₦airaland Forum

Apex Igbo social political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described the team members of the South-East Development Commission, SEDC, as round pegs in round holes.

It could be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday announced Board members of the Commission, with Dr Emeka Nworgu as chairman. Another key member of the Board is Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the calibre of people chosen by President Tinubu showed the seriousness the government attached to the Commission.

He said, “we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the serious attention he has given to the South-East Development Commission, which manifested in the calibre of people he has appointed in the Board.

“It is clear from the list of the members that these are renowned Igbos with a track record of experience both in private and public service.

“The Chairman of the Board, Dr Emeka Nworgu, CON, is a one time chairman of Abia South local government area, former political adviser to former Gov of Abia State and a two term minister under the administration of goodluck Jonathan. He performed creditably in these offices.

“Also of particular mention is Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects, a former member of the National Assembly, who was synonymous with attracting quality projects to his constituency and beyond during his time in the National Assembly. He was known as Mr project during the time in question.

“The former Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is a man of with capacity when it comes to infrastructural development and human empowerment.

“No wonder he was the Chairman, House Committee on Works in the 8th House of Representatives and capped it up as Deputy Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives. He was a leader in the 9th Assembly and greatly admired by his people.

“As the chairman house committee on works, he contributed a lot to the progress of work at the second Niger Bridge, rehabilitation of Abuja – Kano federal highway and Lagos – Ibadan expressway, etc.

“Another distinguished member of the Board is Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, Chief of staff to the president of the 10th Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio.

“With these calibre of men in the helm of affairs at the SEDC, Mr President deserves kudos; it’s a phenomenal choice; he has no doubt set the ball rolling.”

Okwu said now that the Commission was totally in place, the expected rebuilding of the South-East after the civil war should commence in earnest.

“The people of the South-East had all along cried out over the high level of marginalization against us; it became manifestly high that our people could no longer bear it, leading to a resurgence in agitation for Biafra.

“However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a giant leap towards addressing all the injustice against the South-East. The starting point is this quality of Board members of the SEDC.

“We, however, urge Mr President to go a step further by making good funding available to the Commission through the 2025 budget, which is in the process.

“Without adequate funding all the expectation and joy of our people will be cut short.

“But we are upbeat and quite positive that the much-awaited good time for the people of the South-East is here.

“We assure the President of the support of Ndigbo, now and in future,” Okwu concluded.

DeLaRue:
You mention Tinubu, not government.

Your statement is: 'After God, na Tinubu".

Anyway, it's up to you.

DeLaRue:
That last statement you put on all your comments is unnecessary.

There is no one before or after God.

God is God, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Thundafireseun:
E shock me ooo .. make I no lie

Thundafireseun:
All liars will go to HELL

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has secured a $2.5 billion livestock investment in Borgu Kingdom in Niger State from a Brazilian firm.

Governor Mohammed Bago revealed this while addressing the people of the Kingdom in New Bussa during a visit.

He said the investment would ensure the establishment of livestock, rice and maize farms among others on 1.2 million hectares of land on the corridor of the Niger State component of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project.

The governor stressed that the president, being the Jagaban Borgu, was passionate about the growth and development of Borgu Kingdom and the state.

He urged them to continue to support the APC-led administration at all levels for accelerated development to ensure a better living condition.

Bago, while reiterating his commitment to delivery of more dividends of democracy to the people, announced the donation of N100 million to Borgu women cooperative groups to empower them economically and make them self-reliant.

He also inspected the New Bussa abattoir renovated by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (code named L-PRES) where he described the structure as impressive.

Houseofglam7:
🥺🤧

WriteerNg:
You really know your onions.

Thewrath:
But thesame people kept lieing that the land is not good for farming same way they have been lieing about crude oil and gas deposits in the SE,while drilling it low key and downplaying the production STATS!!

But I guess you can only lie for as long as you can,are they tired?

kettykin:
See accusation, if I killed Niger agitation then you killed Niger delta heritage and destroyed their destiny. Today niger delta exist only on map because of unwholesome covetous oil-grabbing mentality.

kettykin:
The same Niger deltans that just lost one of their president generals to an unwarranted military detention under grueling and unwholesome human conditions and in peace time.

