₦airaland Forum

Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr SHAIBU HUSSEINI,
can be described as a round peg in a round hole. Husseini made his mark as a film and culture journalist
with The Guardian Nigeria. He is a creative, even as he holds a PhD in Mass Communication from the
University of Lagos (specialising in Nollywood film studies). It is therefore no surprise that he has made
much progress since he took office, despite the many challenges the NFVCB is confronted with. He
spoke to the Publisher of Frontline News Online, KEMI YESUFU, on why he has prioritised reforms and
the restructuring of the NFVCB, promoting accurate film production data to attract investors, and
sanitisation of the industry by prohibiting the glamorisation of money rituals and smoking in films. He
also spoke on the amendment of the enabling Act of the NFVCB and how it will improve the regulatory
role and funding of the agency. Excerpts:

READ MORE @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/why-i-backed-ritual-and-smoke-free-nollywood-nfvcb-boss-shaibu-husseini/

Reps Probe NAIC, Leadway Insurance, Veritas Kapital Insurance Over N1.12 trillion Anchor-Borrowers Funding

The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security on Thursday commenced the probe into insurance coverage for the N1.12 Trillion Anchor-Borrowers Scheme.

Thursday’s investigative hearing by the Hon. Chike Okafor (APC-Imo)-led Committee was conducted in continuation of the probe of the House of Representatives into how the N1.12tn meant for the execution of the Anchor Borrowers Programme was allegedly diverted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well the disbursement of the fund as carried out by Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

Speaking at the hearing, the representative of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Dayo Babaronti, said the Corporation only provided cover to 207,514 farmers to the tune of N109 billion under the Anchor-Borrower Scheme.
https://frontlinenews.com.ng/reps-probe-naic-leadway-insurance-veritas-kapital-insurance-over-n1-12-trillion-anchor-borrowers-funding/
Read more@:

Former spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, on Sunday, declared his intention to run for the position of governor of Adamawa State.

Namdas, who represented the Jada/Ganye/MayoBelwa/Toungo Federal Constituency of Adamawa State for two terms, will be running for governorship for a second time, having been one of the frontline aspirants under the All Progressives Congress in 2023.

The ex-lawmaker who currently represents the North-East on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board announced his second run for governor at an Iftar dinner held in Abuja on Sunday, saying he decided to contest after extensive consultations with various stakeholders.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/2027-former-reps-spokesman-abulrazak-namdas-declares-for-governor/

A coalition of Civil Society groups led by the Abuja-based Civil Society Groups For Good Governance (CSGGG) on Friday issued the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, a 3-day ultimatum, to clear the air on the recent controversy surrounding his Nigerian Law School and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.

The coalition announced at a media briefing held in Abuja that it would stage a major protest at the National Assembly should the Deputy Speaker fail to give satisfactory answers to the questions around his Law School and NYSC certificates after the expiration of their ultimatum.

President of CSGGG, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, who addressed the press on behalf of the coalition, stated that Nigerians, the Nigerian Law School and the NYSC should be concerned that a high-ranking government official being accused of presenting certificates that have raised suspicion is yet to speak on the credibility or otherwise of these certificates.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/civil-society-coalition-issues-reps-deputy-speaker-72-hour-ultimatum-to-speak-on-law-school-nysc-certificates-controversy/

By Kemi Yesufu, who recently returned from China

The 1949 revolution, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), resulted in the proclamation of the People's Republic of China and the CCP's consolidation of power on the mainland. Several years after another silent revolution took place in China, it was the agricultural revolution.

It is safe to describe China as not just a vast country dotted with well-built and well-administered cities, but one which has cultivated land almost everywhere you look.   

After a few days in Beijing, the beautiful capital city of China, I joined other participants for the seminar on Agricultural Machinery Development Planning and Safety Management for Developing Countries in a high-speed train to Jiamusi in Heilongjiang Province. For most of the eight-hour journey, both sides of the rail route were cultivated land with tall buildings in the background forming a nice combination of the two basic needs of man.

The team of participants from five nations, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, The Gambia, Pakistan and Jordan, travelled to Jiamusi to see more of the many factories producing the machinery and farming input that powers China’s mechanised food production. One of the places visited in Jiamusi is the fully mechanised and digitalized, Intelligent Farm run by Beidahuang Kengzheng Agricultural Machinery company. An interesting fact is that President Xi Jinping visited the same farm in 2018.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/chinas-agricultural-revolution-lessons-for-nigeria/

In what is a departure from previous practice, the Tinubu Administration is making a spirited move to enable several State Governments receive hundreds of billions of Naira in federal funds dating back to 2020 through the Universal Basic Education Fund, clearing a five year backlog.

Empowered Newswire is reporting that the plan by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa is part of a broad reform agenda to revive basic education across the country through an innovative funding mechanism
which aggregates critical data and statistics of how the funds can transform basic education in each of the over 30 states that has left the federal funds idle for years.

