Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has urged Nigerians to ignore the attempts by some elder statesmen to cause divisions among well-meaning citizens as President Muhammadu Buhari continued to promote nations building and unity of the country.

The Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential aide was reacting recent statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing the Buhari administration of allegedly refusing to take drastic measures in addressing the nations challenges.

In his most recent statement, former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

Before responding further to the unfair attacks on Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law.

Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cause concern among democrats in the sub-region given its prospects of destabilizing the states and the region.

Buharis advocacy is consistent with his principles and in line with the current policies of his administration and indeed that of the ECOWAS Charter which is that term limits must be respected and that the change of government is only permissible through the ballot box.

Having cleared this misperception, we hope that Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

The presidency also advised the former president to get involve with problems solving rather than promoting an atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.

As some commentators are already suggesting, Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.

Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successor administrations of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as a another waste of time and resources.

The presidential aide also highlighted the achievements of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to include the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the countrys Judiciary through Constitutional amendments.

According to him, these changes have already been signed into laws by the president as mandated by the Constitution.

To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of Constitutional amendment was kick-started and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the countrys Judiciary, he said.

On the deregulation of the petroleum products, Shehu added:The recent decision by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

Its a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They failed in achieving these measures because, one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.

Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

According to Shehu, Buhari is running an administration focused on infrastructure and development.

He said already the government had repaired the nation damaged relations with neighbours and traditional allies such as the UK, U.S., China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

He further described the government as a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

He (Buhari) leads a government that has liberalised the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the worlds top reforming economies.

Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver, but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn, he maintained. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Airport in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will partially lift its suspension of international flights as of Sept. 15 to allow exceptional categories of citizens and residents to travel, the state news agency SPA said on Sunday.

The kingdom will scrap all travel restrictions on air, land and sea transport for citizens on Jan. 1, 2021, it said.

In March, the kingdom suspended international flights to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Exceptional categories include public and military sector employees, diplomats and their families, those working for public or non-profit private sector jobs abroad and businessmen.

Others are patients who need treatment abroad, those studying abroad as well as people with humanitarian cases and sports teams.

GCC citizens and non-Saudi residents with valid residency or visitors visas will be allowed to enter the kingdom as of Sept. 15 conditional on proving they are COVID-19 negative.

The kingdom introduced stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in March, including 24-hour curfews on most towns and cities.

The Kingdom has recorded 325,651 COVID-19 cases and 4,268 deaths. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Federal Government on Sunday advised state governments to take proactive and necessary mitigating measures in addressing forecasts on heavy rainfall and flooding.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, gave the advice in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Nneka Anibeze, in Abuja.

Umar Farouq said that states to experience heavy rainfall and possible flooding this year include: Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Rivers.

Others are: Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun, Abia, Kano, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory.

Farouq urged the states to identify high grounds for use as camps, for the evacuation of possible Internally Displaced Persons and to shelter evacuated communities.

She called on them to organise Humanitarian Coordination Fora to prepare all stakeholders for mitigation and response, as well as request for relief materials for prompt response after the flood.

The minister also sympathised with the people of Kebbi, Bauchi and Jigawa following the heavy flooding in some areas of the states, which has led to the loss of lives and farmlands including the displacement of many people.

The recent flood incidences in parts of those states affirm the need for serious and urgent actions to be taken to safeguard lives and property against the predicted flood.

The 2020 Annual Flood Outlook forecasts that 102 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 28 states will have heavy rainfall, while 275 LGAs in the 36 states of the Federation including Abuja will experience moderate flooding.

The remaining 397 LGAs fall within the low probable flood risk areas. Unfortunately, the predicted floods have started to occur in many parts of the country, including Bauchi, Kebbi and Jigawa.

Therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction, as the season moves toward the peak, she said.

Umar Farouk urged State Emergency Management Agencies, frontline local government authorities and other response agencies to put in place precautionary actions, by carrying out public enlightenment and ensuring the dredging of river channels and canals.

Also, ensure the removal of all refuse and weeds from water channels, drainages and all avenues for run offs, so as to allow free flow of flood, she said.

Umar Farouq assured the states that the Federal Government through the ministry had taken note of this years flood prediction and would continue to work with stakeholders, to mitigate the possible effects of the flooding. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Voting during an election in Nigeria

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Senate committee on Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC), on Sunday warned political actors in Edo against violence during the Sept. 19, governorship polls in the state.

Its chairman, Sen Kabiru Gaya, handed down the warning when the committee visited the commissions office in Benin.

Gaya said that the committee was in Edo on oversight functions to ascertain the INECs preparedness for the Saturdays polls.

