By Thompson Yamput

The Hydro-Electricity Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) on Monday in Lokoja inaugurated its operational office in Kogi.

The office was donated to the commission by the Kogi Government to assist HYPPADEC to execute its assignment to the 10 flood proned local government areas in the state.

Inaugurating the facility, Representative of the commissions Governing Board, from Kogi, Alhaji Isa Ozi-Salami, described the occasion as laudable and heartwarming to the entire people of Kogi.

What were doing here today is facilitating capacity building and to enhance communication between the commission and the people of Kogi.

What HYPPADEC is doing across the six benefiting states across the country is serving humanity as many lives, particularly the poor masses, are being touched and uplifted.

Thanks be to God for the man behind the Commissions success story in the person of Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director, who is a genius in service to humanity, he said.

Yelwa, in his speech, thanked Gov. Yahaya Bellos administration for providing the operational office for the commission, describing it as an encouraging gesture that can create the enabling environment for better service.

The HYPPADEC boss said that the commission would use the edifice for five years after which it was expected to build and move into its own permanent office.

As we appreciate this government for this gesture, as Oliver Twist, we are asking for a piece of land on which we can build our permanent office in the state.

In the area of health, we intend to carry out another round of medical outreach programmes for the benefiting 10 flood affected LGAs in the state immediately after the Ramadan fasting.

We have got approval from the governing board to provide electricity to over 200 communities in conjunction with the state government, he said.

Yelwa said that the commission would do more for the youths in the areas of empowerment, scholarship and capacity building as they are our future leaders and deserved to be assisted to fulfill their destiny.

Bello described HYPPADEC as a household name in Kogi considering the quantum of assistance it had rendered to the people of the state.

Represented by the State Environment Commissioner, Mr Victor Omofayle, the governor promised to continue to partner the commission to ensure that lives of people of Kogi were improved.

NAN reports that youths from the 10 benefiting LGAs, who were in the venue with placards of various inscriptions of praises, honoured the managing director with an award for his outstanding performance. (NAN)
Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

DD/Website

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says its officers and men were firm and resolute in providing security support during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu dismissed smear campaign in the social media and other fora against some senior commanders and officers, as sheer mischief.

He said that the Armys firm and resolute stance in providing security support for the elections effectively curbed and prevented ill-intentioned groups from violently interfering with the process.

There is no doubt that Nigerians are excited at this responsible posture and the democratic opportunity it offered them.

However, some interest groups that were effectively prevented from hatching their nefarious plots to influence the course of the elections through violence, are understandably piqued by this assertiveness of the Nigerian army.

The Army spokesman said the Nigerian army was nationalistic in its make-up and organisation, drawing strength from the nations diversities as constitutionally conceived.

He explained that the responsibilities of the army in elections was to support primary law enforcement and election stakeholders, to ensure that Nigerians choose their leaders and representatives in a peaceful manner.

This goal, according to him, remains armys only focus and one it will continue to pursue, mindful that the average citizen expects nothing less from it.

Nwachukwu assured the public that any misconduct against any personnel would be responsibly investigated.

He added that any personnel found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary sanctions in accordance with established practices and extant laws.

Nwachukwu however warned that the Army would not allow the character and reputation of any senior officer, earned over three decades of meritorious service, to be destroyed by misguided elements through mere speculations.

The resort to the sentiments of ethnic and religious colourations would not also diminish the Nigerian armys resolve to carry on its roles professionally.

The Nigerian Army, therefore, urges all Nigerians to ignore the mischief being propagated by ill-intentioned individuals and groups and continue to go about their civic responsibilities without any fear of molestation.

We would continue to work with sister Services and other Security Agencies to meet all security-related expectations of citizens as enshrined in the laws of the Federation, he added. (NAN) ()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Source: NAN News

NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero

By Joan Nwagwu

NLC plans to order workers to sit at home if in seven days the Federal Government fails to address current cash crunch.

Its President, Mr Joe Ajaero, made the declaration on Monday in Abuja at the end of an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the NLC.

He noted that Nigerians had suffered enough from the cashless policy of the CBN.

The NLC is giving the Federal Government and agencies under it, including the CBN and other banking institutions seven working days to address the cash crunch.

If they fail to do so at the expiration of the seven working days, the Congress is directing all workers in the country to stay at home.

This is because it has become very difficult to access even one naira, especially by traders who do not have bank accounts.

We have also discovered that even when banks give out old currencies, they cannot be spent. Even when you take them back to the same banks, they do not accept them.

