The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted ban on Nigerians, even as it announces immediate resumption of flights to Nigeria. This came during a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the UAE’s President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, today in Abu Dhabi. Both leaders finalized the agreement, resulting in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers. In the agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay. A statement by the special adviser to President Tinubu on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale said that the negotiations between the two Heads of State for immediate restoration of flight activity does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government. He said that in recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposal, presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework was established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates. Ngelale said that President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks. He said that the President commends the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.
MOU ON TRADE AGREEMENT 4A President Muhammadu Buhari Chats with King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI during the signing 17 trade agreements on investment, Air Transportation, agriculture and other cooperation at the Presidential Villa Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 3 2016. Immediate past Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sadness over the death of hundreds of people, injury to many and damage in many places by the strong earthquake that struck central Morocco. In a personal letter to King Muhammad the V1, the ruler of Morocco with whom he said he had a good working relationship while in office, Buhari said: “It is with a deep sense of sadness that I write on behalf of my family and myself to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to you and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck your country on 8th September 2023. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives destruction of property caused by the earthquake. I stand in solidarity with Your Majesty and the people of Morocco in this difficult time and pray for the swift recovery of those who were affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may Allah bring peace and solace to those affected. “While extending, once again, my condolences, please accept, Your Majesty, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.” The letter, according to one of his media handlers, Malam Garba Shehu, was personally signed by ex President Buhari and sent to the Royal Palace in Rabat in Morocco.
Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant, Akintola Williams, is dead. He was aged 104. The elder brother of Frederick Rotimi Williams (SAN), popularly known as FRA Williams, was said to have died in his Lagos home in the early hours of today, September 10 Born in 1919, Williams studied accounting at the University of London and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1947. He returned to Nigeria to set up his accounting firm, Akintola Williams & Co., now Deloitte & Touche, in 1952. He was a founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and was President of the body from 1963 to 1965. He was also a member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors.
A leading private newspaper in Nigeria, DAILY TRUST, has called for nominations of exemplary personalities for the African of the Year award 2023 edition. In a statement today, September 10, the Chief Executive Officer of the Media Trust Group, proprietors of DAILY TRUST and Trust TV, Mounir Gwarzo, said that nominations are open from September 11, 2023 to midnight of October 16, 2023. He said that ideal nominees should be “ordinary Africans who have made extra-ordinary contributions to humanity in any field from any part of the continent.” Gwarzo said that the award consists of three components, namely, a permanent plaque, a certificate of merit and a cash reward in aid of the awardee or his/her chosen charity project. Valid entries for the 2023 award will be for works, events or activities undertaken by the nominee between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, and nominations are to be made online at award.dailytrust.com. He said that the eventual winner will be selected by a six-member prize committee chaired by His Excellency, Mr. Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana. Other members of the Committee who represent Africa’s regional blocs are: Ambassador Mona Omar (North Africa), Amadou Mahtar Ba (West Africa), Ms. Gwen Lister (Southern Africa), and Pastor Rigobert MINANI BIHUZO (Central Africa). The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Media Trust Group, Kabiru Yusuf, represents the award promoters. The Group CEO emphasised that a winner will emerge, strictly based on the selection criteria and not the number of entries submitted on his/her behalf. Gwarzo said that the presentation ceremony for the 2023 edition of the African of the Year Award will hold in Abuja, Nigeria, in January, 2024. Now in its 15th edition, the African of the Year Award was inaugurated in 2008 by DAILY TRUST in fulfilment of the newspaper’s commitment to African unity and sustainable development across the continent. With this annual award, Gwarzo said the newspaper hopes to entrench the culture of selflessness among Africans with the aim of creating a pool of role-models for others to emulate. The maiden award was presented to a Congolese gynaecologist, Dr. Denis Mukwege, in recognition of his exemplary humanitarian offer of free reconstructive surgery to victims of rape in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, which was 10 years after DAILY TRUST had recognised his remarkable humanitarian gesture.