By Douglas Okoro

Chief Elias Mbam, the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has commended the Federal Government for approving the construction of Eastern railway corridor.

The commendation is contained in a statement issued by Mbam and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki.

Mbam said that approval and inauguration of the project by President Muhammadu Buhari was a demonstration of the immense love and regard the president has for the South-East geopolitical zone.

He said that the initiative would boost commercial activities and enhance timely evacuation of goods, especially agricultural produce from the South-East to other parts of the country.

He particularly appreciated the president for approving the redirecting of the rail line to pass through Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, adding that the development would trigger high volume of commercial activities in the state.

The RMAFC chairman noted that Abakaliki is strategically located on the corridor between the Northern part of the country and the rest of the South-East and serves as a major gateway between the South-Eastern part of Nigeria and the nearby Republic of Cameroon.

He said: The transportation of goods especially agricultural products from Northern states of Taraba up to Borno to the South-East is possible through the Ogoja-Abakaliki trunk A route.

Therefore, the new rail line passing through Abakaliki serves to bridge the gap between the South-East and the northern part of the country in areas of agro-businesses, commerce and trade.

It is imperative to point out that Ebonyi is vastly known for its agricultural endowments especially in rice farming.

In fact, the popular Abakaliki rice has the capacity, if well commercialised, to contribute greatly to improving food security in Nigeria.

Ebonyi is also known for its rich solid mineral resources; lead, zinc, iron ore, granites among others, which are harnessed in high commercial quantity.

Mbam, former Minister of State for Finance added that Ebonyi has the capacity to boost the Nigerias economy and contribute to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if wider market was provided through easy transportation of its agricultural produce and other resources.

It is with utmost humility that I congratulate His Excellency, the President for approving and launching the Eastern Rail Corridor which passes through my home town of Abakaliki.

Your Excellency has once again demonstrated great wisdom by launching this corridor which adds to a number of numerous projects of the federal government in the South-East.

Projects such as the second Niger Bridge, the Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha expressway, the reconstruction of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and numerous ecological projects in all the states of the zone are testimonies of your love.

There is no doubt, Your Excellency, that these projects, especially the railway lines will endear you more and more to the people of our zone and make Nigeria a more robust economy.

I, therefore assure you Mr President of the continuous support of Ndigbo, which will grow in popularity as we approach 2023 and as these projects come to fruition, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the headquarters building of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), 25 years after the groundbreaking ceremony.

The president, who virtually inaugurated the building from the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for steadfastness in ending many years of renting by the commission, and the attendant profligacy.

He noted that the land was acquired by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1996, and was abandoned after series of design amendments.

In 2015, as part of our Administrations cardinal objectives to kill corruption, some critical reforms were embarked upon, part of which was a holistic reform of the NDDC for greater service delivery for the people of the region.

To achieve this, I reassigned the supervision of the NDDC to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for administrative efficiency. Second, was the appointment of Forensic Auditors to review the operations of the Commission from inception to 2019 and to ensure that the appropriations made to the NDDC are commensurate with what is on the ground, he said.

While commending the minister for ensuring the historic completion of the building, Buhari urged the management to commit the amounts used for renting to more rewarding benefits.

I, therefore, use this opportunity to commend the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for providing the required leadership that saw to the completion of this edifice.

Today, we are handing over to the people of Niger Delta, a befitting Head Office Complex for present and future use. Consequently, huge yearly rentals would now be saved and deployed to other areas of needs in the region.

I commend the management and staff of the NDDC for staying the course and keying into the Reform Agenda of our Administration.

I am particularly pleased to note the cordial relationship between the NDDC and the National Assembly and hope that this relationship will be strengthened further for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region, the president added.

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, who spoke at the event, thanked the president for the completion of the building, promising that the nine governors under the NDDC would continue to support his bold steps in development.

In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs noted that the completion of the NDDC building had signaled the presidents commitment to the development of the oil producing region.

He said this would also end the activities of corrupt public officials, who also negated the connection of the offices to national grid over many years in order to seek rent on fueling of generators.

You will be remembered by this gesture, and generations will never forget you, the minister said.

