The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, has held the Area Council Chairmen responsible for the ongoing strike by teachers in primary schools, under the Nigerian Union Teachers (NUT), FCT branch. Speaking today, January 16, shortly after an emergency security meeting, minister Wike said that he has reports about Area Council Chairmen abdicating their responsibilities and travelling outside their Councils.
He asked them to sit up and address the teachers’ complains, warning that abdication of responsibilities would not be accepted.
“This time around, we will not be happy where area Council Chairmen will abdicate their responsibilities and travel out. We have gotten reports that Council Chairmen travel anytime and if anything happens, of course, they will not call anybody’s name. They will call the FCT Minister. “Recently, the NUT embarked on a strike. It is not because of our fault. It is the Area Councils. Primary schools are under the purview of the Area Councils. But again, it will look as if the Ministers are doing nothing. But that is not our responsibility. “However, we cannot fold our hands. We have invited them to a meeting this afternoon to see how we can also resolve the problem. “So, the Council Chairmen should know you must live up to your responsibilities. It’s not everything that happens they will say it’s the Ministers that are not taking steps.” The security meeting was attended by the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud; Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed; the Director, Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary and heads of the various security agencies in the capital city.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has opened up on how he got the plum job. Speaking today, January 16, during the launch of a book: “Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity (2015-2023)” which he wrote about the former Nigerian president, Adesina described his appointment as a “demonstration of God’s grace upon my life. “It was a former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who told me how it happened. “He said after President Buhari had emerged, they took three names to him as possible Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. “He (Buhari) looked at the three names, brought my name from his breast pocket, circled my name, and signed in front of it. That was how it happened. “To me, I have always told people that working with President Muhammadu Buhari is a demonstration of God’s grace in my life. “From nowhere, without lifting a finger to push it, I was invited to assume the position of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.” Femi Adesina, a veteran journalist and senior editor, served as chief spokesman to Buhari for eight years: between 2015 and 2023.
Ace Nollywood actress and movie director, Joke Silva, has said that her husband, Olu Jacobs, another veteran Nollywood actor, is no longer with her 80 Percent of the time. She said that it has not been easy managing the health challenges of her husband. Joke Silva, who spoke in an interview with a media personality and actress, Nancy Isime, said that her husband’s poor health had changed him significantly. She said that Olu Jacobs is no longer the man she walked down the aisle with 37 years ago. “It hasn’t been easy. There was a point of acceptance for me that everything happening is reality. It is like the person I married, 80 per cent of the time, is no longer there. “But the thing is this: when he was there, he was an incredible father to his children and an amazing husband. He was practically my best friend.” Joke Silva said that despite her husband’s health challenge, she has not stopped loving him. “The husband I knew is no longer there for me. This man that is here is someone I still love, but love in a different way.”
The National Agency for Food and Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is worried about the standard of anti maleria drugs, paracetamol that are circulating across the country today. The situation has now led to the setting up of a body to conduct surveys into the brands, with a view to removing the substandard ones from the market. The Director General of the Agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who confirmed the news, in a statement yesterday, January 15, said that she had ordered a market survey to sample and test paracetamol brands in Nigeria. The Director General queried the accuracy of the research, questioned the scientific methodology and labeled it misleading. She wanted a laboratory test of paracetamol brands across the country to be conducted, even as she said that NAFDAC’s laboratories are ISO 17025-certified every year to ensure that the procedures used for testing are based on international standards. She said that the tests are also to ensure that the equipment or instruments used are qualified. “We do yearly post-marketing survey of medicines to ensure that the quality and safety are maintained. We want to reiterate that NAFDAC has five ISO-17025 Laboratories across the country, and a WHO Prequalified Laboratory at Yaba Lagos where medicines are tested for quality and safety. “The laboratories test medicines using official monographs of British Pharmacopeia, United States Pharmacopoeia, and International Pharmacopoeia. “As soon as we finish the laboratory testing, we will update the public. “NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the agency is very vigilant in her responsibilities in safeguarding the health of the nation. “It is on this basis that NAFDAC has been recognized by WHO as a stable, well-functioning agency, and by other international partners as an organisation that places premium on the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, food, and other regulated products.” Recent investigations showed that nearly all the paracetamol tablets sold in Nigeria fall short of the requirements specified by the British Pharmacopoeia and the World Health Organization (WHO). A 2023 study titled: ‘’Comparative Analysis of Five Different Brands of Paracetamol Sold in Nigeria with British Pharmacopoeia Standards,’’ exposed variations in the actual dosage of paracetamol tablets. Samples from five different brands, all purportedly containing 500mg, were found to have concentrations ranging from 185mg to 358mg, significantly below the recommended limit.
