The United Kingdom (UK) has disclosed that it spent more than £50million to support electoral processes in Nigeria in the last five years.

Sam Waldock, Head of Governance and Stability, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, spoke at a retreat of the Joint Technical Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2020 in Abuja.

Waldock said his country was a proud supporter of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“In the last five years, the UK had invested over £50million into Nigeria’s democratic process. We recognise Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa, and a leading member of the Commonwealth of nations.

“It will therefore be good to have a robust comprehensive system in place far ahead of the general election so that adequate preparations could be made,” The Nation quoted him as saying.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, hailed the National Assembly for working out a new legal framework for conduct of elections.

Represented by the National Commissioner for Voter Education, Festus Okoye, Yakubu said the reform must be impactful and should be concluded by the first quarter of 2021.

He assured that INEC was committed to the process of the amendment and would make recommendations that would improve elections.

“However, it must be borne in mind that amending the electoral legal framework will not automatically guarantee or lead to improvement in the management and conduct of elections”, Yakubu noted.


https://dailypost.ng/2021/01/08/we-spent-over-50m-on-nigeria-elections-in-5-years-uk/

This one pain all of them , if not for the capital rioters many will not realised Trump is hell bent in destroying America legacy finish

Oboy see as thread full

Truthfully if Kanye is genuinely born again, forget Kim will soon be smelling like sh!t to him unless she join him or else they go there separate way, being born of the holy spirit no be child play jare , my heart goes out to Kanye at this trying times, may the spirit of the almighty God that take over is body and soul sees him throught it painful sha

Literary icon Prof. Wole Soyinka may no longer want to comment on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He told an on-line TV in a chat that went viral yesterday that “for the sake of sanity, one must imagine that the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari does not exist”.

The Nobel laureate, who was seen being interviewed onboard a train, described the new Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan standard gauge train, as marvellous and long overdue.

He told the Kaftan TV reporter that he would not like to talk about the Buhari administration because he imagined the regime doesn’t exist.

When asked whether the new train was a plus to Buhari’s regime, he said: “I don’t want to talk about Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. I think it is best for my sanity just to avoid that overall question. I can take bits and pieces of Nigeria’s present predicament but I think for one’s sense of balance, one must forget the existence of the Buhari administration.



https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-buhari-govt-by-soyinka/

#EndSARS-2 Protest loading, I can assure you all this is going to be grand finale! Jesus had better come on time because some Nigerians are currently not hesitate to go nd meet Jesus, we no go gree oO

Although Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the last increase in electricity tariff, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has enforced a new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), increasing electricity bill by over 50 per cent across the country.

A revised MYTO and minimum remittance threshold payable by the Distribution Companies and signed by NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba empowers the 11 DisCos to increase tariff by 50 per cent citing prevailing economic realities, especially inflation and exchange rate.

The document dated December 30, 2020 overruled the previous order Order NERC/2028/2020.

Labour unions and the Federal Government had been at loggerhead following increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit as well as the increase in electricity tariff.

After series of outrage and outright rejection by consumers who cited poor power supply and the impacts of Covid-19, DisCos had in October last year started the implementation of a service-based reflective tariff (SRT) structure after backing by an approval from President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the new order, tagged NERC/225/2020, NERC based its decision by current inflation of 14.9 per cent iN379.4/$1 exchange rate.

All classes of consumers, except those who enjoy a few hours of power supply would pay more for electricity until June this year.



https://m.guardian.ng/news/fg-increases-electricity-tariff-by-50/

The Minister of the Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday, said the economic and social implications may make it difficult for the Federal Government to impose another lockdown in the country.

The Minister, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, however, urged Nigerians to adhere strictly to all COVID-19 protocols laid down by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

He said: “I don’t think there is anywhere the Federal Government said it will impose another lockdown. However, the Federal Government is not happy that Nigerians are not observing all COVID-19 protocols like washing of hands and wearing of facemasks. The Federal Government is aware of the economic and social implications of having another lockdown. The Federal Government will, however, urge Nigeria s to follow all COVID-19 protocols.”



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/covid-19-no-lockdown-for-now-%E2%80%95-fg/

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday condemned the killing of 70 people in Zaroumdareye, a border town between Niger Republic and Mali by militants.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled “President Buhari sympathises with Niger Republic over terrorist attack that killed 70 people, calls for united action against terrorism.”

Shehu quoted the President as describing the incident as another clarion call for united action by African leaders against terrorism.

The President said, “I am profoundly shocked by the large scale death of innocent people at the hands of these callous militants who have no regard for the sanctity of human life.

