By Emmanuel Acha

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has decried the low participation of the South-East in its economic intervention policies and programmes.

The acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the bank, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed this on Tuesday during the CBN Fair in Enugu.

Nwanisobi said that the CBN intervention programmes were meant to create jobs, engender financial inclusion and make the people have access to finance.

He said Nigerians needed to leverage the intervention programmes of the apex bank for a better living at a time when inflation was spiking and prices of food items souring.

Nwanisobi said the aims of the CBN intervention in the real economy were to create jobs, bring down food prices, financially include the excluded and engender inclusive growth.

This CBN Fair enables us to create awareness of all the policies and interventions of the bank and to talk to our people on how they can leverage the programmes.

We noticed that there seems to be a lethargy in terms of people from the zone embracing the CBN interventions.

There is also the need for the state governments to leverage the Anchor Borrowers Programme to improve the lives of the people, he said.

Nwanisobi said that the apex bank in its bid to engender inclusiveness started its Commodity Development Initiative with 10 commodities but now, we are at about 22 commodities.

In choosing the commodities we intervene in, we look at the possible impacts and those that will help us to create quick wins.

We also intervene in areas where we have comparative advantage and not just for local production but for export also, he said.

Nwanisobi said that the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, was very passionate about the 37 interventions of the apex bank, adding that the South-East could do much better in accessing them.

In a goodwill message, the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Martins Idu, appealed to the CBN to domesticate some of its intervention programmes to enable more people to participate.

Idu said that most of the programmes did not have the value chains needed in the state.

The commissioner appealed to the apex bank to include honey production and piggery as some of the items under its Commodity Development Initiative.

He said that the state had no fewer than 2,000 farmers that were into piggery, adding that such people needed to be supported.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which will feature lectures on the programmes and policies of the apex bank would end on Wednesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the deployment of Mr Abutu Yaroas the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Imo.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mba also announced that the I-G had approved the deployment of Mr Hussaini Rabiu as the new CP in charge of the Police Command in Zamfara.

He said that the deployment was in line with the efforts of the police leadership to strengthen security, tackle violent crimes and enhance optimal coordination of policing operations within the state.

According to him, Yaro, a fellow of the National Defence College and the immediate past CP in charge of the Police Command in Zamfara, is an operationally-minded cop.

He said by the new development, Yaro took over from Mr Nasiru Mohammed, who had been redeployed to Western Port Authority, Lagos.

Mba said that other deployments included John Amadi, from Western Port Authority to Airport Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos; Anderson Bankole, Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, and Joe Enwonwu, Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He said that the I-G called onthe newly deployed officers to bring to bear their professional experience at improving policing and restoring public confidence in their new places of assignment.

He pledged the determination of the Force under his leadership to upscale its operations, improve public safety and tackle all forms of crimes in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning is to interface with the Nigerian Army on improved funding for security operations in the country.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said this during an interactive meeting in Abuja with Senate Committee on Army and representatives of Chief of Defence Staff and that of Chief of Army Staff.

According to her, the ministry and indeed the President prioritises funding for the Armed of Forces of Nigeria.

I have met with the chief of defence staff and all the service chiefs and I know that their need is very large.

So We need to sit together and look at how we can rearrange the cost of governance so that we can shift emphasis to the funding.

We are glad that the process is happening. Perhaps this will be the pathway toward looking at how we can fund the armed forces operations.

We also look forward to funding of the army where 100 per cent of its requirements will be achieved, she said.

Ahmed added:May be the thing to do in the meantime, is to take stock of the real needs of the Nigerian army.
You have an opportunity in the supplementary budget that is coming in so that we can address some of that.

Earlier, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Sen. Ali Ndume said the meeting was geared toward addressing Nigerias security challenges.

The reason is because of the serious security challenges we are facing in the country that is spreading like cancer.

We are here to interact and find out what the problem is and what the immediate solutions are, he said.

