Polynews: According to Punch, The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Reverend Stephen Mamza, has said the unabated killings, violent crimes and conflict across the country indicate that President Muhammadu Buhari has been sleeping on duty as the nation’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Catholic bishop, who spoke on the occasion of Easter, regretted the recent attacks on Adamawa, Benue, Zamfara, Nasarawa states and Southern Kaduna.
He described as unfortunate the inability of security agencies to stop these attacks despite available information to them before the attacks.
Mamza said, “We are really in a dilemma. We (Nigerians) are feeling that we don’t have protection. From all indications, there’s nothing being done. There have been calls from all over the country. Look at what is happening in Zamfara State; look at what is happening in Benue periodically, in Nasarawa State and now in Adamawa (Southern Adamawa).
“If there is a government in place then the government should listen to the people and address the security challenges. We have mass burials from time to time and there’s no sign the government cares about what is happening.”
The cleric noted that it “is the constitutional duty of the government to provide security for its citizens but that is if such government really cares.”
He charged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to wake up to its responsibilities of protecting lives, noting that the impression out there was that government did not seem to be in control of the insecurity situation in country.
“Why are we living in a country where it seems there’s no government in place?” the Catholic Bishop lamented.
He said his worry was the legacy that Buhari was going to leave behind if he failed to heed the calls by Nigerians “to overhaul the security architecture which has failed to address the security challenge.”
He said, “Since the history of this country, apart from the civil war we have never had the kind of killings under a President like we have in the last four years. So, it is clear, the killings are too many. And if the strategies they have in place do not work why can’t he (Buhari) change and overhaul the entire security architecture? People have been asking him to overhaul his security chiefs but he doesn’t listen. He doesn’t care.”
johnie: This was the NCNC delegation led by Azikiwe (Igbo) that visited London to protest the Richards Constitution of 1945, the two men, Prince Adeleke Adedoyin (Ijebu Yoruba) and Dr Abu Bakar Ibiyinka Olorun-Nimbe (Ilorin Yoruba), were members of the delegation. Others were Malam Bukar Dipcharima (Kanuri), Chief Nyong Essien (Ibibio), P M Kale (Bakweri Cameroonian), and Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Yoruba).
sarrki: The year 1947 when Olufunmilayo Kuti (Fela Mama) led an entourage of Yoruba Kings, Royals and Chiefs plus Nnamdi Azikwe to London on a major quest for independence from British colonial rule. Fela was right when he said "She is the only mother of Nigeria.
CollinsWeGlobe: Festus Keyamo, Director, Strategic Communications of President Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign, has gushed about the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari with so many AKA.
According to Keyamo, he wrote on Twitter; "The nightmare of PDP since 2003! The demystifier of old power-blocs! The slayer of the corrupt! The friend of the poor! The one the thieves love to hate! My guy!"
9jahotblog: Ganduje's daughter that married Ajimobi's son starts her own foundation to help children in Kano as her father prepares for second term . watch the video below.
guy , you have mentioned the first class. the remaining na lower classes. but how about uncle laya moha...... ask am whether change still dey begin with am?
President Muhammadu Buhari says the spike in activities of bandits and kidnappers across the country has made him one of the unhappiest leaders in the world.
Several states, including Zamfara and Kaduna, have come under repeated attacks by suspected hoodlums.
The attacks have left many dead with many properties destroyed.
On Saturday, some protesters marched to the presidential villa in Abuja over the persistent killings in Zamfara.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesman, Buhari said his mind is constantly preoccupied with the insecurity challenges in the country.
The president described as “ridiculous”, claims that he is indifferent to the incidents.
He explained that as human, he understands the pains of the victims of the attacks.
“How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits?,” Buhari asked.
“I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families who have been traumatized and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits.
“The politicisation of tragedy reveals the darkest sides of our primitive politics. Almost every week, I summon my security chiefs to get an update on the strategies being devised to defeat these mass murderers.
“There is no issue that dominates my mind every 24 hours like security because, as an elected president, protecting the citizens of my country is one of the primary functions of my administration.
“It is, therefore, ridiculous to suggest that I am indifferent to these killings.
He added that he would do whatever it takes to ensure the country’s security system confronts the perpetrators of the crimes.
CEOwatazs: president Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in Jordan has expresses dissatisfaction over various claims levied against him on the current killing in zamfara state. the president made this known through his tweeter handle saying it will ridiculous and unfair to suggest his not concern over the recent Happenings in zamfara.
stating clearly that the primary objective of a government is to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the citizens and his administration is fully doing it best at it.
