By Muhammad Lawal

The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kebbi, Alhaji Muhammed Sahabi-Augie on Sunday said the total rice output produced annually in the state has reached over four million tonnes.

Sahabi-Augie told some students on excursion at the Zauro Rice Pyramid near Birnin Kebbi, that the rise in production was as a result of massive support of the Federal Government and the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

He noted that before the intervention, the highest rice output was 700 metric tonnes.

The chairman said that the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) has greatly helped farmers in the state and across the country.

He said: Rice production output had increased from 700 metric tonnes to over four million metric tonnes per annum in the state.

Before now, more than 80 per cent of the rice we consume in Nigeria was imported from China, Thailand and other countries, despite the fact that we have enough land and enough farmers to produce rice internally for our consumption.

This is the kind of setback our economy went through.

Agriculture used to be the bedrock of our economy in Nigeria, unfortunately, previous governments didnt have the political will like what we are witnessing in President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

He also hailed Gov. Bagudu for being in the forefront of supporting farmers to overcome their challenges.

We told him the challenges of fertilisers and other inputs to produce rice. He was devastated about our challenges and promised to give us all the necessary support.

Most of the farmers involved are rural farmers who dont have income, because rice farming is capital intensive.

You need fertiliser, water pumping machines, insecticides and other agro chemicals for rice farming.

Sahabi-Augie recalled that the Anchor Borrowers Programme was flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 17, 2015 in Zauro, during which about 77,000 farmers in the state benefited.

All the farmers were given inputs such as fertiliser, water pumps, agro chemical and seeds, as well as fuel for their water pumping machines.

Before the anchor borrowers programme, our output in Kebbi state was just about 700 metric tons, but in the first year of implementing the programme, we recorded 1.4 million metric tons in the state.

From that time on, our yields have been rising up the time that we are proudly producing four million metric tons per annum. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya
PZ Cussons Foundation, a Non-Profit Organisation, on Tuesday donated a shea butter processing facility to a Alubarika Women Cooperative Group in Fazhi community in Edati Local Government Areas of Niger state.

Mrs Jacqueline Ezeokwelume, Executive Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, said at the inauguration of the center that the facility would boost agriculture production in the state.

She said the ultimate objective of the foundation is the total support for agriculture and agro-allied value chain projects is capable of contributing to food security, enhancing smallholder farmers and producers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is a commercial enterprise dealing with commodities to leading marketing company in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya that manufacture and distribute a range of consumers and durable goods.

Ezeokwelume, who was represented by Mr Peter Ozondu, said the project would empower and address some of the economic challenges faced by women in the area, state and the country at large.

The new facility is to upgrade their traditional method of production and make them internationally competitive, it will also bring together local processors under one umbrella and organise them into a more formal structure as enterprise.

The project is an opportunity to give back to the society and we are committed to executing more sustainable projects that will be beneficial to the country, she said.

Ezeokwelume called on others to emulate the same gesture by harnessing abundant human and natural resources to add value to the products.

In his address, Mohammed Kontagora, President, National Shea Product Association of Nigeria (NSPAN), said that the project was to empower and uplift the economic activities of women at the rural level.

He described women as committed and highly enterprising when given the opportunity to showcase their abilities and promised to support women cooperative groups to meet international standard.

The project will also serve as an intervention to empower women economically and give individuals greater freedom of choice and action.

The Shea butter being processed by Fazhi women have been graded as the best and we like their level of commitment, he said.

Kontagora, however, urged the women and the community to take ownership of the project to add value to their products and warned against felling of economy trees.

In his remarks, Mr Abraham Yisa, a community leader, commended the Board of Trustee of the Foundation for siting the project in the State.

He said it will support governments effort in diversifying the economy of the State by enhancing productivity in agro allied endeavours at rural levels.

This project will serve as employment opportunity to women and help them expand their market, he said.

NAN reports that the facility consists of raw material store, structures for drying, roasting, blending, finished goods store, borehole and other equipment and machineries.

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Olannye

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) says it would not feature in the March 6, Delta local government councils poll.

