The Presidency has announced a total of N500 Billion palliative measures to cushion the effect of the recent increase in fuel price as result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The palliatives, according to the Presidency, will  directly impact the lives of more than eight million Nigerians in different social investment as provided in 2016 budget spending and will  provide succour to ordinary Nigerians.

Senior Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, who spoke for the Presidency in an interaction with news men in Abuja, said that some of the measures would be starting in a matter of weeks.

He said that one of the palliatives would be the direct payment of N5,000 monthly to one million extremely poor Nigerians for 12 months as provided for in the 2016 budget for which N$68.7 billion has been appropriated.

According to Akande, there is also the direct provision of very soft loan -cash for market women, men and traders, including artisans and Agric workers, adding that it would be for a total of 1.76 million Nigerians, without the requirement for conventional collateral.

“Some of the traders will likely get about N60, 000. A total sum of N140.3 billion has already been appropriated for this in the budget. Payment of between N23,000 and N30,000 per month to 500,000 unemployed graduates who would be trained, paid and deployed to work as volunteer teachers, public health officers and extension service workers among other responsibilities.

“They would also be given electronic devices to empower them technologically both for their assignments and beyond just as 100,000 artisans would also be trained and paid N191.5vbillion has been set aside for this in the past budget.

“Also, at least 5.5 million Nigerian primary school children -i.e starting first in 18 states-three per geopolitical zones-would be fed for 200 school days under the free Homegrown School Feeding Programme. N93.1 billion has been appropriated for this in the 2016 budget.

“One hundred thousand tertiary students in science technology engineering & maths (STEM), plus education will partake in the N5.8billion already provided for this education grant in the budget. This payment would also be paid directly to the students.”

Akande said that when added together this year alone, more than eight million Nigerians would be benefiting from the Social Investment budget, saying that the N500 billion social investment programmes of the Buhari administration is a readymade palliative to lift Nigerians from poverty and economic hardship.

“Long before now, the Presidency has made adequate arrangements in the 2016 budget to ensure that Nigerians are lifted from poverty and hardship.”

“This will not only assuage the current pains arising from the new fuel pricing regime, but will provide ongoing social safety nets for over 8 million Nigerians this year alone.”

He added that this is beside the jobs that would be created by the infrastructural projects that would be restored and the new ones that would soon be taking off.

“The Buhari presidency is keen to ensure that Nigerians are lifted and that if necessary on an ongoing basis palliatives measures would always been considered to address the conditions of the people.” [pmyad]

Three Niger Delta Avengers, another set of new militants that have been blowing up oil installations and demanding for independent Niger Delta Republic, have been gunned down. They were killed in what was described as a bloody exchange of gunfire between them and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC), even as two officials of the Corps were wounded.

During the gun battle which took place along Snake Creeks in Nembe, Bayelsa State, many of the suspected hoodlums, who reportedly attacked the armed NSCDC personnel were said to have fled with gunshot injuries.

Security operatives have recently become the targets of militants and sea pirates in the Niger Delta region, leading to the death of at least 10 soldiers and naval officers in the last one month.

Confirming the latest attack, Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Mr. Desmond Agu, said that his men were on patrol when they came under fire from the suspected criminals.

“NSCDC personnel while on patrol along Snake Creek within Nembe Creeks came under heavy attack from the criminals operating along that axis. After the ensuing gun battle, three of the assailants were killed while the rest escaped with gunshot injuries.

“Two NSCDC personnel sustained minor gunshot injuries but have been treated and discharged from the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.”

Agu said that his men other security agencies are working seriously to ensure that security threats in the region are minimized, saying: “the militants cannot take over the creeks because that’s not possible. The nation belongs to all of us. We are talking about protecting Nigeria’s critical assets. We will make sure that in collaboration with the other agencies, the pipelines and other assets are protected.

“We are ensuring that this thing is minimized so that Nigeria will breathe. Nigeria depends largely on oil. On the destruction of pipelines, we are at red alert.” [myad]

“I am ready to stay with the EFCC for years until the allegation (that I collected N25 Million) for the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential campaign) is proved.”

This was the reaction of the immediate past minister of education and former Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau when he appeared before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Shekarau who denied ever collecting N25 Million for Jonathan’s campaign in 2015 from the alleged N950m campaign fund shared at his residence in Kano before the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

He told news men after his release from the custody of the EFCC in Kano said that he is ready to defend himself before any judicial body or court of law.

He recalled that somebody mentioned his name among top members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were given N25m each to campaign for the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan even as he challenged the person that indicted him before the EFCC operatives to prove the allegation that he collected the money.

“I told the EFCC that even if it is one naira that I was accused of collecting, I will not pay until it is proved. Whoever gives me the money should come out and explain where, when and how he gave it to me and anything short of that, I am ready to stay with the EFCC for years until the allegation is proved.”

Shekarau said that the operatives have searched his house and could not find anything incriminating against him, adding that they have collected his account number for further investigation.

He said that he is ever ready for any investigation and would not mind if the EFCC can trace his financial transactions of 20 years back, adding that he was not above mistake, but that he was ready to face any investigation and where found wanting he will defend himself.

He said that as a politician, the development will turn to blessing to him and his followers, saying that this is not a new thing in politics.

The former governor called on his followers to remain calm, and that as a believer, he must accept the destiny whether good or bad.

The former governor and top members of PDP in Kano are being investigated over N950 Million shared at his residence for the 2015 electoral campaigns. [myad]