Akpabio urged leaders, traditional rulers and youths in the region to support the Buharis administration so that it would complete most of the abandoned projects by previous administrations.

He said such projects included the Second Niger Bridge, warning that the persistent fights and petitions among leaders must be shelved for development. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Mr Davison Owumi, the General Manager (GM) of Rangers International F.C says Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved and released funds for the settlement of match bonuses of the clubs players and officials.

Owumi, in a statement in Enugu on Wednesday, said the gesture was a motivation for the clubs good run in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

He said the governors show of strong support would motivatethe team as they pushto reclaim the trophy it won in 2016 after 32 years of wait.

Our sports loving governor has never hidden his passion for Rangers International F. C.

His approval and release of funds to clear all match bonuses has gone further to prove this well known fact, even as the COVID- 19 pandemic is causing incalculable pressure on the states economy.

It is also to motivate the team toward emerging champions at the end of the season, Owumi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers is currently on the second position in the 20 team log with 24 points from 14 matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding 9 goals at the process.

Rangers will on Sunday,host Adamawa United in a match day 15. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Enugu State Graduate Farmers (ESGF) on Wednesday trained 300 farmers on modern best practices in rice production, processing and marketing in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one day training organised at the Enugu Sports Club Hall was themed: From Rice Production to Wealth Creation.

In his remarks, Mr Patrick Mbah who doubled as the President of ESGF and the National Vice Chairman of Fish Production in South East, said the training was timely and would boost rice productivity.

Mbah said the training was purely for rice farmers on grain production to ensure bumper harvest.

We also have farmers that are into processing and marketing because we want to avoid the mistakes of the past where we have low productivity.

This training will help the farmers to produce quality rice that one can consume and as well maximise profit, he said.

He said that the ESGF had over 150 corporatives and each corporative accommodated 15 to 20 youths that had been engaged in rice production.

Mbah noted that a similar training had been organised for fish and poultry farmers in the state.

We will keep organising this kind of training for our members from time to time and I believe that those present will educate others, he said.

A resource person at the event, Prof. Happiness Oselebe, said that agriculture provide high level of employment in the country.

Oselebe said that rice farming had techniques and procedures that must be observed to ensure higher productivity.

Oselebe who is a lecturer in the Department of Crop Production and Landscape Management at Ebonyi State University said that rice remains a marketable product globally.

She urged the rice farmers to always go for improved variety and consider climate and farmland while planning for farming.

The variety of seed go with each farmland, some seeds can do well in swampy areas, while some do better upland.

Best method of rice farming is the mechanised method and ensure you monitor the farmland right from the day of planting till the day of harvest, she said.

Oselebe listed some major problems in rice farming to include improper planning, low management and skills to rice farming, among others.

Mr Tony Mouneke, AAPIL Consultant and rice expert in the state, urged farmers to always barricade their farmland in order to protect the rice seeds from rain.

Make a good choice and manage the farm well by weeding, protecting it against rodents, pests and other things.

Ensure you change seed after three years of harvest because after three years you start seeing what we call, genetic segregation, Mouneke said.

He advised the farmers to apply fertiliser be it organic or inorganic properly according to directive by rice farm experts.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Gregory Obiakosa, said the training had impacted a lot on the farmers.

This training was organised due to the terrible experience we had in the past because of ignorance in rice farming.

After this training, I believe that things will change for good and there will be baskets of food in the country, he said.

A participant, Mrs Mabel Edeh from Ebonyi, said the training had been the best thing that had happened to rice farmers in the state.

Edeh said the training would go a long way in correcting the wrongs committed by most rice farmers in the past.

It will be nice for government to organise this kind of training for farmers, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) says it has no plans to merge with any group or political party to form the proposed Mega Party ahead of 2023 poll.

Mr Falalu Bello, National Chairman, PRP said this when he spoke at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Bello, the party is not merging with any group.

We are not. That is not to say that we have not been invited. About 10 days ago, their secretary got across to me and advised me of the fact that we are invited to belong to the committee.

And I said let me have a formal invitation and what they stand for. I will go to my National Executive Committee, brief them, get their mandate for me or any other person to represent the party.

