Import waiver granted First Lady to import 200 cars: Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala replies Sahara Reporters | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Tuesday 24 December 2013

Import waiver granted First Lady to import 200 cars: Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala replies Sahara Reporters

Sahara Reporters published a report a few days ago, claiming that the office of the 1st Lady obtained import waiver to import 200 BMW cars for her “Africa First Ladies” summit in 2012. The ministry of Finance says the report is false. Saharareporters insists it's true & has responded. Find a statement from the ministry of finance below and SR's response after the cut...
Saharareporter's story on waiver granted office of the First Lady is a complete distortion 

The story by Saharareporters on the so-called waivers scandal in which the notorious news website made outrageous allegations against the Office of the First Lady is a false exclusive based on distorted information.
The website merely extracted and distorted information on the list of beneficiaries of the revised waivers policy which the Federal Ministry of Finance voluntarily published as part of its drive for transparency and accountability. Continue...
The revised waivers policy replaces the old regime of individual waivers with the objective of boosting key sectors such as agriculture, power, gas and mines/steel. The strategy is to deploy waivers as a stronger tool of economic development.
Part of the information published by the Federal Ministry of Finance was a list of state governments, private sector organizations and other institutions which were granted waivers to bring in vehicles for various events including sports festivals, conferences and workshops. This practice did not begin with the Jonathan administration.
Beneficiaries of the waivers for vehicle imports include state governments such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Lagos as well as organizations such as the continental First Ladies Forum which was granted a waiver for vehicles required for their event hosted by Nigeria. The First Lady did not in any way personally benefit from this waiver.
It is important to recall the fact that the country has a nascent leasing industry and no company in the sector currently has the quantity and quality of vehicles required for such events. Government is encouraging private sector organizations with the requisite focus and expertise in this area and the hope is that soon it would no longer be necessary to grant such waivers.
The resort to falsehood by Saharareporters based on a distortion of information voluntarily made available by government underscores the desperation of this scurrilous medium and its paymasters.
Paul C Nwabuikwu
Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance. 


The Truth about the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Waiver Policy

1.      You may recall that the
Punch Newspaper published editorials accusing the government and the Federal Ministry of Finance of running a corrupt waiver policy, and challenged the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish those waivers. (http://bit.ly/1jCH3j4)  

2.     The Federal Ministry of Finance categorically refutes the allegation that it is running a corrupt waiver policy.

3.      Two years ago the Executive introduced a total reform of the waiver policy. Waivers are now only granted on a sectoral basis. This means that every company in the sector enjoys the same waiver privileges. All companies or entities involved in a sector or given activity will benefit from the same waivers once they meet the necessary criteria.

4.      The Federal Ministry of Finance published an abbreviated version of the full waiver report in several newspapers. It was also announced that the full version is available at www.budgetoffice.gov.ng and on social media (http://on.fb.me/1fWHYG5).

5.      The SaharaReporters claim that the Federal Ministry of Finance surreptitiously released an updated waiver list on the web only on December 22nd, 2013 is categorically false. In the spirit of transparency, the full waiver list was made public on December 3rd  

6.      For the avoidance of doubt: the Federal Ministry of Finance has never denied issuing waivers to African First Ladies Forum conference. This official event for First Ladies of all the other African countries necessitated vehicles for the transport of these visiting dignitaries. The waiver granted for this occasion is similar to other waivers issued to various state governments and government institutions such as Rivers, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom for similar official sporting and conference events.

7.       As always The Federal Ministry of Finance welcomes all legitimate inquiries and criticisms. The Ministry of Finance cannot be expected to remain silent when falsification and distortion of facts occurs.

Paul C Nwabuikwu
Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance.

Sahara Reporters Response below...
By Omoyele Sowore 

Dear Minister Of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala : It has come to our attention that your Special Assistant on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, is circulating a press statement to a select group of news outlets and bloggers describing as false a report by SaharaReporters about import waivers obtained by Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s office to import 200 BMW cars for her “Africa First Ladies” summit in 2012.

While your aide’s statement did not dispute the existence of waivers that were ultimately granted to Coscharis Motors to import the cars, he went to great lengths to accuse SaharaReporters of distorting the information released by your office.

We are not in the least surprised that you would authorize your aide’s misleading press release aimed at casting aspersions on us. This mendacious release is consistent with your style of responding to legitimate questions about your conduct as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance. You have established a reputation for intolerance of principled and accurate media reports once they raise questions about your ministerial judgments or reflect poorly on your performance.