“We are facing grave security challenges on account of the evil campaign of indiscriminate violence by terrorists in the Sahel and only united action can help us defeat these vicious enemies of humanity.

“Terrorism has now become like a contagion of evil that can spread anytime if united action is not taken.”

The President added, “Instability in one part of Africa had implications for the security of others.

‌“The destabilisation of Libya in 2011 is producing domino effects on the security of other African countries including Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and others.
“The looting of Libyan armouries in the aftermath of Gaddafi’s fall has put dangerous weapons into the hands of terrorists and other criminals who now pose security challenges to other countries.

“We are united by common fate and therefore we must act in concert to defeat these evil men who target innocent people.

“Let me use this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy for the government, the people of Niger and the families of the victims.”


https://punchng.com/buhari-sympathises-with-niger-republic-over-terror-attack/

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a. Winners Chapel), have backed down on their insistence to hold Crossover services in churches tomorrow.

They announced, on Tuesday, adjustments in their programmes to ensure that none of their members violates the 12 midnight – 4am curfew imposed by the Federal Government as part of measures to contain COVID-19 spread.

The CAN aligned with government’s ban on watchnight (crossover) service that usually heralds the New Year.

The association said the service, which normally extends to 12am on the first day of the year, should not hold, so that Christians can maintain a strict adherence to COVID-19, protocols.

But the Osun State government reviewed its position on the countdown to the New Year.

“The government has decided to allow crossover religious gatherings, being sensitive to the mood of the season. But any organisation holding crossover service must note that they are expected to close the service early and everyone must be off the streets by 1am,” Osun Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said.

CAN’s National President Rev. Samson Ayokunle advised state chapters to adhere strictly to directives by relevant government authorities on the crossover night service.

“There is no sacrifice that is too much to put an end to the Coronavirus pandemic in the interest of all and sundry,” Ayokunle said in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

Already, the Ondo State government has vowed to prosecute any church leader that may violate its ban on the midnight service.

However, in Lagos State, the local chapter of CAN and the state government agreed that services should end by 11pm tomorrow.

In a memo to all parishes signed by its Assistant General Overseer (AGO) in charge of Admin/Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, the RCCG said it will do live streaming of the Crossover Service tomorrow night.

It urged members to link up virtually on Dove Television and other on-line platform.

The January 8 Holy Ghost Service (HGS) will also be conducted by the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, virtually, Odesola said in the memo.

According to him, the mission took the decision in compliance with the government’s directive.

It was also learnt that Winners’ Chapel service and Bishop David Oyedpo’s sermon scheduled to kick-off from 6pm tomorrow, will be streamed live and viewed by members at all viewing centres affiliated to the church.

Winners’ Chapel will stream He said: “Where the government places an embargo on the Crossover Night service, churches may meet earlier to praise and give God praises for the gift of life despite the pandemic and to place their requests for 2021 before God.

Ayokunle, who urged Christian leaders to cooperate with the government, said the directive was understandable. “We understand the unfortunate state COVID19 infection has put everybody world over, which caused some state governments to place total ban on crossover night service and we are not happy that we would not be able to enter into the New Year prayerfully in joint fellowship with our brothers and sisters.

“We, however, urge you all to abide by the directives of each state government on this so as to prevent the spread of the infection. One thing that is certain is that, the end of COVID-19 is here at last in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

“In those states, services should be closed about 10:30pm or at most 11:00pm to enable worshippers to return home on time. It is a passing phase and this too shall pass away in Jesus Name. Very soon, the pandemic will become history and we will return to our usual routine services in Jesus’ Name.”

Ondo State government warned church leaders against violating its directives to avoid prosecution.

It read the riot act in response to a statement by the state chairman of CAN, Rev. John Oladapo, that churched should hold cross over service in defiance of the state government directive.

Oladapo was reported to have called on Christians to disregard the government’s directive because relevant stakeholders were not consulted.

But, the Chairman of the Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, said COVID-19 was primarily a health issue and not a religious issue.

Lagos CAN chairman Bishop Steven Adegbite, who backed down on earlier directive to members that they end the service by 12.15am and that members who could not return home should pass the night in churches till day break.

In a statement by Adegbite supported government’s directive that the crossover service should terminate by 11 pm.

Lagos State Government had previously ordered all worship centres to suspend night services, vigils and crossover events.

