₦airaland Forum

President Muhammad Buhari has said he will not make the mistake of running for a third term in office. He spoke yesterday at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president said: “I said we should read the constitution because I will not make the mistake of attempting to have a third term or whatever term. Besides the age, I swore by the Holy Book that I believe in that I will go by the constitution and the constitution says two terms. “I know that I am in my last term and I can afford to be reckless because I know I will not be asking for anybody’s vote”. Buhari, who expressed commitment to make the APC a permanent entity after his tenure, advised every elected party member to ensure that they earn respect in their various constituencies. He particularly advised NEC members to reposition themselves in order to dominate their constituencies “politically”.

He said history would not be fair to party members if the APC collapsed at the end of his tenure, adding that history would be fair to all if the APC made gains by remaining strong at the center. “This is the only way we can make this party survive, this is the only way history will be kind to us that we have led with absolute concern for the country and for the people. “If for any other reason, you divide the party, at any constituency and it causes failure, then be prepared that history will not recognize you as a leader at any level at any time.” He expressed satisfaction with the current cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He said unlike the 8th legislature, the 9th National Assembly had shown serious commitment to national cause as the country was making progress. Buhari recalled that he called former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Leader of the House of Representatives, telling them that the decision sit on a budget for seven months was not politics but an action that was hurting the country and the people they swore to serve “whole-heartedly”.

He described the party’s current political situation in Sokoto, Imo, Bauchi, and Zamfara states as unfortunate and advised party members to acquaint themselves with party constitution and stick to its provisions in order to avoid such misfortune in future. President Buhari said Nigerians wouldn’t bother about the party in government today if the PDP had fixed critical infrastructure like roads and electricity during the oil boom.

He stressed that the Nigerian elite had not done any good to themselves and the country for keeping quiet when so much evil was being committed. In his opening remarks, the APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole rued the loss of four states in the last general elections. Oshiomhole, who said the loss in Bauchi and Adamawa states was due to internal sabotage, told members that the worst of APC candidate was better than an angel in other political parties.

He expressed optimism that the APC could still spring surprise with some pending cases at Supreme Court. He said Senator Dino Melaye would join his 16 counterparts who left the APC but failed to return to the National Assembly. Pro, anti-Oshiomhole protesters clash Earlier in the day, supporters and opponents of the APC National Chairman clashed at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja ahead of the NEC meeting.

The two warring camps hauled heavy stones, big sticks, and other weapons at each other in front of Valencia Hotel before the situation was brought under control by the security agents. The pro-Oshiomhole protesters were said to have warned those calling for his sack to leave the area. Security agents had to use teargas to disperse them and restore normalcy before the arrival of President Buhari.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-i-wont-seek-third-term.html

The federal government has approved Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects worth $8bn in eight years, the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Mr. Chidi Izuwah has said. Mr. Izuwah who gave the figures yesterday at the joint PPP network meeting in Abuja added that the period of the approval was between 2010 and 2018. “Between 2010 and 2018, under the regulatory guidance of the ICRC, the Nigerian Government has approved PPP projects worth almost $8bn,” he said.

Mr. Izuwah said as at June 25 2019, there were 69 post-contract PPP projects under implementation at the ICRC Projects Disclosure Portal. The portal was established by the ICRC in collaboration with the World Bank. He said, “as at 31st October, 2019, there are 139 pre-contract projects at Development and Procurement phases at the ICRC website.” He said as at the end of October, the Commission has granted nine Outline Business Case and nine Full Business Case Compliance Certificates for 2019.

This, he stated, brings the total compliance certificates granted since inception to 76 OBCs and 31 FBCs certificates. The latest of these certificates, according to him, is the OBC Compliance Certificate for the 22 Teaching Hospitals upgrade and the FBC Compliance Certificate for the Automated Ticketing System for the Nigerian Railway Commission.

Speaking on the objectives of the conference, he said, it sought to identify as well as improve the bankability of selected PPP projects in Nigeria with a view to accessing project funding from African Export Import Bank. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Works Senator Adamu Aleiro, said the Senate would amend the ICRC Act to attract private sectors investment.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/8bn-ppp-projects-approved-in-8yrs-icrc.html

The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the party’s first Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, have arrived the State House, Abuja to attend a meeting of National Caucus. Others who are attending the ongoing meeting include former Governors of Zamfara and Gombe States, Ahmed Yarima and Danjuma Goje. A

Among the governors in attendance were Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; Mohammed Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, and Deputy Governor of Kano State Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna among others.

