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Controversial enter tainer and TV personality, Charles Oputa, aka 'Charly Boy', is in the news again. He has resumed his usual rants on what he describes as religious hypocrisy.
Chaly Boy
The 'Area Father', as he is fondly called, recently went on a social media rant, calling out fake pastors, hypocritical Christians and people who claim to be religious but constantly fall for the antics and deceit of fake pastors. He claims to have read the Holy Bible from page to page over 20-times,and thus knows what he is talking about.
"A country full of religious mumus. A lot of us being brainwashed on how to worship God as some churches now come up with different gimmicks. It is not surprising to see people attend church rituals involving frantic falls as if grasped by epileptic seizures, feigning attack by the spirits. Yes, most of these dramatics are paid, like the Nollywood actor who claimed that the devil exited his body through his foot.
I'm not suggesting that all men of God are tinted, but out of a hundred you may not find four that live what they preach. Would it surprise you if I tell you I've read the bible page to page over 20-times? So I know more than I make out. I know that true men of God do not misquote the Bible."
Falling in love with a physically challenged person isn't something that people talk about often (if at all). People tend to place more emphasis on physical appearance than feelings, which ought to always follow in the pursuit of true happiness. Shirley
But feelings can also be fickle and fleeting and could be very tricky. Love isn't just a euphoric, spontaneous feeling, it is an inner chemistry difficult to describe. Should physical disability be a barrier to true love? Following is what some Nigerian entertainment celebrities have to say on the matter.
I don’t believe in love – Baba De Baba, Comedian
I don’t really believe in love because love makes you go into a relationship without checking qualities. When the guy is faced with that reality called marriage, he will begin to see faults he never noticed while dating and the love will begin to dissipate. Physical disability can only be a barrier if you’re not educated or empowered. She must also have other qualities to cover up for her disabilities. You can’t be disabled and useless.
I see no barrier in it – Nev Harrison, Comedian/Ventriloquist
It shouldn’t be a barrier because at the end of the day, what keeps love alive is what’s on the inside of a person and not what’s on the outside. I haven’t tried such a relationship though, but judging from others, I see no barrier .
There’s this blind man I know who has one of the finest woman I have seen in recent times as a wife. Also there’s this crippled woman whose husband is one of the happiest man I have come across. However a lot of people do not feel comfortable about in here in Nigeria. They attach spirituality to everything and view it as getting themselves into spiritual warfare.
But personally, I see nothing wrong with it, because the divorces and separations I have seen in the last ten years are between two normal and complete people. Marrying a disabled person is not a decision people make when they set out to look for love. But if I’m in search of love and I find love there, then so be it.
For me, it depends - Ene Ochu, Actress/Model
It depends. I would love a physically disabled person who loved me extraordinarily before he became disabled. Although it's going to take serious thought and consideration loving a disabled person that you didn't know or haven't dated before. The truth is, these people are also humans and deserve to be loved. There must be a high level of love that I must get from him to hold me down. Disabled people deserve love.
We need more than just love to stay in a relationship – Yvonne Enakena, Actress
No, it shouldn't if it's 'true' love. But then you need more than just love to stay in a relationship… Love is just a fraction of it. Another thing is that most disabilities are hereditary, you have to think about your children, the emotional stress on both you and your child. You have to be sure you can cope, ask yourself the right and sincere questions and you're convinced and certain, you can go ahead. But sometimes it's good to apply wisdom in all we do.
You love a person’s soul, not their appearance - Shirley Igwe, Actress/Model
Physical disability shouldn’t be a barrier. You fall in love with the soul of a person not their physical appearance. Even though physical abilities play a big role but if you’re deeply in love with someone’s soul - poor English, height, physical challenge, financial status and the rest do not matter.
No man is created to be alone – Blessing Patrick, Actress No physical disability should be a barrier to true love, because a disabled person is alive. Once a person has life, there is hope. Anything can happen as long as they both love each other. Besides, one man's meat is another man's poison. We've had stories and we've seen so many physically challenged people who found love.
No wonder God created Eve from Adam when he was asleep and when he woke up, he recognised Eve and said "This is the bone of my bone".
