The Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal presided over by Justice Halima Shamaki has upheld the election of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and dismissed the petition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf.

More to come.

Source: NAN

The Oyo State House of Assembly says the police have arrested two security guards in connection with the theft of an electrical fuse in the complex.

The Clerk of the House,Mrs Felicia Oyediran, said this at a press conference on Wednesday.

She said that the police arrested the two guards who were on duty when the theft occurred.

Oyediran, who denied reports that the thieves carted away electrical cables worth over N500,000, said the only stolen item was an electricalfuse in the generator worth N40,000.

The stolen fuse was from the generator and not an IBEDC(Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company) cable.

Though the occurrence was not the first , we have to build a burglary proof (netting) to protect the generator, she said.

She maintained that the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sept.26, had not slowed down legislative activities in the state.

Source: NAN

By Franca Ofili

Mr Festus Adebayo, the Chief Executive of Fesadeb Communications Ltd., on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the housing sector to address effects of population growth on the sector.

Adebayo, who was the convener of the just-concluded 13th Abuja International Housing Show, made the call in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, the population of the country is growing at a geometric rate, while the government is working at arithmetic progression.

He said the Federal Governments efforts could not match the countrys population growth rate.

The 18 million deficit cannot still be same, everyday we are increasing in number without increasing in ideas, policies and political will.

The government should declare state of emergency in the area of housing; you cannot be selling cement for N2,500 and then ask one to deliver a house for two million naira.

The cost of building is very high, so government should act now before it will be late, said.

Adebayo said that government should not be involved in building houses, rather it should come up with policies that would encourage people to invest in the sector.

He advised relevant authorities to focus more on what is called Rental Housing Scheme which he defined as own and pay accordingly .

Adebayo also called on the government to ban importation of building materials so that Nigerians can use local materials.

NAN reports that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Leilani Farha, when she visited the country, advised that Nigeria must address its housing problem.

According to her, the United Nations estimates that Nigerias population will double by 2050 to around 400 million people to make it the worlds third-largest nation after India and China.

She said that there was lack of adequate housing in a country where most inhabitants lived on less than two dollars a day in spite of being Africas largest economy. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Forum of Nigerians in Francophone speaking countries in the West and Central African region has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for being alive to her responsibilities as an institution focused on the preservation of national security.

The views of the forum were conveyed in a communique at the end of her 59th Independence Anniversary reunion held at Hotel Tahiti Quarter Jak, Benin Republic and signed by its President, Dr Isaac Oduma.

The forum expressed faith in the capacity of Nigerias security agencies particularly the DSS for her many years of dedicated service delivery to the nation.

He stated: the country is blessed with an outstanding institution in the DSS and above all a committed leadership that is passionate about new reforms and keeping to the objectives of the institution.

The president of the forum further commended the sagacity and ingenuity of President Muhammadu Buhari for the supportive roles he had always played as the Commander-In-Chief of the republic of Nigeria.

The group noted with satisfaction that the country through the DSS had been exceptionally professional in the handling of issues that would otherwise dismember the country if left unattended to.

You will recall ladies and gentlemen that about two months ago, some citizens had put it on record to overthrow a legally constituted government in our country Nigeria and also disarm the DSS.

This to my knowledge, is the most deafening, unpatriotic and unwholesome intention I have ever heard since the return of democracy.

So, on behalf of the Nigerian people in the Francophone speaking countries in West and Central Africa, I must say that we are totally satisfied and pleased with the proactive measures utilised by the institution.

Without the current proactive approach employed by the agency, no one would have guaranteed the countrys existence today as we celebrate 59 years of independence.

Our challenges are still much but the road to development is not by virtue of outlawing Society with her laws, conventions and values.

We have families and investments back home and to think a Nigerian whose family is nationalised in the U.S. and UKwill contemplate and fund a revolution for parochial interest is not only unfortunate but regrettably repugnant to the values we hold as Nigerians, Oduma said.

Oduma further said that as diaspora citizens, the group members would contribute the highest foreign investments back home to enhance the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign reserves.

He said they would not fold their arms and watch the country go down through illicit means.

Never in the history of our national existence has a government been overthrown through a forceful means in a democratic setting such as we have today and why should any sane mind initiate or suggest that path after losing an election.

The group through its president insisted that the vote of confidence passed on the DSS and her leadership was borne out of a deep conviction of the majority of the members.

The diaspora forum urged the leadership of other security agencies to emulate and compliment the DSS in spite of recurring blackmail and arm twisting by paid media and legal merchants whose interests are against that of national security. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A woman has told how she dressed up as a bush in order to covertly capture her sister’s engagement moment.

Therese Merkel, 23, told her Twitter followers how she disguised herself to blend in with the wilderness to watch her sister Rachel getting proposed to by partner Andrew Philibeck.

