FEC Approves N809.7bn for Road Projects, Others

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its weekly virtual meeting on Wednesday approved N809.7 billion for some road projects across the country; procurement of fire fighting vehicles as well as the development of an application for design, development, deployment, and management of the National Social Investment Management System for the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, told journalists at the end of the 36th FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari that the council approved the change of scope for the construction of the 375 kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, saying the road is still undergoing renovation, and would now be completely reconstructed, thus increasing the cost of the project from N155 billion to N797.2 billion. According to him, “I presented on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Housing, one memorandum and one report. The memo was with respect to the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway, which was to change the scope of works from rehabilitation previously awarded because many parts of the pavement had deteriorated, to full reconstructed two lanes on both sides. “The council considered and approved the request for that change of scope and the incidental cost consequence, changing the existing contract for N155 billion to N797.236 billion to provide for the full reconstruction of the main carriage way, trailer parks, way bridges, toll stations and additional side lanes in the built-up areas across the FCT, Niger Kaduna and Kano States, which are all served by the road, and this was approved by the council for the same contractor.” The minister listed the federal roads already rehabilitated, which would soon be handed over to the government, to include Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Aba, Sagamu-Benin, Kano-Maiduguri, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba and Lagos-Badagary roads. On the particular time, the road will be delivered, Fashola said: “The completion is going to be in phases so the first phase will be the Kaduna-Zaria section, which is 74 kilometres, to be ready in quarter four of 2022; the next phase the Zaria-Kano section, which is 137 km, to be ready in quarter one of 2023, and the last phase will be the Abuja-Kaduna section which should be in quarter two of 2023.” FEC also approved the sum of N10.4 billion for the procurement of 44 fire fighting vehicles and equipment for the Federal Fire Service. Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, told journalists that: “The council considered and approved the procurement of various firefighting equipment. The total sum of the approval is N10, 436, 375, 340.96. The breakdown is as follows: The approval covers the supply of 44 firefighting engines; it also covers the supply of 15 water tankers; 15 rapid intervention fire engines, not conventional ones, which can go into every nook and cranny to respond to distressed calls. “The approval also covers the supply of 20 basic life support ambulances. So, in all, we are talking about 79 firefighting equipment and support vehicles.” Aregbesola said the procurement of the vehicles would enhance the capacity of the Federal Fire Service to effectively control and manage emergencies relating to fire. He also appealed to state governments to also equip their own fire services, so as to compliment the work of the Federal Fire Service operating in their states. He also announced that the ministry got an approval of N353.2 million for the deployment of an integrated real-time data repository equipment for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja. “The council also considered and approved the award of contract for the deployment of an integrated real-time data repository and security intelligence solution to the NIS headquarters in Abuja and the delivery period for that contract is four months at the sum of N353, 219, 200,” he said. He explained that the aim is to have the data bases of the immigration service on one platform, for effective management of such data.

Bishop Oke Emerges New PFN National President

The Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries and the Promoter of Precious Cornerstone University, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has emerged the new National President of the Pentecost Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). He emerged the new leader of PFN at the election held last Tuesday night at the Grace Cathedral in Enugu, Enugu State. The emergence of Oke, who will spend four years in office and renewable by another four years, was announced by the President of He’s Alive Chapel, Lagos, Pastor Austin Ukachi, who was the returning officer for the exercise. According to a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday by the Wale Oke Media Office, he is the seventh national president of PFN consequent upon unanimous decision of every member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the umbrella body of all Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. The statement read in part: "By a unanimous decision of every member of National Advisory Council (NAC) today (Tuesday) at Grace Cathedral in Enugu, Enugu State, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, is the seventh national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).” In his acceptance speech, Oke gave glory to God for putting it in the hearts of the NAC to choose him "as the national president of our beloved fellowship, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). This is the doing of the Lord and it is marvelous in our eyes. I sincerely thank you for your unanimous vote, without a single dissent. Thank you for your trust. "The PFN has come a long way, starting with the vision of the founding fathers, and the great leadership of our past Presidents, Reverend J O Boyejo, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and Reverend Dr. Felix Omobude, who have led the Fellowship in the past, taking it to the great and enviable height it is today. "Without any doubt, the PFN is huge, with its tens of millions of Pentecostals, found in every walk and strata of our national life. It is our desire, with the help of the Lord, to make this humongous spiritual house to be more effective in our national life and in the task of global evangelisation at this very unusual time in human history. "Indeed, it is an unusual time for the world, and more for our country that is at a crossroad at this hour. But with the help of the Lord, and by tapping into the grace and resources He has made available to us as His children, we shall make a real difference to a country in dire need of divine intervention.”

