Politics

Youth coalition hails attack on Omokri, wishes him more

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A youth group under the auspices of the National Youth Coalition (NYC) has hailed an assault on former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, who was attacked in New York on Saturday, after organising a protest against President Muhammadu Buhari.

The attack on Omokri which was captured on video, showed him being assaulted by an unknown assailant shortly after organising the protest against Buhari.

The activist was saved from more bodily harm by a man whom he said was his bodyguard named Sean

However, the youth group in a statement on Sunday, signed by its National Coordinator, Olugbenga Michael, said that Omokri should “expect more deadly attacks if he continues to embarrass Nigeria before the international community.”

The group added that the assault on Omokri “is not attack against freedom of speech, movement or association as the case may be, but a legal way of defending the honour and glory of the country as enunciated in the fourth paragraph of the National Pledge of Nigeria which reads: “To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory, so help me God.”

Part of the statement made available to Ripples Nigeria reads:

“This is the oath of allegiance that every Nigerian have taken and which we are committed to enforcing voluntarily because we believe we have no other country to call home if Nigeria fails.

At this point, we wish to state categorically that we have no affinity or association with the Nigerian Government directly or indirectly, but we are young people of Nigeria who are inspired by how Americans are ready to die in defence of America and will do everything possible to ensure that America’s Union works perfect in line with the dreams of their founders.

“Hence, we are young people who came together to turn our diversity into strength, thereby making Nigeria work for all Nigerians irrespective of class, creed, political party or association.

“Our membership is open to all those who believe in the unity, indivisibility, progress and prosperity of all Nigerians and are willing to defend the letter and the spirit of the article of faith enshrined in our National Pledge and the National Anthem because the future of Nigeria belongs to us.”

Politics

‘PDP will produce Buhari’s successor in 2023,’ says Edo deputy gov, Shaibu

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The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday, expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.

Shaibu, who stated this during his speech at the ongoing ward congress in Oyo State, added that all the PDP required to win the 2023 election was to put its house in order and step up operations ahead of the exercise.

He said: “We will be able to take over the Federal Government. All PDP states’ policies currently yielding positive results will add up to making Nigeria great again.

“We are fulfilling that obligation to make sure that the congress in the 351 wards across the state is peaceful and credible.

“I had discussions with some other members of the party and they have accepted to put their grievances aside and work for the common good.

“Majority of the people are in support of the peaceful reconciliation process and the discussions that are still ongoing.”

Politics

‘Work hard to prevent Afghanistan situation in Nigeria,’ Gombe gov charges security agents

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The Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, on Friday charged the security agents to take proactive measures and prevent the Afghanistan situation in Nigeria.

Yahaya, who made the call at a Roundtable Discussion titled: “Security Situation in Afghanistan: Implications for Nigeria and Africa,” organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in Abuja, also demanded a strong synergy between the government and security agencies in order to effectively prosecute the ongoing campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements in the country.

He stressed that the unfolding events in Afghanistan and other countries demand that authorities in Nigeria take proactive measures to stem any grave repercussions on the country.

Yahaya noted that Nigeria and Afghanistan share several things in common, hence what affects the South Asian nation has consequences on Nigeria and Africa in general.

Politics

Nigeria’s economy on the brink of collapse – Sanusi

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A former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, lamented on Friday that Nigeria’s economy was on the verge of total collapse.

Sanusi, who stated this at the ongoing Kaduna Investment Summit, added that oil, the country’s major source of foreign exchange was about to die.

He stressed that many countries across the world are shifting their focus from fossil fuel to alternative sources of energy.

Sanusi said: “Globally, work is being redefined. 30 to 40 percent of workers in developed economies will need to significantly upgrade their skills by 2030. What are the major drivers of this redefinition? A few of such are ICT and remote working which we had seen even here with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is increased automation and artificial intelligence. Very soon, robots will take over work in most countries and those who would have hob are those who operate the robots or manufacture the robots, or service the robot.