The post features images of Merkel dressed in a head-to-toe twig-covered bush costume, and disguised in among some foliage, next to the cute shot of the surprise engagement moment, featuring sunflowers and lights.

“We are one years apart...why are our lives so different,” Merkel lamented in the post. The tweet has quickly gone viral, receiving more than 170,000 likes at time of writing.

Merkel opened up more about the engagement to Yahoo UK.

She tells us: “Andrew and I started devising about a month prior. We had an hour long phone call where he asked for my approval to be wed. Me and my sister are incredibly close, so i’m like the second string of parents he has to go though, we didn’t make it easy.

Merkel then helped her brother-in-law to be plan the hilarious proposal, which she played a crucial part in.

“Apart from being in the special moment, I taped the whole thing. While I was hiding, I had the perfect view to the whole thing— Andrew knew I was hiding and wasn’t even sure I was there when he walked down— thats how baller this suit was. He wrote her a loving poem, and then got down on one knee,” she says.

She adds: “After Taylor spilled the beans that Rachel and Andrew weren't alone, I revealed myself by screaming ‘She said yes!’. Rachel was very confused and I was legitimately crying tears of joy because of how special the whole event was.”

As for the responses on social media, people are congratulating the couple, as well as calling Merkel’s gesture “sweet” and saying she is “the best sister”.

A number of users are also tagging their friends in the comments thread below, saying they would be in Merkel’s position.

Sister got engaged this weekend and I dressed as a bush in the wilderness to watch/capture the moment. We are 1 yr apart.. why are our lives so different rofl pic.twitter.com/cE14RBZ9CL

— therese merkel (@theresemerkel) September 23, 2019

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri gave a South African bikini model nearly $16 million US dollars after meeting her on holiday, it emerged on Monday, as Lebanon faces violent protests over a burgeoning economic crisis.

Candice van der Merwe met Mr Hariri at a private resort in the Seychelles in 2013 when she was 20. The married father-of-three, who is Lebanon’s most powerful Sunni politician, was 43.

When asked why Mr Hariri gave her the money, she responded that they had begun a romantic relationship. “I have also been told I have a very engaging personality,” she said, in court documents obtained by The New York Times.

The gift would have remained secret were it not for South African tax authorities, who froze Ms van der Merwe’s assets, asking her to explain the change in her fortunes.

She filed suit against them for $65 million in damages, alleging that the hold on her accounts forced her to sell the property she had bought with Mr Hariri’s gift, while the related publicity severed her connection with the Prime Minister.

The court records filed as a result put the details into the public domain. As Mr Hariri gave Ms van der Merwe the money between his two terms as Prime Minister, while not in office, he does not appear to have broken any Lebanese or South African laws.

There are no allegations that the money was linked to public funds, and Mr Hariri, whose personal wealth was estimated at $1.5bn US by Forbes magazine in 2018, is clearly wealthy enough to have sent the transactions from his private accounts.

Staff at Hariri-owned English-language newspaper The Daily Star say they have not been paid their salaries in nearly four months.

Several have left as a result, leaving the publication severely understaffed.

The news of Mr Hariri’s gift came as Moody’s credit rating agency announced it has placed Lebanon’s already low credit rating “under review for a downgrade.”

On Sunday protests against the failing economy and inadequate infrastructure turned violent in the capital Beirut, as protesters blocked roads and set fire to tires.

Mr Hariri has not responded to the reports.

You’ve heard of swimming with the sharks, but what about dancing with the lions?

That’s what one woman did Saturday at New York City’s Bronx Zoo when she climbed over the safety rail at the African lion exhibit.

The unidentified woman was filmed standing in the exhibit near a lion with only a moat with a 14-foot drop separating them, according to CBS New York.

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The woman appears to dance for the lion, who doesn’t appear to be impressed, based on this Instagram video of the incident.

Hernán Reynoso, who filmed the video above, told WNBC TV that at first he thought the woman and her dancing were all part of the exhibit.

That quickly changed.

“But when I see ... she just was there, dancing, saying, ‘Hi,’ to the lion and everything and that was crazy,” Reynoso said.

Reynoso also said when he saw the lion start to get agitated and roar at the woman, he decided to grab his family and leave the scene.

Bronx Zoo officials told WABC TV that there were no injuries from the encounter, but that it has a “zero-tolerance policy” for antics of this sort.

“This action was a serious violation and unlawful trespass that could have resulted in serious injury or death. Barriers and rules are in place to keep both visitors, staff, and animals safe,” the zoo said in a statement.

The woman has not been identified, but the zoo is currently filing a criminal trespass report against her, the station said.

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Divine Oduduru finished last in heat 3 with 20.84 seconds in the mens 200m semi-finals and failed to make appearance in the events final scheduled for Tuesday.

Teammate Blessing Okagbare, on the other hand, was disqualified in her 200m heatfor lane infringement.