Details later…

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tinubu-akande-yarima-governors-attending-apc-national-caucus-meeting.html

chai

Wicked people! go look for Job jari

Better talk....

Hungry everywhere...

Participants of the Senior Executive Course 41 at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) will on Friday present their report to President Muhammadu Buhari on the theme: Funding Universal Health Care Delivery in Nigeria after 10 months of rigorous training. The Director General of NIPSS, Prof. Habu Galadima in a press conference at the National Institute in Kuru, near Jos said 66 participants from this year’s course would submit their report to the President in Council on Friday, hoping that many of the recommendations contained in the report will be favourable to the government for implementation. Prof. Galadima said the participants who are expected to graduate on Saturday will on Thursday commission projects provided to the Kuru community which include upgraded facilities in the primary health care unit.

He said the participants have visited 12 states in Nigeria and interacted with major stakeholders in those states where they were privy to ideas of the funding challenges for the health sector as well as undertook a study tour of African countries such as Egypt, Madagascar, Kenya, South Africa, as well as Mauritius and Morocco

“They interacted with experts and learnt from their experiences in funding universal health care and the true lessons from the experiences of those countries that have enriched their recommendations. They also undertook a study tour of Singapore, Pakistan, which has similar culture and tradition with Nigeria in some areas, they also went to Cuba, a country with one of the best health systems and observed how they fund their own health systems.

They also went to the UAE and Jordan and all these experiences were brought back and integrated to enrich their recommendations, ” he said. The DG explained that an annual lecture on Funding Universal Health Care Delivery: Lessons from Trinidad and Tobago will be delivered by the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, Mr. Wendel De Landro on Saturday. He said in its 40 years, the Institute has impacted on policy process and implementation as well as policy advice and laudable recommendations many of which have been implemented.

“The National Security Strategy, NIPSS played a crucial role in the development of that document in 2014. The Institute also played a major role in the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), it was one of the recommendations of the National Institute. I’m sure you also known about the national amnesty programme. There are quite a number of policy advices that we are involved in,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nipss-president-buhari-to-receive-funding-universal-health-care-report-friday.html

The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Hon. Abubakar Lado Suleija, has given his unreserved support to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), on the commercialization of the NIGCOMSAT Ltd activities towards the realization of its set objectives as well as meeting its contributions toward the actualization of a sustainable digital economy in Nigeria. Expressing his views shortly after an on the spot familiarization visit to NIGCOMSAT Ltd along airport road, Abuja, Hon. Lado believed that with the full commercialization of the company, the country stands to gain more in revenue generation and more employment opportunity for the teaming masses than from privatization.

He regretted that while other countries are optimizing the satellite communication space resources to advance their economy, MDAs and the private sector in the country have not gainfully taken this opportunity to grow their businesses here at home instead they rely more on foreign satellite services.

‘It is a common knowledge that portfolio businessmen prefer to patronize foreign satellite resources which to me is not only expensive but a disservice to the nation’, he said. Expressing his intention to champion the deepening of the use of ICT for the growth of the economy in the country through adequate legislation, Hon. Lado further advised NIGCOMSAT Management to urgently open more regional offices to ensure that ICT industry sustains the current economic direction of the country. On her part, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Dr. Abimbola Alale described the Oversight function of Members of the House of Representative Committee on ICT as timely as their support would enable the company positioned itself towards better service delivery to Nigerian people.

‘We are encouraged by your visit and mindful of advises given, we want to assure you that we shall work very hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians and the KPIs set by the HM MoCDE to put the company on the pact of better service delivery and greater visibility. It is my belief that with good legislative support, NIGCOMSATshall reposition itself as a key revenue earner for the government ’, the MD/CEO affirmed. She also said with the support for commercialization, the company will be better challenged to carry out its function well and also create room for employment as more regional offices would be opened.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/national-assembly-supports-nigcomsat-commercialisation-plan.html

Former Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Chairman, Alhaji Sani Dauda, popularly known as ASD, ‎who was arrested by the police for allegedly giving his daughter out in marriage has been released after two nights in detention. Also, the Magajin Gari Shari’ah court judge, who consummated the marriage, Multala Nasir Almistry, and the son of ASD, were released on Wednesday.

