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Reps May Clash Over Tinubu’s $2.2bn Fresh Loan Tuesday

November 25, 2024 by admin

A showdown looms in the House of Representatives this week between lawmakers elected on the platform of the ruling party and their opposition counterparts over the $2.2m (N1.77tn) loan request by President Bola Tinubu. This is as the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Mr Philip Agbese has declared that the Green Chamber will have no trouble approving external borrowing request from President Bola Tinubu, Deputy Spokesman of the Green Chamber, Congressman Philip Agbese has said. President Tinubu’s loan request was contained in a letter transmitted to the parliament and read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during Tuesday’s plenary. If approved, the President said the loan would fund the N9.7tn deficit in the 2024 budget. The Senate has already approved the loan request, with the House expected to debate same ahead of its approval later in the week. Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Benue lawmaker who doubles as the Deputy Chairman, the Committee on Media and Publicity, advanced reasons the House will not hesitate to follow the footsteps of the Senate in granting the request of the President to borrow externally to fund the budget deficit. According to him, the House will approve the loan request as long as it is meant for the execution of capital projects across the country as stipulated in the letter transmitted to the National Assembly by the President. “The Tinubu-led government has been prudent with our resources. We will approve the loan request without hesitation,” he said, adding that the request will be treated in conformity with standing procedures. “I can tell you that the relevant Standing Committees have commenced scrutiny of the loan request ahead of the consideration by the House. But I assure Nigerians that as their representatives, we will abide by strict standard procedures in doing our job as far as this request is concerned,” he said. Debt burden Although Nigeria’s total public debt currently stands at N136tn, Agbese justified the President’s quest to borrow more, saying, “The kind of critical infrastructure we have seen the current government investing their scarce resources on are encouraging. From the Honourable Minister of Finance to the Accountant General’s Office, we have seen fiscal policies that aim to safeguard taxpayers’ resources.” He added that just as past approvals by the parliament were done in line with due consultation with other relevant stakeholders and experts, “The situation would not be different this time.” On what has changed since the inauguration of the incumbent All Progressives Congress-led administration, Agbese who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, noted that “the executive is enhancing our budget system in terms of priorities.” While declaring that “it may not be far from the truth that past administrations took foreign loans to spend on disposables,” he insisted that “the 10th parliament is carrying out its oversight functions to see that every penny counts in the overall interest of our people.” ‘Govs change stand’ Reacting to an exclusive report by The PUNCH quoting some lawmakers saying that some state governors appeared to have changed their rigid stand on Tinubu’s tax reform bill, now before the parliament for consideration, the lawmaker added that the resilience of legislators may have informed the development. “Many (governors) are doing so because they have seen the resilience of the parliament to do what is right for Nigerians. This is what you get where there’s patriotism above personal and selfish interest of just a few entities. “The House of Representatives under the leadership of Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass has done something novel and Nigerians are equally commending his leadership. There’s no doubt that our approach to inviting the key drivers of the tax reforms in Nigeria and doing so at the same time with our in-house experts, has changed the narrative completely in Nigeria,” he added. In a veiled jibe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who in July described the National Assembly as an enabler of executive recklessness, Agbese said Nigerians “don’t take him seriously, so, the parliament won’t be bothered about his opinion which was probably expressed from abroad or somewhere in Dubai. “The only time that politician won an election was when another candidate from the south carried him on his back as a running mate. The only thing he sees about Nigeria is when an election will take place.” The lawmaker assured Nigerians that when granted, the loan would be used for the intended purpose, saying, “The House of Representatives will ensure that such monies if approved are not diverted. What we understand the President is doing is repositioning critical institutions for optimum performance as well as delivering on infrastructure that will stand the test of time. “It’s possible to extend the lifespan of the 2024 budget to ensure that ongoing critical projects receive the desired attention and are completed.” Also speaking, an APC lawmaker from Imo State, Chike Okafor, said the loan request by the President was in order. He said, “Our country in the past years suffered from under-investment in the very critical sectors that stimulate the economy. How much of our resources go to funding/financing infrastructure in such critical things like roads, health, education, and agriculture? Any economy that fails to sustain good investment in the above critical sections of the economy is creating short and long-term deficits in those areas. “What do you do if/when your current revenue and receipts are inadequate to fund the necessary and required investments necessary to sustain the stimulation of your commerce and economy? You resort to borrowing, especially if/when you reserve the capacity to do so.” He added, “What I do not support is borrowing to fund ordinary appetite. By this, I mean borrowing just to fund recurrent expenditures. Once a borrowing is geared towards the funding of critical capital items, then we’re moving in the right direction.” Minority caucus warns Meanwhile, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives has warned that the provision for deficit financing in the 2024 budget is not automatic, … Read more

