Politics

Court sacks Ondo Deputy Speaker, reinstates Ogundeji

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Hon Aderoboye Samuel, the lawmakwer representing Odigbo Constituency II as Deputy Speaker of Ondo Assembly has been sacked by an Ondo High Court sitting in Akure.

The court also ordered the Assembly to immediately reinstate Hon Iroju Ogundeji as its Deputy Speaker.

Ogundeji, who represents Odigbo Constituency 2, was impeached for alleged gross misconduct.

The Nation reported that he was suspended in July 2020 and efforts he made to resume plenary following court orders failed.

The court which nullified the 2020 impeachment of Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker, also ordered Aderoboye to stop parading himself as the Deputy Speaker.

Politics

People who vote for APC love suffering — Omoyele Sowore

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The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday said Nigerians who will vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress to retain power in the forthcoming 2023 election, “love suffering.”

The AAC flag bearer said this during an interview on ‘The Roundtable’ organised by PUNCH Newspapers.

Sowore when asked if he would be shocked should the APC presidential candidate win the 2023 election said two things would be involved if the APC wins – either through rigging or the people who would vote for them aren’t tired of suffering.

He further questioned why it seemed Nigerians had a track record of supporting their “abusers.”

A livid Sowore said if the APC wins, “I’ll be surprised but first we will need to analyse two things.

“First is if there was a credible election because the APC is used to winning elections that don’t happen. Very shady party, the same thing applied to the PDP when they were in power (at the centre).

“Secondly, if it is true they won the election, then we would need to examine Nigerians as a people, if there is something wrong with our ability to take punishment. Do we ever get tired of punishment? Do we ever get tired of being abused?

“Why will a people be seemingly convenient with hardship? It’s nothing new anyway, but I’m just reiterating it. I have asked myself this question many times.

“Sometimes, you read comments by pundits with ignorance and very holistical views about the state of the nation, you will question what is wrong with us. And some of them are people you happen to respect.”

He continued, “Some would say with authority that the position of the government is the best. They did it when June 12 election was annulled; they did it when former President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for third term, with some defending that Nigeria had never had a leader like him so he should run for third term.

“They also did it during (Gen Sani) Abacha’s time, five political parties came together and were swearing that he was the best thing that could ever happen to Nigeria; but the day he died, they sang a different tune.

“At the end of the day, we need conscious citizens to remain steadfast and regardless of who wins this election, we will all bear the consequences of our actions,” he concluded.

Politics

PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Admits Using Fasawe, Andy Uba To Syphon Billions Of Naira In Federal Contracts During Tenure As Nigerian Vice-President

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been caught on tape admitting his involvement in a complex conspiracy that for years took advantage of federal contracting expenditures.

This was disclosed in a viral audio shared by Atiku’s former aide, Michael Achimugu where the former vice-president was narrating how he took charge of setting up onshore shell businesses to serve as a conduit for syphoning significant sums from public works contracts for himself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo was Nigeria’s President between 1999 and 2007 while Atiku was the Vice President.

Atiku also revealed how their government designated some funds stolen during the process to political allies to fund their party’s activities without traces.

He said,

“What happened was when we came into office and I advised the president against open corruption.

“I told him to give me three people you trust and I will prepare three companies in which they will be subscribers or rather the directors.

“So that if there is any contract that we give they will act like consultants and they are given a fee. That fee is what we use to fund the party.”

Mr Abubakar specifically stated in the audio that Obasanjo gave him the name of Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Andy Uba as well as another politician from Borno State whom he said died in a plane crash to serve as fronts.

“I now incorporated companies and put them as subscribers. One of the companies was Marine Float,” he added.

The PDP presidential hopeful further admitted to having collected N100 million bribe from Mr Joshua Dariye, a former Plateau State governor, which was paid directly to Marine Float, one of the three firms he registered.

Dariye was convicted of criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust and was found to have looted N2 billion in public funds during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku continued:

“When the governor sent donations, he sent it to Marine Float. It stayed in Marine Float. One of the subscribers of Marine Float was Otunba Fasawe.

That was where the N100 million went to. It did not go to Atiku Abubakar. It went to Marine Float. Marine Float was a special-purpose vehicle,” Mr Abubakar said, adding that that was the way he “handled it”.