“And you have decarbonisation. For us in Nigeria, the enclave economy that we have, the so-called goose that lays the golden egg is about to die. There will be no eggs. The future is not in the carbons.

A few months ago, Germany was able to produce enough renewable energy for the entire country’s need. Today, we are having difficulties selling Nigerian oil. So, not only are we having problems producing, even when we produce, the market is not there.

“So, this is forcing a change, and for us a country that depends on oil, things need to change.

“Nigeria is ranked 114th in the global innovation index. We are lower than other African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal. We are in fact ranked 14th in sub-Saharan Africa. I think we should have this reality check and know where we are as a country. Let’s stop calling ourselves the giant of Africa because we are the giant with clay feet.

Countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal are ahead of us. I am not even talking about South Africa. Our expenditure on education is only seven percent of the budget. We are spending less on education than Ghana; I am not talking about as per the percentage of the budget; in absolute terms, even though the Ghanaian economy is much smaller than the Nigerian economy, even though the Ghanaian government revenue is less than Nigerian revenue, Ghana is spending more on education than Nigeria.

“And we are surprised that industries are moving to Ghana. We are surprised that the Ghanaian President has become the leading President in Africa. We are not investing in education and human capital.

We have a 68 percent missing job requirements and the major areas being IT, communication and decision making. And the completion rate between entry into primary one and completing university is eight percent, meaning that out of every 100 pupils who go into primary school, only eight come out of university. And out of those eight, nine percent, which is one of the eight will get a job.”

Politics

‘Use your position to stabilize West Africa,’ UN chief, Guterres, tells Buhari

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The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Friday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his leadership roles in the West African sub-region and the continent as a whole.

Guterres, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, gave the commendation during a meeting with Buhari on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, United States.

The UN chief expressed concern that Africa, especially West Africa seen generally as the home of stability and good governance, had witnessed a dramatic change in fortune in recent years with the military toppling democratically elected leaders in some parts of the sub-region.

He, therefore, urged President Buhari to continue to show leadership as he looked up to Nigeria to help stabilize the sub-region in terms of democracy and good governance.

On terrorism, Guterres commended the efforts of Nigeria on this global phenomenon.

He assured the Nigerian leader of the UN’s continued support in the efforts at addressing the prevailing security and humanitarian challenges that had arisen especially with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

He also commended Nigeria’s efforts on climate change and the global body’s expressing willingness to cooperate with the country on the matter.

President Buhari applauded Guterres for his leadership and the success of the UNGA76.

He assured the UN Secretary-General that Nigeria had achieved appreciable successes in tackling the insecurity caused by terrorists and bandits in the Northern part of the country.

Politics

Nigeria to explore alternative funding for modernisation of railway – Amaechi

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said on Friday the Federal Government would explore an alternative funding mechanism to modernise the country’s rail system in line with its 25-year Strategy Vision.

The minister stated this during the 2021 Annual Public Lecture organised by the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science, University of Lagos, Akoka.

He said the federal government had recovered most of the failed locations on the Narrow Gauge corridor and also taking precautions in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the standard gauge corridors.

Amaechi said: “All the new contracts for railway projects were embedded with rich technology transfer clauses, capacity building and Conversational Skills Rating (CSRs) domestic appropriate knowledge and skill.

The establishment of rail projects was to reduce the cost of transportation and boost the economy since economic activity drives development in any country.

“All the regions in the country would have been connected with rail transportation but for lack of sustainable funding plan, environmental issues, degenerated infrastructure, theft of railway materials and obsolete legal framework.”

The minister appealed to community leaders and civil society organisations to join in the fight against vandalisation of railway infrastructure across the country.

Politics

Nigeria’ll continue to invest in food security, Buhari pledges at the UN

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President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, pledged that Nigeria will continue to invest massively in food security as a way to enhance agricultural productivity in the country.

While speaking at the Food Systems Summit as part of the High-Level meetings of the ongoing 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Buhari said national food security, nutrition knowledge dissemination, skills’ development, and information management systems is paramount to his administration.