Therefore a disabled person also has the bone of his bones, as it is written, no man is created to be alone. A physically disabled person is exempted from finding true love. Would I love a disabled person? I'm in line with God's original purpose for me, if it's his will for me.
Despite shortage ofgas supply occasioned by disruption of pipelines by incessant bombings by militants, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said that power generation has been stable at over 3,000 megawatts, mw, for days due to decisions taken at the monthly power sector meetings.
Fashola, who made this known at the eighth stakeholders meeting which held in Maiduguri, noted that the meeting has helped to bring some stability back to the sector.
He said: "In spite of the gas outages that we have, for the last few days now, we are settling at just a little over 3,000mw daily which is some progress from a setback that we have recorded consistently because of vandalism."
In a statement by the Ministry's spokesperson, Hakeem Bello, Fashola, said the task of power supply would be greatly enhanced if government and the suppliers knew the number of people that needed power for proper planning for generation and supply.
He called for the audit of households, the occupants and the quantity of power consumption as that would help government design a comprehensive service delivery across the country.
The ministry, Fashola said, planned to do an audit during the next National Census exercise and appealed to state governments to do same to enhance electricity supply, using such information.
In a bid to drive effective importation of petroleum product across the country, under the leadership of its National President, Chief Obasi Lawson.
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has entered into a strategic partnership with NIMEX Petroleum Group, to import 100, 000 metric tonnes of petroleum products.
This, according to a statement by National President of IPMAN, Mr. Lawson Obasi, will complement the laudable efforts of the Federal Government in driving a sustainable deregulation policy for the sector.
Obasi said this after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with NIMEX Petroleum Group.
Obasi, said that the product which would be imported by NIMEX Petroleum Group would be distributed to its members across the country to augument supply received from NNPC and other sources.
The IPMAN president, also added that the product would go a long way to making petrol available in the country, adding that the quantum of petrol received from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was not sufficient for its members.
He however, commended the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources under the minister, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, and Mr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, for a laudable job in ensuring that products are available for the consuming public in spite of the grave challenges they face.
He said that IPMAN is not unmindful of the positive effect of the partnership to its complementary effort to bringing in petroleum products to service the dire needs of our members.
Lawson said that this strategic relationship established with NIMEX Petroleum Group would also help improve the supply chain of petroleum product in the country in driving the deregulation policy.
According to him, IPMAN which is an umbrella association of independent marketers of petroleum product in Nigeria has today grown to occupy a pride of place in the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.
He said, "With membership of well over 10,000 marketers across the length and breadth of Nigeria, IPMAN has over the years grown to control well over 87 per cent of the petroleum products retail outlets in Nigeria with a reach that auspiciously spreads to every nook and cranny of the country.
"This commendable spread by IPMAN members in the establishment of retail outlets across the country necessarily requires a steady supply of petroleum products in order for its positive effect to be felt both by government and Nigerians.
"The NIMEX Petroleum Group was founded by Azmat Mahmoud, an astute German Businessman, a global name in the provision of solid services in the petroleum sector.
"NIMEX Petroleum Group with a global footprint in more than 15 countries in Africa has garnered three decades experience in the provision of solid services in petroleum-related trading and in fostering relationships globally recognised and aimed at delivering consistent value for its patrons."
Lawson addedý that "It is in recognition of this global reach by NIMEX, that IPMAN has decided to partner with it in order for it to bring its huge experience to support IPMAN in capacity building in the strategic area of satisfying the growing needs of its members for availability of petroleum products."
In his comment, Mr Kanwar Ratra, the President of NIMEX Petroleum Group, however, assured of its preparedness to satisfy the yearning of IPMAN and its members for products.
Ratra said that the partnership with IPMAN as a very strong petroleum marketers association would yield fruitful result, adding that the importation will be continuous to support IPMAN members and to quash the market force.
He lauded the leadership of IPMAN for their initiative to ensure petroleum product is available at every nook and crannies of the country, adding that the partnership would ease scarcity and crash market price seeing the enviable pedigree of IPMAN in the global petroleum trade.
