News From Nigeria
STATEMENT CONCERNING SAMUEL ORTOM, THE GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE
Governor Samuel Ortom has few political principles. We can see this from the fact that he has changed political party five times during his undistinguished career.
Every time he feels the wind may be blowing in a certain direction, he follows it.
Unfortunately, for the good citizens of Benue State, the most dangerous direction he blows in today is that of sectarianism and ethnicity.
In an attempt to boost his sinking political fortunes, Ortom takes the cheapest and lowest route possible by playing on ethnic themes – and in doing so knowingly causes deaths of innocent Nigerians by inciting farmers against herders, and Christians against Muslims.
Specifically, Ortom stirs up hatred by targeting one single ethnic group in Nigeria – using language reminiscent of the Rwandan genocide.
As was the case in Rwanda where the then Hutu leaders of the country incited their countrymen against each other, claiming there was a “secret Tutsi agenda” over the Hutu, Ortom claims there is a “secret Fulanization agenda” over other ethnic groups in his state and in Nigeria. This is a copy of the language of Hutu Power – which falsely, and intentionally, accused the Rwandan Tutsi of plans to dominate the country.
This wicked talk is aimed at giving cover to his so-called “policy” on the Ranches Establishment Law – which in reality is purely an act of denial of the law – intended to withhold rights and freedoms from one ethnic group alone, whilst inciting race hatred against them amongst all others.
These are not the actions of a man who should be trusted with running public services or holding public office.
For the governor of a major state in Nigeria to be politically driven by ethnic hatred is a stain on our country.
The good, and fair-minded people of Benue State deserve more than this, and we look forward to the next elections when they have an opportunity to restore its greatness.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 25, 2021
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU IS POLITICAL BRAND ICON OF THE YEAR
Critical Stakeholders will converge in Lagos at D’podium International Event Centre, Ikeja, on Friday, August 27, 2021, to mark the 18th Anniversary of the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Awards of Excellence and celebrate Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as Political Brand Icon of the Year.
Governor Sanwo-Olu will receive the award conferred by the Board of “Marketing Edge” – Nigeria’s leading brand and marketing publication – in recognition of his sterling performance in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos as well as his laudable strides in health, education and infrastructure among others.
Communicating Governor Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as Political Brand Icon of the Year, the Board of “Marketing Edge” said: “It is obvious to the Board that the urban renewal train of your administration is already moving at top speed towards the Smart City destination, which it envisions for Lagos State, to the admiration of all stakeholders and the applause of even the international community.”
“Marketing Edge” maintained that Governor Sanwo-Olu has remained focused, determined and daring in his promise to move Lagos beyond the common standard of excellence through the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda – his administration’s six-pillar development plan, which is driving its projects and policies.
The summit, with the theme “Rethinking the Blue Ocean Strategy in Uncertain Times”, will begin with a virtual lecture to be delivered by Mr. Vikhas Mehta, the Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy Africa on Thursday, 26th August, 2021.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu is “Vanguard” Governor of the Year; “The Nation” Person of the Year, “Leadership” Governor of the Year and “New Telegraph” Governor of the Year, among others.
Gbenga Omotoso
Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy
August 25, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER ONDO MILITARY GOVERNOR, REAR ADMIRAL ABIODUN OLUKOYA
President Muhammadu Buhari sends condolences to government and people of Ondo and Ekiti States over the death of Rear Admiral Sunday Abiodun Olukoya (rtd) who passed on at 72.
The President describes the late Rear Admiral who served as a Military Governor of Old Ondo State (now Ondo and Ekiti) between 1990 and 1992 as a brilliant officer who distinguished himself in his career in the military and performed creditably in Ondo..
President Buhari notes that even after retirement from the military, the late Rear Admiral Olukoya, in his desire for a better society, continued to offer his services to his community as a private citizen.
The President prays Almighty God to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort his family, friends and associates as they mourn him.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 25, 2021
IMPERATIVES FOR A UNITED NIGERIA BY IFEANYI OKOWA
KEYNOTE SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SEN. DR. IFEANYI OKOWA, GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, AT THE 2021 ANNUAL LECTURE AND SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY RIPPLES CENTRE FOR DATA AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (RCDIJ), AUGUST 25, 2021, AT SHERATON LAGOS HOTEL, IKEJA, LAGOS.
PREAMBLE
I begin my address by appreciating the strong commitment of the Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism (RCDIJ) to the Nigerian Project, which is apparent in its sustained exploration of the theme, Rebuilding Trust in a Divided Nigeria: Advancing the Conversation. I recall that RCDIJ’s maiden exploration of this theme was in 2018, when our Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, delivered a luminous keynote speech, the relevance of which still endures.
INTRODUCTION
3.The theme for today’s dialogue, “Rebuilding Trust in a Divided Nigeria: Advancing the Conversation,” could not have come at a more appropriate time. It is not debatable that Nigeria is passing through perilous times. Aside from during the Civil War (1967-1970), at no time in the chequered history of our beloved country have we been as divided as we are today or witnessed such magnitude of mistrust of ourselves and of our nation.
4.The theme presupposes that trust and unity once existed among the peoples of Nigeria. But was this truly the case? Indeed, there was a time we happily sang “Though tribe and tongue may differ/In brotherhood we stand”, but was that a reality or an aspiration?
5.On the first thought, it would seem like a reality. For, at one time, Nigerians lived freely and effectuated themselves among ethnic groups other than theirs. For example, late Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani from Sokoto, was elected the first Mayor of Enugu, the heartland of Igbo nation, in 1952; the Fulani herdsman reared his cattle all over Nigeria, bearing just a stick and not an AK47; the NCNC, led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo, in the 1951 elections, won all the five seats in Lagos and seven of the eight seats in Ibadan; and nationalists from the three regions of the country, namely, Nnamdi Azikiwe (East), Tafawa Balewa (North) and Obafemi Awolowo (West) were united in the struggle for the independence of Nigeria from British colonial rule.
7.According to Bayo Ogunmupe, in “The Chequered History of Secession in Nigeria” (https://guardian.ng/opinion/ the-chequered-history-of-secession-in-nigeria/ – retrieved 6/8/2021), the first attempt dates back to 1950 at the Ibadan Constitutional Conference where the ratio of representation was fixed at “44:33:33 for the North, West and East [respectively]. Northern politicians rejected it and the Emir of Zaria said their share must be 50 percent of the seats or they will secede from Nigeria”.
10.Chukwudi Ukonne, in The Republic, seems to summarize the situation at that time as follows:
The leaders of the various regions and tribes… came together briefly to push for independence from British colonial rule. But having achieved this goal in October 1960, the regions had no real common ambition to galvanize their unity. Although many of the leaders of newly independent Nigeria were committed to the pan-Nigerian ideal, [this commitment was] abandoned at the first sign of tension and gave way to the parochial and tribal sentiments which had existed before independence….This post-independence state of affairs is partly to blame for the decimation of Nigeria’s First Republic (1963-1966) at the hands of the Nigerian military, who would go on to rule the country for over 30 years. (https://republic.com.ng › – retrieved 5/8/21).
11.Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi’s Unification Decree No 34 of 1966 was a desperate attempt to forge a sense of unity among the component parts of a deeply fractured country. In a nutshell, the Decree imposed a unitary system of government as Aguiyi-Ironsi sought to replace the regions with a strong federal government that he hoped will unify all sections of the country. This has proved to be counter-productive, as it is the root of the unitarism in governance and has become a political albatross. It was also an exercise in futility as the seeds of discord, sowed by the first coup, produced a counter coup that ousted Aguiyi-Ironsi months later.
12.It is, therefore, fair to say that, since her creation, Nigeria has been searching for ways and means to forge a common identity. The Unity Schools, the Federal Character principle and Quota System, enshrined in the Constitution since 1979, and the National Youth Service Corps Scheme are some of the initiatives that were introduced to elicit better understanding, foster cooperation, engender a sense of belonging, and create a sense of oneness among the component parts of the Federation.
THE STATE OF NIGERIA TODAY
– the unusually large number and the high frequency of demonstrations and protests, the most prominent of which was the 2020 #EndSARS nation-wide protests;
– labour discontent and frequent strikes often due to Government’s failure to implement negotiated and duly signed agreements;
– persistent calls for restructuring, fiscal federalism and devolution of powers to the States;
– insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, etc, leading to barbaric destruction of lives and property. The Nigerian Security Tracker of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations reports that 54,362 were killed from 1st January 2015 to 2nd August 2021(https://www.cfr.org/nigeria/nigeria-security-racker/p29483 –retrieved 5/8/21).
– the proliferation of zonal security outfits and ethnic militias because, apparently, the Federal Security Agencies have become either ill-equipped, poorly funded or incapable to protect all citizens;
– increasing number of non-governmental organizations for the protection of human and child’s rights;
– increase in unemployment- and poverty-induced crimes, such as cybercrimes, human trafficking and international prostitution.
CAUSES OF DISUNITY
18.It is not a secret that during elections most people vote along sectional lines, be it religion or ethnicity. In the corporate world, the academia and other sectors of our national life, our default mode is to queue behind someone from our ethnic group or who shares our religious beliefs. Even the war against corruption is subjected to all manner of scrutiny based on our ethnic affiliations and religious persuasions. The sad reality is that we seem to derive more comfort, protection and security from our ethnic identity. The concept of one Nigeria is still just that – a concept.
19.The Americans have the American Dream, the British, Rule Britannia, while, in recent times, the United Arab Emirate has developed a vision to be the biggest and the best in everything she does. What can we point to as Nigeria’s overarching vision that motivates the average citizen or that everyone aspires to actualize? How can we have and pursue an overarching vision when we think Fulani or Hausa or Yoruba or Igbo instead of Nigeria?
20.Bad governance at different levels of government is a major contributory factor to disunity in the country. Bad governance is what results when (a) a State, “based on the principles of democracy and social justice” (as Nigeria is described in Section 14 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended), fails to uphold, in all its operations, “the principles of democracy and social justice”; and (b) when a Government fails to fulfill its “primary purpose” which, according to Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution is to provide “the security and welfare of the people”.
21.Indices of bad governance in Nigeria are legion, viz;
-ethnicity or tribalism and nepotism – it is regrettable that over the years, we have had leaders who chose to exploit the ethnic and religious fault lines in the country to advance their selfish political interests;
-lopsidedness in power sharing (marginalization of some sections of the country);
-corruption, lack of accountability and unproductivity, all resulting in poor economic growth;
-religious bigotry and intolerance;
-inequality and inequitable distribution of wealth;
-insecurity – personal, economic and food insecurity – inflicted on the country largely by criminal herdsmen and bandits;
-unemployment (the rate in Nigeria in 2020 was 32.5%);
-poverty (the rate in Nigeria in 2021 is 40%, which translates to 80 million citizens and it is estimated to be 45% or 90 million citizens in 2022);
22.Another factor responsible for our current disunity is the lack of political will to devise a constitution that supports true federalism. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) centralizes political and economic powers in the Federal Government and emasculates the States by denying them powers to secure their own territories and control their natural resources for the development of their territories and people.
23.Take allocations from the federation account, for instance. While the federal government takes 52.68%, the 36 States and 774 Local Governments that carry most of the burden of development get 26.72% and 20.60%, respectively! This does not augur well for effective grassroots development, inclusive economic growth and social cohesion.
26.Truth be told, many of our youths see no future for themselves in this country. This was why the EndSARS protest of 2020, which began as a protest against police brutality, quickly snowballed into a mass movement against a country that has failed them. Many parents here can testify that our youths would rather migrate, even illegally, to greener pastures in other countries and, where migration isn’t possible, resort to anti-social behavior inimical to the unity, peace and progress of the country.
27.The last cause of disunity in Nigeria which I want to mention is the growing lack of faith in the electoral process. The great desideratum of modern democracy is that it must be participatory and undergirded by some non-negotiable fundamentals, notably the power of the people to choose their leaders as well as majority rule and minority rights. These must be in place for a country to be seen as free and democratic.
28.The current lack of faith in the electoral process by the Nigerian electorate has resulted in the massive apathy and self-disenfranchisement prevalent during elections. The people feel that their votes do not count and have, therefore, sunk into disillusionment, resentment and resignation.
BUILDING TRUST IN A UNITED NIGERIA: RECOMMENDATIONS
29.While I empathize with people who lament the current state of affairs in Nigeria, I do not believe that the solution is to balkanize the country. I strongly believe that we are better and stronger together, and that, with appropriate, visionary leadership and good governance, we can turn our diversity into a great source of strength and a springboard to build a strong multi-ethnic and multi-religious country that will be the envy of other nations.
30.Leadership is key. As 2023 approaches, the focus should be on electing a pan Nigerian as president, a person with the capacity and charisma to cast a vision for Nigeria and rally all Nigerians behind it. We need a selfless, sacrificial, sincere, broadminded, caring and capable president that will inspire hope and confidence in the country; a leader who values merit over mediocrity, competence over cronyism, while upholding the fundamental principles of fairness, equity and justice. This country brims with immense human and natural resources, which cry to be effectively and efficiently harnessed by a responsive – and – responsible leadership for the socio-economic development of the country.
