Group Hands Assignment To Incoming President Tinubu On Controversial N23.72 Trillion Expenditure

May 4, 2023

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has asked the incoming administration of the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu to conduct forensic audit of controversial N23.72 trillion Federal Government’s unappropriated expenditure, funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its ways and means (W&M) window.
In a statement today, May 4, by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said that to restore sanity and citizens’ trust, the incoming President must send strong signals to corrupt government officials.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has succeded in leaving a bad legacy of debt for Nigeria’s generation unborn. The next government should conduct forensic investigation of how these so-called debts were incurred and their uses and list out individuals indicted.
“Those culpable for mismanagement of state funds should be put on trial even if they become ex-Presidents or former ministers.
“Nigeria must begin to deal with corruption and lawless ex-President as seen in the case of Peru so that we can restore sanity.”
The Debt Management Office (DMO) had said that several loans have been contracted from multilaterals like the World Bank, the African Development Bank and bilaterals like Germany, India, China while the Federal Government keeps issuing promissory notes to settle obligations for which it doesn’t have the revenue.
According to the DMO, Nigeria’s debt stock is N46.25 trillion, including the debt of the 36 state government and the Federal Capital Territory. It added that the Federal Government is responsible for 84% to 85% of this debt.
The DMO said that while the 2023 budget size is N21 trillion, borrowing is N10 trillion.

Sudan: We Had To Steal Food Because We Had No Money, Returnee Nigerians

Greenbarge Reporters

May 4, 2023

Most of the returnees who were airlifted back to Nigeria from Egypt following the crisis in Sudan recounted how they resorted to stealing any available food to eat because they virtually ran out of money, even to urinate.
Recounting their ordeals while waiting for Nigerian authorities to evacuate them from the war-torn Sudan, following the clash between two military leaders, said also that some females were sexually harassed.
One of the returnee female student said , on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, that they faced humiliation and slept in the open.
“We spent all the money we had. We were so hungry and thirsty. They were harassing us sexually. There was no food, no water to drink. It got to a point we picked things from shops and ran away.”
The returnee female student narrated about her excruciating experience while at the border.
Another female student told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview, that their legs were swollen due to long hours of stay in the buses.
Speaking of his experience, a male student said that the situation was so bad that they even had to pay money before they were allowed to urinate.
He expressed the hope that the war would soon end to enable him go back to Sudan and complete just a semester to round up his programme.

World Press Freedom Day: IPI Nigeria Sets Agenda For Tinubu On Journalists’ Safety

Editorial staff

May 3, 2023

File photo: This picture is used for the illustration of the story

The Nigerian National Committee of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) has challenged the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be inaugurated in Nigeria on May 29, to commit to creating a better operating environment for journalists and media organisations.

This is coming on the heels of the activities for marking the 2023 World Press Freedom Day today, May 3.

In the past few years, cases of media and journalists’ harassment have been rampant. These violations include arrests, physical attacks, denial of access, threats, equipment damage, equipment seizure, lawsuits and high-handedness and arbitrariness by some agencies of government.

Nigerian journalists are in perpetual danger, and we are urging the incoming government to embrace a new attitude by deliberately improving the operational environment of journalists and the media.

There are still a number of oppressive and media-unfriendly laws, such as those on criminal defamation and cybercrime, that need to be amended. The government should also begin widespread sensitisation of its security operatives, who must understand that journalists and the media are key elements of democracy.

While state actors, especially state governors, must end intimidation and harassment of journalists, Nigerian politicians and political parties should also desist from the use of online trolls to attack journalists and media organisations for performing their constitutional duties of upholding the people’s right to know and holding governments, individuals and organisations accountable.

The incoming administration must also take deliberate steps to help the sustainability of media outlets while respecting press freedom and freedom of speech.

IPI Nigeria is also concerned that as laudable as the passage of the Freedom of Information Act is, journalists have not been able to fully utilise the law to hold public officials accountable because government officials continue to play pranks to deny them the information they seek.

Section 2 (1) of the Act states: “A public institution shall ensure that it records and keeps information about all its activities, operations and business.”

