₦airaland Forum

Mastering the new tactics of online scammers

By Edwin Uhara

The havocs wrecked on the society by online scammers is becoming unbearable these days.

Right now, there are scammers on all the social media platforms constantly looking for who to make a victim.

The type of creative thinking these folks deploy in furtherance of their activities is highly sophisticated that only the grace of God can prevent one from becoming a victim.

I used to think that it's only greedy people that fall for the antics of these guys, but recent developments have shown that these guys are constantly upgrading their levels. In fact, they are more than what the society thinks and feels about them.

Until now, the popular belief is that WhatsApp is among the safest online platforms because it works with numbers --- you must have the phone number of the other person before communication can take place but recent experience have proven otherwise.

Just a few days ago, somebody called me on Whatsapp and said there would be a Zoom meeting where the state of the nation would be discussed by 8:pm.

He said, he had sent me a code number and that I should send him the number for him to confirm my participation, but I bluntly told him I was not interested and he started preaching to me on how he has been following my comments on a particular Whatsapp forum and how he wanted me to participate.

But little did I know that it was God that saved me because I would have lost access to my Whatsapp account completely.

I later discovered that the so-called zoom code sent to me was an attempt to hack my account but Whatsapp had to send me a code number to confirm whether the changes emanated from me.

If I had sent the code in the name of zoom meeting, he would have succeeded in his failed attempt to hack my account.

Few days later, I started seeing different kind of postings soliciting for fund for charity on that Whatsapp forum and I called the administrator and he said that his account was hacked.

In the same vein, the account of other persons on the same platform were also hacked.

One day, I got a message with the number of a former Senate President who is also a member of the Whatsapp group asking me to do him a favour and I said in my heart what type favour will a hustler like me offer to a former number three citizen of the country?

While I was contemplating on that, a Rhema dropped in my spirit telling me that the number of the former Senate President was hacked and that I was dealing with a scammer but I should play along.

So, I asked the impersonator what kind of favour? He said his secretary was not around and that he just ordered for something and payment needed to be made ASAP.

I asked how much so that I would help? He said N15 million. I asked him to send me the account number and he did.

I checked the account and I discovered that it was a microfinance bank outside Abuja. At this point, I discontinued with the chat and blocked the number.

After the blocking, I started asking myself some questions. I said if the phone number of a former Senate President could be hacked easily and be used for defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, what would be the fate of the ordinary Nigerian who don't have access to any security agency where he could ask for help?

The truth is that nobody is above temptation, let alone sophisticated temptation of this magnitude. But when such temptation comes, what buffer zone do we have to technologically protect the citizens?

The other day, I got a spam mail in my email box telling me this: "Greetings to you My dear friend.
I am Jimmy Tamara, I hope this mail finds you in good health. I sent you an email a couple of days ago to help me receive a sum of (Five Million Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars). Please get back to me because it is urgent. 100% legitimate, and of mutual benefit to both parties."

The antics of these scammers keep changing as the people become more familiar with their tricks.

This is not to talk about the mindless hacking going on in the banking sector where alot of Nigerians have lost their fortunes.

The banking industry is actually trying by constantly upgrading to new technologies, but they should do more to protect their customers.

Also, the telecommunication industry should not only be concerned about the NIN but the players of the sector should up the ante to contain some shortcomings.

Their current practice of reassigning certain phone numbers used by a particular subscriber should also imbibe some security measures because scammers are using it to impersonate the former owner so that they can defraud their 'MAGA.'

At least, before the reassigning of the used SIM Card would take place, it should be advertised so that the public will be aware of the changes.

Therefore, as we approach the Yuletide season, Nigerians should be very careful on how they do some things in order to avoid playing in to the hands of these guys.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Public Affairs Commentator.

Send your reaction to this email:
edwinuhara@rocketmail.com


https://businesspost.ng/featureoped/mastering-the-new-tactics-of-online-scammers/

bewla:
Pack here

What do you mean?

Anatomising Hadiza Kabir's Commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda

By Edwin Uhara

"Productivity is never an accident, but it's always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused efforts." --- Paul J Meyer

The above quote by an American public speaker, Paul J. Meyer can best describe the unyielding commitment of the former Mandate Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Head of Transportation and Logistics of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, Hajia (Dr.) Hadiza Mohammed Kabir to the concept and principles of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

She is firm and focused in her commitment to the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government as she has been doing everything within her capacity to ensure that Nigerians feel the positive impacts of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government in their lives

Apart from the excellent job she has been doing as an employee of the government, she has been using her personal resources to support the promotion of the policies and programmes of the present administration in her own little way.

She not only promotes and defend the policy thrusts of the government through all her social media platforms but she also support grassroot outreach programmes that promotes the programmes of the government at the local levels.

She has been encouraging the people to exercise patience with the government policies and reform initiatives despite some baby's steps of pains that are universally associated with reforms of this magnitude which can be likened to a woman in labour.

"When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world."

Even before Mr. President expressed concerns that some government officials are not doing enough to promote his government policies to Nigerians, Dr. Hadiza Kabir had maintained a good working relationships with some media personnel who have crossed path with her because of her belief that there can be the media without the government but there cannot be the government without the media.

Though her efforts might look like a drop in the ocean because her present capacity is limited, but the truth remains that she is making a positive impact because change agents work hard in pursuit of their goals until they accomplish them.

As a former Mandate Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, she pursued the vision of the office with single-minded focus and determination.

