By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army on Sunday in Abuja condemned the maltreatment of civilians by persons clad in military camouflage at 2 Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Kaduna.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Mwachukwu, stated that the assault was an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity which the Nigerian Army represented.

He stressed that the army was aware of a provocative and unacceptable video footage trending in the social media in which certain persons clad in military uniformwere molesting civilians.

He added that the army as a disciplined and regimented organisation was committed to the supremacy of the Constitution, defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

Authorities of the Nigerian Army have directed immediate investigation into the audio-visual footage to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.

Outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.

While appreciating the general public for their continued support, the Nigerian Army urges all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter.

Members of the pubic are urged to report any untoward conduct by troops to the Nigerian Army Human Rights desks at the headquarters, Nigerian Army or at the divisional headquarters, Mwachukwu stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

Rear Adm. Olusola Oluwagbire, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, has warned criminals to steer clear of the Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility.

Oluwagbire gave the warning during a familiarisation visit to the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV), Commodore Vincent Gbaranwi, on Monday in Calabar.

He said that the Nigerian Navy was committed to ensuring the protection of the Nigerian maritime sector.

I want to advise criminal elements out there to steer clear of the Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility. If they dont, we will look for them, smoke them out and they will face the penalty.

I am on my maiden tour of units and establishment of Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility.

From what I have seen so far, I am very impressed with the level of work, commitment, infrastructural development and operational state of our boats, he said.

The FOC, who was conducted round the NNSV Base by the commander, lauded Gbaranwi for the level of work done in the command and for the fulfilment of the navy objectives that he is putting in place.

The FOC said that the navy was on track in ensuring that the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, which centres on securing Nigerian maritime sector as well as ensuring national posterity, are met.

From our end, we will continue to do what is required of us so that we will keep the flag of the Nigerian Navy flying, he said.

He urged officers of the command to continue to support the commander in moving the Nigerian Navy forward.

The FOC also inspected the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory jetty as well as the Headquarters, Eastern Fleet. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muftau Adediran/Ismail Abdulaziz

DD/Website

Aren Eggon, paramount ruler of Eggon nation, Retired Justice Ahmed Ubangari

By Awayi Kuje

The new Aren Eggon, paramount ruler of Eggon nation, Retired Justice Ahmed Ubangari, has pledged to rule his subjects with the fear of God to enhance the peace and development of his domain and Nasarawa State.

Ubangari, a former Chief Judge of the State made the pledged while addressing his subjects and other well wishers, who welcomed him into his palace in Nassarawa Eggon on Sunday.

He urged his subjects and other people in the state to always embrace unity and peace for development to thrive.

I want to call on you to continue to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of your affiliations.

Peace is priceless and non negotiable and it is a necessary requirements for the development of any society, he said.

Ubangari solicited the support of all Eggon sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora in order to succeed.

In his remarks, Mr David Abuluya, President, Eggon Cultural and Development Association ( ECDA) worldwide pledged to work with the new traditional ruler to further promote unity and peace among Eggon people and their neighbours.

The President called for the unity of Eggon nation to further engender rapid socio economic development of the people and the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the palace of the Aren Eggon was agog with jubilation as residents of Nassarawa Eggon and people from different parts of the state trooped in to welcome the new Aren Eggon, Ubangeri, following the approval of his appointment by Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Friday, May 5.

Sule gave the approval shortly after being presented with the report of the committee saddled with the responsibility of conducting the selection of the new Aren Eggon, at the Government House.

The governor explained that the selection of the new Aren Eggon was conducted in accordance with Eggon tradition and in line with the strict policy of transparency under his administration.

NAN also report that Ubangari succeeds the late Dr Bala Abaine Angbazo, who died in July 2022. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/ Isaac Ukpoju

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola
The global public will be presented with a book, The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith, authored by Mrs Grace Yussuf, a Deputy Editor-In-Chief with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

A statement issued by the organising committee on Sunday said the event would take place on May 9, at the National Press Centre, Radio House, in Abuja.

The statement described the book as a memoir of a female Nigerian journalist and would precede her retirement from service on May 16.

According to the statement, the presentation will be chaired by Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN), the Founder, Women Aid Collective (WACOL).