"To this end, we assure all IPMAN members, the Federal Government and the public at large that IPMAN's strategic relationship with NIMEX will ensure the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in large commercial quantities to complement the efforts of the Federal Government to quench the burning thirst of our members and the public at large for these products.
"It will be a win-win situation for IPMAN, its teeming members, the generality of Nigerians and NIMEX.
"We wish to seize this opportunity and once more extend our profound gratitude and thanks to our avuncular President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the management of NNPC and PPMC and all those who made it possible for the peace that IPMAN is enjoying today."
There will not be a second Olympic champion called Muhammad Ali after Britain’s flyweight with the most famous name in boxing was defeated in his Rio debut on Monday. The young Ali- reportedly bestowed the name by his boxing-mad father — was left distraught and in tears after his Olympic dream came to a premature end after just nine minutes of action.
Venezuela’s Yoel Finol, 19, was awarded the bout on a unanimous points decision to leave Ali, who is a year older, with his head in his hands and looking stunned. “I’ve been here too long and I was itching to get in there,” said Ali, who was making his first appearance nine days after the Rio boxing began.
“I let the emotions get the better of me, I just tried too hard and nothing was flowing and now I am just here…” said Ali, his voice trembling and tears welling in his eyes. “I just feel like it’s the end of the world.” The heavyweight legend Ali, who died in June aged 74, announced his presence to the world — he was then called Cassius Clay — with gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
The decision to release Boko Haram suspects in exchange for abducted Chibok schoolgirls as being demanded by the terror sect, will be a political decision.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a security meeting, held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
He, however, said that military operations against activities of the terrorist group would continue irrespective of any negotiations with the sect.
“That is a political decision to be taken.
“The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations.
“The operation is being conducted appropriately.''
The CDS stated that the military authorities were analysing the video released by Boko Haram sect and “we will make appropriate comments at the right time''.
He said that one of the people declared wanted by the army in connection with the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls had surrendered himself to the army for interrogation.
Olonishaki disclosed that the meeting went beyond discussing security matters, saying that it also discussed issues on floods apart from terrorism.
Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali said the meeting took the form of workshop as participants were trained on how to respond to emergency issues.
“It was not a meeting as such, it was a little workshop that was arranged for us to understand how to respond to emergency issues, how to be in the position to advise the President to take the right decisions under emergency cases either terrorism, flood or any other thing.
“It was put together for chief executives to sit down and understand the processes of thinking when there is disaster.
“And I think that is what we have learnt today, and hope we will put into use.''
Also commenting on the activities of the Boko Haram, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said even though the Federal Government was in touch with the sect.
According to him, the government is being careful and cautious in view of the split in the leadership of the group.
“What is important to government is the safety and security of these girls.
“Don’t forget that this is not the first time we will be engaged in talking and engaging them.
“The point is we assure the nation that we are on top of the situation.
“We are not even just reacting to the video; we have gone far beyond the video in talking to the group already.
“Until you are able to ascertain the authenticity of the people you are talking to, you don’t go into details.''
On the planned protest-march to the Presidential Villa by members of the BringBack Our Girls' group, Mohammed stated that government was committed to doing everything possible to rescue all kidnapped citizens, including the Chibok schoolgirls.
“We appreciate their commitment to the return of these girls but there are few things we need to do behind the scene.
“What we are saying is that the government is committed to do everything to rescue these girls.''
The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) has, at its emergency meeting held on Thursday 11th August, 2016, approved the dismissal of 3 senior Prisons officers serving in Kuje Medium Security prison and 3 other senior officers serving in Koton Karfe prison for their complicity in the escape of prisoners from the respective prisons. The dismissal letters dated 12th August, 2016 were signed by the Secretary to the Board Alhaji A A Ibrahim.
The letter reads in part “…… Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) considered the allegation of serious misconduct arising from your negligence of duty as leveled against you ….. The Board thereafter approved your immediate dismissal from the Nigerian Prisons Service.. in line with the provision of the Public Service Rule 030402 (O) being an action prejudicial to the security of the State”.
