A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
L-R: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Niger State Governor, Abubakar Belo; Nassarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the meeting.L-R: Governor Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Samuel otom of Benue State discussing at the meeting.From left, the NSA, maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno; the Defence Minister, Alh. Dan Ali; the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’allah; Minister for Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau; Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and the Ag. President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as he arrivrd for the Consultative meeting with Governors.L-R Governor Ifeanyi uguanyi of Enugu State; Presidential Liaison to the National Assembly, Ita Enang; Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Na’allah and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State during the meeting.From the left, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Governor rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State discussing during the meeting.From the left, Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu State; Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State at the meeting.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – ACTING President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Wedneday, warned state governors against playing politics with national security
From the left, Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu State; Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State at the meeting.
The Acting President also reiterated that the Constitution guaranteed all Nigerians to live in any parts of the country without molestation, just as he warned people talking carelessly in a way that would threaten the unity of the country.
Prof. Osinbajo who gave the warning when he met with the 36 governors at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, further noted that the Constitution guarantees freedom of expressions but he said that it must be done in a decent way.
According to him, "There is a part of all of these agitations and statements that are made that is fair and may well be considered as freedom of expression. Clearly, we are all allowed to express our views and there is a part of this that is expected in any healthy and robust democracy, people arguing and disagreeing sometimes even silently.
"But borderline has to be drawn and that is when conversations or agitations degenerate into hateful rhetoric where the narratives degenerate to pejorative name-calling, expressions of outright prejudice and hatred.
"We must sometimes ensure that even in the use of words, we are careful essentially because the kinds of problems that we have seen, the kinds of conflagration that we have seen all over the world even in our own society…..the use of words. Some words can carry a lot of weights and so important that responsible use of words, the responsible expression of dissent is taken as priority.
Abuja – The Senate on Wednesday hinted that the National Assembly may request supplementary budget from the executive for funds needed for 2017-2018 campaign against measles.
Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, gave the indication when he received a delegation of Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) in Abuja.
He said that the national assembly was aware that Nigeria was to provide a counterpart funding of about 11 million dollars (about N3 billion) for the measles campaign during the period.
"There is no appropriation for this campaign in 2017 budget, but I want to assure you that the national assembly is aware of the enormity of the situation,'' Ohuabunwa said.
He urged GAVI to pre-fund activities for the campaign pending when the operational funds from the organisation and the Federal Government would be released.
He said the gesture would not only keep the momentum on the measles campaign but maintain the pressure established on measles control over the years.
He pledged the commitment of the national assembly to re-positioning the health care system in Nigeria.
"The National Assembly has been very conscious of the need to re-engineer our health care sector and took the bold step of setting up the Committee for Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases in the past two years.
"The goal of this committee is to drive on the required efficiency and accountability of our many partnerships such as with GAVI, which continue to have great impact on our primary health care delivery.
"These, I believe, should indeed rekindle GAVI's confidence in dealing with Nigeria, especially in up-scaling the partnership and the support in the country,'' the lawmaker said.
Earlier, GAVI's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Seth Berkley, who led the delegation, decried the ranking of Nigeria as highest among countries with un-immunised children in the world.
He called on the Nigerian Government to put measures in place to stem the tide, adding that there were huge challenges to the health sector "and having a strong system to respond is very important''.
"We are quite concerned about the immunization system in Nigeria. The estimate of coverage was very high but not compared to disease outbreak.
"Nigeria has the highest number of un-immunised children in the world, an unenviable position initially held by India,'' Berkley said.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to eliminating polio, acknowledging that the work on polio had been strong.
He urged the government to do all within its power to ensure that polio was eradicated from the country.
While commending Nigeria for supporting the GAVI programme, he said that the country ranked among the lowest in the world in terms of funding the health sector.
According to Berkley, Nigeria is one of the lowest countries in the world with 0 to seven per cent of funding to the health sector but the world sector is 15 per cent.
Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has disowned supporters placing his posters across the state, urging him to re-contest the 2019 elections.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vasta, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Minna.
"The governor and the entire government of Niger state are dissociating themselves from such outright contraventions that are not in the character of the administration in the state.
"The governor believes in the rule of law and will not support placing of posters in form of campaign when INEC, the body constitutionally empowered to give such go ahead, has not done so.''
Vatsa said that Bello would not encourage such distraction when he was occupied with delivering the dividends of democracy to the people as promised during his campaigns.
•Gov.Abubakar Sani Bello
"The government has well-articulated restoration agenda on education through the whole school approach; infrastructural development by providing good roads and healthcare delivery.
"Others include agricultural development, youth and women empowerment and many other sectors.
"The people can see the revolutions in these sectors and this is not the time for Mr. governor to be distracted by such politicking and we dissociate ourselves from it,'' he said.
Vatsa said that the policies and programmes of the government had always been conducted in consultation with the people as permitted in democracy.
The Commissioner alleged that such act might be the handiwork of mischief makers.
He advised the people to disregard such posters that had no bearing with the governor's effort to deliver on his mandate to them.
Lagos – An Agege Customary Court, Lagos, on Wednesday dissolved the 10-year-old marriage between Adebisi and her husband, Olatunji Abiodun, over constant battering by the husband and his audacity to give their daughter tribal marks. lTribal marks Adebisi had on March 31, 2016, approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage, also said the husband was unfaithful and irresponsible.
The President of the court, Mr Phillips Williams, who gave the verdict, said the marriage had broken down irretrievably.
"Once the two parties have consented to the dissolution of their marriage, then there is evidence that the relationship has broken down irretrievably.
"Therefore, the marriage between you is hereby dissolved and any party who may feel dissatisfied with this judgment can appeal within the next 30 days," he ruled.
Adebisi had earlier told the court that her husband for 10 years had been harassing him everywhere. "l seek dissolution of this marriage so that my husband can stop harassing me anywhere he sees me.
"I want him to be responsible for the children's upkeep and education." She described her husband as a drunkard and as a secret cult member.
"He lured my daughter to his village on the pretext of visiting his parents and gave her tribal marks on her face without my consent.
"I can no longer bear the pains of constant beating and the hardships the marriage is going through. " l am fed up with his unfaithful and adulterous ways," she said. Olatunji, a middle-aged man and a father of two, also consented to the dissolution of the marriage.
He alleged that the petitioner was not submissive and lacked manners, saying she does not dress like a married woman. "My wife likes wearing skimpy and indecent clothes which l do not like and have complained several times, but she refused to change."
The process for the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye is gathering momentum as his constituents, Kogi West Senatorial District, submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding his removal from the Senate.
Melaye is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represents the district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Leader of the constituents, Chief Cornelius Olowo, told newsmen at INEC headquarters on Wednesday, shortly after submitting the petition, that electorate in Melaye's constituency were resolved to recall him.
He said that the petition, which had signatures of more than 52 per cent of the electorates in the area, was submitted at the office of INEC Chairman.
Olowo said that the move to recall Malaye was based on his "abysmal performance'' since he was elected to represent the district in 2015.
Sen. Dino Melaye
He accused the senator of distancing himself from his constituents, saying that the lawmaker's performance was low.
"In the last two years, some senators have been meeting with their people quarterly. They update them on what has been happening and seek their contributions on issues and their aspirations to be presented at the senate.
"For the past two years, Sen. Malaye has not organised one town hall meeting anywhere in Kogi West to meet with the people to present his scorecard or stewardship.
"He has been completely disconnected from the people. Since he won his election and the legal battle at the court, he is no longer reachable.
"He has no constituency office in Kogi West as we speak, as a way to reach him on matter of interests from the people that elected him,'' Olowo said.
He said that the petition had signatures of registered voters in the senatorial district, who endorsed the recall.
"We have over 360,000 registered voters in Kogi West and after about one week of collection of signatures, we were able to gather over 188,500 signatures, endorsing the recall of the senator.
"We have submitted the petition at the office of INEC Chairman. It is now left for INEC to go and do confirmation of the signatures before going on the process needed for the recall,'' he said.
On the allegation that the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was sponsoring the recall and that people fought over the money disbursed for the exercise, Olowo said it was untrue.
He said that the genuineness of the demand would be confirmed when INEC would visit the area for confirmation of the signatories.
He expressed optimism that INEC would do what was required of it over the petition.
The Director, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, confirmed the receipt of the petition by the commission.
"Yes, such petition was submitted today (Wednesday),'' he told pressmen in a short message reply on telephone.
By Soni Daniel Abuja – No fewer than 100 delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been inducted as fellows of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality. Paul Boroh A statement by the Presidential Amnesty office in Abuja on Wednesday indicated that the newly inducted fellows are the first tranche of delegates to conclude a month-long training at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The training explored the diverse opportunities in Nigeria’s tourism sector, while highlighting the nation’s rich cultural heritage as a solid base for fashion and catering businesses.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh(Rtd) described the training as expansive enough to integrate key elements of Nigeria’s social environment as unique selling points for targeted Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the hospitality industry.
Boroh said, ”I am optimistic that the delegates would make remarkable contributions to the growth of the nation’s tourism and hospitality industry. I therefore urge them to engage in activities that will help sharpen whatever skills they now possess and to put these skills to use in ways that will benefit them and society".
Gen. Boroh was also firm in support of young people who strive on their own to acquire skills in vocations that have bearing on subsistence. He advised the delegates to be worthy ambassadors of the Amnesty programme and their families stating that society expects much from them.
Vanguard learnt that while all 100 were duly inducted as fellows of the institute, a few others were recognised for outstanding performance with awards of excellence conferred on the deserving delegates.