Ndume, however, noted that out of a National Budget of N13 trillion, only N30 billion was allocated to the army. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjjani

The Kaduna State Government said suspected bandits killed two and injured six residents in Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said security agencies reported that bandits invaded Mazari, a community close to Buruku in Chikun LGA.

According to the report, one person was killed in the attack and three others injured.

He disclosed that in another incident, bandits attacked Doka village, Kajuru LGA, killed one person and injured three others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olajide Idowu

The Police Command in Osun has warned residents in the state against any unlawful gathering or protest over the rising cases of insecurity and food prices.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, said those nursing the idea to organise a protest should stop it as the police would not condone acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.

The intelligence availed the command revealed that some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering/protest.

This protest is to show their grievances concerning an ill-conceived perception of insecurity and hike in food prices, allegedly in the State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, therefore wishes to advise that this unlawful plan be jettisoned.

The CP warned that the state police command will not condone any act(s) that will jeopardize the existing relative peace and tranquility presently enjoyed in the state.

It should be noted that, the spate of insecurity presently experienced is nationwide and not peculiar to Osun. Be reminded also that, gathering of any sort is unlawful and a violation of COVID-19 laws.

The CP therefore appeals to all parents and guardians to warn their children and, or wards to desist from any act(s), capable of causing the breach of peace in the state.

Be warned also that, the Command will not tolerate deliberate blocking of roads to impede free-flow of human and vehicular movements, molestation of peace-loving members of the public, and willful/malicious destruction of any kind whatsoever.

This will be resisted vehemently.

The CP assures good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestations from any person or group, as adequate security measures have been emplaced for maximum security of lives and property of the citizens. the statement reads (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, pledged to liaise with relevant authorities to secure release of the adducted students of Greenfield University inKaduna State.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila made the pledge at plenary after a delegation of the House interfaced with the protesting parents of the students in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on April 20, 2021, no fewer than 23 students and staff were abducted by bandits in Kasarami village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Six of the abductees had been killed by the bandits, who also threatened to kill the remaining 17 students on May 4, if a ransom of N100 million was not paid.

Gbajabiamila referred the matter to the House Special Committee on Security and said that the House would immediately liaise with relevant authorities to secure their release.

Briefing the House earlier, the leader of the delegation, Rep. Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), said that the parents, who were dressed in black, looked oppressed and dejected.

Babajimi who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, said that the parents hope of getting their children released, rest on the parliament.

According to him, the parents are asking the House to intervene and secure the return of their abducted children.

Babajimi urged the House to urgently intervene in the matter. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate alleged ticket racketeering by operators of the Abuja and Kaduna railway stations.

The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Zayyad Ibrahim (APC Kaduna) at the plenary, on Tuesday.

Moving the motion earlier, Ibrahim recalled that the Abuja-Kaduna train services was officially commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari on 26 July 2016, to provide an alternative to road transportation in the area.

He said that there had been a tremendous increase in passengers at Idu and Kubwa stations in Abuja, as well as at Rigasa in Kaduna, due to increased patronage following security challenges on the Abuja and Kaduna Expressway.

The lawmaker said that the increase in passengers had led to ticket-racketeering, an ugly practice that led to the arrest of five suspects in 2019 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On 21 January, 2021, the Minister of Transportation officially launched the automated e-Ticketing System to address complaints of ticket racketeering operated by Secured 18 Company Limited, a private firm, under a Public-Private-Partnership with the Federal Government for N900million, which the concessionaire is expected to pay back in 10 years.

The e-Ticketing System for the Abuja-Kaduna train services enabled commuters to book tickets online, thus curbing ticket racketeering and the stress of purchasing tickets at the train stations.

Concerned that ticket racketeering, which the e-Ticketing System sought to eradicate, is still going on unabated, as tickets can no longer be adequately accessed online due to the mischievous activities of some people, who buy wholesale tickets and resell to passengers at exorbitant prices.

Taking cognisant of the fact that if the activities of racketeers are not curbed, passengers will continue to be denied the privilege of accessing the train services as, sometimes, a train may leave the station without carrying the required number of passengers, because the tickets are not accessible or affordable to majority of passengers, he said.