Similarly the Controller-General of Prisons in his capacity has approved the dismissal of 7 junior staff serving in Kuje Medium Security prison and 10 other junior staff serving in Koton Karfe prison also implicated in the escape saga.
The affected officers are to hand over all government properties in their possession to Jailbreaks their immediate superior and proceed accordingly.
Meanwhile the officer in charge of Nsukka Prison DCP Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 others have been suspended over the recent prisoners’ escape from the prison. The suspension is to allow for detailed and uninterrupted investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to facilitate appropriate action by the authority.
It would be recalled that in the wake of incessant escape of prisoners from some prisons in the country the CGP, Ja'afaru Ahmed on the 2nd of August, 2016 convened an emergency meeting of Command Officers and 241 officers in charge prisons across the country to reassess security measures for safe keeping of prisoners. Although a number of escapees have been recaptured, efforts are still being made to ensure that all the fugitives are apprehended and returned to prison custody.
The Controller General wishes to assure all officers and men of the Nigerian Prisons Service of his readiness to support and encourage hard work and dedication to duty but frowns at acts of negligence capable of embarrassing the Service and the nation at large. While appreciating the collaboration of security agencies, vigilante groups and members of the public for their support, the Controller General further assures that all necessary measures are being put in place to guarantee maximum security of persons in Prison custody.
Sen. Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central) said Gov. El-Rufai of Kaduna State had no justification to blame the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria's problems.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State (2nd right), and Senator Sheu Sani.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, Sani said all defectors from PDP were part of the party and should not absolve themselves of blame.
He said that the governor was a PDP beneficiary for 14 years out of the 16 years of the part's reign and as such could not claim to be innocent.
He added that the Kaduna state governor came to limelight through the PDP from 1999 until 2014 when he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If you google El-Rufai, you will see him from 1999 but if you google Shehu Sani, you will see him from 1989.
“So you can see. He was brought to limelight by virtue of being in the politics of the PDP.
“I laughed at him when he said `the PDP has destroyed Nigeria for 16 years' while he enjoyed 14 years out of the 16.
“For somebody who has spent 14 out of the 16 years, you cannot say he's a repented man in two years.
“If you repent in two years, it has to take time to reach people who have never been sinners, like me.
“I have never eaten from the PDP nor have I ever been under their umbrella.
“But he was part and parcel of it for this period of time," he said.
He said that the APC was a convergence of forces from other political parties, adding that some of the people who came to the APC still had their PDP mentality.
Sani insisted that the defectors should also carry all attributes of change and not act like they are still in the PDP.
According to him, it is not unusual to have people with PDP mentality still entrenched in the APC.
“They do not want criticism, they do not want contrary opinions, but that is what drove them from that very party.
“When they moved out of the PDP, what they said is that they were denied the right to express themselves on the way the party should be run.
“Nigerians have a very sadly short memory: We forget people who were part and parcel of the destruction of this country simply because they change political parties and then they become saints.
“It is good when you repent, but we should remind you each time you try to insult our intelligence, to tell us that you are clean and every other person is dirty.''
Sani said that the governor was not making life easy for the common people in Kaduna state.
According to Sani, when the APC took over from the PDP, Kaduna people had expected to witness changes, but rather than change, the government brought policies that imposed hardship on them.
He said that the governor had been out of Kaduna for too long and so did not understand the pains and aspirations of the people.
"Since El-Rufai took over power, he has kept on unleashing one programme after another that further made things difficult for the people.
“We are still within the APC but right now, the problem has gone beyond me and him.
“It also involves stakeholders in the state: the party is divided.
There are people who have invested heavily in the party, they are marginalised, not carried along and a seeming new group has emerged challenging his dominance and authority in the party.
He added that El-Rufai should treat people who contributed to the victory of the party in Kaduna as equals to ensure peace and reconciliations.
He added that the governor should also recognise the poor and refrain from policies that would further impoverish them.
He urged the governor to stop all unwarranted demolition in the state, especially when the land allegedly encroached into belonged to the Federal Government and beyond his jurisdiction.
Police authorities said it has busted a notorious syndicate of fraudsters, who specialised in counterfeiting local and foreign currencies.