Another batch of 100 delegates is expected to be deployed to the institute soon for training with a projected one thousand completing training in Tourism and Hospitality in the next ten months.
The event in Yenagoa attracted a large turnout of guests which included strong representations from the state government and the traditional rulers council represented by HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff. Bayelsa state.
Governor Seriake Dickson was represented by the commissioner for tourism development, Mrs Ebiere Irene Musa, who encouraged the delegates to take advantage of the opportunity given them by the government to do great exploits in the hospitality and Tourism sector.
She said the delegates have been equipped with practical and theoretical aspects in the industry to compete with their counterparts globally.
The training of Amnesty delegates in Tourism and hospitality at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality is considered by the Amnesty Office as a home grown approach to tackling some development needs in the Niger Delta.
This first set of delegates trained at the institute were empowered with business start up packs to enable them begin their own enterprise.
A half man half dog was allegedly spotted in South Africa moving round Limpopo with his fellow dogs. The video which went viral on the internet “Facebook’ left people with many questions.
New York – Nigeria is projected to be the world's third most populous country by the year 2050, according to a report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.Statistics by experts show that by2040, Nigeria's population growth would have quadruplewithout commensurate amenities and employment to sustain it
The report, titled 'World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision', said with such development, Nigeria would overtake the United States in terms of population just as world population would reach 9.8 billion people.
The report said "by 2050, the third most populous country will be Nigeria, which currently ranks seventh, and which is poised to replace the United States.
"Among the 10 largest countries of the world, one is in Africa (Nigeria).
"Amongst these, Nigeria's population, currently the seventh largest in the world, is growing the most rapidly.
"Consequently, the population of Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the United States shortly before 2050, at which point it would become the third largest country in the world.
"In 2050, the populations in six of the 10 largest countries are expected to exceed 300 million: China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and United States of America (in alphabetical order).
"Africa, which has the youngest age distribution of any region, is projected to experience a rapid ageing of its population, the report noted.
"Although the African population will remain relatively young for several more decades, the percentage of its population aged 60 or over is expected to rise from five per cent in 2017 to around nine per cent in 2050, and then to nearly 20 per cent by the end of the century."
In addition, the birth rates in African countries are likely to "at least double" by 2050, according to the report.
That trend came in spite of lower fertility rates in nearly all regions of the world, including in Africa, where rates fell from 5.1 births per woman up to 2005 to 4.7 births in the five years following.
In terms of other population trends depicted in the report, the population of India, which currently ranks as the second most populous country with 1.3 billion inhabitants, will surpass China's 1.4 billion citizens, by 2024.
The report noted that the world population, now at least 7.6 billion, was up from 7.4 billion in 2016, adding the concentration of global population growth is in the poorest countries.
The report said in spite of an overall drop in the number of children people have around the globe, the population was spurred by the relatively high levels of fertility in developing countries.
"With roughly 83 million people being added to the world's population every year, the upward trend in population size is expected to continue, even assuming that fertility levels will continue to decline.
"At this rate, the world population is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and surpass 11.2 billion in 2100," the report further revealed.
The growth is expected to come, in part, from the 47 least developed countries, where the fertility rate is around 4.3 births per woman, and whose population is expected to reach 1.9 billion people in 2050 from the current estimate of one billion.
In contrast, the birth rates in Europe are up to 1.6 births per woman, up from 1.4 births in 2000 to 2005.
"During 2010 to 2015, fertility was below the replacement level in 83 countries comprising 46 per cent of the world's population," according to the report.
The lower fertility rates are resulting in an ageing population, with the number of people aged 60 or over expected to more than double by 2050 and triple by 2100, from the current 962 million to 3.1 billion.
The UN Department said the population growth presented a challenge as the international community sought to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda seeking to end poverty and preserve the planet.
The report also noted the impacts of migrants and refugees between countries, in particular noting the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis and the estimated outflow of 4.2 million people.
In terms of migration, "although international migration at or around current levels will be insufficient to compensate fully for the expected loss of population tied to low levels of fertility, especially in the European region, the movement of people between countries can help attenuate some of the adverse consequences of population ageing". (NAN)
Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on steps he had taken to douse tension in the country occasioned by "hate speeches''Osinbajo
Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, that Osinbajo deserved to the commended.
Makarfi, however, called on government to build on the effort by making all sections to be viable and operate an inclusive government.
He advised the government to ensure that its programmes, policies and steps were tailored in a manner that no section of this country would have the impression that it didn't count. Makarfi also called on leaders and governments at all levels to handle emerging challenges confronting the nation in best way possible.
According to him, the emerging challenges include insecurity in the North-East, herdsmen/farmers' clashes, kidnappings as well as agitations and counter-agitations for secession.
He said that PDP believed that human and national development normally had challenges, but that "handling of such challenges determines the direction that the development takes''.
"As a country and a people, we have faced several developmental challenges; some have been resolved while many others are yearning for resolution.
"Even after such resolution as it's typical of the evolution of human societies, we should expect to be confronted by new and emerging challenges.
"It is thus the responsibility of each generation of our leaders to grapple with and handle such emerging challenges in the best way possible. It is always a work in progress,'' Markafi.
On herdsmen and farmers' clashes, he said that while both groups had constitutionally guaranteed rights to existence, government needed to come up with measures that would once-and-for-all address the issue.
"We must, however, be able to differentiate between the business of peaceful cattle rearing and criminal activities and take appropriate steps to protect lives and property.
"We must also secure our borders in order to prevent the influx of foreigners who may not respect the laws of our land.
"Of concern also is the issue of cattle rustling, which is also taking an altogether unprecedented dimension.
"This unlike the pastoralists/farmers problem, is clearly an issue of criminality, which governments and security agencies need to wake up to, to reassure victims that the state is there for them also.''
On kidnappings, Makarfi said it was worrisome that school students and teachers were had become targets of the criminal act.
He said that the development underscored the urgent need for security agencies to "up their ante'' in the fight against the scourge.
"Apart from additional funding, equipping and intelligence gathering, capacity of the security agencies must be improved as a matter of priority as this will enable the nipping of this criminal activity in the bud.
"We, however, wish to commend the security agencies for the bursting last week, of a criminal gang of kidnappers which had brought untold hardship and anguish to several Nigerian families.
"It is our hope that this feat is just the start of series of efforts to not only bring this criminal enterprise to an end, but also bring the perpetrators to justice. ''
Makarfi also urged the security agencies and the judiciary to ensure that criminals faced the full wrath of the law.
He said that PDP believed that in any democratic space, allowance must be made for people to express grievances and agitate for the redress of such.
He added that while PDP had no problem with agitations, those calling for succession should respect the rights legitimate rights and dignity of other citizens.
The chairman described recent altercation which degenerated into the issuance of ultimatum and counter-ultimatum for some Nigerians to leave certain parts of the country as an ill-wind that blew no good.
"Hate speeches either coming from the North, South, East or West must be avoided and be condemned by all of us.''
Makarfi, however, prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari and wished him quick recovery.
Graduates' representatives of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ilaje ethnic Nationalities, host communities to Chevron Nigeria Limited have threatened mass action in the next 24 hours if their members in the VTP5/OTP2 Operator/Maintenance Trainees of Chevron are not confirmed as staff.
The position of the graduates under the auspices of Egbema-Gbaramatu Graduates' Employment Front, KOMBOT, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG and National Association of Ilaje Graduates, NAIG, came on the heels of a strike action embarked upon Wednesday June 21 by the VTP5/OTP2 Operator/Maintenance Trainees over claim that they could no longer work in "hazardous conditions without being confirmed staff of Chevron".
The ethnic bodies in a joint statement signed by Collins Edema, Yabrade Moses and Ikuesan Ademola, President of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, KOMBOT and National Association of Ilaje Graduates, NAIG respectively, demanded for the sack of the Operations Manager of EGTL over alleged threats to their members.
They also called for the firing of the Human Resources Director "who masterminded the recruitment of our people into slavery".
The Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has signed into law, the state kidnapping prohibition bill, 2016 which prescribes Life Imprisonment or death penalty for the offence of Kidnapping and forceful extortion in Lagos State, meaning that the recently arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans may get a life imprisonment or death penalty sentence.
The law provides for death penalty for kidnappers whose victims die in their custody, and life imprisonment for the act of kidnapping.
The Lagos State House of Assembly passed the bill on January 5.
The governor said that the law was enacted to address key issues bordering on security.
EVANS
He said that kidnapping had become a major threat to the safety of residents and, therefore, required decisive action by the government.
"This law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom.
"The law stipulates that, where a victim dies in the course of kidnapping, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
"Security is of utmost importance to our administration, and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos State.
"Our justice system will be required to execute this law in absolute and make sure that any criminal caught faces the full wrath of the law," he said.
Recall that Evans himself had advised kidnappers or intending ones to desist from the act, saying it does not pay any longer.
He had said that if he can be caught, then nobody can escape the police being that the force has improved greatly in her anti-crime fight.
Evans, a billionaire kidnap kingpin had successfully coordinated and masterminded several high profile kidnappings and armed robberies within Lagos, Anambra and Enugu States.
According to him, "My advise to them is that as they are watching me standing here with policemen, they should stop everything about that, it doesn't pay."
He gave the advise to other kidnappers while leading police operatives to two houses in Ejigbo and Igando areas of Lagos state where he keeps his victims until huge ransoms are paid.
