Politics

Nigeria will not be destroyed by its challenges —Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed optimism that Nigeria will surely overcome its challenges.

Obasanjo, who made this known, during his address at the opening of Abeokuta Window on America held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, said his faith in a better Nigeria remains unshakable.

Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria will not be destroyed by challenges such as insecurity, bad economy, corruption, dilapidated health care system, infrastructural decay, among others, confronting it.

The former President, represented by the Deputy Coordinator of OOPL, Ayodele Aderinwale said: “Whatever maybe the problem or challenges currently confronting Nigeria today, I assure you that they are not problems on the attack, they are actually problems on the retreat.

“My faith in Nigeria remains unshakable. My optimism about the future is resounding. Some may wonder how is the future to be rescued?

“I see hope in the determination, resilience and the indomitable spirit of Nigerians. I see hope, in their resistance when they are pushed to the wall.

“I see hope, in the zeal, commitment and courage in the face of adversity. I see hope, in the boundless and incurable optimism of young Nigerians.

“I see hope, in the willingness of Nigerian young and who are resistance with all their might the evil that are being perpetrated.

“I see hope, in the unwavering conduct and uncompromising drive of Nigerians in demanding a democratic process. I see hope, in the ingenuity and infinite creativity of the Nigerians. I see hope, in the youth and young, for our tomorrow lies in them.

“I see hope in the great potentials of the Nigerian, empowered, motivated and well led. I see hope, in the blending of experience, energy and dynamism of the old and the new.

“I see hope, in the dynamism, vibrancy and richness of our culture. And I see hope, in the commonality of humanity”, he said.

Lifestyle

DJ Switch demands better leadership in Nigeria

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A popular disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh aka DJ Switch, said on Thursday she was prepared to spearhead a campaign for better leadership from politicians in Nigeria.

Udeh, who stated this at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, said Nigerian youths deserve better leadership with their talent and ability.

She insisted that the Nigerian leaders are primarily concerned about ending the lives of the youths instead of creating an enabling environment for them to thrive.

The entertainer, who came into national prominence during last year’s #EndSARS protest, also described the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, as the “major oppressor” in the country.

Politics

Nigeria now on life support – Ortom

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, declared on Wednesday that Nigeria was now life on support.

Ortom, who stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, said those who think that all is well with the country are deceiving themselves.

Mailafia, who was a fierce critic of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, died after a brief illness on September 19.

The governor said: “Dr Mailafia was fearless and he stood on the side of the truth. As the Bible says, ‘You should know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’ Our brother stood for truth and justice.

Anyone saying that all is well in Nigeria is just deceiving himself. Nigeria is on life support. Nigerians have never been divided as it is today.

“Let everyone know that Nigeria is greater than any person. Nigeria is greater than all of us. We must team up and work. We must combine our faith in Nigeria with work in order to salvage our nation from those who seek to destroy it. Refusing to combine our faith with work is akin to pumping a punctured tyre.

“We are here to pay our respects to Dr. Mailafia and console the family. We appreciate God for giving us Mailafia and for all he did in his life time.

Dr. Mailafia lived a worthy life, and we are happy the Almighty God spared his life to enable him achieved what he was able to.
“The actions and memories he left behind shall ever remain alive. We the living shall forever continue to cherish his principles and the indefatigable spirit he demonstrated throughout his life time.

“Those who are celebrating his death are lying. What Dr. Mailafia did in life will continue to germinate and bear fruits for many years to come. We appreciate him and thank God for his life.

“I stand with Dr. Mailafia even in his death. I appreciate his principles, and though dead, we shall continue with the struggle.

I encourage our mother to be strong. When our time has come, there is nothing on earth that can stop it. Be strong in the Lord and know that all things worketh together for good for those that are called by God.”

Politics

Nigeria’s revenue sharing formula outdated – Gbajabiamila

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday joined the growing call for the review of the country’s revenue sharing formula.

The country’s revenue sharing formula was last reviewed during the ex-military President, Ibrahim Babangida’s administration in 1992.

