Anybody Who Quarrels With Gov Wike Doesn’t Know His Worth – Peter Obi

November 17, 2022

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour party (LP), Peter Obi has said that anybody who quarrel with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State does not know his worth, promising not to quarrel with him.

“We will not quarrel with you. Anybody who quarrels with you doesn’t know what he is doing. I will not try it. I’m begging. Please give us this one and take the other one. We will leave for you. I will accommodate them in the other one.”

Peter Obi who spoke today, November 17 at the commissioning of the Nkpolu Oroworukwo flyover in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, promised to make Rivers State better if elected as President in 2023.

“I will talk to my people and we will negotiate. If we leave the state for him (referring to Wike), he will leave the federal for us. We will negotiate it. We know you’re in charge,” Obi said.

“I assure you of our commitment to build a better Nigeria. Our past will not be our future. I and Datti represent the future of Nigeria. I have told Nigerians to hold me responsible. I will not give excuse. I know the problems of Nigeria.”

He commended Wike for his performance in Rivers state as Governor.

I’ll Make Southeast Forget About Civil War With Massive Development – Tinubu

Editorial staff

November 17, 2022

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has promised to embark on massive economic development in the Southeast aimed at assuaging the past difficulties of the region.

Tinubu, at a TownHall meeting with leaders of the private sector and trade associations today, November 17 in Owerri, Imo State capital, was responding to Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi who said that the Southeast had been neglected and abandoned since the end of the civil war.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who comprehensively addressed the issues raised by Ebonyi State Governor and other development challenges of the old Eastern region, recalled his experience as a son brought up by a mother who was a trader and market leader.

Tinubu said that based on his experience and the lessons learnt, he understands the challenges traders, business owners and people of the South-East are going through.

Speaking about his mother, Tinubu said: “She gave me the grit and determination which has served me well in politics. More important, she taught me that patience, wisdom, tolerance and generosity are the hallmarks of a good leader, be they a market leader or a candidate aspiring to the highest office of the land.”

On his plans for the Southeast after becoming Nigeria’s president from May 29, 2023, Tinubu said new industrial hubs would be created in Aba and Owerri, while already existing ones would be modernized.

He also spoke on making access to credit facilities available to the traders across the region and the country in general.

“My government shall build an economy with a growing industrial base, more and better jobs for our youth and more high-quality home-grown goods to sell and merchandise.

“We shall establish industrial hubs throughout the nation and modernize existing ones. We will encourage and facilitate greater production in places like Owerri and Aba. At the same time, we shall broaden opportunities for you to engage in more international commerce by steering more activity towards ports outside of Lagos such as Onne.

“I envision the Owerri-Port Harcourt and Aba-Port Harcourt corridors becoming more active and lucrative trade and manufacturing corridors than they already are.

“My administration will establish policies that widen your horizons and expand your business reach both in terms of the goods you sell and your geographic reach to new markets.

“Working with the state governments, the CBN and banking industry, we shall embark on a two-pronged credit revolution.

“First, on the sale and supply side, we shall seek to drive down interest rates on business loans, especially for investment in manufacturing as well as small and medium sized enterprises.

“Second, we seek to make consumer loans more available. This will allow more people to afford and buy more high-quality goods from you. By empowering the consumer, we increase economic activity and prosperity for the overall economy as well as for your individual businesses.

“We will put in place policies that will boost trade and commerce. We will solve the forex crisis and ensure that traders like you have easy access to a unified forex market.

“We shall seek to revive struggling industries in this region and throughout the nation.

“Working with governor Uzodimma, we shall continue to push to return Avutu Poultry to its status as a world class poultry farm. This will increase food and nutrition while creating jobs and giving us a chance to open new markets. Ada Palm can, once again, become a fulcrum of job creation and foreign currency earnings.”

On infrastructure development, the APC presidential flagbearer said the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri would become fully operational to help large-scale movement of goods across the region while priority would also be placed on the completion of the Abakaliki-Benin section of the rail project, integrating the Southeast to the national rail system.

“Our national infrastructure plan shall pay great attention to roadways eaten by erosion and flooding. We shall give traders the sound roads they deserve in order to move goods for the benefit of the rest of the population.

“For those of you in the agricultural sector, commodity exchange boards and other measures will be established to better link local markets and farmers with the global economy while also assuring them minimum prices for their harvests.

“The idea is to boost farm incomes, thus giving farmers greater incentive to produce more.

“We can hold to little of these good economic things without adequate peace and security. Our response to terror, kidnapping and violent criminality includes increased manpower, better communications and mobility equipment and training.”

The former Lagos State governor also didn’t fail to mention that he would work towards integrating all regions in the country to ensure Nigeria continues to remain in unity.

“For me the unity of this nation is sacrosanct, it is non-negotiable. However, I realize that many people have genuine and painful grievances in need of fair and durable resolution.