Same niger delta that are receiving peanut for their God given heritage. Same niger delta whose leadership have been scapegoated by the Nigerian deepest state and made to pay the price of being blessed like Ken sarong wiwa and Adaka Boro

kettykin:
Biafran military fought purely a military combat . How on earth can one explain to the world that th became victorious in a war not through military combat but by sabotaging farm lands , starving women and children. This purely cowardice of the worst order. You starve women and children and cower before men

kettykin:
Nigeria military sabotaged farm lands, blocked Aid , stopped red cross, stopped medical San frontiers. Let's see if lies and half truths will save Nigeria

The Federal Government has been commended for its interventions so far in ensuring that farmers, processors and other players in the agricultural value-chain under the “Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One” known as “ATASP-1”, are supported and encouraged to contribute to food security in Nigeria.

Some farmers who have benefitted from the ATASP-1 project in Anambra and Enugu states on Saturday made the commendations when a delegation from Africa Development Bank, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Finance, Water Resources as well as ATASP-1, toured some project sites in communities located in Anambra and Enugu states.

The rural farmers hailed the Federal Government’s interventions, saying,“With ATASP-1, the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on food for all will be achievable in no distant time.”

In late 2020, the Federal Government, through the ATASP-1, awarded a contract for the concrete Lining of 22.45KM and 44.1km of Irrigation Canals in the Adani and Omor communities of Ayamelum Local Government axis of Anambra, which is a border town to Enugu State.

The ATASP-1 authorities said the massive projects aimed to ensure dry season rice farming in the communities, thereby contributing to the Federal Government’s food security agenda in the country.

The teams visited numerous project sites executed under ATASP-1 in communities such as the Adani and Omor axis of Anambra and Enugu states to evaluate the status and quality of projects and assess the impact of the numerous agricultural transformation programmes of the Federal Government being financed by the AfDB.

During the visit to the communities on Saturday, the Zonal Coordinator of ATASP-1 in Adani-Omor Zone, Dr Romanus Egba, in his remarks, said the aim of the project was, “to give the farmers a sure means of survival by empowering them with capacity building, inputs support, as well as creating an enabling environment for increase food production with economic and social/ancillary infrastructures also provided to enhance their living standard”.

The National Programme Coordinator of the programme, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, also added that ATASP-1 has proven to be a game-changer in the quest by the Federal Government to address food insecurity in the country.

Arabi expressed joy with the outpouring of testimonies from beneficiaries of the programme in the Adani-Omor Zone.

The AfDB Task Team Manager for ATASP-1, Dr Tobi Karikari, also expressed satisfaction with the achievements made so far by the FG through ATASP-1 both in the provision of infrastructure and empowerment for the farmers.

Karikari, therefore, called on the farmers to put into proper use the facilities and knowledge gathered to enable them to contribute their quota towards building a greater society.

In Adani, the team inspected the Double Span Obinna Bridge which connects the Ada Rice Irrigation Project farm command areas, feeder roads as well as recently completed canals which is already supplying water to the field for dry season farming.

The team also visited the Modern Rice Market built by ATASP-1 at Adani as well as the Modern Cottage Hospital at Asaba, also in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.

In Ayamelum, the team visited the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, LAIP’s pumping station at Ifite-Ogwari, as well as ongoing Canal Lining sites at Omor as well as completed access roads.

The team also interacted with beneficiaries at Adani and Omor who took turns to testify on how the ATASP-1 trainings on Good Agronomic Practices, GAPs, and other supports had transformed their lives.

A rice farmer from Omor community, Chief Obiora Mmuoneke, testified that with ATASP-1 training and support, he was able to build a six-room bungalow train three of his children to the university levels and expand his business.

Another lead farmer in the area, Chief Cletus Obiora, while thanking ATASP-1, remarked that with the concrete lining and resuscitation of the irrigation system in the area, they are expecting to produce more tonnes of rice annually.