Senate Moves to Establish Health University in Suleja

The Senate has commenced moves to establish the National University of Health and Medical Sciences in Suleja, Niger State, with the consideration of a bill which scaled through second reading on Wednesday. The sponsored of the bill, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), while leading the debate on the floor, told his colleagues that the establishment of the institution was informed by the imperative to create more access to higher health and medical studies in view of the large number of qualified candidates who are annually stranded in their failed attempt to gain admission into higher institutions in the state. According to the lawmaker, the establishment of the National University of Health and Medical Sciences would encourage the advancement of learning, as well as develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, developmental and productive skills in the field of medicine, biomedical engineering, scientific, and allied professional disciplines relating to health resources. Lending his voice in support of the bill, the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), said the establishment of the institution would address the dearth of health professionals in the society, and provide the opportunity for students who choose to specialise in the area of medical sciences. He added that the university, when established, would “remove the frustrations of young Nigerians,” emphasising that “this type of university is long overdue in the country.” The bill, after scaling second reading, was referred by the Senate president to the Committee on Health for further legislative inputs. The committee is chaired by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central).

Plateau Ends Open Grazing, to Commence Ranching

Plateau State Government is set to domesticate the National Livestock Transformation Programme, as it approved a bill for the establishment of the Plateau State Livestock Transformation, which when passed into law, will promote livestock business anchored on ranching. This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Director of Press to the state Governor, Simon Lalong, Dr. Makut Macham. He said the State Executive Council (SEC) at its weekly meeting approved the transmission of the bill to the state House of Assembly for consideration by the legislature. Also speaking on the bill, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Dan Manjang, said it would facilitate the smooth transition from open grazing to ranching. Manjang said the state has been working assiduously to put in place all necessary requirements for the take-off of the model ranching programme at the Wase and Kanam Reserves which are wholly owned by the state government. He assured the state that once the programme takes off and alternatives are provided, the people would no longer be allowed to move around with livestock in the state, adding that local and international investors have also shown interest in putting their money in the pilot phase of the livestock transformation programme. Also, the Secretary of the State Livestock Implementation Committee, Prof. John Wade, also stated that the programme has zero land grabbing as nobody's land will be appropriated for ranching. The government, he said, would put into use its gazetted reserves in Wase and Kanam for the take-off. Wade said the ranching policy would also accommodate other species of livestock aside from cows, to bring in more diversification of the agriculture sector. The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Chrysanthus Ahmadu, on his part, explained that the proposed law takes care of herders, farmers and other interests in the livestock value chain. He said in ranching, there would be dairy and beef production, fodder production, marketing and associated businesses that will create jobs for many people.

INGOs Condemn Attack on Borno Community, Assess Level of Destruction

The International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) community in Nigeria on Wednesday said the full scale infiltration and destruction of Dikwa in Borno State by Boko Haram members were still being assessed. It was reported that many facilities belonging to humanitarian organisations, government and private individuals were destroyed with many persons abducted by the terrorist group in a siege of over 12 hours on the Borno town. The military, however, came out to state that the attempt to infiltrate the town was repelled by the Nigerian troops. A statement issued by the INGOs yesterday, which condemned the attack, lamented that: “In the more than a decade-long armed conflict in the North-east Nigeria, civilians have continued to suffer from its devastating consequences, paying the price for the blatant violations of international law that provides for their protection.” Last Tuesday’s attack, it said: “The Dikwa hospital was set on fire in violation of international humanitarian law provisions for the protection of civilian infrastructure. This raises additional concerns about the full scale of the impact of the attack on civilians, which is still being assessed. With serious concern, the attack also directly targeted humanitarian facilities.” It decried that: “Today, more than 8.7 million people require humanitarian assistance in North-east region, and humanitarian actors work around the clock in a highly insecure environment to provide life-saving assistance. “The Nigeria INGO Forum is horrified and saddened that these attacks would cut off a very vulnerable population from the much-needed life-saving support provided by aid workers. OCHA estimates that 100,000 people were receiving humanitarian assistance in Dikwa alone. It is regrettable and unacceptable that aid workers offering these life-saving assistances are also increasingly becoming direct targets. “The Nigeria INGO Forum and its 54 members strongly urge all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to take all appropriate measures to ensure the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and aid workers. We also call for unhindered access of humanitarian actors to all the people in need of assistance, as per international humanitarian law obligations-humanitarian workers are not a target.” The statement added that: “We are saddened by the loss of lives, the repeated displacement of population, and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and critical aid facilities. “The Nigeria INGO Forum expresses its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes fast recovery to those who were injured.” It said: “On March 1 and 2, Boko Haram attacked the town of Dikwa. During the attack, at least six civilians lost their lives in crossfire, several others were injured and are still missing, and thousands of people tried to flee the town in the aftermaths of the attack.”

