Russia's border with Ukraine.

The defence ministry has not acknowledged the deployment of troops to Klintsy, which usually serves as a stop for truck drivers travelling between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

However, a town council official said Klintsy had been chosen as the site of a newly-formed division, and that so far about 240 soldiers had arrived. "What's to hide? That they've come? They've arrived," said council deputy chairman Oleg Kletny. "They're going to be garrisoned here."

When completed, the base will be the latest component in a build-up of forces along a line running from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.

On the western side of the line, NATO has been rotating troops and equipment in greater numbers to members states that were part of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact during the Cold War.

The Western alliance, which says it's responding to Russian military intervention in Ukraine, was this week staging one of its biggest exercises in eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War.

To the east, Russia is building up its own forces, saying it needs to protect itself from NATO's eastward advance.

Each side says it is only responding to steps taken by the other, but the build-up risks locking NATO and Russia into a spiral of measure and counter-measure from which it will be difficult to escape.

Russia and NATO member states share borders around the Baltic Sea, while further south the two blocs are separated by Ukraine and Belarus.

But since Ukraine's pro-Moscow president was ousted in a popular uprising two years ago and replaced with a Western-leaning administration, the perception in Moscow is that Ukraine has become, de facto, a NATO satellite.

ANTI-TANK DEFENCES

Russia has pulled out of the treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, a post-Cold War pact that limits the deployment of troops in Europe, so it is free to move extra troops and hardware to its western border.

On Monday Klintsy, normally a sleepy town, was a hive of military activity. The Reuters reporter saw about a dozen tents and the same number of military vehicles in a temporary camp in a clearing in a forest where the troops will be billeted until their permanent base is ready.

Military trucks drove through the town, which lies in an area that is the closest point on Russian territory to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, 280 km away.

About a dozen servicemen were at a gas station near the camp, buying food supplies. A road near the camp was blocked off by antitank obstacles and road spikes.

Last week, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source familiar with the deployment to Klintsy as saying it "can be seen as a response to the growing activity of the North Atlantic Alliance near Russia's borders".

The defence ministry did not reply to questions from Reuters about the base and its purpose.

Council deputy chairman Kletny said the troops, from a motorised infantry division, started arriving on May 30. They came from a base in Yekaterinburg, in the Ural mountains region about 2,000 km to the east of Klintsy.

He said they were deployed following a decision earlier this year by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to create three new divisions. The soldiers will be eventually garrisoned in the grounds of a disused military base in Klintsy which they are renovating, said Kletny.

"It's good that the military will come; our demographic situation will improve, we'll get a bigger population. If servicemen come her with their families, that will be good too," he told Reuters.

A notice lodged with Klintsy town council and seen by Reuters stated that approval is being sought for re-zoning and construction works on two plots of land with a total area of 142 hectares (351 acres), or about the size of 140 soccer pitches.

The plots of land would be used "for the interests of the Russian armed forces", according to the notice. (Additional reporting by Yelena Fabrichnaya in MOSCOW; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by David Stamp)

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