Suspended Nigeria Ports Authority Manager, Hadiza Bala, was involved in a clandestine ploy to shortchange a company in favour of Africa’s richest, Aliko Dangote, documents obtained have revealed.
Last year, some coastline terminals formerly operated by Integrated Logistics Services’ (INTELs) in Onne ports complex, Rivers state, were confiscated and subsequently awarded to Dangote through a proxy company, International Container Terminal Services (ICTS) Nigeria limited.
Onne Port Complex is the one of the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone in Africa, where major industry players from the exploration up to the completion phases operate.
The complex has two major terminals namely the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT).
For over a decade, INTELs Nigeria, partly owned by former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar, operated some berths at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) of the complex, providing logistics services until 2020.
The three berths of FOT numbered 9, 10 and were taken over by the NPA in a controversial manner, which many thought was a move by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration move to witch-hunt Abubakar, his opponent in the 2019 election and break the company’s monopoly
The NPA, in September 2020, issued a notice, announcing that the service operation handled by the Integrated Logistics Services (Intels) Nigeria had been terminated.
It went on to further state that all Service Boats Owners and Operators are to do transactions directly in each of the Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Meanwhile, a memo released to the press, seen by Business Kobo showed that Usman had transferred the berths confiscated from INTELs to ICTSI, a proxy company traced to Dangote, five months earlier.
The leaked memo, dated May 13, was signed by Yusuf Ahmed, NPA’s Director of Lands & Asset Admin on behalf Usman
“Please refer to the lease of land and berths 9, 10 and 11 granted to you at FOT Onne and find attached herewith the draft Lease Agreement for a review of its possible contents before the final copy is produced for execution,” the letter addressed to the managing director of ICTSI read.
Ahmed urged the company to send their comments for consideration
“A registered surveyor will be appointed to produce the survey plan of the property to incorporation in the Lease Agreement and you will be required to see the surveyors fees,” it further read.
This was not Usman’s first time dealing with Dangote as money transfers between the duo dates back to 2015.
A Nigerian newspaper, Peoples Gazette, had previously reported how Dangote transferred N200 million to a bank account run by Usman during the build up of the 2015 general election.
The transactions were sent in two tranches from two different bank accounts of the Africa’s richest man to Ms. Bala Usman’s account with Access Bank, the newspaper reported.
“Ms. Bala Usman received the first N100 million transfer on February 6, 2015; while the second N100 million came through three days later on February 9. The transfers carried ambiguous descriptions that made it difficult to conclude their purpose.”
Ms Bala was recently instructed to step aside for an independent investigation into a series of allegations of impropriety.
Nigeria’s transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, also alleged that the yearly remittance of operating surpluses by the regulatory body from 2016 to 2020 was short of the amount due for actual remittance — a claim, which according to him, should be investigated.
While details of some of other allegations against Usman remain unclear, sources said acts of favouritism were part.
UPDATE: Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, this afternoon, met RRS Officer, ASP Erhator Sunday, who was assaulted by one Victor Ebhomenyen and his friend after driving against traffic at Oniru, Ikoyi few days ago, in a viral video. Mr Governor commended the officer on his high-level of professionalism and encouraged other officers to emulate him.
CP Hakeem Odumosu confirms that the prime suspect, Victor, is in Police Custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, while his accomplice, Etinosa has been identified and efforts are on to arrest him too.
Mr Governor commended the @rrslagos767 officer for his high-level of professionalism and restraint .... He encouraged other police officers to emulate the ASP.
FLASH: Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu this afternoon, met @rrslagos767 Officer, ASP Erhator Sunday, who was assaulted by one Victor Ebhomenyen and his friend after driving against traffic at Oniru, Ikoyi few days ago, in a viral video. @gbenga_omo @Prince_Muyen pic.twitter.com/OkUqfRgfAP
The TECNO Spark 7p is one of the 2021 smartphones released by TECNO in their newest Spark 7 series. It's got an upgraded processor in the MediaTekHelio G70, compared to the A25 of the Spark 7 and up to 128GB of storage to boot, only maxed out at 4GB of RAM. It's the first 90Hz smartphone in the Spark series and that tall display also has its uniqueness. What does the TECNO Spark 7p have to offer? Here are some specs:
* Back Camera: 16MP Main Camera + 2 Additional Cameras for Depth Sensing & Night shots * Front Camera: 8MP Main Camera * 6.82 inch FHD (90Hz) IPS LCD DIsplay * 2460 x 720p Resolution
It’s not everyday you come across a qualified accountant who’s now a creative and independent artist – this is the story of Onyi Moss. Born and raised in Nigeria, Onyi grew up surrounded by inspiration from the likes of Onyeka Onwenu and Tracy Chapman whom her parents would have playing on the radio and television over and over again. Speaking to Onyi it would appear she always had a passion for the arts as she reminisced about her mum’s rose gardens and tie and dye projects which she got to experience as a kid. But the practicality of succeeding socially and financially back then in the creative industry seemed quite farfetched to her hence her decision to pursue a career in accounting. Having gained a BSc in the subject matter, she successfully took on a role in one of Nigeria’s top leading banks after completing her NYSC. Two years in her banking career, she chose to seek out more for herself unbeknownst to her what the future had in store.
At the age of twenty-two Onyi caught a flight from Abuja International airport to the UK to begin her studies to qualify as an ACCA chartered accountant. Something she was able to achieve within a couple of years. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as she anticipated as she struggled to get a job in finance which saw her unemployed for over a year. It was in that time that she decided to expand her horizon and reconsider her love for the arts. Stuck at home with very little to do, Onyi began drawing inspiration from other women on her television screen just as she did as a kid. Only this time, these women were self taught photographers who told beautiful visual stories. Rather than pay her rent that month, she took what I can only describe as a bold step to purchase a camera to begin teaching herself photography. She had seen her dad document their family life as a kid using his film camera. Something he was eventually forced to give up when it got stolen. That was the extent of her experience with photography. But as I got to know Onyi while chatting to her, I realised she’s not one to shy away from what one might class as a scary decision. She took on the role quite literally and began taking self portraits. She learnt about photography and editing by watching YouTube tutorials and made sure to put her new skills to practice. And even when she eventually got a job in finance in a bank, she still carried on with her photography. Sometimes staying up until the early hours of the morning, editing images she had captured after a long day at the office.
Her hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed as big name brands began discovering her work on social media and offered to pay her to shoot editorial campaigns for them. Eventually she left her role at the bank even after doing very well there. She managed to gain three promotions in her first eighteen months. But she knew if she didn’t take a chance on herself to see where her new creative passion led, it wouldn’t sit well with her, especially giving the opportunities that had come her way. It turned out it was another great resolve as she puts it. Onyi went on to win multiple awards for her work and even became a brand ambassador for a top leading UK jewellery brand. She felt the need to not just focus on still images but also delve into film by telling visually pleasing stories. You can truly see the passion in her work. Some of her short films have gathered hundreds of thousands of views on social media. In creating film, she rediscovered her love for writing music as she knows that music plays a key role in storytelling. This is what led her to begin working on her EP.