31.The experience of some balkanized countries, such as Yugoslavia, which was balkanized into seven states, shows that, until the fundamental issues of good governance – justice, socio-economic equality, mutual ethnic and religious tolerance, inclusiveness, etc. – are effectively addressed in the mother nation, each new country will be bedeviled by the same divisive problems already in their genes. So, why not tackle the problems in the mother nation that would make a greater impact on the world unlike the tinier new nations?
33.Aside from a modern security architecture anchored on technology, we must muster the political will to deal decisively with criminals, regardless of their ethnic groups, religions or status. In America and other developed countries of the world, that is what makes their institutions stronger than individuals and keeps even the poorest in the society confident of getting justice before the law. For democracy to be sustained and the goodwill of the populace retained, impunity must not have even a toehold in our body polity. Our security agencies must be well funded and equipped; training of personnel to build capacity and collaboration between agencies is key. Furthermore, directives must be clear and goals unambiguous.
34.Similarly, to help restore faith in the electoral process, there should be stiff penalties for electoral violence and other malpractices, regardless of which party is culpable. Election results should also be transmitted electronically at the point of counting the votes at the poling units to remove the opportunities for later alterations of figures. It goes without saying that the refusal by the National Assembly to include a mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act has deepened the distrust that the public has for politicians and the ruling class.
37.Nigeria can only grow if ethnic, religious and tribal divides dissolve, and a pan-Nigeria goal is truly desired and pursued by all. Despite its challenges and leadership defects and the circumstances of its birth in 1914, we have come to be a nation. We must unite and make it work for all. We had declared in our National Anthem (composed in 1960) – “Though Tribe and Tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”. The political class, religious/community leaders and elite must sign up to this, and our leaders must begin to act the pan-Nigerian dream into reality.
39.Inter-faith dialogue and building of networks should be institutionalized. Different religious identities need to seek mutual understanding, respect and tolerance, which allows each faith to live, appreciate and cooperate with one another. Government and faith-based organisations must, through advocacy, seek for the common good, and put processes in place for prevention of conflicts, peacemaking and post-conflict rebuilding.
40.The herdsmen/farmers conflict is fast becoming the greatest threat to our nation’s unity and economic well-being. The nomadic Muslim Fulani pastoralists and the largely Christian farmers of various ethnicities have continued to clash resulting in loss of economic crops, cattle and life. This threat to our country’s stability and unity needs to be addressed urgently by our federation. It is my opinion that ranching and cattle colonies with support by the federal Government is a way out of this challenge. The Federal Government of Nigeria must urgently tackle this challenge to reduce the level of insecurity and to ensure food security. Criminal herdsmen must be dealt with within our Laws and Internally Displaced Persons need to be quickly resettled in their homes.
41.The media must come to the rescue. Government at various levels should, as a matter of exigency, enlist the support and cooperation of the media in advocating for peaceful coexistence and national unity. Generally, I think the media should be more discerning and restrained in giving voice to violent extremists and criminals in our nation. Giving undue recognition to these elements has the potential to fuel ethnic conflict, electoral violence, and exacerbate the divisions among us.
46.We also have a deliberate policy to tackle youth unemployment through skills training and entrepreneurship development programmes. I believe that the way out of the unemployment quagmire is to equip the youth with the technical know-how, vocational skills, values and resources to become self-employed, as distinct from one-off empowerment. This is what my administration has done by instituting various skills training and entrepreneurship development programmes, which include:
– Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme(STEP);
– Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme(YAGEP);
– Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme(GEEP);
– Rural Youth Skills Acquisition Programme(RYSA);
– Girls Entrepreneurship Skills Training (GEST); and
– Women Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition Programme (WESAP).
CONCLUSION
49.I have briefly touched on issues relating to the theme of this dialogue. I trust that subsequent presentations and discussions would delve more deeply into the issues that I have raised as well as those that I may not have touched on.
50.It is my hope that the communique that will emanate from this gathering will be useful in guiding our political leaders to build a united and prosperous Nigeria that will elicit the trust and loyalty of all citizens and become the envy of many nations.
51.It is on this note that I wish us fruitful deliberations in this meeting.
52.Thank you for your time and attention.
53.God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
54.God bless us all.
Office of the Governor
Government House
Asaba
August 2021
ATTACK ON NDA WON’T DAMPEN RESOLVE OF OUR MILITARY TO BRING DECISIVE END TO CRIMINALITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI VOWS
The attack launched on the facility of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on Tuesday, rather than throw a dampener into the morale of our Armed Forces as it is intended to, will buoy their determination to make a decisive end of criminality in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
Noting that the attack, which led to loss of lives, came at a time that the military had put insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other types of criminals on the retreat, the President says the heinous action would accelerate the total uprooting of evil in the polity, which members of the Armed Forces are solidly resolved to accomplish in the shortest possible time.
Commiserating with the families who lost their loved ones, and praying God to comfort them, President Buhari vowed that the deceased would not die in vain, as the degenerate act would have consequences that will eventually clean the country of vermin, and emancipate the polity from deliberate, targeted and contrived atrocious acts.
The President thanks all Nigerians who value and appreciate the efforts of our military, and urges those playing hateful politics with the dastardly act to desist, noting that rather than recriminations, this is the time for all patriots and people of goodwill to support and encourage those who are in the vanguard of the battle against wickedness in the land.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 25, 2021
Delta confirms outbreak of Avian influenza
Delta Government on Wednesday confirmed the fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza, also known as Bird Flu with an estimated population of 164,473 birds so far affected in farms across seven Local Government Areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Julius Egbedi disclosed this in a Press Conference jointly chaired by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, in Asaba. Egbedi said that the affected farms were located in Udu, Oshimili South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Okpe and Sapele Local Government Areas, stressing that samples from the reported farms had been sent to the National Veterinary Institute, Jos, and all were confirmed to be the H5N1 strain of the Avian Influenza.
He said that the state government, through its Department of Veterinary Services, had disinfected the affected farms and had also forbidden the operation of poultry farms for the next three months
Okowa tasks IGP on police-citizens relations
Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday, called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Alkali Baba, to strive toward bridging the gap in the relationship between the police and citizens of the country.
Okowa made the call when he received the IGP on courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba, and pointed out that growing lack of trust between the police and the people resulted from poor relationship.
He advised that the IGP should interact more with different stakeholders with a view to bridging the gap between the Police Force and the people, adding that community policing could only work better with the cooperation of citizens.
According to Okowa, lack of citizens’ trust in the police requires that your office interact more with different stakeholders with a view to bridging the gap between the Nigeria police and the people.
He remarked that tour of various police commands and formations across the country by the police boss would help to bridge such gap.
“With your infectious personality, I have no doubt that you will be able to attract more people to support your policing vision of enhancing police primacy in protection of lives and property.
“It is our prayer that you will continue to work hard and partner other sister security agencies to ensure that Nigeria gets more and more peaceful in the days ahead,” he said.
The governor said that there was a need for joint effort to tackle security challenges in the country, and explained that “in Delta, we are thankful that the collaboration is real and it’s helping us to achieve results, and we hope it continues”.
He said that there was need for proper funding of the police with logistics and equipment to enable the force to be more confident in its work, especially when combating criminal elements.
“If we are able to fund the police to provide for more data and extensive intelligence-gathering, the more likely we are going to achieve faster result.
“Community policing can only work better with the cooperation of the people, and in Delta, we are in the process of completing the enactment of a law that will establish Community Security Corps to work in partnership with the police for effective crime prevention,’’ Okowa stated.
On herders-farmers clashes, he said the state had been able to manage it with the structures put in place to ensure that the clashes were minimised.
“Whatever you can do to strengthen the police command in Delta, we urge you not to hesitate in providing such support,” the governor assured, adding that the state government would continue to support and cooperate with the police within available resources.
Earlier, the IGP had said that he was in Delta as part of his familiarisation tour of state police commands and formations across the country to intimate them on his vision for the force under his leadership.
He appreciated the governor for continued assistance to Delta command, adding that it had remained one of the best that had added value to policing in terms of strengthening the force with creation of new area commands and establishment of security outfits to compliment the police.
“I am here on a facility tour of the Delta State Command as part of my visit to police formations in each state to interact with the officers and men on my vision for the force.
“To improve crime prevention in the state and country, the Police have adopted the community policing strategy as model for bringing police nearer to the people and we seek the support of stakeholders for the implementation,” Baba stated.
Okowa congratulates Sultan of Sokoto at 65
Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, as he clocks 65 years.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the governor commended the Sultan for promoting and advancing the course of peace, unity and religious harmony in the country.
He said that Nigerians remained grateful to the Sultan Abubakar for his astute contributions to peace-building, co-existence and religious tolerance among Nigerians.
The governor noted that the Sultan’s wise counseling on national issues had continued to help in keeping leaders and followers on track and stimulating genuine interest of the people in nation-building.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I congratulate His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the occasion of his 65th birth anniversary.
“We celebrate your outstanding and exemplary role as head of Jama’atul Nasir Islam (JNI), President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and co-Chairman of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
“We also appreciate your contributions to ending insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes in parts of the country and for the promotion and protection of human life and dignity of man.
“As you continue to use your exalted throne to promote peace, unity and positive development in the Caliphate and across our nation, be assured of the support, partnership and co-operation of the government and people of Delta.
“It is my prayer that Almighty God grants you many more years of good health to continue your patriotic services to the nation,” he said.
Okowa condoles with families of 7 road accident victims
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has sent his deepest condolences to the families of seven women who died in a road accident on the Orogun-Agbarha road in the state.
The women, all from Bonadi and were returning from a marriage ceremony in Agbor on Saturday reportedly lost their lives when the driver of the Sienna bus conveying them lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a plunge of the car into a nearby carnal.
Three out of the 10 passengers in the vehicle were reported to have survived the incident.
In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Okowa sympathised with the families of the victims as well as Bomadi Local Government and the entire Ijaw people on the tragic incident.
He commiserated with the people of Peretoru communities where the dead hailed from.
“It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I commiserate with the families of seven Bomadi ladies that lost their lives in a fatal motor accident on Saturday, August 21, 2021, along Orogun-Agbara road on their way from a wedding at Agbor.
“Indeed, their death has caused a dark cloud and great sorrow for their families.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Chairman and people of Bomadi Local Government Area and the families of our departed women.
“Their untimely death has undoubtedly caused great pain to their families and I pray that such tragedy will never occur again.
“May God grant the families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and may their souls rest in peace.” the governor stated.
“I almost passed out.” Funke Akindele discusses producing highest-grossing movie Omo Ghetto, work ethic and her plans for the future
Going from being arraigned for breaking the COVID-19 precautionary rule to becoming the highest-grossing actress, producer and director, Funke Akindele has become a legend in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. On this week’s episode of #WithChude, the multiple award-winning producer, director, screenwriter, and actress discussed the work behind the production of her blockbuster movie Omo Ghetto, her work ethics and more with host and co-founder Joy Inc., Chude Jideonwo.
Talking about the process that went into the making of Omo Ghetto, Funke Akindele said, “I became the PA, makeup assistant, wardrobe manager. I styled the movie, designed the production, because this is what I live for. I gave everything to Omo Ghetto: The Saga. I had sleepless nights, swollen eyes.”
Playing multiple roles paid off but it took a toll on the actress. She revealed that shuffling in between roles required her learning new things and constantly going beyond her capacity. She said, “I trained for a month for all the fight sequences. I had to fight for a month with everybody. I had to jog. I had to shed weight. I had to be in the picture. I was directing, acting- at some point, I almost passed out. They had to bring ice and put all over me.”
However, this did not stop the actress’ pursuit of making the now blockbuster movie. She told Chude about how she kept pushing and giving her team the motivation they needed to keep going. The result was the highest-grossing movie in Nigeria entertainment history.
This phenomenal feat was accomplished a year after she was dragged in the mud for allegedly breaking the COVID-19 rule. Funke disclosed that that period was so tough for her that at some point she considered death.
“When I was told to write my statement, I said, ‘I wish I could just die. I didn’t do anything wrong. Let me just die so it will cover the whole thing”, she said.
She further revealed that she had spent a lot of time crying and wondering what she could have done differently. Her mom and husband, however, helped her get through it with words of encouragement.
Today, Funke Akindele is a household name in the movie industry and continues to support other upcoming actors and actresses.
ELDER YEMI AKINWONMI REPLACES UCHE SECONDUS
The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, has taken over the affairs of the opposition party.
Akinwonmi cited Section 35 (b) of the PDP Constitution to support his action.
The Acting National Chairman also suspended the National Working Committee meeting of the party indefinitely.
A Court in Rivers on Monday granted an interim order, restraining Prince Uche Secondus from parading himself as the National Chairman and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, the Special Assistant (Media) to Rivers Governor on Monday in Port Harcourt.
According to the statement, Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division presiding over a vacation court in Port Harcourt, granted the order, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
This followed a suit, no. PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Mr Ibeawuchi Alex and three others, listing Secondus and the PDP as respondents.
The court granted the applicants’ prayers, after reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex parte and the written address and hearing the submission of Mr H.A. Bello, counsel to the applicants.
The order also restrained Secondus from performing the functions of national chairman of the PDP, including calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the party, among others.
The order restrained Secondus also from participating in any activity of the party whatsoever whilst on suspension as a member of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also granted leave to serve by substituted means, the originating summons, motion on notice, all orders made by the court and all subsequent processes on the respondent
It further granted leave to serve by substituted means, orders made by the court on the respondents by publishing same in the Nation Newspaper.