The new strategy developed by Dr. Tunji Alausa and endorsed by the President, according to a top presidency source, is to indicate to each State Governor how the funds can change the fortunes of primary education in terms of teacher training, buildings of classrooms, safe learning environments, and how out of school figures would be significantly reduced. And this would be specific, unique information for each of the states.

Actually, State Governors of relevant States have started receiving the communication from the Education Minister detailing the data of out-of-school situation and other basic education challenges in their states, explaining how the funds would dramatically transform the challenges.

The presidency source said the plan of the President is “to positively armtwist” the State governments to urgently access the Universal Basic Education funds running into hundreds of billions which several States often ignore on the excuse of inability to raise the matching funds.

In the past, while most states ignore the funds by not meeting up with the matching funds, the Federal Government too has simply remained laid back uninspired by the excuses and refusal of the States that don’t come up with their counterpart funding.

Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/tinubu-approves-alausas-plan-to-disburse-hundreds-of-billions-in-ubec-backlog-funds-to-govs/

By Chuks Akunna

When on August 26, 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi as the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), I got tons of calls from several serving and retired officers of the Service. The calls were two-pronged – congratulatory; and “to pray that your friend delivers.”

To say that expectations were high was a huge understatement. Ever since President Tinubu assumed office, several security officers, especially those from the DSS would call, demanding: “why hasn’t the President appointed your friend as DG?” as if it was in my power to make the appointment. They would argue that the DSS was in urgent need of reforms and that, in their estimation, only Tosin Ajayi had the experience, capacity and courage to do the job.

To say that Tosin Ajayi was, at the time of his appointment, the most popular serving Director was stating the obvious. There was virtually no operative- no matter how new in the Service- who didn’t know “Oga Tosin,” the no-nonsense Director known for his iconoclastic views on how the secret police should be run. I was regaled with stories of how he would confront his superiors- of course, with superior ideas – on how certain operations should be conducted. In no time, this earned him the sobriquet “Area boy!”

Undoubtedly, the burden of expectation on me was enormous. It was as if it was me who had been appointed DG. With my nearly three decades of practice as a journalist, I’ve seen many “friends” get appointed into key positions. Some of them under-performed. Others not only disappointed themselves, but embarrassed their families.

Eight months after Ajayi’s appointment, I’m proud to say that, not only has he changed the face of the DSS, he’s become a compass for his colleague-security chiefs.

I first met Tosin Ajayi on the night of Wednesday April 5, 2006. Time was about 9pm. The setting was the entrance to Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers (as it was then known). As a reporter covering the House of Representatives for THISDAY newspapers, I was privileged to know several influential members of the House. What is more, I had just returned from my “Sabbathical leave” from serving as the Chief Press Secretary to Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, OON. The appointment had afforded me the rare privilege of rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty- in some cases, earning their trust.

This trust helped propel my career as a reporter. Many would call to give me “scoops” which ultimately earned me front page stories. President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Third Term agenda was just heating up, and THISDAY newspapers had more than a passing interest in the matter. This interest led me to House members I knew were neck-deep in the opposition to Obasanjo’s agenda.

For the sake of this tribute, I’ll single out Hon. Temi Harriman, who represented Warri Federal Constituency under the umbrella of the now defunct All Peoples Party (APP). Also in this league was Hon. Francis Amadiegwu, who returned from the United States to represent Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte-Uboma/Obowo federal constituency in Imo State under the umbrella of the People’s Democractic Party (PDP).

While, as a member of the opposition APP, it was easy to understand the stance of Hon. Temi Harriman, Hon. Amadiegwu’s anti-Third term stance was puzzling. He was a member of Obasanjo’s ruling PDP, and easily could have held his peace and negotiated an automatic return ticket. He elected to confront Obasanjo.

It was the duo of Harriman and Amadiegwu who informed a few reporters that anti-Third term federal lawmakers would be meeting with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, some governors and top politicians at the Sheraton Hotels.
READ MORE@: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/57-garlands-for-the-area-boy-who-became-dss-boss/

The flouting of the Department of State Security (DSS) security advisory on arms control and guidance in community policing by members of a vigilante group in Uromi, Edo State, may have contributed to the lynching of 16 hunters of northern extraction in the town last week, security sources have disclosed.

Following the sad incident, the governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo suspended the Corps Commander of the State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin. The suspended Commander and two principal suspects linked to the Uromi killings have been arrested by the DSS and flown into Abuja for further questioning, Frontline News Online can confirm.

Security sources hinted that the tragedy would have been averted had Commander Ibadin listened to wise counsel to subject his men to thorough training on arms control by the DSS.