Mr Femi Adesina, a veteran journalist and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, will be the Book Presenter, it said.

The book will be reviewed by Mr Joe Bankole, who is a media consultant, author and former Managing Editor with NAN.

The revered Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Orhue 1, will be the Royal Father of the occasion.

Other special guests expected at the event are Mr Buki Ponle, the Managing Director of NAN and Amb. Shri Gangandharan Balasubramanta, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservation General of the National Park Service, and several veteran journalists who have made impact in the journalism profession, will grace the event.

The event is expected to be a major gathering for stakeholders in the media industry as well as friends, associates and well wishers of the author.

On her part, Yussuf said the decision to write the book came out of a desire to document her experiences as a female journalist and a practicing Christian who promised herself that doing so would serve posterity well.

I believe that it will not only be a good reading for many but will also go a long way towards encouraging younger female journalists, who may be finding it difficult to cope, especially if they have had to hold on to their faith and values.

It is my intention, too, that this book will serve as a story of resilience, hard work, moral rectitude, a journey of faith and adherence to Christian virtues even in the practice of an utterly socially-relevant profession as journalism.

I say this because there is this general belief that journalists are unserious and frivolous. This puts women in a precarious position as it makes them more vulnerable than their male counterparts, she said.(NAN (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

DD/Website

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A group of newly elected members of the House of Representatives under the auspices of New Vision, has pledged their support for Hon. Muktar Betara for speakership of the 10th House of Representatives.

Betera is the lawmaker representing Biu/Bayo/Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State,

The group disclosed this in a statement by Peter Akpanke member elect from Obudu/Obaniku/Bekwara federal constituency Cross River, and made available to newsmen on Saturday.

The group had finalised their decision at ameeting of the new members-elect from the South-South in Abuja.

The group is drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other political parties.

Akpanke, elected on the platform of PDP said that the lawmakers unanimously pledged their support for Betaras aspiration, describing him as the most qualified among the contenders for the Speakership position.

He said members of the group had been moving across the country to garner support for Betara, who is also the present Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation.

He said that the lawmakers had met most the contenders for the Speakership position, and come to the conclusion that only Betara showed sincere commitment to work with the executive arm in solving the mirage of challenges bedevilling the country.

We have had an interface with all the people running for speakership in the 10th assembly. We met with all of them one-on-one but we chose Betara because when we met him, he spoke the minds of the members and how the 10th assembly is going to be independent.

Betara also spoke on how projects are going to get to federal constituencies, how budgets are going to be executed and how he will collaborate with the executive to make sure that projects are funded.

How issues of insecurity and employment are going to be tackled, all for the benefit of Nigerians. So the new vision group decided to stand behind him, Akpanke said.

He said that members of the group had been going round the geopolitical zones to interface and lobbying members-elect to support the cause.

In the meeting with our colleagues from South-South, all of us resolved that no matter the pressure, we should support Betara based on his antecedents.

He has been chairman, Army committee, and we saw how the committee rose from Grade C to get Grade A. He is currently the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation and since then, there has been nothing like budget padding.

Akpanke said that the zoning arrangements of the ruling APC wouldnt be binding on the lawmakers, saying the opposition parties had more members-elect.

He added that the group would reject any form of imposition, adding that the National Assembly is an independent arm of government and members must be allowed to chose their leaders.

Those of us in NASS want to support a speaker who is our own, a speaker who will defend democracy.

Someone who will protect the interests of members and help us deliver the dividends.

Akpanke said that the present speaker had ran for three times and he has always been going against zoning.

He also quoted Hon. Inuwa Garba, a member-elect, Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency, Gomb state, as saying that the argument in some quarters that the Northeast cannot produce both the vice president and speaker at same time is laughable.

Garba recalled that in 1979-1983 the speaker of the House of Representatives was from Anambra State, and the Vice President also was from Anambra state.

We have same thing now. The vice president is from the Southwest, likewise the speaker. So there is a precedent.

However, we are not even thinking along that line. What we are thinking is the credibility of the personality of the person that supposed to be the speaker of the 10th assembly.

