state of emergency ’ll worsen economy —CBN gov •Soldiers in heavy fighting with Boko Haram militants from Libya

GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, has declared that the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in the North-East have the potential to adversely affect economic activities.
The CBN governor, while briefing the media in Abuja, on Tuesday, after the 89th edition of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, noted that the accompanied military operations in that axis would also adversely affect agricultural production and food prices, as well as consumer demand.
The apex bank chief said it had retained lending rate at 12 per cent, noting that the high level of spending for the military operations may increase the rate of inflation, though inflation was said remain at single digit in the next six months.
He further disclosed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 6.72 per cent forecast for the second quarter of 2013 may not be achievable, in view of the extant risk factors such as widespread insecurity, weak infrastructure and probable flooding from the projected heavy rains in some parts of the country.
The CBN governor, who stressed that most sectors of the economy showed improved performance in the first quarter, when compared with the first quarter of 2012, stated that the MPC was concerned over short term prospects in the oil sector, mainly around possible reduction in oil prices and continuing leakages in oil production, due to bunkering and other illegal activities.
Reviewing the economy in the first five months of the year, Mallam Sanusi said headline inflation increased from 8.6 per cent in March to 9.1 per cent in April, remaining within the target range for the fourth consecutive month.
He said food inflation was 10 per cent year-on year in April, compared with 9.5 per cent in March, while core inflation declined further to 6.9 per cent  from 7.2 per cent  in March.
Stressing that the inflation outlook remained relatively stable in the next six months, the governor attributed the feat to a combination of a base effect and the success of tight monetary policy.
He said the committee noted with satisfaction the continued recovery in the capital market, as equities market indicators were positive in the period under review.
The all share index increased by 19.1 per cent  from 28,078.81 on December 31, 2012 to 36,907.81 on May 17, 2013, while market capitalisation also moved up  by 19.1 per cent from N8.97 trillion to N10.69 trillion during the period under review.
Reps water down emergency proclamation
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, in a stormy executive session that lasted for about four hours, watered down the proclamation of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
Sources at the session informed the Nigerian Tribune that the session was held behind closed doors and was attended by 253 members, though two-third, which is 240 members, was required to approve the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The sources said the session, presided over by the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, was stormy, with members toeing different lines during the consideration.
However, while the consideration was ongoing, the Deputy Leader of the House, Honourable Leo Ogor was sighted at the Senate Press Corps, asking newsmen for confirmation on how the Senate went about its session.
Honourable Tambuwal, who read out what the House approved, said the action of the lawmakers was to protect democratic institutions in the affected states.
The lawmakers kicked against president’s control of governors and local government chairmen in the emergency states.
Section 2(1) of the original Emergency Power Act sent to the National Assembly read:  “A state governor in an emergency area shall continue with the general functions of administering the emergency area under the control of the president or any person designated or authorised to act on his behalf.”
Section 2(2) read: “A local government chairman in an emergency area shall continue with the general functions of administering the emergency area under the control of the president or any person designated or authorised to act on his behalf.”
But the lawmakers expunge “under the control of the president or any person designated or authorised to act on his behalf” from both section 2 (1,2).
Among the amendment made by the lawmakers included the insertion of new sub-section (h), which read: “provide for payment of compensation for victims of terrorism on or before the emergency proclamation.”
The speaker, who said he had it on good authority that the version passed by the House was different from the one passed by the Senate, quickly named six-man conference committee to meet with the Senate and harmonise the different versions passed by the two chambers.
Honourable Albert Sam-Tsokwa was named as the chairman of the conference committee, while Honourable Ali Ahmad, Aminu Shagari, Nkoyo Toyo, Nathaniel Agunbiade and Ben Nwankwo were to act as members.
Honourable Tambuwal said the amendments introduced by the House were in the best interest of the country.
The speaker also cautioned military officers drafted to the affected areas to be mindful of law-abiding civilians, while he equally called on members of the Boko Haram sect to take advantage of the amnesty offer from the Federal Government.
Senate gives unanimous endorsement
The Senate, on Tuesday, unanimously endorsed the state of emergency declared by President Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
In a closed door session attended by 100 members, the Senate endorsed the declaration, while the other nine senators, who were absent from the session, according to Senate President, David Mark, were out of the country for important national assignment.
The session, it was gathered, was to make senators who would have been opposed to the emergency rule to see reasons as it would be recalled that one of the opposition political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), had, after the declaration by the president, opposed the action, describing it as misguided and counterproductive.
Senate spokesman, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, gave an insight into how the ACN lawmakers were prevailed upon to see the declaration as being in the larger interest of the country, just as two ACN senators, Gbenga Ashafa and Obende Domingo, told newsmen that the decision to support the declaration of emergency rule was in the national interest.
In his remark shortly before voting, Senator Mark said the decision of the lawmakers in supporting the proclamation was borne out of the fact that all the democratic structures in the affected three states were not demolished.