Coalition Accuses Northern Govs of Fueling Kidnapping to Divert Public Funds ...Kicks against negotiating with bandits

A coalition of 15 northern-based civil society organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday in Kano, Kano State, accused some northern governors of allegedly turning the rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the region to money spinning ventures. The groups under the umbrella of Non-State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF) also kicked against Governors of Zamfara and Katsina States, and other elites in the North calling for negotiation with terrorists as an alternative to military intervention to end insecurity in the country. Addressing journalists in Kano yesterday on the state of insecurity in northern Nigeria, the Co-convener of coalition, Mr. Ibrahim Waiya, alleged that political actors in the North have devised a new strategy to swindling public resources through negotiation with bandits. Waiya stressed that the new trend being orchestrated to undermine the national security architecture and efforts of the military to stop the invasion of terrorists may spell dome for the country if not quickly addressed. He also condemned the action of the governors, “who are granting amnesty to bandits, terrorists and abductors,” insisted that such action was clearly an act of legitimising terrorism in the country. The co-convener disclosed that the forum was discontented with the huge resources that exchange hands between politicians and the bandits in the name of ransom, adding that the governors have failed to address poverty and joblessness which remain the root cause of insecurity in the North. He contended that paying bandits ransom was the same as empowering the terrorists with public funds to purchase more sophisticated weapons against the state. The groups accused political actors in the North of allegedly launching a campaign of calumny against the personality of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Muhammad Buhari, Major-General Mohammad Babagana Manguno (rtd), because of his vehement disapproval of negotiating with bandits. Although the groups insisted that their interest was not under any sponsorship, they maintained that Manguno has demonstrated uncommon integrity and would never misappropriation public funds as alleged. "We condemn in the strongest terms what has now become some states government standard policy of using taxpayers’ money to pay terrorists and bandits thereby funding and encouraging more terrorism and legitimising criminality in the country. "We believed that negotiation with bandits is not the best option because it is another form of corruption. We have seen where bandits and government officials negotiate and share ransom. In Katsina State for instance, there was a case where the state government approved about N800 million as ransoms and the government officials ended up giving out less than N300,000. "So because of the corruption involved, the governors, who are also benefiting from the loot, will never want the government to deploy full military application to end the banditry. They have continued to criticise the NSA to the president because the man is opposed to their view on adoption of negotiation,” they stated.

House Seeks Direct Debit Payments of Utility Bills of MDAs

The House of Representatives on Tuesday said there was urgent need to establish and devise workable means of ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government (MDAs) pay their utility bills to the government through direct debit mechanism. This, it said, would ensure debiting the accounts of all MDAs at the end of each month in conjunction with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Kingsley Chima at the plenary. Presenting the motion, the lawmaker explained that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is a major factor in the economic growth of every country and should at least represent 50 percent of the gross national income of an economy of a country to be stable. Chima said Nigeria relies on about 90 percent of Externally Generated Revenue (EGR) through crude oil as the source of the country’s gross national income, adding that that government also relies on payment of utility bills like water and electricity as a major boost to its IGR. The lawmaker expressed worry that the MDAs are often accused of not paying utility bills to the bodies responsible for the collection, thereby making it impossible to remit the funds to the government, and this has adverse effects on IGR. Chima said investigations have revealed that the MDAs find it very difficult to pay their electricity and water bills, and when they do, they would pay peanuts after years or months of accumulation of bills. The lawmaker said: "We are conscious of the urgent need to establish and devise workable means of ensuring that MDAs pay their utility bills to the government through direct debit mechanism of debiting the accounts of all MDAs at the end of each month in conjunction with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation." He alleged that most MDAs even go as far as defending the payments of these utility bills during their budget defences, even when they actually owe the utility bills to the providers. Chima further stressed that the motion, therefore, called for a proper and the most convenient means of ensuring that the MDAs pay their bills without owing the providers.

