₦airaland Forum

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has written an open letter condemning the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his comment on the Lekki Toll Gate area shooting that occurred in Lagos.

Fani-Kayode in the letter posted on his verified Twitter handle, obtained by African News Today lashed out at Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu, President Muhammadu Buhari and LT Gen. Tukur Buratai for alleged complicity in the shooting.



THE LETTER IN FULL:



My dear Asiwaju Tinubu,

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Even if the whole country is cowed and mesmerised by you and applauds your callousness, vanity, evil, subterfuge, deceit, ruthlessness, obsessive ambitions, lack of fear of God and doubkespeak I FFK, the Voice of the Voiceless, the Servant of Truth, the Lover of God, the Beloved of the Lord, the Otunba of Jogaland, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Odum Agu and the Odugwu Eze will not.

Your spell cannot silence, bind or blind me like it has done to others. I see you for what you are and your vain and boastful words here have confirmed it. To think I once loved and admired you gives me sleepless nights and goose pimples. How could I have been so blind?

When Baba Fasoranti’s daughter was murdered by Fulani herdsmen you made mockery of it, went to his house and asked “where are the cows?”

This was insensitive, callous and painful and all the more so because when the murderers of this much-loved and referred lady were eventually apprehended and arrested they were indeed Fulani herdsmen even though their cows were not arrested with them.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The latest episode in your catalogue of atrocities is that children that were protesting peacefully and asking for #EndSARS and an end to police brutality have been slaughtered at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos under your watch as National Leader of the APC.

Sadly instead of exhibiting any remorse or displaying any regret for this abominable atrocity, with a sheepish smile and a sneering and jocular tone, you had the sheer nerve and effontry to say nothing other than that you are “still the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban?”

Yet what was even worse than this and what shocked and astounded all right-thinking people all the more was that you had the temerity to go on even further to say that the “casualties at the Lekki shooting have some questions to answer!”

You then asked, “how are they there?”, “how long were they there?” and “what kind of characters were they?”

President Muhammadu Buhari

How cruel can you be? Not a word of condolence or expression of commiseration to the families of the dead but instead you offered stupid questions and baseless accusations against their wards and children who were butchered in the most brutal circumstances and heartless manner.

You have no honor. You have no shame. You have no dignity. You have no self-respect. You have no decency. Children were murdered in our streets and this is all you have to say?

You are attempting to blame them for being shot to death and blown to pieces by a bunch of genocidal maniacs in uniform who subjected them to crimes against humanity, genocide and mass murder?

You seek to cover up these horrendous crimes and you are attempting to dishonor and denigrate the dead and desecrate and mock the great sacrifice of these courageous young martyrs for democracy who were murdered in cold blood on the front lines in the field of battle?

LT Gen. Tukur Buratai

Let me tell you this: your dastardly strategy and evil diversionary plan will not work! This matter will not go away!

You will not brush it under the carpet, you will not play it down, you and your puppet Sanwoolu will not escape responsibility for failing to protect our people from the beastly savages that slaughtered them and God will punish you for your scurrilous attempt to muddy the waters, cover up the truth and pervert the course of justice.

The bitter truth is that you have no conscience and no compassion. You lack the milk of human kindness. You bear no love for humanity or for human beings and you place no value or reverence on human life.

You only harbour love, which borders on obsession, for your vain and lofty ambition to rule Nigeria and trust me when I tell you that this will never happen.

You are heartless, you are cold-blooded, you are wicked, you lack empathy for the suffering and you are a sociopath. Your spell may work on others but it does not work on me.

I see you for what you are: pure evil. You are the darkness that seeks the darkness. The monster that betrayed his own people and put a tyrant and blood-sucking demon in power just to further his own fading ambition and feed his psychotic obsession for power.

Permit me to end with the following.

I urge you to find out what happened to a character called Icarus in Ancient Greek mythology when he flew too close to the sun because that is precisely what is going to happen to you.

As they say pride comes before a fall and hubris always leads to nemesis. Your hubris is here and your nemesis is coming.

To add to that the Holy Bible says “the Lord resists the proud and exalts the humble”.

It also says “who art thou O man? Thou art as the flower that fadeth! Thou art as the grass that withers! A man that is born of woman, that is today and tomorrow is no more!”

I counsel and urge you to ponder and meditate deeply on these words. I advise you to humble yourself before God, get to know Him, learn to fear Him and seek justice and truth before it is too late!

Remember that you will NOT be Asiwaju and Jagaban for ever and, like all mortals, one day you will answer the great call, go the way of all flesh, come face to face with your maker and account for your horrendous crimes against the Nigerian people!

LekkiGenocide #EndSarsNow #EndBuhari #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeraNOW #LagosMassacre #BuhariResignNow #BuhariMustGo #EndSARS

(FFK)

https://africannewstoday.com/politics/a-bat-from-hell-and-the-asiwaju-of-blood-fani-kayode/

National leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said that those who suffered casualty during the shooting at Lekki toll gate area of Lagos State has to answer some questions that would help government make informed decisions in the future.

Tinubu disclosed this on Saturday while on a visit to governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House in Marina.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the former governor said he had sought to ascertain the role of Sanwo-Olu in the Lekki shooting that took place on Tuesday.

Tinubu questioned the reason behind the vandalism of public infrastructure and looting of private businesses that has been perpetrated by irate youths in the state for days.

The APC stalwart who spoke to journalists after the meeting with governor Sanwo-Olu said, “I came to ask him pointedly; did he order the attack, or if he didn’t order the attack, who ordered it? Was it to his knowledge that people were attacked? That was all I needed from him.”

When asked the way forward, Tinubu said since the government had already set up a judicial panel of enquiry to investigate the allegations of human right abuses by officers of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, people who suffered casualty during the gunshot Lekki incident should volunteer information to the government.

He added, “Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too; how were they there; how long were they there; what kind of characters are they? Even those we want to help, we still must extract information that would help the government to prepare in future or understand how and when to react.”

He commended the government for listening to the demands of the protesters but questioned the rationed for the protest to degenerate to violence.

He added, “Where are we getting the looting, the carnage, burning, invasion of police stations, stealing of arms and maiming the innocent (from)? It’s handshake beyond the elbow.”