The state also announced a 12am to 4am curfew as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Adegbite said: “As part of our responsibility as a law-abiding organisation and in response to the appeal made to us by the state government, we hereby direct that all churches should ensure their services on 31st of December, 2020 end at 11:00 pm so as to allow attendees get to their respective homes and places of rest on or before 12:00 midnight when the curfew will start.”


https://thenationonlineng.net/can-rccg-winners-drop-crossover-night-services/


My take:- We Christians should not see this directive from govt as some sort of attack or anti-christ stuff cus apart from covid-19 fear there are rumors that proud bois Nigeria branch are planning some sort of attacks on innocent Christians coming from cross over night which our security operatives may not be fully on ground to protect everyone, it's very important that we all stay safe and experience cross over night in peace, those guys now move around with all sort of weapons like knife et'al pls let's all be careful!

Arry110:
use the energy when it happens to someone close to you, someone child was abused, and abuse that he'll suffer from for a really long time you're talking about it being settled when they haven't gotten to the root, that child will never be the same and I wonder many more cases are yet to come to light, they should get to the root and prevent it from ever happening

you are a fool! A very big one, I don't have your time!

Seun is like your mods are seriously not updated, if not they should not be pushing this kind of news to front page, the issues that have been settled since! You guys better not go local nd always stay updated.

Heartlessbanker:
Thunder fire Kumuyi

I pity your destiny, is it kumuyi that molest the kid

praiseneo:
tell me how was it settled

you are definitely not updated, between is it deeper Life pastor that molest the kid?

Nigerians Sha, this issue as been settled since na, what kind of people do we have living around us this days?? It not funny at all.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 and 2019 Lagos State Governorship Elections, Jimi Agbaje, says he still has a role to play in the politics of the state and the country come 2023.

Agbaje, who was defeated in the last two elections by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu – both of the All Progressives Congress, however, said his running for office “is not at all cost”.

The politician and pharmacist spoke on Tuesday, noting that time and event would tell whether or not he would be re-contesting the governorship seat of Lagos State.

“I remain in politics. My running for office is not at all cost. What role I will play is still very unclear but I believe I have a role to play in the politics of our country and of Lagos State,” Agbaje said while featuring on Arise TV’s The Morning Show monitored by The PUNCH.

Agbaje also said the PDP must get its home in order to have a successful outing in future elections.

‌“In what capacity, I believe time and event will tell. But I won’t stand here and tell you Jimi Agbaje is running for governor because it is not even on the table. But in any case, you’ve got to get the party in proper shape to be able to run an election and I’m not sure the party is in the right shape now,” he added.


https://punchng.com/2023-i-still-have-a-role-to-play-in-politics-says-jimi-agbaje/

Rubbish, Nigerians never reach that level Abeg! Educate our youths to world standard level first, personally I run survay and what I found out, we still have a along way to go! Nigerians, carry arms Make una no try am oO

About 2 million Nigerian youths have been rendered jobless by the recent suspension of sale, registration and activation of SIM cards by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, it was learnt yesterday.

Arewa Telecom Operators Agents and SIMCard Dealers Association (ATOASDA) stated this while addressing reporters in Kaduna.

The telecom dealers, who claimed that they were aware of the Federal Government’s intention to address security challenges through linkage of National Identity Number (NIN) with mobile numbers and suspension of new SIM cards registration, expressed worry that rendering 2 million youths jobless might worsen the security challenges.

ATOASDA President Hassan Yakubu explained that as a registered association under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) members of the agents supported Federal Government’s measures to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.

The union leader urged the government to consider that the causes of insecurity across the country have been linked to youth unemployment.

He said the income of the telecoms business partners, workers and the agents, majority of whom are within 20 to 40 years in the value chain, is determined by the number of activations/SIM registration carried out within the month.

Yakubu said: “The suspension of SIM card registration may trigger a worse form of insecurity, especially in the zones most affected by the insecurity. In fact, the growth in the Telecom sector is determined by the very sub-sector that was suspended and the much celebrated 17 per cent contribution by Telecom sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) was as a result of the activities of the sub-sector under suspension.

“We, therefore, wish to advise that the Federal Government can still achieve the desired result as well as avoid creating more problems in an attempt to solve a problem if the suspension is revised immediately to avoid the danger the suspension may expose the youths to.

“We suggest that all existing SIM Cards must be paired with the NIN numbers within a stipulated time, while an average of three months should be allowed for smooth and effective pairing.

“We also suggest that the SIM Cards sale, registration and activation should be allowed to continue, while an average of 10 new NIN machines be deployed in every local government in the 774 local governments of the federation for a better reach.