Read full gist @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/uromi-vigilante-flouted-dss-guidelines-on-community-policing-security-sources/

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed five counts of terrorism-related charges against self-styles activist, Muhammad Mahdi Shehu at the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

The move came a day after the secret police filed a motion exparte before the same court for an order to detain Shehu for 60 days. The motion was filed pursuant to Section 66 of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022,

In granting the order, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held that the DSS should keep Shehu for 60 days to enable their officers conclude investigations.

Shehu is facing charges of, False Publication to cause public alarm contrary to Section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, dissemination of Terrorism related false information contrary to Section 26 (2) (a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and intentional dissemination of false information contrary to Section 24(1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act, 2024 (as amended);

He also being prosecuted for false allegation of Treasonable Act contrary yo Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act; and the use of Social Media to support false allegations of National Security Threat, contrary to Section 24(1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act.

Read more@: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/dss-files-terrorism-charges-against-mahdi-shehu/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Monday, approved the request by telecom service providers for an upward review of tariffs.

The NCC in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Ruben Mouka said the approval was made pursuant to the agency's power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

According to Mouka, the NCC granted approval for tariff adjustment requests by the Network Operators in response to prevailing market conditions.

However, the regulatory agency placed a cap of 50 percent for all reviewed prices.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/breaking-ncc-approves-50-percent-tariff-increase-by-telcos/

Self-styled activist and public commentator, Shehu Mahdi will spend New Year’s Day in prison, as a chief magistrate court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday ordered that he be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna.

The controversial commentator was arrested over the weekend by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS). Frontline News Online had reported on Sunday that Mahdi was arrested by the secret police.
Credible sources say he was picked up after he ignored pleas to pull down inciting videos he posted online claiming that President Bola Tinubu granted France the approval to set up a military base in northern Nigeria.

Mahdi’s now-deleted post on social media platform X seemed to collaborate a false claim by the military leader of Niger Republic, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that France set up a military base in northern Nigeria. He blamed President Bola Tinubu for endorsing the deal in his viral tweet.
Read more @https://frontlinenews.com.ng/fake-videos-court-remands-shehu-mahdi-in-prison/
See video of Mahdi's arraignment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q6mOe-ZMd4?si=2j3NT9bWwhizYFGZ

Healthcare, Infrastructural Development, Youth Empowerment Lead As Gov. Mai Mala Buni Gives Account of Stewardship

Yobe State Governor, Mai Bala Buni has reiterated his commitment to the empowerment of women and youths, the improvement of health outcomes, continued investment in infrastructure, and the overall development of his state.

The Governor gave assurances of his dedication to improving the economy and status of Yobe at the 2024 edition of the annual press briefing on his stewardship to the people of the state.

Mala-Buni disclosed at the media briefing attended by leaders of the state and other stakeholders, that the state made significant progress despite the economic challenges the country faced in 2024. He also traced the success recorded in different sectors on the prudent management of resources and the commitment of his government to transparency and accountability.

Delivery of infrastructural projects

In the area of infrastructural development, the Governor highlighted the life-changing projects delivered in the last twelve months and those which will be completed in the coming year. He said: “Through the Ministry of Works, our administration has continued with the construction of hundreds of kilometers of roads across the state. These include the ongoing construction of 25.5km Gashu’a-Masaba road, 30km Balanguwa-Kumaganam road, 22.5km Fika-Maluri road, 18km Bukarti-Toshia Road, 13km Jajimaji-Karasuwa road, 16.5km Kukuri-Chukuriwa road, 16km Nguru-Balanguwa road, 16km Damaturu-Gambir road, ongoing completion work of the Damaturu-Kalallawa dual carriage road, and the construction of 16.5km Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa road.

“Our administration has also completed the 18km Danchuwa-Garin Bingel road, 32km Danchuwa-Jajere road, 15km Damagum-Gubana road, and the 10km Chumbusko-Tagali road. The Damaturu City-Gates project has also been completed. Many township roads and drainages were completed in Nguru, Gashu’a, Geidam and Potiskum towns”.

For some of the ongoing projects the Governor said: “There is also the ongoing construction of 7km road and 14km concrete line drain within Damaturu metropolis and the construction of the 76km Gujba-Ngalda road. Through the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency, many roads across the state have also been rehabilitated. These include the ongoing rehabilitation of 45km Yunusari-Kanamma road, 52km Katarko-Goniri road, 18km Bukarti-Toshia Road, 45km Bayamari-Yunusari road, and 45km Yunusari-Kalgi-Yusufari Road. Also rehabilitated are the Bayamari-Balle, Kelluri-Geidam, Yunusari-Dilala, Ngiburwa-Goniri, Gujba-Buni-Yadi and Kotoko-Meleti roads”.