From what we have seen, INEC is ready for the elections. We have been told that they have 14 activities lined up for the elections, of which they have successfully executed 11 and the remaining three will be ongoing until the election day.

We will give them all the needed support to ensure that the elections are conducted as scheduled, he assured.

Gaya appealed for synergy between security agencies and the state government in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of the elections.

Free and fair election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere but in the event that there is crisis, we advice that the election should be postponed.

We are in the process of amending the Electoral Act and also in the process of enacting the Electoral Offences Act which would enable perpetrators of election violence to be prosecuted.

So, we are warning all political actors to ensure that there is peace in Edo, he said.

He, therefore, charged the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state to work with the various security agencies to provide adequate security both during and after the elections.

Also speaking, the committees vice chairman, Sen. Sahabi Yau, advised the ICT unit of INEC to monitor the activities of its staff members to avoid possible sabotage within.

The survival of democracy depends largely on the credibility of the electoral process, Yau said.

On his part, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, a member of the committee, urged INEC to stand firm and remain neutral.

INEC is on trial right now, the whole world is watching to know what will happen. It is up to you to ensure Nigerians are satisfied with the process.
If anyone uses any of you to sabotage the process, it will be on you. You need to stand firm and be neutral.

Four years ago, we witnessed violence in this state. Some persons scattered some polling units and ballots boxes.

Yet, results still came from those places. I hope that will not happen again, Ekweremadu appealed.

Ekweremadu appealed to the REC to ensure that Card Readers were properly charged, configured and tested before deployment to polling and voting points.

Earlier, the REC, Mr Johnson Alalibo, told the Senators that the commission was fully ready for the elections, adding that 11 of 14 items listed on the schedule of activities had been completed.

Alalibo said the commission had trained security personnel, INEC staff, CSOs, Electoral Officers, youth corps members among others for the conduct of the elections.

According to him, the configuration of the smart card readers and the z-pad to be deployed for the elections is currently ongoing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

By Abbas Bamalli

Kano State Government has ordered the immediate reopening of six Technical Colleges in the state to enable their students in the exit class to participate in the forthcoming National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations.

The Commissioner for Education, Malam Sanusi Kiru, gave the order in a statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the Ministrys Public Relations Officer, Mr Aliyu Yusuf.

Kiru noted that the directive was sequel to the approval granted to a Memo he recently submitted to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The commissioner said that the state government had ordered the immediate payment of the NABTEB examinations fees of all the SSS3 students in the technical schools.

He stated that the sum of N15.6 million had been earmarked for students feeding, while another N860,000 had been set aside for the upkeep of the respective colleges.

According to him, such steps are to facilitate the smooth reopening of the schools.

Kiru indicated that the government had provided all the required Personnel Protective Equipment(PPEs) to all the students to ensure strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols.

He directed the Executive Secretary of the Board to call on the directors and principals of the six affected colleges to reciprocate the gesture by doing what was expected of them. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Sadiya, daughter of Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who died on Thursday.

In a condolence statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the president said that the news shocked him.

My heart and prayers go out to Sen. Wamakko and his family members over this loss.

Though death is no respecter of age, the loss of such a young woman in her prime is particularly touching.

I share the pain and grief of Senator Wamakko; I pray to Allah to comfort him and give him the fortitude to overcome this great loss of a dear daughter.

May Allah grant her eternal bliss and reward her good deeds with paradise, he added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Six civilians were killed on Friday by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Boura, Malis southern region of Sikasso, a local security source confirmed to Xinhua on Saturday.

According to the officer, who request condition of anonymity out of fear of being revenged, an ambulance carrying a patient from Boura hit an IED on Friday, killing six people on board, except the driver who was severely injured and evacuated to Koutiala (south).

Among the victims, there was a pregnant woman and a two-year-old kid, he said.

This is the first attack on civilians since the mutiny that led to the resignation of Malis president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Also on Friday afternoon, about 10 kilometres away from Boura, local authorities found the bodies of the two local staff of Environment Ministry who were kidnapped by unknown armed men on Thursday night, said the officer.

The Malian army has been targeted four times, killing at least 21 soldiers with numerous injuries.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for these attacks amid political instability in Mali.

Source: NAN News

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russians head to polls in regions throughout the country on Sunday to cast their votes in local elections set to test the dominance of United Russia, the party most closely associated with long-time President VladimirPutin.

The elections will be conducted in the course of several days as a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The main and final day of voting comes up on Sunday, and will take place against the backdrop of months-long anti-Putin protests in the Far East and the near-fatal poisoning of dissident Alexei Navalny with the Soviet-developed nerve agent, Novichok.