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU MOURNS SENATOR DUROJAIYE, SAYS HE WAS A GREAT NIGERIAN
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of the chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former distinguished Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described Senator Durojaiye, as a passionate leader who served his country meritoriously as a public servant, human rights activist, politician and seasoned administrator.
Senator Durojaiye, the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Afenifere chieftain, died on Tuesday August 24 at the age of 88 years.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday said the late legal practitioner, politician and Afenifere chieftain spent his life in the service of humanity, particularly for the emancipation of the Yoruba people and defense of Nigeria’s democratic system.
He also praised the late Senator Durojaiye’s contribution to Nigeria’s democracy, especially his fight, alongside other progressive elements in the country during the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the dark days of the military junta for the enthronement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
The governor also commiserated with Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the entire people of the State, especially, indigenes of Ijebu-Igbo, on the demise of their illustrious son and elder statesman.
He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye as well as members of the political family of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and entire Yoruba people.
“The death of Senator Durojaiye is a colossal loss to the country. He made lots of positive contributions during his lifetime to the growth and development of Yorubaland and Nigeria. He fought along with several other patriots and pro-democracy activists tirelessly for enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
“He wrote his name in gold as a tireless fighter and an advocate of democratic government. He played a crucial role as chieftain of NADECO in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and return of civilian government in May 29, 1999. Despite being arrested and imprisoned by the military regime of General Sani Abacha, he never gave up the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy.
“I pray that God will grant him eternal rest and give his immediate family, friends, political associates, Afenifere, the people of Ijebu-Igbo and Ogun State, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
AUGUST 24, 2021
The Alema of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, will host the Atta of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Ohinoyi, Dr. Ado Ibrahim on Saturday, August 21 in Warri, Delta State.
‘’His Royal Majesty, Ohinoyi, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, CON, Atta of Ebiraland and President, Kogi State Council of Chiefs will be received by the Alema of Warri Kingdom and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Webster Group of Companies, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan on Saturday’’ a statement in Abigborodo, Warri North Local Government Area said.
Omo Oba Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko will be crowned the 21st Olu of Warri on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
Google My Debt Servicing Ratio’s 9 Percent, Jimoh Ibrahim Challenges AMCON
Bar. Jimoh Ibrahim, the owner of NICON Insurance and Nigeria Re. has described his debt servicing ratio as the lowest among strong business moguls in the country.
He said his current debt servicing ratio is put at 9 percent, while that of Dangote is 13 percent.
In a statement made available to newsmen the First Doctoral Candidate of the University of Cambridge Business Management Science explained that the debt servicing ratio of Nigeria stands at 98 percent, while USA and UK’s stand at 105 percent and 85 percent respectively.
He, therefore, challenged Asset Management Corporation Of Nigeria (AMCON) to name who’s a business man with a first-class score.
According to the 54-year-old business mogul, the Google rating of his net asset is over one billion dollars, adding that the data showed excellent asset specificity.
He said: “I collateralized a loan of N26 billion with £130.7 million British pound stealing (at 5% interest rate now £245m or N178 billion). So, if you buy my loan, where is my cash collateral is the question.”
Ibrahim described AMCON as a lawless organisation which the World Bank and IMF had condemned.
He said: “AMCON should not drag Federal Government’s economic policy into self-interest and I am sure that President Buhari will not support economic injustice because ‘an unjust order is an invitation to Anarchy.’
PRESIDENT BUHARI REJOICES WITH ITSEKIRIS ON CORONATION OF 21ST OLU OF WARRI
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates all Itsekiris home and abroad, as Prince Tsola Emiko gets installed as the 21st Olu of Warri, August 21, 2021.
The President salutes the Kingdom for overcoming the issues that arose after the initial appointment of the Olu-designate, urging that any outstanding matters should be amicably resolved in the interest of peace and tranquility.
As a Western-trained political scientist, and management expert, President Buhari counsels the new Olu to use his gift and intellect to serve his people, noting the peaceful disposition of Itsekiris to peace in the Niger Delta region, and the country in general.
The President prays that the new epoch will consolidate on the peace, progress and prosperity of all members of the Warri Kingdom.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 20, 2021
August 20, 2021
Press Statement
You are already a failure, PDP Mocks Buhari
…Says Lame Attempt At Damage Control Can’t Help APC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari that he is already a failure in governance and will leave a failure, adding that his attempt at political damage control cannot help his fizzling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP describes the statement by President Buhari that he will not leave office as a failure as “medicine after death” noting that as long as he is a product of the corrupt, inept, directionless and anti-people APC, he will leave as a failed leader.
The party asserts that President Buhari’s veiled admission of failure, which smacks as a tactic to exonerate the APC, is an exercise in futility as the APC, which now only exists on paper, will soon fizzle from our political firmament, having shown itself as perverted platform that cannot be entrusted with governance at any level in our country.
President Buhari and his APC have failed in their three-pronged promises of security, anti-corruption and economic development.
They have instead wrecked all sectors of our nation life with no hope in sight.
What explanation can the Buhari Presidency and the APC offer for failing to decisively tackle terrorists, insurgents and bandits, who are daily ravaging our communities, killing and maiming our compatriots in various states across the country, despite the huge resources at their disposal?
How do President Buhari and APC leaders sleep at night when they know that due to their incompetence and compromises, hundreds of Nigerians, including school children are languishing in kidnappers’ den at the mercies of their assailants and the elements?
President Buhari has so failed as a Commander-in-Chief that non-state actors have taken over, with regions now resorting to their own security outfits while state governors, including his home, Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, telling helpless victims of terror attacks to defend themselves.
On the economy front, President Buhari has only succeeded in ruining the once robust economy handed over to him by the PDP administration in 2015 and turned Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world, where over 82.9 million once thriving Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals and other necessities of life.
Moreover, the Buhari Presidency cannot point to any landmark project it conceptualized, started and completed in the last six years.
All it can boast of is the mortgaging of the future of our nation with accumulated N33.107 trillion debt with nothing to show and no clear repayment plan.
More atrocious is that Mr. President is seeking to borrow additional N5.62 trillion, when he knows that he has less than two years in office.
Rather than fighting corruption, the APC-led Buhari administration has become the citadel of corruption where over N15 trillion naira have reportedly been stolen by APC leaders from various agencies under the cover of government.
Nigerians can recall how the PDP recently held a strategic meeting where suggestions on how to entrench unity, reduce tension, fight insurgency, curb corruption and restore our nation to the path of economic progress, were placed at the behest of Mr. President and how he failed to listen to the voice of reason.
What is expected of Mr. President and the APC at this point is for them to end their media orchestrations, apologize for their failure and allow Nigerians to chart a fresh course as they rally with the PDP to salvage our dear nation.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
PRESS STATEMENT
20th August, 2021
DELTA PDP CONGRATULATES THE NEW OLU OF WARRI
The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has congratulated the Olu of Warri designate, Prince ‘Tsola Emiko, ahead of his coronation on August 21, 2021.
Delta State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza said in a Press Statement that: “Delta PDP heartily congratulates the new Olu of Warri, Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, whose official coronation on Saturday, August 21, 2021, confirms him as the 21st Olu of Warri.
We wish His Royal Majesty a happy, prosperous, and peaceful reign as he assumes his royal heritage as the custodian of the great Odé Itsekiri ancestral throne of Warri Kingdom.
Long live HRM, Omoba ‘Tsola Emiko.
Ogiame! Suoooo!!!
PDP! Power to the people!!!
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.
PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO VISIT KANO FOR TWO KEY EVENTS
Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Kano for the marriage of his son, Yusuf Buhari, to Zahra Bayero, the daughter of Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi in Kano State on Friday, the President has dispatched a high level delegation to be led by his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
The Presidential delegation, including the Ministers of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu will stay back after the wedding, to represent the President at the coronation of the Emir at Bichi the following day, Saturday.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 19, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES REVIEW OF GRAZING RESERVES IN 25 STATES
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recommendations of a committee to review “with dispatch,” 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, “to determine the levels of encroachment.”
The President’s directive followed his approval of the recommendations of a committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Among others, the committee had recommended the collection of field data collection on 368 Grazing Reserves across 25 states to assess encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder engagements and sensitization.
The Committee also recommended production of maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites, analysis of findings and report preparations as well as design appropriate communication on Grazing Reserves and operations.
The number of the Grazing Reserves and States were deduced from considerations of existing security concerns and other pre-existing socio-economic conditions.
The President directed that the assignment be undertaken with dispatch to bring more understanding on the Grazing Reserves, and implementation.
Members of the committee include, Governor of Kebbi State and Vice Chairman, National Food Security Council, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of NEC Sub-Committee for National Livestock Transformation Plan, David Umahi, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar and Deputy Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye.
The Technical Sub-Committee consists of representatives from the seven members of the main committee in addition to representatives from Ministry of Justice, Surveyor General of the Federation, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA).
Among its Terms of Reference, the Committee was to collate from states and confirm the status of all Grazing Reserves, assess the percentage of available land and those with existing encroachment complications for case-by-case resolution in partnership with state governments and the FCT.
The Committee will also make recommendations for gazetting of ungazetted Grazing Reserves and create a data base of National Cattle Herders and ensure that Grazing Reserves are well communicated to all stakeholders.
The inaugural meeting of the Committee was held on May 10, 2021.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 19, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES HON JOSHUA OJO, EX-OYO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AT 70
President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with immediate past Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Joshua Olagunju Ojo, JP as he turns 70 August 20, 2021.
The President salutes the commitment of the astute politician to service of the people of Ogbomoso in particular, and Oyo State in general, using his privileged position to touch their lives in diverse ways.
As a prominent farmer, marketer, and politician, President Buhari is delighted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart remains resolute in the ideals of service to the people.
As the Fellow of Institute of Management Executives and Administrators of Nigeria turns 70, the President wishes Hon Ojo longer life, good health, and greater service to God and humanity.
President Buhari also extends goodwill to the immediate and extended Ojo family, their friends, relations and associates on the landmark birthday.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 19, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI RATIFIES INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AGREEMENT, 2007
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday, August 17, 2021, confirmed and ratified International Coffee Agreement, 2007, following Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval of Nigeria’s membership of the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting had drawn a conclusion on the agreement on October 21, 2020, with emphasis on Conclusion 10 which approved the preparation of the Instrument of Ratification of Nigeria’s membership of the International Coffee Organization and International Coffee Agreement of 2007.
The 2007 Agreement will strengthen the ICO’s role as a forum for intergovernmental consultations, facilitate international trade through increased transparency and access to relevant information, and promote a sustainable coffee economy for the benefit of all stakeholders and particularly of small-scale farmers in coffee producing countries.
The agreement is an important instrument for development cooperation and will provide the legal framework for core activities undertaken by the Organization in the future.
The Instrument of Ratification was prepared by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 19, 2021
HIS SERVICES TO NIGERIA WERE IMMEASURABLE, NEVER ASKED ME FOR ANY FAVOURS, PRESIDENT BUHARI EULOGISES AHMED JODA IN YOLA
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Yola described the services of the late Ahmed Joda to Nigeria as immeasurable, saying that all the years he knew the revered public administrator, he never requested any favours from him.
The President spoke at the palace of Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa during a condolence visit to the families of three elder statesmen and prominent sons of Adamawa State who passed recently.
The families are those of Ahmed Joda, a former Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the transition committee that ushered in President Buhari’s administration in 2015; Dr Mahmoud Tukur, former Minister of Commerce and Industry during his military administration and Abdullahi Danburam Jada, Minister of Animal Health and Northern Cameroons Affairs in the defunct Northern Region Government.
President Buhari, who was accompanied by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, recounted his personal relationships with the deceased, noting that at various points, they played very supportive roles in his public service.
On the late Joda, he said: ‘‘Since I became Governor of North East, under General Olusegun Obasanjo and later Minister, Ahmed Joda was part of those who assisted me, until his transition.
‘‘He was very supportive each time I called on him as governor, Minister and President and he never demanded any favours from me, either in cash or any form of gratification.’’
On the late Dr Mahmoud, the President said: ‘‘He was a bosom friend to my brother and they studied together in Europe. He also contributed much during my military administration and did well in his assignment.’’
President Buhari noted that from the antecedents of his close working relationship with the people of Adamawa and how they have distinguished themselves, he appointed one of their sons the Minister of FCT, a very important position.
‘‘I gave an Adamawa indigene, Mohammed Bello, a huge and complicated assignment as FCT Minister. Although he is young, he is performing very well with the fear of God,’’ the President said.
Commiserating with the Government, people and the Lamido of Adamawa on the demise of their illustrious sons, President Buhari prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and divine comfort for their families.
In his remarks, Governor Fintiri thanked the President for the condolence visit, saying ‘‘given your closeness to the deceased we should have been the one travelling to Abuja to commiserate with you.’’
The Governor commended the President for taking out time off his busy schedule to visit Adamawa, on the same day his son, Yusuf, is getting married to Zahra Bayero, the daughter of Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi in Kano.
