World News

137 borders in Nigeria are unguarded – CDS Lucky Irabor

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Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff has said that 137 out of about 261 borders in the north-east and north-west regions of the country are unguarded.

Delivering a lecture on “security, defence & development in Nigeria” at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos on Thursday August 25, Irabor noted that porous nature of the borders has made it easily accessible for terrorists and bandits to enter the country to commit mayhem.

He said;

“Our borders are largely unmanned. The penetrability of our vast unmanned land areas – the north-east and north-west zones, particularly Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina states – with neigbouring countries such as Niger Republic and Chad among others has continued to be a key source of criminality and violent crimes in those parts of the country.

“The porous nature of the borders has made it easily accessible for terrorists and bandits to enter the country to commit mayhem. For instance, there are about 364 approved international border points in Nigeria with about 261 in the north-east and north-west regions.

Out of this 261 only 124 are manned leaving the remaining 137 unmanned by security agencies. Intelligence suggests that violence actors are using some of these normal border points to move freely from countries into Nigeria to cause mayhem.”

Irabor who advocated for use of technology as a tool in strengthening the Nigerian borders, erection of physical structures and an effective management, added that there is a need to have a broad based integrated border management system to be established.

He said;

“So I am looking ahead, when we bring technology to bear in the management of our borders, in addition of course, to physical, structures that need to be established across the length of our borders, then we cam contribute to the overall security of our land.“We move to correct this but the point remains that a good number of borders remain unmanned.”

Lifestyle, Politics

We speak of ‘japa’ but many Nigerians are returning – Abike Dabiri-Erewa says

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The chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that despite the number of Nigerians aiming to leave the country, there is also a significant number returning to the country.

Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke at a press briefing at the state house in Abuja on Thursday, August 25, said a number of persons are returning to Nigeria to invest in the agricultural and healthcare sector.

“We speak of “japa” as a one-way phenomenon, but we also have Nigerians constantly returning home. There are examples of Nigerians returning home, occasionally or permanently, to do interesting things, in agriculture, healthcare, etc.

The hospital where the VP was recently treated was set up by diaspora doctors. I’m not saying Nigeria’s not a challenging environment, but we must also acknowledge those who are coming back home to do impactful things” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said the commission is making an effort to see that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote.

“The national assembly is still not interested in diaspora voting, but we will not relent and continue to engage with them.

Because I believe everyone should know that the diaspora should be able to vote. So we hope that we continue to engage with the parliament. There’s a big deal about diaspora voting” she said

Politics

People want to serve Nigeria but they also have to eat – Sanusi speaks on brain drain in different sectors in the country

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Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, has asked presidential candidates to prioritize health and education sectors to enhance productivity.

Speaking at an event organised by the board and management of Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation (MAMF) in Lagos, on Wednesday August 24, Sanusi said Nigerian politicians, especially presidential candidates, must have a clear plan and utmost respect for the two sectors as they had failed abysmally.

The former Governor of Central Bank also noted that doctors and teachers have not been treated well, hence, the brain drain experienced in the sectors.

He said;

“Education and health are the foundation of the economy, if we don’t prioritize these sectors, then we are finished. The rate of brain drain is high because prepared budgets in the health and education sectors have been embezzled and mismanaged.

“You can’t treat your teachers and doctors as if they are nothing. That is the reason they are leaving the country in droves. We must reverse brain drain by respecting the demands of teachers and health practitioners.

“As a people and most especially as governments, we have lost our respect for the professions that should be respected. Teachers and doctors are not looking for money but the amount of money we invest in training our children in becoming doctors and teachers can never be earned in salaries in this country but people deserve a decent life and also respect.

“People want to serve but they also want to eat. They are humans who have basic responsibility, they want to educate their children. We have created an economy where everybody on a narrow salary is being impoverished.”

He also pointed out that while there is high inflation in the country where the average doubles every hour, salaries of doctors and teachers are not increased to accommodate the inflation leading to lack of motivation to serve the nations.