It is ridiculous and unfair to suggest that I am not concerned about the situation in Zamfara, or doing anything ab… https:///jaSjqYf3UA
As an army general; let me not put ex-general, if what you are doing now is your best then Nigeria is doomed. Do know how much Nigeria expended in training you at US war college, perhaps, one of the best , if not the best in the world. It is time to give back to that country that trained you . Your 'best' appears so dismal, cluessless, smartless and below expectations. In fact ,Jonathan's famous 'six-week operation' is far better than what you have been experimenting since Four years now. From one operation one animal dancing to the other one crying or smiling yet, we are counting series of genocide daily. The only hope we have now is for the Almighty Creator to speak through the peoples' Judiciary soon or later. Amen.
phranklean: The governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, sent his list of commissioners to the State assembly on Tuesday, 2nd April, 2019. The list contained fourteen (14) names. The governor also added another five (5) names for the nomination of the chairman and members of the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission (EKSLGSC).
Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the list as most disappointing. The Islamic human rights organization reacted in a press statement signed by its Founder and Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, 4th April, 2019.
“This list is heavily lopsided. Fayemi is ill-advised. He has grossly shortchanged Muslims. How can he give us only one commissioner out of fourteen? What parameter did he use? This is most disappointing. Fayemi has blindfolded Muslims in Ekiti state. Muslims are not part of his government. Ekiti State executive is not truly representative. It is undemocratic. It is a sham. The disappointment is even more painful because Governor Fayemi had been touted as a very liberal Christian. But see what he has done to us.
“Even in Ondo state where the percentage of Muslims is lower, they were given four commissioners. That is what Governor Akeredolu did for Muslims in Ondo. He gave them four out of fourteen and that is why the Muslims are not making any noise there. Justice is the soul of peace.
“With Dr. Wahab Adegbenro in the Ministry of Health, Rashid Badmus in Natural Resources, Alhaji Imam Olurimisi in Culture and Tourism and Taofiq Abdul Salaam in Works, Ondo Muslims look at the Muslim commissioners and say, ‘We are well-represented’.
“But see what Fayemi has done to us. Only Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu is a Muslim out of his fourteen commissioners. We reject this in Allah’s Mighty Name. It could have been different if the Muslims had not said anything earlier but they did. They asked for proportionate representation but this is what Fayemi gave them: an empty pot of porridge. Ekiti Muslims do not deserve this humiliation. It is a betrayal in view of the undiluted support they gave Fayemi during the elections.
“If this is a snub, there is always another day. If it is an act of impunity, we all know that power is transient and even the high and mighty will need the poor and weak somewhere along the line. We are used to powerless conscience subjugating conscienceless power. What we are not used to is powerless conscience getting away with it. We will remember this if Fayemi seeks higher office in future. Our message is not for Ekiti alone. Nor is it for the South West. Only the deep can call to the deep. It is a wakeup call to Muslims to restrategize and they will do just that.
“Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade is the only Muslim member on the list of EKSLGSC. Alhaja Ogunlade was once the Ameerah (chairperson) of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) in Ekiti State. She deserves the position.
“But while we may not object to the EKSLGSC list, we keenly await the list of members and chairmen of other boards and agencies. We are interested in knowing how many of them will be chaired by Muslims. There should be no pretensions about it. Muslims have been marginalized in the appointments made so far by Fayemi. They therefore deserve lofty positions in remaining appointments.
“Fayemi is a Christian, he picked a Christian as deputy governor, a Christian as Chief of Staff, a Christian as Secretary to the State Government, 13 Christians out of 14 commisioners have now been nominated. The body language is very clear. Muslims do not matter to him. Fayemi has wittingly excommunicated participatory democracy from Ekiti State.
“MURIC charges Muslims in Ekiti State to tighten their seat belts. The struggle ahead is not only political but intellectual. They must go into politics in large number and with diversification. Enough is enough. Their continuous marginalization already speaks volumes.
“On a last note, we express the deep disappointment felt by Muslims, not only in Ekiti State but also in the South West and in Nigeria as a whole over Fayemi’s lopsided list. A thick air of betrayal has enveloped Islamdom. We urge Muslims in the state to restrategize. As for Governor Fayemi, we caution him against marring his hitherto good records in Christian-Muslim relations. His latest lopsided list is a potent threat to participatory democracy. He may still have a slim chance to redress the injustice”.