The state ZLP Chairman, Mr Emeka Nkwoala, disclosed this when he spoke with the Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday Asaba.

We are boycotting the election because of the imposition of fees, and perceived lack of trust on the Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).

Local government election in Nigeria has become a mockery of democracy.

We are not participating in the election as long as its conduct remains in the hands of the state Independent Electoral Commission.

We at Zenith Labour Party will not participate in the process. We are aware that over N1billion was allocated to DSIEC for the election and yet the commission taxed every candidate between N150,000 and N50, 000 depending on the position he is aspiring for, he said.

Nkwoala said that even feelers from the electorate indicated that the whole process has been compromised.

I think this is a problem across the country, irrespective of the political party in power.

The party in power always clears all positions as if other parties do not exist at all.

This situation has really endangered the trust of people in state electoral bodies.

We hope that the proposed Electoral Act amendments will cure the trust deficit and increase peoples participation in the grassroots democratic process, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday advocated that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), currently before the National Assembly, should allocate 10 per cent oil revenue to host communities.

Wike made the call when members of the National Assembly Committee on PIB visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said it was necessary that the bill specified, in clear terms, developmental projects that the allotted fund should be spent on, to actualise the goal and demands of the host communities.

The governor said that oil-bearing communities have sufferedloss of livelihood due to the activities of international oil companies (IOCs).

It is unfortunate that people produce oil but live in poverty. I believe that the PIB committee will make recommendations of how certain per cent must be given to the host communities.

There are issues of education and health, so dont just say 10 per cent to the oil host communities, it must be tied to specific projects so that whoever is in charge will take note of them, he said.

Wike urged IOCs not to engage host communities in the sharing of funds to avoid their killing one another instead of using such funds for sustainable projects.

He advised that the mistakes associated with the Act establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be avoided as it did not specify what projects the commission should embark on in the Niger Delta.

He emphasised the need for the PIB bill, when passed, to be signed and not go the way of the Electoralill that has yet to be assented to.

The governor urged the National Assembly Committee on PIB to ensure that the bill was signed to move the country forward.

Mr Victor Onyemaechi, Deputy Chairman of the committee who led the delegation,said that the members were in Rivers for a town hall meeting with stakeholders to resolve issues of what should be allocated to host communities in the bill.

Onyemaechi commended Wike for the rapid infrastructural transformation ongoing in the state.

He said that a lot of people were misinformed about host communities, associating them with hostility.

What we have seen in the last four days have proved people wrong. As we walked round these few days, we saw that people use wood as bridge to get to where Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is exploring oil.

We also saw the impact of SPDC operations on the peoples means of livelihood. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for introducing the Diaspora Remittance Scheme.

Dabiri-Erewa lauded the CBN on Tuesday in a statement by the commissions Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

The statement quoted Dabiri-Erewa as saying that the scheme would impact the Nigerian economy.

She said CBN introduced the NAIRA 4 DOLLAR SCHEME for Diaspora Remittances following its policy of remittance issuance in the currency of remittance.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the scheme was a welcome idea as the policy would encourage Nigerians in the Diaspora to send money through official channels.

The CBN Naira 4 Dollar scheme is an incentive for senders and recipients of International Money Transfer whereby recipients of Diaspora Remittances through CBN-licensed International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) shall be paid N5 per every dollar received as remittance inflow, it said.

She also said NiDCOM was finalising a Nigerian diaspora investment fund through which Nigerians in the diaspora could structure and channel their investments.

She added that the response of Nigerians living abroad to the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit had been very encouraging and impactful.

In an effort to sustain the encouraging increase in inflows of diaspora remittances into the country, the CBN on March 6, announced the introduction of the CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme, an incentive for senders and recipients of International Money Transfers.

Accordingly, all recipients of diaspora remittances through CBN licensed IMTOs shall henceforth be paid N5 for every USD1 received as remittance inflow.

In light of this, the CBN said it would, through commercial banks, pay to remittance recipients the incentive of N5 for every USD1 remitted by the sender and collected by the designated beneficiary.

This incentive is to be paid to recipients whether they choose to collect the USD as cash across the counter in a bank or transfer the same into their domiciliary account.