PIB: 2.5% for Host Communities Not Acceptable, Says Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has declared that the 2.5 per cent revenue proposed for host communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was grossly inadequate and unacceptable to the people of the Niger Delta region. Diri stated this on Tuesday during a town hall meeting on the bill with members of the National Assembly and stakeholders in Yenagoa. The governor, who proposed that 10 per cent be provided for host communities, contended that if National Assembly members see first-hand the level of environmental degradation and its attendant effects on the people, they would not hesitate to increase it from 10 per cent. The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, stressed that the PIB was critical in addressing issues such as unemployment, lack of transparency in the oil and gas sector, militarisation of oil production, skills acquisition and marginalisation of oil producing states. According to Diri, "I restate our earlier submission that the 2.5 per cent proposed for the oil producing communities is grossly inadequate and unacceptable to us as a people. In our proposal to you, we asked for 10 per cent for the host communities. "When you visit some of the sites where oil is being explored, which bring multi-million dollars to this country, you will even agree with me that we should increase it further from 10 per cent. "This PIB would cure the unemployment that the oil producing communities cry about. This bill would create jobs, accelerate skills acquisition and remove the opacity that we are seeing today in the oil and gas industry. The whole industry is shrouded somehow in secrecy." The governor, who decried the undue delay in the passage and implementation of the bill for about 14 years, urged members of the National Assembly to ensure its passage to engender peace and development in the region as well as the country. He said: "If this bill had been passed, billions of naira used in safeguarding oil facilities would have been deployed for development purposes." Diri expressed regrets that oil communities that bear the brunt of oil production were given no consideration while multinational oil companies and the federal government were given more attention in the bill, stressing that such a situation was not in the interest of the people. In his speech, Deputy Chairman, House Ad Hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, said the PIB was from the executive arm aimed at reforming the oil and gas industry. He promised that they would work hard to ensure passage of the bill before the end of May this year. Giving a summary of the legal framework in the PIB, Nwokolo noted that it would foster sustainable prosperity in host communities as well as ensure that oil companies operating in the region conduct needs assessment of the communities in order to determine their development needs. In his presentation, the Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, represented by the Ibedaowei of Ekpetiama clan, King Bubaraye Dakolo, recommended that the bill should take into consideration environmental pollution, particularly gas flaring, and ensure inclusion of rights of host communities. He also expressed displeasure with the provision of the bill making the people responsible for protecting oil facilities, saying the provision had already criminalised them. On his own, spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ebilade Ekerefe, said life expectancy of the Niger Delta people had significantly reduced as a result of the effects of gas flaring, and yet the region contributes a great deal to the economic survival of the country. Shortly after the meeting, members of the committee visited an oil spill site at Ikarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

ARCN Boss Blames Insecurity on Neglect of Forests

The Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Sharubutu, on Tuesday called on the federal government to strengthen the Forest Guard architecture in order to find lasting solution to the rising security challenges in the country. He said the problem of insecurity has continued to constrain agricultural initiatives as well as prevented farmers from accessing their farms unaided. Speaking during a scorecard session with agriculture correspondents in Abuja, he said the forest remained the root cause of the lingering insecurity in the country, and called on the government to pay attention towards the direction. He stressed that other countries have been able address similar security issues by properly safeguarding their forests. Sharubutu said: "I think I have made presentation even at the highest level of the police formation in the country, and I have one word: ‘the underlining factor for insecurity is the forest’. "For those who are old enough here, they know what forest guards are. In Kenya, India and other countries, they have forest guards. “When people steal children either from Kagara or from Jangebe, they take them to the forest because nobody knows the forest like them. "Boko Haram was able to maneuver Sambisa because it's a forest. And this factor is striking us in the face, and we have neglected such factor which is the truth." He said he believed that if the forests were properly manned by the security forces, the current challenges, including kidnappings and banditry, would be tackled. He said: "Why was the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) set up? It was because people were dying by accident on the road. "So, today, if you strengthen the forest guards, what is wrong with that, because people are dying in the forest?” Sharubutu maintained that the neglect of the forests remained the root cause of insecurity, adding that this should be tackled by the government.

