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