Daily Trust reports that they were arrested on Monday and were detained at the Special Anti Robbery Squad ‎office of the Kaduna State Police Command. One of the family members of ASD, who didn’t want to be named confirmed his release‎ to our correspondent.

“Yes, they were released on Wednesday, but we will make official comments soon,” he said. Daily Trust also gathered that on Tuesday, the High Court in Kaduna gave an order for the three persons to be released from detention on bail. One of the counsel to ASD, Barrister Maxwell Kyon, ‎who addressed newsmen in Kaduna, said the police authorities were served with the court order restraining them from further arresting his clients.

He described the action of the police as unfortunate. He exonerated his clients of any wrongdoing, saying the daughter ( Nusaiba) was already divorced before she remarried and had a divorce certificate from a Sharia Court in Tudun Wada. It would be recalled that ASD and two others were arrested at the instance of his daughter’s estranged husband, who kicked against her new marriage.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/alhaji-asd-shariah-court-judge-released-after-2-nights-in-detention.html

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Kaduna state governor and chairman, APC Campaign Council for Kogi Governorship election, Nasir El-Rufai, has said its party, the APC, will finally bury the main opposition PDP in the state after Saturday’s election. El-Rufai who spoke in Lokoja on Thursday at the grand finale of the APC Governorship Campaign, said the party and its candidate, Yahaya Bello are confident of victory at the poll. He said the PDP has governed Kogi for about 13 years but had nothing to show, saying the three years’ administration of Bello has brought transformation to the state.

“We are here not only to campaign for the second term of Governor Yahaya Bello, but to completely bury the PDP once and for all. The PDP had ruled Kogi state for thirteen years without any thing to show for it, but Governor Bello has done three years with lots of achievements”, he said. APC supporters at the party's campaign ground in Lokoja on Thursday.

APC supporters at the party’s governorship campaign ground in Lokoja on Thursday. El-Rufai urged the people to come out in their numbers to vote for the APC and its candidate, Yahaya Bello to enjoy more dividends of democracy, saying they must not make mistake of returning PDP to power. He however begged the people of Kogi state to forgive Governor Yahaya Bello for whatever wrongs he might have done to them.

El-Rufai also called on the people of Kogi West Senatorial district to vote for Smart Adeyemi in Saturday’s senatorial rerun election to swell up the number of APC in the Senate. In his speech, the APC candidate and incumbent Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, expressed optimism of emerging victorious at the poll. APC supporters at the party's campaign ground in Lokoja on Thursday.

APC supporters at the party’s 2019 governorship campaign ground in Lokoja on Thursday. He said before he came on board, the state was seriously divided along ethnic lines, saying he has been able to unite the people. He urged the youths and women in the state to take their destinies into their hands by coming out in their numbers to vote for him on Saturday without any fear. He also urged the people of Kogi West to vote enmasse for Smart Adeyemi to return him to the Senate to push for more development in the district.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-will-bury-pdp-finally-in-kogi-el-rufai.html

A group, APC National Awareness for Youth Vanguard, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call its members to order over their calls for probe of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group, in a statement by its national coordinator, Alhaji Muktar Abubakar, said calling on the anti-graft agency to investigate the APC leader for having a bullion van parked in his premises smacked of political vendetta since he contributed to the defeat of the PDP in the last polls. The group said the motive behind the submission of a petition to the EFCC was suspect because things of that nature were usually done with discretion given the sensitivity of the work of the commission.

“But what we saw was a gathering of attention seeking urchins making all manner of claims against one of the most respected politicians in Nigeria today,” the statement added. The group said while it was not in any way disturbed by the submission of the PDP youths, there was need for it to put things in their proper perspectives on what the petition was all about.