Mr Abubakar said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission later probed Marine Float accounts “very well” but still “found nothing” linking him to its fraudulent activities.

In 2007, Nigerian senators accused Atiku Abubakar of diverting more than $100m (£51m) in public funds to private interests.

A Senate inquiry recommended that Atiku should be prosecuted for syphoning off money to companies he was connected to.

The Senate launched the investigation after the then-president, Obasanjo, forwarded charges made by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency against Atiku.

In a report presented to the Senate, the investigating panel said it agreed with the findings that Atiku helped divert $145m from Nigerian government accounts to banks.

However, nothing came out of the investigation and findings made by the panel.

Politics

Son of DSS DG, Abba Bichi, denies claims his mother ordered arrest of Kano governorship candidate, Abba Yusuf

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Abba Bichi who is the son of the Director-General of the Department of State Security has denied reports claiming his mum, Aisha, ordered men of the DSS to assault the New Nigerian Peoples Party governorship candidate in Kano state, Abba Yusuf, at the Aminu Kano International Airport’s VIP lounge on Sunday, January 8.

It was reported that Aisha Bichi ordered the arrest of Yusuf following a confrontation they had at the airport.

According to the publication, the governorship candidate’s convoy caused traffic congestion which prevented Bichi’s convoy from gaining access to the VIP lounge.

An argument reportedly ensued and it is alleged that Mrs Bichi ordered her security details to arrest Abba Yusuf.

It is also alleged that Mrs Bichi ordered the assault of one of Abba Yusuf’s aide, Garba Kilo, pictured far left above, who she spotted filming the altercation.

However in a post shared on his Instagram page, Abba Bichi, denied the claims.

His post reads;

One of his goons attempted to go after the wife of the dg that’s when the DSS agents attached to her neutralise him which resulted in his injuries.”

”The wife of the DG DSS never ordered the arrest of abba Gida gida or the killing of his political goon! The convoy of the dg DSS wife was blocked by the thugs of abba and the DSS agents demanded entrance into the airport which the goons denied, the agents approached and the goons turned violent while abba Gida gida was watching from his car while all of this was unveiling!

The DSS agents decided to make entry again into the airport then abba Gida gida who was in his car decided to come down from his car and started harassing the DSS agents and ordered his goons to be violent, while all of this was happening the wife of the dg DSS came down from her car and pleaded with abba Gida gida to let it go which he turned on the wife of the dg and started raining insults on her.

Politics

OPC is not involved in Ojota unrest – Gani Adams

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The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has dismissed as untrue reports that members of the Oodua Peoples Congress were involved in the crisis that erupted in Ojota, Lagos, on Monday.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Adams said the Ojota rally came as a surprise, adding that none of his members were part of the crisis.

“Let me clear the air on the crisis that had engulfed Ojota this morning. There were unconfirmed reports linking members of the OPC to the mayhem. I want to state it clearly that none of our members were at the scene of the incident.

“The OPC is not against the liberation of the Yoruba race, however, it is a fact that the struggle for the liberation of the Yoruba race is an inalienable right of all the Yorubas to champion self-determination. We are not part of the peaceful rally held in Ojota.“Our position on regionalism is very clear. It is sacrosanct because that is what we are seeking at the moment.

“Nigeria should be restructured to full regional autonomy, where each region will be at liberty to operate at their own pace.

“It is unfortunate that the report was done in bad faith to discredit our organisation.

“So members of the public should not be deceived by unconfirmed reports.

“Information at my disposal from the visual contents of happenings in Ojota indicated a peaceful rally that later went awry, leaving in its wake a bitter experience that led to the death of one of the Yoruba nation agitators.

“It is unfortunate that such a crisis could lead to such fracas that eventually claimed one life,” he said.

Lifestyle, Politics

Police confirm one dead in Ojota crisis, says two police officers were shot at by the Yoruba nation agitators

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The Lagos state police command says one person died in the crisis that rocked the Ojota axis of the state in the early hours of today January 9.

According to the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Yoruba Nation Agitators came out in their hundreds and disrupted social and commercial activities at Ojota area of the State.

He said the members of the secessionist group shot at two police officers during the clash. He added that calm has been restored to the area.