Oluwabash: “In the past three years, Nigeria has implemented more than 140 reforms to make doing business in Nigeria easier. The World Bank also reported in 2018 that 32 states of Nigeria improved their Ease of Doing Business environment led by Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra states.
“In 2019, PEBEC set a goal to move Nigeria into the top-100 on the 2020 World Bank Doing Business Index (DBI). To achieve this, we will be pursuing the continued implementation of reforms across all indicators, including the implementation of legislative reforms, specifically the passage of the new Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Omnibus Bills; the expansion of the regulatory reform program which started with NAFDAC and NAICOM; and now to include other regulators; the establishment of a National Trading Platform for ports; and the concession of our major international airports.”
Below is the full text of the Vice President’s remarks:
REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 2ND PEBEC AWARDS, HELD AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019
PROTOCOLS
It really is a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate the phenomenal successes of the PEBEC and especially the reforms, but more importantly to recognize specially some of those who made it all possible. Our incredibly selfless and committed private sector partners and the sterling performance of many in the public sector.
In the past three years, Nigeria has implemented more than 140 reforms to make doing business in Nigeria easier. Some of the successful reforms include the ability to:
- Reserve a business name within 4-hours
- Complete the registration of a company within 24 hours online
- Apply for and receive approval of a visa-on-arrival electronically within 48hrs
- File and pay taxes online
- Access specialised small claims commercial courts in Lagos and Kano states.
The World Bank also reported in 2018 that 32 states of Nigeria improved their Ease of doing business environment led by Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra states.
In 2019, PEBEC set a goal to move Nigeria into the top-100 on the 2020 World Bank Doing Business Index (DBI). To achieve this, we will be pursuing the continued implementation of reforms across all indicators, including the implementation of legislative reforms, specifically the passage of the new Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Omnibus Bills; the expansion of the regulatory reform program which started with NAFDAC and NAICOM; and now to include other regulators; the establishment of a National Trading Platform for ports; and the concession of our major international airports.
PEBEC has now commenced the fourth 60-day National Action Plan (NAP 4.0) on Ease of Doing Business. NAP 4.0 is running from the 1st of March to the 29th of April, 2019. It aims to deepen the reforms delivered over the past 3 years and drive institutionalization of the whole reform process.
We have highlighted key action items in all of the focus areas to ensure that they do not unravel, and to ensure we drive sustainability. Some of the targets achieved in the last NAP 3.0 include:
- Driving registration for utilization of the National Collateral Registry to facilitate access to credit for SMEs
- Clearance of all pending NAFDAC registration applications to improve efficiency; and
- Creation of a strengthened single joint cargo examination interface in all airports & seaports for import and export to reduce the time spent at the ports.
NAP 4.0 will focus on initiatives such as
- Enforcing compliance with SLAs across all indicators/focus areas,
- Driving the passage of the CAM Bill 2018 for improved effectiveness of company law in Nigeria (and as you have heard, what we are waiting for is the signing into law of the bill)
- Enhancing efficiency in the small claims court, and
- Enhancing the application and approval system for visas on arrival, to mention a few.
The Council will continue to work extensively with all MDAs, the National Assembly and other key stakeholders. All of us who have been involved in this incredible journey will agree that it has been both exciting and fulfilling even if admittedly sometimes frustrating. But that is the way of progress.
I congratulate you all for the great successes and thank you all for keeping faith with our joint vision. In particular we must commend the National Assembly for the great efforts they have made in ensuring the passage of very strategic and important bills. We must also commend our private sector partners who have contributed immensely to the technical output of the EBES through the secondment of professional staff to the secretariat.
Let me specially mention the KPMG Professional Services, Deloitte, Procter and Gamble, Banwo & Ighodalo, Aluko and Oyebode. The NBA-SBL was also particularly instrumental in the drafting of the omnibus bill. About 40 law firms worked pro-bono towards this effort. Our nation is truly grateful to you.
We must also specially commend the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, for his focused and forthright leadership, and the incomparable and tireless Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and her team.
To the rest of us, I think we have demonstrated that the work of creating a world class environment for commerce will be done by like minds in the Nigerian private and public sectors, and these are the exceptional ladies and gentleman such as yourselves who form the PEBEC family. Well done, everyone,
Thank you and God bless you all.
Released by:
Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Office of the Vice President 4th April, 2019
Security is the foremost in any ease of doing business. let's forget about this mere academic and cosmetic rumbling.
IamHeWrites: The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has described the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the candidacy of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 2018 gubernatorial elections as a victory for the state.
The party in a statement issued on Wednesday in Osogbo and made available to Igbere Tv by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said that Osun deserved a better personality as governor.