We have been frustrated to a level that we can no longer keep quiet, Ajaero said.

The NLC president also lamented difficulties being experienced at petrol stations.

At fuel stations where there is petrol, it sells for as much as N350 a litre in some parts of the country.

We will no longer be quiet about this issue of perennial fuel scarcity and arbitrary increase in prices, he said.

On the on-going state council elections of the NLC, Ajaero said some state governors were interfering with the process.

Some state governors now dictate to the NLC through the chairmen in those states, he said.

He alleged that a governor in one of the states in the Southeast openly campaigned that NLC members should vote for a particular candidate.

He explained that NLCs attempt to resist the approach was met with the manhandling of its officers by hoodlums engaged by the state government.

They disrupted our election in that state. Our state secretariat has been destroyed by thugs sent by the governor.

The thugs took over that place for three months. The state chairman of the NLC was driven out of the state, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Old naira notes

By Stephen Adeleye

The officials of Kogi Government and Stakeholders in the financial sectors, have sensitised Kogi residents on the need to accept the old naira notes in line with the Supreme Court judgment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Supreme Court on March 3, ruled that the new and old naira notes should co-exist as legal tender in Nigeria till Dec. 31.

Addressing a large crowd at the newly constructed Ganaja Flyover on Monday in Lokoja, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, congratulated Nigerians on the Supreme Court judgment.

Fanwo said the people could now use both the old and new naira notes together till Dec. 31, 2023.

We have met with the banks and they have agreed that they will accept old naira notes as deposits.

So, we urge all commercial motorcycle riders, Keke riders and market men and women to accept the old naira notes.

The state government is grateful to the banks for their cooperation and commitment to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

It is criminal to reject old naira notes after the judgment, Fanwo said.

He assured that the state government would monitor the compliance strictly.

Also speaking, the State Security Adviser, Cmdr. Jerry Omodara (rtd.) harped on the need for residents to cooperate with the state government in its bids to ease the current financial strains occasioned by the current cash policy.

Omodara said his office would work with security agencies to ensure compliance.

In his remarks, Mr Idris Asiru, the Kogi Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, said the banks were already accepting old naira notes as deposits.

Asiru urged the people to take advantage of the cooperation of the banks.

He said that he had already gotten the commitment of the banks to load their ATMs with old and new naira notes to ease the cash scarcity in the state.

The representatives of the major banks in Lokoja also assured the people of the readiness of the banks to accept old naira notes as deposits.

They said the directive took effect from Monday morning, urging customers to freely accept the old naira notes.

NAN reports that the sensitisation train visited all transport unions, fuel stations and major markets in Lokoja.

The stakeholders assured Kogi people of sustained sensitisation on radio and other media of communication. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

National Sports for Judiciary

By Fabian Ekeruche

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sanitise the judiciary by removing corrupt judges reinstated by the National Judicial Council.

This is contained in a statement by CSNAC Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, on Sunday in Lagos.

Suraju said that the reinstatement of Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, James Agbadu-Fishim and Nasir Yinusa was a sabotage on the war against corruption in the judicial system.

He said that Ofili-Ajumogobia was arrested and investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corrupt practices and abuse of office.

The President approved her dismissal from public service, but the National Judicial Council reportedly reinstated her as a Judge of the Federal High Court despite her dismissal not being overturned by any court in Nigeria.

Similarly, the National Judicial Council also reinstated Justice Agbadu-Fishim as a judge despite his arrest and investigation by the EFCC for alleged corruption and subversion of justice.

The National Judicial Council had recommended his dismissal to the President for judicial misconduct, but later decided to reinstate him as a judge of the Council.

Despite previously indicting him for gross misconduct and recommending his retirement to the President, the Council had placed Justice Nasir Yinusa on suspension, pending the approval of the recommendation, but surprised many by reinstating him, the statement said.

According to the coalition, the Judicial Council has no legal right to reinstate judges who were previously indicted for misconduct.

The coalition added that the Council had overstepped its bounds by ignoring the recommendations to retire the judges, but rather proceeded with their reinstatement.

The President is required by law to accept or reject the recommendations made by the Council, and that the Council does not have the power to unilaterally reinstate judges who have been indicted for misconduct, Suraju said.

He noted that the coalition had written to the President to approve the retirement of Justice Nasir Yinusa on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and direct the Council to reverse the illegal reinstatement of Mrs Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Mr. James Agbadu-Fishim as judicial officers in Nigeria.