You would recall that, on December 3rd, 2013, you published a doctored list of beneficiaries of import waivers in response to pressures mounted on your office by Nigeria’s PUNCH newspaper. Without question, you had hoped to bamboozle the public with this incomplete list. However, we refused to accept your list for publication, having received information from officials who should know that your list was distorted and incomplete, indeed an attempt to hoodwink gullible reporters and Nigerians. Yesterday, your office surreptitiously released an updated list on the web. It is this fuller list that revealed part of how the First Lady has benefited significantly from the questionable dispensation of import waivers to politically connected individuals and firms. We duly acknowledged our source.
 The tone of your aide’s press statement makes it clear that you had hoped that your updated list would not become public knowledge. That explains the harsh and predictable attack on our medium.

Since your statement claimed that Mrs. Jonathan did not benefit from the imported BMWs, we urge you to go a step further: produce the list of beneficiaries and providing the chasses numbers of the BMWs imported under the questionable waivers you granted to Coscharis Motors in 2012. In addition, we challenge you to provide evidence that Coscharis Motors imported the vehicles for which the waivers were granted.

You should also do the Nigerian public the great service of explaining why presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, claimed that the Federal Government had not contributed a dime to the importation of the BMWs, when your office had indeed granted waivers worth N560 million to the controversial auto dealer.

Since you claimed that your latest release was driven by your desire to ensure transparency, we await a detailed response to the issues raised here.

Sincerely,
Omoyele Sowore
For Saharareporters.com

99 comments:

Unknown said...

pls enugh of dis....wher re we goin slf

Unknown said...

pls enugh of dis....wher re we goin slf?

Blackberry said...

Sahara reporters...lol, dem they worry o.

ujunwa said...

Naija for us

Unknown said...

D Jonathans always feel Nigerians are fools & don't understand wat is going on.

BONARIO NNAGS said...

hmmm its quite unfortunate the level impunity is sickening.

~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA3310

Unknown said...

this 1 is too much ooo.

Unknown said...

Na wa oo...God help Nigerians....

Unknown said...

OK!

Unknown said...

Confused Government

Sinbad-Tolu Olaifa said...

These government officials take us for granted by insulting our intelligence.That was how Aganga said they will sell brand new cars for 1.2mil-1.5mil.I dont get this govt Linda.If made in naija cars will cost N1.2 mill why did you increase the tariff,if they are good you won't have to force us to buy.

Anonymous said...

Na so!! Kai we don suffer 'our great Naija. Long live this great and Noble land Nigeria. As for the politicians..... Well SMH for y'all.

Fammie said...

Can I ask how these Sahara reporters get their reports, even the most secretive ones...

Bike Packing Blog said...

Am not sure I read all that,but itz all OK.

Unknown said...

Story yi ti long ju jare!!!

Toronto Finest said...

Rubbish!

Unknown said...

Hmmm,anty linda dis 1 tire me o

Anonymous said...

They ask us to "pay tax"it is our civic responsibility.whereas they dont even pay their taxes.

Anonymous said...

all ds ppl shaa n ds patience johnathan has ahala
anyways 2 dos who live arnd ondo akure or dos wo skul @ afe babaloa uni
2014 fashion sense:D For that trendy and Vavavum :D look: add Keisha Borke on 26886d25 #Occasion gowns. #printed leggings. #chiffon tops/blouses #printed skirts nd for hand bags and lat shoes add princess dollarpo({}) :) on 7b0d402c All at very affordable prices \=D/ \=D/ \=D/ Pls help BC to your contacts({}) :* :*
linda pls post ds comment ohhhh abeg

Anonymous said...

Jonathan and these his 3 musketeers ; Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Diezani Alison Madueke, and Stella Oduah have drained our dear country dry. To think that all these people are from the same tribe, region and so corrupt is even annoying. From Jonathan( President) to Patience (First/Last lady) to Ngozi Okonjo Iweala( Finance minister), then to Diezani Alison Madueke (Petroleum minister) , to Stella Oduah (Aviation minister) then to Cosmas Maduka (Coscharis Motors). These people are the real heartless parasites /diseases and enemies of the Nigerians and Nigeria. Come 2015, you all will be sorry for your atrocities in jail.

Unknown said...

Ghen ghen Linda no more trouble with these people let us enjoy the festive period!

Nigeria where "Funny Tragic Comedy" is happening everyday. Pls Linda let us forget about them and enjoy ourselves till January.

Anonymous said...

They ask us to "pay tax"it is our civic responsibility.whereas they dont even pay their taxes.what an irony.

ary said...

Saharareporters are never wrong, but could be a first?

Unknown said...