A boat Conveying no fewer than 100 passengers has capsized in Borgu Local Government area of the state.
The Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, who made this known, in a statement in Minna, said that the incident occurred yesterday, January 15 afternoon. According to him, the boat took off from Dugga Mashaya in Dugga ward heading towards Wara market in Kebbi state. Baba-Arah confirmed that the boat was conveying passengers estimated to be about 100 including goods, grains and other valuables. He said that the agency is yet to ascertain the number of deaths and survivors, saying that search and rescue operations have commenced instantly by local divers, the agency desk officers and local government officials. Source: NAN.
To be sure, taxes are generated from all tax payable individuals, be it in the formal or informa sector of the economy. Indeed, the money considered as “government money” belongs to the citizens. It is the money that is put together from both the market women selling pepper and tomatoes, ewedu, ugwu as well as other petty traders; it is equally the money drawn from salary earners, whether well paid at work or under paid (public and private). They all have taxes deducted fom their salaries. Also Indigenous companies as well as multinationals all pay taxes. I remember during our NYSC days, we were made to go on tax collection drive in Makurdi, capital of Benue State. We were on duty every market day. We learnt the difference between tickets for “open shops” and for “lock up shops.” All such taxes go into government coffers, from where it is utilised for the day to day running of government . The estacode you receive when going on foreign and local trips for mainly, official assignments is drawn from taxpayers money, which cumulatively, is called COMMONWEALTH. Taxes, from various sources are a wealth which belongs to all citizens. And so, when you are privileged to partake in the Commonwealth, by virtue of your position, you become indebted to the state or the country. A “give back” then becomes imperative on you. You must be seen to be contributing meaningful to the growth and development of such a state or the country. As part of measures to safeguard the “taxpayers” money and ensure proper utilization, President Bola Tinubu, on the 9th of January 2024, came up with the idea of cutting down by 60 percent, the number of entourage that would accompany him on both local and foreign trips. The President’s decision was greeted with wide spread commendations. Against that background, it is obvious from time immemorial that many people who have been accompanying Chief executives in government on trips have no business doing so. They usually go abroad with state money without any tangible assignment. What they do mostly is to go into shopping malls or markets in search of the latest phone, ipad, shoes, clothes, perfumes and so on. One is not saying however that such shopping is not necessary, but the shoppers should always ask themselves whether it is the taxpayers, by extension, that should be so wasted. It is expected that after President Tinubu’s exemplary move, state governments and others down the line, should take a coo. Ministries, Departments and Agencies should also tow the line, in the genuine drive towards prudence. Monies earmark for projects must be properly utilised for the benefit of the taxpayers of all hoos. It must be pointed out that extravagance and unnecessary spending by Nigerians is not limited to local and foreign trips alone; those in offices too, running the day to day activities of government need a reorientatioion Taxes are, for emphasis, our collective wealth and must be treated as such . As you get opportunity to serve, remember that funds at your disposal is from the commonwealth and should be judiciously used for the purpose of creating more wealth and or comfort for the citizens.