He added that copies of the letters were sent to the Vice President and Attorney General of the Federation. (NAN) ()

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Former Chief of Army Staff retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has congratulated Nigerians on the election of Sen. Bola Tinubu as the President-elect, saying his victory was a clear reflection of the will of the people.

Buratai, who is the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He also called on Nigerians to vote all APC candidates in the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly Elections across the country.

Buratai commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for presiding over an election in a country with the largest democracy in the African continent.

According to him, it is a job well planned and professionally executed.

He stated that the vote of all Nigerians had the power to make a difference and consolidate on the wise choice made during the presidential election.

At this juncture, I say with all sense of responsibility that our collective future is assured under the renewed hope vision and mission of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

I believe the President-elect is a man of capacity, empathy, vision, and all that it takes to lead Nigeria to the promised land.

Therefore, I encourage all Nigerians to vote for the APC in the forthcoming governorship elections at the states levels so that the APC can have a majority at all levels.

Do not be part of the minority opposition as we already have the APC at the Centre.

Continuity has been achieved at the Federal level with the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-Elect from the APC.

Therefore, for effective policy implementation, progress security and development of our country, also vote APC at the states levels. Nigeria shall be great by the Grace of God, he said. (NAN) ()

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Start-up materials given to women entrepreneurs to mark 2023 International Womens Day

By Philomina Attah

The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Abuja Chapter, has empowered 32 widows, single mothers and young girls with relevant start-up materials to be self-employed and eventually employers of labour.

Chairperson of the association, Miss Joy Esu, in Abuja said that the gesture was to also mark the 2023 International Womens Day.

Esu said that the Society had carefully put together the programme to celebrate and empower the women folk on this all-important event focusing on gender equity, embracing diversity and inclusion to help forge an equal world.

She added that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from different sub-urban settlements within the FCT and its environs, adding that every one of them truly deserved the empowerment scheme.

This was made possible through their engagement in skill-acquisition training and we assistance them with start-up capital.

The next phase is a Skill Acquisition Programme for the beneficiaries.

This is with the view of empowering them with relevant skills and seed capital to help them to commence a Business and to be able to sustain themselves and their families economically.

This is planned in anticipation that we will be able to raise the desired financial support from our partners/supporters, she said.

She further explained that the beneficiaries would be train on book keeping, accounting and financial management to help them manage the financial records for their Businesses.

According to her, SWAN is an arm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), whose membership is open to female members of the Institute.

She explained that the Society served as an integral part of the Institute to meet the yearnings and aspirations of women for recognition, creating opportunities and an enabling environment for the promotion of socio-economic development of women.

We have carried out sensitisation programmes and career talks in six secondary schools within Abuja and its environs.

The aim is to elicit the interest of the young ones to embrace Accountancy as a Career Path and also inculcate in them self-dignity, discipline and integrity.

We have also organized sensitisation lectures to undergraduates in Four Tertiary Institutions within FCT and environs on the Career Path of becoming a chartered accountant, she added.

She further listed other projects executed by the organisation to include medical outreach, orphanage visitation, hospital visitation, prison visitation and anti-corruption advocacy, among others.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, the Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) commended SWAN Abuja Chapter for the laudable gesture, urging other states to key into such scheme in order to empower more women in the society.

Adesugba, who was represented by Dr Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communication, NEPZA, said that education was very important for a woman, adding that, but if you do not have a formal education skill acquisition like this is very important.

There is no society without assistance and there is no society without a woman because it has been measured that a womans management ability is much more than that of a man.

It is said that when you empower a man, you empowered a family alone but when you empowered a woman you have succeeded in empowering both the family and the entire nation, he said

The managing director urged women to press on and do not look at anything that would distract them from achieving their set goals.

He equally advised the beneficiaries to use the support given to them today judiciously and ensure they extend helping hand to those not opportune to be selected.

Mrs Bright Okorie, responding on behalf of the beneficiaries appreciated SWAN Abuja Chapter for the support given to them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated to the beneficiaries included, sewing machines, electric irons, hair dryers, baking materials among others.

NAN also reports that the beneficiaries were educated on financial integrity to enable them to operate successful businesses with the items. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Crude Oil theft in Nigeria

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Niger-Delta Safe Environment Group (NSEG) has lauded the Nigerian military on its increased operations aimed at curbing oil theft in the region.

This is contained in a statement on Monday by Mr Ombo Princewill and Felicia Akpabio, President and Secretary of the group, respectively, in Abuja.