“That no new SIM Card should be allowed to be synchronised without the support of NIN number and ID card until the SIM Card and NIN number pairing is concluded,” he said.



https://thenationonlineng.net/2m-youths-jobless-as-govt-suspends-sim-card-registration/

Nigeria stands as the number one country in Africa in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2020 World Economic Outlook’s ratings of countries.

Using countries’ GDPs, IMF ranked Nigeria among the first 26 countries in the world in the same position with an average $442,976 million.

Countries are sorted by nominal GDP estimates from financial and statistical institutions, which are calculated at market or government official exchange rates.

Nominal GDP does not take into account differences in the cost of living in different countries, and the results can vary from one year to another based on fluctuations in the exchange rates of the country’s currency.

Such fluctuations may change a country’s ranking from one year to the next, even though they often make little or no difference in the standard of living of its population.

Nigeria had put in place several measures to improve on the economy by tackling various sectors that has direct impact on the lives of its citizens.

The Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) of the government aims to tackle the key challenges to economic development through tackling constraints to growth and leveraging on the power of the private sector.

It also initiates the promotion of national cohesion and social inclusion, allowing markets to function as well as uphold the core values that define the Nigerian society as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The key principles on which the ERGP stands are focus on tackling constraints to growth; leveraging the power of the private sector and promoting national cohesion and social inclusion.

Others are allowing markets to function and upholding core values that define the Nigerian society.


https://leadership.ng/gdp-imf-ranks-nigeria-1st-in-africa-26th-in-the-world/?amp=1

They've started again oO Oshiomhole that already admit his political career is dead which we all know now plotting to remove the governor that destroy his political career, pls tell us another story!

No Bashing pls, not an APC stooge neither it just baffle me why do you all sudden go against Tinubu regarding this Presidential issues, this life no balance at all , this days I get more afraid when people hail me too much

RIP Bro!

The much anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could take place on foreign soil, according promoter Eddie Hearn.

Hearn said only a full capacity in the UK can see the proposed mega-fight stay in the champions’ home country.

British-born Joshua had earlier in 2017 said he was open to fighting in Lagos, a suggestion that was raised by Fury himself.

“(The AJ fight) might be in Nigeria in Lagos, I have heard they have got a big stadium there,” Fury said in 2017.

Early negotiations to pit Joshua against Fury have been “positive” and a fight is penciled in for May 2021 with a rematch in November, and only a “few small issues” are still to be worked out, Hearn said.

“[The location] will be the next move,” he told Sky Sports News. “Our plan, after speaking to [Fury’s US-based promoter] Bob Arum, is to get the deal in place then go out to the relevant sites.

“Obviously we all would like this fight to take place in the UK but you’ve seen London go into Tier 4 now.

“We had a crowd on Saturday [for Joshua’s win over Kubrat Pulev] but that has been taken away for the time being. There are a lot of unknowns in that respect.”

Joshua fought in New York and Saudi Arabia in 2019 while Fury’s past four fights have been in Los Angeles and Las Vegas – he also beat Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2015.



https://thenationonlineng.net/promoter-seeking-venue-for-joshua-fury-clash/

Really can't wait,

Let's take the trend to Twitter A$AP!

Yeye govt and Yeye panel, successfully summoned your President first!

I hope the federal govt is aware that receiving the vaccine in Nigeria is not compulsory Sha? Not something they will come and force on us oO

Daniel Bwala, a lawyer and a member of the of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is famed for his courage at speaking truth to power. As guest of the Arise Television programme, The Morning Show, on Thursday, the day the President was expected in the House, Bwala bares his mind on the happenings in his party and why things are the way they are.

What do you make of the invitation to President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before the House of Representatives over the security situation in the country?

Maybe we have trouble with the use of words as to whether the National Assembly summoned the President or invited him. The National Assembly can invite the President to address the country on the state of the union. This is common and the constitution is clear. He may elect to go because they are the true representatives of the people. But the National Assembly cannot summon the President because power of summon as provided in the constitution is power to investigate, interrogate and power to probe corruption and it is not within the powers of the National Assembly to do so. So if the House of Reps summons him, they do not have the legal or constitutional right to do that but they have the constitutional right to invite the President in the spirit of espirit de corps to come and address Nigerians on matters of national security.

And the point that the President is avoiding to go because he does not want to divulge national security matters is a baseless argument because the President is not in a nursery school. Even people who are elementary know when to discuss privilege matters and when not to. Secondly, I don’t think that in the spirit and letter of their invitation, it is of a nature that the President will come to the National Assembly to answer questions. If you look at other climes like the US, when the President comes to speak on the state of the union, it is just to address the country on the state of affairs of the country after which he takes a bow and goes.