A rice farmer and processor from Omor community, Mrs Gloria Udemezue, said that apart from expanding her farming production from two to six hectares, she now makes more money from producing snacks from rice flour.

Udemezue said, “Under ATASP-1, we have prospered beyond our imagination. I built my own house and trained my four children in schools, among others.”

During an interactive session at Adani, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Chijioke Ezeugwu, represented by the Local Government Secretary, Casmir Adamu, commended ATASP-1, for the quality of infrastructure they built in the area and pledged that the council would continue to partner with both the Federal and state governments in ensuring the security of farmers and well utilization of the infrastructures.

A lead farmer, Chief Bernard Idu, while recalling the difficulties they faced while trying to evacuate produce from the farmlands, commended the agency for being upright in the supervision and execution of the numerous projects.

kettykin:
This would have been soul touching but when I remember the millions of innocent women and children starved to death by the Nigerian military during the uncivil war and unarmed protesters shot to death during end sars and ipob protests,I decide to mind my business .

omooba969:
Playing to the gallery is their hobby and trademark.

Yeye people everywhere! 😒

The controversy trailing the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly has divided the northern caucus of the Senate as some senators from the North have endorsed the bills, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

The development is a complete departure from the situation a few days ago when the majority of northern lawmakers in the Red Chamber rejected the controversial bills.

The bills, comprising the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024, have been at the centre of controversies since their introduction to the National Assembly.

President Bola Tinubu, on October 3, forwarded the four executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration, aiming to implement significant tax reforms.

The northern governors rejected the bills, describing them as anti-democratic.
Following this, the National Economic Council, Nigeria’s highest economic advisory body, requested that they should be withdrawn for more consultations.

However, following the interaction with the president’s economic, team, the Senate passed the bills for a second reading and transmitted them to the Senate Committee on Finance to report back in six weeks.

After the passage of the bills, the Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, criticised them in an interview, stating that they would crumble the north’s economy.

Amidst the controversy, Senator Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South), in an interview with the British Broadcasting Service , Hausa Service, said northern senators agreed to recall the bills.
Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), buttressing his colleague’s position, had also said the northern senators met with their governors and other leaders and agreed to advise for the withdrawal of the tax reform bills for further consultations and buy-in.

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, during Wednesday’s plenary, instructed the Senate Committee on Finance to halt activities related to the bills and constituted a special committee to liaise with the Attorney General of the Federation.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, swiftly discarded Barau’s instruction, emphasising that the bills had neither been withdrawn nor had the public hearing been postponed.

However, despite the earlier position of the northern federal lawmakers, some senators have decided that the tax bills should be given the necessary consideration.

The senators, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order not to incur the wrath of their governors, noted that only a few senators from the north were against the bills.

One source from the north said the majority of his colleagues were not against the bills, adding that what they (northern senators) wanted was for the grey areas to be amended or removed.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH , a member of the Northern Senators Forum stated that the lawmakers who were calling for the withdrawal were few.

The lawmaker explained that many others were in support of the bills, particularly because of the positive effect they would have on the country.

He said, “We are not calling for the suspension of the bills. No doubt, some of our members are calling for the withdrawal of the bills, but they are in the minority. To tell you the truth, those who are calling for the withdrawal are less than 10 and that is me even being modest with the numbers. They are not even up to that.

“However, many of us in the north are worried about the sharing formula of the VAT. In the north, our economy is more in the informal sector because we deal a lot in agriculture.

“So, if they are putting VAT by consumption, we will be at the losing end and those in the cities with a lot of companies will gain so much through the Company Income Tax and others, hence the reason there is a lot of agitation from the north.

“But I believe a consensus can be reached; we will capture all interests and come up with what will work for Nigerians.”

Another lawmaker, from the northern caucus confirmed that they were not calling for the suspension of the bills, but rather ironing of the grey areas.

“The best we can do is to cooperate and get things sorted out because those calling for the withdrawal are few. If they choose to stage a walkout, the process will continue without them.

“It will be unfortunate that the bills will be passed without their input, and the North will be at the receiving end. We are glad that the president has called that we in the Senate should sit with the judiciary to look properly into the controversial clauses,” the senator said.