For instance, during her tenure, the secretariat through the Social Welfare Educational Empowerment Scheme sponsored over 2,000 children of the poor for tutorial and prepared them for NECO/NABTEB, WAEC and IJMB to enable them further their academic pursuits.

The office ensured the training of higher institution students on Industrial Attachment Programme in the Visual and Performing Arts Division of the office as over 200 students were trained.

Also, over 300 youths were trained and empowered in fish farming and aquaculture while another 1000 youths were trained to champion small business establishments in technology-based fields like solar panel production, computer repairs and leadership trainings.

Accordingly, over 13,100 youths were trained in leather works, satellite installation, welding and metal fabrication and the Information Communication Technology, while another 5,500 were empowered and given starter packs to jump start their activities in their new endeavors.

Through social counseling, over 3,000 commercial sex workers embraced skills acquisition and entrepreneurship initiatives and left their old lives for a more dignified means of livelihood.

In similar vein, over 502 mentally unstable persons were treated, rehabilitated and reunited with their loved ones while another 273 victims of drug abuse were rehabilitated through psychosocial therapy at the Bwari rehabilitation centre, Abuja.

Also, over 400 food vendors and roadside market women were empowered with new skills while about 12,500 beggars were evacuated from the streets of Abuja and were provided with feeding, psychosocial counseling and empowerments.

Her social and voluntary works were so pronounced that President Joe Biden of the United States of America in 2022 honoured her with the President's Lifetime Achievement Awards for her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.

Because a change agent is one who is relentless in the pursuit of worthy causes that grows out of personal convictions, I think Dr. Hadiza Kabir needs more encouragements and supports from the present administration for her unyielding commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

Such encouragement from the government of the day will spur her to focus more energies towards accomplishing the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda because according to Abraham Lincoln, 'Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.

Now is the time to embrace persons who are truly walking the talk of helping Mr. President to transform the economy with growth in investments towards enduring prosperity.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Public Policy Analyst

Rural women must be supported

Happy International Day of Rural Women

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN: EXAMINING THE IMPACTS OF THE BETTER LIFE PROGRAM FOR THE AFRICAN RURAL WOMAN

By Edwin Uhara

October 15 every year is a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the International Day of Rural Women. It's a day designated to raising awareness on the challenges, impacts and prospects of the rural women among others.

According to UN report, "Rural women have less access to a range of resources, from farm land rights and credit to education and technology."

"Every year, female-headed households experience income losses of eight percent due to heat stress, and three percent due to floods, relative to male-headed households."

"Climate change has a more pronounced impact on women, primarily on indigenous and peasant women, whose agricultural dependence, living conditions, and marginalization expose them to a greater degree of challenges due to climate change, loss of diversity, and pollution."

The same report added that, "If women had the same access to productive resources as men, farm yields could increase by 20 to 30 percent; feeding an additional 100 to 150 million people.

"Women have learned how to cope with and adapt to climate change, by practicing sustainable agriculture in harmony with nature, switching to drought-resistant seeds, employing low-impact or organic soil management techniques and leading community-based reforestation and restoration efforts."

"Women engaged in wage employment in agriculture earn 82 cents for every dollar that men earn."

"Given their position on the frontlines of the climate crisis, women are uniquely situated to be agents of change — to help find ways to mitigate the causes of global warming and adapt to its impacts on the ground."

However, it is in line with the theme of this year's celebration which is: “Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and caring for land towards gender equality and empowerment of women and girls," that I decided to examine the impacts of The Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, an organisation that has been transforming the lives of the rural women through health, economic empowerment, agriculture and educational supports programme among others.

The organization has impacted on the lives of over 2.4 million individuals across three African countries, transforming communities and enhancing the quality of lives in the region.

It has championed girls education in STEM fields, cultivating a new generation of female leaders with over 250 additional projects across Africa.

The organization has fostered economic independence by encouraging women's participation in cottage industries and agriculture.

It has initiated critical immunisation initiatives in rural areas, significantly bolstering public healthcare systems within communities in the region.

In putting it's works in proper perspectives, The Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman has built 1,435 cottage industries for the rural women as well as 1,784 farms and another 1,992 multipurpose centres and 7,625 cooperative farms across the region for advancing the cause of the African rural woman.

Over the years, the organization has played a leading role in the campaigns on immunisation, oral rehydration therapy and polio vaccination programmes.

Through Sauki Health Outreach Initiative and its youth volunteer programme, the organisation has raised the health status of the rural women to appreciable levels.

Accordingly, the organization has trained over 360 women in different skills acquisition programmes; especially on micro credits and other financial schemes.

The organisation has also trained over 600 women on SHEA production as well as the construction of Shea nut warehouse, multi crops and multi trade programmes.

Given the giant strides the organisation has made so far, there is no doubt that the organisation would do more if given more supports.

The structure is there already with good leadership in the person of Her Excellency, Hajia Aisha Babangida who has done a great deal of justice to the organisation since the founding mother, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs) Maryam Babangida passed away.

It's a cause she is committed to doing for the whole rest of her live; the cause of seeing the African rural woman enjoying the same rights and privileges like any other woman anywhere in the world.

This cause is however challenging but not insurmountable.

Therefore, on the occasion of this year's International Day of Rural Women, it is appropriate to call on the international community and other public spirited individuals to throw their supports behind the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman so that more lives can be touched and be transformed across the continent.

Let's reawaken the spirit of Ubuntu once again!

Comrade Edwin Uhara is A Journalist and Public Affairs Commentator.

He writes from Enugu!

FCCPC, Price Gouging and Matters Arising

By Edwin Uhara

According to Wikipedia, "Price gouging is the practice of increasing the prices of goods and services to a higher level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair."