This provision is not being complied with. Specifically, sub-sections 2–4 mandate public institutions to publish public records in different accessible forms for information seekers. This is also not being complied with.

Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution provide for Freedom of Expression and the Press.

Section 22 states that: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”

Section 39, which is closely related to Section 22, provides that: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.

IPI Nigeria demands that the incoming government commits to the total implementation of the FOI Act. This is because the free flow of information is essential to the survival and growth of democracy. Misinformation and disinformation thrive more robustly when authorities withhold information that ordinarily should be made available to the public

Over 200 Million Nigerian Teachers, Others Will Miss Buhari – Presidency

Editorial staff

May 3, 2023

The Presidency has listed Nigerians that will forever remember and miss the good work President Muhammadu has done in their lives as he prepares to leave office in three weeks time.

In a statement today, May 3, reacting to the PUNCH newspaper editorial’s negative narrative of the Buhari’s eight year government, his spokesperson, Malam Harba Shehu accused the newspaper of living in denial.

“The editorial states that Buhari will not be missed. We shall see. But, countless Nigerians whose futures he has improved, will fondly remember him for good.

“Among these, to take just one aspect or two- the two million poor and vulnerable Nigerian households that are currently benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, which pays a bimonthly stipend of N10,000 per household; the 355,000 vulnerable persons have received a special one-off grant of N20,000 each in the 36 states and the FCT; the beneficiaries of Nigeria’s Micro-Pension Scheme which allows self-employed persons and persons working in organisations with less than 3 employees to save for the provision of pension at retirement or incapacitation.

“Punch possibly doesn’t have a record of the government’s Survival Fund, the National Youth Investment Fund, and National Special Public Works Program (774,000 beneficiaries across 774 LGAs nationwide), and the Central Bank’s COVID-19 N300 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) to support millions of small businesses, households, and young people, with federal grants, loans, and stipends.

“This Survival Fund has provided grants (Payroll Support, Artisan and Transport Sector grants, and General MSME grants) to more than 1.2 million beneficiaries, since the last quarter of 2020. It has also provided free business registration to 250,000 MSMEs across the country.

“Nor will he be forgotten by the owners of the new 40 plus fertilizer companies and the thousands of people they employ, producing locally to service the more than 12 million new rice growers who in turn provide six million tons of paddy processed by more 100 new rice mills with Kano alone having 62, and others spreading far and wide to Ebonyi, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina and others.

“No, Punch should stop living in denial. These ones and their kith and kin making up the 200 million plus citizens of our country, the teachers whose backlog of unpaid salaries were paid and the pensioners from years yore, denied payment and treated with contempt now smiling their way to the banks will remember positively that Muhammadu Buhari came, saw and he conquered.”

Sudan Crisis: How Nigerian Security Community Perfected Evacuation Plans Through Egypt

Greenbarge Reporters

May 3, 2023

Details have emerged about how Nigerian security community secured a passage through the Egyptian borders for Nigerian citizens fleeing escalating hostilities in war-torn Sudan.

There have been reports of the Nigerian officials involved in the evacuation process facing some challenges, including demand by Egyptian authorities for visas before entry, a situation that left thousands of Nigerian evacuees stranded at the border since last week Thursday.

However, the situation turned positive on Sunday when the borders were flung open, with conditions, to Nigerians, following series of deft moves by top security and intelligence operatives in both countries, through some backdoor channels.

According to reliable security sources, Egyptian authorities started admitting Nigerian evacuees on Monday after Nigerian security and intelligence community started deploying their contacts and connections with their Egyptian counterparts, to remove some of the hurdles that had frustrated Nigerian representatives’ efforts.

A very highly placed source in the security community, who spoke under conditions of anonymity, told our correspondent in Abuja on yesterday that, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s instruction, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno, reached out to his Egyptian counterpart, Faiza Abou el-Naga, who pulled strings that have made the evacuation process smooth.

Although the details of the arrangements were not made public, the source said: “this initiative, which was broached and complimented by the Egyptian National Security Adviser (NSA), Faiza Abou el-Naga, and her Nigerian counterpart, General Monguno, has so far allowed a smooth movement across the border into Egypt.