According to him, he keeps most of his victims in the two houses for months. He said he even pays up to seven hundred thousand Naira, (700,000) yearly for a three bedroom flat çells' where the victims are kept. Upon departure from Igando area Evans had opined, "The Nigeria Police is not what it is used to be. They are far more advanced than they were. If they could arrest me, there is no criminal they can't arrest."
The ranging storm generated by the quit notice issued by a coalition of Arewa Youth Organizations on their Igbo brothers and sisters living in the Northern part of the country is getting more interesting by the day especially when viewed against the background of a counter quit notice on the Northerners issued by another Youth Organization precisely the militants from the Southern part of the country.
The Arewa Youth Organizations made it clear that the Igbo have been blackmailing the whole country with secession tendencies and that they were fed up with such threats. And this contentious issue has been trending in the Mainstream and in the Social Media for the past two weeks now until a comic side was added to it when the Ohaneze-the Igbo Apex Social –Cultural group replied to the open letter that the Arewa group wrote to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
In that letter, the Youths from the North who kindled the fire urged the Acting President to allow the Igbo have their own nation of Biafra which they had been clamouring for right from 1967 since they don't believe in the geographical entity called Nigeria.
The Arewa groups even went ahead to detail several 'sins' of the Biafran Agitators since the 1960s. And hence, they urged the Acting President to give his accent to the demands of the Agitators to leave the Union (Nigeria) peacefully instead of throwing the nation into another needless civil – war or unnecessary hostilities among ethnic groups within the nation.
But pronto, the Ohaneze quickly replied their Arewa detractors that nobody can force them out of Nigeria. And in the actual sense, nobody is forcing out any group out of Nigeria. The purported Quit Notice reportedly issued by the Arewa boys which they have refused to vacate is a response to the activities of the IPOB and its leaders which was made clear in the Kaduna Declaration.
Kanu Nnamid – the self – acclaimed Supreme Leader of the Biafra Agitators have refused to keep to the terms of his bail – conditions which he has been violating with impunity barely few weeks after his release from the Kuje prisons.
He has been granting interviews and he had even organized rallies within the South- Eastern Region. It was when the IPOB ventured to carry their activities outside the region that the other ethnic groups cautioned them to stay clear of other peoples' domains/territories. Kanu is noted for his hate speeches and has even reportedly lashed out at his Igbo Kinsmen who are worshiping in churches that have Yoruba as their Pastors. He called such Igbo worshipers imbeciles.
This is because in Kanu's assessments, such Yoruba Pastors are worse than Boko – haram. His aim might be to trigger another chain of reactions from the South –West and cause katakata in the whole country. In some peoples opinion, the IPOB leader should be re – arrested for violating the terms of his bail.
But leading him to the doors of Kuje prison again may make the man to be more popular and make an hero out of him, despite his unrelenting secession moves and campaigns. Honestly I do not know what the Yoruba Pastors got to do with this secessionist struggles if not that he- Kanu specializes in fanning the embers of disunity among the ethnic groups in the country with the sole aim of increasing the political tension and make the country ungovernable for those in authority at the Federal level.
The bone of contention has been the alleged marginalization of the Ibos? But are the Ibos really marginalized vis – a – vis other ethnic groups in Nigeria? The National President of Ohaneze answer to this particular question is noteworthy which he gave on the occasion of BIAFRA AT 50.
The President – General/the National President of the Igbo Apex Social –Cultural Organization noted inter –alia, that during the Administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, apart from the fact that the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME)/Finance Minister were Igbo, all the six Kitchen -cabinet members of the former President were all Igbo.
This was to the effect that ahead of each session of the Federal Executive Council meetings, it was what these kitchen cabinet members who decide that sees the light of the day at the Federal Executive Council meeting. The respected Elder statesman further noted that the only visible Minister from the Yoruba extraction in the President Jonathan Goodluck Administration was Dr. Akinwummi Adesina who held the ministerial portfolio of Agriculture and Rural Development. That was not all.
According to the President – General of Ohaneze, at a time when Dr. Adesina – the immediate past Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was being allocated 2% of the Nation's budget, his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity was given 10%. But alas, the Igbo did not make use of these opportunities to attract tangible infrastructural development to their area. Besides, the Secretary to the then Federal Government (SFG) – Senator Anyim Pius Anyim ensured that the Grade A – list of most Federal Agencies and Parastatals were headed by the Ibos from the core South – East or from Ibo speaking areas of the South – South geo – political zone.
But is this writer trying to justify the Kaduna Declaration made by the Arewa Youths Organizations? No and far from it.
Rather we want to proffer a lasting solution to the issue of bad – blood being generated among the contending groups. And the preferred option is for the nation to adopt the Practice of True Federalism. And the first step to achieve this objective is to subject the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference which reportedly gulped almost N29 billion to a Referendum.
Specifically, the nation's political system should be restructured in such a way that Federal Appointments will become less attractive to intending Treasury – looters since there won't be much loose money to loot.
Let each of the Federating States/Units making the Federal Republic be allowed to retain as much as 50% of the resources generated within their respective territories while they contribute only 50% or even less to the Federal Treasury for the purposes of running National Security in terms of maintaining Internal peace and the Defence of the country against any form of external aggression. We can continue to retain the same National Currency, Customs, Immigration, etc. But let each of the Federating Units have some measures of control over their resources and develop at their own respective paces.
If well – developed, there is no single Federating Unit in the country that is not well – endowed either with natural or human resources which can be exchanged with others for their mutual benefits.
In other words, when the Federating States within the Republic are encouraged to look inwards and tap their own resources for the common good of their own people, there will be healthy competition and only genuine leaders who are Nationalists will emerge to go to the Federal level and lead with a sense of direction driven by passion, vision, and integrity and not by greed and avarice as seen in some of our leaders who have smuggled themselves into corridors of power just to enrich their personal accounts at the expense of our National Treasury.
In this respect, we admonish the Arewa Youth leaders to vacate their Quit Notice on their Ibo kindred while the Ohaneze and the Elders from the South – East should talk to their boys to shelve their secessionist tendencies while we wait for the Federal Government to remove the 2014 National Conference Report from the upper shelve with a view to consider its recommendations.
The Biafran Agitators who are mostly in their 20s, 30s or 40s who did not witness the civil – war should listen to the voice of reason of Elder statesmen and Leaders of Thought like Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanmu and President – General of the Ohaneze and allow the sleeping dog of Biafra dream to continue to rest until the dogs sleep slips into eternal rest.
This is the ultimate goal of all Nigerians as soon as the nation is properly restructured into a True Federal Republic . We don't want the Biafran ghost that has been buried and forgotten since 1970 to be raised from the dead again by some misguided Youths from both sides (North and the South) who have not witnessed any civil war before. And we pray that such will not be the lot of this generation of youths in Jesus name.
If there is any war the Youths should encourage themselves irrespective of their different religious or ethnic backgrounds, it is the war against poverty and bad – leadership that may be denying them of their birth- rights as citizens of this country.! Shekenah!
Gbemiga Olakunle,JP General Secretary, National Prayer Movement
Thirty percent of investments planned by oil and gas majors over the next decade could be wasted if the world economy retools to cap global warming at two degrees Celsius, researchers warned Wednesday.
Oil rig worker
The 2C (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) target is the cornerstone of the 196-nation Paris Agreement, inked in 2015.
Projects worth $2.3 trillion (two trillion euros) could become unprofitable as energy shifts toward renewables and if fossil fuel prices stagnate, according to an analysis of investment budgets for 69 publically traded oil and gas companies.
Some players will be more exposed than others, said the report, “Two degrees of separation: Transition risk for upstream oil and gas in a low-carbon world.”
Up to 50 percent of ExxonMobil’s proposed capital expenditure to 2025, for example, is allocated to uneconomical projects likely to disappoint shareholders, the researchers concluded.
Shell, Chevron, Total and Eni were found to have put 30 to 40 percent of future spending at risk, about average for the companies examined.
At the other end of the scale, 14 companies — including state-owned giant Saudi Aramco — were seen as well-aligned with the 2C scenario.
“This report is a real game-changer for the future of corporate-investor engagement,” said Nathan Fabian, director of policy & research at PRI, a UN-backed network of investors who oversee $62 trillion (56 trillion euros) in assets.
“Investors in oil and gas companies have been in the dark about their exposure to climate risk — now they will be able to confront companies with precise information.”
PRI produced the report in collaboration with Carbon Tracker, a financial think tank that assesses the impact of climate change on capital markets and investment.
Major energy companies are already under growing pressure from investors to explain how global warming — and the shift to a low-carbon economy — will affect their bottom lines.
Last month, three-fifths of ExxonMobil shareholders defied the board and voted for the company to report annually on how new technology and 2C policies will affect business and investment plans.
– Off the table –
Weeks earlier, a majority of Occidental Petroleum shareholders called for similar measures.
“There are clear signs that oil demand could peak in the early 2020s, so companies need to start taking options that would come onstream then off the table,” said James Leaton, Carbon Tracker’s research director.
“Sticking with the growth-at-all-costs scenario just doesn’t add up for shareholder value when policy and technology are heading in the opposite direction.”
The move towards corporate transparency around climate issues extends beyond the fossil fuel industry.
On June 29, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures — initiated at the COP21 Paris climate summit by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney — will issue final recommendations.
The task force has already called for the disclosure of climate-related impacts and risks, and strategies to confront them — backed by metrics and targets.