Gbajabiamila, who made the call when the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Engr. Elias Mbam, led the agency’s management on a courtesy visit to the leadership of the House in Abuja, said the current realities make the review of the revenue allocation imperative.

He said “In the attempt to review the revenue allocation in the country, which was last done almost 30 years ago, the commission should ensure that all stakeholders were carried along and that all necessary things are done so that the final report could not be faulted.

“I’m glad you’re here. Your commission is one of the unsung heroes. You are of the 14 institutions established by the constitution, while all others were established by other laws.

It’s almost 30 years that the last review was done. It’s such a long time. The current formula is outdated because a lot has changed from 1992 to date.

“I charge you to do your review, not based on any sentiment. You should consult widely so that your report won’t be faulted. I’m glad you said you are conducting public hearings. It’s good to do that, to seek people’s opinions.

“You should work based on the principles of justice, equity, and fairness. Nigeria is a peculiar country, hence the need to do a thorough and diligent review.”

In his address, Mbam said the RMAFC’s team visit to the House was to seek the support, advice, and guidance of the lawmakers on the planned review of revenue allocation in the country.

World News

‘APC will not rule Nigeria beyond 2023,’ PDP tells Sheriff

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday knocked the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, for claiming that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would rule Nigeria for the next 40 years.

Sheriff had said on Sunday the APC needed a rugged chairman to manage its affairs ahead of the 2023 election.

The former governor, who addressed journalists in Abuja, added that the party would rule the country for the next 30 to 40 years.

However, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians are determined in their resolve not to allow the APC to rule Nigeria beyond May 29, 2023.

The statement read: “Ali Modu Sheriff must know that Nigerians are aware of the desperate plots by the APC and its members that are behind acts of terrorism, banditry, treasury looting, violation of rights and electoral manipulations in our country, to continue to enjoy official cover using the APC as a platform for their reprehensible activities.

“Nigerians have decided to kick out the APC in the 2023 general election and no amount of manipulations or evil machination can sway that resolve to ensure that the APC does not stay a day beyond May 29, 2023.

“The PDP, therefore, has nothing but pity for Ali Modu Sheriff and his co-travelers as the conspiracies against our dear nation will surely come to naught.”

Politics

Politics aside, we have no leadership in Nigeria –Ex-Jigawa gov, Lamido

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The former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has stressed the need for effective leadership in the country to solve its challenges, saying Nigeria has no leadership.

He maintained that the problem of good leadership was the main challenge facing the country at the moment, evident in the security challenges witnessed across the country.

Lamido who spoke while appearing on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, on Sunday, said the government must be accountable to the people.

“Government must be held accountable and I don’t want to sound too political but it is a fact of life. When you want to attain political power the process must be credible,” he said.

Let us put politics aside. What do we do as leaders? We have no leadership in Nigeria, that is the problem and the world is looking at us.

Above everything else, it is about leadership. Leadership is very important. On the issue of Zamfara, why is the state becoming the hub of terrorism in Nigeria? Why?”

Furthermore, the ex-governor slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for not having concrete plans to steer the wheels of the country before getting into power in 2015.

“They knew they were telling lies. But for them, it was about getting the power. If they get the power, then they begin to ask, ‘what do we do?’ So, the process and the platform must be very honest; it must be very credible. It is this character of telling lies to the young generation.

“When you raise their hopes in trying to get government help, and you are in government, by the time you fail to fulfil their needs, of course, there will be problems,” he added.

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

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

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.

Business

CBN reveals how e-Naira will boost cross-border trading in Nigeria

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday revealed how the digital currency, e-Naira, would boost cross-border trading in the country.

The apex bank will launch the pilot scheme on the digital currency in partnership with Bitt Inc., a Barbados-based financial technology company on October 1.

The CBN’s Director of Information Technology, Rakiya Mohammed, who spoke at a virtual forum of the committee on the e-business industry in Abuja, said the adoption of the digital currency would boost cross-border trade and enable the apex bank to formulate better macroeconomic policies.

She said: “If people adopt more of the usage of the e-Naira, then we will be able to have more data to formulate better macroeconomic policies.