A nationwide survey by Russias biggest independent pollster, Levada Centre, revealed last month that more than a quarter of Russians 29 per cent would participate in anti-government protests if held in their area.

Navalnys team urged Russians to vote for candidates from any party other than United Russia, which currently dominates the federal parliament and many regional administrations.

Any other candidate a Communist, a Liberal Democratic Party member, a Just Russia party member would be better than United Russia, Navalnys team said in a statement on Friday, referring to Russias four major political parties.

Any of them will be a better representative for you than a thieving official who has been sitting for 20 years under a portrait of Putin and appearing in front of you every five years to be re-elected, Team Navalny said.

While Putin maintains the loyalty of United Russia, he is not a current member of any political party and is thus able to distance himself from unpopular measures initiated by subordinate senior officials.

The elections, like a recently passed constitutional referendum to enable Putin to remain president for the next 16 years, will not be independently monitored by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The lack of presence by the OSCE, and the duration of the voting period being extended to several days, have raised concerns of the potential for falsifications.

Source: NAN News

GMD OF NNPC, MALAM MELE KYARI

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)says it will soon begin activation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refill stations for motorists across the country.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement by the Group General Manager Public Affairs Division, Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja, on Sunday.

The CNG (methane stored at high pressure) is a fuel that can be used in place of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and its combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the aforementioned fuels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deregulation of the oil downstream had triggered increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)also known as petrol in the country.

Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva had announced that the Federal Government will in the next couple of weeks inaugurate CNG Plants in all NNPC petroleum stations across the country.

This, he said would serve as alternative to petrol for motorists in the country.

He said the idea was to support the ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to provide alternate energy sources for Nigerians.

He quoted the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Malam Mele Kyari, as saying that the National Oil Company had already keyed into the gas penetration agenda championed by Sylva.

Kyari noted that as an energy company with focus on cleaner and cheaper sources of fuel, the Corporation would continue to work with other stakeholders in the industry to provide viable alternatives to petrol.

This, he said would ultimately lead to reduction in demand for the product and eventual reduction in price.

He reiterated the commitment of the corporation towards openness and greater transparency in its operations.

Kyari said that in the months ahead NNPC would make public its 2019 Audited Financial Statements as a sequel to the 2018 AFS released in June.

On the state of the refineries, he said that the plants were deliberately shut down to allow for a robust diagnosis of the issues which have overtime made it impossible for the facilities to operate up to their ultimate capacities.

He added that the shutdown also became inevitable due to difficulties in feeding them with crude oil via the pipelines that had been completely compromised by vandals.

He said the Corporation was moving rapidly to execute complete rehabilitation of the refineries under an exercise that would guarantee restoration of the facilities to at least 90 per cent capacity utilisation.(NAN)
ENO/ABI

Source: NAN News

Nigerian flag

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

As Nigeria prepares to mark her 60th Independence Anniversary, a Lagos-based agency has put modalities in place for a virtual concert to showcase positive changes recorded in the last six decades of nationhood.

The concert tagged #UnlockNaijaAt60 will feature popular Nigerian musicians, comedians, dancers and actors performing to a global audience live via web streaming and on television.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to come up with innovative ideas and suggestions towards making the 60th anniversary a success in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the globe.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the Managing Director of Tobems Media, organisers of the concert, Mr Tosin Obembe, said Nigerias resolute spirit deserved to be celebrated.

He explained that having survived several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic that shook the entire world, Nigeria should be celebrated for its dogged spirit.

He explained that the concert would, among other things, celebrate the evolution of Nigerian music, dance and fashion.

Nigerians have been through a lot as a people and we reckon that a typically happy people will be missing one of the things we are most known for: our social life.

That is why we have decided to celebrate this milestone independence anniversary regardless of the challenges of Covid-19, he said.

He pointed out that the pandemic was not enough to deny Nigerians the grand celebration of her diamond jubilee, adding that technology had made a lot of things possible and must be embraced.

With the global pandemic, it will take a while before the world returns to normalcy if we ever do. So, as young people, we must begin to embrace technology to help us make the best of the new normal.

You can already see how most Nigerian companies quickly switched their operations online.

At this time last year, the use of Instagram Live, Facebook Live, Zoom and the rest were not this popular but see how Nigerians have seamlessly conformed to the new normal.

If we cannot gather for the many concerts and comedy shows that would enliven our Independence Day holiday, we can as well create one that we all can join via the Internet and our television sets and still interact like we were together in one place without buying a ticket, he said.

Obembe added that the Oct. 1 #UnlockNaijaAt60 mega concert would bring millions of Nigerians at home and abroad together to party from the comfort of their homes. (NAN)

Source: NAN News