He expressed the view that the Federal Government would endeavour to carry the elected structures along in all efforts aimed at restoring peace and order in the affected states.
He also urged the Armed Forces to follow proper code of conduct and ensure that citizens were treated with utmost dignity.
According to Mark, “I believe that when the whole military operation is over, the Federal Government will ensure that development gets to these areas as quickly as possible. We implore the government to use the carrot and stick policy to ensure that this is brought to a logical conclusion as quickly as possible.”
Jonathan orders release of all arrested women
President Jonathan has ordered the release of all women arrested in connection with Boko Haram insurgency in the northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The terrorists group had set the release of women and children as a condition for talks with the government.
The Defence Ministry, while disclosing this on Tuesday, said the president’s decision was aimed at enhancing peace efforts in the country.
“The measure, which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for suspects, including all women under custody,” the defence ministry added, in a statement.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Editor, Mansur Liman, in a report said “the decision signals that Jonathan has not shut the door to talks with Boko Haram, despite ordering a military offensive against the group.
“Boko Haram will have to decide whether it wants to reciprocate by freeing the hostages it is holding and entering into talks to end the insurgency,” he added.
Before the president’s order, the United States had said there were “credible allegations” of “gross human rights violations” by the Nigerian military.
Speaking through its Secretary of States, John Kerry, US urged the Nigerian Army to show restraint and not violate human rights as it pursued the militants.
The defence ministry said a number of suspects detained for “terrorist activities” would be handed to state governments for “further rehabilitation” before being released.
Also, the Defence Headquarters, in Abuja, on Tuesday, said those deemed to be innocent among those arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF) are being released from detention.
The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, said the Defence Headquarters would be releasing from detention, a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.
According to him, the move was in furtherance of the position of the government, in response to requests by the presidential committee on dialogue and reconciliation.
JTF bans hawking, begging around checkpoints in Yobe
The JTF in Yobe has banned hawking and begging around security checkpoints in the state, a statement said in Damaturu, on Tuesday.
The statement, issued by the JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, advised hawkers to use “designated markets and other approved places for trading activities.’’
It further warned beggars against squatting around checkpoints to beg for alms from motorists lined up for stop and search operations.
The Yobe State government, on Monday, reviewed the curfew period in the state from 8.00 p.m to  7.00 a.m, to 6.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m, after the Federal Government declared emergency rule in the state.
Adamawa reduces official working hours
The Adamawa State government, on Tuesday, reduced official working hours in the state by one hour, to ease the difficulties civil servants face since it imposed the curfew.
Secretary to the State Government, Kobis Aris, said workers in the state would now close at 3.00 p.m
“Governor Murtala Nyako has approved that the state civil service official working hours be adjusted from 8.00 a.m to 3.00 p.m during the time of the curfew,” it said.
Soldiers in heavy fighting with Boko Haram militants from LibyaNigeria's military has been involved in heavy fighting with Islamist insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons from Libya, as it steps up an offensive aimed at flushing out Boko Haram from its North-Eastern bases.
“They have been putting up fierce resistance and they are very, very well-armed with weapons from Libya,” a senior military official told The Guardian, United Kingdom (UK), adding that most of the militants who had waged a four-year battle to create an Islamist state had scattered across the region’s semi-desert borders.
A renewed military campaign, including aerial bombardments of Boko Haram training camps in three remote states which were put under emergency rule this month had led to the capture of almost 200 militants and the death of dozens in a week, according to the military.
In one raid, a helicopter gunship was hit by anti-aircraft and anti-tank fire, a military source said.
In a sign of increasing concerns about jihadist movements jumping borders, Nigeria had also asked neighbouring Niger Republic for military support, as it seeks to police 870 miles of shared desert borders, underlining moves towards West African cooperation against jihadists seen as a cross-border threat.
Concerns grew particularly after Islamist militants associated with al Qaeda seized the north of Mali last year and were dislodged only after French-led military intervention.
Nurudeen Muhammed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, delivered the request for help from President Goodluck Jonathan to his Nigerien counterpart, Mahamadou Issoufou, late on Monday, in Niamey.
“We currently have military operations underway in three states in Nigeria to combat terrorism and we would like to have Niger’s support in the common fight against these terrorists,” Muhammed told Niger State Television.
Military sources said Nigerian forces had faced stiff resistance by hardened Islamist rebels entrenched in the North and using cross-border routes to smuggle in weapons.
Nigeria and Niger Republic signed a bilateral defence pact in October 2012, that includes sharing intelligence on Islamist groups and joint military exercises. The deal stipulates that a request for military aid by one nation cannot be refused by the other.
The two West African nations share a porous frontier of more than 1,500 km (940 miles). The fighting in Nigeria has pushed more than a thousand refugees across the border into Niger in the past few weeks, according to United Nations (UN) estimates.
Soldiers from Niger and neighboring Chad participated with Nigerian forces in a joint assault on Boko Haram fighters last month in Baga, a fishing settlement on the shores of Lake Chad.
Tribune