Her debut single ‘In Your Eyes’ was released a few weeks ago and is currently being played in radio stations across the UK including the BBC. When I asked her what the song was about she described it as “the glimmer of hope that can sometimes be found in loss”. Onyi is very much a dreamer and a romantic at heart. Something that is visible through her work. The meaning of the song does hold true to her. Her music has been very much inspired by the likes of Tracy Chapman and Asa. ‘In Your Eyes’ has an acoustic introspective foundation with elements of folk blues.
Onyi is unsigned and intends to remain that way. She’s the sort of creative who wants to stay true to her soul in her own words. She doesn’t want to get wrapped up in other people’s dreams but instead share hers with the world. She believes not many women have been able to succeed independently in this industry on their own terms and if she can be one of the few examples of women who manage to do so, then hopefully it paves the way for others to take charge of their creative career how they deem fit.
When asked if she had any final words for our readers, she said and I quote “it is important to tell your story because if you don’t, others might do it for you and you might not like the character they make you out to be”.
..Frown at political jobbers sowing discord in the state
Leaders of Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State, led by the former Deputy President of the Senate and the Senator representing the zone in the National Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday, pledged their absolute commitment towards the sustenance of the existing peace and good governance entrenched in the state by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The leaders who made the pledge when they paid a special visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, to wish him a Happy New Year, reassured the governor of the support and solidarity of the people of Enugu West Senatorial District.
Speaking on behalf of the zone, Senator Ekweremadu told Gov. Ugwuanyi, whom he described as “a symbol of peace” that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District will continue to stand by him to ensure that he actualizes all his lofty visions for the state.
The former Deputy Senate President commended the governor for his administrative ingenuity as well as the professionalism he displayed in effectively leading Enugu State out of all the challenges that confronted Nigeria in 2020, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protest which culminated in the nation’s second recession in five years, to remain one of the most peaceful, safest and progressive states in the country.
Senator Ekweremadu frowned at the handiwork of political jobbers, who he said attempted to plant discord in the state, and went further to reassure Gov. Ugwuanyi that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District were committed to his administration’s peace and good governance initiatives in Enugu State.
The lawmaker therefore applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the long-held relationship that has been existing between him and leaders of Enugu West Senatorial District, saying: “Our prayers and support will continue to go to you because what we want in Enugu State is peace; because when there is peace, there is progress and you are a symbol of peace”.
Speaking further Senator Ekweremadu said: “Your Excellency, we are here to pay our respect to you and say Happy New Year. It is instructive that we must be here this time of the year to join you in thanking God because last year was quite challenging.
“We hand this pandemic called COVID-19. It is very important that we will be here to thank you for how you managed the situation effectively in Enugu State. You provided Medicare and ensured that there was minimal damage in Enugu State. So we will be failing in our duties if we don’t acknowledge that, because the story would have been different if not for your interventions in the health sectors of Enugu State at that very critical moment.
“Last year was also challenging in the social sector, where we had the EndSARS protest. It almost brought Nigeria to a halt, but you managed it carefully and professionally and there was minimal damage in Enugu State. We want to thank you for that too.
“Your Excellency, there were economic hardship arising from those two phenomena (COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protest); most states including federal agencies could not pay salaries, but you paid all the salaries in Enugu State up to December last year.
“So we have reasons to be here this time to come and congratulate you for that management of men and resources.
“Our dear brother, we were not unmindful of the fact that the devil was also at work. We believe that there were also political jobbers who had wanted to plant discord in the state. But again you professionally and skillfully managed it and Enugu State has remained peaceful. We want to thank you so much for this.
“Your Excellency, we want to use this opportunity again to reassure you of the support and solidarity of the people of Enugu West Senatorial District. When you are in government, even in your home, in your organizations, there are bound to be trying periods.
“So we are not unmindful of the fact that trials may come but the assurance of the people of Enugu West is that if any trail comes, and we pray it will not come, that we will stand by you. And if everybody runs away and there are only one or two persons remaining, those ones must be from Enugu West Senatorial District. By the grace of God, nothing will go wrong in this state in Jesus Name. Amen”.
Throwing their weights behind Senator Ekweremadu, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and member representing Awgu/Aninri/ Orji River Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu and his Udi/Ezeagu counterpart, Rt. Hon. Dennis Amadi, told Gov. Ugwuanyi that they were impressed with the existing peace and good governance in Enugu State, reassuring the governor of the collective resolve of the people of Enugu West to sustain and promote the enduring peace and progress in the state.
Dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu and other members of House from the zone, the PDP National Youth Leader, Rt. Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi, State Secretary, PDP, Cletus C. Akalusi, PDP Zonal Chairman (Enugu West), Ozo Okey Ozoani, Hon. Garry Eneh, Council Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, among others.
The Commander of Oyo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju, (retd), has said some of the aides of Governor Seyi Makinde are indirectly backing hoodlums terrorising the people of the state.
The Amotekun commander disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking on a radio station, Fresh FM.
Residents of Ibadan communities have recently been living in constant fears following the increased cases of hoodlum attacks.
Three persons were reportedly shot and injured in a fresh attack that occurred on Sunday.
Olayanju said some senior aides of the governor have in the past pleaded that the agency should free suspected hoodlums arrested in connection with civil disturbances in some parts of the state capital.
Olayanju, however, declined to mention the names of the governor’s aides, who pestered him to release the arrested suspects.
He said, “Some people would come to plead that we should release those arrested. We arrested some in (Ibadan) North-East less than a week ago and one SA ( Special Adviser) was running around begging us. He came and met me around NTA and I told him that we have handed them over to the police at Yemetu. I won’t mention the name. He is SA to the governor, some are chairmen, some are lawmakers who seek such a favour.”
When asked whether the governor’s aides were behind the unrest in the state capital, the Amotekun commander replied, “That is what we are saying.”
School reopening: Enugu govt to meet with stakeholders on Monday
The Enugu State Ministry of Education said it has scheduled to meet with major stakeholders in the sector, on Monday, January 4, 2021, to discuss schools resumption in the state.
According to a statement released by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, the outcome of the meeting will be duly communicated to the general public.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has applauded Engineer Ahmed Aliyu Wadada-led PAN Nigeria Limited’s continued strive to improve and expand its products.
The speaker gave the commendation while launching some of the newest products of PAN Nigeria Limited.
The new vehicles to be produced in its Kaduna plant were launched on Sunday during the grand finale of the 2020 Keffi Polo Tournament held at the Keffi Polo Ranch, Nasarawa State.