In other words, price gouging is the act of increasing prices of goods and services without recourse to common sense or moderation.

Price gouging is a moral burden on the conscience of producers and marketers because it tends to send a lot of persons back to the poverty line.

The worst is the fact that any little attempt made to encourage fair competition is usually tagged as price control.

For instance, in a reaction to FCCPC's directive that prices of commodities should be reasonable and devoid of price gouging and exploitative practices, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) said, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was 'intimidating' retailers across Nigeria.

In a statement released by the Director/CEO of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, the organisation said, "The FCCPC's recent actions, which it believes are veering dangerously close to price control... appears to be transforming into a “price control agency” instead of upholding its duty as a consumer protection body."

The big question is, how can an agency established to promote and protect the Nigerian consumers carry out such responsibility without demanding for fair competition among players?

Is the act of forming cartels to ripoff Nigerians of their hard earned money not anti-competitive practice which the extant laws of the nation empowered the FCCPC as an agency to fight against?

At a recent event in Lagos, the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Compettion and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr. Olatunji Bello while addressing leaders of market associations, transport operators, and service providers at a town hall meeting hosted by the FCCPC said; "The commission discovered that “cartels” excessively increase the prices of food items to exploit consumers."

“As a Commission, we are not acting out of a brainwave. Indeed, we had carried out extensive discreet market survey across the country and our findings were quite disturbing."

"We identified patterns of price fixing perpetrated by some market associations, price gouging, and other anti-consumer practices.

“We noticed that the margin in the prices of imported goods are very disproportionate in many cases; and in the case of locally produced goods, excessively inflated."

“In some areas, we discovered that some players are engaged in hoarding of grains, to create artificial scarcity, thereby distorting the market in unduly high prices of such food items."

"In our investigation, we also discovered that some traders form a cartel in the market and put barriers in the form of ridiculous membership fees intended to ensure price fixing in the market."

“Without joining them, they won’t allow anyone to sell goods in the market or provide services.”

"Price gouging and price fixing are unethical and “patently illegal” also under the FCCP law."

"Section 17 of the Act empowers the commission to eliminate anti-competitive practices, misleading, unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable marketing, trading, and business practices."

"Sanctions include a fine of up to N10m and a jail term for anyone found guilty by the court,” the FCCPC boss said."

In similar vein, while speaking on why the prices of foods are over the roof across the country, the Chairman of BUA Foods PLC, Mr. Abdul Samad Rabiu said: "The rising cost of food in Nigeria is due to the actions of greedy distributors and producers.'
He disclosed this during the company’s 7th annual general meeting held in Abuja recently.

He said: " A few months ago, while the price of flour reached N70,000 per bag, BUA maintained its price at N50,000 to encourage competitors to reduce theirs. But instead of adjusting, some companies decided to halt production altogether, creating scarcity and driving prices even higher."

“When we were at N50,000, distributors added N20,000 more and sold it at N70,000 per bag."

"At one point, distributors were making almost N20 million per truckload of 75 tonnes of flour."

"While we kept our prices low, other companies were unhappy with us and deliberately stopped producing to create a shortage, which caused prices to keep increasing.”

Seeing this, BUA Foods felt it didn’t make sense to keep selling at N50,000 when the market price was at N70,000."

Although BUA’s production is significant, but Mr. Rabiu acknowledged that there are still two companies larger than theirs.

He further explained that "BUA Foods offers some of the most affordable products in the market. However, because there are other companies selling similar items, it’s challenging to keep the prices low."

He praised President Bola Tinubu for providing duty waivers on food imports, which he believes could help ease the situation.

Other food items such as groundnut oil, red oil, fresh tomatoes and pepper are not left out in this price gouging thing.

Garri that used to be regarded as very cheap has changed, and has also become the food for the rich. A paint bucket has risen to between N2,500 and N3,000, instead of N500 it used be.

According to Ngozi Okafor, a teacher, she observed that even vegetables such as Ugu, green, saint leaf, others, are even expensive. “At times I wonder why our local veggies are expensive.

While there are some prevailing factors like removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira which has caused some adjustments in the cost of production and distribution of goods and services in the country, it should however not be the justification for price gouging and exploitative practices in our local markets.

The same factors are there but currently, a start-up company known as Egoras have decided to be selling 50kg bag of rice for N45,000 while in our various markets, same 50kg goes for between N85,000 and N90,000 per bag depending on location.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Egoras, Ugoji Harry, he said "That at a significantly reduced price of N45,000 per 50kg bag, Nigerians will be getting some relief from the impact of food inflation."

He recognised the growing hardships that many Nigerians face in affording basic food supplies. "The current economic situation has pushed many families into extreme financial strain. We understand that food is becoming unaffordable for many households, and as a company, we feel a responsibility to support our communities."

This rice, which is locally produced, would ordinarily sell for almost double the price, but we are offering it at N45,000 to make it accessible."

Harry highlighted that the discounted rice is not intended for resellers or distributors.

“To prevent exploitation, we have set a limit of one bag per customer. We want to ensure that as many households as possible benefit from this initiative, and we don’t want people buying in bulk just to resell it at a profit. This is a way of giving back, and we’re trying to reach everyday Nigerians who need this the most."

He said customers can pre-order through egomart.org to secure their bags of rice, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Egoras initiative is quite commendable and should be emulated by other companies.

Accordingly, Nigerians should throw their weights behind the FCCPC as it seeks to protect Nigerians from the crushing effects of price gouging, price fixing and exploitative practices in our various markets.