Cameroon Detains Five Nigerian Pastors Over Politician’s Abduction

November 23, 2024 by admin

Five Nigerian pastors and others residing in the Idabato II community of Cameroon, formerly known as the Bakassi Peninsula, have been arrested and detained by the Cameroonian authorities. Their detention followed the kidnap of the community’s Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, by armed men in early October. A former chairman of the Yoruba community in the defunct Bakassi Peninsula, Eniola Alabo, disclosed this to Saturday PUNCH during an interview on Tuesday. Local media had reported that Roland, alongside another official of the council, Etongo Ismaeil, was whisked away on October 1, 2024, by gunmen who used a flying boat in the coastal area. According to Alabo, the Cameroonian government blamed Nigerians in the area for Roland’s abduction and deployed soldiers to arrest them. “The Gendarmerie came to the community and started shooting sporadically into the air on the day they arrested some of these Nigerians,” Alabo said. The man explained that his compatriots in the troubled community called and explained that the incident had plunged them into panic and anxiety in the border town. During the raid, some Nigerians, including Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, Idowu Ajimosun, Abiola Ajimosun, Blessing Ajimosun, Sunny Bassey, Feran Samagbeyi, and Godwin were detained in Idabato II. Governor locks down community Saturday PUNCH gathered that Cameroon’s South-West Governor, Bernard Okalia, visited Idabato on October 8, 2024. He was said to have declared a total lockdown of the area, which had mostly Nigerians who were fishermen. Okalia was said to have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to both Nigerians and Cameroonians in the community to produce Roland alive. A clip of the visit, obtained by our correspondent, showed him saying, “All shops are closed…the churches are closed till further notice. No exit, no entry in this whole Idabato.” Alabo said Nigerians in the community were rendered economically handicapped, leading to hunger and frustration. Residents, however, reportedly defied the governor’s order in the first week of November to go about their fishing business. “They stayed at home doing nothing for three weeks. The people were hungry because their source of livelihood was put on hold. They had to go out to eat,” Alabo said. The action was said to have angered the Cameroonian authorities, who deployed soldiers in Idabato on the 10th and 11th of November 2024 to arrest Nigerians in the community. According to Alabo, the soldiers invaded the community and started shooting sporadically in the air, which made many Nigerians suffer varying degrees of injury. Pastors arrested During the lockdown imposed on Nigerians in Idabato II, churches were also locked. But when Nigerians began attending to their normal activities, churches also opened on Sunday to Christians. “Some soldiers invaded the Assembly Church of God in the area and arrested the Nigerian pastors there because they were told not to engage in any activities,” the Bakassi Peninsula ex-leader said. “The names of the pastors arrested by Cameroonian soldiers that day were Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete.” Buttressing the claims, one of the Nigerian leaders in Idabato, who identified himself as Johnson for security reasons, said the lives of the pastors were in danger. Johnson said the pastors were whisked away by the Cameroonian soldiers to unknown places. “The Cameroonian soldiers took the pastors away,” Johnson said. “A few days later, we heard that they have been released, but we’ve not seen them.” The source also said the incident forced many people to relocate to neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River. “We are in panic,” the source revealed. “The Cameroonian authorities have made life unbearable for Nigerians in Idabato. We have all the major tribes of Nigeria here. We have Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik, and other people.” Woman died During the lockdown, a Nigerian woman, Esther Okon died after giving birth to a baby on the 20th of October, 2024. Okon reportedly bled to death after giving birth as she could not receive any medical treatment from the hospital. One of the executives of the Nigerian Union in Idabato, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed this, adding that the woman had been in labour since 19th October. The source said Okon would not have died if she had been transported to Ibaka in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State but there was no movement. “It takes only two hours by a speedboat but if we see a flying boat, it is just 45 minutes to get her to Akwa Ibom,” the source said. Confirming the incident, another Nigerian man, who claimed to be Okon’s husband’s friend and did not disclose his identity for security reasons, said her corpse was repatriated to Nigeria after some documents were signed with the Cameroonian authorities. “The corpse was taken to Ibaka in Nigeria after her husband signed some papers with the Cameroonian government,” the source said. Tax payments One of the problems causing conflicts between the Cameroonian authorities and Nigerians in Idabato is the payment of taxes. The authorities had accused Nigerian nationals in Idabato of evading taxes but proof of adherence to the payment of taxes was shown to them on many occasions, Johnson said. “We have documents like receipts issued to us as evidence after the payments of taxes. It is called global tax collected annually,” the source added. Saturday PUNCH gathered that some of the taxes might not have been remitted to appropriate quarters. Failed interventions When asked about the possible intervention of the offices of Consulate-Generals of the two West African countries, the Nigerian nationals said their efforts had not yielded results. “I have gone to the office of the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria, but nothing happened. I was not allowed to see the woman. I learned that she is a new person appointed,” Alabo said. All efforts to reach the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria were futile as both numbers and email addresses on their website appeared dormant as of the time of filing this report. NiDCOM reaction Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission disclosed … Read more