Days ago, Igbere Tv reports that a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had nullified the candidacy of Adeleke as the flag bearer of the PDP in the September 2018 gubernatorial election.
The court, presided over by Justice Othman Musa, made the decision after it ruled that Adeleke failed to prove in court that he graduated from a secondary school as required by Section 177 of the Nigerian constitution.
Adeleke had contested the election against other candidates, including APC’s Adegboyega Oyetola.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyetola winner after a rerun election was conducted in the state on Sept. 27.
The statement said the state had produced intellectual giants and exceptionally brilliant businessmen and technocrats, including jurists of international standard.
It said the state “was too civilised to have a Ademola Adeleke as governor, adding that “fortunately for Osun, we can depend on Nigeria’s jurisprudence to uphold justice at the most critical point.’’
“We hope that the Appeal Court handling Osun governorship dispute will take judicial notice of this judgment that has practically disqualified Ademola Adeleke from the governorship position,” the statement said.
This MURIC of a group has the potential of causing a religious war one day if care is not taken. I don't know who they are competing with. unnecessary controversies everywhere. every moment. I wonder how a Christian president will fair under this unwarranted mischief makers with unfolding utterances. What has CAN advisory letter has to do with MURIC.
Adieza: Africa’s largest Solar Panel factory has been set up in Borno State by Gov. Kashim The fully automated Factory, situated at Jimtilo village Maiduguri is to produce 40 Megawatts worth of panels per year. Each panel will have capacity for 300 watts!! https://www.facebook.com/2311978625737337/posts/2331336527134880/?app=fbl
largest solar panel in Africa to produce only 40 megawatts? Africa! Africa! how many times did I call you?
ikewaterwater: Nigerians were among the world’s hungriest people in 2018 according to a new joint United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) report published on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
The 2019 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) from the UN which disclosed that Nigerians were among world’s hungriest people in 2018, also disclosed that the number of people unable to meet their daily food needs without humanitarian assistance has been rising for several years.
While a short-term outlook of food insecurity for 2019 also showed that Nigeria will remain among the world’s most severe cases of food crises ( as the other seven currently affected), data pooled from 15 agencies in the international humanitarian and development community showed that Nigeria, northern Nigeria to be specific, was one of the eight countries that housed two-thirds of the 113 million people who faced acute hunger across the globe in 2018.
“The worst food crises in 2018, in order of severity, were: Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and northern Nigeria.
“These eight countries accounted for two thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people,” the report read.
“Large segments of populations in most of these countries risk falling into Emergency (IPC/CH Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity. At the peak of the lean season, three million were acutely food insecure in the three north-eastern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency where protracted conflict and mass displacement disrupted agriculture, trade, markets and livelihoods, and pushed up food prices,”the report added.
Food crises across the world in 2018 were primarily driven by persistent instability in conflict-ridden regions and adverse climate events, and it was further gathered that it affected 16 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 5.3 million people estimated to be “in crisis or worse”. Worst-hit were identified to be three million people resident in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, northeastern states that have bore the brunt of a 10-year insurgency by terrorist group, Boko Haram.
AmericanQuarter: Anambra School Boys Win Bronze at World Tech Festival
By James Eze (eziokwubundu@gmail.com)
Four boys from St John’s Science and Technical College, Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have won the Bronze Medal at the International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology which took place in Tunisia.
The 9-day festival which took place in Monastir, Tunisia from 21- 29th March this year was organized for students aged between 14-24 years from 40 countries and featured a scientific competition in different areas aimed at developing the innovative skills of young scientists and encouraging them to apply their imagination and creativity in solving problems in their environment.
To clinch the Bronze Medal, Ugwuishi Meshack Ogonna, Chuka-Umeora Onyedika Anthony, Nwachukwu Chukwualuka Daniel and Machi Chukwuagozie Dominic squared up to a stiff challenge from technologically advanced countries like Canada, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, China, Sweden, Ukraine, Malaysia, Brazil, Bosnia Herzgovina, Indonesia, Tunisia South Africa etc.
The Anambra Boys were only bested by Daniil Sharoykin from Belarus who won the Gold Medal with a quality water control equipment and a representative of another country who won silver in the competition. The Bronze Boys of Anambra achieved their remarkable feat with a device they called the Adaptable Alternative Power Supply for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The device is an electric inverter with a solar panel that enables it to absorb energy from the sun, warehouse the energy in inverter and subsequently distribute it in households and offices as the case may be.
