Minister Pleads For Improved Supply Of Electricity In Abuja

October 31, 2018

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to improve the supply of electricity to the Federal Capital City.

Malam Bello, who made this plea when he received the NERC Chairman, Professor James Momoh in his office, said that electricity supply is a major challenge in FCT because of the many roads and streets requiring streets lights and the poor allocation of power from the suppliers.

He suggested that company could dedicate mini grids to power strategic roads and facilities, adding that it is critical that FCT has first class power supply system.

The Minister said however, that there has been significant progress in power generation and supply, nationwide, since the onset of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“No doubt about it, there is substantial improvement in power, which is a reflection of government policy, government direction and the drive of the Discos, Gencos and Transcos regulator”.

He said that FCT has been recording over nine percent population growth rate annually and that there is need to match infrastructure development with growth.

The minister regretted that funding is a challenge even as hhe recalled that before the unbundling and subsequent privatization of power industry, FCT had made substantial investment in power infrastructure which necessitated discussions on how investments done in the past could be refunded.

Buhari Campaign Group Expels Members For Hobnobbing With Atiku

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari (GMB), a political association promoting President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 presidential ambition, has expelled six of its members for allegedly hobnobbing with Atiku Abubakar who is the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections.

A statement today, Tuesday, by the Director-General of the GMB, Fatimah Goni, said that the affected members have been parading themselves as members of the association in spite of their expulsion.

She said that the association had notified relevant law enforcement agencies on the fraudulent activities of the expelled persons, whom she said, were bent on tarnishing the good name of the association and that of President Buhari.

“The attention of the Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari (GMB) has been drawn to the activities of some of its suspended and expelled members who are now parading themselves as executives of GMB, and are going about deceiving vulnerable politicians and organisations alike with the intent to misinform, defraud and extort them in this season of politics and politicking,

“These elements have, in the past weeks, been planning with an evil intent to bring Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari into shame and disrepute in a grand design using the name, logo and letterheads of GMB to make a declaration in support of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“We hereby draw the attention of the general public that the plan, intent and actions of these criminal-minded individuals do not in any way reflect the views of the GMB and we, by this disclaimer, deny and disown their plans, intent and actions in part, whole and its entirety to be false and of criminal intentions.

“We in the GMB are volunteers for nation building. Our voluntary mobilization efforts for the support of President Buhari is neither for sale nor salable.

“Our time, energy and efforts put in the steering of this organization are with the intention that the administration of President Buhari remains the right choice and the best for the nation in these times when the evil cancer of corruption and its supporting tissues are regrouping to re-infect, re-hijack and re-inflict our nationhood.

“We at the GMB will not and shall never compromise for any article of corruption under any guise whatsoever.”

The director-general dismissed Bukar Ibrahim’s outburst that Buhari might not win the majority votes in the North East in 2019.

She said the GMB has intensified its grassroots mobilization with the hope to ensure landslide victory for Buhari in 2019.

Source: NAN.

Buhari Has Robust Talks With 4 PDP Governors At Aso Rock Today

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

President Buhari met with four PDP governors from south south

President Muhammadu Buhari today, Tuesday, engaged four governors on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the two sides had ‘robust’ talks.

The governors, who were all from South-south are Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Nyesom Wike of Rivers.

At the end of the meeting, Dickson told news men that they discussed issues pertaining to the country and their respective states with the President.

“My colleagues and I came to have audience with the President to discuss issues pertinent to our country and pertinent to our respective states. We had a robust and fruitful discussion with the President and he promised to look into it in any way possible.”

He did not give details of the issues discussed.

Police Arrest Shiite Members Heading To Abuja With 31 Bottles Of Petrol Bombs

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced the arrest of some members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria known as Shiite, with thirty-one bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons being ferried into FCT by their members to cause mayhem and attack innocent citizens including law enforcement agents deployed to protect lives and property.

Speaking to news men today, the FCT Commissioner of polixe, Bala Ciroma said that members of this group during a violent protest, today, Tuesday October 30, 2018 without any provocation, went on rampage and burnt down a Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle deployed at Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent.

He said that some arrests have been made and investigation is in progress.