Kidnappers, who made away with a family of six have reportedly killed one of them, a young lady that had just finished her degree programme at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in Kaduna State, identified as Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar. Najeebah, her sisters and their father were abducted on January 9 in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Reports had it that their father was released and asked to provide N60 million as ransom for his children’s release before Friday, January 12. The family was believed to have began raising money and also called for donations into a bank account. It was learnt that due to the inability of the family to raise the amount as at Friday, the kidnappers killed the oldest of the six girls, Najeebah, and raised the ransom money to N100 million. Meanwhile, the former minister for communication and digital economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami said yesterday night, January 13, via X, that he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls. He wrote: “Inna lil Laahi wa inna ilaiHi Raajiun! I just read about the killing of our daughter Najeeba (400 level, ABU). I also spoke with her father about the remaining 5 of our kidnapped daughters. May Allah forgive her, rescue others & bring absolute peace to Nigeria.” Earlier, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, called on the police to take necessary actions on the matter. “I join fellow concerned Nigerians in urgently calling on the @PoliceNG through its PPRO @PrinceMoye1 to acknowledge and respond to the unfortunate incident involving the kidnapping of Najeebah and five of her sisters #NajeebahAndHerSisters more than a week ago. The information shared by a family member @Adamu_Asiya_ this morning indicated that the kidnappers have tragically killed Najeebah as a warning and demanded a N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining victims. “We implore the Nigeria Police to prioritise this case and deploy all necessary resources to safely rescue the remaining victims. Thank you!” he said on X. In reaction, spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the police would need to get in touch with a member of the victims’ family. “Please let the family members or you relate with us codedly. Let them reach out to me on my personal line, and drop a message there. We have been working on it, but we need some info. We will try our best possible to emplace all necessary measures to rescue them unhurt. But we need to get some info pls. Thanks,” Adejobi replied.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest single-train refinery in the world, has commenced production in Lagos.The refinery began operations in the early hours of yesterday, January 13. The operation began after the delivery of six million barrels of crude supply to the refinery recently. “Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and also have surplus of each of these products for export.” The company acknowledged in a statement, it was supposed to begin operations in June 2023. The oil refinery, built by Aliko Dangote, received its first crude deliveries late last year in a step to starting up the delayed megaproject. The facility sits on 2,635 hectares (6,500 acres) of land at the Lekki Free Zone on the edge of Lagos city and costs an estimated $19 billion. As Africa’s largest, the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote refinery could be a game changer for Nigeria’s economy when fully operational by helping end the country’s reliance on fuel imports. The initial run will be for the production of diesel and aviation fuel before moving on to petrol output. Though one of Africa’s largest oil producers and the continent’s top economy, Nigeria relies almost totally on imported fuel and diesel because of a lack of refining capacity. Fuel imports and subsidies caused a huge drain on foreign exchange when Nigeria was struggling with dwindling oil revenues and foreign currency shortages. The refinery which was scheduled to open in 2021, was officially inaugurated by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on May 23, 2023, few days to handing over to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29. Buhari described the project as “a notable milestone” and “a game changer for the downstream petroleum products market, not only in Nigeria but for the entire African continent.” Built by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, once at full capacity, it will have the ability to process 650,000 barrels a day, according to the company. “Once our plant is fully commissioned… we expect that at least 40 percent of the capacity will be available for export, and this will result in significant foreign exchange entering the country,” said Dangote on the occasion. The Presidents of Ghana, Niger, Togo, Senegal and a representative of the Chadian leader were present at the inauguration at Lekki, Lagos. The refinery is expected to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand as well as serve global markets, Dangote said. Since coming to office in May, President Bola Tinubu has abolished the decades of petrol subsidy and floated the Naira as part of his economic reforms to attract foreign investment and build long-term growth. Just as the Dangote refinery begins production, the Port Harcourt Refinery is also expected to start production shortly following the completion of its rehabilitation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. Source: Persecondnews.
Ahmed Tijani Anaje, who had just been appointed as the paramount ruler (Ohinoyi) of Ebiraland, by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, is a retired military officer, a learned Islamic scholar and a product of royalty within the Kingdom of Ebiraland in Kogi State.
Below is his full profile:
*BIRTH* He was born on 29th June, 1974 into the popular and polygamous family of Late Alhaji Muhammed Anaje Aliyu of Asuwe clan, the then District Head (Onoba-Obanyi) of Okengwe, and Mrs Sefiyat Muhammed Anaje of Omoye Clan both of Okengwe-Ehi indigenous settlement. He is married to Hajia Husseina Ahmed Anaje of Akuta Clan from Ovehira, and blessed with Five (5) Children. *EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND* He attended Saifudeen Primary School, Okengwe where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1983. He obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) from Ebira Muslim Community College Okengwe (EMCCO) in Okene LGA of Kogi State in 1993. He started his Islamic Studies at Sharafudeen Madrasat, Okengwe under the leadership of Mukadam Alhaji Yakubu Ta’aba. He also learned Islamic studies under the then late Chief Imam of Ebira land, Alhaji Musa Galadima before he proceeded to attend Mahad Arabic School Madina Elekuro in Ibadan. All under distinguished spiritual guidance of his beloved mother, Sayida Bilqis Inyas. His Majesty later acquired a Diploma in Applied Psychology from University of Jos. *WORKING CAREER* His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) AhmedTijani Muhammed Anaje, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land was enlisted into the Nigerian Army in the year 1995 as 39 Regular intake, where he rose to, and was decorated as warrant officer on the 13th October, 2021 shortly to his resignation and ascension to the stool of Okengwe/Okene. And as a people-oriented full-blooded Ebira individual, his passionate “extra-curricular” impressions to rapport and mingle could not have been distorted by his job specification in most of his places of primary assignment as a military personnel. This is corroborated by his election as Vice Chairman of Ebira Community in Jos, Plateau State; Secretary of Ebira Vonya Association in Rukuba, Jos; President of Ebira Vonya Association in Warri, Delta State; and President of Ebira Vabe Association in Takum, Taraba State. *MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED* King Anaje did not miss out of the on-the-job training while in the military. He has equipped and groomed himself with a lot of training experiences that helped him do well on the job: 1. African Contingent Training Assistant (ACOTA) 2. Training the trainees (T3) 3. SESORC 4. Counter terrorism 5. Counter Insurgency 6. Quick Response Force (QRF) 7. Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) 8. Special Forces (SF) *MILITARY OPERATIONS ATTENDED* There are equally successful military operations to practically exemplify the acquired military training: 1. ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Liberia (ECOMOG) 2. ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Serra – Leone (ECOMOG) 3. United Nations Mission in Serra – Leone (UNAMSIL) 4. United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) 5. African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) 6. United Nation mission in Dafur-Sudan (UNAMID) 7. Operation Harmony in Bakasi 8. Operation Messa in Jos 9. Operation Restore Hope in Niger-Delta 10. Operation Thunder (Aduma) in Akwa-Ibom 11. Operation Restore Order in Maiduguri 12. Operation (BOYANA) North East 13. Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole 14. Operation Lafiya Dole 15. Operation Deep Punch in North East 16. Operation Harbe Kunama 17. Operation Anyiem Apatuma in Taraba & Benue 18. Operation Crocodile Smile 19. Operation Sahel Sanity 20. Operation Hadarin Daji *MILITARY AWARDS* King Anaje’s back was patted with recognition of honours for his dedicated blend of military trainings and physical operations. He bagged the Good Performance award from US Embassy under PAE in Serialeone; Gallant Performance Award by the then Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion, Major DH Ali Keffi; and another Performance Award by the UN Field Commander, General ML Agwayi at the United Nations Headquarters, El-Fashir, Dafur of Sudan. *APPOINTMENT AS OHI OF OKENGWE/OKENE. Upon his identification as an excellent leadership material, and after being subjected to some detailed traditional procedures and rites, he was appointed as the Ohi of Okengwe/Okene on the 18th of October, 2021 by Kogi State government under His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello. An appointment he received on the 2nd of November, 2021. When subsequently, on the 3rd of March, 2022, a separate Ohi stool was created for Okene, King Anaje was finally coronated with a First Class Staff of Office as Ohi of Okengwe on the 5th of March, 2022. *ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP AS OHI OF OKENGWE-EHI* HRM Alhaji (Dr) AhmedTijani Muhammad Anaje, within two years of coronation as Ohi of Okengwe, has recorded giant strides in committed service to the people of his domain: 1. As Ohi, he committed the land into God’s capable hands through organized inter-faith prayer sessions on a monthly basis. This is also a successful attempt at checking religious extremism in Okengwe. 2. He led all other Ohis on spiritual cleansing at Ajaokuta. 3. He smoothly led Kogi muslims on Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in 2022. 4. He facilitated the Ohumanaka perimeter fencing. 5. He facilitated the Okengwe-Ehi burial ground perimeter fencing through Honourable AhmedTijani Damisa. 6. He facilitated farming tools, herbicides and chemical for local farmers through Kogi State APPEALS Project. 7. He facilitated street lights for Okengwe. 8. He established inter-religious committee to coordinate and control religious activities in Okengwe. 9. He abolished clannish bigotry by constituting a 17-man advisory council assisting in decision-making for Okengwe land. 18. Peaceful resolution of Imamship tussle in Ebira land under his able leadership. He chaired the Kogi State government constituted reconciliation committee on Ebira Imamship. 19. Extension of hands of fellowship to the sick in the hospital with palliatives and clearing of bills. 20. Uncommon peaceful celebration during festive periods in Okengwe. 21. He has facilitated water project for Okengwe people. 