So if the President is avoiding to go because of the questions, he doesn’t even need to entertain questions. What ought to have been done to avoid this friction would have been for the House to send questionnaire on areas of concern to them they wanted the President to address the nation about. They can summon any agent of the federation like the Chief of Defence Staff, NSA, or any other officer of the government of the federation that manages any security architecture.

Secondly, because the President had given his word, it was imperative that the President did go to display his honesty and integrity that he is known for, to say that I gave my word and I would go. Because if he doesn’t go, and the excuse is that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF issued a declaration or legal opinion, it will give a bad impression on the government because the impression it will be sending to the masses is that when the President agreed to be present, was he not advised? That means he was ill-advised and that was why he could make a hasty decision and then changed his mind.

That leads us to the issue of whether it is within the purview of the AGF to issue legal opinion in respect of this matter. Over a period of time, by convention, we have adopted certain principles that are very inimical to the polity. The office of the AGF as provided in Section 174 of the Constitution is quite explicit. In matters of criminal law, he is to take over criminal matters and decide whether to continue or discontinue. In matters of administration, he is to represent the government of the federation in international treaties, international agreements. He is not the Attorney General of the President.
He must not be seen giving opinion or speaking on behalf of the President. To do that means we are partisanising the office of the AGF because the way it is constructed from the constitutional standpoint, the office of the AGF can even investigate the President even though he is an appointee of the President.

Here is the missing link: May be, we do not have in the Villa the President legal adviser whose duty will be to speak on matters of law, legality and executive decisions of the President in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic.

I think going forward; the Presidency should have a legal adviser to the President or a State House Counsel that will speak on matters of law concerning the President in his capacity as the President in his engagement with the National Assembly, the judiciary or the masses while the Attorney General will speak on matters of sovereignty of the nation in its relationship with other nations of the world.

The 8th Assembly had been heavily criticised as non-cooperative which was the reason the executive arm was hostile in its responses to their demands. The 9th Assembly is largely seen rightly or wrongly as a “rubber stamp,” because of its willingness to cooperate with the President. One good turn deserves another. If in one breath, the National Assembly is demonstrating to the President its willingness to help him achieve his agenda, it is not out of place for the National Assembly to invite the President.

It is a representative democracy and every member of the National Assembly represents a constituency. It is a good thing that the National Assembly had a bi-partisan resolution to invite the President to address Nigerians on matters of national security. In my opinion, the reason the President could evade is to avoid answering question on the age-long question of why the service chiefs have not been sacked. I have not seen any part of the country where somebody is not calling for the replacement of the service chiefs. He is not answering the question and probably, he is not prepared to rejig the security architecture.

Why are meetings of the APC held in the secret chambers of the Presidency?

The business of the party just as in company registration, the resolution of the board, the venue of the meeting are as important as the resolution itself. In political party processes, the business of the party are conducted in party secretariat. It means that these National Executive Committee, NEC meetings which have been held in Villa are very wrong because they ought to be held in national secretariat. Where the national secretariat is not expansive to contain everyone, they are to rent any building available for rent. The villa is the seat of power, the seat of government and whatever is said at the villa should be something that is of interest to the generality of the people. The precedence we are laying is going to be bad.

Tomorrow, if our party is not in power, another party comes into power and begins to host dinner and everything in the villa, we are going to raise eyebrows because every facility and asset that is used in the villa for the purposes of executing party activity is an act of corruption because if drinks are served, they served them from the budget of the Presidency for entertaining guests. I don’t think we are buying drinks and water from outside to bring to the villa to hold meetings there or we are paying a rent for that purpose.

However, there is an excuse for the President. The excuse is that since COVID-19, there have been lots of changes. They will argue that the meetings were not actually held in the villa but virtually with a few officers around the President because whatever discussion that was done that requires signing, it has to be done by those around him.

vanguardngr.com

:- Opinion : Could it be that this people are hiding something from us

THE tempo of insecurity in Edo State heightened as kidnappers laid siege to Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi road, yesterday, and kidnapped many passengers.

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen first attacked a commercial bus at the Urhokosa/Obagie end of the road and took away a number of the passengers.

The suspected kidnappers, who were said to be in groups, got a team to lead the first set of victims to the bush, while another team forced the driver of the bus to block the road with his vehicle.