“The claim that the APC leader parked a bullion van in his house hence should be investigated by the EFCC is not only preposterous but lacks basis. “This is because nobody has ever questioned the source of income of the APC leader as he has submitted himself to scrutiny the two times he ran as governor of Lagos State and all his companies are registered and known to Nigerians,” the group stated.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/calls-for-probe-of-tinubu-smack-of-political-vendetta-apc-youths.html

SDP wants election postponed

Hundreds of thugs yesterday nearly disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State where key actors for Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state converged to sign a peace accord.

It took the intervention of police operatives who fired teargas canisters to disperse the hoodlums before the meeting was concluded. The meeting had in attendance the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Shaibu Ibrahim and other stakeholders in the electoral process. The gathering was disrupted when some hoodlums attacked the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Natasha Akpoti, and the party’s state chairman, Mouktar Atima.

Natasha has been cleared by the Federal High Court in Abuja to participate in the election. She was, however, attacked alongside her entourage while trying to get access to the venue of the stakeholders meeting which held at Idrinana Hotels, Lokoja. It was a disorderly scene for nearly 30 minutes at the main entrance of the venue as two groups – those who wanted the SDP candidate to be part of the event and those opposed to the move – struggled to have their way.


Daily Trust reports that it took the intervention of men of the Nigerian Army, the police and other security agents to rescue the SDP governorship candidate and the party’s chairman during the altercation. The security personnel reportedly tried to prevail on Natasha and her entourage to go back but she allegedly rejected the entreaties, insisting that she was duly invited for the meeting as a gubernatorial candidate.

The party chairman, Atima, who tried to mediate in the disagreement, was equally manhandled and beaten during the melee. Police thereafter fired teargas canisters to disperse the unruly political thugs from the venue. Daily Trust reports that IGP Adamu, INEC’s Yakubu and other prominent personalities at the venue had to be shielded by security operatives from the thugs that tried to assault everyone on sight.

Reacting to the attack, spokesman of the Natasha/Khalid Campaign Organisation, Joel Odaudu, described what happened as “outrageous and barbaric,” and urged Governor Yahaya Bello, the IGP, Director of DSS and other security agents to ensure adequate security for their candidate and supporters ahead of the election. Speaking shortly after the incident, Atimah said he was dismayed “by the extent to which our society had got rotten.”

He appeared too weak to talk at some length when our correspondent sought to speak with him. In a statement yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, expressed dismay that the governorship candidate was not allowed into the venue. “We were inside the hall and wouldn’t know what was going on outside,” he said. “One thing is sure: she did not arrive in good time. But that is not enough reason for anybody to prevent her from coming inside. “She has a right to take her place inside the hall.

We had heard that she was outside and efforts were being made to bring her inside the hall. We need her to sign the Peace Accord, the process of which is currently on,” Oyekanmi said. He added that the SDP representative at the meeting refused to endorse the peace accord after the incident. He said: “We asked the legal officer of our Kogi State office to go outside the hall and look for Natasha Akpoti, but he came back and reported that he searched the entire premises but could neither locate her nor her entourage. The representative of the SDP inside the hall was asked to endorse the peace accord, but he refused.”

IGP reads riot act

At the venue of the peace accord, IG Adamu warned political thugs and all those being recruited to perpetrate violence to stay off the polling arena on Saturday in their own interest. “We have reports that some people are planning to import thugs; we will checkmate them,” he said.

“For those of you in possession of arms, I urge you to surrender them now because we will be ruthless with anyone that comes out with arms on election day,” he said. He also warned that politicians will not be allowed to move about with security escorts on election day, just as he warned against movement from one polling unit to the other.

IGP Adamu assured that adequate security and protection would be provided for electoral officials, electoral materials and INEC facilities during the election. He told policemen on election duty to be professional, adhere to the code of conduct expected of them as well as provide level playing field for all candidates in the election. The IG had earlier approved the deployment of 35,000 policemen to Kogi State for the election during which a senatorial by-election will also be held.

We are ready – INEC

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that the electoral umpire is fully set for the conduct of Saturday’s election in Kogi and Bayelsa states. He said 12 out of the 14 schedules of the commission’s activities for the Kogi governorship election had been successfully implemented, with the only two left as; the Last Day of campaign (Nov. 14) and Election Day proper (Nov. 16). He also said all non-sensitive materials had been deployed across the 21 local government areas while the sensitive ones were already in custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Prof. Yakubu said sensitive materials would be inspected and dispatched in the presence of party agents, accredited observers, security agents and journalists. He assured that the governorship election in Kogi will not be hampered by the court pronouncement on inclusion of SDP candidate Natasha Akpoti.