Both athletes have experienced a rough start in the build-up after an earlier disqualification from the 200m race.

The duo had been shortlisted to feature in the 100m race against their will.

Their non-participation in the distance resulted to their withdrawal from the other events entered.

But an appeal to the world athletics body saw them reinstated into the world championships.

Meanwhile, Patience Okon-George and Favour Ofili have qualified for the womens 400m semi-finals.

Source: NAN

Parents and Christian groups in Ghana have pushed back against a planned introduction of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for primary school children aged four.

Education officials in Ghana say the UNESCO programme will empower children with information on their sexuality and reproductive health issues, according to BBC Africa report.

Director of the Ghana Education Service says CSE will help nurture positive attitudes, open-mindedness, respect for self and others, non-judgmental attitudes and a sense of responsibility concerning sexual and reproductive health issues.

But pressure groups in Ghana say the programme is a guise to introduce children to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activism. It is a strategy they have a plan.

It is not always open for you to see, says Moses Foh Amoaning, leader of National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, a pressure group that claims homosexuality is a sin.

BB reported that parents and Christian groups are questioning why young children have to be introduced to sex education before they are sexually active, describing the plans as demonic.

Leaders of Ghanas teachers association say they have not been consulted on the programme but have served notice that they are opposed to the move. The CSE programme is set to take effect after consultations with stakeholders in the education sector.

Source: NAN

By Lizzy Okoji

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the South African government had granted Air Peaces request to commence commercial flights to Johannesburg, South Africa

Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the ministry made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the South African Government has grantedrequest for the Nigerian Designated Airline, Air Peace to commence commercial flights to Johannesburg, South Africa.

The confirmation was granted in the process of ascertaining the level of implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and South Africa.

At the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the 9th Session of the Nigeria/South Africa Bi-National Commission Summit in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday, Sept. 27.

The proprietor of Air Peace Airlines, Chief Allen Onyema has also confirmed that the airline would commence operation as soon as possible to promote air travel between Nigeria and South Africa, Nwonye said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the bi-national meeting focused on consolidation of the subsisting signed Agreements/MoUs between both countries

The Nigeria-South Africa Joint Commission was established in 1999 to promote relations between both countries and it was upgraded to Bi-National Commission (BNC) in 2001.

To showcase the strategic nature of the relationship between the two very important countries, the commission is expected to be further upgraded to the Summit level on Oct. 3. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Nigerias popular singer Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid has declared his intention to venture into ashawo business.

Wizkid made the comment on Tenis page while responding to a question on the kind of job they would want to do.

The young singer who appeared to be joking, commented saying Ashawo business! pls bless us billionaire.

See the comment below:

Source: NAN

By EricJames Ochigbo and Itohan Abara-Laserian

Some U.S. agencies and private firms have pledged support for a U.S.- Nigeria co-creation strategy to upscale financing, capacity development and technology transfer in agribusiness in Nigeria.

Dr Tony Bello, Chief Executive Officer of Shine Bridge Global, a U.S. based firm, made the plan known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday after an Agribusiness Finance Roundtable.

The roundtable was organised by AfricaGlobal Schaffer (AfGS) and Shine Bridge Global Inc, both U.S-based firms, in Washington DC on Saturday.

Bello said the groups had been working with departments and agencies of the government to bridge the gap in deal origination and promotion of partnerships between the U.S. and Nigerias agribusinesses.

Bello said the organisations pledged support for import and export trade promotions with sharp focus on Business-to-Business and Government-to-Agribusiness activities and transactions.

He said the firms were working to transform cassava and oil palm production and processing into global industrial food ingredients and new products for export and import trade between the two countries.

Bello said the private sector investors present at the roundtable included Dufil, Agritek, SaroAfrica and Afri Invest, Fayus Inc, Sacramento California, Pacific Ring West Africa Ltd, Abuja and Elephant Group Plc, Lagos Nigeria.

Others were H2AFoods with focus on food technology transfer, WQS/QIMS with focus on food safety and quality and Fayus with focus on cassava and oil palm investments in Edo.

Bello said Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo had earlier wooed private sector agribusiness investors and U.S. government departments and agencies at the roundtable to partner with the state.

Obaseki called for partnership with the Government of Edo in agriculture, food processing and export market development and also opened up on the on-going policy reforms and industrialisation programmes in the state.

According to Bello, the governor seeks to align and extend demands for cassava and oil palm value chains development to other parts of Southern Nigeria.

Bello quoted Obaseki as saying: What we need from the Agribusiness Finance Roundtable is to articulate the framework for collaboration and cooperation between the U.S. and Edo as a sub-national model for Africa.

I want this group to focus on food and agriculture, health, education and technology; we need to promote partnerships to attract private sector investments while balancing the political versus business interest of the state.

Obaseki lauded the programme organisers for the convening of private and public sector stakeholders in attracting investments to Edo. (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that severe consequences await any of the nation revenue-generating agencies that failed to achieve agreed revenue targets.