“My government will be comprised of people from every section of the country and ready to discuss legitimate grievances with those in search of a peaceful resolution.

“Our nation is still in its infancy compared to other nations. I am proud of how far this nation has come. I also understand the great strides still to be made if we are to build for ourselves a nation of democratic good governance, development, justice, and unity,” he said.

Governor Uzodimma said the TownHall meeting was a deliberate strategy of the APC candidate to interface with the business leaders and trade associations in the Southeast so he can factor their positions and views in the business of government when elected.

APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu said he was at the event to demonstrate that the APC is with the Southeast people and will not forsake them if they vote to entrust the next 4 years in the hands of the party.

Before his response to Governor Umahi, the APC presidential candidate thanked Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma who is also the Southeast Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign for facilitating the town hall meeting.

The TownHall meeting was attended among others by APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the party’s Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi who is the Coordinator for South, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Barrister Emma Enekwu, Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari and some members of the National Working Committee for the party.

Multi-Billion Dollar Nigeria’s First Floating LNG Facility Begins, MoU Signed In UK

Greenbarge Reporters

November 17, 2022

The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility is set to commence.
An indigenous firm, UTM Offshore Limited, yesterday, November 26, in the United Kingdom, signed agreements with three technical partners, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) UK, Japan Gas Corporation (JGC) and TechnipEnergies Limited, for the commencement of the project.
The Agreements were signed at a brief but colourful event at the the Hilton Park Lane, London, UK.
A statement by Horatius Eguah, spokesman to the minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said that the FEED contract with the three firms entails conducting for UTM Offshore Limited,various studies to figure out technical issues and estimate rough investment cost for the FLNG facility prior to the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) phase of the project, adding that time line for this phase of the the FLNG project is 10 months.
He said that the FEED contract signing is a follow up to the successful execution of the pre-FEED agreement between UTM Offshore Limited with JGC, a leading International Engineering Design, Procurement and Construction firm.
“The Pre-FEED scope was completed within four months from commencement date. KBR provided due diligence on the JGC scope by conducting a third-party review of all deliverables from JGC during the Pre-FEED.UTM Offshore Limited entered into the pre-FEED agreement with JGC and KBR in May 2021.”
Eguah quoted the minister, Chief Timipre Sylva as saying during the FEED contract signing event, as having applauded the pioneering efforts of Mr. Julius Rone and UTM Offshore Limited.
The minister said that the Federal Government will continue to support and create the enabling environment for business investments in the country, especially in the area of gas development.
“The PIA is already improving the petroleum industry’s reputation, paving the way for new investments, creating jobs, supporting the economic diversification agenda and strengthening Nigeria’s ability to fulfil the world’s expanding energy demand.”
The Minister reiterated the Federal Government of Nigeria’s determination to leverage on natural gas as the nation’s transition fuel with Floating LNG Technology as the game changer.
“As a developing nation, we believe that affordable, accessible and reliable energy will continue to be essential to sustaining and powering our growing economy, and to lift millions out of poverty.”
The said that only gas can help to bridge the current energy gaps in the country, even as he stressed the significance of innovation, technology and policy as key drivers of change in the energy sector.
Sylva maintained that gas remains the solution to ensuring energy security, economic competitiveness and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. “We have already proclaimed that gas is our transition fuel and a destination fuel, and we anticipate that it will be a major component of our energy mix by the year 2060.”
The minister noted that the UTM FLNG will target the processing of associated gas currently flared in order to cut carbon emissions and monetise additional reserves for the domestic and global markets, which aligns with the Federal Government’s gas flare commercialization program (The NGFCP) and the decade of gas agenda.
“There are generous incentives to enable development, distribution, penetration, and utilisation of gas,” Sylva said adding that “this is why the UTM Offshore project will involve the development and financing of a 1.52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) FLNG facility with a capacity to process 176 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day and condensate.”
At the signing ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UTM Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius Rone said that like most other nations of the world, Nigeria is keen on, and working assiduously towards achieving energy transition.
He said that Nigeria’s energy transition should start with moving from huge dependence on crude oil to gas.
“Like I have said in several fora, for us in Africa, especially Nigeria, energy transition is steeped in harnessing our abundant gas resources.
“At UTM Offshore, we completely agree with President Muhammadu Buhari that given Nigeria’s potential of about 600 trillion cubic feet of gas, the commodity has the enormous potential to diversify the country’s economy.
“We also agree that the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources has offered Nigeria an opportunity to exploit gas resources for the good of the country.