The commissioner gave the highlight of the arrests as follows:

On 30^th October, 2018 at about 1230hrs police operatives on stop and search duty along Tipper garage Katampe intercepted and arrested one Mustapha Abdullahi ‘m’ 20 years of Ungwan Gwari Suleja with eighteen (18) bottles of petrol bombs carefully concealed in a travelling bag. To smuggle himself and the petrol bombs into the city, he disguised as a passenger and boarded a taxi with other unsuspecting passengers. He ran out of luck when the vigilant policemen on duty at the point upon reasonable suspicion intercepted the cab and conduct a search on the only bag in the car, which had in it the improvised bomb. Upon the discovery, the suspect was immediately arrested. Other exhibits recovered from the suspect include: two lighters and one dagger. The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

Similarly, on the same date at about 1130hrs, police operatives on stop and search at Dakwa FCT-Niger Boundary arrested one Abdullahi Umar ‘m’ 22 years of Gadan Karte, Illela LGA of Sokoto State with a bag containing thirteen (13) well packaged bottles of petrol bomb. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he arrived Suleja from Sokoto state on Sunday to join other members of their sect for the protest. He also confessed that he was ferrying the petrol bomb to FCT to confront law enforcement agents. One lighter was also recovered from the suspect. He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.”

The police reassured FCT residents of adequate security, even as he said that 400 members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who participated in the violent protest of today are currently being detained for discreet investigation.

“Also arrested is their first aider one Salahuddeen Ahmad ‘M’ 23 Yrs of Illela LGA of Sokoto State. The Suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.”

Buhari Reminds Trouble Makers: You Can’t Kill Your Way Out Of Poverty, Inequality

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari SpeakingKaduna

President Muhammadu Buhari has reminded trouble makers in Kaduna State that they cannot kill and burn their way out of poverty and inequality.

The President, who visited the State today, Tuesday to assess the situation and condoled the victims of the crisis, said: “let me conclude by reaffirming my appeal for peaceful and lawful conduct at all times. We cannot kill and burn our way out of poverty and inequality. Strife can only deliver more pain and more strife. It is time to break out of mind-set that limits us from collaborating productively for the common good. Let us continue to work together, to put our people first and make their lives better.”

The President expressed sadness at the loss of lives and properties that have occurred during these tragic incidents, adding that it is unacceptable that criminal elements can visit on citizens the wanton killings recorded in the Kasuwan Magani incident of 18^th October 2018, and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis a few days later. This must stop.

He however appealed to all who call Kaduna home to do their best to uphold peace in their respective communities, stressing that chaos and anarchy tend to worsen and exacerbate whatever issues are agitating a community.

He further reminded them that violence has a way of shattering and dividing people and stifling the prospect of any community that succumbs to its tragic logic.

“The Federal Government commends the efforts of the Kaduna State Government in responding to, and managing the crisis. More Federal Security assets are being provided at the request of the Kaduna State Government to help uphold and keep the peace.

“The Federal Government will continue to work to ensure that more security assets are recruited and deployed across the country to protect all citizens going about their lawful business and to reinforce the authority of the government.

“In this light, the Federal Government welcomes the decision of the Kaduna State Government and its local governments to build and provide facilities for the take-off of more police divisions and civil defense offices in the state.

“On their part, Citizens also have a duty to be law-abiding in their conduct and within their communities. There is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining advantage, and learn to listen to each other and commit to resolving differences through peaceful means.

“Kaduna, once the home of the Premier and home of the New Nigerian must not earn itself a new name – home of violence. The Federal Security Agencies will hunt and prosecute all those who sponsored these acts of violence.

“The Federal Government will take strongest measures possible to punish perpetrators of these crimes. If, in the past they got away scot free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings.

“Let it be clear to all that individuals and communities have obligations to comply with the law and uphold peace. These obligations include respecting the rights of others to live wherever they choose, to worship freely and to pursue lawful livelihoods anywhere in this country. These are constitutional and human rights that we as a government and people must uphold and defend.

“We are doing our best to develop human capital and address poverty and inequality in all parts of the country. Providing decent education and health are my priority goals. I am delighted with the successful collaboration between federal institutions like the Bank of Industry and the Kaduna State Government to provide vocational and entrepreneurship skills, and low-interest credit to expand economic opportunities.”

He called on the State Government not to relent in its focus on expanding equality of opportunity, promoting job creation and upholding law and order.

“You have a partner in the Federal Government that stands ready to provide concrete support not only to Kaduna but all states to help address the poverty and inequality that fuels some of these recurrent crises.

“I have noted the concerns raised by the Governor of Kaduna State about the outstanding issues of payment of compensation and resettlement of communities that have lingered since the post-election violence of 2011. I assure you that the Federal Government will give due consideration to the matter.