Rivers Will Receive Federal Allocation Despite Legal Battle – FG

November 23, 2024 by admin

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation says it will adhere to court orders regarding the disbursement of federal allocations to Rivers State, following recent legal controversies surrounding the state’s financial entitlements. Speaking to The PUNCH on Friday, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, said, “We are going to obey court order. “Since there is a notice of appeal, the notice of appeal has overridden the earlier court judgment. So far, it is a court order that we will obey; if there is a notice of appeal, Rivers will be paid.” The assurance comes amid a Federal High Court ruling on October 30, 2024, which directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold further monthly allocations to Rivers State. The court ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly was unconstitutional. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment, stated that since January 2024, allocations received and spent by the state were based on an illegitimate budget, describing it as a “constitutional aberration.” The ruling raised questions over the legitimacy of the State House of Assembly’s composition and its authority to approve budgets. The judge contended that the governor’s actions ignored constitutional requirements for budget approval by a fully constituted House of Assembly. Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, Justice Abdulmalik declared that decisions made by the four-member Fubara-backed Assembly were void, referencing prior rulings by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that had annulled its authority. The ruling also held that Fubara’s actions violated Sections 91 and 96 of the 1999 Constitution, and warned that any continued bypassing of legislative processes constituted an affront to the rule of law. The court’s decision followed a suit filed by the State House of Assembly faction led by Martin Amaewhule, challenging the legitimacy of the four-member faction loyal to Fubara. The Amaewhule-led Assembly had earlier declared in July that all state expenditures would be halted until the governor resubmitted his budget to the legitimate legislative body. Justice Abdulmalik denied a request to stay the proceedings, dismissing the application as “frivolous and vexatious.” She also refused to recuse herself from the case, rejecting the defence’s allegations of bias. However, the Rivers State Government swiftly filed a notice of appeal against the ruling. This came as the governor celebrated one of the failed attempts to impeach him by the Amaewhule-led state Assembly faction loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, earlier told The PUNCH that the judgment had been appealed, expressing optimism that the Appeal Court would upturn the judgment. He said the pointers to the anticipated judgment were glaring, adding that they were unperturbed as they had already instituted an appeal against the Federal High Court’s judgment. The OAGF has now confirmed that the appeal effectively overrides the earlier court decision, ensuring that allocations to the state will continue pending the final outcome of the legal process.