The House urged the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to strengthen their internal mechanisms with a view to eradicating ticket racketeering.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila mandated the Committee on Land Transport to investigate the matter and report back within two weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kemi Akintokun/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it supported a total of 1,450 widows with the sum of N29 million in 2020.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Dada, made this known during the 2021 Ministerial Briefing on Tuesday in Ikeja.

Dada said that each of the 1,450 widows was given N20,000 As livelihood support on the International Widows Day 2020.

Another 1,500 will be benefiting by June 2021, which is the International Widows Day, Dada said.

She said that the states training initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and engaging indigent persons were totally tuition-free for the general public.

The commissioner said that all the ministrys programmes on short, medium and long-term trainings were tuition free, hence, the general public should report anyone demanding for payment to access any of the training programmes

We have 20 various vocations, which are targeted at supporting trainees towards the path of self-reliance and financial independence.

These trainees are taught in different vocations across the three Senatorial districts, with certificates being awarded upon completion to afford the trainees opportunity for internship in various multi-nationals and industries, within Lagos State.

She said that so far, over 10,000 graduates had been produced by government-owned 19 skills acquisition centers, spread around Lagos in the last two years.

Dada said that the ministrys mandate was to ensure that there was zero tolerance for mediocrity, poverty and idleness especially among women.

She said that the ministry of WAPA did not limit the scope of its engagement to women alone, but also gave attention to the indigents and the vulnerable members of the public, in general.

Our children are our future, a brighter tomorrow from what we see today. As a result, we realised that good parenting remains the foundation for a progressive society. A well-trained child grows up to become a formidable adult.

WAPA in this view, organised a training programme for 200 parents in August 2020, which was on human trafficking enlightenment and how to curb the menace. We want a productive society, directed at uplifting best practices for progress.

We also realise that domestic violence is taking its toll on our societal values and thus requires concerted efforts to ensure all strategies are being put-up to curb such menace, the commissioner said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of 11 people in Gwer West Local Government of Benue and the reprisals on innocent people by mobs that blocked roads to unleash terror and violence.

The president made the condemnation in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday.

I totally condemn this latest unprovoked violence and counter-attacks on innocent people that had nothing to do with the cause of the violence, he said.

Buhari also deplored the killing of innocent people in Anambra by mobs, saying that in both cases, innocent people were killed through no fault of theirs.

According to him, violence on innocent people by anybody and any group is unacceptable and indefensible.
Hate and bigotry have eaten so deeply and violates the sanctity of life.

If we allow this culture of violence to go unchecked, such mobs would destroy law and order, he says.

The President urged leaders of ethnic and religious groups to play their own roles constructively in controlling their followers or members, to support the governments efforts for sustainable peace.

Buhari cautioned Nigerians against the temptations of taking the law into their hands in the name of revenge because there are no winners in the cycle of violence, only losers.

The president commiserated with the families of the bereaved and the governments and people of Benue and Anambra.

He also commended the police and other law enforcement agencies for their prompt response in averting the escalation of the violence.

He urged them to put in every effort to apprehend perpetrators of the heinous attacks. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Kano State Hisbah Board and the state Association of Event Centres have agreed to work together to rid all event centres of immoral acts.

Malam Lawan Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Hisbah Board, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kano.

It said that the two organisations agreed to work together when the Chairperson of the association, Hajiya Fatima Abdulsalam, visited the board.

They agreed that focus should be on immoral dances and related actions during weddings, naming ceremonies and similar events.

The two organisations said that the intervention was necessary to save the youth from embracing acts inimical to societal growth and development.

The statement said that the Commander-General of the Hisbah board, Dr Harun Ibn-Sina, pledged to work with all events centres during and after the Eid-el-fitr, to sustain orderliness in the state

He expressed satisfaction with the visit and urged all event centres to bring order and discipline in their operation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Olukayode Babalola

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Tuesday, lauded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its contribution to the fight against the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

He made the commendation at the inauguration of the NYSC 2021 Batch A Pre-Orientation Workshop held in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is: Managing Corps Population in the Orientation Camps, in the Context of the New Normal.