Read more: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/healthcare-infrastructural-development-youth-empowerment-lead-as-gov-mai-mala-buni-gives-account-of-stewardship/

By Kemi Yesufu

Nigerian government officials and citizens who are so angry with Kemi Badenoch are just being Nigerian. In Nigeria, we love being conformist, we revel in the culture of silence, we hardly tolerate outspokenness or criticism. In Nigeria, we are expected, by our cultures and adopted faiths to smile and struggle on after traumatic experiences. When pushed to the wall, we are expected to use our hands to dig holes to wiggle our way through to the other side. Surprisingly for Nigerians, Kemi is an anathema to everything Nigerian. She has chosen not to be conformist, she selects not to be silent, stoic or diplomatic about her claimed bad experiences as a child growing up in her former country.   

For your average Nigerian, Kemi is not grateful to be born Nigerian, she lacks ‘manner of approach’, as we say here. Her rash and condescending manner of speaking about her country of origin is shocking as it is discomfiting to many of us, some of whom expected the Tory leader to speak about her claimed experiences in typical Nigerian fashion, by begging the question and massaging the egos of our bumbling leaders. There is nowhere else in the world where mediocre leaders (at different levels) are venerated like it is done in Nigeria.

Typical of Nigerian elite, including some of us in the media, we have turned the statements even from Kemi’s old interviews into a ‘yabbis’ competition in which we must win. Also as expected, many are responding to Kemi’s statements about Nigeria along our ever- widening fault lines: ethnicity, political affiliation, religion and social status. Those in government have been on the defensive calling Kemi all sorts of names. VP Kashim Shettima whose public speaking style isn’t any milder than Kemi’s is the most senior person in government to reply the Tory Leader, asking her to drop her Nigerian name.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/still-on-kemi-badenochs-chastisement-of-nigeria/

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on Thursday announced plans by the Green Chamber to host a national summit on nutrition and food security.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee of the planned summit  held at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly, Abbas, said the lower house recognised the need to intervene in the growing crisis of hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

He said: “Nigeria faces a mounting crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity that poses a serious threat to the well-being of its citizens, the resilience of its economy, and the stability of its communities. These challenges, though not unique to Nigeria, strike at the heart of our nation's development, leaving a profound impact on health, education, and productivity. Today, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in subSaharan Africa, affecting children, adolescents, and adults alike. It's a crisis that requires both immediate action and sustainable, long-term solutions.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/reps-to-host-national-summit-on-food-security/

The North-East Zonal Representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, has pleaded to youths from the North-East not to participate in the planned nationwide protest against hardship.

Namdas, a former spokesman of the House of Representatives, noted the frustration and angst, especially among youths. However, he argued that the protests should be shelved as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors have not ignored the cries of the people.
He stated that the Federal Government has initiated policies and programmes to alleviate the suffering of young people, such as the introduction of student loans, the clearing of the backlog of N-Power payments as well as long-term interventions to create jobs and fund young entrepreneurs operating in different sectors of the economy.

Namdas also noted that the National Council on Nutrition chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima is implementing policies and interventions to address hunger and food insecurity through relevant, ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.
Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/please-dont-join-hardship-protests-namdas-tells-north-east-youths/

The member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, Rep. Chike Okafor has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South-East Development Commission Bill into law.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed into law bills to create two new regional development commissions. The bills are the North West Development Commission (NWDC), sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and the South East Development Commission (SEDC), sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other members of the House of Representatives from the South East.

Okafor, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, also described the signing of the SEDC Bill as a pivotal moment in the history of Ndigbo.

The lawmaker said in a personally signed statement issued on Friday in Abuja, that the enactment of the law signified the fulfilment of the promise of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation announced at the end of the civil war in 1970.






Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/rep-chike-okafor-commends-president-tinubu-kalu-on-signing-of-south-east-development-commission-bill-into-law/

House of Representatives, has called for effective collaboration between the government at national and sub-national level and Development Partners in the push to reduce malnutrition and improve food security across the country.

Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Rep Chike Okafor made the call while presenting his welcome address during the launch of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security and Investiture of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as the National Patron of the network. The 2-day event also includes workshops for the newly constituted leadership of the State Houses of Assembly Committees on Nutrition & Food Security.

Okafor warned that so long as the poor are kept awake by hunger, the rich will not enjoy peaceful sleep.
He said: “Malnutrition and food insecurity remain a constant threat to socio-economic development in Nigeria, as much as it has become an existential threat. Worsening inflation has also aggravated this burden on ordinary Nigerians. Between the last time we met in Owerri, May 2-4 2024 ,with Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and today, food insecurity situation in Nigeria has worsened. There is, however, cause for optimism.

“The optimism we share stems from the fact that for the first time, attempts to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity will have a legislative push. Furthermore, this legislative perspective will be driven collectively and holistically, anchored on the joint effort of the committee at the National and State Houses of Assembly, driven by a joint work plan with flexibility for incorporation of state-specific exigencies”.