The Carbon Tracker report on investment risk in the fossil fuel industry looks at oil and gas production to 2035, and capital investment to 2025.
The proposed projects would generate 380 billion tonnes of CO2 — 60 percent from oil, 40 percent from gas — by 2035, exceeding the fossil fuel “carbon budget” consistent with a 2C cap on global warming.
Companies will need to knock off at least 60 billion tonnes of that total for the world to have a 50/50 shot at a 2C world.
In a joint statement, institutional investors backing the report — including Britain’s Legal & General Investment Management, Dutch pension fund PGGM, and the French fund FRR — cautioned against the risk of stranded assets.
“Some companies have to reconsider their business strategy,” they said.
ExxonMobil, Total, Eni and Shell are all involved in the single biggest uneconomic asset flagged by the report, the $33.5 billion (30 billion euro) Kashagan Phase 2 project in Kazakhstan. Analysts estimate it would require oil prices of at least $110 a barrel to break even.
London Brent crude closed at just over $45 (40 euros) a barrel on June 21.
By Michael Eboh The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Wednesday disclosed that an Indonesian firm, PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of PT Intim Perkasa, Indonesia, has indicated interest in building a 10,000-barrel per day modular refinery in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a statement by the NNPC, Mr. Adi Hartadi, Head of Investor Relations of PTPP (Persero) Tbk, partners to PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Limited, disclosed this in Abuja during a business meeting with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru.
Hartadi stated that the company has more than 50 years of experience in construction and engineering and it was desirous of diversifying into downstream operations in Nigeria.
Commenting on the planned investment in the refinery, Maikanti Baru said the NNPC placed high premium on investment in the nation's refining sector, adding that the corporation would give necessary support to the Indonesian Company's interest in the downstream sector.
Baru, who was represented by Chief Operating Officer, Refineries and Petrochemicals of the NNPC, Mr. Anigbor Kragha, stated that the country's three refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, could not function optimally over the years due to lack of investment.
Baru explained that given Nigeria's expected population by 2025, more than 40 million litres of petrol would be required for local consumption, adding that the combined capacity of the nation's three refineries would only be able to satisfy just above 50 per cent of the projected local demand.
He expressed optimism that with this kind of investment coming steadily, Nigeria could serve as a regional hub of refined petroleum products for West Africa and beyond.
He called on the investors to be mindful of clean fuel policy across African countries and ensure that they produce fuels that meet specification with regards to sulphur content.
He said, "On our end, we have embarked on ambitious plan to fast-track programmes to restore our capacity utilization from 30 per cent to a minimum of 90 per cent in the next 24 months.
To do that, we are working on securing financing from third parties, not just funding, but also technical expertise to help us increase our performance to world class levels that they should be."
Baru further stated that in line with the Federal Government's policy on modular refineries the NNPC had set up a Greenfield Refinery Department that specialized in new refinery projects and also provide professional support to potential investors in modular refinery in the country.
Also speaking Third Secretary for Economic Affairs, Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria and the leader of the Indonesian delegation, Mr. Dwiyatna Widinugraha stated that the visit was a follow-up to the earlier visit by the Indonesian envoy to NNPC, the bilateral meeting between the Indonesian Trade Minister with his Nigerian counterpart as well as the visit of Indonesian Prime Minister to Nigeria.
The country's decision to build a refinery in Nigeria was coming few weeks after Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto, had expressed the interest of the country in purchasing more crude oil from Nigeria.
Minna – Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, has disowned supporters placing his posters across the state, urging him to re-contest the 2019 elections.Abubakar Bello
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vasta, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Minna.
"The governor and the entire government of Niger state are dissociating themselves from such outright contraventions that are not in the character of the administration in the state.
"The governor believes in the rule of law and will not support placing of posters in form of campaign when INEC the body constitutionally empowered to give such go ahead has not done so.''
Vatsa said that Bello would not encourage such distraction when he was occupied with delivering the dividends of democracy to the people as promised during his campaigns.
"The government has well-articulated restoration agenda on education through the whole school approach; infrastructural development by providing good roads and healthcare delivery.
"Others include agricultural development, youth and women empowerment and many other sectors.
"The people can see the revolutions in these sectors and this is not the time for Mr governor to be distracted by such politicking and we dissociate ourselves from it,'' he said.
Vatsa said that the policies and programmes of the government had always been conducted in consultation with the people as permitted in democracy.
The Commissioner alleged that such act might be the handiwork of mischief makers.
He advised the people to disregard such posters that had no bearing with the governor's effort to deliver on his mandate to them.
In the first incident, at least three loggers were killed when their truck ran over a landmine outside Abbari village in the Konduga district of Borno state on Tuesday.
“The truck hit the landmine at about 4:30 pm (1530 GMT) and went up in flames, killed all three loggers on board,” said Ibrahim Liman, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
Babakura Kolo, Another member of the CJTF in Maiduguri, confirmed the incident, adding: “The mine was obviously placed by Boko Haram terrorists operating in the area.”
Abbari village was previously attacked in April, when scores of Boko Haram fighters on motorcycles rode into the farming community, killing seven men and stealing 360 cattle.
In the second incident on Tuesday, Boko Haram fighters killed two men, including a police officer, and injured six others in an ambush on a convoy near Dalwa West village.
Borno state police chief Damian Chukwu told reporters the jihadists opened “indiscriminate fire” on a convoy of vehicles heading from Maiduguri to the town of Damboa, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) southwest of the Borno state capital.
The dead officer was among a contingent of 58 police on its way to new postings in the southern Borno town of Askira Uba, as well as mourners carrying the body of a dead policeman for burial.
No other officer or mourner was hurt in the attack, said Chukwu.
Civilian vehicles are regularly escorted on the road because of sporadic Boko Haram attacks. The road is near the Sambisa Forest, where the militants had camps.
The Konduga district has been a hotbed of Boko Haram activity in recent months, despite government and military claims that the rebels are the verge of defeat.
On June 11, gunmen killed eight members of the CJTF in a dawn ambush as they waited to go on operations with the military.
In May, four other militia members out hunting in the bush near a camp for those displaced by the Islamist insurgency had their throats slit on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Two of their colleagues were also killed when two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives in Konduga town, which is about 35 kilometres from Maiduguri by road.
By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT – Unidentified arsonists believed to be cultists has set ablaze a family house at Okpako-Ejemah in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State killing, and report has it that all the occupant of the house, Alhaji Hamza Garuba, his wife and a step son died in the fire.
Mr. Muhammed Sani, younger brother to Garuba, narrated to Vanguard that the arsonists, five in number invaded his brother’s house at about 10.00p.m. on Sunday and attempted to rob the family.
Sani said the bandits had attempted to rape wife of Garuba, but that the deceased who was infuriated stabbed one of the bandits to death.
He said: "I believed the stabbing of that criminal may have infuriated other gang members who quickly ran out of the house, locked the entrance door and set the house ablaze. My brother, his wife and a step son were locked up inside the house while the house was on fire. Nobody was at hand to rescue them as all of them were burnt beyond recognition."
Muhammed stated that killing was not in connection of the clash between Hausa community and task force team in Onne, Eleme LGA, Monday, adding that Garuba was killed by criminals that invaded his house.
However, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and added that two persons have been arrested in relation to the matter.
Meantime, Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South, South-East branch, yesterday condemned the killing and worried that mischief makers want to cause disunity among Hausa community and the people of Eleme.
Speaking, the Coordinator of the body, Alhaji Musa Saidu, noted that Garuba was killed by bandits, saying: "The incident at Okpako-Ejemah was a clear case of robbery and arsonist attack. The Young man and his family were killed by arsonist who set their house ablaze. Hausa people have co-habited with their host community and they don't have any issue."
A Cristiano Ronaldo’s 8th minute header was the difference between Portugal and Russia as the Confederations Cup entered its second round of matches on Wednesday.
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Portugal’s defender Cedric celebrate after winning their 2017 Confederations Cup group A football match against Russia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 21, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Raphael Guerreiro swung in a wonderful, deep cross from the left-hand side and Ronaldo left Russian goalie Igor Akinfeev helpless with a trademark header at the back post after peeling away from Fedor Kudryashov.
Both sides started the game slowly, giving the ball away cheaply on few occasions but it was Portugal that settled in quickest with the goal from Ronaldo acting as an evidence.
Another opportunity came for Fernando Santos’ men when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out to the right of the goal following a foul by Kudryashov, but Ronaldo shot straight at the keeper.
Russia got their share of the chances when former Chelsea man, Yuri Zhirkov drove down the left-hand touchline before playing a ball that was too heavy for Smolov who was being chased down by Bruno Alves.
Both teams failed to capitalise on the few other chances that came their way, with Russia now risking elimination in the event that they fail to beat Mexico in their final group game.
Portugal now with four points will be expected to grab all three available points and qualify for the Semi-final when they meet New Zealand on Saturday.
A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
FC Ifeanyiubah's Ivorian import, Pascal Seka got the highest votes of 338 to emerge the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 23 VAT Wonder Goal award winner.
Seka
Seka ran neck and neck with Lobi Stars' Anthony Okpotu in the votes on the twitter handle picking 73 votes to Okpotu's 71 of the 198 votes cast by fans leaving El-Kanemi Warriors' Aghahowa Otakho with the remaining 54 votes.
However, it was fans voting on the www.npfl.ng website that gave Seka a wide lead as his goal was the favourite of 267 of the 466 voters and Okpotu picked up votes from 229 fans while Otakho had 43.