According to the President in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, titled, ‘At UN summit on food systems, President Buhari restates commitment to national food security,’ said Nigeria had developed a “food system focused development agenda that prioritizes healthy diets and affordable nutrition, inclusive, efficient, resilient, and sustainable, which will contribute to rebuilding our economy, creating jobs and spurring growth across sectors while sustaining our ecosystems.”

He added that the plan was the outcome of a wide range of stakeholder-engagement geared towards a better understanding of their food systems, experiences and needs.

Following the recommendations from the dialogues and our plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade, Nigeria is committed to investing in food security and nutrition knowledge dissemination, skills’ development, and information management systems to enhance agricultural productivity.

“It is also aimed at building sustainable, responsive, and inclusive food systems.

It will enhance the productivity of smallholder farmers and empowering women and youths for greater access to food production, while strengthening climate mitigation strategies and conflict early warning systems that will reduce the many stresses and shocks to our food systems.”

The President added:

“To transform our food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, we hope to learn from, and collaborate with member states that have grappled or are grappling with food systems concerns similar to ours.

“We especially support the emerging coalitions of actions and sustainable food systems.”

Politics

Buhari demonstrated attribute of God for forgiving Fani-Kayode —Femi Adesina

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Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has lauded the President’s “kind and angelic heart of forgiveness” for accepting his staunchest critic, Femi Fani-Kayode, back into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adesina, in his Facebook column, ‘From the Inside’ on Friday, said the fact that the former Minister of Aviation said “unforgivable and unpardonable things” against Buhari prior to his (FFK) recent defection to the APC, was enough reason for the President to reject his defection but because of magnanimity and forgiving spirit, Buhari refused to act like a regular Nigerian.

Adesina claimed that his principal demonstrated the attribute of God by forgiving Fani-Kayode despite all his previous attacks.

In the article titled ‘Buhari, FFK, and the quality of mercy,’ Adesina praised Buhari to high heavens, saying that by accepting and hosting Fani-Kayode at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Buhari, as the “leader of the party displayed amazing capacity to forgive, to show mercy, and let bygones be bygones.”

Part of the statement reads;

“Not a small ruckus has been caused by the defection of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week.

An icing on the cake, or the salt added to injury (depending on which side you are), was his reception at the Presidential Villa by Muhammadu Buhari, father of the nation. The development has been rocking the polity for many days.

“FFK is by no means a miscellaneous personality, and whatever he does, or does not do, attracts loads of attention.

“He has said things straight from the gutters, things that the natural man would call unforgivable and unpardonable.

“Against President Buhari, the first family, Yusuf Buhari whom he wished had died when the latter had an almost fatal bike accident, APC as a party, the government, leaders of the party, groups and individuals. Even this writer has suffered horrid descriptions from FFK in many write-ups.

Buhari showed him mercy, dropping like gentle rain from heaven, when he could have otherwise spat into the sky, collecting the spittle with his own face. Was that not what me and you would have done? Confess.

“We would have told FFK to go to hell, and stay there. But Buhari didn’t. He displayed an attribute of God: forgiveness.”

Politics

Police arrests ex-Ogun lawmaker for alleged possession of firearms, threat to life

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Police on Thursday arrested a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Joseph Adegbesan, and two other persons for alleged cultism, threat to life, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The former lawmaker was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team from Force Headquarters in Abuja following a petition sent to the police authorities by a lawmaker representing the Ijebu North ll State Constituency, Oludare Kadiri.

Kadiri, a former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, had in the petition accused Adegbesan of hiring cultists to kill him.

The other persons arrested by the police were Muibi Olufodun and one Samson.

The men, who were picked up from different parts of the state, had since been whisked to Lagos by the police.

Politics

Foreign doctors in Nigeria get salaries five times higher than local ones – Ngige

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Thursday, decried the salary disparity between foreign medical doctors and their Nigerian counterparts in some states in the country.

Ngige, who addressed journalists after a meeting with a team from the Federal Character Commission (FCC) led by its chairman, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka in Abuja, noted that foreign doctors are paid five times higher than their Nigerian colleagues.