The vehicles include the Higer H5C 16-seater bus, Higer H6C 19-seater bus, Higer Ambulance, SUVs, Utility Pick-ups and others. They can be optimally used for mass transit, and ambulance services.
He assured the automobile assembler of legislative support. “It is my singular honour on this day to launch these products. Good enough, you continue to expand your products and it is difficult to track how many products you have now.
“I’m impressed with what I have seen and heard and that is why I feel very privileged to launch this product. We’re all for localization, local content and indigenising our own products because it has a lot of gratification for the local economy. We are here to support you and whatever legislative backing you need, you’ll have it.’
Earlier, the chairman of the PAN Nigeria Limited, Engineer Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, said the choice of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for the inauguration of the PAN’s new products was in tandem with the Speaker’s belief in Nigeria’s project.
“The automotive policy that is yet to be fully made public and that policy made not be brought to bear without being backed by the law. And today, nobody can’t separate you from the law.
“I know for a fact that you believe in Nigeria and you’re committed to the project called Nigeria. So, it is your utmost desire and commitment to see that Nigeria transforms from assembly environment to manufacturing environment and the only way that can be done is to support assembly plants, and PAN is the number assembly plant in Nigeria. So, for you to launch these products is in tandem with your belief and commitment to Nigeria’s project,” Wadada said.
“of all the arts, the most important for us is the cinema”
-Vladimir Lenin-
Introduction
Indeed, the Russian leader could not but re-echo the outstanding results achieved with film in his desire to win Russian. Moving Pictures not pamphlets became his number one medium of spreading propaganda, Lenin understood that his revolutionary notes will only thrive if all of Russia began to sing in harmony.
Almost a century after Lenin’s statement, there still exist a vibrant nexus between national integration and film and video. The audiovisuals have not lost its power or its relevance. Film & video continue to influence human thinking and behaviour owing to its inherent ability to inspire very quickly the emotions of both young and old.
The success of the American film industry (Hollywood) is not only linked to empirical evidence such as the number of viewership or revenue generation. In my opinion, the real success of Hollywood is in the industry’s ability to translate the “American Dream” mantra into compelling and mind-shifting films with a high ability to capture imagination, shape, and direct the sense of what is real, true, and preferable. Hollywood has skillfully used her films to tell stories of hope, peace, security and social wellbeing that captivate audience admiration of being or wanting to be “American”. Movies like “Forrest Gump” and several others is a testament of Hollywood’s influential role in projecting American greatness.
That being said, George Barkas “Palaver” (1929), widely regarded as the first made in Nigeria film was essentially shot to persuade the British public to embrace London’s imperial policy in Nigeria. Although made in Nigeria, “Palaver” was certainly not made to enhance unity or progress of the Nigerian people.
The Nigerian Situation
The negative narratives in “Palaver” and the efforts of hero’s past to debunk such perceptions are worthy of admiration. Notwithstanding, we cannot rest on the laurels of these brave icons, we must continually push forward the Nigerian agenda of togetherness through our films and videos. Since “Palaver”, Nigeria’s large population, rich culture and a plethora of raw talents made the outstanding growth of her film & video industry a certainty. With such an unprecedented outreach, Film & Video has played a significant role in fostering Nigeria’s national integration.
Films such as, “Cock Crow at Dawn”, “Second Chance”, “the New Masquerade”, are classic examples of films that echoed sounds of Nigerian culture, heritage and togetherness. For instance, “Second Chance” portrayed our oneness to attain a common goal with its unique characterization cut across Nigeria’s ethnic regions. The movie “76” in many ways also illustrates values of patriotism.
Film & Videos is indeed the warp and wept of Nigerian’s national integration. Its ability to appeal to the intellect, emotions, and will of citizens gives it primacy of place in the business of enhancing Nigeria’s national integration. With stories that hold a mirror to our society of history, crime, comedy, inequality, ethnic relations, religious tolerance, and everything in between, through films and video we are blessed with the opportunity to impact positive change. The change that influences minds, challenges misconceptions, expands our worldview, and allows us to learn more than we did before pressing play.
Integration and unity are rooted in understanding one another and films are viable ways to teach and enlighten. Take the movie “October 1st” and how it immersed viewers onto what it is like to be a police officer from another region solving inexplicable murders at the tail end of colonialism. Or “The Wedding Party” which displays Nigeria’s excellent diversity using humor and drama to show that our similarities outweigh our differences.
Films and videos are not mere escapism, their impact is profound. A careful study of the main demographic consuming films and videos, reveals that young people are the drivers of change and those challenging negative stereotypes. “The Voice” is a widely viewed reality musical show that has exemplified to Nigerians that it is possible to live and progress together in spite of differences, and showcases our innate talents to a large audience.
The outreach capabilities of films and videos opens up the possibility of influencing millions of minds towards unity and community. Seeing a lead actor or actress take centre-stage and strive towards a shared national ambition, like in the movie “Up North” inspires the same attitude. With diversity and crafty messaging, the movie taught positivity and enlightened viewers against some negative stereotypes built from ignorance. In the same vein, the didactic and moral lessons drawn from Nigerian movies remind viewers of the grave consequences of engaging in crime. This ability to admonish through entertainment is a cogent tool of creating sustainable peace without force.
Notwithstanding, in the wrong hands, film and video can be exploited for evil. My service to Nigerian as the Executive Director of the prestigious National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has been a humbling and transforming experience. It has equipped me with the apparatuses to contextualize both the challenges and realities of fostering National unity through film & video industry.
As a regulatory body, NFVCB encourages Film & Video producers to tell “unity” stories in ways in which citizens could see and feel the connection between them and national integration ideas that may have been otherwise abstract. Our mandate of regulating content and promoting positive values while maintaining originality puts us at the forefront of fertilizing change and shaping minds towards unity and compassion.
A lot of progress has been made, which could not have been possible without the transformative leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari whose devotion to ensuring the peace, security and togetherness of Nigeria remains priceless. The invaluable supervision and advice of the Ministry of Information and Culture under the leadership of Alhaji. Lai Mohammed has also been tremendously helpful. Applauses also goes to Sons & Daughters of this great Nation who showcase values of nationhood and merits of togetherness while still keeping us entertained
Concluded Thoughts
With the exponential growth of the internet in Nigeria, it is forecasted that, Video On Demand (VOD) services such as Netflix Naija, IROKO TV, Ibaka TV, EbonyLife ON, SceneOne TV will continue the upward mobility and upsurges in subscribers and user demand for Nollywood content. More than 40 million Nigerians currently have access to smartphones and by 2025 not less than 140 million people will be mobile smartphone users with access to high speed internet connectivity.
With these developments, the future of film and video will be majorly propelled by internet broadcasting mediums and the financial turnover of the industry will be at record highs. This opens up a wide range of investment prospects and will also offer great opportunities to exact significant influence on a growing audience. It is therefore imperative for industry stakeholders to start re-evaluating their strategies in a manner that incorporates the realities of a social media age towards a more united Nigeria. The Board on its part will continue to set up structures that will strengthen her capacity to tackle issues of piracy and distribution of unwholesome films, musical and video works that are disadvantageous to national development and integration.