Another drama hehe

ibrocho said...

Its all a fluke story..you can eat ur cake and still have it...Godknows the truth...

Anonymous said...

Na wa 4 ds country

Fuck your opinion said...

Which way Nig? Na wa ooooo

Unknown said...

fear of saharareporters z d beginning of wzdom !!

DP BBM said...

Good sounds..


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Camera.co.id Toko Kamera Murah di Indonesia

Anonymous said...

No smoke without fire

Unknown said...

IDK what to say but b**lsh*t might get this mofos to the top but am sure it won't keep them there#dealwitit

Unknown said...

Nigeria! I regret ever being a Nigerian!

Anonymous said...

We,re tired of all these attacks on the President by Sahara Reporters. Pls leave d man alone

Unknown said...

what is our country turning into?

Anonymous said...

Enough of d negative reportage, we want some positive news. There must b something good happening. Not only corruption

PAVOUR said...

I beg too long and not interested cuz there's gonna be truth from government.

OKUNRIN3 said...

why would Nigeria import 200 vehicles for a summit that is going to take just few days?
The cars in question...what about their w hereabout? Why do we have insensitive people ruling the affairs of this nation? Why are we so wasteful? this is one of the reasons i don't pray Nigeria host world events like the world cup or Olympics soon.

Jessica Morphy said...

Nigeria n its wahala,by d way who own dis SAHARA? N dat is not ma concern I nid 100k 4 ma rent as sch resume next wk.

Anonymous said...

Let them live her alone #bright bravo#

Anonymous said...

Jump then, maybe u will come out a somalian....lmfao. Ewu Gambia

Anonymous said...

Aunty ngo even u eh

Anonymous said...

How can someone say they shd leave jona alone? SMH
Sahara reporters are exposing their scrupulous deeds to make nigerians aware and someone is saying they should stop? Some nigerians need help

Anonymous said...

Sahara Reporters should keep up the good work. wish we had 2 or 3 more of your kind reporting the evil and criminal activities of these corrupt leaders.

Phaeton Phoenix said...

There is always an element of truth to every story. If I must say, the reporter did have a point and we must have all noticed by now how this woman, instead of discussing the issue and providing definite answers, would rather attack the press or source that is trying to scandalize her. It is always simpler to come out, post facts, and shut them up than attack attack attack...except if you clearly have something to hide of course...

serendip said...

560million sha... there are about 750million people in Nigeria. I don't think these corrupt and selfish leaders will lack anything if every nigerian was entitled to 1million each. I mean there are African countries dat provide each of their citizens with free housing, some European countries give their citizens welfare packages. Instead in this stinking country you'll be hearing about how NNPC failed to declare trillions, how one person bought 2cars for millions of dollars, how politicians are stealing billions and getting away with it.
The state of this country is just ridiculous walahi! And that is why the white man will continue looking down at us and making jest of our stupidity.
Mscheeew

Unknown said...

Too long note book 2 read...

Unknown said...

Hater dis network(mtn)

Anonymous said...

My money's on Sahara Reporters.

woomie said...

Funny thing is, its always coscharis they use to do all these their dirty deals. Mscheeew

Software SEO said...

thank's linda



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Peter said...

hmmm. we r watching.nice reply tho.

Unknown said...

Exactly!!! I swear.

Anonymous said...

Well done Sahara reporters ! The culture of intimidating the Nigerian public has to stop by words which beget change.. Well done again- uche

Anonymous said...

E be like say na women wan rundown this oga jona administration...., and this happens wen man jt no dey stand gidigba again, abi which kain president b dis o

Uc said...

Nawao wonders shall never end

Anonymous said...