The party do not belong to me. PRP has its own leadership.

I have seen other political parties join; are these political parties being grouped on the basis of ideology, on the basis of what they believe in. If it is on the basis of this, then we will examine it and come to a conclusion as a party, in the absence of that, we will decline to participate, he said.

The chairman said there was need for the government to rejig the security architecture of the nation to address current security challenges in the country.

We are are grossly under-policed. We need to massively recruit additional police in the country, Falalu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a group of politicians had unveiled plans for a Mega Party ahead of 2023 poll, towards restling power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate has resolved to expunge provisions of the law as contained in the Police Act, Federal Character Law, Electoral Act, Labour Act, Political Parties Constitutions, that infringe on the rights of women in Nigeria.

Senates resolution was hinged on the adoption of a motion on the 2021 International Womens Day with the theme: Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-l9 world #Choose To Challenge.

The motion was sponsored by Sen. Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers) and co-sponsored by seven other Senators.

Apiafi rising under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, said the International Womens Day celebrated on the March 8 ,was a day set aside globally to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

It is also a day to aspire and inspire people to act in the ongoing effort for gender equality.

The day seeks to celebrate womens contributions to the society and raise awareness about the fight for gender parity,she said.

According to her, gender parity is a statistical measure that compares women and men through their income, education, and work hours among other points.

It is also an important tool for policymakers striving towards gender equality.

It is important to note that the global celebration of International Womens Day is a time for reflection of how far women have come, advocacy for what is still needed, and action to continue breaking down barriers limiting gender equality.

Aware that the International Womens Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women and their achievements.

It is also a day that seeks to raise awareness of issues affecting women around the world, highlighting initiatives and campaigns focused on improving womens lives and increasing gender parity (equality between men and women),she said.

Contributing, Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP- Anambra) called for the mainstreaming of women affairs in national planning.

She added that in prioritising the empowerment of the Nigerian woman, it was important to create an enabling environment where women can thrive to show their innate skills and talent.

Sen.Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) while celebrating accomplished women such as the Vice President of U.S., Karmala Harris, and Nigerias Okonjo-Iweala the first female Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, decried lack of opportunity for the womenfolk in Africa.

Sen. Laura Ladi (APC- Plateau) said women continued to play critical role in the pandemic world, adding that,they bear more burden in the home and public.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remark said that the provision of equal opportunities for women would on the long run be in the interest of Nigeria as a nation.

I believe we are together in this with our women. It is in the interest of our nation that we work together to give our women proper opportunities for them to excel.

And we must congratulate those who have achieved so much in public lap here as well as in business.

We congratulate Nigerian women, we congratulate the entire nation, and we believe that we have to do more to give our women more opportunities to serve, Lawan said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola

The Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria on Wednesday submitted a memo to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of 1999 constitution.

Etsu Nupe, Dr Abubakar Yahaya, who led the delegation of the council said that traditional rulers must be given constitutional role in the country.

He said that traditional rulers were better place in handling communal clashes in view of security challenges facing the country.

He added that there was need to accommodate traditional rulers by giving them the needed constitutional backing, adding that such would help to maintain the requisite peace in the country.

He said that the traditional rulers hoped that those in charge of the review of the 1999 constitution would acknowledge their roles and give them constitutional recognition.

The council of traditional rulers had deliberated in so many sittings and came out with a prescribe status that should be allocated to its members.

We are advocating membership at the council of state as well as local government councils.

We want to establish a national council of traditional rulers of Nigeria to be embedded in our constitution, he said.

Mr Ahmed Wase, chairman of the committee on the review of 1999 constitution and the Deputy Speaker of the House, however, quarried the absence of representatives of South West traditional rulers.

He said that the memo presented showed that Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu Ode and others did not sign the memo.

Wase pleaded with the traditional rulers to work with harmony so that those who had not signed would sign.

Wase assured that the committee was conscious of their role as traditional rulers, adding that he believed the traditional rulers had a role to play in stabilising the polity.