The Royal father, Lamido Adamawa also conveyed the Emirate’s appreciation to President Buhari and his entourage, pronouncing blessings for safe travels and success in the President’s engagement in Kano for his son’s wedding.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 20, 2021
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
PRESS RELEASE
FOOD SECURITY: LAGOS APPEALS PROJECT SUPPORTS OFADA RICE FARMERS ON MASS PRODUCTION
Lagos State Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project has charged farmers and investors to invest in agriculture, especially mass production of Ofada Rice to improve productivity for food security in Lagos State and Nigeria in general.
Speaking during a Field Day for Rice Seed Outgrower Scheme to farmers supported by APPEALS Project in Epe and Lekki areas of Lagos, the State Project Coordinator of APPEALS, Mrs. Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, said APPEALS Project sponsored by Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Federal Government and World Bank is supporting and building farmers’ productivity in rice value chain with technology for food security.
She said since inception, Lagos APPEALS Project has supported 20 clusters of Ofada rice farmers with modern technology and necessary supports to improve farming, noting that a cluster comprise about five to 10 groups of 10 individual farmers.
Sagoe-Oviebo who was accompanied by top officials of Lagos APPEALS Project, African Rice and farmers, during a visit to beneficiaries of the Project Rice Seed Outgrower Scheme at Origanringan, Epe and Okegelu in Lekki areas of the State, said the Project has supported rice farmers with modern technology to increase mass production of pure strain of Ofada Rice for consumption in Nigeria and export to foreign countries.
She said Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has keen interest in agriculture and that was why the State Government is fully supporting APPEALS Project to empower farmers, especially youths and women with necessary technology for productivity, improved livelihood and food security.
“Lagos APPEALS Project wants to increase the productivity of rice farmers in Lagos State. We want to ensure that Ofada Rice gets to foreign countries.
“Our rice is better than foreign rice. It is more nutritious than the imported rice. So, I want to implore farmers to invest more in farming activities, especially in the rice value chain.
“We are using this opportunity to call on investors and entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture for food security. If there is no food, there is no guarantee that there would be security in the State or in any country. So, it is high time investors came on board and invest in agriculture. The gap of food demand cannot be overemphasised,” she said.
Also speaking, a rice seed expert from African Rice Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Abraham Shaibu, said the Center has supported farmers in Lagos to produce good quality of Ofada rice by assisting them with technology to improve their productivity.
He said African Rice has identified and produced pure strain of Ofada rice seed with high yield for Lagos APPEALS Project farmers, adding that the seed has been successfully cultivated by the Lagos APPEALS Project outgrower and a willing off-taker is available to take it up and sell to rice producer.
Speaking during the visits to their farms, representatives of different clusters expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration and Lagos APPEALS Project for having the interest of farmers at heart by investing and empowering them with quality Ofada rice strain as well as providing necessary supports and technology to improve their productivity.
A rice farmer at Origanringan in Epe, Mr. Segun Omotayo, who has been in rice farming business for close to 20 years, said the assistance provided by Lagos APPEALS Project has helped to increase their productivity from about 1.5 tonnes to three tonnes per hectare based on rice seeds given to them by the Project.
Mr. Giwa Adeolu, a rice farmer, who is coordinating clusters of Ofada Rice farmers farming on 500 hectares of land at Okegelu in Lekki, said the technology provided by Lagos APPEALS Project has contributed positively to the rice farm, which according to him is an investment that is worth N350million.
He said they are expecting nothing less than 2.5 to 3 tonnes per hectare by the time they harvest their produce in next two months.
“We really appreciate Lagos APPEALS Project for their support. They empowered us and gave us adequate support to the extent that presently we have five clusters and we cultivated over 500 hectares of land in the same place. This (pointing to the 500 hectares of the rice farm) is demonstration of what Lagos APPEALS Project did.
“They gave us nets to cover our plants to chase away the picker birds, which is a major challenge of rice farmers all over the world. This initiative sound so loud that more farmers are coming out now to benefit from what Lagos APPEALS Project is doing for rice farmers in the State,” he said.
PRESS RELEASE
LEAVE AMAECHI FROM YOUR SINKING PARTY, EZE TO AKAWOR… Thinking Amaechi’ll return to PDP is a sick, wild fantasy… Amaechi didn’t join APC to Ouster Jonathan, but was forced out by PDP hawks and Idle political Jobbers within PDP…Counsels Governor Wike to start preparing his handover note come 2023 for enthronement of an APC Led Government
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has trashed claims by the Rivers State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, that former Rivers Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, will soon return to the People’s Democratic Party.
Recall that Akawor, had during a sparse gathering of members of the PDP in Ikwerre Local Government Area, announced to his audience that the Minister of Transportation and South-South Leader of the APC, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, would make a comeback to the People’s Democratic Party any time soon.
An excerpt from the very deceptive and widely publicized opinion reads “One day, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, your son, will come back to his family, which is PDP. He has to come back because he was a speaker. Where he went, he went for a reason. He went to remove President Jonathan. Jonathan has gone, so he should come back to his party. I am saying it again. My brother, my friend, the bosom friend of our Governor, Nyesom Wike, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, come back home.”
In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, Chief Eze counseled Akawo and those who share in his wildest imagination to quickly seek the service of health professionals for medical examinations to ascertain their health status and subject themselves to treatment where necessary, because according to him, only young men with sophisticated health issues, defective sensory neurons and blurred reasoning will share in such a blunt view.
“While I lack the power to stop Ambassador Akwaor from dreaming of the Super Minister and Minister of the Decade, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and incumbent Minister of Transportation returning to the sinking Peoples Democratic Party, I wish to counsel him to try to treat himself of malaria as nothing will cause the Minister to return to a party that did everything to destroy his political feats and personality.”
The Party Chief said Chief Akawor, who earned his Ambassadorial appointment on the footing of his roles in the satanic collaboration among the Jonathans,Wike, Obua, and others, which led to forceful exit of Amaechi from the PDP, may just be scamping alongside
others, for the return of Amaechi, in order to give credibility to the party already destroyed by Governor Wike and his inklings.
It is unfortunate and in fact pricking on the conscience for Akawor, whose inputs in the broad day robbery that tore the Rivers PDP in pieces, to say Amaechi’s motive for leaving the party was chiefly to remove President Jonathan, and having succeeded, he should return to the PDP.
For avoidance of doubt and in straightening the records, Chief Eze said Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has nothing to do with the ouster of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the President of Nigeria but was forced out of the PDP by those he described as party hawks and jobbers who felt Amaechi was a threat to their undemocratic antecedents.
The famous statement “We’ll arrest Amaechi by next year – Wike” credited to Chief Nyesom Wike, then a junior Minister in the administration of Dr. Jonathan Goodluck by 2014 still suffices and speaks more on the ploy to trick the then Governor to swim in muddy waters.
Then Supervisory Minister of Education had said that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will be arrested after President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration as winner of the 2015 presidential election.
“Once INEC announces the victory of President Jonathan, we will immediately shut down the Port Harcourt International Airport and all land and sea borders in Rivers State to prevent Governor Amaechi from escaping. Does he think we don’t know that he is planning to run away? But he and his cohorts will not succeed.
All they can do thereafter is to lock themselves in the government house and at the appropriate time we will go there and pick them up one after the other. Believe me, governor Amaechi will surely account for all our monies that he is frittering away now”.
The Deputy National Chairman of the PDP then Prince Uche Secondus, who also spoke at the event said that Governor Amaechi is a temporary occupant in government house and that PDP will not allow him to choose his successor in 2015 because Rivers State is for PDP. He has taken all our money to Lagos to develop APC.
With this type of threat by the over ambitious and deadly Wike, one maybe forced to ask, “is Amaechi a stone or a tree that is been threatened to be cut but stood still without running. Amaechi has to find a way to survive this unwarranted onslaught, so he left.
Eze recalled with nostalgia how the hawks running the administration of Dr. Jonathan kicked Amaechi out of PDP.
Let me state that the obvious desperation of the PDP leadership to completely destroy Amaechi led to his departure, alongside five other PDP governors, to form the New PDP, with five of them later joining the mega opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress.
The Factors that forced Amaechi out of PDP are thus under listed:
1.
When the PDP national leadership undemocratically decided to suspend Governor Amaechi from the party without any sound reason on May 27, 2013 and was to follow it up with expulsion, Amaechi the victim resorted to the courts, once again, to stop them from taking any further step on his case until he decided to join APC. The suspension of Amaechi from the party was agreed during an unscheduled and unusually early morning meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party at the residence of the then National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The meeting commenced at 8:00 am and came two days ahead of the regular meeting of the NWC, which normally holds on Wednesdays. It was also three days after Amaechi beat the odds with his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He had been allegedly opposed by the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) ahead of the election.
It was this suspension of Governor Amaechi from PDP, not minding all that he did to uplift the party that started the decimation of PDP and its reduction from a ruling national political party to an opposition regional political party.
It is said that during the intervening days, many interventions were made to save the crisis and resolve the matter. Important national leaders including Retired General Yakubu Gowon tried to stop the departure of Amaechi knowing it was the only way to stop the exodus. But the more such efforts were made, the harder those who did not want Amaechi in the party worked to push him out.
For the education of Ambassador Akwaor and his misguided fellows, let me call on Amaechi to explain by himself why he joined APC.
Explaining why he joined APC, Governor Amaechi said: “Unfortunately, recent events within the PDP have given me reason to reconsider our collective interest as people of the South-South and, indeed as Rivers people. At various times, as the one whom you gave your mandate, I had cause to complain about the marginalization of our state and our people, despite our huge contribution to the national coffers and our unflinching commitment and support for the ruling PDP. While the political and economic importance of Rivers State cannot be contested, we continue to hold the shorter end of the stick.
“A few instances may suffice: Our demand that the Federal Government return oil wells belonging to Rivers State to us has gone unheeded and been treated with levity under this administration. Rather, our oil wells have been ceded to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Even after we got a judgment that the oil wells were wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom State and should be returned to us; only dry wells that were no longer producing oil were returned.
“In the specific case of the Soku oil wells, despite a decision reached that the monies should remain in an escrow account till all matters concerning it are resolved, the Federal government continues to pay neighbouring Bayelsa State the revenues meant for Rivers State in a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is indeed noteworthy that we have made several representations formally and informally on this matter.
“A second instance is the total absence of federal presence in Rivers State. The ‘National Good Governance Tour’ provided a good opportunity for the Federal Government to showcase its presence in Rivers State. The tour, if nothing else, proved that there was not much to show in a state that is the cash cow of the federation. The East-West Road remains abandoned, work has been deliberately slow on the Port Harcourt International Airport, the third busiest airport in the country, while all airports started along with it have long been completed and commissioned. The Bonny-Bomu Road that leads to the only functional liquefied natural gas project remains uncompleted. In the midst of all these, our administration went ahead to fix federal roads to the tune of N103 billion. Several representations and letters after, not one kobo has been repaid. The Federal Government is actively discouraging investments in Rivers State.”
Amaechi at another forum stated, “They have become so desperate that they have gone to hire Joseph Mbu to serve as the political wing of the PDP in Rivers State. I pray to God to save Rivers State so that those thieves will not come to power and steal your money. We want to confront the Nigerian Police. When you hear impunity, it is because you allow it. There is no revolution without blood. From now till election, we should mobilize and confront the Nigerian police. If they say they are ready for debate, tell them I am ready. They should go to the National Assembly and summon me.”
Other instances that made the departure of Amaechi from PDP imperative are the following:
Posting and encouraging the excesses of the tyrannical Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu, during these inglorious days in the state.
Supporting every unimaginable act of impunity in the state, including the plot by five State Assembly members to impeach the speaker in a House of 31 members, with the hope of impeaching Amaechi thereafter. This led to the closure of the courts but they turned around to blame the victim, Amaechi.
Seizing and grounding the planes belonging the state for no just cause. Shutting down the robust security architecture that was to save the region and oil facilities.
Harassing and intimidating the duly elected Governor of Rivers State for no just cause, and even supporting the splitting of the Governors Forum into two, to ensure that Governor Amaechi, who was duly elected by his colleagues, does not have an easy reign as the chairman of the forum.
Other factors are:
Eze further highlighted that the world maybe astounded to learn that not minding all that Amaechi went through in the hands of Jonathan, he ensured that a slot in the State Executive Council was given to Jonathan through out his eight years tenure as the Governor of Rivers State.
In conclusion, Chief Eze said contrary to the defective reasoning of Ambassador Akwaor and those sponsoring him, Amaechi never joined APC in order to ouster Jonathan and his administration from the centre but undemocratic elements like Chief Nyesom Wike were the architects of his ouster after forcing and imposing on Amaechi all his actions in 2014 in order to join progressive forces to rescue Nigeria from the hands of the likes of Wike.
If there is anybody to blame over the exit of Dr. Jonathan from Government, it is Wike and his fellow hawks who, for the pursuit of selfish goals, plotted and ruined the administration of Jonathan, relegating him to the background and keeping him at bay on current happenings in the polity.
Finally, Eze counsels Akwaor to stop deceiving Governor Wike and help him to start preparing his handover note for an APC led Government come 2023 as Rivers State and her people are totally tired of the confused PDP Government in the State.
Ends
Signed
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
APC Chieftain & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP
Mele Kolo Kyari: A Daniel Has Come To Judgement
By Erasmus Ikhide
Crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria in Oloibiri
in present day Bayelsa State in 1956; four years before the British
granted us political independence. A school of thought believes that
if the discovery had been made earlier, the Caucasians would never
have fully departed the country and we would have had White Nigerians
in a similar manner like what obtains in South Africa.