The president gave the warning in his Independence Day address to mark Nigerias 59th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on Tuesday.

He further warned that the revenue-generating and reporting agencies would come under much greater scrutiny so as to achieve the desired goals.

With this, our revenue-generating and reporting agencies will come under much greater scrutiny, going forward, as the new performance management framework will reward exceptional revenue performance, while severe consequences will attend failures to achieve agreed revenue targets, he said.

Buhari explained that he recently constituted an Economic Advisory Council to advise him on inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies.

He said the Council would work with relevant Cabinet members and the heads of key monetary, fiscal and trade agencies to ensure we remain on track as we strive for collective prosperity.

However, the president stated that his administration was also committed to ensure that the inconvenience associated with any painful policy adjustments, is moderated, such that the poor and the vulnerable, who are most at risk, do not bear the brunt.

Buhari assured that the government ongoing N500 billion Special Intervention Programme would continue to target these vulnerable groups.

He said this would be achieved through the Home-grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power Job Creation Programme, loans for traders and artisans, Conditional Cash Transfers to the poorest families and social housing scheme.

To institutionalize these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date.

To the beneficiaries of these programmes, I want to reassure you that our commitment to social inclusion will only increase, he added.

The president also observed that the nations population growth rate had remained among the highest in the world, presenting both challenges as well as opportunities.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we provide adequate resources to meet the basic needs of our teeming youth.

Accordingly, we shall continue to invest in education, health, water and sanitation, as well as food security, to ensure that their basic needs are met, while providing them with every opportunity to live peaceful, prosperous and productive lives, he maintained.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to releaseN600 billionfor Capital Expenditure in the next three months.

The President gave the directive in his nationwide broadcast to mark the Nigerias 59th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday in Abuja.

He stated that the directive was informed by his administrations desire to significantly increase investments in the nation critical infrastructure.

According to him, the implementation of the 2019 Capital Budget, which was only approved in June 2019, will be accelerated to ensure that critical priority projects are completed or substantially addressed.

He revealed that the Federal Government had so far released N1.74trillion for execution of various capital projects in the 2018 fiscal year.

In this regard, we are significantly increasing investments in critical infrastructure. Last year, capital releases only commenced with the approval of the Budget in June 2018.

However, as at 20th June this year, up toN1.74 trillionhad been released for capital projects in the 2018 fiscal year, he said.

The president noted that the exchange rate in the last three years had remained stable, with robust reserves of42.5 billion dollars, up from23 billion dollarsin Oct. 2016.

He added that, to maximise impact, the federal government would continue to increasingly welcome and encourage private capital for infrastructure development through Public Private Partnerships.

Through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, which I initiated in January this year, we are giving incentives to private sector inflow of overN205 billionin 19 Nigerian roads and bridges of 794.4km across in 11 States of the Federation.

As we push to diversify the economy, we still remain focused on optimising the revenues generated from the oil and gas sector.

We will, working with the Legislature, soon pass the Petroleum Industry Bill and amendments to theDeep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Actinto law, to ensure Government obtains a fair share of oil revenues, whilst encouraging private sector investment, he said.

Buhari maintained that his administration would also continue the fight against illegal bunkering of crude oil and the smuggling of refined petroleum products across the borders.

He said this would include the diligent prosecution and conviction of offenders found guilty of these acts.

Whilst Nigeria remains committed to free and fair continental and international trade, we will not hesitate to take all necessary steps to tackle illegal smuggling, transshipment and other predatory trade practices that destroy jobs in our country, the president added.

On power, Buhari reiterated his administrations determination to reform the power sector to ensure speedy socio-economic transformation across the country.

We are resolute in reforming the power sector. In August this year, we launched the Presidential Power Initiative to modernize the National Grid in 3 phases: starting from 5 Gigawatts to 7 Gigawatts, then to 11 Gigawatts by 2023, and finally 25 Gigawatts afterwards.

This programme, in partnership with the German Government and Siemens, will provide end-to-end electrification solutions that will resolve our transmission and distribution challenges, he disclosed.

According to him, the programme will also localise the development and assembly of smart meters as well as the operations and maintenance capabilities of transmission and distribution infrastructure.

He expressed delightwith the improved inter-agency collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the regulators in the banking and power sectors to ensure that electricity sales, billings and collections were automated and become cashless.

These initiatives are important to ensure that the technical and collection losses in the sector are substantially reduced.

I remain confident that Nigerians will have affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply in the not too distant future.

Our efforts to improve the power sector will complement other infrastructure investments projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, he said.

He acknowledged that the fund was investing in the Mambilla Power Plant project, as well as key economic road infrastructure such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano Expressway.

The President expressed optimism that the first set of these projects remain on track to be completed by 2022. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says the recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is meant to enhance quality of life of people of the region.