Politics

Peter Obi is fighting for the oppressed and we believe in same cause – Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo

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Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation has explained why he would be supporting Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday August 24, Adebanjo said he and Obi share same cause and he believes the former Governor of Anambra state is fighting for oppressed Nigerians. The Afenifere leader also stated that he won’t back any candidate that does not support restructuring

Adebanjo said;

“He (Obi) came to meet Southern and Middlebelt leaders in my house. It was an exchange of views; we believe in the same cause.“We are all partners in progress. The fight he is fighting is a fight for the oppressed.

“Restructuring was at the front burner; we should have a country first before we have any development plan. That is the pillar on which the Southern and Middlebelt leaders stand.

“Constitutional review, community policing, devolution of power and others are all embedded in restructuring. Where we have a constitution where everybody is dissatisfied, you won’t have peace and without peace, there will be no stability. These are fundamental.

“There is nothing new about restructuring; we are only saying let us go back to where we started before the military came. Where did we start? The constitution was made in 1964, endorsed by Awolowo, Azikwe and Sardauna, and was what we had until the military came in 1966 and imposed this constitution.

“This constitution is a fraudulent one and the government has never refuted it. They set aside the constitution before 1966, imposed this one and included all the things that were excluded that are causing confusion till today. We must go back to that constitution.”

Lifestyle, Politics

”This incident is capable of making citizens to be fearful of assisting soldiers”- President Buhari condemns killing of Yobe Islamic cleric by soldiers who he gave a lift

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President Buhari has strongly condemned what he calls “the unprovoked and cold-blooded murder of a Yobe State-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Goni Aisami, by a callous soldier he had offered a lift as confirmed by the Police.”

The Muslim cleric was hacked to death by two soldiers who he offered a lift at Jajimaji, the headquarters of Karasuwa local government council in Yobe state on Saturday, August 20.

Reacting to the incident, President Buhari in a statement released by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said ;

“this barbaric murder of a compassionate man by a soldier he had assisted has no place in our training as soldiers, and it negates the entire ethos of military life which is anchored on discipline and respect for the sanctity of innocent lives.”

”As the Commander-in-Chief, I am personally outraged by this criminal and wicked act by a law enforcement official trained to protect life.

By our training, we are guided by a code of conduct that frowns on this kind of reckless and criminal act. It is not in our character and training to put innocent citizens in harm’s way.

Of course, the action of this soldier is an isolated incident involving an individual, but it is capable of staining the collective image of our military.

This incident is capable of making our fellow citizens to be fearful of assisting soldiers, thereby destroying the bond of trust between our military and the civilians.

I call on the military authorities to punish the perpetrators of this heinous crime without delay, and flush out other elements with such criminal tendencies,” President Buhari said.

The President condoled with Yobe State Government, the people of the State, and the family of the victim of this tragedy.

Entertainment, Lifestyle

ARCON bans use of foreign models and voice over artists for adverts

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The Federal government has banned the use of foreign models and voice-over artists for advertisements targeted at Nigerians.

Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, August 22.

According to Fadolapo, the new policy will take effect from October 1, 2022. He said the move was aimed at promoting local content and talents and increasing economic growth.

“In line with the federal government’s policy of developing local talent, inclusive economic growth and the need to take necessary steps and actions aimed at growing the Nigerian advertising industry, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), being the apex advertising, advertisement and marketing communications’ regulatory agency of the federal government, has in accordance with its statutory mandates, responsibilities and powers as conveyed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022, bans the use of foreign models and voice-over artists on any advertisement targeted or exposed on the Nigerian advertising space with effect from 1st October 2022.

All advertisements, advertising and marketing communications materials are to make use of only Nigerian models and voice-over artists.

Ongoing campaigns are permitted to run out their terms, however, subsequent applications for re-validation for continued exposure of such materials will not be granted by the advertising standards panel (ASP).

Advertisers, advertisement agencies, media houses, advertising community and the general public are hereby enjoined to take note.”

Politics

Buhari has done his best, everybody’s best is different – Isa Yuguda

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Former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has said that President Buhari has done well in leading the country.

Yuguda shared this opinion when he appeared on Channels TV this morning. “Mr President has done his best. Everybody’s best is different.

So I can say the President has done his best. And he has appointed actors to assist him to manage the country – they are also doing their best. It all depends on somebody’s assessments.