One of the suspects
Vanguard gathered that two members of the syndicate, identified as Asiedu Ofei, a Ghanaian, and Tunji Femi, were declared wanted when police operatives raided the syndicate's hideout in Lagos and Ekiti states, where they recovered millions of fake Cedis and Naira.
Asiedu Ofei was arrested during the raid, but escaped from police custody when he led policemen to arrest other members of his syndicate.
A police source disclosed that Ofei and members of his syndicate normally produce the counterfeit currencies in China, bring them to Lagos before smuggling them to Ghana, where they are exchanged for original currencies.
The source added that effort to re-arrest Ofei had remained unsuccessful, adding that police had no information on his whereabouts.
The source said police were counting on the public for information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest.
The Katsina State Police Command, have arraigned Hamisu Galadima, a primary school teacher, before a senior magistrate's court for allegedly raping seven girls in Faskari local government area. The police prosecutor, ASP Hashimu Musa, told the court that the suspect was arrested following complaints by the victims' parents.
He said that all the girls were not above nine-years-old. He said that the First Information Report (FIR) indicated that the incident occurred at Tashar-icce village in Faskari local government area. Musa told the court that Galadima lured the girls into an office after school hours and had sexual intercourse with them at different occasions.
He said that the girls' parents reported the case to the police after which the suspect was arrested for investigations. The prosecutor added that the girls were treated at Funtua General Hospital. He said that the offence was punishable under the section 283 of the penal code.
The magistrate, Mr Abdulkarim Ahmed-Umar, adjourned the case till Sept. 24, for mention and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
The Naira on Monday depreciated against the dollar at the parallel market, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
The Nigerian currency lost N3 to exchange at N393, from N390 posted on Friday; while it traded at N505 and N435 against the Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively . At the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market, the naira closed at N385, N505 and N420 against the dollar, Pound Sterling and the Euro, respectively.
The naira appreciated at the official interbank market to close at N317.34, from N320.25 posted on Friday.
Traders at the market said that the demand for the greenback was still on the high side.
NAN reports that the market was eagerly awaiting the sale of forex by banks to BDCs during the week.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appealed to political leaders in Guinea Bissau to embrace unity and avoid any act that could plunge the nation into further crisis. The president made the appeal when he received Mr Modibo Toure, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Guinea Bissau at the State House, Abuja. Buhari decried the lingering political crisis in the West African country. “They must accept responsibility for leadership to stabilize their own country,'' he said. He further maintained that only the country's political leaders, not outsiders that could effectively resolve the political crisis in the country. The president told the visiting envoy that Nigeria would welcome increased support from ECOWAS and the United Nations to stabilise the country and prevent breakdown of law and order. According to him, Nigeria has a responsibility to the region and the rest of Africa, saying that “we will not shirk on our responsibility, in spite of the hardship confronting us''. Toure had requested Nigeria to use its clout in the regional bloc, ECOWAS, to break the deadlock in the country. The UN representative warned that Guinea Bissau faced “a very grim future if the country continues without a functioning government''.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has kicked against the appointment of former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Ishaq Oloyede as JAMB Registrar, calling for his probe.
Professor Is-haq Oloyede
It added that his era as Vice Chancellor was characterized with anti-democratic and anti-union antecedents.
ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi while addressing journalists in Lagos said: “Given our inside knowledge of his anti democratic and anti-union antecedents, Professor Oloyede is the last person that we expected to be so honoured with a national appointment of that status in the education sector.”
According to Ogunyemi, Oloyede ‘s anti-workers stance stood out in the case of the sacked UNILORIN 49.
“He led the administration’s team to as far as Lagos to testify falsely against the workers before the Industrial Arbitration Panel,” Ogunyemi said.
He said that when academic staff were reinstated in 2009 by the Supreme Court, Oloyede, as VC then refused to fully implement the orders of the Court.
Ogunyemi pointed out that in 2008, Oloyede as VC said that UNILORIN is happy without ASUU, while at the same time collecting money from UNILORIN academics in the name of ASUU without remitting same to the Union.