He condoled with the people and government, especially on the death of the Agom Adara who he said, served his chiefdom and Kaduna State with dedication.

Central Bank Uplifts Inter-Bank Market With Another $210 Million

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

Authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the inter-bank foreign exchange market received the sum of $100 million as intervention from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) today, to meet the requests of their customers.

The CBN also allocated the sum of $55 million each to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the invisibles segments, comprising requests for tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others.

The Bank’s Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed the new allocations today, Tuesday, said that the CBN would continue to intervene in the country’s interbank foreign exchange market. According to him, the bank’s management remained committed to ensuring stability in the market through liquidity.

It will be recalled that the bank had made interventions totaling over $547 million within the last one month in the Wholesale and Retail Secondary Market Sales (SMIS).

Meanwhile, the Naira exchanged at an average of N362/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today.

Ohanaeze Asks Igbo To Ignore Nnamdi Kanu By Participating In 2019 Elections

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo has called on the people of South-East to ignore the call by leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu by participating fully in the 2019 general elections.

He advised the Igbos go out fully and vote for leaders that are imbued with desire for a Nigeria that will driven by equity, merit and fairness to all citizens.

Chief Nwodo, who spoke today, Tuesday in Enugu at the Business Conference of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Diaspora, organized by the Igbo World Assembly, said that his position had been that Nigerians were better together. He added that Ndigbo who are considering the investments they had made in the country would have a better deal.

The Igbo leader Nwodo, who presented the keynote address, cautioned the people of the area, especially the youths against falling for the antics of anyone or groups that would want to incite them against the country.

The president general also advised the people of the zone to take advantage of the 2019 general elections to support a government that would change the narrative in the country.

Chief Nwodo said that the yearning of the majority of Nigerians was to institute a system of government that would re-engineer the economy akin to what obtained in the first republic.

He said that the only way to achieve this was to restructure the system of governance.

“Four zones out of the six in the country have set the agenda for restructuring. I appeal to our people to go out and vote during the election because your warfare is your vote,” he said.

Chief Nwodo said that he looked forward to a time when the children of highly placed politicians in the country would share the same classrooms with less privileged Nigerians as was the case in the first republic.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Ndigbo while IWA is made up of members of the organization in the Diaspora with membership in 37 countries.

Source: NAN

Ex Imo Gov, Ohakim, Describes APGA As A Scam

Editorial staff

October 30, 2018

Former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has said that “the travesty in All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has shown that what APGA leadership was doing all along, was a ponzi scheme, a scam of the highest order, to defraud fellow Igbo men and women, of their hard earned money.”

Ohakim, who was reacting to a press statement authored by the APGA National Youth Leader, wondered why the National Chairman of the party, Victor Ike Oye, authorized such “junk and bucket of lies” against his person to be released to the Nigerian public.

“While we do not want to continually engage in a matter of yesteryears that is totally false, Mr Victor Oye and his cohorts, should know that talking about Ohakim beating a Reverend Father has become an over-used cliché, and nobody takes such people serious.”

On the issue of the party’s gubernatorial primary, Chief Ohakim said that no such thing took place in Imo State, adding that a court of competent jurisdiction was handling the matter.

“If the governorship primary election held, why 14 governorship aspirants out of 15 would, go to court against the party, over this matter. Or, can anyone contest election against himself? Nigerians should sustain no fears because we are well armed with evidences.”

He recalled how the party set up a committee of prominent Igbo sons, including a serving Commissioner in Willie Obiano’s administration, to woo him to the party.

“We met for a period of eight months and I was given all assurances of a free and fair primary, yet I was denied the opportunity to contest ordinary primary election. It baffles me, therefore, that the National Chairman of APGA could be talking about Ohakim not having capacity and beating a Reverend Father, when he knows that it is not true.”

He said that it is rather disturbing that even in Anambra State, no prominent contestant got the party’s ticket, adding that Ndigbo and Nigerians in general want to know what offence Chief Ifeanyi Ubah committed that made the party deny him the waiver to run for election but granted waiver to Ifeanyi Araraume, who joined the party only one week to the primary election, if the party was not a ponzi scheme.

“What of the wife of the revered Igbo leader, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Lady Bianca Ojukwu?

“What offence did she commit that made them deny her the ticket of the party, after they had lured her to run for the election when she did not want to, if the party was not a fraud cartel? She was simply used to raise the stake.”

The former Governor said: “APGA, which had less than N5 million in its account before the primaries, now hires private jet for the use of the National Chairman. Now, the party that was begging yesterday can now afford to abuse everybody.