As far as I’m concerned, the President has done his best.” he said Yuguda argued that despite the fact that the Nigerian economy and security were “a little bit depressing”, the President has done well.

“Any rational Nigerian will know that it could not have been any better no matter who was there on the driving seat.

Most of these things that are happening to us are historical. If you are coming from an environment where the foundation has been distorted then what you reap is what you sow.

Security, for instance, is a historical thing. it didn’t start with Buhari’s government. It started in 2008, 2009.” Yuguda argued that security challenges cannot be associated with the President.

“Yes, he is the overall head, but if you see something going wrong in terms of security, you hold the Governor responsible.

You (Governor) are sworn in to protect life and property because you own the land.

The President does not have land, so you don’t expect the President to secure your land.”he said

Lifestyle

Abuja police nab drug peddler, recover stolen vehicle

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Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory Command, Thursday, arrested a drug peddler with a large quantity of packaged dried Cannabis Sativa, and recovered a vehicle suspected to have been stolen.

It was gathered that the police tactical unit attached to the Karshi Divisional Police Headquarters had, on Wednesday, at about 2am, foiled the chain of supply while carrying out a routine stop and search at Gida Mangoro, when they spotted an abandoned Toyota Camry with Reg. No. GBK 76 HG, few meters from their duty post.

With the receipt of the information, the police commenced surveillance of the area in a concerted effort with local vigilantes.

The suspect, Fabian Ukeugbona, ignorant of the deployed measure, later got into the car and zoomed off, prompting the already alerted officers to give a hot chase which led to his arrest, recovery of the car, and seizure of cannabis Sativa.

The pursuit of the fleeing suspect later yielded result as 22-year-old Ukeugbona, male, was arrested Thursday evening.Confirming the incident, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, noted that the suspect would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Adeh said, “The suspect, in a voluntary statement, admitted to committing the crime, stating that he had been into the criminal enterprise for over three years.

“The suspect and the prohibited substance will be handed over to the NDLEA, for further action, while investigation continues.”

This came barely a week after the arrest of two suspects and confiscation of 100 bags of cannabis Sativa were recorded by officers of the FCT Police Command.

The PUNCH had reported the pronouncement of improved security architecture of the FCT by the Command.

According to the FCT Police Commissioner, Babaji Sunday, the improved security architecture is characterised by intelligence gathering, round-the-clock stop and search, and sundry measures for efficiency and optimal security delivery.

He noted that the success was a plus to the Command’s fight against the peddling of drugs and prohibited substances identified as a major catalyst to various crimes and criminality in the country’s capital city.

Lifestyle

Soldiers brutalise policemen for seizing colleague’s Okada

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Three policemen have reportedly been brutalized by soldiers attached to the Abalti Barracks, Surulere, Lagos State, for arresting a yet-to-be-identified man, who was caught defying the state government’s ban on Okada in the area.

Punch reported that the man suspected to be a soldier was riding his Okada around Ojuelegba to link the barracks when the policemen, who were enforcing the ban on motorcycle operations in the area, accosted him. He was arrested by policemen consisting of two inspectors, a police constable, among others, who also impounded his motorcycle.

While making plans to convey the man and his motorcycle to Surulere police station, it gathered that no fewer than 20 soldiers on uniform and mufti stormed the area. They attacked the patrol team and injured the police constable and inspectors.

A source told the publication;

“When they got there, they started attacking the policemen till they were able to set the man that was arrested free. They also dispossessed the policemen of the seized motorcycle and went away with it.

“The man that was arrested did not wear uniform, but after the attack, he and the soldiers entered the Abalti Barracks. That is why it is believed that he is also a soldier. The incident happened around 10.30pm on Wednesday.” The soldiers also seized the phone of a policeman filming the attack.

The source added;

“But immediately they spotted police reinforcement, the soldiers took to their heels and ran into the barracks.”

The injured policemen were taken to the Randle General Hospital for treatment. The state Police Public Relations, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the attack, adding that the command had alerted the Army authorities to the incident.

Hundeyin said;

“Yes, there was an issue. Army authorities in Abalti Barracks have been duly notified and we await their action.”