And when countries come on board and create their own digital currencies then we will be able to have a faster exchange of currencies, and therefore we might be able to boost cross-border trade at a much lower cost.

“Of course, payment efficiency, even though we know that Nigeria has one of the best payment systems in the world, we will still be able to improve on that.

“We believe that the e-Naira will be a catalyst for the digital economy because the people who are outside the formal banking sector will be integrated.”

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.”

World News

Utomi, Jega, others float coalition to ‘rescue Nigeria’

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A former presidential aspirant, Prof. Pat Utomi; has teamed up with the ex-Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; and other like minds to form a coalition to rescue Nigeria.

The group, Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP), was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja with the mandate to provide an alternative political platform to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Other members of the coalition are former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; his Kwara State counterpart, Abdulfatah Ahmed; a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Senator Lee Maeba, Dr. Usman Bugaje, and Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, among others.

Ahmed, who delivered a keynote address at the event, expressed sadness at the inability of the current administration to manage Nigeria’s diversity.

He said: “It is based on this that we decided to set up this Rescue Nigeria Project. We want to salvage this country and see how we can fix the mess. We want to set a template that leaders must have before they can attain any political position.

“Despite the great opportunities of the past, Nigeria has failed to live up to the dreams of its founding fathers and the hopes of successive generations of its citizens.

Perhaps, at no other time have these failings become more apparent than in the past decade or so.

“In 2015, Nigerians overwhelmingly embraced the promise of change. These hopes have not only been dashed, but they have arguably turned out to be the worst political statements ever to be made in this country. Nigeria today appears set to fulfill all the prophecies of doom.”

On his part, Bugaje, who is the National Coordinator of the RNP, said: “When you reduce the problems of this country to what they are, ultimately, it all comes to leadership.

“We have been unable to exit the leadership conundrum precisely because the leadership recruitment mechanism in our political parties is so flawed that, except for accidents, they are incapable of producing competent leaders with the requisite knowledge, discipline, and commitment to make a difference.

“We are living with, or better still, groaning under the consequences of this folly.”

Politics

Buhari pledges Nigeria’s support for Burundi

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday promised Nigeria’s support to Burundi as part of deliberate efforts at promoting peace and development in the Southern African country.

The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made the promise when he met with his Burundian counterpart, Evariste Ndayishimiye, in New York, the United States.

The meeting was held on the margins of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly holding in New York.

Buhari said: “We will be proactive and give support to the best of our abilities.”

The Burundian President assured that his country was out of conflict, saying “there is now peace and reconciliation and we have vast opportunities to exploit.”

He said Burundi was looking for support of friendly nations in the areas of oil supply, agriculture, mines, and several others.

Business

Nigeria’s central bank disburses N791.9bn to farmers

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has disbursed a total of N791.9 billion to 3.9 million farmers across the country under its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The CBN disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of its 281st Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Friday in Abuja.

According to the apex bank, the fund was part of its various interventions in various sectors of the nation’s economy particularly manufacturing, agriculture, energy/infrastructure and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The communiqué read: “The Bank under its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) has cumulatively released the sum of N798.09 billion to 3.9 million smallholder farmers cultivating 4.9 million hectares of land across the country.

“ Out of this for the 2021 wet season farming, the Bank released the sum of ₦161.18 billion to 770,000 small-holder farmers cultivating seven commodities on 1.10 million hectares across the country.

“While harvesting for the 2020 dry season under the Programme is rounding up, harvesting activities had commenced for the 2021 wet season cultivation. The Strategic Maize Reserve Programme of the CBN has been useful in moderating maize prices by directly targeting large feed mill producers.

“Under its Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), the CBN has supported 657 large-scale agricultural projects to the tune of N708.39 billion.

To support MSMEs across the country, the Bank disbursed N134.57 billion to 38,140 beneficiaries under the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), and for the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF), the sum of N343.21 billion has been released to 726,198 beneficiaries, comprising 602,730 households and 123,468 Small and Medium Enterprises.

“Under the Real Sector Facility, the Bank released the sum of N1.00 trillion to 269 real sector projects, of which 140 are in light manufacturing, 71 in agro-based industry, 47 in services and 11 in mining.