Commenting on reports of him having escaped to France to evade attack, Tinubu said, “I didn’t go nowhere; I’m a Lagosian. I still hold the title of the Asiwaju of Lagos. I’m still the Jagaban. Fake news is all over the place; they said Seyi my son was kidnapped, but he’s here with me and I didn’t pay any money to bring him here.”

https://africannewstoday.com/politics/victims-of-lekki-toll-gate-shooting-need-to-answer-some-questions-tinubu/

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the #EndSARS movement was informed by the hatred of the country by “some of those who live in it”.

Adesina who disclosed this on Thursday in a statement he publishes weekly titled, “From the Inside…Fridays with Femi-Adesina” said that the hatred had always been so.

The presidential aide said that the protest which began as a genuine agitation against police brutality and excessive use of force by operatives of the Nigerian police was hijacked by individuals with political interest.

Adesina said, “How can what began as peaceful protests suddenly turn to incipient anarchy as seen in killings, torching of public buildings and properties, storming of the Bastille and wanton release of hardened criminals, and many others. Hatred. Nigeria is one country passionately hated by some of those who live in it, and it had always been so.

“Some people call it ‘the mistake of 1914,’ in which what used to be the Northern and Southern Protectorates were forcefully cobbled together by the colonial masters, leading to the emergence of Nigeria. Since then, it has been one uneasy relationship among the people that make up the Union. Suspicion of domination, ethnic rivalry, fear of being given the shorter end of the stick, gaining unfair advantage, and the like, have characterized the relationship. And the overriding sentiment is hatred, fueled and justified by many factors and tendencies.

“The agitation by youths against injustice and oppression suddenly took on a variegated nature. Separatists came under the umbrella, and began to advance their cause, working for the dismemberment of the country. Those beaten black and blue in 2015 and 2019 elections also crept in, and asked for pound of flesh, while also plotting for a return to power in 2023.

“There are many factors and agencies of hatred in Nigeria, and until we learn to purge ourselves, the country may never move beyond where it has been pirouetting and gyrating for six decades. Like the macabre dance, it has been one step forward and two steps backwards.

“When things boil over in graphic demonstration of hatred, it is a culmination of negative sentiments and tendencies. They come in persistent negative postings on social media, which generate and stimulate hate. From hateful messages from the pulpit, as if that was the message of love Jesus Christ handed over to his followers. From unduly critical messages during jumat services. From radio and television programs, in which bile is spewed. From talkshows which become a harangue of government, newspaper articles and columns tailored to instigate and generate dissent, and the like.”

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/nigerians-passio…ria-femi-adesina/

Three people were allegedly killed in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of Abuja on Tuesday as protesters clashed with police operatives.

A video which was obtained by African News Today shows a vehicle ablaze as onlookers were gathered around the scene. The voice over in the video claimed police operatives killed three protesters in Dutse, leading to burning of a government vehicle by angry youths.

The development comes a day after videos trended on social media showing cars set ablaze by thugs in Apo, Abuja.

Nationwide protests have been ongoing for over 13 days nationwide, calling for an end to police brutality and police reform.

There have been reports of attack of protesters by thugs and police officers who have fired teargas in a bid to disperse the protest



Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/scores-killed-as…-endsars-protest/

Three people were allegedly killed in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of Abuja on Tuesday as protesters allegedly clashed with police operatives.

A video which was obtained by African News Today shows a vehicle ablaze as onlookers were gathered around the scene. The voice over in the video claimed police operatives killed three protesters in Dutse, leading to burning of a government vehicle by angry youths.

The development comes a day after videos trended on social media showing cars set ablaze by thugs in Apo, Abuja.

Nationwide protests have been ongoing for over 13 days nationwide, calling for an end to police brutality and police reform.

There have been reports of attack of protesters by thugs and police officers who have fired teargas in a bid to disperse the protest



Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/scores-killed-as…-endsars-protest/

Inside Story: How Plainclothes Policemen Wounded, Abandoned a Commercial Motorcyclist in Kubwa, Abuja

At a time when thousands of youths have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and alleged extrajudicial killings of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), it appears the infamous unit does not have autonomy of dishing out violence to the citizens it ought to protect.

African News Today  has gathered a story of how men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in plainclothes, chased a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as "okada" into a life-threatening road accident that led to severe injuries in Shelter Farm Byazhin, Kubwa, a suburb in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, last week.

The FCT administration had announced a ban on okada in Kubwa area due to alleged reckless driving and reported cases of some heinous activities allegedly perpetrated by okada riders in the area. The ban had led to the introduction of tricycles, widely known as "Keke napep".

However, the number of tricycles operating in the area has been grossly inadequate to meet the transportation needs of residents. The situation is also worsened by the fact that the tricycles avoid some deplorable routes in Kubwa, among which is Shelter Farm- the location of the police brutality. Residents of Shelter Farm and others alike with untarred roads occasioned by decades of neglect by successive administrations in the FCT, have been faced with untold hardship moving to and from their homes, to work. Most times, residents who do not own cars are left stranded and would have to walk a reasonable stressful distance to a popular junction before accessing tricycles which are only available from the junction due to the nature of the road.

Residents who spoke to our reporter, said that the undesirable nature of the road and the neglect of the area by tricycle riders necessitate alternative means of transportation. Their condition is made worse when trying to get home at night. At such periods, it becomes a herculean task to access tricycles.

The mobility challenge had left them with little choice but to utilise commercial nmotorcycle riders who had been banned from the main roads. The few commercial motorcycle riders on ground ferry residents close to tarred roads thereby ameliorating the stress of walking the distance.

However, the peculiar nature of the terrain notwithstanding, policemen incessantly raid the area with unofficial vehicles and kitted in casual dress, arresting the okada riders seeking to earn an honest living after being taken out of job without arrangement for alternative source of livelihood. Asides fending for survival, these okada riders are ameliorating the plight of residents of the area who face a herculean task commuting to work.

African News Today gathered that last week, a commercial motorcyclist conveying a passenger was accosted by operatives of the force who were operating in unofficial wears, driving in a black gulf along the deplorable route of Leisure Palace hotel, Shelter farm. In a bid to evade the police vehicle which barricaded the road, the okada was plunged into a deep pothole, and was left motionless for a couple of minutes, prompting  the two policemen who were on hand to arrest him to exclaim, “E don die?” (He is dead).