22. He has embarked on numerous philanthropic activities and empowerment programmes for the people of his community. He led other Ohis to meet with prominent Ebira Men and Women in diaspora, in Abuja precisely to discuss issues concerning Ebira and the gubernatorial election which led to unprecedented success recorded in the just concluded Governorship Election that another Ebira politician (Ododo) as governor elect in Kogi State. *APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS* King Anaje was a golden fish that could not hide, and this particular truism on him manifested so loud upon his being recognized for different awards and charge for community engagements by a way of appointment: 1. Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree by Executive University, USA on the 2nd of December, 2023. 2. Appointment as Vice Chairman of Ebira Area Traditional Council on the 4th of October, 2022. 3. Appointed Amirul Hajj for the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage on the 9th of June, 2022. 4. Appointed as Reconciliation Committee Chairman on Ebira Imamship tussle on the 23rd September, 2023. 5. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of Council of Ulama’u of Nigeria on the 25th of July, 2022. 6. Appointed as Patron of Kogi Central League of Imams on the 18th of September, 2022. 7. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of the Concord Muslim Political Forum (COMPOF). 8. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of Ansaru Ruhul-Islam Muslim Society of Nigeria (ARIMSON) on the 25th November, 2023. 9. Appointed as Member of Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) under ICPC on the 6th of March, 2022. 10. Appointed as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ebira Muslim Community College, Okengwe (EMCCO) on the 8th of December, 2021. 11. Appointed as Grand Patron of the 39 Regular Foundation of the 39 Regular Intake of the Nigerian Army on the 18th of December, 2023. 12. Appointed as Member of Kogi State Honours Award Advisory Committee on the 12th of December, 2023.
His Royal Majesty, Ahmed Tijjani Anaje, the new Ohinoyi was picked from over 70 contestants, to succeed the late Ohinoyi, Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim who died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 94.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the suspension of the four National Social Investment Programmes for the next six weeks. They are N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme. A statement today, January 12 from the Presidency said that President Tinubu has also raised significant concerns regarding operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to the Programs’ beneficiaries. The statement said that the President has constituted a ministerial panel to conduct a thorough review of the Agency’s operations with a view to recommending necessary reforms of the NSIPA.
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How Not To Abuse Taxpayers Contribution To Nation’s Commonwealth, By Rashidat Yusuf
To be sure, taxes are generated from all tax payable individuals, be it in the formal or informa sector of the economy. Indeed, the money considered as “government money” belongs to the citizens.
It is the money that is put together from both the market women selling pepper and tomatoes, ewedu, ugwu as well as other petty traders; it is equally the money drawn from salary earners, whether well paid at work or under paid (public and private). They all have taxes deducted fom their salaries. Also Indigenous companies as well as multinationals all pay taxes.
I remember during our NYSC days, we were made to go on tax collection drive in Makurdi, capital of Benue State. We were on duty every market day. We learnt the difference between tickets for “open shops” and for “lock up shops.”
All such taxes go into government coffers, from where it is utilised for the day to day running of government .
The estacode you receive when going on foreign and local trips for mainly, official assignments is drawn from taxpayers money, which cumulatively, is called COMMONWEALTH. Taxes, from various sources are a wealth which belongs to all citizens.
And so, when you are privileged to partake in the Commonwealth, by virtue of your position, you become indebted to the state or the country. A “give back” then becomes imperative on you. You must be seen to be contributing meaningful to the growth and development of such a state or the country.
As part of measures to safeguard the “taxpayers” money and ensure proper utilization, President Bola Tinubu, on the 9th of January 2024, came up with the idea of cutting down by 60 percent, the number of entourage that would accompany him on both local and foreign trips. The President’s decision was greeted with wide spread commendations.
Against that background, it is obvious from time immemorial that many people who have been accompanying Chief executives in government on trips have no business doing so.
They usually go abroad with state money without any tangible assignment. What they do mostly is to go into shopping malls or markets in search of the latest phone, ipad, shoes, clothes, perfumes and so on.
One is not saying however that such shopping is not necessary, but the shoppers should always ask themselves whether it is the taxpayers, by extension, that should be so wasted.
It is expected that after President Tinubu’s exemplary move, state governments and others down the line, should take a coo. Ministries, Departments and Agencies should also tow the line, in the genuine drive towards prudence.
Monies earmark for projects must be properly utilised for the benefit of the taxpayers of all hoos.
It must be pointed out that extravagance and unnecessary spending by Nigerians is not limited to local and foreign trips alone; those in offices too, running the day to day activities of government need a reorientatioion
Taxes are, for emphasis, our collective wealth and must be treated as such .
As you get opportunity to serve, remember that funds at your disposal is from the commonwealth and should be judiciously used for the purpose of creating more wealth and or comfort for the citizens.