The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has rejected a motion that sought to sack President Muhammadu Buhari and declare Chief Ambrose of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), who claimed to have won the election by referendum, as President.
The House of Representatives has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to appoint 15 Special Advisers in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the unlimited damage which illicit financial outflows have caused to the economy of the African countries.
He said: “estimates suggest that African countries lose over 60 billion US dollars annually due to illicit financial outflows, a staggering amount for a continent in dire need of development finance.”
President Buhari, in a key note address at the opening session of the 16th Conference of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) in Abuja, today, July 18, said that a United Nations Report on “Illicit Financial Flows and the Problem of Net Resource Transfers from Africa: 1980-2009,” had corroborating the figure, by observed that during the period 1980 to 2009 between $1.2 trillion and $1.4 trillion was taken out of Africa.
“This figure is half of the current Gross Domestic Products of all the countries of Africa.”
The Nigerian leader regretted that criminals and their collaborators are cheating the system through various practices, which include trade mis-pricing, trade mis-invoicing, tax abuse and evasion, as well as money laundering.
“Several unfair commercial agreements and illegal resource extraction by multinational companies, in cahoots with their local collaborators, also create routes for illicit financial outflows.
He reminded the participants that terrorist networks, organized criminal syndicates of drugs, arms and human traffickers and sundry hostile non-state actors are actively undermining the security and stability of our countries.
Buhari noted that such criminal groups not only fund their operations from the proceeds of crime, but are implicated in much of the illicit financial outflows from Africa.
“Firm and unwavering action is required to bring this threat under control. Any evasion of rules and regulations in ways that aid corruption in its various manifestations, including illicit financial outflows, must be vigorously fought and defeated.”
President Buhari said that his role as African Union’s Anti-Corruption Champion had brought him closer to appreciating more the devastating impact of corruption and illicit financial outflows on the African continent.
“I am, therefore, pleased that this conference will boost the sense of urgency that we collectively have about this devastation and raise our response capacity at operational levels.
“In Nigeria, we have risen to the challenge. The fight against corruption remains at the core of our efforts to accelerate national development. We have recorded successes even though the perpetrators are not giving up and are trying to fight back.
”I would like to remind you that while the task you have set for yourselves at this Conference is laudable and essential to the future prosperity and stability of Africa, it is not an easy one. Success will require robust efforts and resolute commitment by individual services in order to lay the solid base for the collaborative efforts that are required to address this daunting challenge.”
Buhari advised the participants to develop a template of risk factors and actionable strategies to stem the flow of illicit funds from our continent; give priority to examining the links between crime and instability on our continent and propose measures to ensure that terrorists and criminals are denied access to our financial systems.
He also charged the committee, to remain steadfast as a model platform of cooperation, in words and deeds.
President of the Nigeria Employment Consultative Association (NECA), Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi has said that
70 percent of those in private sector of the nation’s economy have since been paying over N30,000 new national minimum wage to their workers.
Answering reporters questions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, July 17, Ayodele said: “already, even before the enactment of the national minimum wage, over 70 per cent of organized businesses in Nigeria are paying more than N30,000 as minimum wage.”
He noted that he minimum wage is essentially meant to serve as benchmark beneath which organized employers are not supposed to pay.
“So, when you follow the spirit and the letter of the law, it means they are not affected by the national minimum wage law because they are paying above that. I am talking of the private sector now. “But for the less than 30 percent that are not paying up to N30,000 in the private sector, I am pleased to announce that they are already implementing. Those of them that need to restructure their salary grades have already done that with the support of their organized body, NECA and we are fully compliant.
“What we are trying to do now is to encourage those that are not our affiliates, the informal sector to also key into the implementation of the national minimum wage. Like I said, we don’t have full control because they are not members of NECA. We are only mentoring and mobilizing them to ensure they comply with the law.”
The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has warned on the dangers that are inherent in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Africa Union Summit.
Answering reporters’ questions after a visit by the leaders of NECA at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, July 17, the Director General of the body, Timothy Olawale, admitted that Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement is laudable and that there are lots of benefits inherent in it.
“We also know that it is capable of endangering capital inflow into the country.