The NDDC prior to the redeployment was being supervised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The president stated this in a nationwide broadcast to mark the nations 59Independence Anniversary, in Abuja on Tuesday.

He emphasized that the decision underscored his administrations commitment to improve the living standards of the people in the Niger Delta, through coordinated and appropriate programmes

The recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs underscores our commitment to enhance the living standards of our communities in the Niger Delta, through coordinated and appropriate programmes, he said.

According to the president, his administration remains equally resolute in its efforts to combat militant attacks on the nation oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and accelerate the Ogoni Clean-up to address long-standing environmental challenges in that region.

The president also said that the Ministry of Police Affairs had been resuscitated to oversee the development and implementation of strategies to enhance internal security.

My recent assent to thehas created a legal framework to support our Police with increased fiscal resources to enhance their law enforcement capabilities.

These initiatives are being complemented by the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force.

This clearly demonstrates our commitment to arrest the incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes across our nation, he added.

Source: NAN

INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

ON THE

OCCASION OF THE 59TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

1st OCTOBER, 2019

Dear Compatriots,

1st October each year is an opportunity for us to reflect and thank God for his endless blessings on our country.

2. It is also a time for us, collectively, to

3. Remember the sacrifices made by our Founders and great leaders past; by soldiers, by distinguished public servants; by traditional leaders, by our workers —- sacrifices on which Nigeria has been built over the 59 years since Independence in 1960; and

4. Rededicate ourselves to attaining the goals which we have set for ourselves: a united, prosperous and purposeful nation in the face of 21st century opportunities and challenges.

5. In the past four years, the majority of Nigerians have committed to Change for the Better. Indeed, this Administration was re-elected by Nigerians on a mandate to deliver positive and enduring Change – through maintaining our National Security; restoring sustainable and inclusive Economic Growth and Development; and fighting Corruption against all internal and external threats.

6. This Change can only be delivered if we are united in purpose, as individuals and as a nation. We must all remain committed to achieving this positive and enduring Change. As I stated four years ago, “Change does not just happen… We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust… simply put, to bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”

SECURITY:

7. Good Governance and Economic Development cannot be sustained without an enabling environment of peace and security. In the last four years, we have combatted the terrorist scourge of Boko Haram. We owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant men and women in arms, through whose efforts we have been able to achieve the present results. We are also grateful to our neighbours and allies – within the region and across the world – who have supported us on this front.

8. The capacity of our armed forces to defend our territorial integrity continues to be enhanced by the acquisition of military hardware as well as continued improvements in the working conditions of our service men and women.

9. The Ministry of Police Affairs has been resuscitated to oversee the development and implementation of strategies to enhance internal security. My recent assent to the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act has created a legal framework to support our Police with increased fiscal resources to enhance their law enforcement capabilities.

10. These initiatives are being complemented by the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force. This clearly demonstrates our commitment to arrest the incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes across our nation.

11. We remain equally resolute in our efforts to combat militant attacks on our oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and accelerate the Ogoni Clean-up to address long-standing environmental challenges in that region.

12. The recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs underscores our commitment to enhance the living standards of our communities in the Niger Delta, through coordinated and appropriate programmes.

13. Our attention is increasingly being focused on cyber-crimes and the abuse of technology through hate speech and other divisive material being propagated on social media. Whilst we uphold the Constitutional rights of our people to freedom of expression and association, where the purported exercise of these rights infringes on the rights of other citizens or threatens to undermine our National Security, we will take firm and decisive action.

14. In this regard, I reiterate my call for all to exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations. Whilst the ongoing national discourse on various political and religious issues is healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past – lessons that are most relevant on a day such as this.

15. The path of hatred and distrust only leads to hostility and destruction. I believe that the vast majority of Nigerians would rather tread the path of peace and prosperity, as we continue to uphold and cherish our unity.

ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMY GROWTH

16. This Administration inherited a skewed economy, where the Oil Sector comprised only 8% of Gross Domestic Product but contributed 70% of government revenue and 90% foreign exchange earnings over the years. Past periods of relatively high economic growth were driven by our reliance on Oil Sector revenues to finance our demand for imported goods and services. Regrettably, previous governments abandoned the residual Investment-driven Non-Oil Sector, which constituted 40% of Gross Domestic Product and comprised agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, arts, entertainment, mining and manufacturing activities that provide millions of jobs for able-bodied Nigerians and utilize locally available raw materials and labour for production.

17. To address this imbalance, our commitment to achieving economic diversification has been at the heart of our economic strategies under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which I launched on the 5th of April, 2017.

18. This medium-term development plan charted the trajectory for our economy to exit from recession and return to the path of sustainable, diversified and inclusive growth for Nigerians. Pursuant to these reforms, the economy has recovered and we have had 9 successive quarters of growth since our exit from recession. The exchange rate in the last 3 years has remained stable, with robust reserves of US$42.5 billion, up from US$23 billion in October 2016.