It was gathered that a trailer driver, who saw the blockade and suspected foul play, refused to stop and rammed into the blockade, killing two of the passengers.

Other vehicles that ran into the blockade were attacked by another group of the kidnappers, who selected victims and marched them to join the earlier captured passengers.

A source said a member of a vigilante group in the area, who confronted the gunmen, was reportedly shot dead by the kidnappers.

He said: “I spent over three hours in the bush and the kidnappers kept shooting and there was no resistance from any security agency.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the development, saying: “Yes, the command is aware of the kidnap, but we are yet to ascertain the number of passengers that were kidnapped. Unfortunately in the process, a member of one of the vigilante groups was killed during a gun duel with the kidnappers.

“The vigilante group in that community engaged the kidnappers and one was killed. The effort is currently ongoing through bush-combing to free those kidnapped. Other information will be revealed as we progress,” Nwabuzor said.

On the killing of the two passengers by a fleeing trailer driver, Nwabuzor said he had yet to be briefed on that.

Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road had been a den of robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and constitutional lawyer cum human rights activists,Chief Mike Ozekhomhe, was some years ago kidnapped on that same route.

Flash points for robbery and kidnapping on the axis have over the years been Urhokosa, Obagie, Ogbemudia Farm, Okpella which is the boundary between Edo State and Kogi State.

vanguardngr.com

The National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Thursday, disassociated itself from the purported second #EndSARS protest to hold on December 7, 2020.

Speaking with Vanguard, the President, NYCN, Solomon Adodo, said it is totally unnecessary to call or mobilize for second round of #EndSARS protest across the country.

According to him the NYCN has not been contacted about the second round of EndSARS protest, but have heard about it, while they are engaging youths across the country.

He said: “We at the National Youth Council have not been contacted about second round protest of #EndSARS but we are hearing about this and also engaging with the Nigerian youth.

“With the last count during the last protest we made our doors open to Nigerians and said if you have any challenges come to us, contact us, and we are not only having offices in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory but also online real time.

“And if the Nigerian youths have these challenges they should come and we will see how to address them. We cannot address problems only by protest, and protest will only exacerbate and take a turn to crippling the economy, and we saw how Nigeria was shut down during the first protest, and we are already facing an economic recession.

“So we need to be wise, this country is not just about Buhari or a governor somewhere. It is about us also, we have roles to play, but what we are telling the Nigerian youths that if they have any challenge we are equal to the task rather than engaging in another round of protest.”

He also acknowledged that the first #EndSARS protest at the end resulted in loss of lives, livelihoods, businesses, and property, and it will be inhuman to embark on another protest seeing the damage caused by the latter which has led and plunged the country into economic recession.

“The first protest we had lives were lost and properties were damaged, and therefore these are factors we should not temper, joke or toy with. We therefore advise the Nigerian youths to explore other channels to ensure that if we have grievances they are heard and also addressed. We at the National Youth Council will also be there”, he stated.

Meanwhile, on the update of government meeting the demands of #EndSARS protesters, he said the Council is following up on that and other issues as well.

“We have been following up on the demands of the #EndSARS protesters and we know very clearly that the demands we have 5for5 demands and general demands on issues of governance and the rest of them.

“We see the #EndSARS thing that SARS was disbanded and we heard that SWAT is to come up, and now also we have not gotten new cases reported to us at National Youth Council on molestation. We are not only looking at brutality from the Nigerian Police but from any other security agency including the military and others.

“We heard of other issues and engaged with these security bodies both the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police and others. So government on ending SARS but going forward we want to see that human rights are totally and strictly obeyed.”

He also called on government to take the unemployment issue seriously as a major panacea to youth grievances and frustration, though acknowledged efforts by the Buhari-led government through social intervention programmes to address it, but said there should be proper implementation and monitoring that would produce the expected results and impact on the lives of young people and the economy in general.

“Government should religiously look at the complaints of unemployment. It is not about throwing funds out there but should be strictly monitored for implementation for productivity.

‘We call on the government to address this issue and working by ensuring that these funds are injected to ventures that triggers productivity, economic growth and also that are measurable, translate to the betterment of Nigerians and create jobs for us.

“These are the key areas. If we have our youths engaged meaningfully and employed you will find less of them on the streets protesting. So that is one are government should really wake up and double up effort.

“We know a lot is being done but these efforts should be targeted at achieving results, these efforts are good intentions but like I will say outside as quoted in the collection of Essays, ‘Good intentions are not enough, these intentions translate to clear actions with proven results that impact on the people’.”


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