Politics

Nigerian women are more productive, less corrupt than men – Presidential candidate, Peter Obi

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Peter Obi, the Labour Party( LP) presidential candidate, has said that women are more productive in Nigeria and less corrupt than their male counterparts.

The former governor of Anambra State made this claim on Sunday, January 8, during The Peoples Townhall, organised by Channels Television.

At the meeting, Ebere Ifendu, President Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), highlighted that the percentage of women in governance is abysmally low and asked Obi what he plans to do about this.

She said: “I want to ask you specifically, what will you be doing to change the status of women in governance.”

Obi responded by revealing all the key positions women held in Anambra State when he was the governor.

He then pledged to bring more women into government if elected president in the forthcoming general elections.

He said:

“I can say it without anything; women are more productive in Nigeria than men any day, any time. I worked with them when I was in the banking industry; they saved the bank.”

“I wish our men would do the same thing. And they (women) are less corrupt; they are easily satisfied with little.

“Men will just go on and on, forgetting that it is public money they are taking.”

Politics

We have no case against INEC chairman – DSS

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has reacted to report of Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) obtaining a court judgement stopping his arrest by the security agency.

It was reported earlier that a federal high court sitting in Abuja had dismissed allegations of false asset declaration against Yakubu and also barred the DSS, the police, and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from investigating him over his asset declaration.

Reacting to the report on Friday, January 6, DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said the service never went to court against the INEC chairman and has no case against him.

He said;

“This statement, however, becomes important to guide public understanding and perception, especially that the said report is misleading.

“It falsely left an impression that the service went to court against the INEC chairman.

“Nonetheless, the service is aware of the antics of some mischievous elements who are desirous of fomenting crisis in the country, including creating unnecessary controversies around the forthcoming general elections.

“One of their strategies is to subvert the efforts of the service in ensuring peaceful coexistence and harmony.

“Another is a determination to overheat the polity and subtly exploit the judiciary to distract or even undermine not only the Service but other security and law enforcement agencies from undertaking their constitutional roles.

“The DSS, therefore, warns these individuals and groups to desist from their devious plans. It also advises all critical stakeholders to be vigilant and resist attempts to use them to thwart the law.

“While assuring Nigerians and the international community of the service’s commitment to the maintenance of law and order, including an accomplishment of a free and fair 2023 election as already pledged by Mr President and commander-in-chief, the service urges all and sundry to join in the pursuit of national stability and unity.”

Politics

INEC devolves PVC collection to wards and registration areas

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will from today, January 6, commence the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to registrants at the 8,809 electoral wards across Nigeria.

INEC national commissioner and chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this on Thursday, January 5.

All validly registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to use the opportunity of the devolution to the wards to do so.

After 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the commission until 22nd January 2023.

The statement read;

“The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023.

“The devolution of PVC collection to the wards commences tomorrow 6th January 2023, and all validly registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to seize the opportunity of the devolution to the wards to do so.

“After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until 22nd January 2023. All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.”

Politics

Minister warns NDDC board against exceeding approval limits

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The Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Chief Umana Umana, has charged members of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission to be faithful in the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the commission’s forensic audit.

Umana gave the directive while inaugurating the new board of the commission in Abuja, urging the board members to immediately hit the ground running.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The new board has a former presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as chairman and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director.

Umana stressed the need for the board and the management to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Procurement Act, as well as financial regulations to ensure prudence in the management of limited resources.

“Every contract above the threshold of management is to be referred to the Ministerial Tenders Board of the Federal Executive Council. Any breach of contract approval limits will attract severe sanctions,” he warned.

Umana also charged the board to look into “allegations of irregular employment from 2019 and follow up on the ongoing personal audit in the Commission to make sure all cases of employment during the period under review were in accordance with extant rules and regulations of the service.”

The minister urged the board members to focus on the completion of ongoing projects and advised them to shun the lure of the “award of spurious and indiscriminate new contracts,” to help in repairing the negative public perception of the NDDC.

In his remarks, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, noted that the inauguration of the new board would not have been possible without the collaboration of the National Assembly.

Mustapha, who was represented by a former Permanent Secretary, Mrs Habiba Lawal, urged members of the new board to bring all their expertise to bear to transform the lives and environment of the region.

Also speaking, the chairman of the board, Onochie, appealed to Nigerians, especially people from the Niger Delta region, to give them the necessary support to deliver on their mandate.