“Faiza told NSA Monguno that Nigeria’s request, which he submitted, had been graciously approved by President el-Sisi, who also sent his fraternal greetings to President Buhari. Consequently, the deployment of the NAF aircrafts and the one by Air Peace were to be allowed to proceed with evacuation plans.

“Conditions required for the evacuation plans included details and schedules of the aircrafts, capacity of the aircrafts, strong pledge that once Nigerians depart the border, they would be conveyed to the designated airport, comprehensive list of the evacuees with passport numbers, valid travel documents, i.e passport or emergency travel certificate, and lastly, the presence of Nigerian government officials at the point of embarkation”, the source disclosed.

It would be recalled that fighting broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The escalating conflict has claimed more than 400 lives, while another 3,500 persons have been reported injured.

Buhari Goes To London For Coronation Of King Charles

Greenbarge Reporters

May 3, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart for London, United Kingdom later today, May 3 to join other world leaders invited to attend the coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, respectively.
The coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6.
A statement from the Presidency said that the Commonwealth Secretariat will take advantage of the gathering of leaders in London to host a Commonwealth Summit for Presidents and Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries on Friday, May 5.
The statement said that President Buhari will participate in the Summit which will deliberate on the Future of the Commonwealth and the Role of the Youth.
It said that the President will be accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd), the Director General, National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other senior government officials.

Buhari Hails Nigerian Army For Patriotism, Loyalty, Sense Of Duty, Gallantry

Greenbarge Reporters

May 3, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the Nigerian Armed Forces for their patriotism, loyalty, sense of duty and gallantry.

He said: “Nigeria is blessed with professional and vibrant Armed Forces, which have continually displayed the unflinching capacity to protect the territorial integrity of our country.

“Our Armed Forces have continually demonstrated resolve to provide a safe, secure and enabling environment to promote national security.”

President Buhari, who spoke today, May 2, at the commissioning of a Nationwide Secure Defence Headquarters Communications Network, GIWA 2 Project, Phase One, said that his government had made significant strides to enhance the capacity and capability of the Armed Forces to tackle the multiple security challenges.

He assured that his government will sustain its role in meeting the demands of the Armed Forces by evolving necessary initiatives to enhance their position.

“As the Armed Forces of Nigeria continue to reposition to provide the enabling environment for enhancing the security and well-being of the citizens, I implore all our troops to give their best in the service of the nation.’’

The President listed some of the efforts his government has made so far to include the establishment of Joint Task Forces and the creation of several new military formations to facilitate the conduct of decisive operations against all threats.

“Other efforts to reposition the Armed Forces of Nigeria include acquisition of new armaments and technology platforms to enhance the conduct of military operations and massive infrastructural development to provide our personnel with befitting accommodation as well as formulation of policies and initiatives to improve the welfare of troops and their families.”

President Buhari commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, other Service Chiefs and stakeholders for the conceptualisation and remarkable work in the establishment of the GIWA 2 Project.

“I urge the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and all personnel to work assiduously towards enhancing our national security. I am confident that, together we can pave the path for creation of new opportunities to usher Nigeria into a bright future driven by a safe and prosperous environment.”

In a welcome address, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor said that the commissioning of the GIWA 2 Project was the culmination of President Buhari’s directives in 2021 that the Defence Headquarters must ensure that farmers displaced by insurgency went back to their farms, noting that the project would ensure a secure communication for the military in carrying out its responsibilities.

General Irabor praised the President’s sterling leadership qualities that had enabled the Nigerian Armed Forces to accomplish so much in the nation’s fight against insurgency and other criminalities across the country.

Police Arrests Fleeing Adamawa REC, Barr. Hudu

Greenbarge Reporters

May 2, 2023

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
His arrest was confirmed today, May 2, in a statement by the force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Barrister Hudu reportedly took to his heels last month after declaring the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Binani winner of the long fought-for election.

Details later.