“However, before we start talking about benefits derivable from it, we must also talk of the likely damager it can do to an economy that is fragile like ours, which behoves on us as stakeholders and government to put all hands on deck to address those issues.
“Those issues bother on those variables that will ensure the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and industry. We don’t want a situation where our businesses are not competitive due to the disadvantage environment they operate.
“Of course, we are all familiar with the disadvantaged environment with regards to issue of agriculture among which is power and the issue of road network; that is transportation for goods and services and accessibility to the different business environment.
“What we are saying is that if all these issues are not addressed properly, to make our businesses competitive, definitely we are going to be at the receiving end, to the extent that our nation will become a dumping ground. And some of the factories that are even struggling presently may end up folding up.
“Of course, we know the history of the textile sector and that can be replicate in any sector and we don’t want us to get to that extent. That is why we are saying government should put mechanism in place to address these issues so that we can be competitive and so that we can take our rightful place and maximize the benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), agreement.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has made it compulsory on all the intending pilgrims for this year’s, 2019 pilgrimage to make sure they are vaccinated against certain communicable diseases and to present attestation of the vaccination at the point of arrival into the Kingdom.
A statement today, July 17, by the spokesperson of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Fatima Sanda Usara, said that the decision of the Saudi authorities was based on World Health Organization’s (WHO) report of May 2019, which insists that citizens from countries exposed to yellow fever and poliomyelitis must be vaccinated against them.
The statement said that in addition, all means of transportation from the affected countries must be disinfected before traveling into the Kingdom, adding that for travellers exiting countries exposed to dengue fecer and zika virus, “apart from disinfection of transport carriages by relevant authorities in line with international patterns, citizens are mandated to avoid exposure to mosquitoes prior to their journey to Saudi Arabia.”
It said that amongst the advisory guidelines that have been issued is the preference for vaccination against seasonal influenza to be administered 10 days before arriving in Saudi Arabia.
“With respect to the commonly experienced infection of upper respiratory system, health authorities in Saudi Arabia warned travellers against contact with animals, especially camels, avoiding direct contact with symptomatic persons and shunning untreated milk as well as half cooked meat. The health authorities also encourage observation of general hygiene especially constant washing of the hands before and after food and after toilet usage, observing crowd and sneezing etiquettes are highly recommended too.
“Consequently, to eliminate chances of spreading water and food-borne diseases, transportation of food items into the Kingdom is prohibited except for canned foods in small quantities for personal consumption. These too must be transparently packaged.
“Moreover, pilgrims are advised not to eat foods cooked and kept for long without being refrigerated. They are advised to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption and drink lots of water to prevent heat stroke. Also, it is advised to stay away from direct sunrays by using umbrellas and remaining under shades.
“The Saudi Ministry of Health reassures pilgrims and other travellers that in case of a disease outbreak or any other health emergency, the Kingdom’s authorities, in collaboration with WHO, will take additional measures to contain it. Therefore, each participating country’s medical mission is advised to isolate a room where ambiguous infectious disease carriers will be secluded and compulsorily reported to the Saudi authorities. Other infectious diseases are to be reported as well.”
The statement recalled that NAHCON had advised that only medically fit persons should register for the Hajj exercise, adding that this fact was reiterated by Saudi Arabia in its counsel to person carrying severe illnesses and physically weak individuals, such as the aged and pregnant women, to reconsider participating in the Hajj exercise that is known to be generally strenuous.
“However, persons with terminal illnesses who insist on travelling for Hajj are advised to carry along medical items relevant to their condition, plus adequate drugs in original packets to be complemented by prescription letters by medical doctors in government hospitals.
“Most of the guidelines are in conformity with those of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), another member of World Health Organization. This is reason why FMH has been facilitating free inoculations to pilgrims and other international travellers, plus coordinating enlightenment on relevance of these vaccines.
“FMH also conducts periodic inspection of aircrafts and others to safeguard health of travellers coming in and out of the country. Besides, in collaboration with FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), FMH has placed medical health warning devices in strategic locations in the country’s international airports to alert health workers on unusual medical symptoms.”