Ogunyemi who accused Oloyede of nepotism said: “As VC of UNILORIN, the system was manipulated to favour his son and daughter and within weeks, gave them awards for overseas training despite explicit regulations against the practice.”
He also said that in May 2012, Professor Oloyede as VC, suddenly doubled the amount of pension being deducted from UNILORIN staff under the pretext that the deductions were not enough, adding that this was in contravention of the Pensions Reform Act which prescribed 7,5 per cent.
The ASUU President said: “The above represent some of the reasons why the Union is appalled that Oloyede has been offered an appointment to head the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“The Union has resolved to lodge an official complaint with the appropriate authorities and to demand investigation into the activities of Oloyede while in office as VC of UNILORIN. “
Maiduguri – The Japanese Government on Monday announced a donation of three million dollars in support of victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanabu Kusaoke, made the announcement at the launch of the project in Maiduguri.
Kusaake said that the project was aimed at assisting the victims to engage in gainful activities like farming and trading for social stability.
“The Japanese Government has decided to support the project for early recovery and social cohesion in the North-East of Nigeria with a 3 million dollars donation.
“This is to help people who engage in gainful activities like farming and trading to contribute to the social stabilisation and recovery of the affected communities in the three states,” he said.
Kusaoke said that the project would concentrate on women, youths and other vulnerable groups in the communities.
“Priority is on women, youths and other vulnerable people.
“The project is expected to create safe environment for the returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as reduce pressure on migration to neighboring countries,” he said.
Kusaoke said that the project would also involved support for UNDP programme of de-radicalisation of former militants in the states.
“We have also decided to fund the UNDP project on de-radicalisation and also to increase the capacity of security agents in investigations and prosecution as well as preventing and controlling migration,” he said.
The envoy commended the Borno state Government for its multi-facet approach in addressing the problems of insurgency in the state.
“We commend the state government for its comprehensive approach in dealing with the insurgency problems.
“We also commended the Federal Government for its support to the military to end the Boko Haram crisis,” he said.
Commenting, Gov. Kashim Shettima thanked the Japanese Government for the gesture and urged other donors to emulate the gesture by providing similar assistance to victms of insurgency. (NAN)
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on cattle breeders to shun violence in seeking injustice in order to foster peaceful co-existence among all communities across the country.
Armed Fulani-herdsmen
The monarch made the call on Monday in Sokoto, when members of the Presidential Committee on Grazing Reserves paid him a courtesy visit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the committee was on a nationwide sensitisation campaign among cattle breeders across the country.
The sultan said: “Seeking justice does not call for violence as the government and all traditional leaders are committed to ensure the rights of all the citizens are protected.
“We always condemn any act that will mar the peace and unity of the people, as it generates more bad than good in the growth and development of every society.
“Moreover, violence creates more harm, not only to the cattle rearers or farmers among us, but to the entire country and beyond.''
The sultan also called on Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeding Association to initiate more ways of sensitising their members to maintain peace among the communities.
He declared that peaceful atmosphere would enhance development among the people and the country.
He commended the Federal government for striving to sustain peace among cattle rearers and farmers in the country.
The chairman of the committee, Alhaji Muhammad Kiruwa, said that the sensitation campaign was to intimate Nigerians on the efforts of the federal government to entrench lasting peace and unity in the country.
“The reactivation of grazing reserves will aid in camping the cattle rearers and prevent the destruction of farm products by their animals.”
He stressed the need seek justice for and assist cattle breeders settle in grazing reserves.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, Sokoto State Commissioner of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, pledged the support of the government to ensure the success of the committee’s assignment
Maiduguri – The Japanese Government on Monday announced a donation of three million dollars in support of victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanabu Kusaoke, made the announcement at the launch of the project in Maiduguri. Kusaake said that the project was aimed at assisting the victims to engage in gainful activities like farming and trading for social stability.
“The Japanese Government has decided to support the project for early recovery and social cohesion in the North-East of Nigeria with a 3 million dollars donation.
“This is to help people who engage in gainful activities like farming and trading to contribute to the social stabilisation and recovery of the affected communities in the three states,” he said.
Kusaoke said that the project would concentrate on women, youths and other vulnerable groups in the communities.