It is true, that censorship alone, cannot singlehandedly encourage reflections of patriotic values in our films & videos. It will also rely on the collective efforts of relevant stake holders to launch a serious campaign against disunity, disharmony, and disintegration. Therefore, We must be consistent in our approach, ignore momentary gains and focus on exploring avenues for launching the unity agenda of this Great Nation.
TOGETHER we can win.
ALHAJI. ADEDAYO THOMAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NFVCB
Alhaji. Adedayo Thomas is the current Executive Director of the National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB). As Boss of the NFVCB, Alhaji. Adedayo’s strategic leadership quality is reflective of the achievements and progress made so far by NFVCB. In this piece, the ED examines in detail the specific role of Film & Video in the National Integration discourse of Nigeria.
28-Year-Old Nigerian Graduates From University After Being Widowed With 4 Kids
When Sandra Isirima, 28, started her Master’s degree in September 2018, she thought she’d be graduating with her husband Michael and their four young boys by her side.
Michael was very supportive of her dream to study for a Master’s degree (MSc) in Leadership for Sustainable Development from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.
At the time, he was about to finish his PhD at the nearby University of Ulster.
But just three months after Sandra, who is originally from Nigeria, started her course, Michael fell ill and was diagnosed with stage four desmoplastic small round cell rumour cancer (in the stomach).
The couple were devastated when he was told he had just a few months to live.
Sadly, he passed away on 22 November 2019, at the age of 34.
Remembering Michael, Sandra, who is mum to Mike, six, Micah, four, and twin boys Mitchy and Myron, two, said: ‘Michael was a great dad to the boys. He loved his kids so much that his last wish was to spend the rest of his days with the boys. Even during his pain, he tried to keep a smiling face around them.
‘Michael was so hardworking and industrious. He was diagnosed with cancer in his final year of his PhD, but he never gave up on his dreams. He was so brave, he worked on his PhD even on his sick bed.
‘I and the kids picked up his degree on his behalf as he was awarded posthumously by Ulster University. His research was on fire safety engineering and Michael also volunteered with Fire NI during his PhD.’
Despite his illness, Michael wanted to make sure that Sandra kept studying.
Initially, she struggled after his death, but always remembered what Michael had said to her about her degree.
She said: ‘Michael was so encouraging and supportive of me that he asked me to never give up on my dreams of getting my Master’s. He supported me in the little ways he could and always encouraged me not to drop out of school because of his illness.
‘I became a widow at the age of 27 with four young boys under the age of six. I felt like giving up everything. Then I remembered Michael’s wishes and after taking a good look at my boys, knowing I am their only surviving parent, all I wanted was to give them a better future.
‘I found courage, hope and strength, and I finally decided to go back to school to complete my Master’s degree.’
Today (28 July) Sandra will graduate from her course and says although it has been hard, she had a huge amount of support from her tutors at the School of Biological Sciences.
Sandra said: ‘Queen’s was so supportive of me during Michael’s illness, if I couldn’t meet a deadline because of what I was going through, they would give me a new one. My course coordinator kept in touch with me and made sure I was okay.
‘The thought of knowing I belonged to a community as supportive as Queen’s kept me going and gave me hope for the future. My course supervisor Dr Jude Stephens was so amazing and some of my course mates were present at my late husband’s memorial service to support me and my family in my darkest time. I am glad I have a family at Queen’s who cares about my welfare.’
She has already secured a job with Concentrix in Belfast, which means she will miss the actual ceremony today.
The ceremony is being streamed virtually because of the current coronavirus situation.
When she finishes work, she plans to stream the event at home and order takeaway to celebrate with her four boys.
Looking to the future, she said: ‘I am so excited to start my new job. After my graduation, I will focus on building my career, being a great mum and trying my best to give my kids the best in life. I plan to grow in my career and excel greatly. We hope for a better and brighter future.’
Time to put homegrown school feeding scheme through scrutiny
Ideally, it should be consistent, but like almost every government programmes and activities in the country, the homegrown feeding scheme has escaped the scrutiny of the public for too long. But that can no longer continue, and from the look of things, it is time for the scheme to be put under scrutiny. And the reason for this isn’t farfetched.
At a time when schools are under lock as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, announced plan by the federal government to go ahead with its school feeding programme. This was, perhaps, in adherence to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari in his March 29, 2020 broadcast, where he asked the ministry to liaise with state governments to develop strategies on the continuation of the school feeding programme.
Caught in disbelief, many Nigerians shrugged at the idea and wondered how the government would feed pupils in their homes when it is struggling with the simplest of things. Trying to convince Nigerians, Farouq explained that her ministry had partnered with the different state government on the scheme and that though pupils are not in schools, they will be reached through a door-to-door voucher distribution system.
Rhoda Iliya, an Assistant Director of Information in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, quoted Farouq as saying “Vouchers will allocate collection time to avoid overcrowding. The vouchers will be redeemed at designated distribution sites.” And last week Thursday, the ministry announced the commencement of the scheme under the new arrangement.
As hinted earlier, beneficiaries would be offered a voucher, which would be redeemed at a designated point, after which they take their rations to their households. Though the scheme is starting in Abuja, after which it will move to Lagos and Ogun, before stretching to other states in the country, the ministry touted the strategy being deployed as “a globally accepted means of supporting children to continue to have access to nutrient-rich food despite disruptions to the traditional channels of school feeding.”
On the surface, it sounds good and portrays the government has sensitive to the plight of citizens, especially school pupils, in this period of a pandemic. But when you look deeper, you’ll realize that the scheme is fraught with inconsistencies that raise more questions than answers.
For a start, indications are that the cost of feeding a pupil in a day is N70 and if that cost is spread to the 9.7 million pupils in 53,715 schools in the participating 31 states, it will give a cost of N679 million daily. That is, every day, Nigeria’s government is believed to spend N679 million, and when summing up to a month, it is N13.5 billion naira. That is the presumed cost of the homegrown school feeding programme when schools were open and pupils were served in their classes.
From available information, this cost is bear by both the federal government and participating states at a 60:40 ratio. As much as feeding school pupils is a good initiative, but a key component of governance is grossly lacking– and that is transparency. Just like other programmes that the ministry is saddled with, there have been serious mistrusts in the minds of Nigerians on the numbers usually attributed to beneficiaries.
But Farouq and her team have been lucky to avoid scrutiny on the figures of beneficiaries, because, for whatever reason, the media has given little or no interest to validating the ministry’s claim. Press scrutiny on the scheme rarely exists, and that has hampered the needed spotlight required for public scrutiny. And now that the government is going ahead with the scheme at a time students are not in school, it has brought up a floodgate of questions.