Okafor added: “This is the purpose of the formation of the National Network on Nutrition and Food Security which is being created at this meeting. We are all aware of the impact of multiple taxation on agricultural produce as they traverse from one part of Nigeria to the other. This has resulted in wide discrepancies in cost of food items like Maize, Beans, Millet, Soya Beans, Rice, Yams, etc from Birnin-Kebbi to Badary, Yola to Yenegoa, Azare to Aba, Okenne to Onitsha, Adamawa to Anambra States, etc.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/reps-seek-collaboration-to-tackle-hunger-food-insecurity/

By Kemi Yesufu

Sexual harassment in tertiary institutions is a universal problem. A pointer to the universality of the challenge is the ban on sexual and romantic relationships between undergraduates and faculty members by Ivy League institutions like Harvard, Yale and Stanford.

Here in Nigeria, the government and the university authorities have played the ostrich when it comes to this ugly trend. As with sexual crimes in the larger society, government and university authorities have hidden under the culture of silence to watch as survivors are blamed and punished while offenders walk free. However, the situation is changing gradually with more survivors speaking up. In August 2023, female students of the Laws Faculty at the University of Calabar protested years of sexual harassment and in certain cases rape, with the angry students identifying the suspended Dean of the faculty, Prof Cyril Ndifon as the man who made their lives a misery.

As the system tried to cover up and protect the untouchable Dean, the Independent Corrupt. Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) sprang into action, just like it did with the case of a former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Richard Akindele. The former lecturer who was eventually convicted and jailed for sexual harassment has been released from prison after serving a two-year term. The ICPC is currently prosecuting Ndifon’s case.

Sadly, the cases mentioned earlier are some of the very few instances where predatory lecturers and other vile characters in the university system faced the law for their heinous crimes against young women who walked into schools with the sole aim of acquiring an education. Many girls who couldn’t handle the pressure from lecherous lecturers dropped out of school while in May, a final-year student of the English Department of Ebonyi State took her life after repeatedly failing the course of a lecturer who had sexually harassed and intimidated her for years.

Undoubtedly, sexual harassment and the ugly culture of sex-for-grades in tertiary institutions have assumed epidemic proportions. Research by Joseph Adesoji et al (2023) puts the percentage of students who have experienced sexual harassment in higher institutions in the country at (49.7%). All of the respondents in the study were sexually harassed in school, while, (48.3%) were sexually harassed more than once. Also, a recent baseline study conducted by, an Owerri-based feminist NGO, Alliances For Africa (AfA) in two universities showed that about 70% of students have experienced a form of sexual harassment.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/opinion-combating-sexual-harassment-in-tertiary-institutions/

The Chairman, Committee on Nutrition and Food Security of the House of Representatives, Rep Chike Okafor has warned that the rising inflation rate will worsen the already high level of hunger as well as Food and Nutrition Insecurity (FNI) in Nigeria.
Okafor issued the warning on Tuesday in Owerri, the Imo State capital as part of his welcome address at a 3-Day retreat for Speakers of the 36-State Houses of Assembly and development partners hosted by the Committee.
The lawmaker said the summit was organised in recognition of the need for the government, including the legislature at the national and state level to intervene and turn the situation around.
He therefore called for the creation of the Nutrition and Food Security Committee by State Houses of Assembly specifically to domesticate laws geared at promoting food security and ending hunger in the country.
Read more@:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/rising-inflation-rate-will-worsen-level-of-hunger-in-nigeria-rep-warns/

If I ever disagreed with the school of thought that says “we are a country of short memoried people,” I now certainly have a germane reason to agree wholeheartedly with that school of thought, in the face of the unfolding reality in Nigeria, today.

The North has without doubt ruled Nigeria far more than any other part of this federation, and it will be trite fact to say they have always enjoyed maximum support from the other regions, both during the military era and in this present democracy.
As such, the recent utterances prodding the Southeast to join the ongoing protests have struck a nerve. These calls, particularly from the North, come across as disingenuous, in the light of historical contexts and current realities.

It is indeed a surprise that the North suddenly finds its voice to criticize when they should support. It is even more shocking that they are making frantic efforts to stir up and incite the other regions, particularly the Southeast, into taking to the streets, in protest.

The Southeast has always decried marginalization, and it has been so, for almost six decades, precisely, in the last fifty – four years, since the end of the Nigeria – Biafra Civil war and we need not mention that this has been under the leadership of the North, save for the Olusegun Obasanjo years, both as a military Head of State and civilian President.

From May 29, 2015, through May 29 2023, the marginalisation of the Southeast became more evident and glaring. Several reconstitutions of the Service Chiefs, including Inspectors General of Police and heads of other para – military agencies like the Immigration, Customs, Prisons, and even the Civil defence still did not factor – in, or accommodate anyone from the region, and nobody from the North urged the Southeast to protest this, neither did they make a case for us. But today, one of our very own, Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, from Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, is the Chief of Naval Staff In the last dispensation, 2015 – 2023, it was certainly considered an aberration, if not a taboo for some one from the South East, even if he is the most qualified, to occupy such a strategic command position, in the armed forces.