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has given reasons why it has registered new political parties, especially those ones it referred to as briefcase parties. The Acting Director, Department of Election and Party Monitoring in the Commission, Hajiya Hauwa Habib, who spoke at a programme, themed: ‘Validation Session: Needs assessment of political parties in Nigeria, said that most of such parties have not met the minimum requirements of having a membership of 24 people from 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “We see them as ‘briefcase political parties. Sometimes the Chairman and the Secretary hijack the political party because they registered the political party from inception and all the members were not necessarily financial members. “The chairman, secretary, and treasurer continue to dominate everything about the political party. In their constitutions, they assign duties and schedules to every executive member. The Financial Secretary, Welfare Secretary, and Publicity Secretary are not allowed to perform their duties once the party is registered. “In the long run when it is a year or two towards election, you find the secretary and the chairman struggling on who owns the party. Thereabout, you find factionalisation, they give us problems during elections, rush to the courts, and the courts are not helping matters.” The programme, organised by The Kukah Centre and funded by the European Union, was part of the component III of the European Union’s Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that despite efforts by governments across different levels in Nigeria, the country still needs N21 trillion to effectively bridge the gap in the housing sector. The Vice President, who spoke in Sokoto at the groundbreaking launch of the construction of a 500-unit Housing Estate by the State government, said that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge. “Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs. “This step taken by the Governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other State governments. “The Governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited.” Earlier, Governor Aliyu said that the housing estate will be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis. “This is a project that was initiated by the former Governor of the State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration but we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.” The Governor said that the project, located at Wamakko Local Government Area of the State, will cost the State government N7.3 billion to complete. The event which was to mark 100 days in office by the administration was attended by Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo and Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtari Shagari, among others.
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has acknowledged that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is both a dancing and working Governor.
He commended the Governor for proving that he is hard-working Governor in the governance affairs of the state.
At a Thanksgiving Service at the 16th Harvest Anniversary at the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S in Victoria Island, Lagos State, Obasanjo said that Governor Addeleke is an example of a leader who is not ashamed to praise God despite occupying the highest office in the state.
According to the former President, dancing and working for God and the people are things to be proud of.
“Mr. Governor, they call you a dancer. But you are dancing to praise God. “And I heard you are working hard for your people.”
In an event attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Aare Dele Momodu; Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun and members of Osun House of Assembly as well as top political and traditional rulers, Obasanjo said: “dancing to praise God is praiseworthy, especially with the reports of good developments happening in Osun state.
“God whom you are praising will shower his blessings on your state and government. I associate with you.
“Again, I learnt you are a listening leader. They said you take advice from the young and old. I am happy to hear that.
“I call on His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and other royal fathers to support the Governor to deliver more. Mr. Governor, continue to work closely with traditional rulers, elders, and stakeholders of your state.
“I charge Kabiyesi Ooni to always host close-door meetings with the Governor. God whom the Governor is praising will continue to support him. He will not fail.”
Speaking, Governor Adeleke said that his habit of praise worship is to celebrate the owner of heaven and earth, saying: “I am never ashamed to hold unto God through song and dance.
“Several men and women of God predicted my governorship. I am here to praise God for the prophecy that has come to pass. My communion with God is to come back to thank and praise him.
“I do this in several places of worship. My covenant with God is also to truly deliver dividends of democracy to my people. In 100 days in office, I did what many could not achieve in four years.
“We reformed the public service, attended to worker’s welfare, constructed and reconstructed over 40 kilometers of roads, and implemented free medical surgeries with more than 40,000 beneficiaries.
“We are working on super overhead bridges to ease connectivity. We are reforming the education sector. We are building up our agriculture sector. I am working to make Osun State a reference point.
“I seek your prayers. I solicit your support. We are committed to God and the people.”
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike has said that though he found irregularities in the ways projects were executed during the eight year administration of the immediate past minister, Muhammad Musa Bello but that he is not contemplating of asking that he should be probed.