Sule, who was represented by Alhaji Othman Bala-Adam, Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, also lauded the scheme for also being in the forefront in fostering national unity.

He said that the NYSC, in spite of lean resources, has contributed immensely to the fight against the COVID-19.

According to him, this was achieved largely through the production of the COVID-19 protective items such as face masks and hand sanitizers among others, which helped in limiting the spread of the virus across the country.

We will continue to record it as NYSC contribution to national development. I commend the efforts of the NYSC Director General, management team, stakeholders, NYSC officials and corps members toward enhancing the viability and relevance of NYSC scheme through their involvement, he said.

The governor also appreciated the contributions of corps members posted to Nasarawa for their contributions to agriculture and food sustainability, through the development and cultivation of demonstration farms across the state.

Their contributions in education, health and rural development are also commendable. I wish to reaffirm my administrations commitment to the NYSC scheme in Nasarawa State, through the provision of conducive working environment, he said.

He said that the workshop would be beneficial to the state, as it would afford it the opportunity to showcase its hospitality and culture, hence the support given to NYSC to host it in the state.

In his speech, Brig.- Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director General of the NYSC, said the scheme organised the workshop for staff and other stakeholders, with a view to review past orientation exercises and improving on them in future.

As you may be aware, the scheme has conducted orientation courses amidst the challenges of COVID-19, through strict adherence to all the safety protocols. We worked closely with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and States Ministries of health in this regard.

We shall continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders and evolve strategies for the protection of corps members and the camp communities, during the orientation course.

However, we will use the opportunity of this workshop to amongst other things, harness our experiences.

We will also explore the prospect of increasing camp capacity without losing sight on the need to adhere strictly to the safety protocols and the need to operate optimally under the new normal, he said.

In his welcome remark, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka-Wada, NYSC Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, lauded the Gov. Sule led administration, for granting NYSC the approval to hold the workshop in the state.

He said that the workshop was organised in view of the forthcoming 2021 Batch A Stream II course and the need to continue to observe all the COVID-19 safety protocols during the exercise.

The conduct of this workshop has become absolutely necessary. In the course of the workshop, participants will review the previous orientation courses and brainstorm with the view to evolving strategies that will guide the seamless conduct of the forthcoming exercise, he said.

NAN reports that senior management staff of the NYSC, the state coordinators and officials, were among the participants at the workshop. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Lawal

Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in-charge of North-West, on Tuesday, announced that the commission had taken bold steps to expand 1,340 voting points in Kebbi state.

He disclosed this at a Stakeholders Forum meeting on Expansion of Voters Access to Polling Units held at the INEC state headquarters, Birnin Kebbi.

Okoye, who is also the National Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, said a few existing polling points would be relocated to other locations to enable the electorate have access to them.

The commission is fully ready to expand 1,340 polling points in Kebbi state and relocate a few existing ones to locations where the electorate will have access to them.

Since 1996, about 25 years ago, the same polling units created for about 50 million voters are still in existence till today while the national population had grown to over 200 million.

In 1999, the same polling units were used for an electorate of 57 million, while in 2011, 2015 and 2019, the same polling units were used for 61.5million voters, 73.5 million voters, and 80 million voters respectively, he said.

He explained that what the commission was doing and what it would be doing continuously would be to promote inclusivity and consultation on its programmes and policies.

Sine 1996, when the last polling units were created, no polling units were created. And as at the time these polling units were created, the voter population was 50 million.

During the 2019 voter registration, we had a voter population of over 80 million and we still remained with the same number of polling units.

As such, the commission decided that all the polling points in existence should be converted to full polling units. We would take these polling points to underserved areas, he said.