“Priority is on women, youths and other vulnerable people.
“The project is expected to create safe environment for the returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as reduce pressure on migration to neighboring countries,” he said.
Kusaoke said that the project would also involved support for UNDP programme of de-radicalisation of former militants in the states.
“We have also decided to fund the UNDP project on de-radicalisation and also to increase the capacity of security agents in investigations and prosecution as well as preventing and controlling migration,” he said.
The envoy commended the Borno state Government for its multi-facet approach in addressing the problems of insurgency in the state.
“We commend the state government for its comprehensive approach in dealing with the insurgency problems.
“We also commended the Federal Government for its support to the military to end the Boko Haram crisis,” he said.
Commenting, Gov. Kashim Shettima thanked the Japanese Government for the gesture and urged other donors to emulate the gesture by providing similar assistance to victms of insurgency.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said the winning of the hosting right of the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) by the State has further confirmed the fact that Lagos is now the cornerstone for driving African arts and culture, just as he expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to support the talents in the industry and promote cultural heritage of the continent.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he received AFRIMA delegation led by Head of Culture of African Union Commission, Ms Angela Martins and AFRIMA President, Mr. Mike Dada, expressed excitement at the development and accepted the hosting right, saying that it was in sync with his passion of using tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and sports to promote excellence.AMBODE
“I want to thank the African Union and the organizers of the All Africa Music Awards for finding it worthy to once again pick Lagos as the host city. We are very glad that Lagos has become more or less the cornerstone for driving the African arts and culture. I must say that even though this is the third time that Lagos is hosting it, but this is the very first time that the Lagos State Government will be practically involved and that goes to show that there is a convergence of vision between what the African Union stands for and what this particular administration stands for also.
“We are big promoters of our culture; we believe so much in heritage; we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity and that is why it is a no brainier for us as a government to actually say that we are going to participate in this,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor said he believes that talents abound in Africa, which, according to him, informed why his administration had been working hard to promote the African artists, adding that talents must be supported and assisted not to die, so that they can use their talents to push Africa to her rightful place.
He said: “One of our vision is actually to promote our heritage and one of our programmes in the course of the electioneering was “Project THESE. We believe strongly that we can use Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Arts and Sports to actually promote excellence. We believe we are the next face of Africa and we think that the hub of entertainment should actually reside in Lagos and so we will do everything to promote our artists, to promote our producers and even those that are upcoming.”
Besides, the Governor urged those in the creative industry to key into the N25bn Employment Trust Fund set up by his administration.
Earlier, Martins commended Governor Ambode for his passion in developing and promoting arts and culture in the continent. She recalled that out of the States in Nigeria that received letters from the leadership of the African Union through the Commissioner for Social Affairs, His Excellency Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Lagos won the rights to once again host the 2016 edition of AFRIMA, adding that the development was a great achievement for both the Union and the State.
“We want to thank you (Governor Ambode) for always being on the side of artists and on the side of the African continent in the development of the culture and creative industries of the continent,” Martins said.
In his opening remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the hosting right of AFRIMA further attests to the commitment of Governor Ambode to promote culture, arts and tourism.
Ayorinde, who reeled out many achievements of the present administration in the sector such as the expansion of the One Lagos Fiesta, the hosting of the International Jazz Festival at the Lagos House, and the upcoming celebration of Lagos at the Toronto International Festival in September, said the Ambode administration has indeed continue to use the sector to achieve excellence.
Some of the notable names in the creative industry who were part of the delegation include Innocent Idibia, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Seyi Shay, Praise, Simi, Olisa Adibua, Tee Mac, among others.
By CALEB AYANSINA ABUJA – A former Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Monday, said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari is not fit to rule the country.* Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde
The cleric maintained that except stringent measures were taken, the country may explode because of the current biting economic hardship.
Makinde told Journalists during the inaugural meeting of retired Christian leaders of major denominations in Nigeria facilitated by El-Rehoboth Global Leadership Foundation, in Abuja.
"The APC is part of the corruption in the country. They are not fit to be there, they must handle the issue of padding very carefully. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder. The day it will explode, it will consume us. So many graduates are not employed. Unemployed people are the people behind the militancy in the Niger Delta region.