He warned that such preferential treatment works against national unity and loyalty.

The minister said: “The constitution did not say that you do only cases in the public sector. There are areas we need you to look into especially where the constitution is silent.

“We have cases where doctors were employed from Egypt, Cuba, and Pakistan and they are paid five times what the Nigerian doctor will get if you convert the foreign exchange they use to pay them.

“But in this country, I was here when some of my teachers left from South-East to go and teach in the North-East at a time. They left because we had enough down there to export to our brothers. They were paid with our local currency and given some other incentives which at the end of the day make the economy of those states to be alright.

“Whether you like it or not, if some people are poor in Nigeria in the poverty index rating, when the Nigerian poverty index is being taken, it will be an aggregate, including those places. If it is health, when the health parameters are being taken, it is for the whole. So, FCC can go into that area.

“Our constitution is the Supreme law of the land. And any law made by anybody, whether national and state assembly that is in conflict with the constitution is void. So, you people have a strong mandate from the supreme law of the land. I think you should help us build a new country.

“A country where we will not be talking about hatred because it is some of these perceptions that cannot even be separated from reality that breeds all the discontent and hate speeches we see.

“We must strive to unite our country. All these North and South, East and West, they are artificial geographical demarcations. One body that can unite our country is FCC. As you are here now, you are no longer politicians.

“We count on your chairman that wherever she goes flying the umbrella of justice, freedom, and fair play. We need it for Nigerian workers. We need it for the Nigerian people. If we distribute schools well, people will go to school in the areas where there are no schools now.”

Politics

Gbajabiamila clueless, ready to sacrifice anything for position– IPOB

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday slammed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for comparing the group to terror organizations.

The group described the speaker as a clueless politician who is always willing to sacrifice anything for position.

Gbajabiamila had a few weeks ago compared IPOB and Yoruba Nation agitators to Boko Haram terrorists.

He said the secessionist groups are not completely different from Boko Haram on ideology.

However, the speaker’s media aide, Lanre Lasisi, in a statement issued a few days later denied that his principal compared IPOB and the Yoruba Nation group with terrorists.

But in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the speaker’s statement was stupidity and idiocy taken too far.

The statement read: “The attention of the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the fallacious and careless statement by the clueless politician of our time, Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“He displayed ignorance and servitude by comparing non-violent IPOB movement with the murderous Boko Haram terrorists, Fulani bandits, and the killer herdsmen wreaking havoc across Nigeria.

“We know he made such reckless and irresponsible remark in his quest to impress his political slave masters to retain his position. But it was stupidity and idiocy taken too far. Alhaji Gbajabiamila should not forget that his Yoruba kinsmen are also agitating for freedom today because of the evil agenda of his Fulani slave masters.

“He should not forget that they will surely come for him after using him to castigate and destroy his Southern brethren. What stupid blindness all in the name of political correctness.

“The recent statement from Gbajabiamila shows his ignorance about IPOB and he doesn’t understand that IPOB is present in almost all the countries of the world. Do terrorists openly parade themselves as IPOB does or do they hide their faces?

“We are however not surprised at such position by a man who shamelessly converted from Christianity to Islam because of political position. When they dangled the House of Representatives speakership for him, he quickly renounced his faith and like the dog he is, he fell on his fours to lick the vomit from his Fulani handlers. This is the man who wants to educate us on who terrorists are.

“He should be ashamed of himself. He is after his stomach and ready to sacrifice anything for his political position. A man who betrayed his faith and religion because of politics can never be trusted for anything. Even Satan cannot so cheaply renounce his faith!

“Gbajabiamila and his crew of Fulani terrorists cannot change our strategy nor deter us from achieving Biafra freedom from Nigeria. Gbajabiamila or whatever you call yourself stay away from IPOB or sorry will definitely be your new name. Every fool will wake up and mouth the hallowed name of IPOB to raise their dimming political profile.

Politics

Again, Ortom blasts Buhari over ‘failed’ anti-graft crusade, oppression of opposition, others

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Read her post below.

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Friday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of bad governance.