Politics

Chris Ngige dismisses claims the President is responsible for hunger and high cost of living

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says President Buhari ought to be praised and not criticized, amid ‘hunger and high cost of living’ the country is experiencing, as most parts of the world are also battling the same crisis at the moment.

Ngige said this when he spoke to newsmen in his hometown of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Wednesday, January 4.

“I was the one who brought Buhari to the South East in 2015. As the South East Zonal Coordinator, I told the General that the bridge is critical to our people and the entire South, all the way up to North Central. The General asked if we could do it, and I said, ‘Why not?.’

The same question he asked at the Ziks Mausoleum completion, and he told me that if God made him president, he would construct the bridge and complete the abandoned mausoleum for our people.

I was the one who brought to the fore in our South East campaign the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, and Enugu Airport renovation and remodelling, for which the Federal Government gave the Minister of Aviation, N10bn, the authority to execute the upgrade as critical infrastructural projects needed by the zone.

Today, the tarmac was reconstructed and the runway expanded from one to three kilometres with modern night lighting systems and navigational aids and several other projects.

So, President Buhari ought to be praised, but they will tell you that people are dying of hunger. Hunger is a global problem. If you go to the news, you will see white people protesting against hunger and the high cost of living in Europe and elsewhere.”he said

Reacting to the recent letter released by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he said the last seven years under the Buhari administration has been hell for Nigerians, Ngige questioned what poverty alleviation measures Obasanjo put in place while he ruled for eight years.

“Disregard those politicians who will come and tell you that the Buhari administration inflicted hardship and poverty on you. One of them wrote a letter the other day, the habitual national letter writer. It is easy to criticize.”he said

Politics

Commissioner Resigns After Father’s Title Was Revoked Over ‘Disrespect’ To Bauchi Governor

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The Commissioner of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi, has resigned her appointment hours after her father, Bello Kirfi, was stripped of his traditional title as ‘Wazirin Bauchi’ and removed as a member of the Bauchi Emirate Council.

Kirfi, who was a retired federal civil servant, Second Republic Minister and former Minister of Special Duties, was removed over his alleged “disloyalty and disrespect” to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

In the letter obtained by our correspondent, the commissioner didn’t give any reason for her resignation. She merely stated she was resigning and thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve.

Politics

Nigerian leaders have questions to answer before God – Lagos Deputy Governor

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Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has said that Nigerian leaders have so many questions to answer when they appear before God.

Hamzat who spoke at the closing of the 113th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC), organised by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, in Epe, noted that failure of Nigerians to vote will be detrimental to good governance.

The Lagos Deputy Governor further stated that Nigeria needs good leaders to develop, while also adding that many leaders have questions to answer before God on their performance.

Politics

FG inaugurates NDDC governing board

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The federal government, on Wednesday, inaugurated the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The agency had been without a board for nearly four years.The Senate on December 20, 2022, confirmed the nominations of the Chairman and Board Members of the Commission after President Muhammadu Buhari sent their names in accordance with the NDDC (Establishment) Act, 2008.

Speaking during the inauguration, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, urged the members of the board to be above board, adding that they should work towards policies that would contribute to the coordinated development of the Niger Delta.

Also, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs, Mrs Sharon Ikeazu, urged the new board to work towards restoring hope to the people of the region.

Politics

Ask politicians to recruit their children if they approach you for thuggery – Governor Tambuwal tells youths

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Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has asked Nigerian youths to refrain from being used as political thugs in the 2023 general election.

Speaking at a recent rally of the party, Tambuwal told Nigerian youths to ask politicians who want to use them for thuggery, to use their children instead.

He added that they should not allow themselves to be used to compromise peaceful coexistence by perpetrating violence and chaos.

Tambuwal said;

“You should ask any politician who invites you into political thuggery to align you with his sons and daughters.”

Politics

6.7million PVCs uncollected in 17 states – INEC

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About 6.7 million PVCs are yet to be collected from the Independent National Electoral Commission offices across 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Recall that INEC announced that the collection window for PVCs will commence on December 12,2022 and end on January 22.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said in a statement released on Tuesday, December 3, that from January 6 -15, the collection of the PVCs will be devolved to the ward level after which collection would be moved to the local government areas.