Oyo State To Conduct Computer-Based Exams For 15,000 Civil Service Applicants

November 22, 2024 by admin

The Oyo State Government, on Friday, announced that approximately 15,000 candidates would sit for its forthcoming Computer-Based Test for recruitment into various cadres in the civil service. The Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Kamoru Aderibigbe, disclosed this in Ibadan, the state capital, at his office. He said, “The examination will be held from Monday, 25th November 2024, to Thursday, 28th November 2024.” “The approval was given by Governor Seyi Makinde to recruit 900 officers across over 60 cadres in MDAs within the mainstream civil service.” “Out of 22,235 applications received by the commission, 15,000 were deemed qualified to sit for the CBT.” Aderibigbe noted that this recruitment was unprecedented in the history of the state, as no such recruitment had taken place in the last two decades. Historically, recruitment had been done on a cadre basis. “For instance, the current administration recruited 60 Environmental Health personnel in 2020, 692 Education Officers, and 30 state counsel in the same year, while 19 officers were recently recruited for the Ministry of Lands.” “As for the ongoing process, 22,235 applications were successfully submitted on the state government job portal, out of which roughly 15,000, about 67%, were qualified for recruitment into the cadres for which they applied, in line with the scheme of service and the parameters outlined in our Tribune advertisement of 7th October 2024,” he said. Aderibigbe explained that similar cadres have been grouped to sit at the same centre, emphasising that applicants have been divided into two groups to assess their competence. Those applying for positions such as Education Officers, Environmental Health Personnel, Social Welfare, and Youth will sit for the CBT at the Arch. Bamidele Samson CBT Centre, opposite UCH, on Monday, 25th and Tuesday, 26th November, while other candidates will sit for theirs at the Distance Learning CBT Centre, Ajibode, Ibadan, on Thursday, 28th November 2024. He mentioned that invitations had already been sent to successful applicants, advising those yet to receive their invites to visit the government portal and refresh to verify if they are qualified according to the parameters stated in the publication. Aderibigbe advised applicants to arrive at the examination centre at the time indicated on their invitation slips, with a printed copy of their application form and invitation slip.

Anti-Tinubu Comments: ACF Suspends Chairman As Afenifere, Others Back President

November 22, 2024 by admin

The Arewa Consultative Forum on Thursday suspended its chairman Mamman Osuman following widespread reactions across the country, after the northern body’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, saying it had impoverished the North. The ACF, in a statement, added that the interests of the North would be best represented by northerners. However, Yoruba socio-political Afenifere, Igbo socio-cultural body Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other regional groups backed the President insisting his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari laid the marker for the hardship in the country. In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the forum’s National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the ACF expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic policies, which, according to the forum, worsened conditions in Northern Nigeria. The communiqué, signed by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, also called on the President to review and reassess his administration’s economic policies to ensure they are more compassionate, considering the current hardships Nigerians are enduring. “I do admit that some policies of the current administration are repugnant and adverse to our interests as a region,” Osuman stated. “A sizeable number of our brothers and sisters in the region have demonstrated proclivity towards politics and political offices come 2027. They are already focusing on the 2027 elections.” However, the ACF in a shock U-Turn, suspended Osuman in a letter signed by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu. The letter stated, “The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee, which were made during the meeting of the NEC, held on Wednesday, November, 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna. “In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the Presidency, come 2027.The statements were made by the NEC chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus, reflected Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion only. “ACF rejects Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman’s statements in their entirety. For this reason, the leadership of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman on suspension with immediate effect. “A committee has been constituted for further investigations.” Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said, “There is no need for the President to have a say because they (ACF) are calling for an Arewa person to run for President. That means the Arewa person can run from any political party.” He added, “The simple answer is that we don’t want to heat up the polity. We have not gotten to the point where people will be talking about 2027. We are focused on providing good governance to Nigeria,” Bwala added. The presidential spokesman said Tinubu was dedicated to tackling critical challenges currently facing the country, pointing to his recent participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil. “The President is very much committed to ensuring we deal with hunger, extreme hunger and climate change problem. That is why he flew to Brazil to interface with the G20 dealing with global governance reform, and the global governance reform has now come up with a focus. “The focus is on hunger, poverty, and climate change. That is what the President is focused on. The President is not focused on 2027.” APC backs Tinubu Additionally, the ruling All Progressives Congress criticised the ACF, stating that while the group has the right to express its opinion, it cannot claim to speak for the entire North. The National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said, “This has always been the position of the ACF. They have always been advocating and clamouring for their own. The ACF is not a political party. It is an association. It is more like a sociocultural organisation. But now that they have come out clearly to say they are not going to back a non-Northern candidate come 2027, so be it. “But it is too early to talk about crossing the river when you have not gotten to the point of getting to the bridge. We agree that in politics or under democracy, people have the right to opinion. The position of the ACF is not against the provision of democracy or the constitution. They can clamour and ask for people to vote for their own. But the choice to do that rests on the people. “As long as they are not going to insist on forcing people to choose who to vote for, we don’t have any quarrel with that. In any case, let them wait and see for the party to present a candidate.” On his part, the National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, stated that if the ACF had truly been monitoring the political landscape over the past decade, it would recognise that the issue was not related to tribe or geopolitical zone. “A northerner was in government for eight years and the North cried wolf. Nothing got better in the North. There was inflation in the North just as it was in the South. When Goodluck Jonathan, a southern President was there, he built schools and took care of the Almajiri. But when the northern President came, all those things were set aside. “There was hunger and inflation in the country. Another Southern president p is on the saddle. However, I want to believe that after one year and six months or thereabouts that Tinubu has been in government, he ought to have started changing the narratives. Unfortunately, nothing good is coming out of it. What does that tell you? “It simply tells you that it’s not about the person in government coming from North or South. It is not about the geographical location of the leader. It’s about the capacity of who you have entrusted the leadership of the country to. The Labour Party brought out the best candidate in 2023 and up to this moment, we still refer to him as the president Nigeria … Read more