In effect, a typical recipient of diaspora remittances will, at the point of collection, receive not only the USD sent from abroad but also the additional N5 per USD received. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Gombe state Government on Tuesday flagged off its free annual mass vaccination of livestock against trans-boundary animal diseases and to promote livestock production.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, who flagged off the vaccination in Gadam town, Kwami Local Government Area of the state said the exercise reflected his administrations commitment to development of the livestock sub-sector.

Yahaya said that the state had procured enough vaccines and other veterinary equipment in view of the contribution of the sub-sector to development of the economy.

Diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia and Peste des Petit Ruminants cause great economic loss to farmers due to high mortality and therefore constitutes a threat to the economy of the state, he said.

The governor said that eradication of trans-boundary animal diseases was significant as such vaccination played roles to animal health and production as well as prevents setbacks in livestock sub-sector.

We will sustain the annual vaccination campaign to ensure that we protect the health of animals while boosting production, Yahaya pledged.

According to him, any efforts toward enhancing the livestock sub-sector will also translate to improvement in the socio-economic status of rural dwellers that are predominantly farmers.

He called for collective responsibility in animal disease control and commended the Federal Governments Livestock Transformation Plan toward controlling animal diseases across the nation.

On his part, Dr Musa Inuwa, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the exercise was commendable saying, Gombe state is one of the largest livestock producing states.

Inuwa said that the state was contributing to the economic growth of the country with over one million heads of livestock (cattle, sheep and goat).

The director said that the Federal Government and the Gombe state were collaborating toward development of a modern Wawa Zange grazing reserve.

He added that such efforts would help to improve livestock production, wealth creation, reduce poverty and boost food security while reducing the perennial farmer-herder conflicts.

He also commended the state governments efforts in improving animal health and boosting livestock production in the sub-sector.

Inuwa appealed to the government to engage more veterinary personnel as the eight doctors for the state were not enough.

Also, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Mr Mohammed Magaji, said efforts were being sustained in ensuring that livestock sub-sector was improved to create wealth in rural areas.

Magaji also commended the state governments efforts in prioritising the agricultural sector to boost food security in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Adeoti

The Osun Executive Council has approved Food Support Scheme for vulnerable persons in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council took the decision at its weekly meeting on Tuesday.

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ismail Omidipan, in Osogbo.

Oyetola noted that the food scheme would be targeting 30,000 poor and vulnerable citizens of the state, starting from March 2021 till November 2022.

He said persons with special needs in all the local government areas of the state would benefit from the scheme.

The governor added that the poor and the vulnerable persons in various churches would be reached through the Christian Association of Nigeria.

He said the ones in the mosques would get theirs through the various Muslim communities.

Oyetola said that the vulnerable groups as well as the artisans would get the food through their associations.

The needy among other ethnic groups in the state would get the food support through their leaders, the traditional worshipers through their association and traders through Iyalojas and Babalojas, he said.

Oyetola said that the food items would be sourced locally in line with his administrations policy of promoting small, micro and medium businesses.

He said the council also approved the allocation of farm lands to youths interested in agriculture. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

State governors and their deputies are to take the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday (March 10).

Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti, disclosed this at a virtual news conference on Thursday.

Fayemi said that the vaccination was part of resolutions made by the governors during an emergency virtual meeting held on Thursday.

The NGF chairman read a communique issued by the governors at the end of the meeting.

He said that the vaccination would be done publicly.

Fayemi said the governors would enlighten more Nigerians on the need to take the vaccine, which, he said, was safe.

He expressed the governors commitment to work with the Federal Government to ensure that the required cold chain would be set up for the vaccine.

The governor encouraged citizens to use the e-registeration portal on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency website nphcsaict.com.ng/publicreg to register for vaccination.

He said that Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, at the meeting, briefed the governors on the 3.92m doses of the vaccine received by Nigeria on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the leadership and frontline health workers would be the first to receive the vaccine as from March 6, beginning with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Fayemi gave the assurance that the vaccine was researched to be safe for persons up to 18 years.