The black gold as it is fondly called has been tragically more of a
curse as it has elevated a culture of sloth and lack of innovation
which has done nothing but greatly impoverish us. Who could have
believed that the revolutionary strides undertaken by the late sage
Chief Obafemi Awolowo while he held sway as Western Region Premier
between 1952 and 1959 was from the proceeds of cocoa and other
agricultural produce?
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was established on
April 1, 1977 by the military government of the then General Olusegun
Obasanjo but since then it has been involved in an endless cobweb of
corruption and cesspit of ineptitude.
Mele Kolo Kyari was appointed as the 19th Managing Director of the
Corporation on July 8, 2019. Many critics of the Buhari led government
criticized him to the High Heavens as another northern appointment and
opted to throw away the baby with the bath water.
Days after his appointment, he unveiled Transparency, Accountability
and Performance Excellence (TAPE), a five-step strategic roadmap for
NNPC’s attainment of efficiency and global excellence.
According to a report done by Premium Times, He said the five steps
for realizing the objectives of TAPE were to ensure:
1.NNPC opened up its systems to public scrutiny;
the Nigerian people and the government;
3.The new system would operate along with well-defined operational
processes, benchmarked against established global best practices by
world-class oil and gas companies;
value-addition towards NNPC’s sustained profitability, and
criteria, by developing suitable governance structures for its
strategic business units, and the entrenchment of team-spirit, work
ethic and collaboration with all key stakeholders to achieve set
corporate goals.
So far the objectives of TAPE have been met.
He initiated bold minded reforms in the upstream sector. His
creativity saw an alternative financing deal for the Nigerian
Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). Within the last one year, Kyari
ensured the execution of a funding and technical services agreement
(FTSA) as well as a alternative financing deal for NPDC’s OML 13
valued at about $3.15 billion and OML 65 for $876 million. These
agreements resulted is a 32% and 21% incremental production output in
OMLs 40 and 30.
Also, 14 companies participated in the auction for the financing and
redevelopment of OML 119 operated by the NPDC. The twin offshore block
made up of Okono and Okpoho fields located approximately 50 kilometres
offshore south-eastern Niger Delta operated by ExxonMobil.
Kyari described OML 119 as one of NNPC’s critical projects, which
aligns with the Federal Government’s aspiration to boost the country’s
crude oil and gas production, growing reserves, and monetizing the
nation’s enormous gas resources.
He has also revised the unit costs for joint ventures (JV) and
production sharing contracts (PSC).
He has also been able to save costs for the government through NNPC’s
revision of joint venture and production sharing contract (PSC)
operators’ unit costs, down to $19 per barrel and $18.3 per barrel,
from the initial $31 per barrel and $24.3 per barrel respectively.
Concerned about the impact of high oil production cost on the
government revenue, Kyari has, in the last one year, demonstrated
commitment to achieving the industry target of reducing oil production
cost to an average of $10 per barrel by 2021.
Under Kyari’s management in the last one year, the NPDC also acquired
four new oil acreages (OMLs 11, 24, 116 and 98, while recovering debts
for gas supplies totaling about N16.64 billion and $3.55 million.
There has also been sustainable average oil output under his pragmatic
leadership. Despite the challenges in the oil and gas industry, Kyari
was able to ensure the NNPC subsidiary in charge of the government
investment interests in the oil industry joint venture projects, the
National
Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), was able to achieve
an average oil production capacity of 1.8 million barrels per day
prior to the recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut its members’ output to boost crude
oil prices and stabilize the oil market.
Kyari has also supported NAPIMS to secure external funding for the
SPDC’s Santolina 3 projects expected to deliver an average production
of 16,300 barrels of oil per day, while also superintending over the
resolution of the Escravos gas-to-liquids (EGTL) cost dispute with
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).
Nigeria LNG Train 7 FID
For almost two years, the final investment decision (FID) for the
construction of Train 7 of the Nigeria LNG project was delayed. The
NNPC and other partners in the project could not come together to
commit to the development of the project.
The outbreak of the coronavirus last year worsened the problem as the
global economy came to a virtual standstill. But, Kyari did not allow
all the crises to rob Nigeria of all the benefits derivable from the
execution of the project.
At the height of the global pandemic, Kyari ensured the NNPC and its
JV partners, including Shell, Total, and ENI, came together to execute
the NLNG T7 FID on December 27, 2019. He went ahead to mobilize for
the signing of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)
contract for the project awarded to the Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo
(SCD) JV Consortium.
The signing of the contract signaled the commencement of EPC
activities for NLNG T7 Project. On completion, the production capacity
of the six-train plant would expand exponentially by 35 per cent, from
the extant 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, and boost
Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global LNG market.
The project has the prospects of further attracting foreign direct
investment (FDI) in excess of $10 billion to Nigeria.
The AKK Pipeline Project
Just as Nigerians were jubilating at the milestone on the Nigeria LNG
project, Kyari ensured President Muhammadu Buhari launched the EPC
activities on the 614 kilometers-long Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK)
pipeline project by NNPC last week.
Considered to be at the heart of the country’s economic growth, Kyari
has pursued the execution of the project with single-minded commitment
to see that it is completed on schedule in 2023.
The pipeline project represents phase one of the 1,300 kilometre-long
Trans-Nigerian Gas Pipeline (TNGP) project being developed as part of
Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan to utilize the country’s surplus gas
resources for power generation as well as for consumption by domestic
customers.
The TNGP project also forms part of the proposed 4,401 kilometre-long
Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) to export natural gas to customers
in Europe.
Uninterrupted Fuel Supply
Prior to his appointment, hiccups in the supply of petroleum products
were a common feature in the Nigerian economy. The incessant
disruptions in fuel supply affected Nigerians’ ability to plan
effectively. They could not predict when the next fuel scarcity would
hit the country and send families to spend days and nights in long
fuel queues at filling stations.
Kyari leveraged on the existing Direct-Sales-Direct-Purchase (DSDP)
product supply arrangement he started and sustained while in office as
the GGM COMD of the NNPC, to guarantee energy security for Nigerians.
2020 crude oil lifting contracts
In August 2019, a few weeks after his inauguration, Kyari announced
the issuance of fresh crude oil lifting contracts to 15 local and
international oil marketing and trading consortia/companies under the
2020 DSDP scheme.
With the country’s four refineries still operating far below their
installed capacities, and unable to produce enough to meet the
country’s daily national consumption need for petroleum products, the
15 contractors were to utilize the 445,000 barrels per day crude oil
allocation for local refining to bring into the country petroleum
products for domestic consumers.
But, Kyari said the difference in the latest issuance of the oil
lifting contracts was that this would be the first time since the DSDP
programme began in 2016 that the NNPC would officially be making
public the list of all the contract winners.
Kyari said revealing the names of the beneficiaries to the public was
a new normal for NNPC as part of the policy direction, pledge and
commitment of his management to transparency and accountability in
NNPC’s operations going forward.
To sustain the era of uninterrupted supply of petroleum products,
Kyari assured that his management would continue to revamp downstream
infrastructure to guarantee availability of 90 per cent pipeline for
fuel distribution; ensure automation of the fuel distribution system,
and grow NNPC Retail’s market share to 30 per cent.
“Operation White”
To build on the success of the DSDP programme, entrench energy
security and deepen transparency in petroleum products supply and
distribution, Kyari, in collaboration with the Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, initiated an innovative programme,
“Operation White”, to curb products diversion and smuggling, and
ensure that the entire country was kept continuously wet with
petroleum products.
Under the initiative, a team of 89 officials drawn from various
government agencies involved in the petroleum products supply process
was inaugurated, tasked with the responsibility of monitoring and
tracking fuel distribution and consumption throughout the country.
The team included representatives from the NNPC, Department of
Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) as well as the
Department of State Security (DSS).
Under the initiative, Kyari ensured actual volumes of petroleum
products imported and consumed in the country were authenticated. The
NNPC now has a customer express solution and online marketers’ portal,
which is live for oil majors and Depot and Petroleum Products
Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to monitor loading and
lifting of petroleum products from NNPC depots. Plans are on course
for the system to go live for members of the Independent Petroleum
Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) by the end of the
second quarter of 2020.
These achievements are by no means all that can be credited to the Lee
Kuan Yee like visionary leadership of Kyari and we in the media have
the duty to praise our public officials when they do well so that we don’t become permanent Rottweilers.
A Daniel has indeed come to judgement!
Erasmus Ikhide is a media strategist and can be reached via:
ikhideerasmus@gmail.com; 08035032123
Ebireri Henry Ovie Mobile: 2348036977194
“The Award to Julius Berger is a well-deserved recognition for the company’s patriotism and loyalty to the ideals setting up TETFund.”
– Kashim Imam, Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Thursday in Lagos honoured Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. with an ‘Award of Merit’ for being “The top Tax payer organisation in Nigeria’s Construction Sector”.
The event was the 3rd Edition of TETFund’s Tax Payers Forum held at the five-star Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island and had in attendance the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu ably represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.
In hi
s welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bagoro, said inter alia, “…in trying to fulfil its constitutional roles, TETFund identified the critical mass of tax payers, especially the top ones. We then came here to appreciate these key tax payers, particularly the ones receiving Awards of Merit today….the 2% education tax is annually remitted by companies through the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, to TETFund for allocation and onward disbursement to beneficiary institutions of higher learning across the country,” Bagoro added.
Lagos state deputy Governor reinforced the Executive Secretary, Bagoro’s voice saying that the event was TETFund’s own way of “encouraging the trust of tax payers” even as he urged the organisation to do more to attract more taxpayers in fulfilment of the amended Act No. 16 of 2011 that established the Fund.
The Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees who presented the award to Julius Berger, declared the award as “a well-deserved recognition for the company’s patriotism and loyalty to the ideals setting up TETFund.” He also encouragingly said that, “companies so recognised must not relent in continuing the great job they are doing with their compliant tax remittances.”
Speaking after he received the Award on behalf of Julius Berger, the head of the company’s Tax Department, Muniru Haruna, remarked that, “…we feel honoured by TETFund’s recognition of Julius Berger as one of the most consistently compliant and, in fact, highest tax payer in the country’s construction sector. At Julius Berger, we seriously honour our tax obligations as a patriotic duty. We thank and appreciate TETFund for acknowledging our long standing commitment and compliance by this award”. Officials from the Media Relations Office of Julius Berger Plc also attended the event in Lagos.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Vice Chancellor of University of Lago, Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe who delivered the keynote address; co-founder of EKO Hospital, Olorogun Sunny Kuku who represented the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; and representatives of the Senate and House of Representatives respective Committees on Education and TETFun
‘Ada Owere Honour Results from My Modest Achievements’ – Ondo First Lady
Wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has attributed her installation as Ada Owere I to her modest accomplishments.
The First Lady said this in her address during the Ada Owere Chieftaincy conferment at Graceland Event Arena, Owerri, Imo state.
“The honour bestowed on me today is in recognition of the modest achievements that I have recorded in my ancestral home of Emeabiam in Owerri West Local government Area, Ondo State and Nigeria at large.
“The achievements include but not limited to founding of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) which is a leading NGO that galvanizes actions against breast cancer through public education, patients support, advocacy and Research for which I was nominated in 2014 as a scholar of the American Cancer Society, alongside award of recognition in 2018 by Harvard University,USA and a recognition in 2019 by the University of Heildelberg, Germany.”
Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu was installed as Ada Owere I by Ndi-Eze Owerri Federal Constituency, comprising of forty-three communities in Owerri West, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal Local Government Areas of Imo State.
Mrs Akeredolu who described the occasion as historic in many respects, said her achievements include the deployment of the instrumentality of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) as a platform to advance family values, societal and educational development by promotion of literacy in children through programmes such as ‘Reading is Fun’, Essay and Spelling Bee Competitions.
Other achievements, in the words of the First Lady, include constructive engagements with the government with the goal to ensure that the people of Owerri Zone are not marginalized in appointments and development projects.
The First Lady also attributed her successes to the quality of training she was given by her parents, saying: ‘my parents gave her wings to fly.’ She pledged to multiply the reason for which she was honoured.
“I am receiving this honour in loving memory of my parents, Chief BUB Anyanwu and Nneoma Dora Anyanwu, gave her wings to fly. I will, with the help of my husband and well-meaning Nigerians, ensure that the reason that informed your decision to honour me today will multiply in no distant time.”
Dignitaries at the event include the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, the Deputy, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and Wife, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Catherine Oladunni Odu, Chief of Staff to Governor Akeredolu, Mr Olugbenga Ale, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, Barrister Olusola Oke, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, and Mr Jimmy Odimayo.
Others are Prince Eze Madumere, Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, HRM, Eze David Akujobi Osuagwu, Chairman, Imo Traditional Institutions of Owerri Zone, Rt. Rev’d Chukwuma C. Oparah, Anglican Bishop of Owerri Diocese, among other dignitaries.
PRESIDENCY STRONGLY CONDEMNS HOODLUM ATTACKS ON TRAVELLERS
The Presidency condemns the attack earlier Saturday on travellers from a religious event in Bauchi, passing through Jos, the Plateau State Capital and regrets the reported deaths of at least twenty-two persons with several others injured in that ambush on their travelling party.