Spending 13.5 billion on feeding school pupils monthly is a good investment to encourage enrollments and beat down numbers of out-of-school children, but almost five years down the line, results seem not forthcoming. Fielding questions from Senators during a ministerial screening last year, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, put the number of out-of-school children at 16 million– a sharp increase from the 10.5 million it was a few years back before the scheme was launched.
While it may seem unfashionable in this part of the world to ask questions, I’m however persuaded in the public interest to canvass for scrutiny of the scheme so that doubts can be cleared. This scrutiny needs to be thorough and based on two elements– an independent investigator who will provide a clearer picture of things and government interests in truth so that the public will have the right information.
Anything short of that will not make the mistrust that the scheme has created in the minds of Nigerians to go away. Look at the responses of Nigerians in a recent story published by DailyTrust newspaper and you’ll understand why the homegrown school feeding programme must be scrutinized. From Faith Saater to Nwama Ibe, Ahmed Magem to Jamiu Folarin, and others, the consensus of views points to one conclusion– the scheme, though good, but is fraught with anomalies.
By and large, the public is not entirely convinced that investments in the scheme are judiciously applied and that should worry the government. More than ever, the public deserves an answer on how collective resources are expended, and as allowed in every democracy, be able to decide whether it is serving the general purpose or just another avenue to line up private pockets. To be sure, let me emphasise that the time to put homegrown school feeding programme through scrutiny is now.
Written by Oke Umurhohwo, a Political Analyst and Strategist. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached via oke.umu@gmail.com
Yesterday, Hon Akin Alabi started a 2.5m cash Giveaway on Facebook for Egbeda/Ona Ara residents, this is coming on the back of a similar grant on twitter and the Food items he shared to residents in Egbeda Ona Ara.
Yesterday evening, Hon Alabi announced that he will be giving 2.5m to different people so as to help cushion the effect of COVID-19.
Hon Alabi has promised more palliatives and will support local health centers with protective equipments and logistics.
One of the Governor’s in Nigeria with a nack for hugging the headlines for a multiplicity of reasons ranging from grammatical bombasticity to outright fan-fare and grandstanding is Gov. Ben Ayade.
While his swag and verbousness has drawn a lot of admiration, There is also a question mark about his leadership style and the application of theatrics in governance. His annual budget speeches; for instance, have continued to elicit a mixture of chuckles and dismay by the share grammatical opulence he displays. His 2020 ‘Budget of Olimpotic Meristemasis still reverberates.
All these may be classified as part of political gamesmanship but when human lives come into the mix it triggers a surge of goose bumps. The current COVID19 pandemic has opened a new vista especially considering the facts that it caught everyone unprepared. No one ever imagined that one day the world would shutdown in the face of an invisible enemy.
In Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade has perfected the act of churning out one comical nollywood script after the other. From pretending to act as boarder post guard to his numerous unguarded statements to the theatrics of the face mask production; one thing Ben Ayade has failed to take into account is the risk to human lives in his state.
The 33 medical Doctors under the employ of his state; who for the fear of loosing their jobs have opted to soldier on with long faces have raised the flag at various times about the huge number of contact traces that have not been followed up in Cross River state. One of the doctors confided that a neighboring state sent a list of almost 30 contacts who are still to be tested.
No one is sure that since the COVID19 pandemic episode launched off, the Cross River State Government has published any statistics showing how many tests have been conducted so far and in which labs. One is tempted to think the Professor is playing a game of numbers as far as the COVID19 pandemic is concerned.
In spite of this obvious act seeming of abdication of his responsibilities, Gov Ben Ayade still has his hoard of admirers. But governance shouldn’t just be about fanfair but meeting the needs of the masses. COVID19 shouldn’t be politicized!
Etang , a public affairs analyst writes from Ogoja.
A South-South founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Richard Kpodo, has advised his party to shelve the idea of fielding a candidate for the Bayelsa West Senatorial bi-elections.
Kpodoh insisted that it would be foolhardy for the APC to deploy a disorganised and demotivated structure against a highly-spirited and organised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the forthcoming poll.
The party chief, who spoke in Port Harcourt at weekend, Rivers State, said Dickson was poised to benefit from his hardwork in holding the PDP together as one big family.
He said while Dickson as a governor built a strong PDP structure, which had been inherited by his anointed successor, Governor Douye Diri, the APC leader in the state and Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, was pursuing a selfish agenda.
He said from 2015 when Dickson defeated Sylva to clinch a second term in office, APC had remained a faltering party in Bayelsa without any focus and direction.
He said the leader of the APC had demonstrated lack of leadership skill and careless attitude in handling party and political affairs in the state adding that his carefree disposition cost the party its governorship victory at the 11th hour.
He urged the national leadership of APC to change the party’s state leader, embark on true and sincere reconciliation to build a strong and sustainable APC in the state.
Kpodoh said APC would only contest, win and sustain electoral victories in the state if it took steps to correct alleged anomalies in the party under Sylva’s leadership.
He said the senatorial slot was zoned to Sagbama Local Government Area adding that parties thinking of presenting candidates outside Sagbama were wasting their time.
He warned against relying on federal might to win the poll saying those insisting on contesting against Dickson should test their popularity in a free, fair and credible election.
He said: “As it stands today, APC under Sylva lacks the elementary requirements to contest and win the forthcoming Senatorial bi-elections against Dickson.
“I am not campaigning for Dickson, but I am stating the obvious truth. My party has lost its mojo in the state under Sylva. We need to build afresh under another leader.
“Therefore, APC doesn’t have the requirements to win the Bayelsa West Senatorial bi-election against Dickson. We all know the political prowess of Dickson and how she built goodwill in the PDP by ensuring that he handed over to a PDP member.
“All the known political leaders in the senatorial district where the election is to hold are all members of the PDP. In Sagbama, the local government area of Dickson, the APC has never won an election there. Even some APC leaders in the area will work for Dickson instead of working for any candidate that will be presented by Sylva.
“We should stop living in self denial. APC should be wheeled to the theatre for a reconstructive surgery before it can make any progress in the state. So, my party should not bother challenging Dickson and the PDP at the poll”.
Where are the so-called social media users in Enugu State who were reported to have called for the head of the management of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) on false and mischievous allegation that it demolished peoples' houses at Onu-Asata Enugu while they were observing sit-at-home over Coronavirus pandemic.
Thank God that residents of Onu-Asata immediately debunked the wicked blackmail and cleared the air that ECTDA only came to their rescue and removed wreckage of an illegal structure being built on a waterway which was wrecked by flood.
This evening, a three-storey building under construction just collapsed at Ezeluike Street, Olympic Layout, off One Day, Agbani Road, Awkunanaw, Enugu South.
Though there is no record of casualties yet, information available is that the collapsed three-storey building was one of the buildings the ECTDA had marked "Stop-Work" since last year November.