I belief that you have a role to play in keeping us united as a country and in keeping the government functioning and providing adequate security in your domain, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olubukola Aiyedogbon

The Kwara Government on Wednesday confirmed its status as a Free Trade Zone in the North Central region of Nigeria by supporting the activities of NEPZA.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said this while presenting the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, in Ilorin.

AbdulRazaq said the presentation of the documents demonstrated the political will of the administration to strengthen the economic base of the state and bring prosperity to its people.

We are giving this certificate to concretise our commitment to the opportunity given to Kwara by the Federal Government.

We must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing competent persons who are actualising the programmes in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, the governor said.

He said that opening up zones will accelerate infrastructural development and increase Gross Domestic Production in all the catchment areas.

It will bring international investments to the zone. Already, we are speaking with the African Development Bank, and most of the projects we are looking at are sited around the zone.

Like we know, north central is the food basket of the country but most of our agricultural produce go to waste. So, when we process here, it will reduce waste and expand businesses.

COVID-19 has shown that we must look inward. The biggest companies today in Nigeria are processors and not necessarily farmers.

One of the unique things about the Kwara free trade zone is its proximity to the local airport and we will like to optimise the opportunities because Ilorin airport is designated as an international airport, he said.

AbdulRazaq also disclosed plans to partner with the federal government in making the state a place for medical tourism.

We are not just looking at one investment from the federal government. We are also looking at developing medical tourism in the state.

So, we are partnering with the federal government to set up medical tourism by creating another zone which we want to use advantageously, he said.

Respinding, Adesugba identified the state as investment friendly and suitable for the special economic zone.

Investment does not stay in the air. Investment goes to destinations. It looks for places where it is most welcome.

Investment will always go to where there is a will to support it. Your Excellency, at NEPZA, we have discovered that Kwara State seems to be one of the most welcoming states that we can work with in terms of setting up the special economic zone.

Today, we are happy to be here to start with Kwara among the first three that we will be working with this year.

We will work with you to provide state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that we promote investors.

We already have a group of investors from Turkey, Egypt, China that have been asking us where to locate their industries. This will definitely be a good location for them, he said.

He said that it was in line with the federal governments agenda for industrialisation to power the whole of Nigeria.

The benefits of special economic zones is to address issues of unemployment, security and poverty reduction.

We are happy and glad to see Gov. AbdulRazaq as one of the champions of industrialisation. We are proud of your successes in private business and we believe that you will bring to bear your successes in state, said Adesugba. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Police in Aba in Abia have arrested two kidnap suspects, Ikechi Monday and Onyekachi Orji from Owerrinta, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia state.

The suspects kidnapped a 70 years old woman, Mrs Patricia Nwogu from her residence at Okpolu-Umuobo area in Osisioma LGA on January, 29 but she was later rescued.

The Abia Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede confirming the arrests said the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Aba led by SP Johnbull Obioguru, acting on intelligence and her orders, arrested the suspects.

The suspects, who were arrested on Monday, March 9, are currently in custody and were volunteering useful information to the police.

The RRS team also arrested Chima Nnamdi and Uzoma Chinemerem on Saturday March 6, who specialized in robbing Point of Sale (POS) operators in Aba.

The suspects robbed a POS operator by name Chijioke Ebirilem at Ehi road by East Street Aba and shot him at close range.

Ebirilem, who was rushed to Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba for treatment was later confirmed dead by doctors.

The Obioguru-led team also apprehended one Onyekachi Kalu, 28, who is a member of another robbery gang that robbed POS operators and snatched phones in Aba.

Kalus gang were said to be experts in sellingsim cards of the stolen phones to Advance Fee Fraudsters who used such to access the sim owners bank accounts and steal their funds.

However, luck ran out of the young man when RRS men on patrol got information from the public on their criminal activities on Ngwa road by Orji Uzor Kalu bridge.

The policemen following the intelligence went there and arrested Kalu whose other companions in crime fled.

However, the police are still trailing other members of the gang now at large.

Meanwhile, Agbede has assured that criminals would soon be run out of town and urged members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear.

The CP, therefore, called on the public to report any suspicious movement or character to the police to enable the police serve them better. (NAN)

Source: NAN News