We want a credible and purposeful leadership that will work together with the executive with view to make Nigeria better because the country is in problem.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OBE/IAA

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

He pointed out that the HYPPADEC was prepared to intervene in communities with serious ecological and drainage issues, adding that it was, however, hampered by resources at its disposal.

But one commitment I want to make here and now is, we are prepared to partner with any Local Government that has a budget for the control of erosion, flood and drainages.

When we check the design and the bills and we are satisfied, we are prepared to finance such projects by 60 per cent but they must contribute their 40 per cent down.

Once they are able to do that we are prepared to pay 60 per cent on behalf of the commission so that our communities will feel the impact of our presence and we also feel the impact of the partnership between the Local Government and HYPPADEC, the MD said.

DD/Website

Dignitaries at the Dare Adeboye Foundations Change and Development Forum, at the Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State

By Ekeoma Ogwo and Augusta Uchediunor

A former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has charged the incoming administration on unity and managing diversity for a fair, just, and better nation.

Mimiko made the call at the Change and Development Forum powered by the Dare Adeboye Foundation on Thursday.

It had the theme: Good Governance and Accountability: Setting the Agenda for Nigerias Incoming Administration.

In his address, Mimiko emphasised steps to help the nation become better developed.

We must manage and confront our diversity. The ultimate management of diversity is to be fair and just to everybody. You must see this as your number one priority.

He also strongly recommended that different efforts must be made to make the public space more inclusive.

According to the former governor, the new administration must be creative, innovative, and deliberate.

He added that we must plan and target, must protect our local and adire industry as well as begin patronising made-in-Nigeria products.

On how to be more accountable, Mimiko reiterated the need to improve the quality of law enforcement agents and secure the nation.

Without security, we are talking about nothing. There is a consensus that a centralised policing system cannot secure Nigeria.

Since all the major presidential candidates have ascribed the evolution of policing to the sub-sectional, the government should quickly ensure that they place state police among other measures in securing Nigeria, he added.

On measures to develop the nation, he charged the electorate to hold the leaders accountable.

You must know the mechanisms available to you. That is where freedom of information comes in. It gives access to everybody to demand any information from any government agency.

As the keynote speaker, Mimiko underscored the need for Nigerians to know what to expect from the leaders.

We must be aware. If the leaders dont know their responsibility, we must hold them accountable.

On his part, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Talabi, said the state government has been accountable in its approach.

He said: As an administration, what we have done is that for any project, we call all stakeholders to give us a priority on the reparation of the road that is most important to them.

Talabi, however, commended the Dare Adeboye Foundation for the timely gathering on governance and development of the nation.

Pastor Leke Adeboye, who is the CEO of the Dare Adeboye Foundation, described the foundation as kingdom advancement that focuses on youth empowerment, education, leadership and government, sanitation, and clean water initiatives.

He highlighted that the foundation, In the last year, recorded many successes, including the donation of a block of eight bathrooms and toilets in Iwo and a community in Akwa-Ibom.

There was also a donation of a borehole with 10 water tanks in the exact location.

The foundation has also constructed a 3,000-seater hall/youth church in Ifewa called the Living Seed Church.

We have organised free training for more than 100 youth in web 3.0 skills blockchain and then NFT and cyber security, and trained about 100 youths in data science among others, he outlined.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Dare Adeboye Foundation is a legacy and impact organisation created to immortalise Pastor Oluwadamilare Adeboye and to further his vision and deep commitment to impacting lives and communities all around Africa.

Adeboye, 42, died in his sleep on Wednesday, May 4, 2021 in Eket, Akwa Ibom, where he was based with his family as an assistant pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35.

He was the third child of Pastor Enoch Adeboye., General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

He is survived by his wife and three children.

The foundation is poised to continue the good works of Pastor Dare Adeboye in perpetuating effective change within Africa.

This is in its quest to change the world and become a force for positive impact and sustainable development by leveraging partnerships and collaborations to deliver individual, community and nation-based impact. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

ECOWAS

By Temitope Ponle

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it is facilitating the empowerment of women and strengthening the fight against gender-based discrimination through policies and programmes.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Mohamed Tunis, said this at the ongoing ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Town Hall meeting in Abuja on Friday.

The theme of the meeting is Rejuvenate Democracy by Giving Voice to the Young People, organised by the parliament and ECOFEPA.