After much effort to resuscitate the bike man, it was discovered that he suffered a severe injury to the right arm with bruises over his body.

Operatives of the police threatened to arrest and detain our reporter who queried why they would deploy such force and crude means to arrest a citizen who was only trying to irk a living. The men of the police were only restrained when they found out that our reporter is a journalist.

Alarm raised by onlookers prompted the police to undertake taking the injured man to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment. Investigation by our reporter afterwards revealed that the young man was thrown out from the car en route the hospital by the officers who were perhaps on clandestine operation.

Police authorities in Kubwa claim that officers are authorized to operate in plainclothes just like operatives of the disbanded SARS. They equally claimed the bikes seized are taken to the Vehicle Inspection Office in Mabubushi once they are brought to the station but added that bike men were at liberty to negotiate a release sum for their bike.

The nonchalant attitude of the policemen does not just highlight the misdeeds of a few errant policemen but serves as a testament to police brutality to citizens whom they are charged by law to protect. Proponents of retainment of members of the defunct SARS unit opine that it would be inhuman to dismiss the officers from the force. However, such questions do not suffice when government deprive poor masses their sources of income without adequate provision of alternative means of survival. For a government that is culpable for neglect of provision of basic amenity such as roads and failure to create jobs for its teeming population, to order a ban of commercial motorcycles, oozes of ineptitude and nonchalant demeanor.  Kubwa being one of the fastest growing villages in the FCT and given its dense population deserve more developmental strides than currently being afforded by the government.

This is also a call to the FCT administration to, as a matter of urgency, award the construction of the Shelter Farm road to make it accessible for motorists and tricycles alike. Without fixing the roads, there should be a temporary order permitting the operation of okada within the premises to permit for ease of movement of residents pending the construction of the road. It is equally of importance that police authority educate its operatives on how best to effect arrest of unarmed citizens with minimal force to prevent scenarios such as this, whereby severe injury is suffered by a harmless civilian in the course of his arrest.

Part of efforts to reform the force should include training and retraining of officers on rules of engagement to prevent harming the very set of citizens it ought to protect. Acts such as youth oppression and ban on livelihood without proper planning inform the current protest and agitation which the country is currently battling. At the root of the demonstration lies an agitation for a Nigeria where rights of citizens are respected, amenities are evenly and equitably distributed, people can move around without fear of harassment, where quality healthcare will be easily accessible and affordable.


Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/inside-story-how-plainclothes-policemen-wounded-abandoned-a-commercial-motorcyclist-in-kubwa-abuja/

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced postponement of the Paper 1 Computer Studies Practical scheduled to take play on today due to blockade occasioned by the persistent #EndSARS protest.

The examination body said the paper has now be rescheduled to take place on November 16.

This was disclosed in a statement by Head of Information and Public Relations Division of NECO, Azeez Sani on Sunday.

The statement read, “This unforeseen incident has been caused by the ENDSARS protest that blocked the free movement of transport at the City entrance gate Benin. The NECO delivery truck had left its take-off point well in advance on Friday, October 16 2020, earlier to deliver examination materials to some states and has been held up in the blockage since then,” the statement read.

“The council wishes to assure all stakeholders and the general public that the affected examination materials have been retrieved and are intact.

“While regretting any inconveniences this rescheduling may cause our esteemed stakeholders, the Council has however taken this decision to maintain the integrity and security of its examinations procedures for seamless conduct of the Council’s examination.”

https://africannewstoday.com/africa/nigeria/neco-reschedules…endsars-blockade/

Absolute Disregard for Human Life is the Identity of Buhari Regime – Bishop Oyedepo

Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo has backed the raging #EndSARS protests demanding for an end to police brutality and effective police reform.

The clergy lauded the call for a new Nigeria on Sunday while speaking during the second service of the Church.

Oyedepo wondered if President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of government would have risen to their present level if they were killed as youths.

He said, “Many cannot pass through because of the protest which is legitimate, the protest is legitimate.

“If law enforcement agents can start shooting indiscriminately, senselessly at young individuals — imagine if we were killed as youths, will we be here today?

“If they (government) were killed when they were youths, will they be where they are today? And because no one can tell who is next, the youth have the legitimate right to express their displeasure and express it.

“There is no way the wicked can rule and people will rejoice, when the wicked rules, the people mourn. Absolute disregard for human life is the identity of this regime without any feelings whatsoever.”

He added, “When you see an onslaught like this, it is haunting for the kings — who can tell whether one of those ones slain is ordained to be president of this nation that will bring the nation out of the woods, we can’t tall."



https://africannewstoday.com/politics/absolute-disrega…e-bishop-oyedepo/

Former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has warned the Federal Government to handle the ongoing protest against police brutality with “utmost maturity and restraint and in a peaceful, rational and reasonable manner.”

Fani-Kayode said this in a post on his official Facebook page on Sunday in reaction to the announcement by the army to launch operation crocodile smile on Tuesday.

He said that the resolve of the youths to achieve a better Nigeria cannot be defeated with military force.

Thousands of youths across the country had taken to the streets over the past week demanding for an end to police brutality and highhandedness. The disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the IGP has done little to quell the demonstrations as it continues to garner support globally.

The statement in full:  

We will not wait before more blood is shed before we speak and before we send out this warning.

We will not wait until there is another mindless and needless massacre and massive shedding of innocent blood by our security forces before we shout out.

We say this today, we say it without fear or favour and we say it for everyone, both friend and foe, to hear loudly and clearly: the determination to use brute force and to kill innocent young men and women in an attempt to crush this protest comes with a very heavy price tag and butchers bill.

The plan to deploy soldiers in our streets and to slaughter #EndSARS protesters in the same way that the Shiite Muslims and IPOB youths were once slaughtered by the military and security forces will be Lt. General Tukur Burutai and President Muhammadu Buhari's biggest mistake and gravest error.

This must NEVER happen and if it is true that they are seriously contemplating it then they should reconsider and think again!