Wike was reacting to recent online media reports, claiming that he plans to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Musa Bello, in relation to certain irregularities in the award of contracts and other such matters.
In a statement today, September 9, by the Director of Press in the minister’s office, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister “categorically and unequivocally state that these reports are entirely baseless and without any merit whatsoever.”
He however admitted that during his routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, he has cause “to express concerns and frustrations regarding irregularities in the procurement and execution of certain projects, amongst other observations which he very publicly expressed.
“However, at no point did I contemplate or authorize any action by anyone within or outside the FCT Administration to invite the EFCC or ICPC to investigate the former FCT Minister in connection with these or any other matters.”
The statement said that the online story in question is nothing more than a product of the imagination of its authors and is clearly designed to mischievously sow discord and confusion among the general public.
“We view such misinformation with great concern and urge the public and well-meaning Nigerians to exercise caution and discernment when encountering such unfounded reports.”
The Minister said that he remains focused on his responsibilities to ensure the efficient and transparent administration of the capital city, saying that any action or decision taken by the administration in this regard will be communicated through official channels and in accordance with due process.
“We hereby advise the general public to disregard the story in its entirety, as it is nothing but a deliberate attempt to spread fake news and create unnecessary tensions.
He vowed to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability in the discharge of his duties.
A powerful earthquake that shook Morocco has killed more than 600 people, officials said today, September 9. The disaster believed to have sent terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night.
The US Geological Survey reported that the 6.8-magnitude quake struck a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 11:11 pm (2211 GMT) Friday,
It said that strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.
Moroccan media reported it was the most powerful quake to ever hit the country.
“We felt a very violent tremor, and I realised it was an earthquake,” Abdelhak El Amrani, 33, told AFP by telephone from Marrakesh.
“I could see buildings moving,” said Amrani who went outside, joining many other people, “all in shock and panic. The children were crying and the parents were distraught.
“The power went out for 10 minutes, and so did the (telephone) network, but then it came back on,” he added. Everyone decided to stay outside.”
Updated interior ministry figures on today showed the quake killed 632 people, more than half of them in Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces.
The ministry also recorded deaths in Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Azilal and Youssoufia provinces, as well as in Marrakesh, Agadir, and the Casablanca area.
Another 329 people were injured, including 51 in critical condition, the ministry said.
Unbearable’ screams
Faisal Baddour, an engineer, said that he felt the earthquake three times in his building.
“There are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake,” he said. “It was as if a train was passing close to our houses.”
Frenchman Michael Bizet, 43, who owns three traditional riad houses in Marrakesh’s old town, told AFP that he was in bed when the quake struck.
“I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was chaos, a real catastrophe, madness,” he said.
Bizet shared a video of piles of rubble from collapsed walls in the streets.
Other footage on social media showed part of a minaret collapsed on Jemaa el-Fna Square in the historic city.
An AFP correspondent saw hundreds of people flocking to the square to spend the night for fear of aftershocks, some with blankets while others slept on the ground.
Houda Outassaf, a resident, told AFP he was walking around the square when the ground began to shake.
“It was a truly staggering sensation. We’re safe and sound, but I’m still in shock,” he said.
“I have at least 10 members of my family who died… I can hardly believe it, as I was with them no more than two days ago.”
Fayssal Badour, another Marrakesh resident, told AFP the earthquake hit while he was driving.
“I stopped and realised what a disaster it was… The screaming and crying was unbearable,” he said.
The interior ministry said that authorities have “mobilised all the necessary resources to intervene and help the affected areas.”
The regional blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh called on residents to donate blood for those injured.
In the town of Al-Haouz, near the quake’s epicentre, a family was trapped in the rubble after their house collapsed, local media reported.
Significant damage likely
“We heard screams at the time of the tremor,” a resident of Essaouira, 200 kilometres west of Marrakesh, told AFP.
“People are in the squares, in the cafes, preferring to sleep outside. Pieces of facades have fallen.”
The USGS PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, issued a “red alert” for economic losses, saying extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread.
Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response, according to the US government agency.
Internet connectivity was disrupted in Marrakesh due to power cuts, according to global internet monitor NetBlocks.
European leaders offered condolences, as did Russian President Vladimir Putin and Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel which established diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2020, ordered “any necessary assistance.”
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Algeria, where the Algerian Civil Defence said it had not caused any damage or casualties.
In 2004, at least 628 people were killed and 926 injured when a quake hit Al Hoceima in northeastern Morocco, and in 1960 a magnitude 6.7 quake in Agadir killed more than 12,000.
The 7.3-magnitude El Asnam earthquake in neighbouring Algeria in 1980 killed 2,500 people and left at least 300,000 homeless.
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) – some people call it Court, on Wednesday, September 6, delivered a 798-page judgement on petitions filed before it substantially by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate in the February 25 election in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP) with its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The five-member Tribunal took their time reading out the judgement which ran through over 12 hours, during which the famous, but humourous sleeping bug caught nearly all the lawyers, some journalists and even the “big men” who turned up in the court to witness the judgement. Expectedly, shortly after the judgement, the petitioners: candidates of the PDP and LP rejected the verdict and gave strong indication of taking the matter to the Supreme Court, which is allowed in the circumstance. Looking at the furore that was generated across the country shortly after the election, the sentiments that rose from the final judgement could also be understood. But what has not been clear is the postulation by the opposition parties, specifically, the petitioners that the cause of justice they sought was faulted through the verdict of the Tribunal. In particular was the Atiku Abubakar who insinuated that the judges have failed the nation’s democracy in theory and practice. To be sure, Atiku said, at a world press conference he addressed on September 7: “The last presidential election in our country and the way it was managed by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, leaves behind unenviable precedents, which I believe the courts have a duty to redress. Our gains in ensuring transparent elections through the deployment of technology was heavily compromised by INEC in the way it managed the last presidential election, and I am afraid that the judgement of the court as rendered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal yesterday, failed to restore confidence in our dreams of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulations.” The election itself has been tagged variously by opposition as “banditry” “robbery” and has been given other derogatory appellations even at the time the petitions were still under Judicial scrutiny. We in Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper are not comfortable that about 24 years into unbroken democracy, politicians still see free and fair election from the point of view of their being the winners. In other words, to them, elections are rigged if they don’t win and adjudged the best if they win. This is without any exception. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential candidate, including their supporters, would have put up the same posture if they had not won the last presidential election and if the Tribunal had ruled against them on Wednesday. What is worrying is for the losers to be imputing bad motives to the judicial handling of the election petitions. Who told Atiku and Peter Obi that Tinubu would have taken it lightly if the case didn’t favour him? Of course, Tinubu and the APC would have been raving if they had lost the election, and at the Tribunal. One wonders why the politicians who lose elections are taking pleasure in rubbishing all the institutions that have to do with the administration of electoral processes in the country: the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and others? Though the country, especially America from which we model our democracy, as we know, hardly drags the winners of elections to Court to challenge the validity of the elections, we need, if we must deviate from accepting the results of elections at first instance, to imbibe the spirit of trust in the institutions that are constituted to carry out the processes, believing that such institutions are not flawless, but mean well. And the most dangerous thing to democracy is when politicians begin to question the judiciary, in situation where they lose. When they begin to give the judiciary a bad name so they can hang it. And hanging it may be an invitation to unpleasant consequences, some of which can, advertently trap them and their unpolished ambition. After 24 years of democracy and elections to install leaders, our politicians should learn to grow out of this sentiment, of it is either they win by any means or the country should be destroyed, through their utterances that suggest such. If the democracy should take root and grow in Nigeria, and indeed, Africa, respect for the law and the institutions that govern the system, even at the point of “provocative loss” of election, as it had often happened in America, is the best way to go. Any thing short of that is a blind walk into political self defeatism.
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A powerful earthquake that shook Morocco has killed more than 600 people, officials said today, September 9. The disaster believed to have sent terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night.