I Don’t Regret Declaring Aisha Binani Winner Of Adamawa Gov – Run-Away Adamawa REC

Greenbarge Reporters

May 2, 2023

The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, has said that he has no regrets announcing Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
This is even as he denied allegations that he collected a bribe of N2 billion to make the declaration.
Aisha Binani was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state in the 2023 election.
She challenged that the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who was finally declared winner by the commission after the supplementary election.
In an interview with BBC Hausa today, May 2, Hudu said that he did not regret his decision to announce the results while collation was yet to be completed.
Hudu said that the law gave him the authority to announce the results and that he was ready to hand himself over to the Nigeria Police who invited him.
“I did not solicit a single kobo as a bribe from Fintiri or Binani. I know collecting bribes is forbidden. I swear it is a mere allegation. What will I do with N2bn? I also saw that on social media.”
Asked whether he had regretted his action, Hudu said: “I told you I have no regrets whatsoever. When you do something in accordance with law, there are no regrets. On the police invitation, I must honour it. l never hide.”

How My Government Has Been Lifting Nigerians From Poverty, Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

May 2, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari has listed efforts which his government has been making in the last eight years to lift Nigerians From Poverty.
The President, who inaugurated 748 units of houses by presenting keys to some new homeowners at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Zuba, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), today, May 2, said that the successful completion the project is another testament of his administration’s commitment to lift people out of poverty.
The estate covers a total of 18.5 hectares of land and consist 748 units of various house types in 75 blocks.
President Buhari described Housing supply as one of the indices of multi-dimensional poverty that challenges the people.
“The completion of this estate provides a solution for the beneficiaries.
‘‘The new home owners who benefit from this estate have taken a step up on the ladder of prosperity and away from poverty.”
President Buhari acknowledged that more Nigerians are waiting to benefit from the mass housing project, and called on the management of FHA not to relent in delivering other projects at various stages of construction and development across the states.
‘‘One of the measures that we have consciously deployed to attack poverty, create prosperity and develop our economy is the aggressive provision of infrastructure nationwide.”
According to him, such investments also lead to creating employment opportunities for artisans and other skilled members of the society.
This was even as the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said that the completion of the project was a product of team work and leadership by the President, who gave approval for appointments into the leadership of FHA Board and Management.
‘‘Instead of abandoned projects, we now have 748 completed housing units for Nigerians and their families to shelter.” He said that 75 contractors were engaged in the course of the project, while over 13,000 Nigerians were employed both directly and indirectly.
Fashola said that the five beneficiaries who received keys to their flats, including Tina Orkpe, Salisu Iliyasu, Ado Maude, Rabina Abdulkadir and Flight Sgt. Musa Mohammed, subscribed through FHA Rent-to-Own delivery model.
‘‘Although many of the beneficiaries of this project will never meet the President personally, your policies and programmes have met them personally at the point of their needs.”
The Chairman, Board of Directors, FHA, Senator Shuaibu Lawal thanked the President for providing the grant of N7.5billion for the project to commence in May 2018.
‘‘Without that grant, which served as the seed money, this project would not have been possible. Mr President, you take all the credit for what we are seeing here today.”
Lawal said that the Estate is ideal for Nigerians who cannot afford houses in areas such as Maitama and Asokoro in the FCT, even as helauded the Minister of Works and Housing, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, for their passionate commitment to the project.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Office of FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, described the commissioning of the project as a manifestation of the visionary and deliberate housing policy of the President, who in keeping with the promise of providing shelter to Nigerians approved the grant to FHA.
He said that the Authority delivered the project at a total cost of N9.5billion with the subvention of N7.5 billion from the Federal Government.
He explained that the balance of 2 billion of construction cost came from the Authority’s other projects which was ploughed into to complete the estate.
Ashafa disclosed that the Authority has also commenced the development of Bwari Estate, Abuja near the Nigeria Law School, which will deliver 336 units of various houses under the first phase of the project.
He said that the proposed Diaspora City initiative, which targets Nigerians in the Diaspora, is in progress, with intention of extending the programme to all the regions of the country, with Abuja as the pilot scheme.

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