“I will like to assure the people of Kogi State that our operations will not be affected by the judgement delivered by the court five days ago in which a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the commission to include a political party on the ballot,” he said. The INEC chairman said 12 cases of intra-party disputes challenging political parties’ primaries were still hanging but the situation would not deter the commission from going ahead with the elections. He reiterated the resolve of the commission to deploy Smart Card Readers for the election in Kogi and Bayelsa states, saying it was mandatory to use the card readers for proper accreditation and voter verification and authentication.

He also warned that the ban on the use of mobile phones and other photographic devices in polling units was still in force and would be strictly enforced and monitored. He appealed to political actors in the election to conduct themselves peacefully to enable INEC deliver free, fair and credible election. Wada, Bello, others sign peace accord Daily Trust reports that while the fight outside the venue of Kogi peace meeting raged, INEC which organised the event continued with the business of signing the peace accord during which 17 political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition parties, led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), appended their signatures. Governor Bello of APC and Engr. Musa Wada of PDP and the other candidates all assured of their support for a non-violent election.

But Engr. Wada in his remarks raised concern over alleged arrests of PDP members and attacks by suspected political thugs from the ruling APC ahead of the election, urging security agencies to ensure adequate security for the election. He also urged the security agencies to provide level playing field for all candidates taking part in the election. On his part, the running mate of Governor Bello, Edward Onoja, said the administration had zero tolerance for violence, claiming that it was the opposition that was perpetrating violence. Corps members urged to resist bribe NYSC DG Brig.

Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim yesterday warned all youth corps members serving as INEC ad hoc staff to shun bribe and engaging in any form of electoral malpractice in the course of their national duty. He gave the warning while addressing the corps members who have been trained by INEC ahead of Saturday election in the state. The DG urged the corps members to see their assignment as a call to national duty and therefore display high sense of patriotism and commitment.

He advised them to remain neutral and apolitical in the discharge of their electoral duties. He said the involvement of youth corps members as ad hoc staff by INEC had brought some level of credibility and acceptability to the electoral process, and urged them not to betray the confidence reposed in them by the country.

SDP wants election postponed

In a twist, the National Chairman of SDP, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, yesterday called on INEC to postpone the gubernatorial because of “unfavourable security” in Kogi State. Prof. Adeniran, who made the call yesterday while addressing journalists in Abuja, said SDP members including its governorship candidate in the election had come under heavy attacks by political thugs in the last few days leading to the razing down of the party’s state secretariat in Lokoja over the weekend.

“The SDP is calling for the postponement of the Kogi State governorship election as a result of the setbacks that the party and her candidate Natasha Akpoti suffered by the unjust disqualification of the party candidate which was restored by a competent court of jurisdiction; and yet our candidate and party leader were prevented from gaining access to the venue where candidates were to sign the peace accord in Lokoja. “We also once again wish to draw the attention of the Nigerian Police, as well as all other national security agencies to the huge threat to security and peace of the state that the governorship election has become.

“The rising tension and dark cloud of despair which is building up across Kogi State ahead of the November 16 governorship election must be adequately addressed and very fast in order to prevent the election from engendering anarchy as well as to restore the confidence of electorates and the SDP members in particular in the election,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-govship-thugs-cause-chaos-as-igp-inec-boss-attend-peace-accord.html

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has announced the opening of its portal to commence registration for the 2020/2021 Computer Based Test, (CBT), for Federal Government Scholarship award. Adamu who disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement in Abuja, said the ongoing registration for scholarship under the Ministry’s Bilateral Education Agreement is for undergraduate and post graduate studies. However, like every other scholarship program, there are certain criteria candidates must meet to stand qualified for the scholarship. Below are the criteria: A

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS:
Studies is tenable in the following countries; Russia, Morocco, Algeria, Serbia, Hungary, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Cuba, Romania, Japan, Macedonia