Okoye added that the commission was working towards carrying all stakeholders along, so that they would track what was going on before the commencement of voter registration on June 20, 2021.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kebbi State, Alhaji Ahmed Bello-Mahmud, noted that the commission was ready to make history for itself by expanding and creating new polling units, after over 25 years.

He said due to congestion and inaccessibility of polling units, many voters had been disfranchised, observing that with the expansion of the polling units and creation of new ones, voter apathy would be drastically reduced.

In a remark, the Kebbi State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bala Sanni-Kangiwa, described the development as a good reform that would enable party supporters to vote.

He said: the more polling units we have, the less congestion we would experience, leading to less voter apathy and less crowd situation.

So, it is a very good exercise and I want to commend the commission for the programme. I hope they will sustain the exercise for the good of democracy and the nation.

It is going to benefit our political parties because more of our supporters will now have the opportunity to vote. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kemi Akintokun/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it supported a total of 1,450 widows with the sum of N29 million in 2020.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Dada, made this known during the 2021 Ministerial Briefing on Tuesday in Ikeja.

Dada said that each of the 1,450 widows was given N20,000 as livelihood support on the International Widows Day 2020.

Another 1,500 will be benefiting by June 2021, which is the International Widows Day, Dada said.

She said that the states training initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and engaging indigent persons were totally tuition-free for the general public.

The commissioner said that all the ministrys programmes on short, medium and long-term trainings were tuition free, hence, the general public should report anyone demanding for payment to access any of the training programmes.

We have 20 various vocations, which are targeted at supporting trainees towards the path of self-reliance and financial independence.

These trainees are taught in different vocations across the three Senatorial districts, with certificates being awarded upon completion to afford the trainees opportunity for internship in various multi-nationals and industries, within Lagos State.

She said that so far, over 10,000 graduates had been produced by government-owned 19 skills acquisition centers, spread around Lagos in the last two years.

Dada said that the ministrys mandate was to ensure that there was zero tolerance for mediocrity, poverty and idleness especially among women.

She said that the ministry of WAPA did not limit the scope of its engagement to women alone, but also gave attention to the indigents and the vulnerable members of the public, in general.

Our children are our future, a brighter tomorrow from what we see today. As a result, we realised that good parenting remains the foundation for a progressive society. A well-trained child grows up to become a formidable adult.

WAPA in this view, organised a training programme for 200 parents in August 2020, which was on human trafficking enlightenment and how to curb the menace. We want a productive society, directed at uplifting best practices for progress.

We also realise that domestic violence is taking its toll on our societal values and thus requires concerted efforts to ensure all strategies are being put-up to curb such menace, the commissioner said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government on Tuesday berated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for displaying crass ignorance that kidnapping and banditry are not federal offences.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a media briefing in Abuja, said it was shocking that PDP ruled the nation for 16 years, yet ignorant of the legal structure.

Mohammed was responding to an allegation by the opposition party that kidnappers and bandits were not being brought to book by the Federal Government.

The PDP alleged that kidnappers and bandits are not being brought to justice. This is apparently aimed at the Federal Government.

The PDP should therefore, call out the states, including those being controlled by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits.

Meanwhile, PDP conveniently forgot that as far as terrorism, a federal offence is concerned, this Federal Government has successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members in Kainji, as part of a continuing exercise.

We are now seeking the cooperation of the judiciary to continue with thetrial of arrested terrorists, he said.

The minister said the Federal Government was conscious of the challenges facing the nation and doing everything possible to tackle them.

While calling onNigerians to support the efforts of the government to tacklethe challenges, Mohammed advised those bent on playing cheap politics withthe challenges to have a rethink. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned against project duplication.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the warning at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance in Nigeria, hosted by the ICPC in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Owasanoye said that thousands of projects were repeated annually in the budget, without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation or otherwise.

He added that some projects were duplicated as annual zonal intervention projects, otherwise called constituency projects of the legislature, while also featuring as projects of the executive.

Funding is released for both insertions without any mechanism for monitoring and evaluation and reconciliation of the funding, he said.

Owasanoye cited the recent case of a road project executed by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, but was also awarded as an executive project.