Ortom, who delivered a keynote address at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) award ceremony in Enugu, asked Nigerians to hold the President responsible for the challenges that had brought the country to its knees.

He also slammed President Buhari for double- standards in his handling of corruption and security issues in the country.

Ortom had criticized the President severally recently on insecurity, economy and other major problems plaguing the country.

He said: “It is evident that the Federal Government has chosen to play double standards in its handling of the security situation as it affects some regions especially the South-East, North-Central, South-South and South-West while at the same time treating with kid gloves, the menace of killer Fulani herdsmen, bandits and other terrorists in the North- East and North-West.

“The speed with which the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and the Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, were arrested confirmed the fact that the Federal Government has the capacity to tackle insecurity with determination and commitment.

“We live in a country today where those who demand equal rights and freedom to end the wave of injustice and marginalisation are hurriedly declared terrorists while real terrorists who invade communities and kill hundreds of innocent people are pampered and given government protection.

“The South-East has been at the receiving end of such levels of injustice, impunity and marginalisation.

Let me make myself very clear. I am not a supporter of violence in any form, neither am I here to justify the violence being witnessed in parts of the South-East. This is why I condemn in strong terms, the destruction of Federal Government properties such as INEC offices, attacks on police stations, law enforcement operatives and even traditional rulers.

“Such attacks and destruction do not make a positive case for freedom fighters and campaigners for justice. Dialogue remains the best option in any dispute. We must however admit that the ongoing agitations by youths of the South-East are as a result of years of neglect, injustice, unfairness and lack of equity by those who have held this country to ransom.

“The current Presidency is on record to have levelled weighty allegations and criticisms against the Goodluck Jonathan administration. They even threatened that if they were not allowed to take over power in 2015, ‘the dog and the baboon would be soaked in blood.’

“As you may recall, they also claimed that the fight against Boko Haram was an attack on the north. Perhaps that explains why Boko Haram chose the then presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) as their representative in negotiation with the Jonathan administration.

“These people occupying the Presidency at the moment also blamed the government of Jonathan for failing to tackle insecurity, but today, they are the same people harassing and intimidating Nigerians who speak against their failures.

Its fight against corruption is only targeted at those who hold alternative views. No matter how corrupt someone is said to be, the moment such a person defects to APC, he becomes a saint. That is why some of my colleagues have already joined them.

“For instance, in Benue State, no day passes without one or more appointees of government being invited and intimidated by EFCC simply because I have refused to bow to the strings of threats and harassment from Abuja to betray my people.”

Politics

National Assembly building now dangerous for lawmakers —Elumelu

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The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, on Wednesday, decried the deplorable state of the National Assembly complex.

Elumelu, who addressed the lawmakers at the plenary, expressed concern at the poor state of the roofs, especially during a heavy downpour.

He said: “If something is not done to address the problem, nobody owns one’s life but we never can tell what can happen.

“Coming into this place, you can see the cleaners; they are busy packing (mopping) the water that is coming down from this chamber. To me, it is dangerous for our continuous participation in our day-to-day representation of our people and speaking for our people.”

Politics

Buhari meets Queen of Netherlands, appeals for funds to develop Nigeria

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President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the Queen of Netherlands, Her Majesty, Maxima Zorreguieta, to support his administration’s efforts at developing critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

Buhari held a bilateral meeting with Zorreguieta on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly holding in New York, USA.

A statement by the President’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari, during the closed-door meeting, stressed the importance of infrastructural development for the advancement of any nation.

He said Nigeria was well aware of her limitations, and thus prioritized the provision of infrastructure, NAN reports.

“Without infrastructure, development would be limited, so we put emphasis on building roads, rail, and providing electricity. We have a comprehensive plan, and we are doing our best”.

”We have the land. We have the people. Capital input is what we need. he said.

He added that the country was hampered by resources, despite oil exportation, and that with more financial wherewithal, infrastructural works would speed up.

President Buhari assured the Queen, who last visited Nigeria in 2017, that if she comes again, she would see a lot of difference in the nation.