ACF: Tinubu’s Policies Aggravating Northern Challenges

November 21, 2024 by admin

The Arewa Consultative Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the pressing issues of insecurity, education, and economic development in northern Nigeria. Specifically, the ACF urged the President to review and reassess his administration’s economic policies to ensure they have a human face, given the current hardship Nigerians are facing. The pan-northern socio-political organisation stated this in a communique released to newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna, on Wednesday. The communique, signed by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic policies, which the forum claimed have worsened the condition of Northern Nigeria. “The policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse, with little indications of needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people. “The time to think big is now. Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring challenging economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the ACF said. The forum also expressed concerns over the escalating security situation, noting that it had become a major challenge to human existence. It noted that security was an irreducible minimum of human existence, adding that the government must take responsibility for safeguarding lives and property. “Those whose responsibility it is to provide security saying they are doing their best is unacceptable. The minimum duty of the government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure,” the communique added. On education, the forum emphasised the dire state of Northern Nigeria’s education system, particularly the alarming number of out-of-school children. “Statistics of out-of-school children, of which Arewa has an overwhelming proportion, are cogent pointers to the situation. “A lot has been done, but the truth is, far more needs to be done,” the ACF noted. It urged northern governors to adopt a strong, coordinated approach to policy planning and implementation, particularly in areas such as security, education, and agricultural production. The communiqué stated, “Despite the dire economic conditions in Arewa, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to worsen the situation, showing little sensitivity to the precarious existential challenges faced by the Arewa people. “Succinctly stated, economic reforms, while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve; the people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits. “In view of the above, the meeting resolved as follows: calls on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review, reassess, reevaluate and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face. “Strongly calls on the governors of the northern states to adopt a strong, coordinated approach to policy planning and implementation, as these relate to security, education, skills acquisition, agricultural production, health services, etc. “Calls on the Federal Government to be receptive to criticisms, suggestions, etc., not only in line with the principles of democracy but also because they improve, not retard the policy process for the ultimate benefit of the people. “Calls on the northern elite, in all spheres of life, to take it upon themselves to counter negative narratives about the North and also imbibe the spirit of community service, individually and collectively. The interests of the North will be best served by northerners.” It added that “The growing food crisis with every through short and long term measures, including imports where needs be, but the ultimate solution is to achieve food self-sufficiency. “People should take responsibility for our fast-growing population. Public policy and the law should be adopted to achieve a balance. “Poor electricity supply will continue to hamper efforts to ameliorate poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the region. These have to be addressed with utmost urgency.” Speaking earlier on insecurity, the ACF lamented the operations of bandits and terrorists, killing and abducting citizens. Its Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), stressed the urgent need for collective action to address the deteriorating situation. Osuman highlighted the alarming rate of attacks, kidnappings, and killings in the region, stressing that these incidents had become too common. He said, “The North is currently under siege from various threats, including bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and unjust treatment. We must come together to address these challenges. “As leaders, we must demonstrate prudence and concern for domestic and environmental problems affecting our region. “It is imperative that our governors and legislators work in synergy with traditional leaders to combat the ills plaguing our region. “We must address the internal crimes perpetuated by our sons and daughters, and work towards preventing these trends. “There is a need for public awareness campaigns to educate our people on the importance of self-defence and preservation. “We must develop local strategies to combat illegal mining by foreigners and locals in our region.” The forum endorsed the Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman, Dr Umar Ardo, and recently launched at a meeting attended by key Northern elites in Abuja. The League of Northern Democrats is a group comprising former governors, senators, and other prominent figures from the region. According to the chairman, the objectives of the group aligned with the ACF’s goals. He, however, stressed the need for inward reflection and immediate action, rather than focusing solely on long-term political solutions. The chairman emphasised the importance of collective action, inclusive leadership, and collaboration among stakeholders to address the region’s security challenges. “The ACF commends the League of Northern Democrats’ objectives, which align with our goals, but we must focus on immediate action and inward reflection. “We must prioritise economic empowerment, education and skills development, infrastructure development, and security and justice to revitalise the North,” Osuman said. Punch