FCCPC will serve Nigerians better when we all support it's activities and not condemnation.

Therefore, now is the time to prove our patriotism by rallying supports for the activities of FCCPC to defend the Nigerian consumers from exploitative practices.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is A Public Affairs Commentator

Myn44

Olatunji Bello, FCCPC and the Fight Against Exploitative Practices In the Market Place

By Edwin Uhara

There is no gain denying the fact that the commodity prices in our various market places are over the roof of the common man; whether it's the price of essential commodities or non essential commodities, the story is the same.

However, what is been under reported is the efforts of the Olatuji Bello-led Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to curb the exploitative practices in our various local markets.

Exploitative practices occurs when marketers over inflate the prices of their commodities in order to make huge profits at the expense of the final consumers.

Final consumers comprises of all persons who are the end users of these products, the worst hit are the people in the lower rank of our economic ladder who are often the majority.

Accordingly, Nigerians can attest to the recent revelation by the Chairman of Bua Cement Company, Dr. Ishaku Abdulsamad Rabiu, when he said this: "We were selling cement at N3,500 with the expectation that dealers and retailers would pass the benefits of the low price to end-user customers, but some were selling at N7,000 and N8,000 per bag, making a lot of money from the very high margin. I think we sold more than a million tons at N3,500 before we realised what the dealers were doing."

He made this disclosure at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja.

He added that the activities of those intermediaries undermined his company’s policy to maintain the N3,500 per bag price in 2023.

Collaborating the position of the BUA boss, the executive director of the company, Mr. Kabir Rabiu added: "We actually sold our cement for three to four months at N3,500. We thought other players in the cement industry would join us in making the price of cement affordable, so BUA Cement had to discontinue its low-price policy as it was not intended to subsidise dealers."

Dr. Rabiu attributed the high cost of cement to the exploitation of consumers by middlemen within the supply chain.

He added that the company could not control the prices in the open market, where dealers were making substantial profits from the high margin.

Similarly, we also read the recent revelation by a popular economist and the Executive Director of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, when he alleged that some civil servants bought 50kg bags of rice at N40,000 and resold it at N85,000.

He said the price of rice at the ‘Parallel market’ increased by 3.62 percent to N85,000 from the normal N83,000 despite the government’s subsidized price of N40,000.

He made the allegation before the Federal Government suspended the N40,000 per bag rice initiative.

These and many other factors are the reasons the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission decided to issue a directive to marketers to sell their items within reasonable prices and stop the unreasonable exploitation of the Nigerian consumers.

Here is what FCCPC said: "Price control is entirely outside the scope of our responsibilities, we have never considered nor will we ever consider intervening in the market to regulate prices ... Our recent directives are not about controlling prices but are focused on curbing exploitative behaviours that distort the market place and harm consumers."

"We encourage all businesses to engage in critical and lawful practices that contribute to a fair and competitive market place... Our role is to ensure that the market operates on principles of fairness, transparency and accountability."

But some cartels in the market chain distorted the original version of the statement and alleged that the FCCPC was planing to introduce price control mechanism whereas that was not what the statement said.

Instead of facing the truth, some members of these cartel network resorted to chasing the shadows by sponsoring propaganda against the commission in the media with the aim of inciting the people against the leadership of FCCPC.

The simple truth is that, these cartels are afraid of what would be their fate when the one month grace period given to them to sell their communities within rational prices by the commission expires.

Here is what the commission said: 'We have granted a one month moratorium before enforcement begins, providing businesses with the necessary time to adjust their practices and ensure full compliance with laws aimed at protecting consumers and fostering fair competition."

"The FCCPC stands firm in it's commitment to enforcing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPC) 2018."

The statement added: "We will continue to monitor the market place and take action against business practices that violates the law. Consumers and businesses alike can trust that we will remain vigilant in uplifting the principles of fair competition and ensure protection."

At this juncture, all Nigerians of good will must rally round the FCCPC as it strives to allow the forces of demand and supply to determine the prices of goods in Nigeria and not price fixing by some cartel networks who are only interested in the money they would make and not the value they would add to the overall economic development of the country.

Kudos must also go Mr. Olatunji Bello for summoning the courage to confront these forces in the market place who have been suffocating Nigerians with exploitative practices that have no correlation with the laws of demand and supply.


Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Public Policy Analyst.

drmuchin:
Stupid greedy mofos

What do you mean

Press Release

Nationwide Protest: Give Tinubu More Time - APC Chieftain Urges Protesters

Ahead of the nationwide protest slated for August 1st, 2024, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and United Nations-trained Negotiator, Comrade Edwin Uhara has appealed to the organisers of the protest to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu more time to turn things around.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday, the party stalwart said the current food crisis in the country has some spiritual undertones; noting that 2024 is the year of the Dragon and a leap year also which requires patience to overcome the challenges.

The year of the dragon is also the year of good fortunes but some requirements must be met before the divine wealth of the year is released.

Similarly, it has been observed from history that every leap year is usually a tough year for the human race but humanity have always emerged stronger.

Therefore, what we need at the moment is not protest but to show kindness and compassion to one another knowing full well that this trying moment will soon be a thing of the past and we will return to our normal lives.


Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
APC Chieftain and Public Affairs Commentator

Happy World Environment Day

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2024: DISSECTING MAINA BUKAR'S STRIDES AT NAGGW

By Edwin Uhara

The 5th of June every year is a day set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness on environmental challenges confronting humanity as well as promote the need to take actions towards the protection and restoration of our ecosystems.