The meeting also attended by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu; Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, and other medical experts. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Speaker, DeltaHouse of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, has commended the peaceful conduct of Saturday council poll across the state.

Oborevwori made the commendation shortly after he cast his vote at about 10:05 a.m. in Unit 9 Ward 6 in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

I want to tell you that the election is peaceful. Everybody accepts the candidature of Mr Isaiah Isiovwa as Chairman of Okpe Local Government Area.

Victory is sure for the PDP in Okpe Local Government Area, he said.

In the same vein, Isiovwa said that the election was peaceful, adding that the massive turnout was an indication that the electorate were ready to cast their votes.

Also, Dr Michael Tidi, the immediate past Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, commended the peaceful conduct of the election.

Tidi said shortly after he cast his vote at about 10:30 a.m. in Idudu Unit 14 Okere Ward 6, Warri South, that the exercise was peaceful.

The immediate past chairman, who is seeking re-election under the platform of the PDP, said he was optimistic of clinching the chairmanship seat.

He urged those who had yet to exercise their franchise to do so noting that it was their civic rights.

The election is very peaceful. If you were there when I cast my vote, you would have seen the warm reception accorded us.

We believe we will be elected because we went about our campaign, he said.

Meanwhile, Isaac Aguanah, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for the Patani Local Government Area, says he is optimistic of winning the election.

The PDP candidate who voted in Unit 3, Ward 13, noted that the process was peaceful.

Aguanah, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his Bulu Angiama country home, said that when elected, he would ensure meaning development in the area.

My aim is to carry on with the ongoing development of the local government area.

I will also ensure that my administration embarks on human and infrastructural development as well as provision of social amenities, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammad Adamu, has emerged the winner of Saturdays Kafinhausa State Constituency by-election in Jigawa.

Adamu polled 14,924 votes to beat other candidates in the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the poll took place in the 120 polling units in the area.

Prof. Ahmed Kutama, the Returning Officer, declared the result at the collation centre in Kafinhausa Local Government Area.

He said the APC candidate defeated his closest rival, Garba Muhammad Tambale, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 8,612 votes.

The electoral officer declared Adamu the winner, having secured the highest number of votes.

The third contestant was Usman Isyako of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) who secured 72 votes. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the occasion of his 64thbirthday coming up on Monday.

Lawan, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, joined family and friends to celebrate Osinbajo.

He described the vice president as an erudite lawyer, intellectual giant, respected religious leader and distinguished administrator.

His Excellency, Prof. Osinbajo has made his marks in his many fields of endeavour and particularly, in the administration of our great nation.

I pray that God Almighty will continue to imbue him with wisdom and good health, as he ably supports President Muhammadu Buhari on the patriotic mission to transform Nigeria and unite the people in happiness and prosperity.

Mr Vice President, here is again wishing you a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day, Lawan said.

The senate president wished the vice president many more years in robust health. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Carol V. Utulu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the March 6 Delta local government elections.

The Chairman of the Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Chief Mike Ogbodu, declared the election results in Asaba on Sunday.

Ogbodu said that the PDP cleared all the 25 chairmanship and 500 councillorship positions in the 25 local government areas of the state.

The local government election in Delta State which was conducted on Saturday, March 6, 2021 has been won by the PDP.

According to results collated across the 25 local government areas, the PDP cleared all the chairmanship and councillorship positions.

Let me state here that there was no recorded incidence of violence during and after the election across the state, Ogbodu said.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the results has been greeted with protest by Mr. Samson Uwandulu, a councillorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his supporters.

Uwandulu, who spoke to newsmen at the premises of DSIEC, alleged that he won the election in Isele-Azagba Ward 6, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

My name is Samson Uwandulu. I contested for the councillorship election in Ward 6, Isele-Azagba.

After the election, the electoral officer for the ward counted the votes in the presence of all party agents.

From the counted figures, I polled 408 votes, while the PDP candidate got 317 votes.

But before I could be pronounced the winner, the officials stopped the process and they all entered a car and drove off, Uwandulu said.

Efforts to contact DSIEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr Arubi Orugboh, for reaction on the councillorship candidates allegation proved abortive as he did not respond to calls or text message to him through phone.