Question….So where are the bloody cars now????
Importing cars for a summit of how many days….this country just makes me so sad.

~~~ZZ

Petite Diva said...

I tire for all these officials and politicians. The extent of their greed surprises me everyday. And i seriously don't trust Coscharis Motors anymore. How many more shady deals is he involved in? May God help this country.

journalofapetitediva.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Waiver or not,why the heck does a prt project need 200 luxury vehicles.????that should be the bone of contention here not even the waivers.

200 BMW's.not hilux buses or even honda/Toyota.BMW!!!!!!!

Lady Stelusy said...

Abeg, all this rubbish no concern me, if una like make una talk for now till tomorrow, all this thefts know how to manover their way. Let's all leave them alone and enjoy this festive period in peace. Joor ooooo!

Igor said...

The fact that Madam Iweala denied the allegations means that Madam Patience did not benefit from it.She is a woman of intergrity.Please do not drag tribe into this.Sanusi made same mistake,and was made to swallow the humble pie of refuting the same allegations.

Anonymous said...

I love sahara reporters........the day we stop challenging and trying to get rid of the parasites in this country would be d final process of our downfall. Dey r even challenging dem n dey are spiTting in our faces.....stella oduah is still d aviation minister for crying out loud! Its a pity cos no matter d public outcrY on dis matter, madam jonathan wud still go scott free cos she is most def above the law!

Anonymous said...

All I no is GEJ must b doing sometin 2 dis men dat dey r fighting him like dis..all I no is.......GEJ is a better president.....if only dey will allow him..... He's stopping dem frm sometin..... D man has made fed job like oil company... Dey pay dem well n dey don't owe dem shit.....all I no is d man dey try... He's beta dan all..... 4 now....

Anonymous said...

Dear LIB readers,worry about yourselves and leave Nigeria alone
Una don chop?
And Linda dat gist is too long,got no time to waste reading nigeria bullshit story...no be only 200 cars infact they should sell nigeria!
Mtchewww...awon Oloshi
#Chinwe

Don Peror Francis said...

Dis Sahara reporters self,always looking to cause troubles

Unknown said...

I can't read all dat Aunty Linda am even hungry later

brownshugah said...

Shut up joor!!! Idiot!!! Mtschew! @least dey hav d brains wetin yu get? Ode!

Anonymous said...

We are not tired and why should we leave the president alone when he keeps failing in his job and even supports corruption. He should rather resign if he can't deliver.

Anonymous said...

U are the biggest dumb ass I have ever known. Am sure u are or were dull in school. What makes him a better president with all these atrocities and corruption here and there? And is anybody holding his brain not to perform? The president, his wife and ministers are looting the country dry and u have the effontary to say he is a better president. Have u even heard of how he plans to buy 2 animals (baboons) at the sum of 15 million naira in the 2014 budget? I guess u don't read newspapers or check nigerian news online, all u do is come on LIB and read stories about Chris brown/rihanna or Wizkid acquiring new cars. You are a disgrace to the future generations.

Anonymous said...

Cause trouble like how? Until the president and his thieves sell u before u realise the real trouble. Dey there dey learn.

Ms Air said...

I agree with you. All the cars that have been used,were are they. We are really wasteful. 200 BMW, Omo James Bond is coming to Nigeria.

Unknown said...

It's one scandal after the other...when will these stop?! Tell 'em to pity the future generation of this country. Be it good or bad, everyone will reap what they have sown...

Anonymous said...

December 24, 2013 at 7:53 PM

cause trouble ba....sometin dey do you....if not for sahara we won't a lot of things happening in this country. where they not the ones that ja wa si stell's bullet proof cars>>.think man think and stop being silly mcshewwwww

Anonymous said...

Sahara is an ApC tool so am not surprised

ProBlack03 said...

SMH, One day you shall all pay for these money you embezzle, if you don't, your kids will. enough is enough na han han.

SIMPLYCOCK said...

I love democracy....
And the first democratic government I have seen in Nigeria is Jonathan's!!!!
All these transparency thingy, who ever heard of it under Obasanjo??!!
Dem no born you well to poke your nose...
Everything was done under the carpet...or even openly but you dared not talk for dread of BABA...
EFCC was only BABA's attack dog...
Obasanjo even blocked the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill while his government lasted until Jonathan came to the rescue...
Today we have the FOI Act, 2011.
Thank God for Jonathan!!!
Everybody, suddenly, has recovered his/her eyes and poking noses...
It's good for democracy...
However, if this freedom is not managed properly, we run the risk of throwing away the baby and the birth water as the likes of Saharareporters hound all of us with their guerrilla journalism, like a killer squad, to the misfortune of Shagari's regime...
God forbid!!
May we never see the era of Obasanjo again...
NEVER AGAIN!!!!

SIMPLYCOCK said...

Sometimes I wonder where that thing about Nigeria and the mob culture came about...
DNA????!!!!
The barest holler of 'ole, ole' and Nigerians will come after you like a legion of demons and slaughter you right there and then!!!