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40 percent of the world's land is been degraded and is directly affecting half of the world's population.

The report went further to warn that without action, exposure to air pollution beyond the safe guidelines will increase by 50 percent within the next decade while plastic waste flowing in to the acquatic ecosystems will nearly tripple by 2040.

The report also stated that every five seconds, the equivalent of one football pitch of soil is been eroded yet it takes 1000 years to generate three centimeters of topsoil.

However, Nigeria is not left out of the global effects of climate change but I will not be focusing on the challenges but the efforts made so far to curtail the effects of global warming on our soil.

It is on this note that I will be dissecting the unrelenting efforts of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) under the leadership of Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar OON to combat land degradation, drought and desertification as well as other challenges posed by climate change to Nigeria.

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) is an agency under the Ministry of Environment established in 2015 by the act of parliament to implement the vision of the African Union and it's Heads of State and Governments.

The mission of NAGGW is to stop and reverse land degradation and prevent depletion of biological diversity, boost food security and ensure that ecosystems are resilient to climate change as well as provide essential services that will contribute to human welfare and poverty reduction in 11 front line states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara States.

Accordingly, since the appointment of Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, the agency has made so many giant strides towards the actualisation of it's mandate.

In highlighting some of the great successes achieved by NAGGW on behalf of Nigeria, I will be focusing on the six major sub-headings of Afforestation and Land Management, Renewable Energy Delivery, Rural Infrastructure Assisted Projects/Activities, Job Creation/ Employment Generation, Capacity Building/ Development and lastly Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) in order to give better essence and perspectives to the great efforts by Nigeria to ensure that global warming is kept below 1.5°C in this century.

AFFORESTATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT:

It is worthy to note that a total of 45,251,179 number of assorted and indigenous tree seedlings were raised in the agency’s community and central nurseries to plant in the following plantations;

i. Shelterbelt: over 1819.96Km or 5,459.88 hectares of Shelterbelt was planted across the 11 frontline states.

ii. Woodlot: 1,457.2 hectres of land was planted as woodlot to improve the livelihoods of the
affected communities and the micro-climates.

iii. Orchard: 1,047 hectres of orchard plantations was established to improve the livelihoods of the affected communities across the 11 frontline states.

iv. Acacia senegal/seyal Plantation: 950 hectres of land was planted with Acacia senegal/seyal seedlings.

v. Large Scale Restoration of Degraded Land: 800 hectres of degraded land was planted to restore and improve soil fertility and halt further land degradation.

vi. Social Forestry: 550 hectres of land was planted with exotic/economic tree species in areas of social gathering across communities in the 11 frontline states to enhance the micro-climates and improve human interaction with the outdoor space.

vii. Institutional Planting: 830 hectres of land in both public and private institutions were planted across the 11 frontline states.

viii. Farm Forestry: 350 hectres of farmlands were planted to encourage agroforestry and improve soil fertility.

ix. Indigenous Tree Species: 775 hectres of land was planted using indigenous tree species sourced from the affected communities to reduce plant extinction and restore indigenous forest.

• Distribution of Seedlings: 10,813,733 tree seedlings were distributed to farmers for promotion of agroforestry practices.

• Sand Dune Fixation: 100 hectres of sand dune has been fixed using the straw checkerboard method.

• Banana Plantations (Musa Spp): 25 hectres of banana plantations are being established to encourage agroforestry and generation of income in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, and
Yobe States.

RENEWABLE ENERGY DELIVERY:

• 4,879 units of solar home lightening systems were procured and distributed.

• 1,917 units of solar street lights were procured and installed at rural markets, boreholes and plant nursery sites.

• 6,300 units of super saver wooden stoves were procured and distributed to families of inhabitants of the communities to discourage indiscriminate tree logging for domestic purposes.

• 128 units of solar powered pumps with trolley were procured and installed for Irrigation purposes across the 11 frontline states.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTED PROJECT/ACTIVITIES:

• 430 units solar powered boreholes were constructed with accessories.

• 363 units of motorized boreholes were constructed with complete accessories for irrigation purposes.

• 5 units of skill acquisition centres were constructed and equipped for off-land training.

• 71 community plant nurseries were established for seedlings production across the front line states.

• 4.6Km of rural feeder roads were constructed for easy access to difficult terrains.

• 110 numbers of tube wells were constructed for irrigation purposes.

JOB CREATION/ EMPLOYMENT GENERATION:

• 1,397 youths were trained and engaged as Forest Guards to curtail social unrest and forced migration as well as protect the agency’s investments.

• 205 units of grinding machines were procured and distributed to women and youth across the 11 frontline states.

• 85 units of motorcycles were procured and distributed in the selected irrigated sites of the 11 frontline states.

• About 210,709 youths which consists of women were engaged in direct tree planting and other related activities.

• Initiation of the NAGGW Youth Volunteer Programme (NYVP) and the NAGGW Green Women Platform (NGWP) among others.

CAPACITY BUILDING/ DEVELOPMENT:

• 1,367 rural community people - women and youth were trained in off-land livelihood activities.

• 275 farmers were trained on 'Climate Smart Agriculture' and were empowered with farm tools and inputs like assorted/improved seeds for on and off farming activities that would generate income and improve livelihoods.

MONITORING & EVALUATION (M&E).

• 2 numbers of Automatic Weather Stations were put in place for field data collection. Monitoring and Evaluation M&E framework was also developed for implementation of M&E system for the Great Green Wall Programme in Nigeria.