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was born on March 8, 1957, has clocked 64 years.

Osinbajo survived a helicopter crash in Kogi on Feb. 2, 2019, and won re-election on Feb. 23, 2019, for another four-year term with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo, Nigerias 5th Vice President, is the Chairman of the National Economic Council which deliberates on economic planning efforts and programmes of the various tiers of government.

As the chairman of NEC, Osinbajo has spearheaded critical resolutions on economy, health, technology, agriculture, infrastructure and security, among others.

At the onset of COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Buhari asked him to chair the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) which drafted the Economic Sustainability (ESP) being implemented at present to shore up the economy.

The vice president attended the Igbobi College, Lagos, University of Lagos (UNILAG) from 1975 to 1978, and London School of Economics and Political Science.

He was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 until 2007.

Osinbajo worked as a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos for many years; he was also a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.

He is also a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, have three children.

Buhari, in a birthday message, paid glowing tribute to the vice president.

Osinbajo is a reliable and dedicated deputy who is not only admirably competent, but also exudes confidence and passion in the performance of his job.

I am proud to have selected Osinbajo as my running mate and he has given a good account of himself since our journey began in 2015.

The vice president is a cool-headed gentleman who puts the interest of Nigeria above other narrow considerations, Buhari said.

Buhari added that Osinbajo was an incredibly patient politician who demonstrated remarkable intellectual and mental energy in the discharge of his duties.

He wished him many more prosperous years and Almighty Gods continued guidance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke
Andrew Chambers, the worlds first Professor of Internal Audit, has endorsed the forthcoming virtual programme on survival strategies for Nigerian and African leaders during the COVID-19 era organised by TEXEM UK.

TEXEM, UK, which has trained over 4,000 executives in the UK and Africa in the past 10 years, is founded by Dr Alim Abubakre, a British based entrepreneur from Nigeria.

Chambers, a key faculty for the programme, spoke on Sunday through TEXEM UK website on the coming executive development programme slated for March 10 and March 11 while sharing insights into how to succeed in such turbulent times.

On why leaders should attend the programme, he said that given TEXEMs impressive pedigree of consistently helping organisations to thrive and the world-renowned faculties expected, it is a programme that every executive should not miss.

Faculties who would be delivering the programme include Mike Wilkins, Managing Director S

By George Edomwonyi

The Management of Macana Company Limited, an investor in solid minerals in Edo, has urged the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to urgently tackle the activities of illegal miners operating in the state.

The company said there was need to tackle illegal mining,particularly in Dagbala, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state.

The company made the call on Sunday after a meeting between its management and the traditional institution of Dagbala led by the Okaku I of Dagbala, Albert Agbebaku.

Mr Fatai Jimoh, Macana Operating Officer, while briefing journalists after the meeting,said Dagbala, which hasalarge deposit of gold had become the operational base of illegal miners.

He said the illegal miners disrupt the activities of licensed miners.

Jimoh said the firm had written several petitions to the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development over the illegal miners in Dagbala, adding that they were still waiting for actionfromthe ministry against the illegal miners.

Jimoh said the activities of illegal miners were also robbing the Federal Government of the much needed revenue in the sector.

The illegal miners have graduated from working without papers to working with papers in areas where they do not have jurisdiction or licence to mine for gold or any mineral.

They parade fake licences to hoodwink security men when they are confronted.

We have reported the matter to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The ministry should come out strongly against such illegal activities.

The Mining Cadastral Office should do more than they are doing whenever there is a report, he said.

Jimoh said that the security operatives needed to learn how to identify fake mining licences.

What I mean is that every licence has its longitude and latitude, whoever says he has a licence can only work where its longitude and latitude stipulate, he said.

He said the traditional rulers needed to be reminded that all minerals belonged to the Federal Government and they (rulers) should respect the Mining Cadastral Office and stop giving consent to illegal miners for existing places, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Havenhill Synergy Ltd. has raised N1.89 billion (.6m) for the construction of 22 mini-grids from Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) under the Nigeria Electrification Project.