In the 8th National Assembly, we may recall that Senator Godswill Akpabio, then, in the opposition party, became a Principal Officer in his first term in the Red Chambers in 2015.
Today, he is the Senate President in the 10th Assembly. But we are witnesses to the fact that the ruling party, the APC between 2015 and 2019, in a brazen show of disregard, did not factor the Southeast in the election and appointment of Principal Officers, even with the presence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers like late Senator Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu in the Red Chambers and the presence of Hon. Austin Chukwukere and myself, Chike Okafor in the House of Representatives.

Yet, nobody, not even from the North, called for protest on behalf of the Southeast, nor even lent a voice in that regard.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/just-because-southeast-will-not-join-the-protest/

Fresh facts have emerged on how former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Nigerian Leader, General Ibrahim Babangida worked for the emergence of the then General Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the build-up to the 2007 presidential election.

Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, gave this revelation on Friday, December 29, 2023, while featuring on the second edition of ‘Inside Sources’ on Channels TV anchored by former Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande.Obasanjo, who had already anointed Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the PDP presidential candidate, rooted for Buhari to emerge as the opposition candidate, believing that would give him a less tedious ride to win the presidency for his party as he didn’t want Yerima, also a top contender in the ANPP then, to go head-to-head with Yaradua.
The then-governor of Zamfara State, Senator Yerima, had on October 27, 1999 introduced Sharia law in his state, and 11 other states in the north with majority Muslim populations, including those of Kano and Kaduna, followed suit, which made Yerima’s popularity to soar in the north and positioned him ahead of others as a likely winner in and general elections.
Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/how-obasanjo-ibb-begged-me-to-step-down-for-buhari-in-2007-ex-gov-yerima/

Ark is the latest luxurious addition at Abuja's foremost entertainment centre, The Dome.

Ark has a lounge bar seating with the best menu, alongside fine wine, champagne, cocktails and high-end spirits. Service at the rooftop lounge is quick and professional, even as the combination of the gifted DJ and crisp sound production adds to classy, yet lively ambiance of the new hangout.

Celebrities thronged the new spot to see things for themselves Thursday night.

See more pictures from the event @https://frontlinenews.com.ng/see-photos-as-celebrities-throng-opening-of-ark-the-dome/

The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has upheld the decision of the Imo State National Assembly election tribunal which declared Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor winner.

The three man panel made up of Justice B.A Georgewill, Justice B.B . Aliyu and Justice J.Folashade-Ojo, held that the tribunal was right in its judgement, thus the appeal lacked merit.

Recall that the Imo State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, in Petition No EPT/IM/HR/13/2024 has nullified the return of the PDP candidate, Hon Jonas Okeke as the House of Representatives member for Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State.

In a unanimous decision the three-man panel comprising Justice Anthony Olotu Akpovi (Chairman), Justice Usman A.S Kudu, and Justice Ibrahim Mohammed declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party, APC Hon Deacon Chike Okafor, as the duly elected candidate of the election conducted on 25th February, 2023.

Hon Chike Okafor, an Economist, investment banker, former Commissioner for Finance, Imo State and a two-term federal lawmaker, who served as the 8th Assembly Chairman, Committee on Healthcare Services, Chairman Adhoc Committee on Non Oil Revenue and Remittances, and a very key Member of the Committees of Appropriation, Finance, Banking and Currency, among others in the 9th Assembly challenged the declaration of Jonas Okeke by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election on the grounds that the respondent was not duly sponsored and qualified to contest the election under the People Democratic Party, PDP.

In its judgment on the petition, the tribunal agreed with the petitioner that the candidate of the PDP was not qualified to contest the election, and subsequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Jonas Okeke, and issue same to Okafor.
Read more: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/court-of-appeal-declares-chike-okafor-winner-sacks-pdp-rep-member/

By Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD

The last time I did a piece on why it should be Hope Uzodimma again, for Governor of Imo State, from 2024 to 2028, despite all odds, it was greeted with vain mudslinging rather than a convincing and valid argument that would have deepened the intellectual discourse on the journey to Douglas House 2024.

It is Vintage me, to not give credence to puerile display of loquacious ignominy and so I aim to further the conversation on the relentless affirmation of Governor Hope Uzodimma by the good people of Imo State; across the over Six hundred autonomous communities, three hundred and five wards, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), twenty-seven Local Government Areas, ten Federal constituencies, and three Senatorial districts of Imo State.

The very fact that all the germane points put forward in my penultimate piece were totally ignored, in the barrage of responses that ensued shows the dearth of ideas among the crop of candidates angling for a chance at the plum job in Imo State Government house,and their few supporters.