“Under the Healthcare Sector Intervention Facility (HSIF), N103.02 billion has been disbursed for 110 healthcare projects, of which 27 are pharmaceutical, 77 hospitals and 6 other healthcare service projects.

“The Bank has also disbursed a total of N145.99 billion under its Non-Oil Export Stimulation Facility (NESF). The CBN has revised the guidelines, working with Nigerian Export-Import Bank to improve access to the intervention and stimulate non-oil export growth in Nigeria.

“Under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), N41.06 billion has been disbursed to 10 DisCos, for the procurement and installation of 759,748 electricity meters.

“Under the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility – 2 (NEMSF-2), the Bank has released the sum of N145.66 billion to 11 DisCos as loans to provide liquidity support and stimulate critical infrastructure investment to improve service delivery and collection efficiency.

“In furtherance of its intervention in the energy sector, the Bank has disbursed N39.20 billion to six beneficiaries to improve gas-based infrastructure to support the Federal Government’s Auto-Gas Conversion Programme.”

Lifestyle

Delta variant of COVID-19 dominant in Nigeria – Health minister

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The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, urged Nigerians to continue adhering to all the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the Federal Government.

He added that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 is now the dominant strain in the country.

The minister, who stated these during the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 media briefing in Abuja, warned that the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was still much around though the number of confirmed cases had reduced in recent times.

Ehanire said all points of entry in the country are under strict supervision in other to prevent the influx of the other variants of the virus from other countries.

He said: “The dreaded third wave of COVID-19 may appear to be levelling out because there had been no catastrophic increases in infections and fatalities.

“But, it is not wise to assume that the threat is gone, especially as cases are fluctuating and have to be identified by genomic sequencing.

“Evidence so far, however, is that the Delta strain is already the dominant one in Nigeria. We must keep our protective measures in place and increase testing to determine our situation.

“There are reports of new COVID-19 mutations circulating in other countries, a development we shall monitor with all the tools available to us to ensure we respond appropriately.

“We also remain on alert at Points of Entry, including land and sea borders, to confront importation of COVID-19. Several cases have indeed been identified by rapid diagnostic tests and taken care of accordingly.

“All states have received doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for the ongoing second phase of the vaccination exercise in all states while the Federal Government has done due diligence to ensure vaccine quality and safety.

“Available data shows that there have been no serious adverse effects so far following vaccinations so that confidence in vaccines we are using is upheld. We have a good mix and quantity of vaccines and do not envisage shortages despite news reports that vaccines allocated to Africa will be reduced by 25 percent soon.”

Lifestyle

Groups decry poor regulation of illegal mining in Nigeria, others

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Two groups known as Global Rights and the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) have decried the poor regulation of artisanal and illegal mining activities in host communities, following the worrisome mining activities across Nigeria and other West African countries.

Executive Director at Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, on Thursday, explained that the activities of artisanal and illegal miners have led to serious health problems and environmental degradation in West Africa.

Speaking at a two-day summit on ‘ECOWAS Mining Directive and Social Safeguards for Mining Host Communities in West Africa’, Baiyewu said the regional conference aimed to provide a better understanding of the ECOWAS Mining Directives for people in the region.

She maintained that this would equip host communities with prerequisite knowledge on how to achieve accountability and sustainability.

She said: “The primary purpose of the Summit is to create a convening platform for mining host communities across West Africa to share experience, to improve their understanding of issues faced by mining host communities, to increase their capacity for engaging with companies and the government on human rights and development impacts of mining, and facilitate opportunities for joint action and problem-solving.”

In their remarks, representatives of Kogi and Niger States, Ojochogu Okigbo and Mary Abdul, respectively, called for the prioritisation of mining licenses, as well as proper environmental impact assessment in the remediation process.

Earlier, speakers from Senegal, Niger Republic and Guinea called for the contemporary issues affecting women and children in mining host communities to be speedily addressed.