The NIDF Chief Executive Officer, Anshul Rai, in a statement on Monday said that NIDF would provide Havenhill long-term financing of N1.89 billion (.6m) to part-finance the roll out of these mini-grids.

He said that the mini-grids would connect 70,000 people along with other establishments in the host communities to clean, reliable energy supply.

Rai said that the development was part of Havenhills strategic focus on energy access and clean energy for Nigerians.

He said it was quite fulfilling to note that NIDF was playing a significant role in improving energy access in Nigeria.

NIDF prides itself in being the leader in financing of clean energy and energy access projects in Nigeria and thus contribute to the achievement of UNs sustainable Development Goals.

In multiple projects such as Havenhill, our unit holders can see their capital in action and generating not only financial returns but also making a strong, positive impact on the daily lives of their fellow citizens, Rai said.

He said that financing of the project would be funded from the funds recently concluded Series-7 capital raise, which also involved the participation of African Development Bank.

With the support of AfDB, NIDF is also implementing a comprehensive Environmental

By Ebere Agozie
Ms Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, says illgotten money is not welcome in the UK.

Laing, made this known on Tuesday, during the signing ceremony of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UK and Nigeria for the return of former Gov. James Iboris confiscated assets from the UK at the Ministry of Justice.

She said the MoU will see the return of over 4.2million pounds recovered from the associates and family of Ibori to the Nigerian government.

The return of these assets to Nigeria has been subject to a number of hard fought legal challenges by third parties which were defeated in the UK courts.

We will ensure the full weight of law enforcement to crack down those who use, move or hide their proceed of crime in the UK.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in February 2012, Ibori pleaded guilty in a UK court to money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and forgery and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Some of his associates and family members also received sentences for similar offences.

The Commissioner said that transparent asset recovery is priority for both UK and Nigeria governments.

It is vital that this agreement makes strong provision for transparency, monitoring and accountability.

It is a guiding principle of both UK and Nigerian governments that stolen assets should be used for projects that benefit Nigerias poor, she said.

Also speaking, Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said the federal government is committed to ensuing the transparent management of all recovered assets.

The assets returned will support and assist in expediting the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

The projects are the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja Kano road and the second Niger Bridge that are being executed under the supervision of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

The project will boost economic growth and help alleviate poverty by connecting people and supply chains from the East to the West and to the Northern part of Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, while welcoming the guests said the ministry has fully assumed its leadership role in its constitutional duty in the administration of Justice in Nigeria.

It has led to the formulation of National Strategies/Action Plan for combating corruption.

Vigorous pursuing repatriation of recovered looted funds/assets in the face of daunting challenges.

Drafting of Bills to stifle corrupt practices and to bring about and efficient and beneficial management of the proceeds of crime amongst others.

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom

The Federal Government says it is taking measures aimed at bridging the infrastructure gaps in the Nations military formations.

Minister of State for Health Olorunnimbe Mamora, said this on Saturday at the inauguration and handing over of Jetty and Shoreline protection facilities at Underwater Warfare School, Ojo, Lagos State.

The minister said that such intervention projects was necessary in order to respond to emerging trend and sophistication in modern warfare in addressing security challenges.

This project will also help enhance the professional competencies of the officers and men of the service and by extension, stimulate their aggressive drive of securing the country against criminal acts.

Also, security challenges confronting the nation like maritime crime, piracy, banditry, oil bunkering, kidnapping and insurgency will be aggressively dealt with, he said.

Mamora said that the construction of Jetty and Shoreline protection works would also help assuage the fear of menace of erosion and other ecological challenges in the area.

This is proof that the federal government is keeping faith with the present administrations promise that no part of the country will suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration.

I therefore, implore the Lagos State Government and Underwater Warfare School to cherish this laudable project and protect it from any abuse, the minister said.

Mamora said that the intervention project was executed through the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the benefit of the Nigerian Navy.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, said that the efficient and effective projection of sea power by maritime forces was dependent on the physical configuration of the harbours and jetties.

This constitutes a critical interphase connecting the sea with land. Therefore, the shoreline protection and the restoration of the jetty will no doubt enhance Nigeria Navy maritime security operation.