And the point remains, that apart from mischievously clutching on the straws of insecurity, which is bedevilling the entire Southeast region, and struggling in vain to heap the blame of the entire eastern region on the Imo State Governor (which, by the way, unknowingly affirms and underscores the very indispensable and prominent position of the current Imo State Governor, in the scheme of things, east of the Niger), it is important to see other Governorship HOPEfuls, as it were, reel out their multi-sectoral vision of Governance for the Eastern Heartland State of Imo.

The recent mass movement which has seen people across political divides, Senatorial districts and religious inclinations coming together to throw their weight behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the November 11 2023, Imo State Governorship election is a new trend, never before experienced, in the Forty – Seven years of the creation of the eastern heartland State of Imo.

Simply put, Imo State is on the verge of producing the very first Governor on a totally “Imo Unity Ticket.”

Read more on: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/gov-hope-uzodimma-and-imo-state-first-ever-unity-ticket/

Imo 2023: Why It Should Be Senator Hope Uzodinma Again By Hon. Chike Okafor PhD

The Imo reality since 2019, and the circumstances that birthed the present government of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma should be enough pointer to anyone who cares to know, that there is a God who presides over the affairs of men, and that irrespective of our human machinations, choices and scheming, only the divine will of God will prevail.

There is no gainsaying the fact that, for good or otherwise, nothing happens without the direct approval and knowledge of the Almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth. Thus, it will be completely an aberration, for a Christian, to question God’s design when it comes to pass.
Chike Okafor, a seasoned banker, two-term member of the House of Representatives and former Commissioner for Finance, Imo State, wrote in from Owerri, Imo State.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/imo-2023-why-it-should-be-senator-hope-uzodinma-again/

Indeed, Goodnews is just one of the many players in the industry worried about the NITDA Bill. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has rejected the bill saying it will increase regulations even as telecom operators already pay 30 different levies and may not be able to pay yet another levy to fund the NITDA Development Fund as proposed in the bill. Another important group, the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON) agrees with ALTON that any additional levy is a threat to the sector.

Obviously, Part IV of the proposed bill is seen by investors as another tool to introduce yet another levy. This is even as anti-corruption campaigners have rejected the idea of creating the National Information Technology Fund as proposed in PART IV of the NITDA Bill. Yet still, it is a fact that the new high levy on all digital services will lead to an increase in prices of ICT and other related services.

This Sub-section reads: (1) There is established a Fund, which shall be known as the National

Information Technology Development Fund (in this Act referred to as “the

Fund”) and shall be used for the advancement of the country’s digital

economy objectives and related purposes. (2) There shall be paid and credited into the Fund:

(a) a levy of one per cent of the profit before tax of companies

and enterprises enumerated in the Third Schedule to this Act

with an annual turnover of N100, 000,000 and above;

Section 15 is something anti-corruption campaigners are most agitated by. It gives the Director-General control of the NITDA Trust Fund. It reads: (1) There is established a Fund, which shall be known as the National Information Technology Development Fund (in this Act referred to as “the Fund”) and shall be used for the advancement of the country’s digital

economy objectives and related purposes. (2) There shall be paid and credited into the Fund:

(a) a levy of one per cent of the profit before tax of companies

and enterprises enumerated in the Third Schedule to this Act with an annual turnover of N100, 000,000 and above.

Section 17 Sub-Section 3 ( a-e) further exposes the intention to turn the NITDA Trust Fund to some kind of slush fund for the Director-General at a time when government must block loopholes, stop leakages and ensure that all income generated by government is deployed for development. Historically the National Assembly has severally kicked against MDAs not paying in money raised into the federation account, as agents of government, under the guise that the Act establishing them gives them the power to generate income and spend. This controversial section reads: (3) The Agency may, without prejudice to the provision of Section 13 (1) of this Act, apply the proceeds of the Fund established under Section

13 of this Act:

(a) to the advancement of the purpose of this Act;

(b) to the cost of administration and operation of the Agency;

(c) for the development and maintenance of any property vested

in or owned by the Agency;

(d) for investments in initiatives to attain the objectives of the

Agency; and

(e) to any other expenditure in connection with any of its functions

under this Act.

Beyond fears of creating a heavily taxed ICT sector, different stakeholders say it is highly unnecessary to create a large and unwieldy regulator which will regulate many aspects of people’s lives and cover various sectors since digital culture is all-encompassing. Section 5 of the bill titled “Functions of the Agency” gives the NITDA which is to be turned to a regulator from its government tech hub and instigator role to an agency with power to regulate consumer protection, roles which the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria already perform. Specifically, Section 5 (22) of the bill seeks to “protect the interest and rights of consumers against unfair practices in collaboration with the consumer protection regulator.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/nitda-bill-as-a-recipe-for-disaster/

A clandestine move by the Joint Senate and House Committee on Information Communications Technology, ICT, to pass a controversial bill concerning the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has attracted harsh responses from the industry.