In the final count, Seka secured 338 votes, Okoptu 229 and Otakho finished with 97 votes.
The goal was the Ivorian's fourth this season and the second of their 2-0 defeat of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC in the fixture decided at the Nnewi Stadium. The burly striker had benefitted from a defensive mix-up by defenders of ABS to slam home from inside the box.
It was a goal Fred Edoreh, Chairman of Lagos State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) described glowingly in these words: "it takes not just intuitiveness but also calculation to shrug off a marker to hit the ball well in the situation he got the ball inside the box".
Seka thus becomes the fourth in the line of winners of the VAT Wonder Goal, an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) and supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to promote club community engagement and raise awareness for tax payment within the football community.
A cash prize of N150, 000 goes to the winner half of which will be donated to a charity to be nominated by player within the state where the club is located.
Past winners have been Ayo Saka of Rivers United, Ubong Friday of Akwa United and Ochowechi Salefu of Remo Stars.
Football’s world governing body FIFA assured Tuesday that “no investigation” had been opened into president Gianni Infantino after sources said his role in the Confederation of African Football’s presidential elections was being looked into.
Fifa President, Gianni Infantino
Maria Claudia Rojas, the new president of the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, “has confirmed that all files have been handed over to her and that there are no open preliminary or investigation proceedings involving the FIFA President”, the organisation said in a statement.
“It is in FIFA’s interest that the work of the ethics committee is not disrupted by conjecture of any kind,” the statement added.
“Therefore, FIFA will refrain from commenting any further on baseless speculation and will instead concentrate on providing concrete information.”
Sources told AFP on Monday that Swiss prosecutor Cornel Borbely, who was chairman of the ethics committee’s investigatory chamber before being removed last month, had opened an investigation into suggestions Infantino might have sought to influence the election of Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad as president of CAF in March.
The investigation stemmed from evidence provided by African representatives, a source close to FIFA said.
Several African witnesses had been set to travel to FIFA headquarters in the Swiss city of Zurich but at least one of them had their summons cancelled after Borbely was removed from his post, the same source said.
British newspaper The Guardian reported on Sunday that Infantino was being investigated for claims he had promised, along with FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura, to accelerate payments of development money to national football associations if the presidents voted for Ahmad.
FIFA announced their decision to remove Borbely and Germany’s Hans-Joachim Eckert from their posts in the ethics team during the organisation’s congress in Bahrain last month.
Borbely said the decision was “a setback in the fight against corruption” as there were “several hundred cases” of corruption pending.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday in Benin said plans were being made to remodel the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin to meet international standards.
Obaseki made the announcement while receiving executive committee members of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Edo Council at Government House in Benin.
The governor said his administration was hopeful of repositioning sports in the state through investment in sports facilities which would then attract global competitions to the state.
He assured that before the end of the year the state would host at least an international event or competition in the stadium.
"Our plan is to rebuild facilities in the stadium to host international events which will cut across sports like football, track and field, swimming, lawn tennis and indoor sports.
"We will improve on what we have as a state and ensure we revive sports to enhance its development in the state and the country at large.''
Obaseki also said plans were being made to ensure that every local government area in the state had a sports arena.
Earlier, the Edo Council Chairman of the union, Julius Erharuyi, had expressed appreciation at the commitment of the Obaseki administration in repositioning sports in the state.
He also commended the state government for its financial commitment to Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.
Erharuyi, however, requested that an institution that will improve the academic knowledge of sportsmen and women be created in the state.
"There is the need for the provision of more medical facilities, personnel, drugs, computers in the stadium, as well as provision of utility vehicles to convey sports men and women to venues of competitions,'' he said.
The union leader added that sports activities should be revived at the Afuze Games Village.
"We also suggest that the state government should acquire the Etete Indoor Sports Hall from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for a more effective usage,'' he said.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday met with Northern traditional rulers and charged them to always speak up against hate speeches and divisive voices in their respective domains.
In his opening remarks at the meeting held at the old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said the meeting had become imperative in view of a spate of divisive statements in recent weeks, pitching the South-East against the North.
He maintained that the divisive rhetoric and agitations were unjustifiable, unacceptable and often times illegal.
"You are, by virtue of your vast knowledge, wisdom and experience, both a vital link with our past, and an important guarantee for the success of our future. This is why your role in national affairs is critical.
"The reason for these series of meetings is well known to all of us; it became necessary in the wake of a spate of divisive statements, in recent months and weeks, pitching the South-East against the North.
"We are all aware of the so-called 'ultimatum' issued by a group of Northern youths, asking that all Igbos living in the North vacate the region.
"Before then, there was the clamour, and it's still on-going, by some south-eastern youths, operating as IPOB and affiliated groups, demanding secession from Nigeria at all costs and by any means.
"In all our previous engagements with Northern and South-Eastern leaders, we all came to the consensus that Nigeria is stronger and better together, and that these hate-filled and divisive rhetoric and agitations are unjustifiable, unacceptable and often times illegal. And I would like to reiterate that today." he said. The acting president said that the traditional rulers had a great role to play in checking the divisive tendencies in the country.
He stressed that Nigeria had already seen enough violence and bloodshed during its history. According to him, the price of Nigeria's unity has already been paid with the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost. Recalling President Muhammadu Buhari's commitment to one Nigeria from his experience in the military, Osinbajo said that Buhari fought side by side with Nigerians of every tribe and faith.
The acting president said: "We must protect each other, put our lives on the line for each other; we were brothers even in the face of death. This is the type of nation we must maintain.
"As royal fathers and leaders, I think you will agree with me that we all have a role to play in countering the voices of divisiveness, and the elements who seek to take us down a bloody path.
"Let us continue to counsel the misguided elements among our youth, who think that ethnic confrontation is a game and that words can be thrown around carelessly without repercussion.''
Osinbajo assured the traditional rulers that the "government is not deaf to the legitimate concerns and frustrations in parts of the country. "Every part of Nigeria has its own grievances. But these have to be expressed graciously and managed with mutuality rather than with scorn and disdain.
"I would like to assure you all that we are here to listen and to answer, and, very importantly, to reassure everyone that we are committed to the unity of Nigeria, and that upon the foundation of that unity we can together build a prosperous and great country.''
He urged all Nigerians never take the nation's diversity for granted, saying the fullness of the nation's strength "actually lies in that diversity.
"And we must wield that diversity, not as divisive tool, but instead as a binding agent.
"As we round up these consultations tomorrow with a meeting with governors, it is clear to me that we are all resolved to by words, conduct and action, promote the unity of our dear nation." he said
He, however, assured that the government would ensure that "the entire apparatus of government is deployed to ensure that no one threatens Nigeria's territorial integrity and that no one threatens the lives or livelihoods of any Nigerian living anywhere in the country''.
While thanking the traditional rulers for their unyielding cooperation and support, Osinbajo prayed that almighty God would continue to give them the wisdom and the strength to preside over their Kingdoms and the good health to reign long and reign well.
Among those who attended the meeting included the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi and the Etsu Nupe, AlhajiYahaya Abubakar.
Others were, Alhaji Muhammed Isah Muhammed, theEmir of Jama'a in Kaduna State; Justice Lawal Hassan, the Emir of Gummi; the Coordinator of the Northern traditional rulers council, Sakaruyi of Karo Dr. Emmanuel Kyauta, and the representative of the Emir of Katsina, Prof. Sani Lugga ,the Waziri Katsina.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari; Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II, Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State; Alhaji Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama representing Shehu of Borno and the Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Buba Jang, also attended the meeting.
Also at the meeting were Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, Emir of Gombe; Ndakwo Ameh Oboni II,Attah Igala,Kogi State; Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Abali, the Emir of Fika inYobe;, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed Muhammed Emir of Anka in Zamfara and Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv.
Alhaji Adamu Baba Yinusa, theEmir of Abaji,FCT; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau; National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, and Speaker of the House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara also attended the meeting.
The Acting president on Sunday met with traditional rulers from the South- East in continuation of his on-going consultative meetings with leaders of thought across the country.
Osinbajo will on Wednesday meet with the 36 governors of the federation as part of the on-going consultative meetings with stakeholders in the "Project Nigeria"
UMUAHIA— The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has berated the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, for saying that actions by its members were a violation of Nigeria's constitution.
A statement issued in Umuahia Tuesday and signed by its publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said, the acting president is being deceived by the very cabals who deceived President Muhammadu Buhari to issues threat messages against its members, a situation IPOB said also made Buhari to fail as Nigeria's president.
Nnamdi Kanu looking at his Biafra supporters from the balcony of his father’s palace
The statement also said that Nigeria, having ratified the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, cannot, therefore, have its constitution overriding or superseding the international charter.
Maintaining that all it is asking for is self determination through internationally recognised instrument of referendum or plebiscite, IPOB also advised Prof. Osinbajo and those it called "few rented saboteurs and uneducated public commentators to stop the perverse insinuation" that the Biafra agitation is a demand for war.
The statement read thus:
"We the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn unequivocally the distasteful statement credited to the Acting President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, to the effect that Biafra agitators who through the instrumentality of IPOB are exercising their God-given and inalienable right to self determination, is in violation of the provisions of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
"For such a statement to escape the lips of a learned fellow like Prof. Osinbajo confirms the widely held view that African leaders lack the mental capacity and discipline to operate a constitutional democracy in a modern world.