Ondo Police Parade Suspected Phone Thieves

The Ondo State Police Command on Tuesday paraded four men who allegedly stole phones at the inauguration ceremony of the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, second term in office last week, held at the Dome in Akure. The men, according to the police, specialised in stealing phones at ceremonies. The paraded suspects are Ojo Femi, 30; Abiodun Adewale, 45; Kayode Olarewaju, 45, and Aiwole, 25. The suspects were reportedly nabbed by men of the Operation Scorpion Squad attached to the state government on the Ilesha-Akure road while returning to their base in Oyo, Osun and Kwara States. Seven phones stolen at the inauguration ceremony were recovered from them. Ojo, who admitted to stealing six phones at the Dome, said it was his friend that gave him the phones, adding that he lives in Oyo State. Adewale claimed that he picked the phone on the ground at the Dome before he was caught. He confessed that he used to go to parties to steal phones and usually sold them for N8,000 and above. The state police spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Kwara, Oyo Partner on Security, Economy

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday led a delegation of state officials, traditional rulers and security chiefs to Ibadan, Oyo State, for a joint security meeting with the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, and top officials of the South-western state. Kwara and Oyo States share common boundaries across many communities. The meeting, which was called at the instance of AbdulRazaq, focused on the recent security breaches involving herders and local communities in Oyo State; the influx of displaced herders into Kwara State and the attendant socioeconomic and security issues. In a statement issued in Ilorin, which was signed by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, he stated that: "The meeting was also called on the need for political leaders to act fast to sink the voices of non-actors who are spreading hate messages, and a need for the two states and traditional rulers across border communities to share intelligence while security agencies do joint patrols to curb criminal activities in the states." The statement added: "The initiative, which is part of the efforts of the administration to douse tension over the recent influx of herders into the state, is meant to further protect lives and property. "The meeting, which took inputs from the traditional rulers and security commanders, also discussed the prospects of the National Livestock Transformation programme of the federal government ending the decades of open cattle grazing and the perennial herders-farmers’ clashes as well as the need for leaders to stand firm and speak with one voice for peace and national unity. "The leaders observed that states bordering one another ought to collaborate and devise ways to tackle security challenges and foster economic cooperation without relying entirely on the federal government." Reading the resolution at end of the closed-door meeting, the host Governor Makinde, said: “We held a joint security council meeting, and we acknowledged the efforts of our security agencies and thanked them for the work they are doing for the country. We appreciate them and we encourage them to do more. “We acknowledged the fact that non-state actors are getting upper hands in communicating and spreading hatred within the country, and we asked our leaders to speak with one voice, especially at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). We have to be firm. We have to be decisive in dealing with security challenges facing the country. “We have also noticed the fact that our intelligence gathering efforts have to be deepened. "Some of the situations that we faced recently showed that we were only able to react instead of being able to act before those issues erupted and this is due to intelligence failure. The meeting noted that we should deepen our intelligence gathering efforts. “Our traditional rulers in border towns of Oyo and Kwara States are encouraged to come together in fostering unity and exchange of information. With that, our security agencies will be able to proactively deal with the situation instead of being reactive.

One Killed in Cult-related Attack in Benue

Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday morning shot dead a young man at the village market section of the Makurdi modern market in Benue State. The incidence, according to an eye witness, happened around 10: 45a.m. while traders were setting down for business. A source, who did not want to be named, told journalists that the deceased young man rode his motorcycle to the market, and was trying to alight when the assailants, two in number, walked up to him and shot him twice. "He tried to stand up and run but the gunmen rushed after him with stones and tyre wheel, and hit him until he died. "We all ran for our lives while the whole drama lasted. From where I was, I saw how they hit him severally with stones and tyre wheel on his head. When they were sure that he had died, they left him on the ground and walked away through a section of the market unchallenged," the source said. The source said the development made the traders quickly close their stalls for about an hour until policemen from the D-Division came and evacuated his corpse and motorcycle from the scene. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, said the police are still investigating the incident.