• Reviewing of the National Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of GGW Programme (2021-2025).

• Participatory Rural Appraisal Manual for Planning and Implementation of the Great Green Wall Programme in Nigeria was also developed.

Despite the many laudable achievements of the NAGGW, the Director-General of the agency, Dr. Maina Bukar is still not resting on his oars as he has vowed to continue to pursue the mandate of the agency until the goal is fully achieved.

His words: "We will therefore continue to play a leading role in fulfilling the laudable vision of the African Union and its Heads of State and Governments when in 2007 they adopted and launched the Great Green Wall in the Sahel and Sahara Initiative."

Finally, as the world celebrates this year's World Environment Day 2024 which focuses on land restoration, halting desertification and building drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.

"We cannot turn back time, but we can grow forests, revive water sources, and bring back soils."

I am using this opportunity to say happy World Environment Day 2024 to Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar and his dedicated team for doing great jobs at the NAGGW.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Un-trained Negotiator and Public Affairs Commentator

Aisha Babangida: A Quintessential Humanitarian @ 53

By Edwin Uhara

"You don't change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart." -- Bryan Stevenson

Though there are many noble sides of her, but in this piece, I will be exploring the humanitarian side of Her Excellency, Hajiya Aisha Babangida as she celebrates her birthday anniversary this month.

She need no introduction as anyone familiar with happenings in the humanitarian circle across the continent already know that she is one of the very few persons who are truly convinced and are committed to the cause of improving people's lives and reducing human sufferings in the society.

She is firm in her decisions yet simple and down to earth. She was born with the golden spoon yet the welfare of the common person takes the centre stage in her heart.

Such was the intellectual idea that shaped her worldview and convinced her to float many life changing charity organizations as well as enlarging the scope and the coverage of her late mother's pet project, the "Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman to the continental level.

Other humanitarian organizations founded by her includes; the Women Enterprise Alliance. The Egwafin Micro-finance Bank. The Tasnim Foundation. The Aisha Babangida Leadership Foundation and many other organizations she heads and sits on their boards.

The Women Enterprise Alliance is an opportunity-based platform created by her to help entrepreneurs to invest in profitable small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria and across the African continent.

She founded the organization in 2018 as a way of helping entrepreneurs to overcome the challenges they normally face when needing resources to start-up their own company.'

According to her; "Women represent between 60 and 79 percent of Nigeria’s rural labour force but are five times less likely to own their own land than men. Women are also less likely to have had a decent education."

So, the Women Enterprise Alliance is there to bridge the gap between business vision and business actualisation.

The Egwafin Micro-finance Bank was also established in 2016 to help in facilitating access to funding and financing that the ordinary person on the street may not have access to in the real banking industry.

In her words, "Microfinance acts as a means to target wealth inequality and work towards bridging the gap. Because the poor or impoverished don’t have access to resources, their skills go underutilized, because they themselves are underutilized."

Adding that "microfinance, commonly referred to as microcredit which is actually a subset within microfinance, acts as an opportunity for people who may not otherwise receive approval for a loan or credit to still obtain financial services.

The concept was built around the idea of inclusion and access for all. In order to participate in growing economies, people need access to funding no matter their income bracket.”

The Tasnim Foundation is another charity organization founded by her to provide scholarships to young girls in the rural areas as a way of encouraging girl-child education.

The foundation also provide medical equipments and medications to hospitals across the country in order to support the public healthcare services.

The Aisha Babangida Leadership Foundation is also another organization that works with variety of stakeholders, partners and institutions to develop and support programmes aimed at providing leadership trainings, mentorship and scholarships to indigent students across the continent

Undoubtedly, her Midas touch in these organizations have transformed the lives of many, especially those whose only hope of better lives can only be found in the imaginative realm.

She see's the good in others and invests in them to assist them become that which they wanted to be. That's why Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said and I quote "If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."

Born on 25th May, 1970, Aisha Babangida pursued her academic career in the following citadel of learning; The Webster University Geneva, the Wharton Business School, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Cambridge Judge Business School among others.

Nevertheless, there is no one who makes positive impact in life that goes without being noticed because we can only attract and experience what we are. That's why several honours and recognitions came her way, among which are; The Gold Medal Award from the prestigious Crans Montana Forum, Brussels, the Womens Champion and Youth Mentorship Awards, Speaker at the World Humanitarian Forum on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, and Life Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) which was conferred on her during the last annual Directors Dinner and Award Ceremony.

In all these, one thing that have consistently distinguished her from the rest is her burning desire to uplift the downtown and see them become who they were destined to be by their creator.

It is on this note that I say happy birthday to her and I enjoin her to continue her selfless services to humanity because she is already on the positive side of history.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Un-trained negotiator and Public Affairs Analyst

Ending hunger in Nigeria is achievable

How Sharubutu's ARCN is complementing Tinubu's Fight Against Hunger

By Edwin Uhara

There is no doubt that there is food insecurity in the land. Many Nigerians are already feeling the heat of food inflation across the federation.

No matter the location, the price of food stuffs are generally high but what is being under-reported is the efforts of government to balance the inequality between demand and the supply chain.

Accordingly, there are many reasons given for the current food inflation, but from the economic perspective, the demand for food by Nigerians is more than the supply in the market. So, when such reality is the case, there is food insecurity.

Conversely, for there to be food security, it must be available, accessible and affordable even to the ordinary person on the street because food is a human right.

However, it is also not right when the efforts of relevant agencies like the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), a body saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and monitoring agricultural researches in order to increase agricultural outputs in Nigeria is being under reported.