FIELD OF STUDY

• The following fields of Study is available for the undergraduate level; Engineering, Geology, Agriculture, Sciences, Mathematics, Languages, Environmental Sciences, Sports, Law, Social Sciences, Biotechnology, Architecture, Medicine (very limited), etc. • All applicants for undergraduate degree courses must possess a minimum qualification of Five (5) Distinctions (As & Bs) in the Senior Secondary School Certificates, WASSCE/WAEC (May/June) only in the subjects relevant to their fields of study including English Language and Mathematics. • Certificates should not be more than two (2) years old (2018 & 2019) for Non-African Countries • For African countries the age of certificate is one year (2019) only. • Age limit is from 18 to 20 years

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS:

Studies is tenable in the following countries; Russia (for those whose first degrees were obtained from Russia), China, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, e.t.c.

• FIELD OF STUDY

At the Postgraduate level (Masters Degree and PhD), scholarship is available in all fields. • All applicants for Postgraduate degree courses must hold a First Degree with 1st Class or at least 2nd Class Upper Division. • All applicants must have completed N.Y.S.C. Programme • N.Y.S.C discharge or exemption certificates only are accepted; and • Evidence of readiness to be released by an employer. • The age limit for Masters is 35 years and for 40 years for Ph.D. • The applicants who are previous recipients of Foreign Awards must have acquired at least two (2) years post qualification experience or employment practice in Nigeria.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/are-you-eligible-for-the-fgs-2020-2021-scholarship.html

Barely two days after the Supreme Court struck out the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23, 2019 election, agitation for the 2023 presidential ticket has commenced. Credible sources told our correspondent yesterday in Abuja that some power brokers in the party were already planning how to field another candidate in 2023.

It was gathered that high ranking members of the PDP, including some serving governors were plotting to field a northern candidate in 2023, while some party bigwigs from the South felt cheated by such arrangement and are challenging the move.

A Board of Trustees (BoT) member from the South who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said: “It is true that some power brokers in the PDP were not comfortable with the emergence of Atiku but we supported him as our candidate.” “So now that our case has been thrown out, there are pockets of agitations regarding which zone should produce the presidential candidate in 2023. “But I think the party also needs to handle this matter with caution because, already, many of our members are likely to jump ship to the APC. I’m also considering that option so I don’t want to comment on the matter anymore,” he said.

But PDP National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan told our correspondent yesterday in a telephone chat that the party has not taken a decision on its 2023 presidential ticket. “There is no agitation within the PDP over the 2023 presidential ticket. It’s even too early to talk about 2023, but I can assure you that the future of the PDP is very bright. “We have not even seen the reasons they (Supreme Court) advanced for their judgement. So we have not reached discussion on that yet,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-atikus-defeat-sparks-agitation-over-2023-presidential-ticket.html

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Services, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has said that Nigerians are eating expired foreign rice. Col. Ali, who spoke on Wednesday at the Custom Service, Area 2 Onne, Rivers State, said those who brought such rice into the country re-bag it and sell to unsuspecting consumers. He said smuggled goods being brought into the country are aimed at bringing the Service to its knees, but that it will surely overcome the challenges. “We are consuming expired rice. When it causes cancer we begin to find who to blame. All those things they are bringing into the country are aimed at bringing us to our knees, but we will surely overcome them.

‘‘We must reach out to Nigerians through the Press to make them know the deadly effect of what they consume. “Let me reiterate our concern and determination to do all it takes to protect the wellbeing and safety of all citizens and residents by preventing the importation of smuggled items’’. Col. Hameed Ali had earlier inspected 98 containers containing tomatoes, rice, vegetable oil, roofing tiles, machetes, baby wipes, metal and other items valued at over N1bn at both Port Harcourt and Onne Ports.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigerians-eating-expired-rice-customs.html

Marcus Rashford hit a brace to move Manchester United into the EFL Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

A penalty and a spectacular free-kick from Rashford sealed a third away win in a row in all competitions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Michy Batshuayi had drawn Chelsea level but Rashford struck in sublime fashion to inflict a first defeat on Frank Lampard’s side since the 2-1 loss to Liverpool on September 22.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-rashford-shines-as-manchester-united-send-chelsea-out-of-carabao-cup.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Douye Diri, is “crying wolf” over allegation that it influenced the list of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) deployed for the Bayelsa State governorship election. Mr Yekini Nabena, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, has accused PDP and its candidate of doing everything possible to intimidate the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) into doing their bidding.