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bn Mahmoud Bostaji has congratulated the Nigeria’s Super Eagles for emerging third place in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
House of Representatives has handed down a week ultimatum to Edo State House of Assembly to resolve its crisis or face a stiffer sanction.
A visibly angry Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Chinyeaka Ohaa has ordered the suspension of two teachers in the School for the blind for allegedly involving raping of two female students of the school.
RUGA Settlements: Our Hope, Our Fear, By Gidado Yushau Shuaib
Shortly after the announcement of the program, different shades of opinion sprout into the open, with some believing that it was a deliberate effort by Mr. President to favour his Fulani ethnic group. Just as others saw the move as leeway for the president to compensate the rampaging bandits or more commonly tagged as ‘Fulani herdsmen’, because he shares the same ethnic lineage with them.
These Fulani herdsmen are so criminalised to such an extent that the recent killing of Mrs. Olufunke Olakunrin, the daughter of Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of the Yoruba socio-political group was linked to them. Such development generated a lot of controversies across Nigerians with different persuasions. Colossal of these allegations was the one shared by the brother to the late Olafunke for claiming to have been reliably informed that attackers who shot his sister were Fulani herdsmen.
However, the police commissioner, on the other hand, had said that the attack was carried out by bandits who came to the road and fired sporadically at motorists. From the foregoing, Fulani ethnic group seems to have become an endangered species. Aside from the fact that most security challenges have been blamed on Fulanis, anytime a herd of cattle is sighted roaming the streets of our towns, the submission by many people, especially on social media, is that these people do what they do because their brother is the one at the helms of affairs.
What a blatant misrepresentation! As far as I am concerned, the people don’t give a hoot who the president is. They only are concerned about where to locate a greener pasture. If we must tell ourselves the truth, in as much as these people remain, wanderers, no amount of misrepresentation or stereotyping can change the lot of these Fulanis.
Truth be told, the Ruga settlement project is impressive but the mode of delivery and the time of the project was wrong. I mean, why should the government introduce such an impressive policy when the atmosphere is well charged with mutual suspicion, Fulaninisation and Islamisation agenda claims?
Similarly, failure on the part of the government to provide a holistic document to explain the Ruga policy and its benefit received a backlash. The denial by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, saying his office has absolutely nothing to do with the project, and is not under the supervision of his office, was also unwholesome.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Umar, had attempted to shed more light on the debacle, but it seems that these words have been falling on deaf ears. Mr Umar was quoted as saying: “It is one project that will help to take them away from our streets and stop them from wandering in the bush. And in the next five to ten years, you will never see a nomad moving about, wandering or kidnapping. And this will help to address some security challenges we are contending with now.”
The perm sec’s verbiage never dropped down before various socio-cultural groups started coming out to express their displeasure with the programme. They described the establishment of cattle-rearing settlements for herdsmen as a move to colonize the country.
Another reason why the Ruga kite did not fly is that the nation is now fragmented along ethno-religious lines, a situation which will make it difficult to build consensus around important things that matter for our socio-economic progress. Also, the realisation that the Ruga settlements will cater for the livelihood of herders, while neglecting farmers, who many believe are the main victims of the conflict between both groups, has also elicited scathing condemnations from the majority who unabashedly opposed the idea.
I think the call for the suspension of Ruga project stemmed from the age-long rivalry with farmers. While herders are feeling relieved from troubles of farmers, farmers are however feeling cheated by the program because they own the lands. As expected, Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue and Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba state were the first to reject the move for setting up Ruga settlement in their states. This stemmed from the fact that the indigenes of this states are predominantly farmers, who could not stand the sight of settler-herders in their states.
By and large, I want to believe that it is only an incurable optimist would have concluded that debates on the project will not assume a regional, religious and ethnic dimension, right from the outset. In the meantime, it behoves on the Federal Government to go back to the drawing board, re-strategize, brainstorm and redesign the sacred objectives they seek for the programme. They should be clear-cut visions, not ones that will be greeted again with an unmitigated uproar. Otherwise, the project will be dead on arrival whenever it is relaunched in the sooner or later future.
Gidado Yushau Shuaib, the editor of The News Digest, can be reached on giddyshuaib@gmail.com.