"If the corrupt ruling class in Nigeria cannot distinguish between those rights that are sacrosanct, such as freedom of association and freedom of expression under which IPOB operates, then the entire political edifice in Nigeria is a monumental mess. "It is very shameful that a professor of law cannot situate the Nigeria constitution within the context and meaning of the right to self determination as recognized in international law.
"Somebody should please draw the attention of Professor Yemi Osibanjo to the provisions of the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which Nigeria ratified and went ahead to domesticate into her local laws.
"How can a professor of law threaten jail term for those exercising their right to self determination under laws adopted and ratified by Nigeria? This confirms again the widely held view that legal practice in Nigeria is one almighty joke.
"We are challenging Prof. Osinbajo to show the whole world how, where and when IPOB committed this offence he alluded to since the inception of the current phase of the agitation. "The criminal political cabal that led President Buhari astray on the issue of Biafra agitation are at it again. By assuring Osinbajo that threatening language, mass arrests, illegal detention, killings and brutal crackdown will frighten IPOB into submission, this same group of corrupt criminals are setting up Osinbajo to fail the same way they caused Buhari's failure.
"If Osinbajo continues to heed their evil counsel by using threatening language when addressing IPOB, he will end up a failure like Buhari.
"Nigeria must understand how ready we are to go to prison. They should build more illegal detention facilities because we cannot stop agitating for our right to self determination until the Nigerian Government accepts the need for a date for referendum on the question of Biafra.
"Professor Yemi Osibanjo should have consulted superior legal minds to advice him before coming on air to make such misleading comments. The Nigerian Constitution and its provisions cannot supersede international charters and treaties freely entered into by the Nigerian state where such treaties appear to render null and void the obnoxious provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
"Those that wrongly advised Prof. Osinbajo to embark upon the citation of the ill conceived constitutional reference to the indissolubility of the Nigeria should refer to the landmark Nigerian Supreme Court judgment on the case of Abacha Vs. Fawehinmi.
United Nations charter on the rights of indigenous people and African charter which was ratified and signed by Nigeria is still in place till today and overrides the Nigerian Constitution on the rights for the indigenous people to the self determination.
"We are warning the vocal few rented saboteurs and uneducated public commentators in Nigeria to stop the perverse insinuation that Biafra agitation is all about war. IPOB is not asking for war, rather what we are asking for is self determination and the only way to achieve that is through the internationally recognized instrument of referendum or plebiscite"
El Rufai insists on arrest of Northern youths The governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Ruai has vowed that no matter how long it takes, the Kaduna state government will arrest and prosecute leaders of the Coalition of Northern youths that gave Igbo three months notice to quit the north.
This came on a day that the President General of Igbo in the 19 northern states and Abuja said no Igbo would leave the northern part of the country.
Addressing a gathering of Igbo Northern traditional rulers who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna, governor El Rufai said Kaduna state has no room for hate speech and would ensure that those who perpetrate such are brought to book .
According to the governor, Kaduna state government has a duty to ensure that those who fan embers of disunity in the State in the State are made accountable for their actions.
“Nobody can come to Kaduna state and say this nonsense. It is hate speech that kills. We are trying people for that. We have a duty to arrest them and put them before a judge. We will tell them that they cannot do that in Kaduna. We will go after them. They have gone underground. There may be reluctance on the part of some people to arrest them but we will arrest them” he said.
Governor El Rufai said though some people in the South east especially members of the Indigenous people of Biafra may have said some provocative things, “Two wrongs do not make a right”.
The governor admitted that though the federation may have some challenges, breaking up was not an option.
“Breaking up into small enclaves is not a solution. It is short sighted and only illiterates behave like that. We all need Nigeria. It is from Nigeria that we can be better. Our federation is not a true federation but the solution is not to break Into small enclaves” he said.
He called on Igbo leaders to rein in their youths, promising that the Kaduna state government was taking steps to ensure that every Nigerian living in 5he state was safe and secure.
“we will do whatever we will do to protect every body in Kaduna State. We are watching every body. Every Nigerian in Kaduna state is safe. We will do whatever we can to protect you. Relax, continue your normal lives. Nothing will happen” he said.
In his remarks, the president General of Igbo In the northern states and Abuja, Chief Chikezie Nwogwu said Igbo have made tremendous contribution to the north and are not going anywhere.
Why expressing appreciation to the governor for his support, the President General said Nigeria was better off as one indivisible country.
He however called on the government to address some of the underlying factors that have led to the agitations in different parts of the country.
“We are not in support of division. We are saying that things should be done right” he said.
In continuation of its committment to a pain free Nigeria, tagged: Dexa Medica has launched its Pain Free Day campaign in Ogun State. The launch of the campaign which is part of Dexa Medica’s effort to improve consumers’ lives attracted consumers from different works of life.
Speaking at the launch in Ibafo, Ogun state, Boska Brand Executive, Mr. Tunde Ojedokun, noted that approximately 90 percent of work locations visited by the team across the nation revealed that Nigerians are involved in various types of strenuous tasks. "It has also been proven that consumers often engage in strenuous activities directly or indirectly but rarely prioritize their health because of the huge cost associated with health checks. We have a strong track record of developing superior quality drugs that have helped consumers measurably improve their health.
Participants benefitted from different medical screening including ear and nose defects, distribution of drugs and focal glasses for eye correction.
The beneficiaries were also educated on how to live stress-free.
To develop a cohort of healthcare leaders in the public and private health sector, Healthcare Leadership Academy, HLA, is holding its third cohort of Healthcare Executives Leadership Programme (HELP) as part of its determination to positively transform organisations for better medical outcomes among others. HELP is a one-year fellowship programme designed to respond to the learning and career development needs of senior healthcare executives such as Chief Medical Directors, Heads of Clinical Services, Heads of large hospital departments, and Chairmen of Medical Advisory Committees.
In a press statement made available to Good Health Weekly, Executive Team Lead, Healthcare Leadership Academy, Dr. Hala Daggash said the Institution brings together an excellent faculty of highly skilled academics and thought leaders with years of experience working successfully with, and building the capacity of, senior healthcare practitioners, managers and policymakers.
"Our faculty members include experts from institutions that are recognized for their excellence both locally and internationally such as the Lagos Business School, Duke University and Judge Business School University of Cambridge.
"The curriculum focuses on building capabilities in four core areas: Financial Management, Leadership and Organisational Development, Population Health and Health Systems as well as Quality Improvement in Leadership."
He further explained that the curriculum is delivered using the best of teaching approaches in executive education. "Participants are taught through a combination of lectures, facilitated discussions, and case based learning using cases that illustrate current realities healthcare executives are faced with as they manage institutions in Africa.
Interested participants are to apply before 14th July, 2017, through our website www.hlaafrica.org or email admissions@hlaafrica.org. Successful applicants will be offered full scholarships for tuition only.
Noting that the programme was to tackle the developmental gap in the health sector, he said the gaps are evident by the low productivity, skill set of their healthcare workers and the poor financial health of the institutions they manage. "It is however, unsurprising as not only is leadership instruction underrepresented in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, clinical expertise is often the main determinant for occupation of healthcare leadership roles. The HLA recognises these challenges and was established to respond to them.
—–Embarks on further restructuring of electricity sector By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJ – ACTING President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday stated that government will soon release a second tranche of the N701 billion for Power Assurance Guarantee approved by the Federal Executive Council in March this year for the Bulk Electricity Trading NBET, Plc.
This is as government has said that it was set to embark on a broader restructuring of the electricity sector to achieve a more systematic development in renewable energy.
The Federal Government had through NBET earlier this month released the first tranche of about N12billion to 10 GenCos from the N701billion intervention fund.
Prof. Osinbajo who disclosed this at the inaugural event of the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundtable organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, said it was expected that the release of the funds would free up the value chain that had created several problems of its own.
He said government was exploring investment opportunities for revolving funds for solar and other renewable sources of energy to break the deadlock of electricity market structures through competitions and ensure that renewable energy becomes an engine of growth for Nigeria's economy.
According to him, government will partner with the private sector, to create the framework for real-world business cases by developing standardized (and certified) technology packages, standardised contracts and a toolkit for energy cooperatives (with technical, institutional, financing and legal elements).
Prof Osinbajo said, "We hope that this injection will help. We are also looking at several other reforms in the sector hoping that the market can become self sustaining, independent and run on its own and free up all of the private sector energy that is waiting to come into the market.”
"We want to embark on a broader restructuring of the electricity sector and strive to achievement a more systematic development power market design especially for the renewable energy.”
He further stressed the need for the relevant authorities to come up with a framework that brings together all stakeholders towards ensuring that renewable energy becomes a real engine of growth for the Nigerian economy.
He said, "We have mentioned several of the plans, the power sector plans and so many of those initiatives. The latest is to break the gridlock in the liquidity of the entire electricity value chain and so our payment assurance system of over N701 billion has been approved by the Federal Executive Council and in fact the first payment has been made we are on to make up the second payment.
"We hope that we free up that value chain which has created several problems of its own and we hope that this injection will help. We are also looking at several other reforms in the sector hoping that the market can become self sustaining, independent and run on its own and free up all of the private sector energy that is waiting to come into the market.
"We also need to explore the opportunities for revolving funds for solar PV/wind projects as well as opportunities for other investment remuneration mechanisms.
“It is also very important that we break the deadlock of electricity market structures by exploring the options to transform the "competition for markets" approach, continue to embark on a broader restructuring of the electricity sector and strive to achieve a more systematic development of the power market design, especially for renewable energy."