If for ANY reason whatsoever, they go ahead, it will turn the #Endsars movement into the #EndNigeria movement and no force or power in hell or on earth will be able to resist or stop it.

We warn again: do not unleash the dogs of war and demons of hell on these protestors. Do not kill these INNOCENT, HARMLESS and DEFENCELESS young men and women who have courageously embarked on a LAWFUL and PEACEFUL protest and who are doing nothing more than exercising their constitutional right of freedom of speech and freedom of association.

The consequences of going ahead and doing so, amongst much else, will be that you will end up in the International Court of Criminal Justice and be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and genocide in the not too distant future.

I say it again, do not bite off more than you can chew, do not beat the drums of armed conflict and do not let slip the dogs of war!

This matter can and must be handled with the utmost maturity and restraint by the Federal Government and in a peaceful, rational and reasonable manner.

These young men and women are fighting for their future: they cannot and will not be intimidated. The threat of mass murder or genocide or its actualisation will not stop them: rather it will embolden them and turn them into martyrs for democracy.

A word is enough for the wise!


Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/attempt-to-clamp…ment-fani-kayode/

A joint inspection team made up of staff of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), is set to embark on verification visits to monitor the compliance of universities with Quality Assurance/Safety standards.

The visit Follows the reopening of universities after the COVID-19 lockdown and ahead of the resumption of academic activities in view of the imminent suspension of the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

A letter by the office of the Executive Secretary NUC, to all Vice-Chancellors obtained by African News Today titled, “Fresh directives for the safe re-opening of Universities for academic activities during the covid-19 pandemic”, informed the management of tertiary institutions of a visit to ascertain level of compliance with quality assurance and safety protocols.

The letter read in part, “The impending visits will involve on-the-spot inspection of physical facilities such as lecture theatres, classrooms, staff offices, laboratories, students' accommodation, emergency services/capability, healthcare and the deployment of non-pharmaceutical measures which are germane to your state of preparedness for the resumption of academic activities.

“Universities must continue to adhere to the safety protocols and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines which are very much in force. The decision to re-open institutions should not, in any way, diminish the importance attached to full compliance. The Virus is still potent and there is no cure as at yet.

“Universities must under no circumstances, violate the full cycle of the semester system, consistent with the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS).”

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/nuc-fme-to-under…sit-to-varsities/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday expressed understanding with Nigerians who feel that government has “simply not done enough” to protect its citizens from police brutality, giving room to the #EndSARS protests which have erupted across the federation in the past week.

The protest by Nigerians, mostly youths, against police brutality and alleged extrajudicial killings of the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has garnered global support.

Despite the disbandment of SARS by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the protests and demonstrations have continued to build momentum across the country. The protesters are demanding for police reforms among other issues.

Among the demands of the protesters are justice for deceased victims of police brutality, inauguration of independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of reports of police misconduct.

Osinbajo said, “I fully understand how many young people feel. Many feel that we have been too silent and have simply not done enough. These feelings of frustration are justified. There are far too many people who have been brutalised at the hands of the police and this is unacceptable. We must take responsibility for protecting young people, even sometimes from those who are paid to protect them.”

He added, “Over the past week, we have been following the protests, and I have had a number of discussions with key people in the administration that you deserve to be informed about. Transparency, after all, is a key tenet of government.”

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/africa/nigeria/government-too-s…demands-osinbajo/

Nigeria’s apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),  has dismissed speculations of its website being hacked on Friday.

The reports became rife after the website of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was hacked yesterday (Friday) by a group.

In a statement on its official Twitter handle, CBN said that its website was safe and secure as opposed to reports of it being hacked.

The bank asked Nigerians to desist from spreading false news as its website had not been tampered with and fully secured against hackers.

The CBN said, “Contrary to claims on social media alleging that the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been breached by malicious persons, we wish to state categorically that our website is secure.

“We also wish to advise the online community to desist from peddling fake news aimed at undermining the integrity of the CBN, which is our collective asset.”

The group that hacked NBC Twitter handle had sought the suggestions of Nigerians on the next organisation whose platform would be hacked. The NBC handle was used to promote #EndSARS campaign which has been building intensity over the past week.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/technology/cbn-website-hack…eculated-hacking/ ‎

Mr. Chris Jibreel Maiyaki has been appointed Deputy Executive Secretary (DES), Administration, by the Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC) chaired by Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, sequel to his nomination by the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL. 

His appointment took effect from 1st October, 2020. In his letter of appointment dated 29th September, 2020, the Executive Secretary said the appointment is in recognition of his performance, loyalty, commitment to duty and high sense of responsibility. 

Until his elevation, he was the Director, Executive Secretary’s Office (DESO), where he was deployed in 2017 by Professor Rasheed, where he ran his immediate office as well as the NUC Board Secretariat. 

Mr. Maiyaki graduated, with a B.Sc (Hons) degree in International Relations from the famous Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, Master of Arts (M.A degree) in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, Plateau State and has received several trainings (within and outside Nigeria) which pertained to International Affairs and Educational Planning, Accreditation and Quality Assurance, Partnerships and Collaboration, Procurement & project Management, Computer Application in Human Resource Management, all tailored around the specifics of Higher Education Management, Regulation and Knowledge

He moved to the National Universities Commission on inter-service transfer in 1993, as Personnel/ Administrative Officer I, in 1993, where on assumption of duty was appointed the Administrative Secretary for the World Bank Project Implementation Unit based in the NUC, which oversaw the execution of the USD120m Credit facility for twenty participating federal universities. 

At the expiration of the project which was adjudged to be one of the best administered in the World Bank Education portfolio in Nigeria, Mr. Maiyaki was redeployed from 1996, to work in various arms of the Commission where he has fulfilled various secondary and primary leadership function positions, becoming Deputy Director Special Duties &Protocol and Chief of Staff to the Executive Secretary between November 2009 to October 2014, culminating to his promotion in October 2014, to the rank of a Substantive Director.  

In the course of duty, he was named the Executive Secretary’s/Secretariat Best Worker of the year 2003, among several other commendation letters from NUC’s Development Partners and key stakeholders across the board.  