Spokesperson, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Olaniyi Osoba, said, “I am just hearing it, I will find out.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Abductors of Nasarawa Commissioner contact family, demand N100m ransom

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The abductors of the Nasarawa state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Yakubu Lawal, have contacted his family and demanded N100 million as ransom before he will be released from captivity.

The kidnappers invaded Lawal’s home in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state on Monday night, August 15 at about 8:45pm and abducted him.

The abductors contacted his family at about 4.30pm on Tuesday, August 16, and said the only way they would release the commissioner is if the sum of N100 million is paid as ransom.

The state police has since confirmed Lawal’s abduction and stated that efforts are being made to rescue him unhurt.

Lifestyle

Police officer comes under fire after boasting that a LASTMA official changed his mind about arresting him when he realised he’s a policeman

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A police officer has come under fire on social media, after he revealed that he escaped arrest for breaking a road traffic law when the LASTMA official realised he is a policeman. Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi tweeted:

“I was driving today in abuja, and one road safety officer who wanted to arrest me for using phone, heard me instructing the DPO to put one person in d cell, he just saluted me, and passed me.

“This is to say ‘to every rule, there must be an exception to save some situations’. Lol.”

His tweet generated mixed reactions, with many accusing him of boasting about getting away with impunity.

Many pointed out that regular citizens would have been arrested and fined for using a phone while driving but the officer was exempted and he still went online to talk about it.

They also questioned why the LASTMA official didn’t carry out his duties without fear or favour.

See some reactions below.

Politics, World News

India offers to help Nigeria fight insecurity

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The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, on Monday, pledged his country’s readiness to provide the needed support to end insecurity in Nigeria.

This is as he promised to further deepen the India-Nigeria relations and economic ties with social investments in solar energy, artificial intelligence, fintech and scientific intelligence.

He stated this while speaking with journalists at the flag-hoisting to mark the 75th independence of India which was held at the High Commission of India in Abuja.He said,

“As you know, much of the defence training has been given in India; various security outfits have been trained in military installations and training institutes.

“So, we will be happy to continue the partnership in cooperation with the Nigerian government, and we are ready to assist in that direction.”

He also commended the relationship between the two countries, describing it as one of the best.“India-Nigeria relationship is one of the best. We started our relationship even before Nigeria’s independence in 1958 when we had established our office in Lagos.

Since then, our relationship has developed; we have partnered in human capacity development, we are very happy that with the cooperation of the Nigerian government, we can now say that our relationship is strong and very cordial,” he said.

The recently appointed commissioner noted that although India had invested $14.9m in the country, he is looking forward to strengthening relationship with Nigeria in all areas.

“Whether it is training or trade, economic relations, political relations, I am looking forward to improving bilateral ties in all these areas,” he added.

Politics

Fulani group rejects Miyetti Allah’s comments on Peter Obi

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A group of Fulani professionals, Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, on Monday, August 15, condemned a statement credited to one Alhaji Alhasan Salah, said to be National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

Alhasan had said in an interview that the Fulani nation would not support Peter Obi in the coming general elections. He described Obi as a tribal bigot and also as someone who did not like the North, and by extension, the Fulani tribe.

Alhasan had said: “As far as Miyetti Allah is concerned, Obi is out of the options of persons to be voted for in the forthcoming elections.

“As far as we are concerned, we know those we cannot vote for. You see the one that they call Obi or OBIdient, any Fulani man who votes for him must be questioned because he may not be a true son of the soil. “Obi represents the Biafran interest.

So, we know those we cannot vote for and those that cannot be President of Nigeria. He is a tribal bigot.” Reacting to Alhasan’s statament, the Coalition of Fulbe Professionals described the move as “politically sponsored.”

The Fulani organisation called on Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, saying it did not speak for Fulani ethnic group.

COFPIA, in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Mohammed Gidado, and Secretary, Hajiya Mairo Modibo, said while it acknowledged their right to freedom of expression and opinion, it would say “they don’t have the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria, especially when they havd not lived up to expectations.”

COFPIA said Fulbe people all over Nigeria “will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah.”