It is widely known that Plateau State has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon Lalong.
However, to be clear, this is not an agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct, brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of their choosing.
With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an opportunist ambush.
The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities – including security, the police, and governmental agencies.
These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the teachings of the great religions of our nation.
The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly – delivered to the perpetrators.
“Make no mistake about it: in line with my commitment to protect all Nigerians, I have ordered our security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of this gruesome massacre of innocent travellers and bring them to justice,” President Buhari said.
As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold, the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to calm down the situation.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 14, 2021
Redirect N4.8bn to monitor WhatsApp calls to pay doctors’ salaries, SERAP tells Buhari
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to urgently redirect the proposed spending of N4.8bn of public money to monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls, and text messages of Nigerians and other people, to pay some of the salaries of striking resident doctors, improve their benefits, as well as improve public healthcare facilities for the sake of poor Nigerians who rely on those facilities, and have nowhere else to turn.”
SERAP said: “We also urge you to send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the redirected budget, for its approval.”
In the open letter dated 14 August, 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Redirecting the proposed spending of N4.8bn would be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money.”
According to SERAP, “Redirecting the proposed spending of N4.8bn would also remove the threats to fundamental human rights of Nigerians, and ensure access to quality healthcare for the socially and economically vulnerable people who rely on public hospitals, and have no opportunity for medical treatment elsewhere.”
The letter, read in part: “Any appropriation law ought to comply with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments.”
“The constitutional oath of office implicitly provides some safeguards on the appropriation and spending of public funds, and imposes a legally binding obligation on public officers to preserve the public money, and not to disburse it except conformably to the Constitution.”
“SERAP believes that any proposed spending of public funds should stay within the limits of constitutional responsibilities, and oath of office by public officers, as well as comply with Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution relating to fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.”
“The mere threat of mass surveillance, even when secret, coupled with the lack of remedy, can constitute an interference with human rights, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
“The proposed spending of N4.8bn of public funds as contained in the Supplementary Appropriation Act, which you signed last month would give rise to serious violations of the human rights of Nigerians and other people, as it would grant free rein to government agencies to conduct mass surveillance of communications of people.”
“The proposed spending also fails to meet the requirements of public interests, legality, necessity, and proportionality. Additionally, the lack of any safeguards against discriminatory decision-making, and access to an effective remedy shows the grave threats it poses to constitutionally and internationally recognized human rights.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“SERAP is concerned that the proposed spending to monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls, and text messages of Nigerians and other people is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Specifically, Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the country is a state party provide for the right to freedom from arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy and correspondence, communications and private data.”
“Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 19 of the Covenant also protect everyone’s right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers and through any media.”
“SERAP wishes to stress your government’s obligations under article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 13 of the UN Convention against Corruption both of which Nigeria has ratified.”
“Similarly, the UN General Assembly has condemned unlawful or arbitrary surveillance and interception of communications as ‘highly intrusive acts’ that interfere with fundamental human rights (see General Assembly resolutions 68/167 and 71/199).”
“SERAP is concerned that the powers to conduct arbitrary, abusive or unlawful surveillance of communications may also be used to target political figures and activists, journalists and others in the discharge of their lawful activities, especially given the growing repression of civic space, suspension of Twitter, and attacks on freedom of expression and media freedom in the country.”
“Privacy and expression are intertwined in the digital age, with online privacy serving as a gateway to secure exercise of the freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, targets of surveillance would suffer interference with their rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and expression whether the effort to monitor is successful or not.”
“Interference with privacy through targeted surveillance is designed to repress the exercise of the right to freedom of expression.”
“Surveillance of journalists, activists, opposition figures, critics and others simply exercising their right to freedom of expression – would lead to violations of other human rights such as the rights to liberty and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment.”
“Targeted surveillance creates incentives for self-censorship and directly undermines the ability of journalists and human rights defenders to conduct investigations and build and maintain relationships with sources of information.”
“SERAP is concerned about the failure by your government to resolve the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over pay, insurance benefits and poor facilities, and its effects on poor Nigerians, especially as the country faces a third wave of coronavirus.”
“According to our information, in July, 2021, you reportedly signed the 2021 supplementary appropriation bill of N983 billion into law. Of the amount, N4.8bn (N4,870,350,000) was allocated to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls, and text messages of Nigerians and other people.”
“Of the figure, N1.93 billion was earmarked for ‘WhatsApp Intercept Solution’ and N2.93 billion for ‘Thuraya Interception Solution’ – a communications system used for monitoring voice calls or call-related information, SMS, data traffic, among others.”
The letter was copied to Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and Mrs Zainab Ahmed Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
15/8/2021
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
Dr. Abiola Oshodi Wishes Tinubu Quick Recovery
The Canada-based medical practitioner and philanthropist, Dr. Abiola Oshodi has sent a get-well message to the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The founder of Dr Abiola Oshodi Foundation, who is one of the ardent diaspora supporter of Tinubu’s presidential ambition, said in a statement that special prayer was organised for the political leader in Canada amongst the BAT faithfuls , as Tinubu travelled to London for medical check up.
Dr Abiola Oshodi said the former Governor of Lagos State is an invaluable asset to the nation and that Nigerians were looking up to him to fix the nation’s socio-economic and political challenges being currently faced by the country.
He noted that the meteoric developments taking place in Lagos State was the brain child of the APC national leader.
According to him, “We in the diaspora are supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be the next president of Nigeria because of his wealth of experience in governance , capacity, eagle eye ability to spot and develop young talents and his legendary political management skills .
“A cursory look at what is happening in Lagos State would give anyone who knew what the state was before Tinubu became the governor of the state.
“He indentified and assembled like minds to redesign the state and came up with first-class economic plan for the state which has turned around the state’s fortune.
“It is the template he designed that subsequent governors have been implementing.
“So, we want him to bring to bear that same strategy in the management of the federation’s affairs.
“This would bring an end to the Insecurity, economic downturn amd other social ill being experienced in the country and in addition to reuniting all the ethnic nationals in the country.
“I wish him quick recovery.”
Dr. Oshodi has empowered different underprivileged including women and youths through presentation of cash gifts and working tools, and various forms of empowerment.
CVR: Delta Govt charges appointees to relocate to constituencies
August 10, 2021
Delta Government on Monday charged all its political appointees to relocate to their constituencies to mobilise and sensitize eligible voters to register in the ongoing voters registration exercise.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who briefed newsmen on the position of the government, had earlier met with the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his office in Asaba.
Aniagwu said that the action would enable a political millage in the state chapter of the party to entrench electoral integrity and capture eligible voters who had crossed 18 years.
He also said that the state-owned media outfits had been directed to grant free-to-air on the ongoing voters registration.
He said that the state with a population figure of over five million people had not availed themselves of the opportune speed of the exercise.
“It is our duty as a government to mobilise our people for registration for future elections in the state.
“INEC alone may not have what it takes. We have directed all political aides to return to the local government areas, and our media establishment, including the Directorate of Orientation, to offer free publicity to INEC for the registration exercise,” he said.
The commissioner, however, berated the Senators and members of the House of Representatives who voted against the controversial electronic transmission of election results.
“INEC is all about Nigeria and not PDP, All Progressive Congress (APC) or any other political party, transmission of election results should be based on integrity of the body polity.
“Electronic transmission of election results should be a Nigerian thing, aimed at entrenching transparency.
“Anybody who is using GSM, listening to radio and watching Television, to transmit information and he is against electoral transmission is an enemy of the country; He or she has something to hide,” Aniagwu said.
Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed sadness on the passing of Chief Dennis Omovie, a former member of the state’s House of Assembly.
Omovie, who is the Unuevworo (Traditional Prime Minister of Ugboroke), reportedly died on Tuesday night at a hospital in Warri, after a brief illness.
Until his death, the four-time member of the Parliament was the Director-General, Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Agency.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Wednesday in Asaba, Okowa commiserated with the people of Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas and Ugboroke community in particular, over the demise of the grassroots politician and community leader.
According to the governor, the deceased was a thoroughbred politician, who was very popular among his people, accounting for the reason he contested and won elections to represent them in the state assembly for four consecutive terms.
He said, “on behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman and grassroots politician, Hon. Dennis Omovie, who passed on in Warri on Tuesday.
“The news of his passing was a terrible shock to me and the entire state. He was a gentleman-politician, and he distinguished himself in the service of his people and the state.
“As a member of the State Assembly, he chaired the Committees on Public Petition, Legal and Judicial Matters as well as Public Accounts, and he served diligently.
“My condolences go to the family, especially his wife, Justice Mabel Omovie of the State High Court, Asaba.”
Okowa prayed God to grant fortitude to those who mourn his demise and grant the deceased’s soul eternal rest.
Delta expands Warri-Uvwie storm drainage project
The Delta State Executive Council on Thursday, approved the extension of Warri-Uvwie Storm Drainage project to ensure proper and enduring control of flood in the area when completed.
The extension, according to the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, consists of flood control works in Ugbuwangue community in Warri South Local Government Area and additional 15 work sites in phases I and II of the drainage project, bringing the sites to 76.
Aniagwu, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba, said that decisions reached on project and other issues at the meeting, were targeted at measures that would entrench and deepen the Stronger Delta agenda of the administration.
The commissioner, in company with the Director-General, Warri-Uvwie and Environs Development Agency, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said other projects, including the Advanced Diagnostic Centre and the Mother and Child Medical Centre, Owa-Alero, had been earmarked for immediate completion.
He said that the council approved additional works and procurement that would make the medical centre a world-class facility, adding that the Ministry of Health had been directed to ensure that work on the facility was fast-tracked.
He disclosed that the government also approved the appointment of Isaac Ajawhobu as the Odiologbo of Onogbokor Kingdom in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.
Aniagwu further stated that adjustments for the state’s participation in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme to get more Deltans to key into the agricultural programmes were also approved by the council.
On his part, Macaulay recalled that the initial contract for the Warri and Uvwie flood control projects was awarded in January. 2020, but that progress of work was stalled by COVID-19 pandemic which set in and caused a lockdown.
“I am happy to report that CCECC, the contractor, has achieved 50 per cent of the initial contract while Levante has achieved a little over 40 per cent on its part, and the people of the areas are happy.
“I can tell you that if you go to Warri now, there are lots of the areas where we have already worked on and the people are very happy because there is no more flooding.
“The flooding in Enerhen Road and Enerhen Junction is now a thing of the past because the whole area has been taken care of,” he said.
Macaulay disclosed that with the increase of work sites on the storm drainage projects from initial 61 to 76 caused a corresponding increase of the contract value by N4.5 billion from the original sum of N9.5 billion, explaining that the increase was necessitated by some developments in the area.
“The whole of Ugbuwangue community is under water and the government at today’s meeting has also approved that the area should be taken care of,” he added.
Stronger Delta: Okowa seeks patience, cooperation of Deltans
Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday commended Deltans for their cooperation with his administration, especially with the prevailing insecurity and economic challenges confronting families across the country.
Okowa gave the commendation in Asaba while swearing-in Professor Sylvester Monye as Senior Policy Adviser.
He said that Monye, who had served as his adviser since 2015, had made remarkable contributions to the success of his administration’s programmes and policies and urged him to see his re-appointment as a challenge for greater service.
The governor said that with the cooperation of the people, his administration would continue to improve on its programmes, particularly the entrepreneurial development schemes.
“I congratulate you on your reappointment and I am glad that you truly understand the programmes of this administration. Returning to your former office shows that you already know what to do.
“You have done quite a lot for this administration and it is my hope that you continue to strengthen our work both in the office and externally so that together we will be able to finish strong in the promises that we have made to our people,” he said.
Okowa remarked that there were lots of challenges facing the country, which needed superior thinking to navigate through.
According to him, there is quite a lot to be done but the finances are dwindling and there are lots of challenges of insecurity out there which threaten a whole lot of projects and even programmes that we have.
“In spite of these challenges, with superior thinking we should be able to navigate through and to come out strong.
“So, definitely we will be relying strongly on your experiences and your inputs to do well out there to meet the needs of our people,” he said.
The governor urged Deltans to be patient and to continue to pray for his administration to enable it to provide solution to the challenges facing them.
“The times are obviously challenging and our people are in very difficult times because of the insecurity in the land and the COVID-19 pandemic and many other issues that have created a lot of challenges to our people.
“I want to reassure Deltans that we identify with their challenges and we will continue to work hard to proffer solutions to the challenges.
“With their cooperation we will do well and continue to improve on the programmes of this administration.
“We will continue to stay focused on the goals that we have set for ourselves and we believe that in working together, we will be able to finish stronger,’’ he said.
He also commended the media for the fair and adequate reportage of his administration’s programmes and policies.
Responding, Prof. Monye thanked the governor for finding him worthy to be reappointed and assured him of his total commitment, loyalty and utmost dedication in the discharge of his duties.
He recalled that the Asaba Airport concessioning was successful because of the role the governor played in ensuring that integrity and transparency characterized of the process.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was adopting the Asaba Airport model in the concessioning of four airports in country because of the transparency and integrity of the Asaba example.