Insecurity: Akeredolu Charges LG Chairmen to Set up Vigilante Groups

As part of his efforts to tackle insecurity in the state and rid Ondo State of criminal elements, the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday charged the 18 elected local government area chairmen to set up a local vigilance group. The governor urged them to engage local hunters who can work effectively with the state security network codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’. Akeredolu gave the charge on Tuesday when he met with the local government area chairmen at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office at Alagbaka, Akure. He assured them that at least two vehicles would be provided for the Amotekun Corps in each of 18 local government areas across the state as operational vehicles to aid their fight against criminality. Akeredolu noted that the Amotekun Corps is key to the effective security of lives and property of the people of the state, urging the local government areas chairmen to work with the Amotekun Corps. He approved a regular monthly meeting with the chairmen as a way of engaging the representatives of the people at the grassroots level. Akeredolu reiterated that party supremacy must be adhered strictly to, stating that lack of respect for the party supremacy is an invitation to anarchy. According to him, ”The election and your emergence both as candidates of the party and elected chairmen are well deserved. We must respect the party’s decision. The party’s arrangements to field you as candidates for the local government election were based on party supremacy. If you don’t respect it, you are inviting anarchy.” He appreciated the council bosses for rejoicing with him on his victory at the poll and his inauguration for a second term in office, stressing that the victory was for all members of the party. Earlier, the state Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), who is also the Chairman of Akoko South-West Local Government Area, Hon. Augustine Oloruntogbe, congratulated the governor on behalf of his colleagues, thanking him for conducting the local government election in the state in fulfillment of his electioneering campaign.

Saraki-led PDP Reconciliation Committee Meets Obasanjo, Fayose, Olujimi

As part of the preparations for the 2023 general election and the efforts to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Although the details of the meeting were not known as at press time, it is not unrelated on how to repackage the PDP for the 2023 general election by presenting it as the only alternative to “salvage the declining economy and the ugly state of insecurity in the country.” “Since the assumption of office of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government, Nigeria has witnessed the worse security crisis as well a divided country,” the party said. The Saraki-led PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee also had a meeting with the former Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayo Fayose, at his Ikeja home in Lagos. The agenda of the meeting was on how to unite the PDP in the South-west region as well as unite the former governor with a section of the party in the state led by Senator Biodun Olujimi. Confirming the meeting, the committee tweeted: "As part of its ongoing engagements with influential stakeholders across the country, today, the @OfficialPDPNig Reconciliation and Strategy Committee is in Ogun State to meet with another former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. #PDPReconciliation." Thereafter the meeting, Fayose travelled to Abuja to lead his group to another meeting in the residence of the former president in Abuja. It was learnt that the meeting was also attended by the group led by Senator Olujimi. Former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, were the moderators of the meeting since the Chairman, Saraki, was in Lagos. After the meeting with President Obasanjo, Saraki and his team moved to Lagos where they would hold meetings with several PDP groups in the state.

8,000 Policemen to Monitor Delta LG Elections

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ari Muhammed Ali, has disclosed that a total of 8,384 police personnel would be deployed for various security duties for the March 6, 2021, local government elections in the state. Ali disclosed that the number to be assigned to election duties next weekend in the 25 local government areas of the state was made up of 8,292 policemen and 92 men drawn from the special constabulary in Delta State. Specifically, Ali said policemen would be adequately deployed in all the polling units and collation centres as well as some areas identified or suspected to be ‘hot spots’. The state police boss also announced on Tuesday that no policeman was permitted to escort any politician or candidate in the election throughout the duration of the exercise. In a statement issued by the state Police Command acting spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, the commissioner assured the citizens and voters adequate protection, but warned those who wished to foment trouble during the council polls to rescind such decision. According to the statement, "In the light of the forthcoming local government elections in the state next weekend, the state Police Commissioner, Ali, assures all residents that the state police command is committed to ensuring the security of everyone in the state by deploying its officers to all the polling units and also some speculated hot spots to maintain peace and calm all through the electioneering process." The statement further said the commissioner of police "remains resolute in ensuring the sanctity of the electoral process," adding that appropriate measures are in place to ensure the security of both the electoral materials and officials engaged in this election. According to Edafe, "This is an appeal from the commissioner of police to frontrunners in these elections to please caution all their supporters and foot soldiers to restrain themselves from causing chaos as such will not be tolerated. "He also warned that no police aid or security agent would be allowed to escort their principals or any important personality (VIP) to polling unit or on any movement while the election lasts,” noting that any security aid violating this directive will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. Meanwhile, the CP has reiterated that police personnel deployed for the elections would be professional in carrying out their designated duties as assigned. In a related development, the Chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Chief Michael Ogbodu, has assured the state that the commission has put everything in place for a free, fair and credible election.