Tunis said the meeting was strategically aligned with the current ECOWAS Vision 2050, which placed more emphasis on women and youths development in the sub-region.

The speaker said it aimed to address some of the issues that had contributed to gender inequalities.

He also said the regional economic bloc had recognised the special role of women and youths as actors, agents and beneficiaries of development.

Tunis said that was why the ECOWAS had made concrete commitments and taken tangible actions to ensure the integration of the gender dimension in all planned actions and activities of the parliament.

Significantly, the allocation of a budget line to ECOFEPA and gender programmes in the parliaments annual budget, has facilitated the empowerment of women and strengthened the fight against gender-based discrimination, all designed to address inequalities between men and women and to promote gender equality.

We do not take for granted the critical role women and youths play in advancing gender parity, promoting social diversities and inclusion, holding the executive to account, and drawing attention to specific issues such as the plight of street children, rising youth unemployment and illegal migration.

Tunis noted that the Fifth Legislature, under his leadership, had been working to ensure that the voices, aspirations and inclusion of the women and youths in politics and decision-making received regional attention.

Tunis said he was working with political stakeholders, civil society organisations, developmental partners, women and youths networks and ECOFEPA to achieve this.

The speaker said they were also a mandatory prerequisite needed for the attainment of a peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.

He further acknowledged and commended steps being taken by ECOWAS member states to address gender issues.

The speaker expressed optimism that lessons learned at the end of the meeting would go beyond the region.

Moreso, Tunis expressed gratitude to ECOFEPA for organising the meeting as a way of deepening the integration process and scaling up social inclusion for the citizens in the region. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

A financial expert, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, says the Ways and Means Advances of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Federal Government is strictly within the purview of the apex bank.

Uwaleke, a Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

He spoke against the backdrop of effort to securitise the pending N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances, approval of the process by Senate and the role of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

According to Uwaleke, the DMO had no role because the Ways and Means were completely under the control of the CBN.

He said that the DMO could only have played advisory role when necessary.

The much the DMO could have done would have been to include the CBN overdraft to the FG as part of the countrys domestic debt stock.

This will enable the DMO issue early warning signals whenever the Ways and Means limit as stimulated in the CBN Act was being breached, he said.

NAN reports that the Ways and Means provision allows the federal government to borrow from the CBN if it needs short-term or emergency finances.

This is to enable the government to fund expected cash receipts of fiscal deficits.

The Nigerian Senate had, on Wednesday, approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the advances through securitisation.

Based on statutory provisions, however, the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives are required for securitisation.

Implementation can, thus, only be upon concurrent approval of the House of Representatives.

Uwaleke, however, explained that securitisation of the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances would afford the Federal Government a breather in terms of debt service burden.

According to him, this is in view of the fact that repayment of the N22.7 trillion will now be spread over 40 years with a three year grace period on the principal sum.

In respect of the securitisation of the Ways and Means, the government debt restructuring arrangement affords it a breather in terms of debt service burden.

Similarly, the cost of annual debt service will reduce given the concessional rate of nine per cent as against the current 20.5 per cent interest rate charged on CBNs Ways and Means.

The cumulative effect of these would be a reduction in government budget deficit and freeing up resources that could be applied to more productive areas, he said.

According to him, since the securities will only be taken up by the CBN and not the public, the fear that it will crowd out the private sector is no longer there.

There is equally the issue of debt transparency that it engenders.

Before now, CBNs Ways and Means did not form part of the public debt stock reported by the Debt Management Office.

Securitisation would entail including it as part of the countrys public debt which makes for transparency he said.

He said that, henceforth, adequate safeguards should be put in place to ensure that CBNs Ways and Means were curtailed due to its negative impact on the general price level.

The relevant provisions of the CBN Act should clearly stipulate the conditions under which debt limits can be breached.

The process should involve approval by the National Assembly as well as stiff sanctions for breach of the limits provided in the Act without following due process, he said.

According to Okechukwu Unegbu, a past president of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Ways and Means Advances constitutes money that has already been appropriated by the Federal Government.

It is important to note that the Federal Government does not need the DMO to obtain such facilities from the CBN.

It does so directly, and sometimes, it entails the printing of money.