Suspected Boko Haram Ambushes NSCDC Team, Seven Officials Missing

November 20, 2024 by admin

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have ambushed a monitoring team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The attack occurred on Monday, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State when the operatives were inspecting the National Grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State. Disclosing this in a statement, NSCDC spokesperson, DCC Afolabi Babawale, said the NSCDC team, comprised of nine officers and 71 other ranks, was mobilised in response to recent attacks on power lines, a development that had led to a blackout due in northern part of Nigeria. “As they patrolled vulnerable areas, they encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi Village and allowed them to join the convoy for safety. Unbeknownst to the team, over 200 armed Boko Haram militants had laid a deadly ambush from a hilltop, ready to unleash a torrent of gunfire on the unsuspecting convoy,” he said. “Determined and resourceful, the NSCDC operatives fought back valiantly, managing to neutralise over 50 insurgents during the exchange. However, the chaos left seven officers unaccounted for, prompting an urgent search in the bush for their whereabouts. Those who sustained injuries are currently receiving medical treatment.” On his part, NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, condemned the attack, labelling it as a cowardly act against personnel committed to the nation’s defence. He praised the courage and determination of the operatives, emphasising the Corps’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure amid rising security challenges. Channels

Tinubu, Lula, Jinping, Ramaphosa,Others Unite To Combat Hunger.