The information also revealed that ECTDA does not issue approval at Olympic Layout where the building collapsed this evening and would have demolished the property last week but suspended action in compliance with the lockdown and other proactive safety measures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
However, the first responders including ECTDA, FRSC, Fire Service and Red Cross were quickly on the ground for response operations.
The so-salled social media influencer in Enugu over to you... Blow this one out of proportion too!
The Niger Delta Ijaw Development and Response Assembly has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove Chief Godswill Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta.
Citing corruption and abuse of office, the group noted that a well-intentioned forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the looting of NDDC’s resources has become a ruse; going by the massive scale of looting that is still taking place in the Commission at the moment under Akpabio’s watch as Minister.
“Besides the massive looting going on at the moment, Chief Godswill Akpabio has introduced despotic and clannish tendencies into the NDDC workplace. Chief Godswill Akpabio who should normally just be playing a supervisory role from the Ministry of Niger Delta has personally taken charge of staffing and staff redeployment in the NDDC. Many principal staff of other ethnic nationalities working at the headquarters are seen to be replaced with people from Akwa-Ibom, the home State of Akpabio. The most worrisome aspect is the use of less qualified and inexperienced persons to replace the 7 most qualified and experienced staff especially in critical offices just to have his way”, the group said.
Read their full statement below:
The primary aim of creating the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo in June 2000 is to bring about infrastructural development of the region as well as cater for the general wellbeing of the hitherto marginalized, impoverished and underdeveloped people of the oil-bearing communities. Twenty (20) years down the line, the mission statement of the Commission which states inter alia “to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative, …” has remained a mirage. In spite of the enormous amounts of monies that have been released, NDDC continues to be plagued with gross mismanagement, indebtedness and multi-billion Naira worth of abandoned projects.
NDDC is in this current state of quagmire and indebtedness because monies are being looted and syphoned using three forms of phoney contracts, namely: Clearing of Water Hyacinths, Emergency Jobs and River De-silting. These phoney contracts are used by corrupt and greedy leaders at the helm of affairs within the NDDC and their cohorts in the Presidency to steal the monies that have been voted to improve the livelihood of the Niger Delta people. None of these contracts, from the award process to the payment of billions of Naira follow the regulations and Approved Threshold stipulated by the Bureau of Public Procurements (BPP). They are not genuine and cannot be verified. From investigation, we can confirm that this madness of awarding fictitious Water Hyacinths, Emergency Projects and River De-silting jobs without due process only began in the history of the NDDC in 2016.
These phoney contracts are awarded without specifying an amount or contract sum, and at the point of payment, the Executives in charge cooks up any amount they deem fit, from hundreds of millions of Naira to billions of Naira, and these contracts are paid to their cronies within days of its concoction; without any verification whatsoever because most of these jobs are unverifiable. The payment of these phoney contracts are prioritized because the monies are circling back to the corrupt Executives, while payments of genuine contractors with jobs that have followed due process, have been completed and verified are ignored and left to suffer.
Following a probe of the NDDC by the House of Representatives in 2019, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) revealed that the sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight Billion Naira (N738b) had been released to the Commission from its inception in June 2000 to September, 2019. This is besides additional billions of Naira (and Dollars) the Commission receives monthly from other local and international sources, as well as the mandatory monthly contributions from oil companies. There is however nothing tangible on ground to show for this enormous amount of money so far received by the Commission. Rather, the environment and the living conditions of the people have gone worse, incidences of youth restiveness still abound and no help is in sight for the people of the Niger Delta. Discoveries made by the country’s anti-graft agencies have confirmed repeatedly that many of the managers of the resources have been enriching themselves instead of carrying out the mandate of the Commission. No regime is exonerated! As horrible as the situation is, the well-intentioned forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the looting of NDDC’s resources has become a ruse; going by the massive scale of looting that is still taking place in the Commission at the moment.
With the appointment of Chief Akpabio as the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs and the subsequent handover of the Commission to his Ministry for supervision, we thought that the so called celebrated Forensic Audit ordered by Mr. President Buhari would see an end to the looting through these phoney contract. Sadly, Chief Akpabio has instead taken advantage of the current rot within the NDDC and perfected an existing small-scale looting, that he is supposed to investigate and flush out with the supposed Forensic Audit, to a full-blown open corruption mafia-style ring. Chief Akpabio has shamelessly taken up same madness that began in 2016 to a higher level.
Ordinarily, originators of these phoney contracts running into Trillions of Naira without due process are supposed to be thoroughly investigated, prosecuted and jailed, if convicted. But Chief Akpabio has turned the table from being on the frying pan to fire! He is using those same contracts to loot the NDDC dry. The hope of the Niger Delta people in the much-celebrated Forensic Audit and its promise to flush out the looting going on in the NDDC has again been shattered by the devilish devices of some seemingly powerful few. 3 We can confirm with hard evidence that a whopping sum of Sixty Billion Naira (N60b) has been expended as payments for Clearing of Water Hyacinths from the tenure of Nsima Ekere (appointed in November 2016) as Managing Director till date.