19. Learning from the mistakes of the past, this Administration is committed to responsibly managing our oil wealth endowments. We will continue to prudently save our oil income and invest more in the non-oil job-creating sectors.

20. In this regard, we are significantly increasing investments in critical infrastructure. Last year, capital releases only commenced with the approval of the Budget in June 2018. However, as at 20th June this year, up to N1.74 trillion had been released for capital projects in the 2018 fiscal year.

21. Implementation of the 2019 Capital Budget, which was only approved in June 2019, will be accelerated to ensure that critical priority projects are completed or substantially addressed. The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been directed to release N600 billion for Capital Expenditure in the next 3 months.

22. To maximise impact, we shall continue to increasingly welcome and encourage private capital for infrastructural development through Public Private Partnerships. Through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, which I initiated in January this year, we are giving incentives to private sector inflow of over N205 billion in 19 Nigerian roads and bridges of 794.4km across in 11 States of the Federation.

23. As we push to diversify the economy, we still remain focused on optimizing the revenues generated from the oil and gas sector. We will, working with the Legislature, soon pass the Petroleum Industry Bill and amendments to the Deep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act into law, to ensure Government obtains a fair share of oil revenues, whilst encouraging private sector investment.

24. We will also continue our fight against illegal bunkering of crude oil and the smuggling of refined petroleum products across our borders, including the diligent prosecution and conviction of offenders found guilty of these acts. Whilst Nigeria remains committed to free and fair continental and international trade, we will not hesitate to take all necessary steps to tackle illegal smuggling, transshipment and other predatory trade practices that destroy jobs in our country.

25. We are resolute in reforming the power sector. In August this year, we launched the Presidential Power Initiative to modernize the National Grid in 3 phases: starting from 5 Gigawatts to 7 Gigawatts, then to 11 Gigawatts by 2023, and finally 25 Gigawatts afterwards. This programme, in partnership with the German Government and Siemens, will provide end-to-end electrification solutions that will resolve our transmission and distribution challenges.

26. The programme will also look to localize the development and assembly of smart meters as well as the operations and maintenance capabilities of transmission and distribution infrastructure.

27. I am pleased with the improved inter-agency collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the regulators in the banking and power sectors to ensure that electricity sales, billings and collections are automated and become cashless.

28. These initiatives are important to ensure that the technical and collection losses in the sector are substantially reduced. I remain confident that Nigerians will have affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply in the not too distant future.

29. Our efforts to improve the power sector will complement other infrastructure investments projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, which is investing in the Mambilla Power Plant project, as well as key economic road infrastructure such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano Expressway. The first set of these projects remain on track to be completed by 2022.

30. Our journey to food security and self-sufficiency is well underway. We have made remarkable progress in almost all segments of the agriculture value chain, from fertilizers to rice, to animal feed production. We shall sustain these policies to ensure additional investments are channeled, thereby creating more jobs in the sector. We must not go back to the days of importing food and thereby exporting jobs.

31. Our commitment to achieving macroeconomic stability and economic diversification, has been underscored by the merger of the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

32. This combined Ministry has the important mandate to enhance the management of domestic and global fiscal risks; coordinate policies with the trade and monetary authorities; raise and deploy revenues to fund budgeted expenditure; and integrate annual budgets and medium-term fiscal strategies.

33. With this, our revenue-generating and reporting agencies will come under much greater scrutiny, going forward, as the new performance management framework will reward exceptional revenue performance, while severe consequences will attend failures to achieve agreed revenue targets.

34. I recently constituted an Economic Advisory Council to advise me on inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies. This independent body will work with relevant Cabinet members and the heads of key monetary, fiscal and trade agencies to ensure we remain on track as we strive for collective prosperity. However, we are also committed to ensure that the inconvenience associated with any painful policy adjustments, is moderated, such that the poor and the vulnerable, who are most at risk, do not bear the brunt.

35. Our ongoing N500 billion Special Intervention Programme continues to target these vulnerable groups, through the Home-grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power Job Creation Programme, loans for traders and artisans, Conditional Cash Transfers to the poorest families and social housing scheme.

36. To institutionalize these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date. To the beneficiaries of these programmes, I want to reassure you that our commitment to social inclusion will only increase.

37. Our population growth rate remains amongst the highest in the world, presenting both challenges as well as opportunities. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we provide adequate resources to meet the basic needs of our teeming youth.

38. Accordingly, we shall continue to invest in education, health, water and sanitation, as well as food security, to ensure that their basic needs are met, while providing them with every opportunity to live peaceful, prosperous and productive lives.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND RESTORING GOOD GOVERNANCE:

39. On fighting corruption, our institutional reforms to enforce the Treasury Single Account policy, introduce the Whistle-blowers’ Initiative, expand the coverage of the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System as well as the Government Integrated Management Information System have saved billions of Naira over the last four years, and deterred the rampant theft and mismanagement of public funds that have plagued our public service.