November 20, 2024 by admin

World leaders have embraced Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative spearheaded by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the 19th Group of 20 (G20) Summit, which rounded off last night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s commercial capital. “This bold and visionary step underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent and persistent challenges facing our world today”, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said while addressing leaders at the meeting. Among the leaders are: United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden; Chinese President Xi Jinping; United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Stammer; French President Emmanuel Macron; Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and host President da Silva. Eighty-two countries are members of the alliance against hunger. After last-minute negotiations, Javier Milei’s Argentina became the 82nd country to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, Brazil’s initiative launched during the two-day summit. With Buenos Aires’ decision, all G20 countries are now members. The African Union, the European Union, nine financial institutions, 24 international organisations, and 31 philanthropic and non-governmental entities, totalling 148 are founding members. President Tinubu said: “The creation of this Alliance marks a significant milestone in our global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and it also sends a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations around the globe. “By fostering collaboration between governments, international organisations, and civil society, this initiative offers a comprehensive approach, not only to addressing immediate needs, but also tackling the structural causes of hunger and poverty.” President Tinubu compared the global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he outlined during his inauguration 18 months ago, expressing Nigeria’s eagerness to adopt the international best practices to advance its economic development. He said Nigeria’s endorsement of the Global Alliance is a significant step in its efforts to address hunger and poverty by leveraging international cooperation and resources to bolster domestic strategies. He added that by supporting the initiative, Nigeria had also demonstrated a solid commitment to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on eradicating poverty, and SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger. President Tinubu added: “These goals are at the core of Nigeria’s development agenda, and the Alliance offers a platform to accelerate progress towards them. “By collaborating with international partners, Nigeria aims to leverage best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to enhance its efforts to combat poverty and hunger. “The endorsement reinforces Nigeria’s role as a key player in global efforts to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.” President Tinubu called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure its continued relevance in global interventions. He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness and capability to represent Africa within the global elite assembly. The President urged the G20 to champion the noble ideal, having admitted the African Union (AU) as a group member. President Tinubu said: “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality. Africa deserves priority in this and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.” S’Africa backs Brazil’s fight against poverty President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said South Africa fully supported the Brazilian Presidency’s focus on social inclusion and the fight against hunger. Speaking at the working session on social inclusion and the fight against higher and poverty, Ramaphosa said it was only through an integrated and comprehensive system of social support that the G20 will be able to assist the most vulnerable in society. According to the World Bank, nearly 700 million people are currently living in extreme poverty and the Sub-Saharan Africa region accounts for 67 per cent of these people. Ramaphosa said that at the same time, countries with developing economies were faced with declining growth prospects, declining investments and rising debt. He said these challenges had the potential to derail development gains and progress made toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “We must, therefore, urgently redouble efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger. We must advance gender equality. And we must overcome the planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and pollution,” Ramaphosa said. Guterres urges reforms United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of global governance institutions. He said: “We face a global governance deficit and a global trust deficit. Poverty, inequalities, and the climate crisis are getting worse, and peace is getting further out of reach. “We need global solutions rooted in the UN Charter. But our institutions are not keeping up. That was the reason for the Pact for the Future agreed in the UN Summit of the Future to strengthen multilateralism and global governance. “Starting with the Security Council, which is steadily losing its effectiveness and legitimacy. As wars grind on, innocent people are paying a terrible price, and the Security Council is unable to stop them. Security Council reform must be pursued with determination and not become a mirage. “Everywhere around the world, peace requires actions grounded in the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, UN resolutions and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of States.” G20 anticipates change in U.S. foreign policy The G20 leaders discussed a likely shifting global order, trying to shore up multilateral consensus before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to power in January. Their discussions of trade, climate change and international security anticipated the sharp U.S. policy changes that Trump vows upon taking office, from tariffs to the promise of a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine. The Nation

Cholera Outbreak Claims 25 Lives In Sokoto,15 Hospitalized

November 19, 2024 by admin

No fewer than 25 persons have been confirmed dead as a result of a Gastroenteritis outbreak, otherwise known as Cholera, in three Local Government Areas of the state out of a total of 1,160 cases recorded in the state. The state Commissioner of Health, Asabe Balarabe, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to newsmen. The commissioner further explained that the state is treating 15 other victims of the outbreak on active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas. The 15 active cases, according to the commissioner, were diagnosed through laboratory tests based on culture and sensitivity and confirmed to be active cases of the cholera outbreak. The commissioner further said, ” Out of 1,160 people that have been affected by the outbreak, 25 of the victims have already succumbed to the disease. “The stated rescue teams are collaborating with the state government to manage and forestall further spread of the dreaded disease.” “The state government, in its response to the outbreak, directed the immediate purchase and distribution of drugs free of charge to 18 local government areas to curtail the disease’s continued spread. The commissioner appreciated the turnout of women, especially pregnant women, seeking medical consultations and pregnancy tests at various health institutions in the state. She highlighted challenges facing the health sector, including dilapidated infrastructure and inadequate resources, which have plagued the sector backwards for the past eight years. She expressed hope that Governor Ahmad Aliyu, in his magnanimity, see to the revitalization of the health sector in the state. “Patients often face numerous problems in public health institutions, such as atrocities, loud disturbances, lack of water, and power outages.” She commended the governor for recruiting 864 nurses and midwives to address the issue of a shortage of manpower in state public health facilities. Balarabe, however, stated that plans are in the pipeline to recruit more supporting staff to replace the dead and those who retired without replacement. Our Correspondent in the state gathered that victims of the escalating cases of Cholera/Diarrhea outbreak were in Bazza and Gidadawa Communities in Sokoto Metropolis, where some died while others are still receiving medication at Primary Health Centres in Bazza and Kofar Rini clinics; all in Waziri B Ward of Sokoto North LGA. Punch