2023: Muhammadu Buhari not supporting Bola Tinubu – Presidency
The Presidency on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the United Kingdom (UK) was just on account of goodwill and not to show support for his presidential ambition in 2023.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television programme, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said given the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not given the green light for campaigns to start, the president will never break the rules by campaigning.
He, however, said the President may campaign after the presidential candidate has emerged in the APC.
“The President still has two years, less three months in his tenure of office. So for him to start supporting somebody now will just be jumping the gun. And you know that President Buhari will never do that. Before the 2019 election, people started to campaign for him before INEC blew the whistle of the campaign to start. He was the one, who came out to say No, don’t do it. Don’t jump the gun.
“So the President himself will dare not jump the gun in terms of supporting one candidate or the other.
“Also recall that he has said that anybody who wants to be President after him should go out and work. That means the president may not be supporting anybody until maybe when the candidate of the party emerges. Knowing President Buhari, he will never jump the gun,” Adesina stated.
PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS LOSSES TO FLOODS IN NIGER REPUBLIC, STATES IN NIGERIA
President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with President Mohammed Bazoum, government and people of Niger Republic over devastating floods that have left many dead and affected homes.
President Buhari says losses reported from Niger Republic in the last two days were very vast and disturbing, while also taking note of flooding in many parts of the world, including some states in Nigeria.
The President affirms that natural disasters are symptoms of climate change which all countries, including Nigeria, have committed to taking measures to prevent the adverse effects.
President Buhari prays for all the departed souls and affected families.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 13, 2021
Ibori Chief Uduaghan
Alema of Warri extols Ibori’s leadership qualities
Business mogul, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, on Monday described former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori as a colossus, true patriot and political go-getter.
In a congratulatory message to Ibori on the occasion of his 63rd birthday, Uduaghan praised the former governor for his enormous contributions and achievements.
‘’Chief James Onanefe Ibori faithfully and diligently served the good people of Delta State, cast aside all forms of tribalism and delivered the dividends of democracy to them’’.
Uduaghan who is also the Alema of Warri Kingdom and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Webster Group of Companies hailed Ibori for touching the lives of many Nigerians, shaping the future of his people, encouraging broad participation in governance, lifting Delta State to unprecedented relevance and helping to clinch victory at the polls for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He commended the ex-governor for implementing the bottom-top philosophy, institutionalizing due process and sustaining peace in Delta State through the gospel of peaceful co-existence, good neighbourliness and unity amongst all’’
‘’Chief James Ibori carried traditional rulers along in sustaining peace, through periodic meetings. He created an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. He brought development and transformation to the geo-political entity called Delta State through Operation 2000 Projects’’ Uduaghan said.
The Warri High Chief applauded Ibori for excelling in development issues and relationship with his deputy, paying bursary allowances to students of tertiary institutions, curbing unemployment, youth restiveness and ethnic crisis in Delta State.
‘’Chief James Ibori promoted peace, harmony and development in the Niger Delta. He campaigned for the diversification of the nation’s economy, power shift, resource control and derivation as well as enthronement of equity and justice in a restructured Nigerian polity where true federalism reigns. He also campaigned for decentralization of policing and security responsibilities of government’’.
The Warri Chief emphasized other achievements of the former governor.
‘’Chief James Ibori built bridges of friendship and understanding among Nigerians. He demonstrated that leadership is not a function of tribe but a matter of vision, determination and mission. He also recorded successes in security, job creation, human resources capacity building, gender and youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and remediation, fiscal discipline and budgetary reforms’’.
Uduaghan also underscored Ibori’s role in the training of Deltans in local and foreign universities.
‘’Chief James Ibori did well in transportation, healthcare delivery, water supply, basic and higher education, rural electrification, sports, ICT, agriculture and housing. He provided better roads, built bridges, facilitated the training of Deltans in local and foreign universities and provided selfless service to mankind’’
The Alema of Warri extolled the former governor’s exemplary dedication to service and his leadership qualities.
‘’As a responsible governor of Delta State, the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature was a model in terms of peaceful co-existence, separation of powers and checks and balances. The judiciary also enjoyed tremendous support and co-operation from the Executive. Indeed, Ibori exceeded the expectations of the founding fathers of Delta State through visionary, exemplary and transformational leadership’’.
Ending the message, Uduaghan said ‘’I wish you good health, long life and God’s continued protection’’.
Chief James Onanefe Ibori
Former Executive Governor
Delta State
I offer my sincere greetings and best wishes to His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori on the occasion of his 63rd birthday
Yours has been a life of doggedness, commitment and extraordinary accomplishments.
I commend your patriotic zeal in politics and your enormous contributions to the development of Nigeria
I commend you for bringing the goodness of government to the highly educated people of Delta State, putting smiles on the faces of people who came to you for succor and promoting democracy and true nationalism
I commend you for providing employment, modern and subsidized urban mass transit system, potable water, potent health care delivery and good roads as well as secured living in Delta State
I commend you for playing significant roles in the development of the Niger Delta region
I commend you for demonstrating exemplary leadership, serving as a source of strength and inspiration for many within and outside the South-South geo-political zone.
I wish you good health, long life, happiness and God’s protection
Once again, happy birthday to a selfless leader, ardent nationalist, profound humanist and astute politician
CHIEF EMMANUEL ORITSEJOLOMI UDUAGHAN
THE ALEMA OF WARRI AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)
WEBSTER GROUP OF COMPANIES
Chief James Onanefe Ibori
Former Executive Governor
Delta State
I rejoice with you on the joyous occasion of your 63rd birthday
I join my voice with millions to celebrate your sterling leadership qualities and roles in building a virile democracy as well as a politically healthy and economically strong Nigeria.
I recall your views on true federalism, good governance and resource control.
I recollect the roads, bridges, houses and many others you bequeathed to Delta State.
I can’t forget the payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions, improvement of the welfare of the state workforce, employment of thousands into the state civil service and your vision in pioneering overseas scholarship.
I am excited about your commitment to the service of the fatherland, promotion of amity among the good people of Delta State, grooming of successors, creation of stars and contribution to the good of the family.
You deserve to be celebrated and honoured for building a far better Delta State, working with first class professionals and intellectuals and demonstrating eloquently that there is nothing as good as a leader writing his name in gold in the heart of his people by keeping faith with them.
Once again, I congratulate you on your birthday and wish you God’s protection, good health and many more rewarding years ahead
CHIEF EMMANUEL ORITSEJOLOMI UDUAGHAN
ALEMA OF WARRI AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO), WEBSTER GROUP OF COMPANIES
63 HEARTY CHEERS TO A COLOSSUS, TRUE PATRIOT, POLITICAL GO-GETTER AND PHILANTHROPIST PAR EXCELLENCE
His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori
Former Executive Governor
Delta State
Your Excellency, I wish to congratulate you most warmly on the occasion of your 63rd birthday.
This is a refreshing opportunity to celebrate your enormous contributions and achievements.
You faithfully and diligently served the good people of Delta State, cast aside all forms of tribalism and delivered the dividends of democracy to them.
You extensively touched the lives of many Nigerians, shaped the future of the people, encouraged broad participation in governance, lifted Delta State to unprecedented relevance and helped to clinch victory at the polls for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
You implemented the bottom-top philosophy, institutionalized due process and sustained peace in Delta State by preaching the gospel of peaceful co-existence, good neighbourliness and unity amongst all
You carried traditional rulers along in sustaining peace, through periodic meetings
You created an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive
You brought development and transformation to the geo-political entity called Delta State through Operation 2000 Projects
You excelled in development issues and relationship with your deputy
You paid bursary allowances to students of tertiary institutions, curbed unemployment, youth restiveness and ethnic crisis in Delta State.
You promoted peace, harmony and development in the Niger Delta.
You campaigned for the diversification of the nation’s economy, power shift, resource control and derivation as well as enthronement of equity and justice in a restructured Nigerian polity where true federalism reigns.
You also campaigned for decentralization of policing and security responsibilities of government.
You built bridges of friendship and understanding among Nigerians
You demonstrated that leadership is not a function of tribe but a matter of vision, determination and mission
You recorded successes in security, job creation, human resources capacity building, gender and youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and remediation, fiscal discipline and budgetary reforms.
You did exceedingly well in transportation, healthcare delivery, water supply, basic and higher education, rural electrification, sports, ICT, agriculture and housing.
You provided better roads, built bridges, facilitated the training of Deltans in local and foreign universities and provided selfless service to mankind
As a responsible governor of Delta State, the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature was a model in terms of peaceful co-existence, separation of powers and checks and balances. The judiciary also enjoyed tremendous support and co-operation from the Executive.
Indeed, you exceeded the expectations of the founding fathers of Delta State through visionary, exemplary and transformational leadership.
I wish you good health, long life and God’s continued protection.
Congratulations and many, many happy returns
CHIEF EMMANUEL ORITSEJOLOMI UDUAGHAN
ALEMA OF WARRI AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO),
WEBSTER GROUP OF COMPANIES
One of the most profound sayings in the southeast region of Nigeria, is an adage that says, “The world is a marketplace”. When put in clearer context, this adage carries two meanings, the first, which seems to be the most obvious is that the Igbo ethnic nationality, fondly called Ndigbo, spread across the southeast and parts of the South-South, are majorly traders and business-minded people. The second, which carries a deeper connotation, is that the marketplace is the core of social, community and business interaction.
Prominent in this region is the city of Onitsha, a town located on the eastern bank of the Niger River. Onitsha is the economic hub of commerce and industry in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It hosts the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods and is strategically positioned as a regional hub for trade, business, and logistics in the region. Regardless of the several business ventures and investments that people from the South-East have scattered around the country, every end of year, during the festive season, almost everyone from the region comes back home to meet with their kinsmen, celebrate their achievements and engage in cultural activities.
Homecoming is everything. It offers the most valuable opportunity for integration. This integration alongside an impressive ingenuity for business and trade across the region has fostered an inspiring degree of social mobility that continues to drive economic growth and development in the region and across the country. In the middle of this all, stands, the Niger bridge, a symbol of hope, commerce, culture, and progress.
After over 50 years of connecting people both within and to the region, regular traffic, imposing heavy static loads on the bridge is taking a toll on the first Niger Bridge, giving rise to the urgent need for a second bridge crossing – The Second River Niger Bridge. For many stakeholders in the region, the completion of the Second River Niger Bridge will be a dream come true, as many have spent an important part of their lives looking forward to the impact and immense benefits that the bridge will bring to their personal lives, social engagements, and businesses.
A project of the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works and Housing, in collaboration with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, the Second River Niger Bridge is expected to, among other things, minimize traffic congestion affecting the current bridge and ensure a safe and sufficient river crossing.
The Second River Niger Bridge is not just another regional amenity; it is a key national infrastructure that will play a major role in enhancing everyday life and social integration for dwellers while also driving trade and economic activities. As a significant bridge in the region and the nation, the Second River Niger Bridge will contribute immensely to the expansion of a well-developed road transportation network, providing ease for commuters and enhancing regional connectivity. It will make homecoming even sweeter.
Handling the construction of this bridge is Julius Berger, the company known for its quality and reliability, which has delivered some of Nigeria’s most important buildings and infrastructure and demanding engineering feats, such as the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos.
For the average resident in the South-East and environs, the drive for progress is an everyday activity. From making large supplies and sales on a regular basis, to expanding chain stores, or even successfully climbing the ladder of the apprenticeship system, to become a proud business owner. These amongst other stories of advancement, are the kind of progress, the Second River Niger Bridge will enable once completed. With the Second River Niger Bridge, inter-state travel within the region becomes more convenient. Social and economic integration also becomes more enhanced. It would also foster trade activities and other commercial engagements, like transporting raw materials and finished goods to factories, warehouses, suppliers, distributors, stores, and the end-consumers.
As shown on the project microsite where progress on the bridge is made transparent to the public, so far, reports around the ongoing construction, show good progress on the Second River Niger Bridge Project since commencement. For example, the superstructure is in progress, the geotechnical design and In-construction service are recording good and steady developments; the culverts have been completed, while work is in progress on both the Owerri Interchange and the Toll Station.
The project has started to deliver value for the community and this progress we can hope to continue till the full completion of the Second River Niger Bridge project.
– By Nnamdi Ogbo, Asaba
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
APC CONGRESS: LAGOS WILL ADOPT CONSENSUS CANDIDATE, SAYS GAC
…Party To Hold Stakeholders’ Meeting across The State On Thursday
Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making body of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the party will adopt a consensus arrangement for its ward congress scheduled for Saturday, July 31 to elect ward executives.
The GAC, which comprised prominent leaders of Lagos APC across the State, said it has directed party officers at all levels to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of those who are in disagreements to accommodate members that are willing to serve the party.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the GAC members after the council meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said the GAC has directed all leaders and party officers to dialogue in the spirit of brotherhood to decide those who are going to lead the party after congresses.
He said: “We deliberated on the incoming state congresses of our party and later the national convention. We have resolved and directed officers of our party at all levels to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of aggrieved members within the party in other to ensure that all opinions are accommodated and all members who are willing to serve the party are given positions in the various executive bodies at ward, local and state levels.
“This we have done and we are sure all officers of our party will follow the consensus decision that we have taken so as to ensure that all willing members of the party who want to serve are considered.
“We have also directed that they should hold stakeholder meetings at all local government levels where leaders and officers will sit down, talk together in the spirit of brotherhood and decide who will lead the party after the congresses.”