As a leading research institution, the ARCN has developed many varieties of crops to ensure self-sufficiency in production as it has also released beans and maize varieties that are resistant to insect pests.

Not only that, the council has also developed models to help in food storage as one of the research institutes under it's supervision - the National Stored Products Research Institute in Ilorin has developed models for the storage of yam, cassava, and grains.

Nevertheless, as a way of boasting it's workforce, the council recently recruited about 1650 scientists to boost food security across the nation.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Council, Professor Garba Sharubutu, he said: "The Federal Government approved recruitment of 1650 scientists to boost the staff strength in research, particularly the instruction is for us to recruit breeders, those going to bring about the genetic improvement of our local crops”.

Adding that, "This administration is taking the subject matter of food security serious and since it came on board, it decided we must refocus our attention to make sure at least food is placed on the table and if we need food to be placed on the table, our advice to the government is to concentrate on quick maturing crops."

"These quick maturing crops mean rice, yam, cassava, wheat, guinea corn, millet. These are what we call the quick maturing crops". He added.

"But our advice also entails the fact that other products or other commodities should not be neglected.

‘’We cannot neglect the cash crops because of the need to diversify and if you look at the mandate of Mr President and his priority list, he mentioned food security as No. 1”.

Unlike before when there were replications of research works by some bodies under it's watch, the 16 institutions under the ARCN in the country now have specific mandates of crops they specialises in.

These crops ranges from grains, tree crops, livestocks, fisheries, storages, mechanisation and extension services.

According to the ARCN boss, Professor Sharubutu, he said, "We had numerous agricultural research institutes spread across the length and breath of the country that were carrying out their activities in isolation. Each agricultural research institute was implementing mandate without recourse to what the other is doing”

“So in the wisdom of the government, there was need to give specific mandates to each research institute, and therefore the 16 agricultural research institutes in the country now have specific mandate of their crop”

He further disclosed that the council has been able to release crop varieties that are meant to be flood resistant, quick maturing, quick yielding, boost nutrition and pest resistant.

In total, the council has released 23 crops varieties within the shortest time frame while the National Cereals Research Institute has produced over 65 varieties of rice; quick maturing, drought, flood and disease resistant crops.

The council also founded solution to the tomato Ebola when it broke out in Nigeria.

The result of these researches are not in the book selves anymore but are found with the real farmers on the field.

He added that, "In the whole of Africa, we are the second country to introduce insect-resistant cowpeas." We have also introduced new varieties of maize that are resistant to armyworm.

In lieu of the foregoing, large scale farmers are advised to get these new varieties of crops for usage as this year's planting season is still on.

There is no point continuing with the old species of crops that take almost one full year to yield while the country is in dire need to balance the gap between food demand and the supply chain.

On the whole, Professor Sharubutu has delivered on President Tinubu's mandate of boosting agriculture to achieve food security within the shortest time frame.

The onus is now on Nigerians especially the farmers to take advantage of the innovation and use them to increase their yields in this year's planting season.

Achieving food stability is not a rocket science because that is one of key indicators of human development according to global institutions.

In conclusion, I can say that with the current efforts of both the government and the people, there is going to be the availability and affordability of food stuffs across the federation during next round of harvesting season.

Comrade Edwin Uhara, a public affairs analyst writes from Abuja.

Noted

Press Release

APC Chieftain, Richard Lamai Congratulates Julius Ihonvbere on His Emergence As Reps Majority Leader

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and member of the Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Richard Lamai has congratulated Professor Julius Ihonvbere on his emergence as the 10th House of Representatives Majority Leader today.

The party Chieftain who described the emergence as a 'Refreshing Dawn' for APC in Edo , South-South and indeed National politics said, Professor Ihonvbere has all it takes to help Mr. President to drive home his 'Renewed Hope Agenda' for Nigeria.

Noting that Ihonvbere is bringing his huge experiences as former Special Adviser to the President, former Secretary to the State Government and ranking lawmaking status to bear in this new assignment.

The party leader called on Nigerians to continue to support the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he rolls out his government's plans for the overall recovery of the country in the coming days.

Signed:

Chief Richard Lamai,
APC Chieftain and Director in the Presidential Campaign Council

Okay

1st Senator E .A .Lamai memorial lecture sets Abuja Agog.

As the Nation prepares for the inauguration of the 7th democratically elected President on May 29th 2023,The Senator E A. Lamai Foundation has scheduled a lecture in memory of the 14th anniversary of the late icon Senator Ekpemoriri Akhagbemhe Lamai transition for friday 26th May 2023 at shehu Musa Yardua Center,Abuja.


The theme of the lecture is particularly apt; Xraying the role of the Senate in Nation Building from 1st Republic to present day 4th Republic.

It is noteworthy that the incoming President Bola Ahmed tinubu was a 3rd Republic Senator and giving the clear importance of legislation in engendering development in all facets of society,the importance of this lecture can't be overemphasised.

While the participation of a former British prime Minister and President elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yet to be confirmed,the array of Notable Nigerians with daunting credentials in jurisprudence,legislation,Governance and Business who have been invited to speak is a clear indication of the powerful agenda this lecture will set for the incoming administration.

Notable legal luminary ,Professor Mike Ozekhome ;former chairman,Nigeria Law reform and Ex governor of Edo state,Prof osaremhien Osunbor;Prof Jika Jidereri of the Department of political science ,BUK;former Governor of Edo State and Senator elect Adams Oshiomhole;former Governor of imo state,Senator Rochas Okorocha;Billionaire oil Mogul and Philanthropist,TS Jack Rich Tien;the first Edo North Senator in the 4th Republic,Geologist Kassim oyofo tops a very impressive list of Nigerians expected at the event.