PDP Criticizes Tinubu For Conferring GCON Title On Indian PM

November 18, 2024 by admin

The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday faulted President Bola Tinubu for decorating the visiting Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, with the Nigerian second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, described the President’s action as misplaced priority. But the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Nze Chidi Duru, kicked, arguing that the President didn’t do anything unprecedented. The PDP’s criticism comes a few hours after Tinubu conferred Modi with the highest honour in the land during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the Presidential, Abuja. On his part, Modi commiserated with Nigeria over the recent floods that ravaged several cities across the country, including Maiduguri, Borno State. The Indian Prime Minister promised to support Nigeria with 20 tonnes of relief materials. ”We had a very productive discussion with President Tinubu. We talked about adding momentum to our strategic partnership. There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more,” Modi said. However, the PDP expressed disappointment in Tinubu, wondering why he chose to gift the second highest national honour in the land on the basis of mere friendship. The member of PDP National Working Committee emphasised that though the President has the right and prerogative to confer a national honour on anybody, there must be criteria to show why they deserve it. “It is not something you dish out for the sake of friendship and all of that. I don’t know what the Indian Prime Minister has done to have warranted such an honour. But this is the second highest honour in the land. It is a misplacement of priorities. “I would have thought that the President should have asked the Indian Prime Minister how the Indian economy has been able to move away from being the poverty capital of the world to being one of the fastest growing economies in the world now. The biggest tech moguls across the globe at the moment are all Indians. “Just look at Microsoft, the Silicon Valley in America and startups. They are all being run and set up by Indians. I would have thought that Tinubu, in a bid to shore up the lacuna his cabinet lacks, would have been humble enough to ask the Prime Minister to offer him a clue as to how to help his government and Nigerians. Not dishing out unnecessary awards that the man doesn’t need other than for pictures and commentary,” he said. Continuing, the PDP chieftain took a further swipe at the current administration, saying it wouldn’t stop playing to the gallery with some of its alleged theatrics. Osadolor also wondered if the President took the liberty of asking the visiting PM and his delegation the right questions on investments and how Nigeria can borrow a leaf from the Indians to move the country out of the woods. He said, “Tinubu is not serious. He should leave out frivolities for bigger issues. Now that the Indian Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to visit Africa, yes, we have a significant and sizeable Indian community in Nigeria. But to what end can we maximize and leverage these businesses? “Are we asking the right questions, seeking the right investments and pushing for the right policies? But the distraction from this administration is becoming one too many. I think President Tinubu should wake up from these media gimmicks and focus on the real issues. “Nigerians are hungry and dying. The technologies the Indians are currently deploying globally will help a great deal to solve most of these basic challenges.” But the APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Duru, raised concerns that the PDP was not playing its role as a responsible opposition. He said, “I think the question to ask is, whether there is a precedent in this. Then the next question is if it is within the confines of the power of Mr President to confer such an award. If it is, is the process approved? Once all these questions are answered in the affirmative, it then becomes the discretion of Mr President to confer such honorary award on whom he pleases. “Having said that, it is also important to underscore the fact that we will need to go beyond the politics of emotions to begin to address the issue. So, the PDP is more than welcome to continue to play the role of opposition, which is admirable. “However, we like to see a situation whereby what they put on the table is, with respect, how we can make Nigeria a lot better and more improved that will address the issues facing us as a country. I am talking about things like how do we put food on the table, create a better environment for business to thrive and create a better level playing field. These are things that should worry any of us than to chase shadow.” Meanwhile, a United States of America-based Nigerian security expert, Dr. Sylvester Okere, on Sunday, said the Indian-Nigerian partnership would secure the people’s assets. Okere, who would be among personalities that would be hosted by the Central Association of Private Security Industry from November 21 to 22, 2024 in India, said the invitation by CAPSI to the 19th Security Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi was coming at a time when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria for a state visit. Okere will speak on ‘Indian-Nigerian Partnership in Securing People and Assets,’ as well as other critical security issues affecting both countries. The PUNCH gathered that CAPSI, the umbrella organisation of the Indian private security industry, has ties with some of the leading global security education organisations like the World Association of Detectives, International Federation of Protection Officers, the US-based Association of Investigation and Security Agencies Regulators and the United Kingdom-based Security Institute for training and placement of trained … Read more