It read;

“Old PVCs received from headquarters – 6,570,291; old PVCs collected up till December 29, 2022 – 5,653,330. Total uncollected old PVCs – 916,961; New PVCs received from headquarters – 940,200; New PVCs collected as at December 29, 2022 – 163,198.

“Total uncollected New PVCs –777,022; Overall total PVCs received from headquarters- 7,510,491; Overall PVCs collected as at December 29, 2022 -5,816,528; Overall PVCs uncollected 1,693,963.’’

Politics

Obi of Onitsha denies claim of having an altercation with Obasanjo

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Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha has denied claim of having an altercation with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the Second Niger Bridge.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu had in a statement released in reponse to Obasanjo’s criticism of the Buhari-led administration, alleged that Obasanjo deceived the south-east during the flag-off for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.

Shehu had also claimed that the Obi of Onitsha had an altercation with the former president after being called a liar.

He wrote;

“Obasanjo laid the sod for the bridge in his first term as elected President and work never started.

“When he sought re-election for his second term in office, he returned to the site to turn the sod for the bridge the second time. When the Obi of Onitsha, forthright and scholarly, reminded him that he had done this in the past, Obasanjo told the foremost Southeast traditional ruler that he was a liar, in the full presence of the Chiefs and Oracles in his palace.”

However in a statement released by the Chinyelugo Anionwu, chief of staff to the Onitsha traditional council, the Obi of Onitsha stated that he was never involved in any sod turning ceremony for the second River Niger Bridge during the first tenure of President Obasanjo.

It read;

“His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, MNI, Obi of Onitsha, by his position as traditional and natural ruler, should normally not engage publicly in high level discourse on affairs of State between two of our highly respected national leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR.

“However, the Palace deems it absolutely necessary to ensure that public statements relating to our monarch are factually correct.

“Accordingly, the Palace would like to state categorically that His Majesty was never involved in any sod turning ceremony for the second River Niger Bridge during the first tenure of President Obasanjo as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, therefore, could not have engaged in any altercation with the then President as stated in the above press release.

“The only involvement of His Majesty with President Obasanjo regarding the Second River Niger Bridge was at the very tail end of his second term as President during a low-keyed flag-off of the project when His Majesty prayed that the succeeding administration would construct the bridge expeditiously.

“Onitsha people will continue to express their utmost gratitude to President Buhari and his Government for successfully constructing the magnificent bridge.”

Politics

INEC warns Nigerians about fake ad hoc staff recruitment portal

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians about a fake portal purportedly used for the recruitment of ad hoc staff for 2023 general election.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the portal is fake as the commission is no longer recruiting for the election.

The statement read;

“The website/blog below is advertising ad hoc staff positions for the 2023 general election.

“However, the commission is no longer recruiting ad hoc staff for the 2023 general election.“The INEC ad hoc staff recruitment portal was officially shut down on December 14 2022.

“Therefore, the site, with the URL –http://www.yournewclaims.com/Inec-Recriutment/ is fake. It is intended to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. Nigerians should disregard it.”

Politics

Governor Sanwo-Olu plans training for street beggars

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the provision of various job skills and additional homes will reduce the menace of women and children beggars across the streets of the state.

The governor stated this on Monday during an interview on TVC News.

Sanwo-Olu said;

“These women and children beggars on the streets are citizens that are looking for sustenance and livelihood daily. I tell you, we clear them almost every week but they find themselves there. Is the solution for me to say I want to pack them to another part of the country?

“No. The solution is to continue to build additional homes and continue to give them solutions by which they can become useful to their families. So we want to see how we can train them and give them skills so that they become providers of jobs themselves. It is a national issue and you don’t need a visa to come into Lagos so it is not me that has created that.”

The governor also explained that the state needs private investors with the right funding to embark on waste conversion projects.

“As a mega city, we generate between 12,000 and 14,000 metric tonnes of waste every day, largely domestic wastes, though some are industrial waste. A lot of people will tell you that there is money in waste which we are beginning to see. There is a lot of sorting that is happening and people are recycling, but it still hasn’t answered a huge number of opportunities that are there.

“These are investments that I believe the private sector can take up and I have seen a few people come up but they are never finished through. I am waiting for one that has the funding required to take up the project of waste conversion,” he added.

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