The statamenet reads in full:

“Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt, is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria.

“The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore.

“The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more. We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023.

We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments.

“We will vote for a President that will tackle poverty and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long. We will vote for a President that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is involved.

“Our respected tribal group, Miyetti Allah, should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness.

“We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Obi or any presidential candidate in the forth-coming general election and we are not Obi’s mouthpiece, but it is wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North. Available data has shown Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria.

“We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people.

“They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths.

“Nigerians have taken position in the forthcoming elections to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail.

“As campaigns start, we shall mobilise and enlighten Fulani, young and, old to every ruga’s and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore and its like.”

Politics

Termites allegedly eat up N17.128B expenditure evidence at NSITF

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The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has put the current and past management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under scrutiny.

The committee said it discovered that the fund’s management failed to produce relevant documents to justify alleged spending of N17.158 billion in 2013. Some of the documents to back the expenses were said to have been eaten up by termites, according to the Nation.

The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF), in its 2018 audit report – now being considered by the Senate panel chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) – had queried the agency over the disbursed sums without appropriate supporting documents.

In his report, the OAuGF said the N17.158 billion represented the total sum of money, transferred by the agency from its Skye and First Bank accounts, into various untraceable accounts belonging to individuals and companies between January and December 2013.

The OAuGF had, in its 2018 audit report, raised 50 different queries bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds against the agency. The AuGF’s query reads:

“Management of NSITF, as shown in statements of account number 1750011691 with Skye Bank Plc, for the period 1st January, 2013 to 20th December, 2013, and statements of account number 2001754610 with First Bank Plc for the period January 7, 2013 to February 28, 2013, transferred amounts totalling N17,158,883,034.69 to some persons and companies from these accounts.

“However, payment vouchers relating to the transfers together with their supporting documents were not provided for audit. Consequently, the purpose(s) for the transfers could not be authenticated.

“These are in violation of Financial Regulation 601 which states that ‘all payment entries in the cashbook/accounts shall be vouched for on one of the prescribed treasury forms.

Vouchers shall be made out in favour of the person or persons to whom the money is actually due’.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Urhoghide, had summoned and interviewed NSITF’s past and present managements on where the said N17.158 billion was transferred to between January and December 2013.

It was learnt that no official of the former management could offer satisfactory explanation on the alleged multiple transfers with necessary documents.

Members of management in charge of the agency in 2013 had told the committee that relevant cash vouchers pertaining to the transactions were left behind by them.

But the current NSITF Managing Director, Dr. Michael Akabogu, was said to have claimed that no such documents were in the organisation’s custody.

The container the said documents were kept by past management has not only been beaten by rains over the years but even possibly been eaten up by termites.

“As directed by this committee, I told the past management officers on the need for them to help us out in answering this query with necessary documents which have not been made available for us,” Akabogu allegedly said.

The Managing Director of NSITF from 2010 to 2016, Mallam Umar Munir Abubakar, allegedly claimed that he was aware of the query and had no explanations to render since the audit exercise was not carried out during his tenure.

But his successor, Mr. Adebayo Somefun, who was head of the agency from May 2017 to July 2020, allegedly insisted that those in the agency’s account section should be able to trace the documents.

But the current General Manager Finance of the agency allegedly said that the container in question had been under lock and key and abandoned in an isolated area within the premises of the organisation in Abuja.

In his ruling, Urhoghide expressed worry over the development and ordered both members of past and present management of the NSITF to re-appear before the panel with all necessary evidence concerning the transactions unfailingly on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Lifestyle, Politics

We won’t use force to rescue abducted train victims – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the federal government will not use force in securing the release of the remaining abductees of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.

Buhari who revealed this during a meeting with the representatives of the families of the victims at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday August 11, said they’ve weighed all options and concluded that the best way to bring all the victims back home safely was not to use force.

He also stated that the federal government is doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining captives.

The President said;

“I have been informed that at last count, there remain about 31 people in the hands of the kidnappers, and our determination is to work towards returning these 31 people to their families.

“It is understandable that emotions typically run high, we have received several suggestions about the deployment of lethal military force in extracting those still being held in captivity.