He said the incident rightly became the subject of an inquiry by the legislature.

ICPCs response to this challenge is not only to track selected projects, but we annually digitise executive and constituency projects and upload same on our website for citizen verification, through our toll free line.

The breakdown of projects for 2021 has already been uploaded on our website and we encourage the public to become watchdogs of projects in their communities.

We are working with the budget office to track funding of such projects as we prepare for our 2021 tracking of constituency and executive projects, he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the second area of concern was payroll padding and the phenomenon of ghost workers and abuse of recruitment.

He further explained that from ICPC findings in health and medical institutions, a lot of agencies still engaged in unapproved recruitment without obtaining the consent of all relevant organs of government.

Owasanoye said it appeared that such malfeasance enjoyedthe cooperation of some unscrupulous elements in the IPPIS.

Happily, government is looking closely at this towards taking corrective measures. ICPC is a part of that process, he said.

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Acting Provost, Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), said Nigerians across board were uncomfortable with the ever-increasing cost of governance that the country had historically experienced.

He said research findings had shown that corruption had been a major cause of the ballooning cost of governance in Nigeria.

The essence of the policy dialogue is to exchange ideas with key stakeholders, with a view to finding a common ground and consensus on the policy matter being discussed.

The dialogue will address this critical issue and analyse it as part of efforts to assist the commission and its academy to achieve the objectives outlined in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

Thisincludes the promotion of an improved legal, policy and regulatory environment for the fight against corruption, he said.

He said that there was near consensus among Nigerians that the country would make significant progress, if the wasteful practices of public officials could be curbed.

On his part, Mr Ben Akabueze, Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, in his presentation entitled: Reducing the Cost of Governancein Nigeria said that Nigerias system of democratic governance was considered to be very expansive and expensive.

It is important to minimise corruption and reduce cost of governance in Nigeria on which critical steps need to be taken.

We need to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects, to enable us reap the benefits of such projects and save variation costs, including projects that relate to matters that are the responsibilities of the state and local governments, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Adekunle Williams

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended three local government council chairmen over alleged disregard for the rules governing their activities.

The affected chairmen are: Ogidan Olaitan of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Suleiman Jelili of Alimosho Local Government and Tajudeen Ajide of Surulere Local Government.

The House announced their suspension through a voice vote during the plenary shortly after Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) raised a complaint against one of the suspended chairman.

The House said it could no longer continue to watch the council chairmen flouting the states local government guidelines governing their activities.

Yusuff, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, told the House how Olaitan had been allegedly unruly and had disregard for the assembly members.

He complained that Olaitan accused the lawmakers of carrying out an oversight function on a memorandum of understanding in relation to an issue that arose from a resettlement programme in Lekki.

The lawmaker further said that the council chairman had total disregard for those in his domain whom he was elected to govern.

Commenting, Mr Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki 1), accused Jelili and Ajide of questioning the House for investigating the councils based on the petitions raised by their counsellors.

Mojeed then urged his colleagues to suspend the chairmen pending the outcome of the investigations on the allegations made against them to serve as deterrent to others.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, while speaking on the issue, noted that the House had received petitions from many councillors in the state against some serving chairmen.

Obasa said the House could not continue to watch while council chairmen flout the laws that they were supposed to uphold.

Total disregard for local government guidelines is something that should not be tolerated.

We cannot continue like this. We cant be breeding monsters in our local government councils, Obasa said.

Obasa said it would not be ideal to gloss over the issues as it would be creating a precedence of disobedience to the law by council chairmen especially at a time the state was planning elections into the councils.

According to him, we have received too many petitions from their councillors against many chairmen, this is the time to take action.

The speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to write Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders on the decision of the House. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Mr Romanus Eze, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State chapter, says the biggest challenge of farmers in the country is herders harassment in their farmlands.

Eze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that farmers constant attacks by the herders had put fears in them.

He said that many farmers had abandoned their farmlands for fear of attack adding that it posed a serious problem to food security not only in the state but Nigeria at large.