Politics

Nigeria needs a kind-hearted leader like Buhari in 2023 – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, Monday expressed hope that God would give Nigeria a kind-hearted leader like President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with President Buhari in Abuja, said people of South-East are grateful to the President over his great works in the region.

He commended Buhari over some landmark projects including the Second Niger Bridge and the eastern corridor of the railway line among others in the South-East.

He stressed that the country needs a leader with a good heart like Buhari.

Umahi said: “I came to see Mr. President. One is to thank him very highly for a number of mega projects that he is doing in the South-East. The Second Niger Bridge is fast becoming a reality. Each time we visit that bridge location it is always like a dream.

“So we the people of the South-East are very grateful to Mr. President for this. We also thank him for the award of the Eastern corridor of the railway line. This is a project that is going to fast-track the commercial activities of our people.

“I recall that when I was in school, I used to join train from my state, Ebonyi, and then get up to Maiduguri where my brothers were staying for my holidays.

Mr. President is about restoring that hope. We are deeply very grateful. But I also reminded Mr. President that one of his cardinal objectives is to integrate the South-East or the state capitals, but in putting together the project through South-East that the capital of Ebonyi State, which is Abakaliki and capital of Anambra State, which is Awka, were omitted.

“And I reminded Mr. President that the South-East governors had requested that I write which I did, but not yet approved by the Honourable Minister of Transport, which Mr. President said he will find out why they were omitted in the first place.

“I am very, very hopeful that Mr. President is going to give approval to those two locations. Let me also mention the fertiliser presidential initiative which has helped the country Nigeria so much in food sufficiency.

Let me point out that without the effort of Mr. President, through this fertiliser initiative and other programmes in the agricultural sector, it would have been a very difficult time for this country.

That project is supposed to produce a large set of granules to enable us to produce fertilisers to serve the South-South, South-East, and part of North- Central.

“Mr. President has already approved the funds and released to Solid Mineral Development Fund. But part of the requirement is that there must be SPV integration or private sector initiative. They have applied to Mr. President for approval through the Chief of Staff. So we had to remind Mr. President.

Lastly, four years back, Mr. President was in Ebonyi State about November to commission a number of projects and lay the foundation stone for others. I reminded Mr. President that we are expecting him four years later, which would be November for him to come to Ebonyi State. The last time he spent one night but this time we are asking him to spend three nights.

“We have over 20 different projects that we consider good enough for Mr. President to commission. We have completed the Muhammadu Buhari light tunnel bridge complex, the first of its kind in Africa for Mr. President to commission.

We have gotten to the stage of completing the best medical center, King David University of Medical Sciences, the best in Africa. We have completed the largest mall, the most beautiful mall you can see anywhere in West Africa.

We have completed additional six twin flyover bridges, well decorated and beautiful. We want Mr. President to commission it. We want Mr. President to commission the St. Margeret International Market, the largest market in West Africa.

“We have over 200-kilometre concrete roads in Ebonyi state, some of them federal roads and some concrete roads. We have over 1000 kilometres of road completed, since my first tenure. Of course, the list can be unexhaustive here. Even the three agric Industrial clusters are ready for Mr. President to commission.

We also have a number of ongoing projects. Most of them will terminate at the end of 2021. Like the International Airport which Mr. President approved two years ago. Now we are the first in the whole of Nigeria to build an international airport runway with concrete that is going to be ready for Mr. President to lay the foundation stone. I will invite him to commission it next year.

“We have the first flight about May 29, 2022. We also have a number of road projects, especially the 199 kilometres of Abakaliki ring road, of which the state government has completed with 53 kilometres of it.

“And of course, the limestone granules is Mr. President’s project and he has to lay the foundation stone.

“But I think after Lagos and Abuja, Ebonyi remains, another state with the highest numbers of flyover and Ebonyi Airport remains the largest after Lagos and Abuja.

So this is why we came and I’m happy that Mr. President is quite disposed towards visiting us again.

“I will continue to say that power rests in the hands of God. And God will also give us the next President who has a good heart like President Buhari for the good of this country.

Politics

Nigeria has become world’s capital for corruption, unemployment – Falae

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A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, on Sunday decried the worsening insecurity and poor state of the Nigerian economy.