Nabena, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, said PDP and its governorship candidate were crying wolf in the face of its imminent election defeat, come November 16.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-crying-wolf-on-bayelsa-govship-poll-apc.html

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Akande, says Nigerians will praise the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government later over the closure of the nation’s land borders. Akande, representing Ojo Constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly, made this assertion in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos. The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, said that the closure had security and economic benefits to the nation.

Akande said: “It is more beneficial to close our border than to allow it open for now. “Nigerians might not understand this now, maybe because of the little pains it has brought; but the positive effects that will soon follow will make Nigerians to praise the President for doing so. “Security of our country is key and germane; if this step is not taken now, it may be difficult to control movement of people, arms and ammunition into the country and win the war against insurgency,” he said.

The lawmaker urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, saying that the continued closure was in the best economic and security interests of the nation. “We need the closure also to battle problems of unemployment in the country. Our appetite for foreign goods and services is to our detriment. “We create jobs for citizens of the countries where these foreign goods are coming from while our teeming youths do not get work to do.

”As long as our local goods are not patronised, it is a death sentence to employment opportunities in our country. “The border closure will make us look inward and see what we can do for ourselves and even go back to agriculture. Nigerians will praise the government later for this step,” he said. According to him, the closure will help put the nation on the path of economic growth and development through revival of local industries. “We will have a sense of self-sufficiency. It is an avenue for us to develop. People are cultivating and producing rice everywhere now which is good for us,” he said.(NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/border-closure-nigerians-will-praise-fg-lagos-lawmaker.html

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God have mercy on your people! let this man PHD be useful..

Useless ID card

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Exactly five months after their election, eight out of the 29 state governors sworn in on May 29, 2019, have not appointed commissioners in line with a key provision of the 1999 Constitution. Daily Trust findings show that Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Dapo Abiodun…

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/five-months-after-inauguration-ganduje-buni-wike-5-others-yet-to-appoint-commissioners.html

Security in and around the Federal High Court, Abuja, was on Friday beefed up by operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, is to be arraigned. Maina’s son, Faisal, is also being arraigned in the same court on a separate but similar charge.

NAN reports that at Court 6, 2nd Floor of the building, where Justice Okon Abang will be adjudicating, it was filled with crowd of lawyers and people. Maina and his son were putting on white caftan with dark blue caps. The case was, however, yet to be mentioned as at the time of filing the report at about 10:30am.

NAN reports that the anti-graft agency is arraigning the former pension task team chairman on a 12-count charge bordering on “money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud.” The development is coming after Folashade Ogunbanjo, a judge, ordered the forfeiture of 23 property linked to him. The judge gave the order following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC EFCC’s motion was supported by a 30-paragraph affidavit which it brought pursuant to section 17 of Anti-money Laundering Act.

Maina is accused of being involved in pension fraud running into over N100 billion. The Federal Civil Service Commission dismissed him in 2013 for “absconding from duty” but he returned to the country in 2017 and was reinstated as a director in the interior ministry. Following outrage, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his dismissal and demanded a probe of his recall

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tight-security-in-federal-high-court-abuja-as-efcc-arraigns-maina-son.html

Your husband do not steal Nigerian money - president Buhari

Another two-storey building collapsed at Ojuelegba area of Lagos on Thursday evening, 12 days after the collapse of a three-storey building at Magodo Phase 1 in the state. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the scene at No 7, Rufai Street, Ojuelegba, said no live was lost in the incident which occurred at about 8:55 p.m. on Thursday.

Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, said that virtually all the inhabitants had vacated the building before the crash but still had some of their belonging inside the building.

According to the tenants, the building actually started collapsing gradually since Oct. 18. Mr Emeka Anozie, one of the residents, said that when a window from the back flat collapsed around 7 p.m, he alerted all the remaining tenants who were busy removing their belongings to come out, adding that the entire building collapsed few minutes later.

NAN also learnt that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had on March 25, 2019 marked the building and warned the residents and the landlord to vacate the premises. NAN also learnt that LASBCA also served another notice on the landlord on May 21.