Lots of farmers face herders attack in Enugu State and this challenge makes it difficult for farmers to access their farm lands.

Most of the farmers are into the Anchor Borrowers Programme and destruction of farmers lands by herders becomes anightmare for them, he said.

According to Eze, the development has made prices of farm inputs and foodstuff to be high in markets.

He lamented the effect of untimely delivery of Anchor Borrowers Programme inputs to farmers, adding that such did not speak well for the programme and the farmers.

Many farmers have been profiled into Anchor Borrowers Programme on Cassava, Maize and Rice in Enugu State.

Most of the inputs have not been delivered to the farmers and this is the fifth month of the year.

Timing of inputs delivery matters a lot because delivering the input out of the season will be of no benefit to the farmers, he said.

The chairman noted that the first quarter of the 2021 farming season had gone and yet government had not flagged-off the farming season.

According to him, most farmers, with or without the government intervention, have already started farming.

The farmers started with land preparation in December and January depending on the climate change.

Now, many of the farmers have started planting, though the rain is not steady.

Government needs to support and encourage farmers with quality seeds and advise them on how to go about commercial farming, Eze said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joy Mbachi

Sen.Victor Umeh, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has given his backing to governorship aspiration of Prof Charles Soludo, former Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), governor.

Umeh said that Soludo as an experienced expert, had a lot to offer going by his remarkable contributions in rebuilding Nigeria economy.

He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka.

According to the senator, Prof Soludo stands as the best candidate for the elective post.

Umeh a former Senator for Anambra Central Senatorial District, described the political aspirations of Soludo as apt as Anambra needed a leader that would consolidate on the success of APGA in the state.

He said that Soludo, as an experienced expert in the economy sector, would deploy a magical wand that would place Anambra above other states of the country.

Anambra, as a state, is not a test running centre, candidate with grand knowledge like Soludo is what we desire; yes Anambra has quality men but for governance, Soludo has a different Solution, he said.

Umeh urged electorates and party faithful to be focused and elect best hand for the governorship seat for the party and work as a team to achieve greater electoral success.

We need to be more united and form a common front for the interest of the party, the state and Igbo extraction in general; Anambra is heart beat of political activities in Igbo land, he said.

Umeh described the test run of flights at the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, as the seal of Governor Obianos great achievements.

Anambra needs a man with capacity to consolidate and take it to greater heights, he said.

He said that APGA is the only identity platform for Igbo states to use to negotiate for strongernational presence and pleaded that the chance must not be a miss. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted Boko Haram Terrorists attempt to infiltrate into Rann Town in Kala Balge Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno on May 1.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Yerima said that the terrorists in their number attempted to breach the border town but were met with stiff resistance from the troops who engaged them in a fierce fire fight that lasted about an hour.

He said the terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of them suffering fatal injuries leaving behind several weapons and ammunition.

According to him, equipment recovered from the terrorists include anti aircraft gun barrel, AK 47 rifle, hand held communication radio and different calibres of ammunition.

Army spokesperson disclosed that troops also engaged another band of terrorists who attacked Ajiri town in Konduga LGA of the state on May 2.

He said that the terrorists entered part of the town, burnt nine houses and killed some innocent residents before they were engaged by the troops deployed in the area.

According to him, the retreating terrorists escaped with various degrees of gun shot injuries while the gallant troops are on their chase.

Unfortunately however, two personnel paid the supreme price in the resulting encounter.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, commended the troops for their resilience and determination to keep their areas free of terrorists activities.

He further charged them to sustain the renewed vigour in discharging their duties, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Antswen

The Police in Benue have confirmed attacks by some gunmen on communities in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The police spokesperson said the command was yet to receive full details of the incident.

Anene said that gunmen in the early hours of Monday attacked Mbamondu and Vengav, in Avihijime council ward in Udam and Tse Amgbem close to Aondona, all in Gwer West Local Government.

She, however, said that the Command was also yet to get full details of the attack on the communities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News