The Acting President also noted that as a multi-stakeholder platform, the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundtable, has its work cut out for it, which is to champion this new vision for renewable energy and ensure that we can translate theory to practice for the greater good of the people of Nigeria.
He said, "To do that, we need a framework that brings and keeps all stakeholders together towards ensuring that renewable energy becomes an engine of growth for Nigeria's economy.”
Osinbajo said it was the plan of the administration to expand the Solar Home System program to 1 million households, creating a few more million jobs and that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was interested in lighting up more rural communities like Wuna, an agrarian village in the Gwagalada Local Government Council of Abuja, which until two years ago was not on national grid and had no other source of light.
He disclosed that the indigenes relied on an entrepreneur with a small generator to charge their phones for a fee.
He said in collaboration with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the government was able to provide a sustainable renewal energy solution solar through end to end solution, including a pay-as-you-go system.
“I was in Wuna to see it for myself. For the first time in their existence, the village now has running water, solar powered. The school has power and the school hall is now used as a community hall in the evenings. Each home has 4 points of light.
“Children can now stay up and do some studying at night. Many of Wuna’s women can now process their millet and yams at night. New jobs have been created, solar installers, maintenance, payment systems and so on.
"One guy has lost his business in Wuna. The phone charger. Every household can now charge their phones. But he now charges phones of residents of other villages. We are doing 20,000 more homes in this first phase of this exercise and a Pay-as-you-go system to 20,000 households to provide access to lighting and electric power for small devices.
“The plan is to expand the Solar Home System program to 1 million households, creating a few more million jobs.”
Earlier in his goodwill message, Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Ajayi Boroface expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to partner with the Executive arm and come up with the necessary legislation that will create the enabling environment to exploit these resources effectively for the development of the country.
Senator Boroface attributed the difficulty in implementing government programmes in the energy sector to lack of the necessary policy and institutional framework as well as the political will of the leadership of the country.
The lawmaker however expressed optimism, stating that the presence of the Acting President at the energy roundtable would go a long way to drive the sector for the benefit of the country.
“I have no doubt that we have at the helm of affairs in this country the able leadership that can drive this sector. I am happy that the acting president is here personally.
“I have been around in the system for a very long time. And I know that the difficulty in implementing some of the laudable programmes of government is the lack of political will of the leadership. The presence here of the acting president of the federal republic of Nigeria is a clear demonstration of the political will to support this policy,” he said.
Also in her goodwill, Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Science and technology, Beni Lar noted electricity is a basic tool that drives industrialization, technological advancement, engineering transformation and economic growth all over the world.
The lawmaker said without power the country will achieve nothing, even as she acknowledged the situation in the Nigerian power sector which, according to her, is one that seems to have defied every effort to resuscitate it from the state of dilapidation.
“The country in a bid to solve the problems in this sector has applied several methods and exploited many avenues possible. But nothing seems to have yielded the desired result,”
Lar however assured that the House of Representatives was on the verge of legislating on a bill to amend the energy commission act of Nigeria as well as regulate the renewable energy sector among others in the country .
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Kyari Bukar, said that the cost comparison of the electricity generation in Nigeria reveals that renewables are one of the strongest options for Nigeria…i.e. Biomass, hydropower are currently competitive with oil and gas despite there being higher investment risks.
He said renewable energy are at present fully competitive with conventional generation, adding that the debate on the need to diversify the economy cannot be over emphasized.
He noted that the principal challenge amongst a myriad of other constraints is the demand for energy required to positively impact productivity in Nigeria.
According to him, while the energy commission of Nigeria predicts that the energy demand will increase exponentially by 2030. current generating capacity of about 4,000 MW for a population of 170million clearly demonstrates that Nigeria is facing an energy crisis.
He listed six expectations from the Nigeria energy renewal round table to include:
“First is the establishment of regular renewable business dialogue platform with renewal energy experts and rural electrification agencies to fine turn action plans assign tasks, monitor progress against targets.
“Secondly, design and adopt finance instruments to attract high quality solar companies to invest in off grid projects with hopes that in doing so, we can have at least five solar companies for commencement of installations of at least 500 SMEs solutions, in January or February, 2018.
“Three, encourage innovations, research, development for made in Nigeria renewable energy products and applications.
“Four, Scale up donor support for large scale training programs for renewable energy technicians bases on the already existing plans developed by the Nigerian energy support program with the goal to include all vocational training of the 11 existing training facilities by December, 2017.
“Five, agree with the federal ministry of finance for tax rates, Customs facilitations given the roles that renewable energy plays in reviving local economies and thus increasing taxes revenues for the economy. This can be done by reviewing the VAT and tariffs as the Kenyan experience and elsewhere shows that the elimination of that import duties and tariffs significantly boost the growth of renewable energy markets as well as zero percent corporate income tax For say, a period of five years for off grid operations of renewable companies. In this regards, there needs to be further clarifications of the practical implications of the zero duty regulation contained in Nigeria’s renewable.
“Six, work with the Standards organization of Nigeria and other organizations to stop substandard renewable energy products from proliferating in Nigeria by enforcing quality control along practical gains. It is imperative though to state here that this will not be an easy task. As all countries have their own dynamics to consider in term of implementing renewable energy policy and transition.”
I was fresh out of the university when I found myself pregnant at age 22. I didn't want to get married, but my boyfriend then was 30 years old and persuaded me we should get married for the child's sake. The marriage turned out to be a nightmare as he became controlling and violent. I endured his abuse for 15 years and with three children, I finally found the courage to leave him – thanks to my best friend's encouragement.
I was to finally go to the house to collect the rest of my things and my friend agreed to go with me for moral support. Unfortunately, she arrived before I got there. My husband was in, in spite of his telling me he wouldn't be around. He invited my friend in to wait for me and attacked her almost immediately, raping her in the process. When I eventually turned up, we both went to the police and got him arrested. Later, relatives and friends convinced us to drop the charges because of the children.
My friend never spoke to me again and as soon as she could, she got transferred to another state. If I'd left my ex sooner, my friend might never have gone through the nasty experience of being violated. I blame myself for the trauma she went through.
Rukayat, by e-mail.
Dear Rukayat,
I'm sorry for what happened to your best friend and it is sad you were unable
to be reconciled before she relocated. Please know that what happened to her was
not your doing. You are a victim just as she was and you need support in realising this. You did the best you could by reporting the incident.
You've lost your best friend as well as your marriage. You need counselling
to get over your losses and make the most of your life as the single parent you now are.
Many know actress Maryam Charles to be a quiet and unassuming woman who usually doesn't speak much about her personal life but judging by a recent photo she shared recently, it appears she is ready to start making '
Maryam Charles and her man
As recently, the light skinned actress was spotted posing cozily with a mystery man who is allegedly based out of the country.
This is a tad surprising because Maryam had said severally that she was not involved in any relationship with anyone. Perhaps this new man is worth the trouble hence her desire to show him off.
Also, recall that Maryam earlier this year had insisted that in a few years, Nollywood will surpass Hollywood.
She said: "Nollywood can only get better at this point because everyone is stepping up their game. I'm a practitioner in this industry so I know what I am saying. No one wants to entertain mediocrity anymore and that is the only thing that can stop the industry from moving forward. And now that everyone is adopting a higher standard in their works, Nollywood will soon surpass Hollywood."
I've discovered that when I'm in a relationship with a guy, I always lose myself. Once I fall in love, everyone and everything else ceases to be important.
Invariably, the guy dumps me because I suffocate him and then I have to grovel to get my friends to forgive me for ignoring them.
I'm well aware of doing it and try to stop myself but it doesn't work. I'm currently single and want to solve this before getting a new boyfriend and start the whole process again.
Dear Precious,
We all tend to disappear off the face of the earth when we first find someone we think is delicious. That's normal. What's not normal is letting any man kidnap us from our career, friends and family, over and over again.
I think your problem is two-fold. First, it sounds like you're not just looking for a loving relationship but an escape from the life you're in.
If you loved your job, your friends and everything about your life, you wouldn't be so quick to drop them the minute some guy came along. Look at changes you can make to your life that will make you happy.
The second issue is that age old problem psychologist call "abandonment".
Looks like someone you love abandoned you (a partner or a past lover?) or you saw it happen to someone. This may explain why you feel you need to cling so tight.
Now that you have recognised this flaw in your relationship, you need to talk openly
about this with trusted friends and ask them to give you a wake-up call whenever
I am a divorced mother of two children. Three years ago, I met a man through work and he later told me he was unhappy in his marriage. We started an affair and he became happier and fun to be with. He also contributed a lot towards the upkeep of the house.
Towards the end of last year, he had an almighty row with his wife and came to stay with me. It was supposed to be until he sorted things out with his wife. But now he doesn't want to go back to his wife and wants to get a divorce so he could be with me. I never asked him to leave his wife and I'm not sure I want a permanent relationship for now. As things are now, I'm being accused of being a marriage wrecker, as if it's all my fault. Is it too late to tell him to go back to his wife?
Bella, by e-mail.
Dear Bella,
The longer your lover stays with you the more difficult it would be for him to
go back to his wife. After being away for so long from his matrimonial home, his
wife could have moved on and might be enjoying her freedom. Things might be
different if he'd only been gone a month or two. They might be able to patch things up.
And don't kid yourself that you're blameless – you've played your part in the
break-up of a family. You can't turn back time, but if you end things now, your lover might be able to savage something of his marriage.
I’ve been with the father of my three children for 13 years, but we only got married three years ago.