Speaking to Journalists in Abuja,the executive director of the Foundation and son of the icon,chief Richard Lamai, said there is no better time to remind Nigerians of the contributions and efforts of our heroes past which benefit we are enjoying now.

He said Democracy has come to stay and the legislative arm being the only significant difference in the annals of all Goverments in Nigeria,her role symbolised by the Senate has to be evaluated and proffered suggestions for a more egalitarian Nation. This will be done by eminent practitioners and scholars amidst present and past legislators,the executive arm, academia and private sector leaders.


Brown Justice files this report from Abuja

Press Release:

Senator E A Lamai Memorial Lecture: Honoring a Legacy of Service

This May marks the 14th year since our dear father, Senator Ekpemoriri Akhagbemhe Lamai, passed away.

To honor his memory and celebrate his contributions to society, we are hosting a memorial lecture at the Yardua Center in Abuja on May 26th, 2023, from 9am to 2pm.

The purpose of the lecture is to highlight Senator E A Lamai's achievements and inspire future generations to continue his legacy of service.

The event will feature distinguished speakers and thought-provoking discussions on topics related to Senator E A Lamai's dream of a better Nigeria through the instrumentality of good legislations.

We invite you to join us for this special event.

Whether you knew Senator E A Lamai personally or simply share our admiration for his work, we would be honored to have your presence.

We will provide more details about the lecture in the coming days, and a formal invitation will follow.

Please accept our highest regards.

Signed:

Chief Richard Lamai,
Deputy Director,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Congrats

Press Release

National Honour: APC Chieftain Congratulates SGF Boss Mustapha

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated the 19th Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Barrister Boss Gida Mustapha on the conferment of the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on him by President Muhammadu Buhari, (GCFR).

In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, Uhara said Boss Mustapha deserve the honour because he has paid his dues in several fronts without sparing anything in defence of the country as well as ensuring that the Buhari administration did not only succeed but also leaves lasting legacies on the sands of time which Nigerians and unborn generations would appreciate in years to come.

Uhara noted that despite several distractions from different quarters, Boss Mustapha's loyalty to Buhari and the Nigerian people is legendary and is never in doubt because it is centered on making life better for all Nigerians especially the talakawas or the ordinary people.

The party stalwart who was visibly elated with the development noted that Boss Mustapha is one man who always seeks to serve and not to be served.

He commended President Buhari for restoring the value of the honour with the award been given to deserving Nigerians only once in the eight years of his administration unlike in the past when it was made a yearly ritual been given to some people of easy virtues.

The party Chieftain urged the SGF and other awardees to continue to justify the honour because to whom much is given, much is expected.


Signed:

His Youthfulness,
Comrade Edwin Uhara,
APC Chieftain and UN-trained Negotiator

Xscape1993:
You are already congratulating your end in Nigeria.

What do you mean?

money121:
Seen

Noted

Press Release

Presidential Primary: APC Chieftain Congratulates Party Members

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated the leadership, aspirants and members of the party for the successful conduct of it's 2022 Presidential Primary in Abuja.

In a statement released to newsmen on Wednesday, the party stalwart said APC has proved once again that it's the only party with the capacity to reinvent the lost glory of Nigeria from the years of endless waits for a perfect union.

Saying, against the earlier doom predictions, the presidential primary has demonstrated that the strength of APC lies in the diversities of interests within the party.

Noting that the party may war and roar but there is always a river whose streams shall make glad and unify the party.

While congratulating the winner of the race, His Excellency, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the party chieftain advised him to be magnanimous in victory and to carry everyone along irrespective of whom they supported because the task ahead requires the efforts of all party members.

The party honcho however warned members not to allow the outcome of the election to distract their supports for the Buhari administration, saying Buhari is still the President and we must support him and his team in their efforts to leave lasting legacies for the next generation.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
APC Chieftain and UN-trained Negotiator

G

Correct address

APC for live

Nigeria is great

Press Statement

APC Chieftain Congratulates SGF, Boss Mustapha on Conferment of National Productivity Award

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha on the conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday to celebrate the investiture, the party stalwart said, Boss Mustapha deserve the honour looking at the sterling heights the Adamawa-born technocrat turned politician has attained in the service of his fatherland.

Apart from leading the fight against Covid-19 and stopping the scourge of the virus from hitting the nation below the belt zone, the SGF has displayed unprecedented level of patriotism, selflessness, hard-work and unyielding faith in the Nigerian project in different dimensions.

The party honcho who was full of praise for the SGF said, history would be kind to him for not letting Nigerians down in all his national outings, saying the youths are proud of him because he is a direct definition of loyalty, patriotism and dedication to duty.

He further noted that Boss Mustapha is the only Chief-scribe of the nation who has not traveled abroad since his appointment but has remained dutifully committed to helping President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver good governance to Nigerians.

Therefore, the National Productivity Order of Merit Award did not come as a surprise to those who have been following his activities but a reward for his silent and impactful contributions to national developments.

While urging Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and supports for Mr. President and his team, the Buharideen prayed God to strengthen, protect and inspire the SGF to continue with his good works for the nation.

SIGNED

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
UN-trained Negotiator
And Member APC Presidential Campaign Council in 2019

etokhana:
https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2023-political-appointees-drag-apc-inec-to-court-over-disqualification-threats/

this is serious