INEC: Inadequate Polling Units May Hamper 2023 General Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday stated that failure to create more polling units across the country before the 2023 general election may hamper the integrity of the election. This is as both chambers of the National Assembly assured Nigerians that they would do everything legislatively possible to provide better voting environment for the citizens. The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this during a meeting of the Joint Committee on INEC with him on the state of voters’ access to polling units in Nigeria. In his presentation, Yakubu lamented that the existing polling units, which were established in 1996 were no longer adequate for voters to freely vote. This crisis, he said, was disenfranchising millions of Nigerians and could damage the credibility of elections in Nigeria if not solved. Yakubu, while revealing that the commission received over 10,092 requests for additional polling units across the country, said the commission had considered a lot of solutions to the problem, and converting the voting points to polling units is the best option. He said: “The problem is nationwide. There are at present 10,092 requests for polling units from all over the country and rising. In other jurisdiction, expanding voters’ access to polling units is purely administrative, and Nigeria should aim for that. Conversion of voting points into polling units is the least controversial, timely and inexpensive solution.” Speaking further, he appealed to the lawmakers to help depoliticise the issues involved, and support the commission to build a national consensus to solve the problems. Yakubu also urged the lawmakers to support the commission's efforts to convert existing voting points to polling units and relocate some of them to underserved areas. In his address, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, assured the commission that the National Assembly would support the INEC fully in ensuring that they provide a better voting environment for the citizens. Lawan, however, drew the attention of the stakeholders to poor voter’s participation. He appealed to the commission, politicians, political parties and CSOs to mobilise voters to participate. The Senate president said: “We had about 50 million voters in the 1996, and now, we have over 85 million. One thing however that is interested to me is the level of participation. Only 35 percent of voters’ participated in the 2019 presidential election. That translates into less than 30 million Nigerians who participated, so the issue is not only creating more polling units but mobilising voters to participate.” He also promised that the both chambers would ensure the passage of the Electoral Act and the constitution amendment by June this year. Corroborating Lawan's statement, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said they are committed to electoral reforms to improve the way Nigerians elect their leaders. The Speaker, who was represented by the House Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, said: “Polling units are essential in ensuring that all our people have access to electoral process, and that their votes count towards electing leaders who represent their best interest. This consideration should inform our decision about how and where to put new polling units across the country.''

India Promises Nigeria 100,000 Doses of Covishield Vaccines

After taking delivery of 3.92 million doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja yesterday, India has promised Nigeria yet another 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines. A statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Nigeria on Tuesday said: “India will be gifting 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Nigeria shortly, and 200,000 doses to the United Nations peacekeepers, which include many African military personnel.” The statement added: “A large consignment of 3.92 million doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) arrived at the Abuja airport today (yesterday) under the Covax scheme of GAVI. “The Covishield vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by NAFDAC, and it is the first vaccines to reach Nigeria. It is also among the single largest consignments of vaccines shipped out of India. “Nigeria is among the first few countries in Africa to receive the vaccine. In addition, India will be gifting 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Nigeria shortly, and 200,000 doses to UN peacekeepers, which include many African military personnel.” Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur, said the supply of vaccines to Nigeria is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment made at the UNGA in September 2020 that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity would be used to help humanity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The high commissioner said India-Nigeria ties are age-old based on close friendship and mutual trust, noting that the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria marks yet another milestone in the two nations’ bilateral relations. He noted that India has been at the forefront of the global fight against the pandemic, and supports a collective approach in this battle. Thakur said: “Guided by this philosophy, India, as the pharmacy of the world, has supplied millions of doses of vaccines to many countries spread across the globe.” “India has supplied 36.369 million doses of made-in-India vaccines to 36 countries, and will be supplying to another 15 countries soon.” At a UNSC meeting on February 17, 2021, Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, had reiterated India’s approach, and called for ‘vaccine internationalism’, adding that: “India’s commitment to deploy its capabilities for the health and well-being of humanity is not limited to vaccine supply alone, and it has provided critical medicines, ventilators and PPE kits to more than 150 countries, including Nigeria, Benin and Chad.”