The timely conclusion of this project has helped to steer off the fears associated with shoreline erosion including the attendant risk of flooding to the entire landscape.

This is even more worrisome considering that the Navy Town is a strategic naval establishment housing the largest Nigerian Navy barracks as well as other major Nigeria Navy establishment, he said.

Gambo said that the Nigeria Navy would take ownership of the project and assured the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the project.

Even as the project is been commissioned some of our vessels have been earmarked to berth at this facility. The only hindrance is the non completion of berthing activities from the approaches of Badagry creek, he said.

The CNS therefore said that additional berthing operation would be required to facilitate a safe and unhindered use of the jetty.

Additionally, I will urge further intervention in the area of the shoreline protection from the current 80metres to at least another 400 metres to cover up to the Joint Maritime Security Training centre and the Special Boat Service camp which is currently nearing completion.

This way, the Federal Government of Nigeria will have had returns of the resources committed to the project and greatly invigorate Nigerian Navys response and capacity against the criminal element at sea, he said.

Gambo appreciated the President Muhammadu Buhari for considering the Nigerian Navy as a suitable beneficiary of the project.

He, however, solicited for more EFO interventions on other identified sites at the Nigerian Navy bases and establishments namely: Escravos and F, Ibaka and Calabar jetty.

I assure that the Nigeria Navy by such intervention will be more emboldened in the performance of her statutory role of maritime defense and Security of the nations maritime domain, Gambo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) is to set up offices nationwide to help curb conflicts and engender peace, according to the Director-General of the institute, Dr Bakut Bakut.

Speaking at a special forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Bakut said the offices would be established before the end of 2023.

He said that establishing the offices would take the institute closer to the people and closer to the root causes of conflicts.

The director-general noted that setting up offices across the country would also put the IPCR on the path to fulfilling its mandate.

When I came in, I felt that we had been operational for many years and we did not have serious presence in the country and yet we had an African mandate.

So I made sure that before the end of the year 2018, we established four offices.

One is in Gwagwalada. Then we have one in Ekiti, one in Anambra North, and one in Plateau State.

For now I can tell you that we have 10 offices in the country. Six of them are functional and to the other four, we are in the process of posting staff.

My estimation is that by this year, 2021 I am going to also have another 10 offices opened.

I am doing these because the conflicts are in our localities. The conflicts are not in Abuja. They are not in the state capitals. They are where the real people are.

Until we are able to reach the people, sensitise them, advocate for peace, intervene and train them on how to live in peace with one another, we will just be talking.

I want to say that between now and the time I will conclude my responsibility, I want to assure you that we would get the institute to every part of Nigeria, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has underscored the need for the National Peace Policy (NPP) Bill to be passed into law urgently, to proffer solutions to Nigerias conflict situations.

The NPP is a national framework, designed to guide efforts to prevent conflicts and build peace in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the IPCR, Dr Bakut Bakut, made the call while answering questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday in Abuja.

Bakut lamented that the national peace policy had not yet been presented to the Federal Executive Council for endorsement.

He said that although Nigeria was the first country in Africa to develop that kind of policy, countries such as Ghana and Zimbabwe, who copied what Nigeria had done had since passed the policy into law with Nigeria still lagging.

We were the first in the whole of Africa to develop NPP. Ghana came and copied from us, went ahead and established their own.

Zimbabwe did the same. Other countries did their own and we now went back to try and copy what we are the originators of, Bakut said.

Asked to shed light on the issues contained in the national peace policy, the director-general said: The first thing we talked about was transmuting the institute to a commission and making sure there is a Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons because that was where we saw the impending problem of harming Nigerians.

We needed to control that. It is there.

We also talked about the peace fund. We realised that you have to have money to do peace work and government cannot do all that alone.

The private sector can actually bring in money to do that but it is not there.

So if we have all these, the early warning issue came up from there too but we have extracted the early warning element, which is what we have institutionalised now and we have actually established an Early Warning Centre (EWC).

All our zonal offices and peace-building offices are linked to the EWC.

We get real-time information on what is happening and therefore, process it to where they should go, said Bakut. (NAN)

Source: NAN News