The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said he immediately mobilised his team and other safety agencies to ensure protection of lives and properties in the area. NAN reports that environment and safety officials of the Lagos State Government have commenced demolition of the collapsed building.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2-storey-building-collapse-in-ojuelegba-lagos.html

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The federal government should not release N7 billion VAT refund to Bayelsa State government for now to avoid squandering the money on vote buying, the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned on Thursday. The APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, who gave the warning in a statement in Abuja, said such action was important because the governorship election in the state is less than a month.

Nabena specifically urged the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to delay approval of a N7 billion VAT refund to the Bayelsa state government until after the conduct of the November 16 governorship election in the state. He said that if the money was released to the outgoing government in the state, it would not serve the purpose it meant to achieve.

“There is a 7 billion Naira VAT refund to Bayelsa State awaiting the Minister of Finance approval. The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has committed to a commercial Bank to give him the 7 billion with an agreement that the Ministry will in turn pay the money to them. “The Minister is advised not to approve the VAT refund until after the governorship election. Governor Dickson has recently been in the news on account of several schemes to raise money through diversion of state funds to fund the election of his stooge and Bayelsa governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Coupled with Governor Dickson illegally withdrawing and diverting N17.5 billion from bank accounts belonging to the state government to prosecute the November 16 Bayelsa governorship election in the state, Bayelsans are still smarting from the exposed plan of Governor Dickson to sell off an oil field, Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) belonging to the state, months to the his handover.

“Governor Dickson must be stopped from achieving his selfish and desperate plan to buy votes using state funds and rig the election in favour of his unpopular candidate,” the statement partly read.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/election-apc-urges-fg-to-withhold-bayelsa-n7bn-vat-refund.html

...Senate warns against more borrowing
...N5.4trn lost to tax evasion annually – FIRS Experts,
...SMEs react

Additional tough economic measures will be taken to generate more revenues to fund the 2020 budget, the Federal Government said yesterday.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who gave the indication while making a presentation on the proposed 2020 budget at the National Assembly public hearing on the budget in Abuja, added that the government is moving aggressively to drive non-oil revenues to fund the budget.

“What we have is a revenue problem; our revenue performance by half year is 58 per cent. So we have designed this Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative early this year which has three thematic areas,” she stated. She said some tough reforms and actions were inevitable as the Federal Government drives revenue through non-oil sources.

She therefore called for understanding from Nigerians. The minister reiterated that Nigeria has “a revenue crisis and not debt crises,” stressing that Nigeria has not over borrowed as the total borrowing rate of the country was under 50 per cent of the GDP. “There is also the need for us to ensure that we have the right legal enablers and other enablers that will enhance revenue performance. “Nigeria as a country must mobilise significant domestic resources to be able to make necessary investment in human capital as well as in physical infrastructure. Giving the low revenue to GDP ratio currently at 8 per cent, we must optimise revenue generation,” she said.

Daily Trust reports that the government has been struggling to raise funds to finance its budgets following sustained low oil prices. During the 2020 proposed budget presentation to the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari had said “the sum of N8.155 trillion is estimated as the total Federal Government revenue in 2020.” He also said the amount was 7 per cent higher than the 2019 comparative estimate of N7.594 trillion. For several years now, the government has not met its revenue targets for its budgets.

For the 2019 budget for instance, as at June 2019, the government only raised N2.04trn, representing 58 per cent of revenue performance, the budget minister had said. Though the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the two major non-oil generating agencies for the government have stepped up their revenue drive performances, it was still a far cry from meeting revenue projections. Experts wondered why the government kept raising revenue projections even though it has not met targets year on year.

Mrs Ahmed told journalists in Washington DC last week that the government would continue to push its agencies to meet projections, adding that going forward, there would be consequences for underperformance. “The fact that our revenue is underperforming is not an excuse to bring down our revenue that is required to fund the national budget… What we have to do collectively as a people is to make sure the agencies that have responsibility to generate revenue actually generate these revenues,” she said.

“The agencies proposed those numbers. We interrogate them and ask them to justify them. To be prudent, we even discount what they propose before it goes into the national budget,” she also said, adding that with the 7.5 proposed VAT increase, the revenue of government will improve.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/revenue-crisis-tough-measures-inevitable-fg.html