40. The Ministry of Justice, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will continue to address this menace. We are determined to ensure that transparency and good governance are institutionalized in public service.

41. We must commit to installing a culture of Good Governance in all we do. This Administration has fought against corruption, by investigating and prosecuting those accused of embezzlement and the misuse of public resources. We have empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed databases of evidence, traced the proceeds of crimes and accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.

42. Furthermore, we partnered with our friends abroad to combat tax evasion, smuggling, terrorism and illicit financial flows. In June 2018, I assented to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, to provide a domestic legal framework for obtaining international assistance in criminal matters.

43. This measure has already strengthened our law enforcement agencies in obtaining evidence, investigating suspects and facilitating the recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of property implicated as proceeds of crime.

44. An example is the US$300 million recently identified as part of the Abacha money-laundering case, working closely with the Government of the United States of America. The Federal Ministry of Justice is working with the US Department of Justice to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding to expedite the repatriation of these funds.

45. The P & ID Arbitral Award has underscored the manner in which significant economic damage has been caused by the past activities of a few corrupt and unpatriotic Nigerians.

46. The policies that we are putting in place today are to ensure such criminal and unpatriotic acts do not go without consequences. Our renewed partnership with the 9th National Assembly will facilitate the swift passage of enabling laws that will institutionalize these anti-corruption efforts in our criminal justice system.

47. In this connection, I call upon our States to intensify their own efforts to instill greater fiscal transparency and accountability. And to ensure greater fiscal efficiency and optimum use of our very scarce resources.

48. The blight of Corruption is fighting back. Nevertheless, this is a battle that we shall see through and this is a war, which we shall win by the Grace of God.

49. I will also call upon all Nigerians, from every walk of life, to combat Corruption at every turn. By choosing to question and confront corrupt practices, by reporting unethical practices or through whistleblowing. Together, we can overcome corruption and will no longer be a country defined by corruption.

50. Fellow Nigerians, let me reiterate my call for unity across our dear nation.

51. Nigeria will emerge from our present challenges stronger and more resilient than ever – but only if all of us join hands to entrench Good Governance, foster Inclusive Economic Development, and defend and protect our Nation from all those who would wish us ill.

52. I thank you most sincerely and wish you a Happy Independence Anniversary.

53. May God bless you all, and may He continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari has reinforced the administrations commitment to effectively managing the nations economy.

Buhari disclosed this during the nationwide broadcast as he analysed the progress his administration had achieved and the new development implemented.

He said that his administration would ensure prudent management and saving of the oil incomes.

learning from the mistakes of the past, this Administration is committed to responsibly managing our oil wealth endowments.

We will continue to prudently save our oil income and invest more in the non-oil job-creating sectors.

This Administration inherited a skewed economy, where the Oil Sector comprised only 8% of Gross Domestic Product but contributed 70% of government revenue and 90% foreign exchange earnings over the years.

Past periods of relatively high economic growth were driven by our reliance on Oil Sector revenues to finance our demand for imported goods and services.

Regrettably, previous governments abandoned the residual Investment-driven Non-Oil Sector, which constituted 40% of Gross Domestic Product and comprised agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, arts, entertainment, mining and manufacturing activities that provide millions of jobs for able-bodied Nigerians and utilise locally available raw materials and labour for production.

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administrations attention is increasingly being focused on cyber-crimes and the abuse of technology through hate speech and other divisive material being propagated on social media.

The Nigerian leader made this known when he addressed the nation via a broadcast to mark Nigerias 59th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on Tuesday.

The president enjoined all citizens to always exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations.

Whilst we uphold the Constitutional rights of our people to freedom of expression and association, where the purported exercise of these rights infringes on the rights of other citizens or threatens to undermine our National Security, we will take firm and decisive action.

In this regard, I reiterate my call for all to exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations.

Whilst the ongoing national discourse on various political and religious issues is healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past lessons that are most relevant on a day such as this.

According to him, the path of hatred and distrust only leads to hostility and destruction.

He believed that the vast majority of Nigerians would rather tread the path of peace and prosperity, as we continue to uphold and cherish our unity.

On security, Buhari said that good governance and economic development could not be sustained without an enabling environment of peace and security.

In the last four years, we have combated the terrorist scourge of Boko Haram.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant men and women in arms, through whose efforts we have been able to achieve the present results.

We are also grateful to our neighbours and allies within the region and across the world who have supported us on this front.

He reassured that the capacity of the armed forces to defend the Nations territorial integrity would continue to be enhanced by the acquisition of military hardware as well as continued improvements in the working conditions of the security personnel.