Mr. Maiyaki currently chairs two important Management Adhoc Committees which have been commissioned to Identify and digitise Legacy Documents from the inception of the NUC as well as to review the Staff Conditions of Service. 

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/uncategorized/exclusive-nuc-bo…y-administration/

As part of ongoing negotiations towards resolving the dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government, Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige led a delegation of the Federal Government to a closed doors meeting with the Senate to evaluate the University Transparency Account Systems payroll system developed ASUU.

The meeting convened by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, as part of efforts to bring an end to the eight-month strike action by ASUU had in attendance the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the Accountant Gneral of te Federation, Ahmed Idris and the ASUU leadership headed by the President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.

In his interaction with journalists at the end of the meeting, Ngige said, “ASUU has demonstrated to us, how the UTAS they developed could work but the demonstration will continue. We will involve other government agencies who would also come and assess it. Discussions on it are not foreclosed yet.

“UTAS is homegrown software. It is what we call local content that Mr President is encouraging.  It will be considered by the government,” Ngige added.

ASUU had consistently cited rejection of the IPPIS as one of the factors for its industrial action declared in February.

Ahmed Lawan surged ASUU and the Federal Government to reach a compromise on their differences as the prolonged strike would not profit either parties.

He said, “It has to be a win-win situation.”

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/ASUU-strike-fg-s…to-appraise-utas/

Mavin Records CEO and music industry heavyweight, Don Jazzy, has spoken against the formation of a new police unit to replace the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police.

African News Today had reported the formation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit which was announced by IGP Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday.

According to Adamu, the SWAT will fill the gaps occasioned by the disbandment of SARS. The police chief also mandated all officers of the scrapped SARS to report to Abuja for psychological and medical examination.

Don jazzy reacted to the formation of the new squad in a post on his verified Twitter handle, saying that the new SWAT should be ended before the government makes claims of huge sums used to set up the unit.

He said, “They should just end this SWAT now before it starts o.

“’Nobi’ tomorrow now they will say they spent money to do logo, spend money to do uniforms.

“Don’t spend any money o, end it now before it matures.”

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/africa/nigeria/end-swat-formation-now-says-don-jazzy-as-he-opposes-formation-of-new-police-swat-unit/

Ahmed Lawan, President of the Nigerian Senate has reproached the Federal Government for committing to an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which it knows it will not fulfill.

He disclosed that in a closed door meeting between the leadership of ASUU and the Senate in Abuja on Monday where the body presented its alternative payroll system, the Univeristy Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

He said,” Sometimes you wonder how somebody would sign some of the agreements and later say I cannot implement them. “Why did you sign in the first place?”
“When we negotiate, we must negotiate in such a manner that the final product will be implementable.”

The senate president urged ASUU to adopt compromise in its demands for the sake of students who had spent so much time at home.

He said, “I am sure that we need to review some of the items on the agreements.

“We cannot have an agreement signed in 2009 and still think this is the only way we can deal with it.

“We should be able to have a look at the agreements signed and see at this time whether or not some of the issues are really practicable at all.”

In his interaction with the press after the meeting, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President of ASUU said the visit was intended to find a solution to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System dispute.

Speaking on their intended payroll system, Ogunyemi said the UTAS would lead to a suspension of the ongoing eight-month strike action if endorsed by the Federal Government.

“We have developed what we call University Transparency and Accountability Solution. We have presented it to the Senate today and the Senate President commended it.

“We are going to present the platform to other stakeholders. UTAS is home grown while IPPIS is foreign.

“We have shown that we are inventors, we are creators of software and we are also capable of doing what our colleagues are doing in other parts of the world.”

Ogunyemi reiterated the resolve of ASUU to resist the IPPIS, which would not profit members of the union.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/lawan-tackles-fg-as-senate-intervenes-in-govt-ASUU-impasse/

A boat conveying officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to their polling unit in the ongoing Ondo State governorship election has capsized.

A video shared on Twitter by a user identified as @snapandsend and obtained by African News Today shows individuals struggling to swim in the river while onlookers were capturing them with mobile devices.

The twitter user claims the incident took place in riverine area of Ilaje in Ondo state as INEC officials were being conveyed to polling units.

Three major candidates are slugging it out in the Ondo state gubernatorial election for the number one citizen of the state, among whom are incumbent governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressive Congress, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party and former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/ondo-2020-boat-conveying-inec-officials-capsizes-in-ilaje/

Mallam Muhammad Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has announced the resumption of schools across the capital city with effect from October 11^th, 2020.

The was disclosed by FCT minister during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Mallam Bello said that boarding students will resume on Sunday while academic activities are expected to commence on Monday.

According to the minister, guidelines for the reopening of schools will be released soon. He added that third term will be incorporated in the academic calendar to pave way for the conclusion of the session which was interrupted by COVID-19 pandemic.

Bello stated that the Nigeria’s capital city did not record any new cases of the virus in schools during the reopening for exit classes to sit for their exams, adding that compliance of with stipulated safety guidelines once schools reopen for physical learning.

Recall that the minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, last week permitted the reopening of unity schools across the country on October 12th, 2020. He said that the decision was informed y due consultations with relevant stakeholders and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The FCT minister added that further guidelines on safe reopening will be released soon.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/health/breaking-fct-schools-to-reopen-on-october-11/

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general election has said that the Nigerian system hinders its growth.

He made the statement in a post on his official Facebook page to mark the occasion of Nigeria’s 60th Independence.

Atiku in the statement titled, “Nigeria's future depends on our commitment to a common destiny,” obtained by African News Today said that the country should not hope to continue doing the same thing with jaded and unworkable system and expect to get a remarkable result.

The statement in full:

Nigeria's future depends on our commitment to a common destiny.

On Saturday, 26 September, 2020 in far away Abu Dhabi, Israel Adesanya, an illustrious Nigerian, who embodies the indefatigable Nigerian spirit made the nation proud by successfully defending his UFC middleweight title. That victory lifted our spirit, and gave us hope in a season of hopelessness when every index of life and human development in our country is trending abysmally negative.

Nigerians of all hues are united in the celebration of the victory of Adesanya. It is our victory. No one cares if he is from Abia or Zamfara, Rivers or Osun state. Indeed some are wont to adopt Ibrahim or Omesonma as his name. But what is important is that he is a Nigerian, and his victory our collective victory.