These payments are in serious violation of the Public Procurement Act of 2007. In the period under reference, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the publicly known political god-father of Nsima Ekere, got a chunk of these phoney contracts. On assumption of office as the supervising Minister, Chief Godswill Akpabio again made no pretence about his interests. He publicly ordered Mrs. Akwagaga, the Acting Managing Director at the time, to pay One Billion, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N1.9b) whilst in the company of Festus Keyamo, (SAN); when the latter was the Minister of State for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Within two weeks, another Seven Hundred Million Naira (N700m) was paid to his cronies under the usual corrupt phoney contact of “Clearing Water Hyacinths”. Mrs. Akwagaga was also ordered to release the sum of Four Billion Naira (N4b) as payments for equipment for Lassa fever that were never supplied. He (Chief Godswill Akpabio) demanded, yet again, for the further release of Thirty Billion Naira (N30b) as payment for the same non-existent and bogus water hyacinths contracts. On Emergency jobs and River De-silting, Chief Godswill Akpabio again mounted pressure on Mrs. Akwagaga to release the sum of Thirty Billion Naira (N30b) as payment for phantom Emergency jobs and De-silting of rivers and creeks in the Niger Delta. Chief Godswill Akpabio, the new deadly Sherriff in power visited the site and ordered the board to pay 2.5 billion Naira to the contractor and made so much noise about completing the permanent site of the NDDC Headquarters located along Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt, by March 2020. This project was initiated by the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) and the contract was awarded to Marshland Nigeria Limited at the cost of Six Billion Naira (N6b). The project is currently about 65% complete and Four Billion Naira (N4b) has been released to the real contractor thus far. The contractor demanded for an upward review of additional Four Billion Naira (N4b) for the completion of the headquarters due to delays in the project caused by failure of the Commission to meet its payment obligations over the years. As obligated by law, the Commission’s Engineers re-evaluated the project and 4 pegged the cost of completion at Six Billion Naira (N6b), and also recommended Julius Berger to complete the job. Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director at the time, jettisoned this recommendation and reassigned the contract to Rodnap Construction Limited at the sum of Sixteen Billion Naira (N16b). Messrs. Rodnap Construction Limited happens to be Chief Akpabio’s cronies since his days as Governor of Akwa-Ibom State. Nsima Ekere needed Akpabio’s political support for his 2019 gubernatorial ambition in Akwa-Ibom State, hence this patronage. And for fear that the real contractor Marshland Nig. Ltd will go to court for breach of contract, the sum of FREE N500m was paid to them as full and final payment to close that case. So far, Rodnap Construction Limited has been paid Thirteen Billion Naira (N13b), which is 81.25% out of the Sixteen Billion Naira (N16b) for which it was awarded; which is two times higher that the cost estimated by the Commission’s upward that pegged the cost of completion of the Headquarters at Six Billion Naira (N6b). In spite of this, the March 2020 deadline Chief Godswill Akpabio made so much noise about is here, but nothing tangible has gone on at the site and the headquarters is not near completion to this day. Chief Godswill Akpabio is very public about his need for control and he exercises even the darkest measures to ensure everyone in the NDDC bows to his every command. The IMC is currently worse than figureheads as they live, breath and move only on the orders of Chief Godswill Akpabio. To ensure his looting is unhindered, Chief Akpabio has masterminded the change of five (5) CEOs in just (6) months of Akpabio’s reign as the supervisory minister. Any Chief Executive Officer that refuses to honour the crooked payment demands for the phoney non-existent, unverifiable and bogus contracts in billions of Naira gets framed and kicked out by Chief Akpabio. These bogus jobs for the Clearing of water hyacinths, River De-silting and the most ridiculously annoying Emergency Projects do not follow due process, exceed the Approved Threshold for Parastatals like the NDDC according to the Procurement Act.
Under normal circumstances, any job that exceeds 250 million Naira is supposed to be approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council. But, Chief Akpabio is forcing the payments of jobs running into billions of Naira without any approval whatsoever. 5 Chief Godswill Akpabio handpicks hundreds of these phoney contracts, inflates the contract sums, groups them together in a list and orders the NDDC to pay the contractors immediately. Once these payments are made, Chief Akpabio and his cronies then collects 30% bribe from the crooked contractors. Chief Akpabio and his cohorts in the Presidency, like Pirates in power, have made a mess of the entire system. They are looting, hijacking and running the commission like a one-man show, leaving the appointed managers of the Commission with no autonomy or authority whatsoever. Every decision begins and ends on Akpabio’s table. The laws set up to govern the Commission have been subverted, its core mandate drifting and the resources plundered without any reservations. The setting up of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the NDDC instead of constituting a substantive board according to the NDDC Act of 2000 in itself is an aberration and goes against the laws that established the Commission. The exercise is an act of lawlessness, and lawlessness begets lawlessness.
The IMC is currently worse than figureheads as they live, breath and move only on the orders of Chief Godswill Akpabio. Dr. Mrs. Joy Nunieh, the Acting MD that replaced Mrs. Akwagaga, entered Chief Akpabio’s bad books when she declined to take an oath of allegiance with him, a diabolical and fetish means, akin to the infamous practice in the “Okija Shrine” made public by Chief Chris Ngige when he was governor of Anambra State. She also refused to honour most of his financial demands hence her very infamous replacement. He has become so diabolic that every MD and other members of the IMC are requested to take an oath, which requires rituals involving incisions on the tongue. He once confided in someone that he has unfettered access to the president and secures unlimited approvals from President Buhari because of the power of divinity derived from the incision in his tongue. To blackmail Dr. Mrs. Joy Nunieh out of office, some militants were sponsored to issue continuous threats about destroying some crude oil installations in the Niger Delta as a form of protest against her refusal to pay over 50 phoney contracts belonging to Akpabio and his cronies. These militants got a reward of One Hundred Million Naira (N100m) from Chief Godswill Akpabio through his crony.
Rodnap Construction Limited 6 provided the funds through Zenith Bank, which were released to the militants in three tranches on the 10th of February, 2020. On successfully removing Dr. Joy Nunieh, Chief Akpabio brought in his former classmate at Federal Government College, Port Harcourt as the MD, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, and the former Campaign Manager of Akpabio’s direct younger brother as the EDFA. With the team in power, Akpabio has now perfected his looting squad.
They have now successfully transferred and booted out of some the of Commission’s seasoned Directors that usually opposes to the phoney payments demands from the Akpabio. He has also deployed his agents in the CBN where one Mr. Akpan monitors and reports directly to Chief Akpabio how much comes in and of the NDDC. They have hijacked the entire Finance Department and filled it up with their spies and conies from Akwa-Ibom that are viewed as saints, that do their bidding. Chief Akpabio has instructed Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, to pay only contractors on a list he (Chief Godswill Akpabio) submitted to him, containing over a hundred (100) contractors. This is a list of over 100 of such fake projects that Akpabio claimed was approved for payment from Abuja. They are currently being processed for payment and the sums of those payments amount to 200 billion Naira. At the point of payment, these contractors offer 30% kickbacks to Akpabio and his cronies. No genuine contractor that went to site and completed their jobs can afford to pay Akpabio such ridiculous amount. What is then the fate of these genuine contractors? Who will come to their aid? When and how will they get the money they worked for? With this directive from Akpabio, no genuine contract should be paid. This corrupt and shameful act is being perpetrated in the open because they are confident that they cannot be stopped by anyone. Besides the massive looting going on at the moment, Chief Godswill Akpabio has introduced despotic and clannish tendencies into the NDDC workplace. Chief Godswill Akpabio who should normally just be playing a supervisory role from the Ministry of Niger Delta has personally taken charge of staffing and staff redeployment in the NDDC. Many principal staff of other ethnic nationalities working at the headquarters are seen to be replaced with people from Akwa-Ibom, the home State of Akpabio. The most worrisome aspect is the use of less qualified and inexperienced persons to replace the 7 most qualified and experienced staff especially in critical offices just to have his way.