“People know that Governor Obiano may be the last governor of the party, and in 2019, not only will the party lose massively in Anambra State, it will lose massively in Imo State also and everywhere else in Igboland because the party has killed its Igbo nationalism and idealism.”

Source: Vanguard

How Fayose Impoverished Us, Paying Us N400 Per Month, Ekiti Obas Lament

Greenbarge Reporters

October 30, 2018

Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have lamented ill treatment meted to them by the immediate past governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.

At a meeting with the new Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the government house in Ado Ekiti today, Tuesday, the traditional rulers narrated their ordeals during the last administration where their salaries were not paid regular and their allowances slashed to 40 per cent, leading to situations where some Obas got sitting allowances as low as two thousand or four hundred naira.

The Obas, led by their chairman, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye- Ekiti said it was unfortunate that custodians of the culture and tradition of the people could be treated in such a shabby and despicable manner where peanuts approved for them could not be paid while some people were living grandiose life style.

They called on the Governor to be compassionate and return their rights and privileges that had been denied them in the last four years, urging that their plight be looked into within the available resources.

The Obas also used the opportunity to appreciate the governor for the cars he bought for them five years ago.

They, however, lamented that about 13 Obas who were crowned after the exercise were denied official vehicles by the Fayose government.

They gave kudos to governor Fayemi for giving over 120 cars to all Ekiti Obas during his first tenure, adding that it was commendable and unprecedented in the history of the state and Nigeria at large.

Earlier, Governor Fayemi had solicited their support for his administration, adding that government cannot move forward without the support of the traditional institution.

While assuring them that his administration would complete all abandoned projects before his tenure ends, the governor promised to partner with them in his drive to develop the state, as all projects would be based on the needs of the people.

He assured them of adequate security in all communities of the state by restoring the vigilante and further strengthening the security forces and ensure better welfare for them.

Fayemi said “I know that there are various projects also that my government started which relate to your various communities, in the course of my visits during the campaign, I noticed that many of those projects had remained at a standstill and your expectation is that having returned from my sabbatical leave that those projects should come to fruition and completed in the various communities where they are located.

“We would do our best to try and do an assessment of those projects in the shortest possible time and see how we can quickly effect its completion within available resources. We would try not to leave any project abandoned.

“I have only been here for ten days and in the course of that we have had some skirmishes here and there, I am glad that Owa of Ilogbo is here with us and in one peace, I don’t know whether you have returned to your community, but if you have not, we would have to ensure that you get back there.”

Owa of Ilogbo Ekiti was recently barred from entering his domain as a result of a disagreement that happened in the town.

On road network, the governor assured the people that very soon, roads leading from Ado-Ekiti to Akure and Ikare Akoko both in Ondo state would be fixed by the Federal Government.

Fayemi also hinted the Obas of plans by his administration to invest massively in agriculture, urging the traditional rulers to key into the programme.

He also promised to effect the release of their entitlements within the available resources.

The Governor promised to build a council hall with chambers and offices where all the traditional rulers in the state could meet at the same time.

New Minimum Wage: We Can Pay Only N25,500 , Governors Tell Workers

Greenbarge Reporters

October 30, 2018

Nigerian governors have unanimously agreed to increase the existing minimum wage for worker in Nigeria’s public and private establishments from N18,000 to N25,500.

The governor’s latest stand which came at the end of the meeting they held in Abuja today, Tuesday night was contrary to the demand of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) that the minimum wage must be increased to N30,000.

The meeting of the governors, which was held under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Productivity and that of National Planning, Senator Chris Ngige and Senator Udoma Udoma, respectively.

Chairman of the NGF, who is also the Governor of Zamfara State, Mr. Abdulaziz Yari, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said that the welfare of all Nigerians was the ultimate concern to the governors.

He said, “Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where we deliberated on the National Minimum Wage after a briefing from our representatives at the Tripartite Committee, we submit as follows:

“The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern. In all our States, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.

“In agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, however, the Forum is even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres. ”

“It is, therefore, our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five per cent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each State.

“Afterall, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that ‘the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy’

“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each State.

“Governors, therefore, agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500. “

The Federal Government had earlier offered to pay N24, 000 as minimum wage.

Labour had declared that it would order workers to go on strike from November 6, if the government refused to take a decisive action on its demand.

However, the threat of the workers was believed to have made the leadership of the governors to convene an emergency meeting.

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