Truth be told, there are many Adesanyas in every nook and cranny of our land. They give meaning to our aspirations. Sadly we have failed them. The structure on which we have hinged our political and economic emancipation has equally failed us. We do not hope to continue doing the same thing with jaded and unworkable system and expect to get a remarkable result.

We may have missed countless opportunities to reset our mindset moving forward as prosperous people, but this 60th anniversary of the life of our nation offers introspection.

The youths of Nigeria represent the future wealth of the fatherland and the only way we can tap into them is through quality investments in education and skills acquisition.

Through the creativity that they inject in their passion, the excellence of the Nigerian youth is a global signature in diverse fields notably in sports, as they can be found in medicine, in education, in business and finance, agriculture, and in our entertainment industry. Indeed they 'berekete' in every facet of our life from the rain forest of the south to the sudan and sahel Savannah of the north and the guinea Savannah of the midlands of the territories we call home.

We may have failed to take advantage of the power of the Nigerian youth. But there is something much more significant that their triumphs teach us a people looking forward to a better future. When they win, they celebrate Nigeria. Our youth are ready and eager to conquer the world. What they lack is the leadership to take them through that process.

For Nigeria to work for the millions of its people, and to be reckoned with as a global competitive force in the nearest future, we must come up with a development plan that will have our youth at the centre of the plan. The times of idle, lame promises are over! We urgently need to build a new Nigeria where every dream would be embraced and the potentialities of our youth could be unleashed without the usual fears that have dragged us.

I also call on those who have taken up arms against Nigeria to have a rethink. Whatever differences they may have with the rest of Nigeria, whether religious, ethnic or political, terror, violence and separatism are not the way. Let us learn from history. In Ireland, Israel, and the Balkans, such groups have seen the wisdom in giving up armed struggle for participation in the political process.

There is much wisdom in the saying that to jaw jaw is better than to war war. We must accept the reality that we are all brothers and sisters sired by our fatherland.

We cannot defeat separatist groups by force of arms alone; we can only defeat separatism by making all Nigerians feel like they belong. And this is only possible when we live up to the words of our national motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

As a nation, we asserted our independence in our infancy by lending to other nations. We must be careful not to lose the hard-won independence of our heroes' past. By learning to live within our means, we can put a stop to the needless borrowings that threaten our economic independence.

Our nation is in dire need of healing. We must foster unity and douse the tense atmosphere which is breeding feelings of alienation. We must promote freedom of speech and freedom after the speech.

As such, in the spirit of our 60th Independence Anniversary, I call on the Federal and state governments, to release all political prisoners and detainees, and discontinue the prosecution of such individuals. If Nelson Mandela could reconcile with those who imprisoned him for twenty seven years, we can reconcile with those who have disagreed with us.

Happy Independence Day!

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/nigerias-growth-hindered-by-jaded-and-unworkable-system-atiku/

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State paid a private visit to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL, where he revealed the plan of his administration to float a specialised Confluence University of Science and Technology as its second state University.

Governor Bello said the idea behind the university, whose Bill had already been passed into Law by the State Assembly, was to have a specialised institution that addressed the peculiar needs of the state’s immediate environment. He noted that the existence of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, gave the state a description of a ‘mining hub,’ while others like the Dangote Cement Factory and the West African Ceramic factory made the location of such an institution a big treasure.

He said, “We have the right location and ambience to run the envisaged specialised Confluence University of Science and Technology with all the natural resources available around us.

“With the doggedness of the State House of Assembly and the political will of my government, we would within the limits of our state resources ensure that everything required is put in place for the university to flourish for the benefit of the citizens and Nigerians.”

According to the Governor, beyond the passage of its Laws, the state had opened a dedicated account through which the university would receive regular funding to ensure that it run on a smooth footing. He explained that over the years Nigerians, had been travelling abroad to acquire skills in these specialised areas when the country boast of the capacity to develop and train its people.

Gov. Bello told the executive secretary that the state had already gone ahead to solicit the support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) towards its development and had received assurance of the agency’s willingness to assist. The university would be supported by many private individuals who had also showed enthusiasm to help, he stated.

He disclosed that his administration would undertake at least 70 per cent development of infrastructure for the university before the end of its tenure. He also said that the institution would take-off from the current School of Basic Studies.

He stated that the Academic Brief and the Master Plan documents were currently being tidied up by a group of experts, stressing that when completed the state government would present it to the Commission for the formal recognition of the university.

Responding to the Governor, Prof. Rasheed described as very apt the idea of the establishment of such a specialised university in Kogi, which truly captured the immediate need of its environment.

The executive secretary expressed NUC’s willingness and readiness to work with Kogi to establish the university. He said there was no need to go into research to acknowledge that the most strategic and basic needs of Kogi was the development of its Human Resources in these areas in view of the locations of such high-profile industries around it.

He also recounted that many applicants of Kogi origin yearly throng universities to seek for training in various fields including science and technology-related courses. Bearing this in mind, the establishment of a university that would address the scientific need of the state was a welcome development.

He advised the state to ensure that the Academic Brief and Master Plan be made flexible in order to provide for expansion on critical areas of science and technology, especially cutting-edge areas like specialised M.Sc programmes that would meet the yearnings of the Ajaokuta Steel and Dangote Cement factory.

He added, “We are committed to working with you to look at all facet of training in Engineering, Biotechnology, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering.

The type of engineering courses you must run need to address challenges like Agriculture, Mining and Solid Minerals among other immediate needs of the state.”

He applauded the governor for the passage of the law, stating that as soon as the Academic Brief and Master plan are ready, NUC would do the needful.

He, however, reminded the governor of the need to make adequate arrangement for the sustainability of not only the specialised university, but the already existing Kogi state University at Ayingba.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/africa/nigeria/exclusive-kogi-gov-seeks-nucs-approval-to-establish-second-state-university/

The outcome of the Edo State governorship election has sent shock and excitement down the spine of many Nigerians depending on one’s political affiliation.