The DMO will only be required to record it as debt after it is securitised, he said.

NAN reports that the CBN is legally authorised to issue Ways and Means Advances to the Federal Government according to Section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007.

The N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances, therefore, do not represent new borrowings, but overdrafts by the CBN to the Federal Government.

The advances is statutorily managed by the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General in the Consolidated Revenue Fund where it is domiciled.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Abigael Joshua
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has sealed up the Garki International Market in Abuja over accumulated refuse dumps that may cause an epidemic outbreak.

The Director AEPB, Mr Osi Braimah, who led the board operative to seal it up, condemned the breakdown of law and order in the market.

Our environmental officers in carrying out their routine/monitoring activities by April 26, discovered that the market was in a bad shape.

Solid wastes, cabbages all over the place, bleeding sewage lines and heaps of refuse dumps were all over the market.

We served them an abatement notice unfortunately nothing was done, Braimah said.

The director noted that the non-challant attitude of the market users made the board to seek a court order to seal the market.

So, we simply went to the court for an order to seal up the market, so that everything can stop, until it is cleaned up.

We derive no joy in shutting down the market but we will be failing in our responsibilities if we allow them to continue.

As it is now, if we allow them to operate, it is a recipe for epidemic outbreak, he worrie.

The director frowned at the deplorable state of the market saying, they cannot have these activities side by side with filth.

A market is where fresh foods and vegetables are sold, you cannot have all these side by side with cabbages

An epidemic is far worst than not selling your potatoes for a couple of days.

Once they clean up the market we will reopen because the court order says the order subsists, so long the market remains in that condition, Braimah noted.

He warned that the market remained shut until the wastes were evacuated.

Braimah promised that AEPB would go back to the court to seek for an order to reopen it as soon as the wastes are evacuated.

He urged market operators to tidy up their wastes to avert epidemic outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory.

Commenting on the seal up of the market, Mr Desmond Arebenjamo Chairman of Fruits and Vegetables in Garki International Market, said that they received calls that the market had been sealed up by the AEPB.

We pleaded that many of us are selling perishable items and have purchased them in large quantities fearing loss.

We learnt that some of the unions in the market took the market management to court over increased service charge, Arebenjamo said.

He said that the fellow traders told him that the court ordered that everyone observe the old rate of the service charge pending the outcome of the court judgment.

Arebenjamo, who said that they had not been officially notified on how to resolve the issue, appealed for the quick reopening of the market.

Also, Mrs Nwokoema Joyce, who owned a shop in the market for over five years, said that there was an increase in the service charge.

I remembered that there was an increase in the service charge in which a lot of people disputed.

There was a platform that said we should hold on with the payment and that they were discussing with the management later on we heard that if we dont pay, the market will be sealed up.

Mr Innocent Amaechina, Head, Corporate Affairs/Business Development Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), said that the market was sealed up following the court order obtained by AEPB on the evacuation of wastes.

It came to the notice of AEPB during one of their routine exercise that the whole place is littered with refuse dumps and of course you will agree with me that its now a public health issue.

Many court orders on abatement notice was served. Before now AEPB gave notice to abate nuisance, it was not done.

Amaechina noted that, Garki International Market is managed by AMML.

It came about that some traders went to court to challenge the increase in service charge we proposed.

It is regrettable that none of the market officials have engaged us on the increased service charge, we just needed to serve them better.

For instance if you want your diesel to run for 10 hours instead of five hours you are going to pay higher, he said.

Amaechina said that as law abiding organisation they had to restrain themselves.

if they are in court invariably they are saying we should not enforce the collection of service charge hence the service providers withdrew their services.

Amaechina said that although, while the matter has been in court some officials of the market have continued to engage them.

The meeting is being held right away to meet on a middle ground, to address all the infractions being raised by AEPB.

We are addressing the problems raised by AEPB and lets say in some hours we would have reached an agreement and the market would be reopened, he assured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the refuse dumps had gathered there for three weeks to one month ever since the service providers withdrew their services.

NAN reports that as at press time the manager of the Garki International Market was still in the meeting with relevant stakeholders to address the issues.

All the traders attested that this was the first seal up of its kind and worried over the condition of their perishable items. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News