“This option has indeed been considered and evaluated. However, the condition to guarantee a successful outcome and minimize potential collateral damage could not be assured and therefore that course of action had to be reluctantly discarded.

“My primary concern is to get everyone released safe and unhurt.“Each one of them will be hunted and pursued and spoken to in the language that they understand.

“Judging by the available reports to me and news that have begun emerging in the last few days, I will say they (security operatives) have heard this instruction and are responding appropriately.

“In the past couple of days, you must have heard about the number of terrorists neutralized by the military, and number of hostages freed. These efforts will not stop, or reduce.”

Buhari also said that several actions had been taken by government to bring succour to the affected families and to prevent a recurrence in the country.

Entertainment

Nollywood actor, Moses Armstrong charged with rape of minor and supplying abortion drugs

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Nollywood actor, Moses Armstrong, has been charged with rape, intimidation, conspiracy and supplying of drugs or instruments to procure abortion.

Armstrong, a former aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel, was arrested last month for allegedly raping a minor he adopted.

The four charges were read to Armstrong in a State High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Wednesday, August 10, Premium Times reports.

He reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail. His counsel Emmanuel Pantaleon drew the court’s attention to his bail application filed on behalf of his client on July 25 and sought the leave of the court to proceed to entertain it.

The prosecution, I.U. Robert, an assistant state counsel, while opposing bail application, cited relevant judicial authorities and urged the court to dismiss the application which he described as an “abuse of court process.”

The Judge, Ntong Ntong, after hearing submissions from both counsels upheld the defense counsel application and granted bail to Mr Armstrong in the sum of N5 million.

Business, Lifestyle, Politics

Nigeria is facing existential threat – World Bank warns

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The World Bank has raised an alarm that Nigeria might be facing an existential threat due to its dwindling economy.

The international financial institution opines that the dwindling revenue, the continued payment of trillions of naira on fuel subsidy by the government, and the attendant economic challenges put Nigeria in an unfavorable position economically.

The Senior Public Sector Specialist, Domestic Resource Mobilisation, at the World Bank, Mr Rajul Awasthi, raised the alarm at a virtual pre-summit, with the theme ‘Critical Tax Reforms for Shared Prosperity’, organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group on Wednesday, August 10. He insisted Nigeria would have to eliminate the subsidy regime eventually.

In a slide he shared during his presentation, which showed Nigeria’s Development Update, Awasthi explained that between 2015 and 2019, Nigeria’s non-oil revenues were among the lowest in the world and as a result the second lowest in spending, and that oil revenues were also falling even when oil prices were higher.

“Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and the largest country in Africa by population, so it is critical to Africa’s progress. There is no doubt about that. But the government of Nigeria, from the public finance perspective, is really facing an existential threat.

Let’s not downplay the situation. That is the actual reality. he said Nigeria is 115th out of 115 countries in terms of the average revenue to Gross Domestic Product ratio.

Despite the oil prices rising the way they have been, net oil and gas revenues have been coming down because of the tremendous impact of the subsidy.So, what is going to happen in 2022? The federation’s revenues are going to be significantly lower.

They are already very low, and Nigeria is already the lowest in the world out of 115 large countries and this year, it’s really going to be lower than what it was in 2020 because of the debilitating impact of fuel subsidy.”

Speaking on how to get out of the impending threat, Awasthi stated that in the non-oil sector, Value Added Tax compliance gaps were immense and they needed to be breached as well as rationalise tax expenditures.

Politics

Gov Candidate Vows To Join Security Patrols

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The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago, on Wednesday said that he would join security operatives to patrol the state to ensure lasting peace returns.

Bago said this at the strategic security meeting in Minna adding that he is not a thug and has never been.

“I am saying it loud and clear that anyone caught disrupting the peace of our state and it’s people should be decisively dealt with according to the provision of the law and I’m prepared to support the security agencies to ensure that the menace of hooliganism is permanently curbed on our streets. I have said it, I will personally join the police to patrol our streets to ensure the success of nipping in the bud this madness.

“I am not a thug, I have never been a thug and will never be a thug. Therefore, I will not be a part of all these disturbances of law abiding citizens.

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