Controversy began after an invitation for a public hearing, jointly signed by the Clerks of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security; and House Committee on ICT, Mr. Ayo Ogon and Abosi Lolo, respectively, and published in a daily on Thursday, December 22, 2022, fixed the hearing on Friday, December 23, 2022, a day after both Chambers of the National Assembly had proceeded on recess, indicating desperation by the Committee to pass the controversial bill to favour NITDA and cause a disruption of the entire ICT sector in Nigeria.

While it was suspected that the Committee wanted to pass the bill without substantial public participation it was also alleged that the submissions of the industry stakeholders made during its first public hearing, were jettisoned, and that the current invitation may be the ultimate smokescreen to pass the controversial bill.

There were also allegations that the Committee did not formally invite key stakeholders for fears that the process to force down the bill in the industry may be scuttled, hence the Joint Committee capitalized on a hasty public notice, issued within hours to the public hearing.

According to a source from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies, ALTON, the attempt to push this bill will amount to creating a behemoth that will erode the gains made by the industry for many years.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/controversy-over-secret-public-hearing-on-nitda-bill-by-nass-joint-ict-committee/

PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has vowed to restructure the country if elected next year.
He reiterated his promise to restructure the country during an interaction with the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

READ MORE @:
https://frontlinenews.com.ng/no-going-back-on-restructuring-atiku-vows/

#Safe to Surf: Young People Speak To Education As a Vaccine On Their Experiences Using online Spaces

Education as a Vaccine asked young people to share their experience on using the online platforms and if they have experienced any form of online gender based violence. Here are some responses:

I started on Twitter and then moved to Facebook and Instagram. The tweet I made was:

“I don’t think seeking permission from one’s husband before going out makes any sense. Informing your spouse that you’re going out should be enough, of course with information about the place and time and with whom, for safety reasons. If there’s a reason your partner doesn’t want you to go to a certain place after informing them, y’all can talk about it and come to a reasonable decision.”

Minutes after this, my Twitter mentions blew up with people telling me that I was being sacrilegious because Islam says as women, we have to seek permission from our husbands before going anywhere at all. I was called names like Kaafir (an unbeliever), and some people messaged me directly telling me that I am teaching young MUSLIM girls how to be disrespectful to their husbands and that my father raised me as a LovePeddler. This went on for almost two days. Some people made screenshots and posted my Tweets on Instagram and Facebook.

My parents saw this and were extremely scared for me as some people were making violent threats in their comments. They even promised to pay anyone who would provide them with my personal information.

At first, I felt defeated, and I absolutely stopped tweeting or sharing my opinion for a while. However, I decided that I would not let the trolls de-platform me. This made me have a very serious anxiety attack because of the violent threats I received and because my parents were extremely worried about my safety. ( Mai Lap 25 years)






Read more: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/safe-to-surf-young-people-speak-to-education-as-a-vaccine-on-their-experiences-using-online-spaces/

It is quite interesting that the 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held in Abuja on Tuesday had the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu warning that internal crisis can affect APC’s fortunes in the general elections to be held in 2023. His statement represents a glaring irony, as many believe that he and members of the current National Working Committee emerged through different consensus arrangements that has enveloped the party in a silence of the graveyard. Probably sensing that the consensus option isn’t popular, the NEC meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, who again warned against imposition of candidates, adopted indirect primary for the election of the party’s presidential nominee.
Coming down to my home state of Adamawa, of late, there has been talk of plans to impose a governorship candidate in a flagrant abuse of consensus option as stated in the Electoral Act.

The rumored plan to select former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallm Nuhu Ribadu, as consensus candidate should be dropped immediately. According to Article 20 (iii) of APC’S Constitution, the nomination of a candidate for governor shall be through direct or indirect primary election to be conducted at the appropriate level. It therefore behooves on new leadership of the APC to follow the honorable path by abiding with the constitution of the party rather than reverting to the Electoral Act and selecting an option that isn’t listed in the party’s constitution. As it is, Adamawa APC has 12 well known aspirants, why the desperation of picking one aspirant as candidate who is most likely to be rejected by party faithful, many of whom have pitched their tents with their preferred aspirant?






Read more@: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/adamawa-2023-apcs-unholy-connivance-for-consensus-governorship-candidate/

The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously adopted a motion sponsored by the member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State,

Rep. Chike John Okafor, on the need to probe the outrageous rise in the price of diesel and cooking gas.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas Resources to investigate the crippling rise in the prices of diesel and cooking gas in the country.

The committees are to report back to the House six weeks for further legislative action.

Leading the debate on the motion, Okafor noted that the hike in price of both essential commodities have caused families untold hardship even as businesses are struggling to survive.






Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/reps-probe-hike-in-price-of-diesel-cooking-gas/