But one fact that proponents of varying political factions tend to align with is the fact that a new order has been established, not just in Edo State or Southern Nigeria but across the country. One golden rule of exceling in politics in Nigeria has always been never to outshine the master but governor Godwin Obaseki has not just outshined his master nor only sent him into political oblivion, for the time being at least but demonstrated uncommon bravery and determination to faceoff against federal might.

The victory of Obaseki at the poll on Saturday was a clear indication to political godfathers that the mandate to determine political office holders now truly lies where it should- with the people. It was testament to the fact that indeed power resides with the people. Edo State has set a new example worthy of emulation.

Prior to the election, several All Progressive Congress (APC) bigwigs had backed Osagie Ize-Iyamu to clinch the top spot in the election. Prominent among them were Ize-Iyamu’s chief promoter, Adams Oshiomhole and national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu. Oshiomhole who handpicked Obaseki to succeed him in 2016 had hoped that he could replicate the masterstroke that propelled Obaseki to victory to oust him this time around. Tinubu on the other hand, was a firm supporter of Ize-Iyamu’s candidacy. He released a video clip before the election urging Edo electorates to reject Obaseki at the poll. Tinubu who described himself as the leader of all democrats despite political affiliation, said that Obaseki having not been part of the struggle to entrench democracy was not well placed to safeguard it.

The APC’s resolve to reclaim the state was not just backed by mere words and rhetoric, but being the party at the center and having dominated the state up till the point Obaseki decamped due to being disqualified, the party had the bragging right going into the election.

However, the outcome of the election has justified PDP’s mantra in the election that indeed Edo is not Lagos. Recall that prior to the 2019 governorship election, governor Akinwunmi Ambode missed out on a second term in office after been denied his party’s ticket. Incumbent governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was favoured for the position. Political watchers attributed Ambode’s ordeal to a fallout with Tinubu who is a heavyweight in Lagos politics.   

The mantra deployed by the PDP was similar to that which the APC used to dislodge the Saraki dynasty in Kwara State in 2019. During the governorship election, Tinubu and Lai Mohammed had championed the “Ó tó gé” slogan in kwara State which literally means enough is enough. The slogan was used to urge electorates in the state to endorse a new political era. The APC succeeded in using the mantra to dislodge the PDP and Saraki endorsed candidate, Razak Atunwa. It paved way for the emergence of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as Governor of the state.

The Edo state example not only tolls same path but sends a warning signal to other states which are controlled by godfathers that the era of godfatherism in Nigerian politics has come to a close.

Obaseki’s emergence and its implication for Nigerian politics was well captured by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a statement released yesterday where he said, “There is a wind of democratic change now blowing all over Nigeria. The forces of despotism, nepotism and interlopers cannot successfully withstand this force. Nigeria shall soon be totally free from these forces, from Kaura Namoda to Lagos. The only power that will stand in Nigeria is people power, not the power of godfathers or despots.”

Truly, if Nigeria is to attain a reputable stake in the league of democratic nations, people power should and must be put above every other factor. It is hoped that the masses will reap more dividends of democracy if people power remains the ultimate power. Political office holders will endorse people centered policies and developmental strides when they know and fear that the masses will rise in unison against them if they fail to perform.

Now that Obaseki has succeeded in sweeping away detractors, it is expected that he will channel the resources of the state towards achieving sustainable people oriented developmental strides in the state.


Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/the-edo-example-of-demystification-of-godfatherism-in-nigerian-politics/

The Emir of Zazzau,  Alhaji Idris, is dead.

He passed on at the age of 84 in the early hours of Monday.

A family source who spoke to Sahara Reporters said, “It is confirmed. He had some health issue on Friday and was taken to hospital where he died. His body would soon be transported to Zaria for burial.”

He was the 18th Fulani Emir of Zazzau.


Source: https://africannewstoday.com/africa/nigeria/breaking-emir-of-zazzau-dies-at-84/

The governorship election in Edo begins peacefully with impressive voters’ turnout in most wards across the state, NAN reports.

However, the presence of heavily armed security personnel has led to questions by some electorates who wondered whether it was an election or war.

A video which was shared on Twitter by a user identified as @MrSomtoOkonkwo, obtained by African News Today shows security personnel parading the street fully armed in security trucks.

He wrote, “Godwin Obaseki (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (APC) Go Head To Head Today...#Edo2020 Take Note.”

Major streets, especially in Benin, do not witness the usual traffic as the residents move to their respective polling stations for accreditation.

Edo has 193 wards with 18 local government areas.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Okv9IorIOw

source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/edo-2020-heavily-armed-security-personnel-scare-voters-video/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cried out over acclaimed intimidation of governors elected under its platform who are in Edo State to woo votes for the party in today’s governorship election in the state.

The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus in a press conference said while Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege were relaxing in the Benin home of former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, PDP governors were being harassed in Benin.

“Hope Uzodinma and Ovie Omo-Agege are in the home of the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oshiomhole. PDP governors are being harassed in Westend Hotel, Benin.

“Policemen have surrounded the hotel and their lives are in danger. We call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to ask the police to leave the place because their lives are in danger. If APC governors are in Benin, the PDP governors should be in Benin too. Our governors would remain in Benin; no one can intimidate us.

“We are bringing this to the attention of the international community. Elections must be free. Elections must be allowed to hold. You cannot allow APC governors in Edo and bar PDP governors,” Secondus said.

This follows similar claim by Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Akawor Desmond, who alleged that police had laid siege on Wike’s hotel.

He said, The Hotel where the Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike is lodging while on official assignment in Benin, Edo State has been held siege by over 300 police men.

“Rivers people warn that we shall hold the IGP responsible for anything that happens to our governor,”


Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/security-agencies-intimidating-our-governors-pdp-raises-alarm/

Staff of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) have embarked on a 7 days warning strike to drive home their demand for payment of minimum wage.

Staff members staged a protest at the entrance of the commission’s headquarters at Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja.

Comrade Ogah Folorunsho, unit Chairman, Civil Service Union in PCC in an exclusive interview with African News Today, said, “We are protesting the non-implementation of minimum wage and payment of accrued arrears for over seventeen months.”

He said though President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the minimum wage Act on 19 April, 2019, the commission is yet to benefit from the payment of the new minimum wage.