Falae, who addressed journalists in Akure, Ondo State, said Nigeria had become the corruption and unemployment capital of the world.

The elder statesman insisted that if the activities of bandits who were already shooting down military jets were not checked on time, they would soon develop the boldness to negotiate for control of territories in the country.

He added that Nigeria was already at the edge of the cliff.

He said: “We are already at the edge of the cliff. The question is, are they going to topple into the abyss below? Or are we going to find a way of pulling back from the precipice? That is the question.

“For us to pull back, there must be a political initiative that will signal that tomorrow will be better than today. If there is no such signal, I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, I don’t know.”

Politics

Buhari’s govt, not Ortom spreading hatred in Nigeria – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, is not guilty of stirring hatred among Nigerians contrary to claim by the Presidency.

The governor had in an interview with Channels Television declared as unconstitutional President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to approve the review of 368 grazing reserves in 25 states in the country.

He also promised to drag the President to court if he pressed ahead with the planned review of the grazing reserves.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Wednesday night, criticized the governor for making divisive remarks about a particular ethnic group in the country.

The statement read: “The PDP recalls how the Buhari Presidency has been planting seeds of discord in the country with hate language, divisive tendencies and unconcealed nepotism, to the extent that our nation has become widely divided along all fault lines.

“Nigerians have not forgotten how President Buhari, ahead of the 2011 general elections declared that ‘if what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog, and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’

“Moreover, Nigerians can recall how Mr. President tagged those whom he believed did not vote for him; how he described citizens as ‘dot in a circle,’ as well as the hate language that attracted sanctions by Twitter.

It is rather alarming that instead of taking steps to address the killings in Benue State as well as the worsening insecurity, carnages, banditry, terrorism and imminent humanitarian crisis in the country, the Buhari Presidency is thinking of Rwandan Genocide while exposing its deep-seated detestation for Governor Ortom.

Governor Ortom is a highly principled and forthright leader, who is loved not only in Benue, but also across the nation. The PDP urges Nigerians to hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any harm come to him or his family members.

“As a party, the PDP demands that the Buhari Presidency should come clean on its handling of insecurity in the country. This is particularly

“It is against the backdrop of its manifest failure to battle and rout out terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and marauders that have taken over our highways, forests, pillaging communities and killing Nigerians on daily basis.

“Under President Buhari’s lethargic regime, bandits and terrorists have become so emboldened that they now attack military formations, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) where they killed and kidnapped officers for ransom.

The PDP calls on President Buhari to rein in his aides, wake up from his slumber and decisively address the worsening insecurity in the country under his watch.”

Politics

Uzodinma urges Nigerians to adhere to rule of law in wake of NDA attacks

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Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo has called on Nigerians to adhere to the rule of law in the aftermath of bandits’ attacks on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Uzodinma made this call on Wednesday when he briefed State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Governor further appealed to those in leadership positions to protect the sanctity of the nation by upholding the Rule of Law.

According to him, all citizens must condemn criminal activities whenever they occur and justice must be served on whoever is found wanting.

Speaking on the backdrop of Tuesday’s attack on the Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, Uzodinma said people must not take the laws into their hands no matter their grievance.

“The business of government is the protection of lives and property and we must act as a government and live up to the responsibilities of government.

“So, we try to maintain law and order and condemn illegal and criminal activities as well as make those who are apprehended to face the law.

So many people are taking laws into their own hands and some aggrieved people have resorted to self-help. Illegality upon illegality is still illegality.

“But all we try to do is to appeal to our people because collectively, I am almost certain that if all of us agree today that unknown gunmen and bandits must stop, they will stop.

“Somehow, some people tacitly and otherwise are still allowing and encouraging these criminals to harass and intimidate innocent citizens.

“I will call on all of us as leaders, as Nigerian to protect the sanctity of our nation and protect the interest of our country by ensuring that we respect and obey the Rule of Law and do things that are allowed by law and condemn illegal and criminal activities.

It’s condemnable, it’s unfortunate that people kill human beings these days as if they are killing rams,’’ he said.

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