In the area of agriculture, the president said Nigerian borders were closed to some neighbouring countries to encourage farmers.

He said, ”People went back to the land, and this helped us tremendously. We made fertilizers available, resuscitated dams, and it all paid off handsomely. Otherwise, with about 200 million people, we would have been in trouble when COVID-19 struck and affected the economy.”

He added that Nigerian farmers were quite receptive to modern ways of doing things, especially in respect of cutting post-harvest waste.

Queen Zorreguieta lauded what she called “the huge effort” made by Nigeria to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, saying; “you spent a great part of your GDP.”

The Queen said agriculture was music to her ears, being the daughter of a former Minister of Agriculture, and her biggest plea would be for Nigeria to make infrastructure available so that investors and aid donors could access areas beyond the major cities.

“We need roads, railways, digital financial inclusion for farmers. The government needs to digitalize all payments,” she said.

Politics

‘Buhari repaying Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Jonathan’s loans,’ says Senate committee

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The Chairman Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, on Wednesday blamed past governments for Nigeria’s debt burden.

Adeola, who addressed his colleagues before the passage of the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), said the criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for plunging Nigeria into debt was unfair and uninformed.

According to him, the large chunk of Nigeria’s total debt profile estimated at N33 trillion was incurred by past administrations dating back to the military era.

The lawmaker stressed that the majority of the loans being repaid by the Buhari administration were accumulated during the military era and ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan administrations between 1999 and 2015.

When asked by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to make clarifications on issues raised by lawmakers, particularly on Nigeria’s debt profile Adeola said: “The accumulated borrowing you are talking about did not come from this administration alone.

It is a borrowing that stems from the days of the military to the days when the democratic dispensation started.

“It is an accumulated loan. It is not a loan that says that it is the current administration of President Buhari that has borrowed.

“It is a loan that has been borrowed by the previous administration – the Obasanjo, the Jonathan, the Yar’Adua of this world.

“And since the business of government is a continuum, the President of the day has no choice but to continue to pay back all these loans that have been borrowed by the previous administrations.

“More than three-quarters of these loans you are seeing were borrowed from the previous administrations and we are paying back. We are doing what is supposed to be done, the way it is supposed to be done.

“So, when my colleagues said that for every N67 of any loan that was borrowed, we are using to pay, he should know that more than N60 of it are loans borrowed by the previous administration. That is where we are.”

Politics

‘Why Nigeria’s focus is on infrastructure,’ Buhari tells Netherlands Queen

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with the Queen of The Netherlands, Maxima Zorreguieta; in New York, the United States.

The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told Queen Zorreguieta at the bilateral meeting held on the margins of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Nigeria was well aware of her limitations and thus prioritized the provision of infrastructure.

He assured Zorreguieta, who visited Nigeria in 2017, that she would see a lot of differences if she comes to the country again.

The President said: “Without infrastructure, development in Nigeria will be limited, so we put emphasis on building roads, rail, and power. We have a comprehensive plan and we are doing our best.

“In the area of agriculture, we closed the Nigerian borders with some neighboring countries to encourage farmers and eat what we grow. People went back to the land, and this helped us tremendously.

“We made fertilizers available, resuscitated dams, and it all paid off handsomely. Otherwise, with about 200 million people, we would have been in trouble when COVID-19 struck and affected the economy. Like Oliver Twist, Nigeria could do with more help in the area of investments, particularly in agriculture.

“We have the land, we have the people and capital input is what we need in Nigeria. Our farmers are quite receptive to modern ways of doing things, especially in respect of cutting post-harvest waste.”

Politics

Nigerian leaders are obsessed with power not purpose -Utomi

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A Nigerian professor of political economy, Pat Utomi has said part of the challenges facing Nigeria even as efforts are been made to build it up, is that leaders in the country are obsessed with power rather than purpose.

According to him, this was part of the issues that led to the rise of the new party, Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP) launched on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Utomi, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, and former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, alongside several politicians on Tuesday, unveiled the RNP.