Speaking on efforts to resolve the discrepancy, Folorunsho said, “We did not just come out in the street. We have written letters to the Minister of Finance who we felt is in a better position to educate us on the reason why we are yet to benefit from the minimum wage seventeen months after it has been approved.

“The letters were copied to several ministries and agencies such as Ministry of Budget, Department of State Service, Inspector General of Police, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Having written such letters, we issued twenty days and fourteen days ultimatums respectively without substantive reaction from the government.  Therefore, the current 7 days ultimatum became imperative”.

Comrade Folorunsho added that they will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike if their demands are not met at the expiration of the current warning strike, which began on Wednesday.

He said that the non-implementation meant the staff of the commission have been on percentage payment of salaries for the past seventeen months and demanded for the payment of the arrears.

He added that over 98 percent of other FG agencies have been paid minimum wage, questioning why theirs should be different.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/photos-public-complaints-commission-staff-embark-on-7-days-warning-strike-stage-protest-at-headquarters/

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that his commitment to ensure free and fair elections would be futile if other actors are more focused on winning elections by all means than abiding by the rules.

President Buhari disclosed this in a message to political, voters and security personnel ahead of the Edo State poll where he urged actors in the election to allow the will of the people to prevail.

He said, “I am passionately committed to free and fair elections, but my commitment is not enough if other actors at ground zero refuse to abide by the rules.”

Buhari in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity stated, “I want to see democratic standards in the country raised higher at every level, but these cannot be achieved when politicians resort to do-or-die methods to gain power by any means or machination.

“The do-or-die mentality to politics is a threat to free and fair elections because the actors are more focused on winning than caring about a fair outcome that reflects the will of the people.”

He went on to urge electoral officials and security agents to maintain neutrality to ensure dree and credible elections and avoid action(s) capable of compromising the integrity of the elections.”

He reiterated that “conducting free and fair elections is one of my main concerns for our democracy, and I want this commitment to be one of the legacies I will leave behind when I depart office.”

This President’s address comes as the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to test his strength at the poll against opposition candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu who is running under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/my-commitment-not-enough-to-guarantee-credible-election-buhari/

Most Nigerians were startled and bemused by the recent revelations by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), against Nigeria’s apex Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria.

The NESG is a non-profit private sector organisation setup in 1966 with a mandate “to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, private sector-led globally competitive economy”. It issued a 15-point statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Asue Igbodalo and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Laoye Jaiyeola where it made some damning accusations on the integrity of the CBN to stimulate the ailing Nigerian economy to thrive under the COVID-19 pandemic.

It concerns bothered on issues such as transparency and efficiency of agricultural intervention under the anchor borrowers programme; foreign exchange transactions, disbursement of intervention funds and price fixing without appropriate policy clarity; and provision of immunity for CBN officials in the recently amended Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA).

The private sector-led think-tank, had in the statement titled ‘Matters of Urgent Attention’, noted that despite huge budgetary allocations and large sums of money disbursed by the CBN through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, a huge gap remained in meeting the food requirements, resulting in increasing hunger among the Nigerian populace.

It said, “Evidently, the issues are beyond money and, therefore, require a complete overhaul of the management of, and support for the agriculture sector and all related sectors – with a view to getting more value for our investments,”

“The NESG notes with grave concern the rising level of poverty, unemployment and underemployment in our country which is predominant among our young people and has been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 and the slump in commodity prices.”

Reacting to the claims, the CBN had countered the allegations in very strong terms, claiming their interventions saved the country from food scarcity during COVID-19 lockdown.

It said, “Contrary to the NESG’s allegation that our lending process is devoid of a proper framework, it is important to note that recipients of intervention funds from CBN go through an expansive due diligence process through participating financial institutions (PFI), following which an additional assessment process is embarked upon by the CBN before disbursements are provided.

“The PFIs expend extensive due diligence on these intervention loans as the risk of default lies with them.
“On the revisions to the BOFIA Act, contrary to their misleading anxiety and associated reportage, the provision of Section 51 does not purport to confer immunity on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria like that which obtains for State Governors.

“Rather, this provision protects the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and their respective officials against adverse claims for actions or omission in good faith exercise of powers under BOFIA and other specified statutes including the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and regulations made thereunder.

“The import of the said provision is to set a threshold against which suits against public officers must be filtered, such that for a suit to be maintainable it must scale that threshold by proving bad faith on the part of the pubic officer. It is not a bar against action,” the bank said.

The aftermath of the trade of words led to the resignation of three chief executive officers of banks who are board members of the NESG. They pulled out over the group’s criticism of some policies of the CBN, claiming they were not consulted before the public condemnation was made.

However, as the elephants fight, it is of most importance that this resort to public trade of words rather than use of internal mechanisms to resolve the concerns would positively benefit Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) who seek funds to either start or expand their businesses.

The CBN had provided an intervention loan aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of families and small businesses which had been adversely affected during the peak of the COVID-19 induced lockdown in April. It offered up to N3.5 million loan to persons who applied at the time. Though some applicants had complained through various social media platforms of their applications not being granted, such interventions are most needful at this point in time when many citizens are grappling to survive the economic hardship occasioned by increase in petrol price and electricity tariff.

As NESG pointed out, CBN did not reveal the modalities and criteria used to disburse the loan to the beneficiaries. Applicants who were denied the loan were not informed of the yardstick that was employed.

It is important that the apex bank will utilise this scrutiny to intensify and scale up its intervention to accommodate more sectors of the economy which had previously not be been captured as well as improve its intervention for sectors which had already benefited.

It is only through such checks and balances that powerful and stable economies were built. As Nigerians enjoy the spectacle of the unfolding theatrics of the two giants, it is pertinent that effort is made to push for more people-oriented policies from the CBN and other key players.

The call by the CBN governor, Godwin Emiefiele at the Annual Banking and Finance Conference for banks to increase the percentage of loans available to the agricultural sector to 10 percent from the current 4 percent by 2024 can be viewed as a fallout of the face-off. Holding institutions accountable can only stimulate growth. It is expected that more reforms aimed at stimulating the economy through support funds and low interest loans will be further rolled out.

Source: https://africannewstoday.com/politics/nesg-vs-cbn-faceoff-prospects-for-smes/

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