This is creating bad blood and unnecessary ethnic enmity amongst the staff in the Commission and has the potential of being extended to the general public in the Niger Delta. This needs to be resisted at all cost because the Niger Delta needs to be united now, more than ever. We are aware that the essence of Chief Godswill Akpabio’s autocratic and nepotistic move is to ensure that no staff stands on his way whenever he wishes to pull out funds from the Commission. We also know that he is in dire need of enormous access to money to fund his rumored Vice-Presidential ambition, come 2023. Thus, we will not allow Chief Godswill Akpabio mar the collective efforts of all Niger Deltans; one we fought for with our blood and tears because of his selfish and devilish interests. Chief Godswill Akpabio should pay more attention to the sorry state of the uncompleted East West road directly under his Ministry if he really means well for the Niger Delta, execute innovative (and sustainable) projects that will better the wellbeing of the Niger Delta, and allow the NDDC run as an independent agency that it is; with the necessary supervision, checks and balances, but never as slavery agency under the lordship of one man. Chief Godswill Akpabio therefore needs to be reminded that the NDDC is a product of “a people’s struggle” – the “Ijaw Struggle” and that lives were lost and are still being lost in the struggle for sustainable development of the Niger Delta. Those alive should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the struggle genuinely and not to be taken for a ride. It is imperative to note that the people will not hesitate to confront the authorities, in every way possible in the near future if Chief Godswill Akpabio is not removed and replaced with someone who means well for the Niger Delta people.
RE: ENUGU GOVT DEBUNKS REPORTS THAT GEOFFREY ONYEAMA AND HIS PERSONAL ASSIATANT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 VIRUS:*
... MAKES FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS
In furtherance of my earlier Press Release on the above subject matter and for purposes of clarity, the two cases of COVID-19 in Enugu State are HUSBAND and WIFE who recently returned from United Kingdo[/b]m (UK).
[b]They are from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State and are not the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Geoffrey Onyeama and his Personal Assistant.
The Enugu State Ministry of Health is currently conducting line listing and contact tracing of all those linked with the couple ( the two COVID-19 cases) in Enugu State.
Enugu State is in the hands of God!
Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi Permanent Secretary Enugu State Ministry of Health.
Enugu State Government takes delivery of two additional ambulances and one incident vehicle it purchased to support the state's response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
On Saturday, 29th Of March, Honorable Akin Alabi started a door - door Enlightenment campaign on COVID-19 to teach local residents in his Constituency about social distancing and self isolation before Oyo state goes into Partial lock down.
During the enlightenment campaign, Hon. Alabi provided the first batch of his emergency relief package which includes food items and hygeine products for the residents at their doorstep in order to cushion the effect of the stay at home order.
Hon Alabi stated that it has become imperative for the Government to provide palliative measures for the masses in order to make them comply with the guidelines.
According to Hon. Alabi "This is only the first batch, we don't know how long this will last yet, but we all know that our people need this in order to get along, since we are shutting down their daily business in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus"
Hon Alabi said he decided to educate the residents so that they may understand the importance of slowing the spread of the disease.
Hon Alabi provided food items like Rice, Beans, Garri, Groundnut oil and hygeine products like hand sanitizers and soaps, according to him, this program will continue until the country is able to combat Coronavirus.
Peace Mass Transit (PMT), an indigenous transportation company in Nigeria, has commenced nationwide winding down of operations as a response towards curtailing the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.
In a statement released by the management on Saturday, PMT said it would first suspend operations in Enugu and Ebonyi states on March 29.
Enugu recorded its first two cases of coronavirus on Friday.
The Ebonyi State government announced it is closing down its boundaries on Saturday in an attempt to block the spread of the virus into the state.
PMT operations in other states would also be suspended by March 31, the company said.
The company said it is contributing to the national and global efforts of controlling the spread of the Coronavirus.
As at Saturday afternoon, Nigeria has recorded 89 cases of coronavirus, with three recoveries and one death.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus infection in Nigeria, several measures have been taken nationwide to stall the spread of the virus, including closure of schools, markets, public offices and motor parks, among others.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike earlier announced the ban of vehicles entering or leaving the state.
Similarly, the Lagos State government has announced the closure of all public parks and also urged travel into and outside the state to be avoided amidst the rising cases of coronavirus in state.
PMT said the date of its resumption of normal operations would be communicated to the public in due course.
NEDC: The spiraling security challenges facing Nigeria in recent times have made the country seem like a nation on the wrong side of the world’s divide.
Equally, a toxic mix of security threats, Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling amongst other forms of criminalities is threatening to tear Africa’s most populous nation and it’s largest economy apart. Even the concerted efforts, as it seems, to stem the tide of insecurity in the land as well as the rebuilding of areas destroyed by insurgents, are all being frustrated.
However, when the North East Development Commission (NEDC), was established by the Federal Government after agitations by opinion leaders, Nigerians, especially people of the North Eastern States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgents, and many within and outside the country breathed a sigh of relief. But alas, the NEDC has, so far, not sustained that relief.
Some top politicians, including some members of the current management of the Commission have been blamed for the failure of NEDC to achieve the objectives for which it was established. Some of them have been accused of “reckless misappropriation of the NEDC fund that warrants full-scale investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC).
Take for instance, report by BornoTV.com claim that the failure of the commission to stem the tide in the region has rather given room for the upsurge in the recent Boko Haram attacks.
Whereas the Commission is charged with the responsibility to rebuild, amongst other things, receive and manage funds from the Federation Account and International Donors for the purpose of resettling the internally displaced persons, rehabilitate and reconstruct roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency, as well as saddled with the responsibilities of tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy, ecological problems and many other related environmental or developmental challenges in the affected North-East States, it has been adjudged by some as haven failed in achieving these.
The commission has been described, in some quarters, as fallen short of these responsibilities and this, some have argued, casts a shadow on President Muhammadu Buhari-lead administration’s drive to bring succour to the lives of no fewer than 33 million people affected by the insurgency.
The State of the art facility was built by Late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, furnished and commissioned as Governor’s lodge by Chief Timipre Sylva and was remodeled and converted to a five star hotel by Governor Seriake Dickson and called The Castle Yenagoa.
It is equipped with a standard swimming pool, lawn tennis court, beautiful landscape, lavishly furnished rooms, a helipad, Polo Club, golf course and in a secure environment.
The facility has since been open for use and has hosted many dignitaries including governor’s and is being managed by the Golden Tulip Hotels.
CAN debunks allegation of Enugu govt building Islamic Centre in Uwani
…Commends Gov. Ugwuanyi for Chapel project at Govt House
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State Chapter, has debunked the online report accusing the Enugu State Government of building an Islamic Centre at Uwani, Enugu, describing it as “false and misleading”.
In a statement by the State Secretary of CAN, Apostle Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, the Christian body disclosed that the state government “recently approved to build a Chapel of Worship at the Government House, Enugu, not an Islamic Centre, as being mischievously peddled on social media”.
Apostle Ajujungwa stated that CAN is happy with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being the first governor of the state to construct a Centre of Christian worship inside the Government House, Enugu, stressing that the feat is proof that he is a true and committed Christian who serves God faithfully.
The CAN State Secretary, therefore, warned “those behind this fake news to desist from such act that could divide us by spreading rumours that are false”.
Politics › How Suspended NPA MD, Hadiza Bala Ceded Intels Terminals To Dangote by Tabithatim(op): 4:52am On May 09, 2021