Speaking during an interview on an Arise Television’s programme, Good Morning Show, on Wednesday, Utomi maintained that the purpose of building a strong nation with a viable and sustainable economy should be the primary concern of all leaders who want to lead the country before the business of power.

“Part of my challenge with Nigeria as we are trying to build it up is that there is too much focus on power rather than purpose. The purpose of building a strong nation with a viable and sustainable economy is the primary thing before this business of power,” he said.

Furthermore, the professor of political economy hinted that about four more groups would emerge in the coming weeks, to focus on specific areas and tackle the major problems of lack of quality leadership, constitutional reforms, electoral process reforms, and responsible economic management.

“I expect three or four more of these groups that I know of to emerge in the next couple of weeks and I think many of them would focus on specific areas. One particular group is looking at the issue of quality leadership, competence and courage and not the usual issues of where you come from and that kind of stuff.

Another group that I’m associated with is focusing on constitutional and electoral process reforms. There’s going to be a major outlook coming out from the group, offering Nigeria a draft new constitution, offering Nigeria a movement that says unless electronic transmission of election results are going to define how we go forward, then let’s not have elections because what we’ve had in the past is a complete farce.

“We don’t have elections in Nigeria. Some people are relying on state capture to abuse the electoral process and announcing that they have won elections. This group will be so insistent with its work.

“There would be another group which I am also familiar with and participated in their work that is going to focus on responsible economic management. I keep saying that we don’t have a national strategy, how do we grow this economy?” Utomi added.

Politics, World News

Fire Guts Nigerian Ports Authority Headquarters.

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The outbreak which occurred on Wednesday was triggered off by an electrical surge while three offices on the 6th floor of the building were reportedly affected.

There was a fire outbreak at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters, on Board Street in Lagos State, destroying property worth millions of naira.

The outbreak which occurred on Wednesday was triggered off by an electrical surge while three offices on the 6th floor of the building were reportedly affected.
It was learnt that the staff were just settling down for the day’s work when the fire broke out.

An eyewitness who claimed anonymity, said those on the affected floor were asked to stay at a point on the ground floor where head count of those on duty was taken by the safety officers.

The NPA headquarters had previously been set on fire by some hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest which led to a destruction of properties worth billions.

Meanwhile, the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication of NPA, Olaseni Alakija, who confirmed the incident, said officials of the NPA Fire Service Department immediately mobilised to the scene and promptly contained the fire.

Alakija said in line with safety protocols, the affected floor had since been cordoned off and investigations were ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.

“The Management of the Authority appreciates the prompt response and professionalism of the Authority’s Fire service and security departments and wishes to assure all stakeholders and the general public that no sensitive documents were lost and normalcy has been restored and that our operations have not been disrupted in anyway” he said.

Politics

Nigerian govt urges media to support security agents in fight against terrorism, banditry

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday, charged the Nigerian media to do more to boost the morale of the security forces in their fight against insurgency and banditry in different parts of the country.

Mohammed, who made the call during an expanded security consultative meeting in Katsina State, asked the media not to relent in their coverage of security agencies’ efforts at tackling crimes in Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari; the Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Usman; the Emir of Daura, Faruq Umar; heads of security agencies in the state and civil society organizations, among others.

The minister also warned the media against concentrating on the failure of the security operatives or the activities of the terrorists as that would dampen the morale of the security agents.

He implored security agencies to inform journalists on successes being achieved in the theatre of operation as that would give the media first-hand information on the activities for a balanced reportage.

Politics

Buhari, Biden, others attend opening session of UNGA76 in New York

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President Muhammadu Buhari and his United States counterpart, Joe Biden; were among the world leaders that attended the opening of the General Debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday in New York.

The President was accompanied to the opening session by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, and Head of Chancery of the Permanent Mission, Muyiwa Onifade.

At least 80 heads of state attended the General Debate in person in New York while others spoke through pre-recorded videos.

Buhari will present Nigeria’s statement to the General Assembly on Friday.

The Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, was the first world leader to present his address to the 76th session as is tradition followed by Biden, whose country houses the UN.

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