Some pretending to better breeding are even worse off, although they won't stop to bark at the mob that murdered the Aluu 4 in Port Harcourt, or the mob that nearly murdered an intersex man for baring breasts looking like a woman's in Warri, or the mob that recently brutalized a woman like savages somewhere in Ejigbo Lagos for allegedly stealing pepper...
Do you think you are better with the mob mentality you shamelessly display given the tone of voice and language you belch in your evaluation of financial dealings in government, particularly when all the facts are as yet undisclosed to you???
Recently, OBASANJO published a stinker of a seditious letter against Jonathan, allegations that were the fabrications of an incestuous pervert...
And mobster party APC, went, 'Down with Jonathan; impeach him now.'
Painfully I realized that although Nigeria is a 21st Century state, yet she teems with a population of Neanderthals, cavemen, jungle denizens!!!!
This fledgling democracy is at the mercy of the mob mentality of savages, who call themselves Nigerians!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

God bless you esp in this season of love. We have a clearly rudderless govt that I can't wait to get the hell out.

Anonymous said...

It's not even a matter of tribe, they're just criminals.

Anonymous said...

He's even going to jail along with his light-fingered girlfriends.

Anonymous said...

They need more than help, they should be flogged every morning until their brains start working.

Anonymous said...

I'm happy we're all realizing the kind of criminals we voted for. We have to get rid of them all in 2015.

Anonymous said...

Of course they don't buy the cars for the events. They use the waiver to make millions of $$$ in profit and split it with the ministers. Coscharis MD too is going to jail. Just wait and see.

Anonymous said...

Chinwe go to this east this Xmas and collect you brain before returning to Lagos. You really need it.

Anonymous said...

It is now clear that we have an extremely corrupt and criminal govt. He's ordering the 11th presidential jet with a deposit if N1.5bn in January. So much for a village retard who had no shoes I hope nobody pities him on his way to Kuje prison in 2015.

jew said...

She is as corrupt as corrupt itself. Arrant nonsense!!!!

jew said...

Linda, I hate u now Fr NT publishing ma comments

Unknown said...

Oti su mi

abass said...

The brain,
Where is the brain?
If I hear

Naijarian said...

Linda nwa ikeji, most comments here show that Nigerians are just simpletons with little or no understanding of how things work, and Sahara reporters is always looking for problems where non exists. This is not the first time waivers would be granted for such... Indeed, on 2003, something similar was done for CHOGM. What usually happens is - a car company is granted import duty waiver so that the cars to be imported would be given to the government free of charge for the duration of the program for which they are needed. Thereafter, the cars are returned to the company. What is wrong with this? Is it not better than going to buy hundreds of cars which will become useless after the event? Nigerians, I taya for una...

Anonymous said...

Oh lord hear the cry of your children and remove these evil people from our midst, all of them will not go unpublished, Sandy Berry says so.

Unknown said...

Pls let's 2014 be good all what have bin hearing all about

Unknown said...

We all see what is going on and we all no to be a leader is not easy and we choose you people because we believe you people can lead us 2014 most be changed

Anonymous said...

Well said..most nig youths are engaged in music and fashion forgetting that we are going backwards..e.g .. the subsidy rally was a total diagrace with all the musicians etc..we are not sincere as a nation ..what nigerians qant to heat is miracles miracles miracles..God help us..

Anonymous said...

I think even the World Bank wonders how Nigeria/Govt idolises our citizens even in the face of shameful performances as the minister & several others do. She thinks she is a god in national economies & we're seeing the mess she oversees daily! Dear minister (Prime), can you propose the kind of policies you give us here to any western nation? does Mrs Obama evade tax to ego trip and jamboree with american's resources? You know the answer in your heart vs the one on your lips! Couldn't you have denied the First Lady, in the best interest of Nigerians (the economy) that waiver? But I am sure you can't.afford to offend ..... whither lies our national woes! And thats why I think our problems are yet to have solutions nay just begining. Let no one say God save us, He already has, we 're killing ourselves and He watches. There shall come atime when the poor will have nothing left to eat but rich.. that is if that time isn't here now.Period.

Squarefield said...

Wow,!!!!! Just finish reading evrything i mean E V E R Y T H I N G.. . D story is nt dat much buj som fools dat post der replies er nid to be sniped down.. #SAYNOTOCORRUPTION 2015 #SAYNOTOJONATHAN #SAYNOTOAPC

SIMPLYCOCK said...

Sorry...
Baby and the bath water

Anonymous said...

This woman .only God can know how much Nigerian money she has stolen
Upon all she is as ugly as pepper sellets

Anonymous said...

Sahara reporter stop distorting info to suit your pay master. Stop heating polity of this great country. No amount of rubbish rumours u publish will stop GEJ from coming back in 2015. Tell ur pay masters that there is NO VACANCY in aso rock palace. If u over use these foi bill, u will be drag to court and u will be banned for further usage of dat ur medium.

Anonymous said...

I knew that sooner than later Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would catch the bug of lies and corruption. Is there any hope for this nation!

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