Obiano Declares Gun-wielding Herdsmen as Criminals

…Bans itinerant herders from passing through state …IG laments effect of drug, cultism in society Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has declared that any herdsman found carrying gun(s) in the state should be treated as a criminal. The governor said it was unwise to treat them with levity, adding that a fresh census for all herdsmen in the state has commenced, and that once the exercise was concluded, the state will no longer tolerate itinerant herders settling in the state, or even passing through the state with their herds. Obiano stated this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting on security with heads of various communities, security chiefs, traditional rulers and other groups, on the need to maintain security in the state. According to the governor, "We did census of herders in Anambra State last year, and they were 77. We are doing a new one now, and after the census, we will never allow itinerant herdsmen to come to our state again. "The ones causing trouble are not here (Anambra), they come in from outside. Also, we have heard reports of herdsmen who carry arms. Any herdsman carrying arm is a criminal, and we will not tolerate that. If you find them, report them because they are criminals. "We have prosecuted some in the past. We will not allow itinerant herdsmen to pass through Anambra State after the census. We will have the names, phone numbers and address of all herdsmen in the state, and we will be holding meetings with them at intervals." The governor also said his government takes security seriously, because the state has been proclaimed as the safest in the country. He added that his administration has been very supportive of security agencies in the state, “as security remained everyone's business. "Anything about security is a priority for me. We thank our security agencies for keeping Anambra on the high as the safest state in Nigeria. "I have distributed over 520 vehicles to security agencies in the state, and I made a designated petrol station where you can fuel your vehicles to avoid not having fuel when you get distress calls. Today, every police vehicle you see running around is fueled by me," he said. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, has lamented the devastating effect of drug and cultism in the society, saying they are the twin cause of insecurity in the country. Adamu, who was represented at the forum by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Finance and Administration, Joseph Egbunike, stated this at the forum, while also charging his men to nip it in the bud. The police boss said: "Drug and cultism are the greatest challenges we have in Nigeria today. When they take these drugs, they do not know the value of life any longer. That is the problem we have in the country, but it is the responsibility of everybody to ensure that it stops. "If you allow drug to fester in your division, there are chances that you may be a victim of it. You must work to bring down the use of drug in your areas. There must be synergy with NDLEA to ensure that this is brought down. You must work hard, and let those who can change be changed. "Security is everyone's business. Don't rest because if you do, what happens in Sokoto may start happening here. Certain things should not be allowed to happen in Anambra State. Peace is the only vehicle for any development. There is no alternative to it.” In his response, Obiano charged leaders in various communities to bring the youths into leadership in a bid to curb the use of drugs. "During the #EndSARS protest, the security agents were demoralised, and could not even move around in their uniforms, but the youths stepped in to do their work. That is what we want it to be. Security is the duty of everyone, even though it is the government’s duty to secure lives and property,” he stated.

FIRS Targets N5.9tn Revenue in 2021

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has stated that it is targeting N5.900 trillion revenue for the country in 2021. This is as the Senate vowed to probe revenue generating agencies to ascertain compliance with remittances into the consolidated revenue account. The FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Nami, stated this on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance to defend the agency's 2021 budget proposal. Nami explained that for the 2021 budget, the agency is proposing a total revenue collection of N5.900 trillion, representing a 16.22 percent increase; above last year budget of N5.076 trillion. He stated that the cost of collection is projected at N289.25 billion to take care of the increasing cost of operation and planned expansion of operation for new sources of revenue. Nami, while reviewing the agency's performance of the 2020 budget which grossed in N4.950 trillion as against a budgeted N5.076 trillion, said the cost of collection of four percent achieved N130.45 billion against a budget of N186.76 billion. The FIRS boss also disclosed that the agency would not be recruiting any staff in 2021, as there are not enough accommodation yet even for existing staff in the face COVID-19 social distancing rules, adding that presently, some of the staff members are working remotely from home. On his part, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Solomon Adeola, disclosed that his committee is to begin a full blown investigation of all the 467 revenue generating agencies of the federal government to ascertain their compliance with remittances into the consolidated revenue account of the government as well as remittances of one percent stamp duty by all agencies on contracts it awarded. This, he said, was a way of increasing revenue for the government, adding that for government to execute projects and provide services, revenue from the oil sector is now grossly insufficient. Adeola also said the Senate would consider the possibility of approving an increase in the cost of collection that accrues to FIRS. He, however, said whatever is recommended by his committee would be presented for approval by the Senate in the plenary as the committee cannot unilaterally approved the proposed seven percent proposed by the chairman of FIRS.