The exploits of the Bronze Boys came barely seven months after five school girls from Regina Celi Secondary School Onitsha won the Gold Medal at the world technovation fair in San Francisco, USA.
St John’s Science and Technology College Alor is a public mission school which has benefitted immensely from the intense focus of the Anambra State Government under Governor Willie Obiano on education.
Receiving the boys in his office on Tuesday, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke observed that the state was doing exceedingly well in education at the moment. “The progress we are making shows that if you focus on a sector and show some seriousness about what you are doing, put the right people in charge, the results will come in.”
Dr Okeke further observed that “It takes a lot for kids to leave the shores of this country and beat people that come from the developed countries; to stand up and defend what they have produced and to show what they can do if given the opportunity. Listening to these boys talk with such confidence about direct current and alternating current, it shows that they own this invention. They understand what they are doing. I think they need to be encouraged more to continue with what they are doing.”
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha had attributed the excellent results that the state has been recording in the educational sector to the huge investments made by the Obiano administration in education. “Our partnership with the church is working very well. We have imbued in our students that global competitiveness and a strong belief in themselves; which is very important. We have perfected what we call a “value-based education.” Umu akwukwo Anambra believe that nothing is impossible, absolutely nothing. And “Yes, We Can.” That’s our slogan. The belief that nothing is impossible. These are things we have taught them. We have taught them our shared values too; that they must be the best in all they do. Today we are excited that again Anambra State has done Nigeria proud. That in a competition that featured over 31 countries, we came back with the bronze medal,” Prof Omenugha enthused.
Umu Anambra again!!! o gini na-eme! O Gina na-akpotu. God is revealing something to NdiAnambra and Nigeria at large. It is high time policy makers in Anambra state begin to consolidate on these developments. They should not wait for FG in formulating a long term strategy that would interlink our scientific/ technological adventures with our educational curricula. let it not end only in the euphoria of celebration and chest beating, for what this children are doing in their little capacities is heartwarming. Let us take them up from there. Let us review what government is spending to import Western technological products and services.
Pamatips: At the backdrop of the continued comatose state of the Nigeria’s local refining capacity, the country may have spent about N10 trillion in the provision of pump price subsidy on imported petroleum products from 2006 to 2018. fuel-pump A research report by BudgIT, a public finance focused Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, said this amount came from the price shocks in the international energy market as well as the exchange volatility. However, the report also indicated that the subsidy regime has opened Nigeria’s public finance to huge corruption and illegal exportation of petroleum products to neighboring countries.
The report titled, “Nigeria’s Petrol Subsidy Regime: Dilemma of the World’s Most Populous Black Nation”, stated: “Nigeria currently imports an average of 91 percent of its daily petrol needs, thus disproportionately exposing local petrol prices to price shocks from international factors of production and exchange rate volatility. “There is a near perfectly inverse relationship between the fall in the value of Naira and the rise in the cost of imported petrol. That is, when next the Naira is devalued, Nigeria’s subsidy bill can be expected to jump.” It stated further: “The continuation of petrol price regulation perpetuates safety nests for exceptional forms of corruption within the country’s subsidy regime. Import subsidy creates petrol price arbitrage – the differential between the regulated price in Nigeria and the high petrol prices in neighbouring countries – which is big enough to incentivise smuggling of subsidized products to neighbouring border towns.” On the implication of the adverse development, the report stated: “BudgIT notes with dismay that fuel subsidy deprive Nigeria of funds needed for critical socio-economic development as it discourages investors, who generally prefer a deregulated industry, from investing in the downstream sector especially in the area of refinery construction and operation.
For instance, the 10 trillion consumed by the subsidy regime is sufficient to construct 27,000MW of electricity or build about 2,400 units of 1000-bed standard hospitals across 774 local government areas of Nigeria, found our research. “We equally note that the Nigerian masses worship low oil prices. More so, the political class fears that increases in petrol price (and in the cost of living by extension), occasioned by a deregulated price regime, and could become a flashpoint for mass uprisings and political instability. Nonetheless, we can never shy away from the opportunity cost of the corrupt subsidy regime.” Related NIGERIA’S FUEL SUBSIDY: A palliative, a burden
ucaustine2019: Gusau – The Nigeria Army has launched “Operation Harbbin Kunama III’’ to cover forest areas of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States, in a bid to end activities of bandits.
Politics › Re: We Transmitted Election Results To INEC Servers, Presiding Officers Tell Tribuna by archangel1(m): 5:56pm On Apr 22, 2019