The duo said that long years of illegal oil bunkering had caused severe damage to environment and health of people in the region.

They lamented that several residents were afflicted with illnesses as a result of massive environmental degradation caused by the activities of oil thieves.

The officials, however, said that military onslaught by troops of Operation Delta Safe had weakened the activities of the criminals.

According to them, the activities of the Armed Forces, under the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, have helped to protect the environment and save huge resources for the country.

Just last week, the Defence Headquarters announced that it discovered and destroyed 74 illegal refineries and arrested a total of 71 criminals terrorising the zone.

In addition, the troops have also recovered 209,000 litres of crude oil, 145,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 27 variety of weapons, 468 assorted ammunition, 2 speed boats, 2 outboard engines, 8 vehicles and 4 motorcycles.

We commend the AFN for operations conducted at the creeks, waterways, high sea, towns and cities of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, which yielded appreciable results.

For long, misguided elements in our region have put our health at risk in their quest for illegal wealth. Women with pregnancy are affected, there are incidences of lung cancer.

Not to be mentioned is the manner our sources of livelihood, fishing and farming, have been greatly affected, the officials added.

They urged people of the region to cooperate with the military in tackling those degrading the environment, causing health hazards and bleeding the countrys economy. (NAN) ()

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

Bola Tinubu

The President, Read and Earn Federation (REF), Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, has called on president-elect Bola Tinubu to plan for the development of local talents for global success.

Ladigbolu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, while congratulating Tinubu on his victory at the presidential elections.

He said that Tinubus emergence at this crucial time in Nigerias history was indeed timely, adding that his emergence would be a litmus test that must overcome all the shortcomings, brimstone and negativity that had stained the status of Nigeria.

As a concerned citizen and strong believer and supporter of smart intellectuals, who believe in inter-generational mentorship and solidarity, I put forward to you my opinion about the plight of Nigerian youth and the urgent action that needs to be taken to ensure our youth achieve global success.

I believe that there is no keener revelation of societys soul than the way in which it treats its youth because discouraging them is simultaneously destroying the nations prosperity.

This is because Nigeria at present is caught between a slippery muddy cliff and a distant rocky fall and the ultra-light beam for sustainable development for a nation, starts with the mental acceptance of a working ideology conceived by the nations leadership and its subordinates.

Nigeria is one of the worlds largest producers of crude oil and with an abundance of gas and mineral resources, Nigeria is Africas largest economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Nigeria could become the ninth-largest economy in the world by 2050 if it mobilises its 200 million population into a nation of entrepreneurs and producers, he said.

According to him, Nigerias population advantage can become its Achilles heel as it currently struggles to overcome rising unemployment, unstable power supply, poor education and poverty.

Ladigbolu said Nigeria had a range of issues ranging from governments fiscal deficit which is expanding above budget, unemployment that is trending upwards and uncertainty around petrol prices all combine to create an atmosphere of economic instability.

This uncertainty means that the West African nation has seen a steady outflow of its most promising young talent to Europe, leaving behind a damaging human capital problem.

With an entrepreneurial deficit, the country is unable to develop the broad-based economy needed to provide employment, competition, and innovation as well as insulation from the global price and demand shocks in its natural resource markets.

Mass unemployment and poverty means that many Nigerians lack the basic amenities of life and are vulnerable to crimes such as human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Furthermore, Nigerias youth population sits precariously at over 55 per cent of the total population, he said.

Ladigbolu said Nigerias youth population boasts some of the most original creative in the world, saying that if given the right tools and environment, Nigerian youth could compete at the highest levels in various industries and exceed expectations.

He, therefore, called for a meaningful enrichment and sustainable programmes in four identified critical areas among the youth such as intellectual, leadership, economy and digital technology capacity building.

He said this would contribute to and accelerate the provision of such improved competencies and capabilities that would in turn enhance the enlightenment of Nigerian youth about the dynamics of international markets. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Celine Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Senate

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate is to resume plenary on Tuesday (March 21), the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Chinedu Akubueze, has said.

A statement issued by Akubueze on Monday in Abuja said that the plenary had been rescheduled from March 14 to March 21.

He said: This is to inform all Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the resumption of the Senate in Plenary has been rescheduled from Tuesday, March 14 to Tuesday, March 21.

All senators are by this notice requested to resume sitting in plenary on Tuesday, March 21, by 10 a.m prompt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate had on March 2, suspended plenary to March 14, to enable senators participate in the the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The election which was slated for March 11 was postponed to March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (NAN)()

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News