"I want to warn Christians in the National Assembly. They should be careful, they should not take the issue of Sharia law and the grazing bill in the National Assembly lightly. Nobody can acquire my land. Northerners cannot acquire my land to graze their cattle. Let them go and graze in their own part of the country," he stated.
The cleric, popularly called Prelate Emeritus also advised the Federal Government and the ruling APC to be fair in their fight against corruption.
The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a roadmap for the agriculture sector, tagged: “The Green Alternative: Agriculture Promotion Policy, 2016-2020.''
Audu Ogbeh
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the vision was to revive agric sector to boost food production in the country.
According to Ogbeh, the policy will serve as the new fulcrum for economic diversification, inclusive growth and sustainable development in agric sector.
“The launch of the `Green Alternative' is an attestation that the change that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians canvassed for and openly welcomed by giving Muhammadu Buhari a resounding victory in the last presidential election is here.
“In this policy, you will see us navigating through the agricultural terrain, trucking on virtually every aspect, we launched on the human element.
“We will reflect on years of neglect where agriculture was seen as a refuge for the wretched and unsophisticated,'' Ogbeh said.
The minister explained further that the emphasis on ''Green" would capture the essence, spirit and orientation of the new policy/strategy document.
“The emphasis on green is deliberate; it is to underscore, not only the imperative of building a strong, vibrant and resilient economy, but also a green refreshing, generating, transformative-agriculture-led economy.
“It is to ensure mutual complementary between efficient, effective and productive agricultural production, system and processes on one hand and environmental sustainability,'' Ogbeh said.
He stated that the policy had five major strategic driving forces namely, achievement of self-sufficiency and sustainable food security, reduction in import dependence and economic losses, particularly through value addition.
Other, he said, were stimulation of agro-exports for enhanced foreign exchange earnings, enhancement of wealth and job creation, especially provision of employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
The minister also said achievement of economic diversification to make the economy less oil-dependent was among the driving forces of the green policy.
Ogbeh said that through the policy, farmers would have access to land, soil fertility, information and knowledge, inputs, production management, storage, processing, marketing and trade, including access to finance.
Others are promoting agribusiness and ensuring investment development, institutional setting and roles, youth and women, infrastructure, research and innovation and nutrition security.
Also, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri explained that agricultural policy over the years had focused on conventional paradigm of harnessing the sector's potential to provide sufficient food for the growing population.
Lokpobiri, who was represented by Dr Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry said effective implementation of the policy required a systematic collaboration among the stakeholders.
“One significant element of this desire is the relevance and suitability of support institutions as an integral process of facilitating the consultative, entrepreneurial, coordinating and regulatory roles in the nation's development process.
“In this regard, government's responsibility is to continuously put in place measures that will restructure, re-orientate and strengthen the relevant national institutions as well as utilise the opportunities offered by international cooperate bodies, “ he said
According to him, this is to embrace the challenges of intensifying the integration of the country's development goals into the liberalisation principle of the world economy.
Mr kabir Ibrahim, President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended the ministry for the policy, saying it would go a long way in assisting farmers to boost productivity.
“The Nigerian farmers are seeking more availability of fertiliser, timely application of the research finding, adoption of good science and technology, provision of good seeds and small irrigation facility for all-year-round farming, “ he said.
Ibrahim urged both states and local governments to key into the policy to enable the nation achieve self-reliance in food production. (NAN)
By Luka Binniyat KADUNA - After killing 11 persons, and burning down two villages in Godogodo Chiefdom, Jema'a Local Government Area, LGA, in Southern part of Kaduna State, penultimate week, the same alleged armed herdsmen killed six farmers last Saturday in Godogodo, village sources told our reporter in Kaduna.
The villagers, who spoke to Vanguard, claimed that the armed herdsmen said that their villages have become cattle grazing reserves and wanted them to vacate immediately.
Kaduna State Police Spokesman, ASP, Aliyu Usman, confirmed to Vanguard that six people were killed and that some arrest have been made, and that there was tension in the area.