I love my husband and I thought that after so long together, he would be happy to settle down for good. He has cheated on me several times in the past and I thought he would have sown all his wild oats by getting married.
I was therefore shocked to discover recently that he has been receiving and sending text messages, and making calls on his mobile to my best friend who was also my chief bridesmaid.
When I confronted my husband, he admitted that there was an attraction between him and her, but that they never took things further. I'm so angry and upset that I feel physically sick. I'm at a loss as to what to do.
Jemimah, by e-mail.
Dear Jemimah,
You're right to be outraged. An affair between your husband and supposed
best friend is a double betrayal by two of the people you need to trust the most. You must put a stop to this painful uncertainty.
Philandering men have always betrayed their partners almost as a matter of habit. This has nothing to do with the fact that another woman is specially attractive to them, but simply because she is a flirt, and they believe that such affairs are right.
Now that you've married this man, you must fight to protect the bond you have formed.
Confront your husband and best friend so as to know how far they've gone
and if love-making was involved. Then let them know you cannot tolerate or accept their betrayal.
Let your so called friend know she's no longer welcome in your matrimonial home and let your spouse know how much of this mindless philandering you can take. There are the children to consider apart from his selfish needs.
Video shows thousands of Biafra supporters gather in front of their leader Nnamdi Kanu’s father’s palace shouting “give us Biafra.” What do you think? Type your comments below.
German outfit RB Leipzig and Austrian champions Salzburg, both owned by energy drinks giant Red Bull, will be allowed to play in next season’s Champions League, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday.
RB Leipzig
The possibility of one of the teams being forbidden from competing in Europe’s elite club competition had been raised because they have the same owner.
But UEFA said in a statement that their Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had ruled that there was no breach of regulations on the integrity of the competition in allowing them to play.
“Following a thorough investigation, and further to several important governance and structural changes made by the clubs (regarding corporate matters, financing, personnel, sponsorship arrangements, etc.), the CFCB deemed that no individual or legal entity had anymore a decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition,” said the statement.
RB Leipzig qualified automatically for the group stage after finishing second behind champions Bayern Munich in their first ever season in the top flight of the German Bundesliga.
Salzburg have just won a fourth consecutive Austrian league and cup double. They will be aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time.
Elder Statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Femi Okunnu on Tuesday expressed sadness over the current status of the Federal Secretariat in Lagos and other abandoned and surplus assets of the Federal Government in the State, urging that the assets be returned to the State Government for effective and proper usage.
Okunnu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja while presenting the report of a Special Committee which he chaired set up by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Federal Government Assets in the State.
He said the whole of Ikoyi, Banana Island, Osborne Foreshore, Festac Town, Satellite Town, Trade Fair, among others belonged to Lagos State Government, and title of the lands were vested in the Governor of the State, urging the Federal Government to handover the assets to the State Government.
Okunnu said the issue of Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi was particularly saddening to him for the fact that it was during his tenure as Federal Commissioner for Works that the structure was constructed.
"Federal Secretariat gives me sadness because I built it when I was the Federal Commissioner for Works. The land upon which the secretariat is situated is part of the Crown land now State land. The title is vested in Lagos State but when he was Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier General Omobola Johnson (Rtd) agreed to release that land to Federal Government when they wanted to build Federal Secretariat.
"Today, I don't like to pass through that side because it gives me sadness anytime I see it in the current state.
"It is not only the quarters but the land on which many of these buildings in the areas are situate. In our Committee, We have tried to argue that the whole of Ikoyi with the boundary at Lagos Canal standing between Ikoyi Island and Lagos Island, title to the whole of the Island is vested in the government of Lagos State when Lagos became Crown Colony. The whole of Ikoyi including Osborn Foreshore, Banana Island, and others belong to the State Government," Okunnu said.
Going down memory lane, Okunnu said the title to the whole of Festac Town was vested in the Government of Lagos State and that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) remained the tenant of the State Government, same as Trade Fair.
"Lagos State Government acquired the Land of the Trade Fair site but Federal Government took over the land and gave a promise to pay the state compensation which was to be paid to the original owners of the land but that compensation was not paid. Today, the Trade Fair has been turned into market far from the original purpose intended.
"Satellite Town too is vested in Lagos State. It is the Federal Government which should prove title to any land which it claims to own in Lagos State, but I will like to urge the Federal Government to return the lands to the State Government," Okunnu said.
He said during the course of the Committee findings, several government agencies were contacted including Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, as well as Ministry of Defence, among others, expressing optimism that the State Government and the Federal Government would find a lasting solution to the issue.
"We hope that discussions between Lagos State Government and Federal Government over Federal Government lands and state lands within Lagos, as well as over disuse or surplus lands which Federal Government especially Defence and Prisons are still occupying in Lagos, and are now surplus to requirement, will be held to settle this palaver once and for all," Okunnu said.
Responding after receiving the report, Governor Ambode commended members of the Committee which included Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; Partner of SimmonsCooper, Mrs Victoria Alonge, among others, for the painstaking efforts put into the report, saying that their passion in ensuring that the State Government recovers its lands, buildings as well as disputed quarters were very much appreciated.
He said the report came at a time when the State Government was in dire need of space for developmental projects that would improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its residents in line with the realities of present times, adding that such projects, when embarked upon, would help to reflate the economy and improve the GDP of the State.
He said: "It is our hope that this initiative will put an end to the long-standing dispute between Federal and Lagos State Governments over the Federal Government disused lands and buildings and disputed quarters in various parts of the State which are no longer in use for the purposes for which they were originally released to the Federal Government
"We are hopeful that this report will get favorable response from the Federal Government especially given the fact that the Honourable Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was a passionate advocate of this issue during his tenure as the Governor of Lagos State and is also now a representative of Lagos State in the Federal Cabinet."
Besides, Governor Ambode directed members of the Committee to move further by mediating between the State and the Federal Government on how the assets would be released to Lagos State.
A Financial Expert, Mr Akintunde Sowunmi has expressed concern over the strategy the Federal Government has mapped out to finance the N2.36 billion deficit in the 2017 budget.
Sowunmi, who is the Lead Financial Consultant for the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
Newsmen recall that the 2017 budget has an expenditure outlay of N7.44 trillion.
A breakdown showed that N434.41 billion would be spent on statutory transfers, N1.66 trillion on debt servicing, N177.46 to retire certain maturing bonds, N2.99 trillion on non-debts recurrent, and N2.36 trillion on capital expenditure.
To finance this, the Federal Government said it expected to generate N2.12 trillion from oil revenue and N2.96 trillion from non-oil avenues.
About 11 per cent of the expected revenues, which is N558.8 billion is to come from recovered loots and misappropriated funds.
This brings the total projected revenue to N5.08 trillion, leaving a deficit of N2.36 trillion.
The budget deficit is to be financed mainly through borrowings and N2.32 trillion is expected to be sourced externally, while N1.25 trillion will be sourced locally.
Sowunmi said borrowing N1.25 trillion from local sources, especially the banking sector, would make it difficult for private businesses to also get credit.
In view of this, he advised government to lean more toward foreign borrowings, adding that it was easier for them to get foreign loans than private businesses.
"I am concerned that the bulk of the deficit will be financed by internal sources and that will significantly crowd out the private sector.
"Government is a big borrower and banks stand to benefit more by doing business with them, so it affects the private sector.
"Entrepreneurs and industrialists who are looking for funds from the market are likely to face challenges because a chunk of the funds will be in government hands to finance the budget deficit.
"The government needs to look elsewhere, particularly the capital market, to raise long term funds to finance infrastructure and they should borrow much more from external sources and leave local borrowing to the private sector,'' he said.
Sowunmi commended the Federal Government's decision to use N10 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of more than 65 roads and bridges to enhance transportation system in the country.
"We are curious to see the implementation of the 2017 budget, since it is the first budget since the Federal Government inaugurated the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
"It will show us how serious indeed the government is in revamping and growing the economy,'' he said.
The Kingdom of Norway on Tuesday assured that it would deploy necessary resources to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver on its mandate.
The Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Mr Jens-Petter Kjemprud, gave the assurance when he visited the INEC's headquarters in Abuja.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement quoted Kjemprud as commending INEC and Nigerians for the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
The ambassador also commended the commission for the steps taken so far to improve the electoral process.
INEC
He invited the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his team to observe the Norwegian Parliamentary Elections and undertake a Study Tour of the country between Sept. 6 and Sept.13.
Accepting the invitation, Yakubu said that the INEC had always been interested in observing elections in older democracies like Norway, to learn useful lessons.
He stated that the commission was working towards making the 2019 general elections better than that of 2015.
Yakubu said there were 70 million registered voters currently on the Voter Register, while no fewer than 1,040,000 Nigerians had so far registered in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
"We now have 45 political parties. We used to have 40 political parties, but five have just been registered, while there are 103 pending applications.
"We don't know how many more we are going to register, but we are a multi-party democracy and all associations that meet the criteria for registration will be registered," Yakubu added.
Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo bidding farewell to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Adamu (l) while the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (r) and others looked on after the meeting.From the left, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo; Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar Ilyasu; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido and the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Ayatse in a group photograph after the meeting.Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo bidding farewell to the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III (l) while the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido (2l) and the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (r) looked on after the meeting.Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo (m) flanked by Traditional Rulers from the North in a group photograph after the meeting.The etsu Nupe, Yahya Abubakar briefing journalists after the meeting.Cross section of Palace Guards waiting to escort their bosses aftre the meeting.