On the 59th Independence Anniversary, Buhari stated that 1stOctober each year is an opportunity for citizens to reflect and thank God for his endless blessings on Nigeria.

He said: It is also a time for us, collectively, to: rememberthe sacrifices made by our Founders and great leaders past; by soldiers, by distinguished public servants; by traditional leaders, by our workers; sacrifices on which Nigeria has been built over the 59 years since Independence in 1960.

Rededicateourselves to attaining the goals which we have set for ourselves: a united, prosperous and purposeful nation in the face of 21stcentury opportunities and challenges.

The president noted with delight that in the past four years, the majority of Nigerians had committed toChange for the Better.

Indeed, this Administration was re-elected by Nigerians on a mandate to deliver positive and enduringChange through maintaining ourNational Security;restoring sustainable and inclusiveEconomic Growth and Development; and fightingCorruptionagainst all internal and external threats.

This Change can only be delivered if we are united in purpose, as individuals and as a nation.

He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to remain committed to achieving this positive and enduring Change.

As I stated four years ago, Change does not just happen We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust simply put, to bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.

Source: NAN

Chinese police say they have tracked down a fugitive criminal after 17 years, finding his cave hideout with the assistance of a drone.

In a post on their WeChat account, local police in the south-western province of Yunnan identified the man as Moujiang Song.

Back in March 2002, Song escaped a prison camp in neighbouring Sichuan province, Yongshan police explained.

The 63-year-old had been prosecuted for the abduction and trafficking of women and children.

Yongshan police said they tracked him to mountains close to his hometown, having received clues about Song's whereabouts earlier this month.

Due to the difficulty of the terrain they employed several drones in their search for the runaway, whose location was identified on September 19.

A group of plain-clothed police moved in to arrest him, finding Song unkempt and emaciated in a cave less than 2 square metres in size..

He was unable to communicate clearly with the officers, police said.

Yongshan police added that Song's hair had turned grey after 17 years on the run, noting that he would "pay for his crimes".

Men of the Lagos State Police Command have rescued 19 pregnant young women and four children during raids on four baby factories in the state.

During the raids, two suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma and Sherifat Ipeya, were arrested while the principal suspect, one Madam Oluchi, absconded after she got wind of the raids on the baby factories.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that a manhunt had been launched for Oluchi, adding that the suspects were operating as nurses at the baby factories despite not having formal medical training.

He stated that Oluchi and her accomplices usually tricked their victims from different states of the federation with promises of employment opportunities in Lagos, but abduct them for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling their babies to potential buyers.

Elkana said, “On Thursday, September 19, 2019, around 4pm, acting on the strength of information from a reliable source, detectives from the Isheri Osun Police Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed a building at No. 14 Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun, Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.

“Nineteen pregnant women from the ages of 15 to 28 were rescued and four kids were also rescued. They were all rescued from four different locations – No. 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun; No. 29 Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle bus stop, Abaranje; No. 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranje; and No. 14 Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun. The pregnant women were brought in from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.

“Two suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma, 40; and Sherifat Ipeya, 54, were arrested in connection with the case. The suspects are natives of Imo and Lagos states and did not receive formal medical training, but operate as nurses. The command has launched a manhunt for the principal suspect, Madam Oluchi, from Mbano, Imo State. She is a mother of five.

“The young women were tricked with employment as domestic workers in Lagos and abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling their babies to potential buyers for between N300,000 and N500,000, depending on the sex.”

Elkana stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to take over the case, adding that the command had been working with other agencies and stakeholders to rehabilitate and resettle the pregnant women and the babies.

He added that investigation was ongoing and the suspects would be charged.

In another development, two suspected cult leaders, Osonye Henrise and Babatunde Fadairo, have been arrested for terrorising the Bariga area of the state.

Elkana said Henrise was arrested for attempting to kill one Bosiga, while Fadairo was apprehended for leading his gang to stone one Ahmed Saul to death at the New Garage area of Bariga, adding that the suspects would be charged.

He stated, “On Wednesday, September 25, 2019, around 11.30pm, one Osonye Henrise, 24, an Aiye Confraternity kingpin, was arrested by detectives from the Bariga Police Station on Idumota Church Street, Bariga, for attempting to kill one Bosiga on the same date on Araromi Street, Bariga. The suspect is believed to be the second in command to one Adekunle Adesanya, aka E don tey, who was killed on September, 24, 2019, on Edo Evans Street, Bariga. Investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged.

“On Thursday, September 26, 2019, around 5.15am, one Babatunde Fadairo, 22, was arrested by detectives from the Bariga Police Station. The suspect was alleged to have led five others to kill one Ahmed Saul, 32, with stones at the New Garage area. The suspect is a known Eiye Confraternity member, while the deceased was an Aiye Confraternity member. Investigation is ongoing and the suspect will soon be charged.”