The GAC also appreciated Lagosians for reposing confidence in the APC. “We have reviewed events in the party, and particularly we have also received results of the last local government elections. We thank the press, members of the public, particularly the voters of Lagos State for reposing their confidence in our party as they have always done. We are grateful for this,” he said.
Also speaking, Lagos APC Chairman of Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Tunde Balogun said the party ward executives would emerge through consensus on Saturday, adding that APC would hold stakeholders meetings in all the local governments in the State on Thursday.
He said: “Next Saturday, we are having a ward congress which will lead to the formation of our party officials. We are having our stakeholders meeting tomorrow (Thursday) and there, we will decide on what to do. The stakeholders’ meeting is taking place in all the 20 local governments in Lagos State; all local governments will hold the meeting.
“We are engaging a lot of stakeholders and we are going to do the ward congress on consensus.
Consensus arrangement has been adopted by the party. We will be doing that for Lagos State. We have decided to adopt the consensus arrangements, which is constitutional. It is part of the provision of our party.”
Commenting on the outcome of last Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State, Balogun said APC won the election landslide with about 584,000 votes across the State, while the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scored about 81,000 votes.
“We had a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, which was conducted very well by LASIEC and of course, Lagos State APC polled a total of about 584,000 votes while our closest rival PDP had 81,000 votes. We have to be thankful to the residents and voters in Lagos State, who had shown so much confidence and trust in APC. We will continue to deliver the dividend of democracy,” he said.
The GAC meeting was attended by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; former deputy governors, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Otunba Olorunfunmi Bashorun; Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Prince Olusi and Balogun, among others.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 28, 2021
July 28, 2021
Press Statement
Ondo: Supreme Court’s Split Judgment Vindicates Our Appeal- PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the split judgment by the Supreme Court on the flawed nomination of Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, shows that there is merit in its appeal against his election as governor.
The party notes that the majority judgement as presented by the Supreme Court did not address the impunity in the action of the Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, in functioning as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while at the same time holding office as a sitting governor, contrary to the provisions of section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the constitution of the APC.
The fact that three justices out of the seven-man panel upheld our position on the illegality of Akeredolu’s nomination confirms that his candidacy as cancerous and a brazen violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the constitution of the APC.
It is noteworthy that the judgement did not disagree with our position that Mai Mala Buni as Governor of Yobe State cannot function as National Chairman of a political party and nominate a candidate for election to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While our party restates its utmost respect for the institution of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, the PDP had expected the Apex Court to stand up as the conscience of our nation by halting the absurdities and impunities being entrench in the political firmament by the APC.
The quest for a legal pronouncement that will guide the sanctity of our electoral system was the reason the PDP had explored our point of grievance legally to the highest court in the land, in the interest of the nation, and not just because of our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.
The PDP however urges our members in Ondo state and Nigerians at large not to allow the development make them lose hope but to remain calm and law-abiding in the general interest of the nation.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
PRESIDENT BUHARI COMMITS TO INCREASE EDUCATION BUDGET BY 50% IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to increase the budget for the education sector by as much as 50 percent over the next two years.
In a document titled, Heads Of State Call To Action On Education Financing Ahead Of The Global Education Summit, signed as a form of commitment at the on-going Summit in London, United Kingdom, the President stated:
“We commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50% over the next two years and up to 100% by 2025 beyond the 20% global benchmark.”
The Summit which is being co-hosted by the Prime Minister of UK Boris Johnson and the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta seeks to give opportunity for leaders to make 5-year pledges to support GPE’s work to help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 28, 2021
The full text of the declaration is reproduced below:
“I join my brother, His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya to affirm our commitment to improve learning outcomes in our respective countries by ensuring equitable access to quality and inclusive education for all our citizens, with particular emphasis on the girl child.
“We fully endorse the call for more efficient use of resources and to significantly increase investment in education by strengthening institutions, promoting greater adoption of technology, building the capacities of our teachers and mobilizing additional financial resources through legal frameworks and deliberate intervention on a sustainable basis.
“In this regard, we commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50% over the next two years and up to 100% by 2025 beyond the 20% global benchmark.
“Let us therefore raise our hands in solidarity to build a more secure and prosperous future for our children.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Federal Republic of Nigeria
28th July, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES GOV AKEREDOLU ON SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT, URGES MORE DEDICATION TO PEOPLE-DEVELOPMENT
President Muhammadu Buhari joins members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in felicitating with Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State over the Supreme Court judgement, which upheld his re-election in the October 10, 2020 polls.
The President urges the governor, and all elected leaders of the governing party, to always place the people first in their consideration of development programmes and projects, affirming that the popularity of the APC would continue to depend on performance and acceptance by the electorate.
President Buhari extols the Ondo State governor for assiduously working for the development of the state, with reforms that continue to attract the goodwill of investors, and insistence that education, health and security take priority.
The President notes that the Supreme Court Judgement, preceded by that of the Court of Appeal, further bolsters the strength and reach of the APC, and its bright chances of consolidation in coming elections.
President Buhari calls on the opposition to sheathe the sword, work for the development of Ondo State, and wishes the government and people a prosperous future.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 28, 2021
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES AKEREDOLU, APC ON SUPREME COURT VERDICT
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated his Ondo State counterpart, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) on the Supreme Court verdict, which upheld his victory in the October 10, 2020 governorship election.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Committee on the Ondo State Gubernatorial election, also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, as well as members of the party in Ondo and across the country on the victory.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the Supreme Court ruling as “validation of the people’s mandate”, saying that the election results announced by INEC were evident that Governor Akeredolu was validly elected by Ondo people.
He said: “As democrats, we must submit ourselves to the tenets of democracy, which include post election litigation. Today’s judgement has put paid to all insinuations and doubts about the resounding victory of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
“I therefore call on all lovers of democracy, especially the people of Ondo State to come together for a continuation of good governance and the developmental process of Ondo, started by Governor Akeredolu from his first term of office.”
“On behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, I congratulate my brother, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on his victory at the Supreme Court.” Sanwo-Olu said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 28, 2021
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU SWEARS IN 57 COUNCIL CHAIRMEN, SAYS ‘IT’S TIME FOR WORK, NOT FOR POLITICAL VENDETTA’
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the administrative and financial autonomy being enjoyed by Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State for almost two decades is not granted for nothing, but given to achieve a bottom-up growth model for the acceleration of coordinated development across the State.
The Governor said local councils, as the closest tier of Government to the people, must justify their autonomy by initiating people-oriented policies and programmes, which must focus on improving the lives and livelihood of citizens at the grassroots.
Sanwo-Olu gave the advice, on Tuesday, at the swearing-in of LGAs and LCDAs chairmen elected in the State’s council elections conducted last Saturday. The chairmen and their vice chairmen took the oath at a ceremony held in the State House, Alausa.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) swept all the chairmanship seats across the 57 local councils.
The party’s overwhelming victory at the polls, Sanwo-Olu pointed out, yet again demonstrated Lagosians’ faith in APC, urging the council chairmen to uphold the people’s confidence and reciprocate the trust by prioritising the welfare of their citizens in decision making.
Since the inception of the fourth republic, he said Lagos had not created any vacuum in local government administration.
The Governor advised the chairmen not to take position as an opportunity to eliminate their political opponents, but use their energy to work for the people.
He said: “Today, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in Local Government administration in Lagos State. A resounding statement has been made, once again, that Lagos is APC, and that the people of Lagos continue to regard our party as the most viable and most credible political choice for the most populous State and biggest subnational economy in the country. We consider this overwhelming support as a vote of confidence in our administration and our great party, and it will never be taken for granted.
“I congratulate the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen across all the LGAs and LCDAs. Your victory is an affirmation of trust in your competence, capacity and capability to discharge the responsibility of the Office you are stepping into. Being the closest tier of Government to the people, any gap or shortcoming in administration will be keenly felt by the people. As a result, your policies and programmes must be people-oriented, focusing on how to improve the lives and livelihood of the people at the grassroots.”
Sanwo-Olu reminded the council helmsmen that they came at a challenging time when the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had disrupted jobs, livelihoods and businesses across the State, noting that residents expected nothing short of good governance and policies that would enable their administrative areas navigate the difficult times and stand on a solid socio-economic footing.
This, he said, is part of their responsibilities and burdens as elected leaders, charging them to live up to their expectations. He reminded them that their tenure as council administrators was time-bound, urging them to build their legacies from the first day on office.
“More than ever before, councils require cooperation among all levels and arms of Government. It is expected that you will work in unity with other tiers of Government to bring dividend of democracy to the people in all the relevant areas, such as construction and maintenance of inner roads, waste management, primary education, healthcare, security, and so on,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Governor extolled the leadership virtues of the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing gratitude to former Lagos Governor for his “unflinching dedication” to the party’s continued victory at all levels.
Sanwo-Olu also praised members of the APC Local Government Election Committee, led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the party executive members, led by State Chairman, Hon. Tunde Balogun, for delivering on the mandate entrusted to them.
Commending the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), led by Justice Ayotunde Philips (Rtd), the Governor said the umpire had continued to live up to its responsibility and duties as enshrined in the law establishing it.
He said: “My commendation also goes to all our people, the civic-minded people of Lagos State, who conducted themselves peacefully and responsibly, before, during and after the elections. I want to particularly thank you all for keeping faith with our great party.”
Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the robust support received by the chairmen showed systemic dynamism and entrenched political understanding in APC, stressing that the party always emerged stronger and more united after every contest in the State.
“It is important to remember that politicians derive their popularity and grassroots support from performance and constant delivery of dividends of democracy. The task ahead of you, as council chairmen, is to sustain and even surpass the tempo of performance of previous administrations in your respective areas, the Commissioner said.
Executive Chairman of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Sesan Daini, who moved the vote of acceptance on behalf of the council chairmen, pledged total loyalty to the party’s manifesto and development blueprint of the Sanwo-Olu administration.
At the event were the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hamzat, Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Commissioners, Special Advisers, members of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), body of traditional rulers, led by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, and party members.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 27, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Minister Urges Diaspora Group To Counter False Narratives About Nigeria
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) to help counter the false narratives by secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who portray Nigeria in a bad light.
The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he received members of NIDO, UK Chapter, on a courtesy visit.
“As an organized and well connected group, I implore NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light.
”I have no doubt that you will take this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for the better,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Buhari Administration considers Nigerians in Diaspora as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, hence has done the unprecedented by establishing the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) which, he said, has been doing a good job in coordinating and providing an organized system of collaborations of Nigerians in Diaspora.
He slammed some Nigerians in Diaspora who are helping to fund the nefarious activities of secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world to propagate their fake narratives about the country.
“Instead of contributing their own quota, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc. These are baseless and false,” the Minister said.
Acknowledging that Nigeria is facing some challenges including dwindling revenue, he said in spite of the challenges, the Administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of infrastructure – roads, rail, power, housing, dams, etc. and agriculture, where the country is closer than ever to achieving self-sufficiency in major staples.
Alhaji Mohammed also listed the fight against corruption, which the Administration is prosecuting in an institutionalized manner, as well as the revamping of the economy, especially through diversification, as some of the achievements of the Buhari Administration.
He said as part of deliberate effort to counter anti-government propaganda, which is aimed at drowning the successes recorded by the administration, the government is scaling up diplomatic efforts to reverse the trend.
“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman, NIDO, UK Chapter, Mr. Chibuzo Ubochi, commended President Buhari for officially gazetting 25th July every year as the National Diaspora Day.
He called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill that would enable Nigerians in Diaspora to vote and be voted for during elections, in view of their numerous contributions to the Nigerian economy.
Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of The Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
27 July 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Minister Urges Diaspora Group To Counter False Narratives About Nigeria
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) to help counter the false narratives by secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who portray Nigeria in a bad light.
The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he received members of NIDO, UK Chapter, on a courtesy visit.
“As an organized and well connected group, I implore NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light.
”I have no doubt that you will take this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for the better,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Buhari Administration considers Nigerians in Diaspora as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, hence has done the unprecedented by establishing the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) which, he said, has been doing a good job in coordinating and providing an organized system of collaborations of Nigerians in Diaspora.
He slammed some Nigerians in Diaspora who are helping to fund the nefarious activities of secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world to propagate their fake narratives about the country.
“Instead of contributing their own quota, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc. These are baseless and false,” the Minister said.
Acknowledging that Nigeria is facing some challenges including dwindling revenue, he said in spite of the challenges, the Administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of infrastructure – roads, rail, power, housing, dams, etc. and agriculture, where the country is closer than ever to achieving self-sufficiency in major staples.
Alhaji Mohammed also listed the fight against corruption, which the Administration is prosecuting in an institutionalized manner, as well as the revamping of the economy, especially through diversification, as some of the achievements of the Buhari Administration.
He said as part of deliberate effort to counter anti-government propaganda, which is aimed at drowning the successes recorded by the administration, the government is scaling up diplomatic efforts to reverse the trend.
“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman, NIDO, UK Chapter, Mr. Chibuzo Ubochi, commended President Buhari for officially gazetting 25th July every year as the National Diaspora Day.
He called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill that would enable Nigerians in Diaspora to vote and be voted for during elections, in view of their numerous contributions to the Nigerian economy.
Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of The Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
27 July 2021