The lawmaker noted that the bills would be passed but with amendments that would accommodate everybody.

He added, “The process has begun, and the bills will be passed. I am sure that once the special committee assigned the responsibility meets with the AGF, they will do justice to it, and amendments will be proposed that will accommodate everyone.”

In the same vein, another northern lawmaker stated that the call for the withdrawal of the bills was not the opinion of the majority of the lawmakers from the region.

The senator said they (northern senators) felt some grey areas in the bills needed to be checked and corrected. Similarly, a member of the special committee explained to Saturday PUNCH that the bills were supposed to have passed through the Attorney General of the Federation to rectify any issue that might clash with the constitution, adding that the gaps were errors on the part of the executive.

“But now is not the time to complain; we will sit with the bills and ensure that the interests of Nigerians are well captured,” he added.


Spokesman invites opponents, group forms committee

The spokesperson for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, said the bills were before the Senate and people with opposing opinions could come to the public hearing to air their views.

He said, “The bills are before us, and we are doing justice to them. On our own, we can’t just sit and amend bills; let people who feel the bills violated the Constitution come to the public hearing to prove it. It is from the aggregated opinions at the public hearing that we will then take further legislative actions.”

Meanwhile, a former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, and some elite members of the League of Northern Democrats on Friday announced that they had set up a technical committee to review the four bills.

The move was revealed in a statement issued in Abuja by the league’s spokesman, Ladan Salihu.
Salihu explained that the position of the LND was taken following the outrage that had continued to trail the introduction of the bills.

The spokesman, who identified the committee members as northern experts in law, accounting, legislation, and academia, stated that they had been given one week to conclude a comprehensive review of the bills.

The statement partly read, “At the conclusion of its assignment, the committee will publicly present its findings in an electronic and tabular format, effectively communicating its recommendations to policymakers, legislators, the media, and the Nigerian public.

“The LND assures the public of our confidence in the committee’s ability to produce thorough and well-reasoned recommendations. These will maximise benefits for all Nigerians, ensuring that the tax reforms support sustainable development and equitable economic growth across the nation.”


Why north kicked

In a related development, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Peter Ahemba, said the north observed that the bills would only be favourable to states in the southern part of the country, which was why the region kicked against them.
He noted that the agenda to stop the bills was a collective responsibility for all political players from northern Nigeria.
Ahemba disclosed this while speaking with Saturday PUNCH in Lafia on Thursday.

He said, “You can see the senators and House of Representatives members from the north speaking with one voice. It is the north speaking in one voice on the matter.

“Also, the stand of the Northern Governors Forum is clear on the matter. They are urging the President to step down the tax reform bills and allow for further consultations.

“They want him to consult widely so that people will see reasons with the bills. For now, the perception is that the bills will only favour some states like Lagos while the north will be shortchanged, and in that regard, the President needs to convince the north about the bills.”

Also, the Director General, Media to Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Maiwada Danmallam, said it was too early for any governor to preempt the bills before the public debate.

“We should wait and see what the new bills will look like before we preempt what will happen. It is too early to say what any governor will do when the debates resume.

“The bills were rejected because of some controversial clauses. So, if the bills are withdrawn by the presidency to address the contentious clauses, we can only wait to see how far the presidency will go in addressing the concerns before saying what governors will or will not do,” he explained.

Fintiri studying bills

Meanwhile, Prof. John Ngamsa, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, told Saturday PUNCH that his principal had not taken a final position on the bills.
Ngamsa said the governor would soon make his position known to the world.

“The governor cannot be against government generating money for development, but he is looking at areas that may have a negative impact on his people and advise the National Assembly to make amends,” he said.

FourQu:
So they should leave people right there in the community telling them the refinery is not working and believe you? An agbadoid from ogbomosho who licks tinubus arze steadily?

odejimioflagos:
Those criticizing Tinubu should be ashamed of themselves.

dre11:
"We have not been to Port Harcourt Refinery since it was reopened, but the commentaries therefrom, especially the host communities and other Nigerians, are not encouraging at all.

Kukutenla:
What is the meaning