“We thank the President for making gas development and utilization a national priority to stimulate economic growth, further improve Nigeria’s energy mix, drive investments, and provide the much-needed jobs for our citizens in the country.”
Rone said that UTM Offshore is impressed with JGC’s handling of the pre-FEED component of the FLNG project hence the resolve the reengage the firm for the main FEED Phase.
“JGC Corporation came highly recommended, given the several similar projects the firm had undertaken across the world. Indeed, of the total number of five FLNGs in the world today, JGC Corporation was involved in the design, construction and commissioning of three.
“We do not take for granted the fact that what UTM Offshore Limited is doing is largely novel. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and we are very excited about this trail-blazing project; the opportunity to build from the scratch, the first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in country.
“That is why we cannot afford to settle for less hence the reason we contracted JGC Corporation, clearly one of the leading firms in the LNG Construction sector in the world, to provide both the Pre-Front End Engineering Design Services and the main FEED for this first Floating LNG facility in Nigeria.
“Today, we are here to consummate the very fantastic working relationship between UTM FLNG, KBR, JGC, Technip Energies Ltd and Cryogas Equipment Private Limited as we sign the main Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facility.”
This was even as the President of African Export Import Bank (AfreximBank), Professor Benedict Okay Oramah, lauded the tenacious and transparent pursuit of the FLNG project by Mr. Julius Rone and his team members at UTM Offshore Limited with a pledge to support the Bank for the FLNG Project.
“Nigeria is a gas zone; the country holds the highest reserve of gas in Africa, but for years, we were burning our wealth through gas flaring. It is a good thing that President Muhammadu Buhari decided to press the pause button so that Nigeria can optimize the utilization of the country’s gas resources to enhance the lot of the nation, create wealth for the people from what is abundant in the country. ”
Professor Oramah stressed that the intervention of President Buhari in optimizing the utilization of Nigeria’s gas resources came at a time when the traditional (multinational)investors in oil gas initiatives had decided to stop funding oil and gas operations in Africa due to climate change.
“It is now left for us, as Africans to find ways to convert our gas resources to wealth.
“We are not going to keep waiting for multinationals tohelp us harness our wealth. AfreximBank is supporting the FLNG project in Nigeria because we have seen that Mr. Julius Rone is serious.
“He (Rone) did not hesitate to put his leg in the water, so AfreximBank did not hesitate to jump into the lake with him. “AfreximBank will continue to support the UTM FLNG project until completion,” Prof. Oramah disclosed.
In December 2021 UTM Offshore Limited and AfreximBanksigned a $5bn MoU for the financing of the UTM FLNG.
“The UTM FLNG is one of the projects AfreximBank is very proud of; just like the Dangote refinery. We are proud to be associated with these two projects in Nigeria. FLNG is a huge project and it is not for traders; you need an Entrepreneur in the strict sense of the word. This is a project that will take off in 2026 but Mr. Julius Rone has shown that he is willing and able to pay the price and wait for almost a decade to start reaping from the fruit of his labour. This is remarkable. We will work and walk with Julius Rone on this project. In fact, Nigeria needs more dogged Entrepreneurs like Julius Rone and I commend Mr. President for recently conferring Julius Rone with the national award of OFR. He truly deserves the honour,” the AfreximBankPresident said.
Also at the London event were the heads of the regulatory authorities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector – Engr. Simbi Wabote, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA). All the regulatory Chiefs commended the tenacity of Mr. Rone and his team a pledged their continuing support for the UTM FLNG Project.
The contract signing event was spiced up by the very firmcommitments by the UTM FLNG’s technical partners – the President of JGC Holdings, Mr. Tadashi Ishizuka; the Chief Operating Officer of Technip Energies Limited, Mr. Marco Villa; the Vice President KBR, Mr. Paul Baillie and Mr. Steve Brann, the Head of LNG Operations at Vitol, to deploy their best minds and technologies to actualize Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas facility being developed by UTM Offshore limited.
UTM Offshore Limited is pioneering the development of the FLNG facility in collaboration with LNG Investment Management Services (LIMS), a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation PLC (NNPC Limited).
The facility, a newly built vessel, will receive gas feedstock from an existing offshore facility, treat it to required LNG standard, liquefy the gas, store the LNG and offload to LNG carriers.
When completed, the floating LNG shall have an LNG production capacity of 1.2 mmtpa, Turret and Mooring System, Gas pre-treatment modules, LNG production modules, living quarters, self-contained power generation and utilities as well as capacities for LNG storage and offloading.

Rice Farmers’ Association Partner With Tiamin Rice Coy To Begin Rice Export

Editorial staff

November 16, 2022

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RFAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tiamin Rice Company for the processing and sale of rice locally and internationally. A statement today, November 16 by the Managing Director of Tiamin Rice Company, Aliyu Ibrahim in Abuja, said that the initiative was aimed at growing quality rice with Tiamin processes and packets with state-of-the-art milling technology for sale locally and internationally, particularly to Egypt.

He said that the MoU, which would be operational for a two-year period, was signed at the company’s 600 metric ton per hour capacity mill in Bauchi state.

“RFAN and Tiamin share a common agenda in the area of rice cultivation and milling. “This is to ensure sustainable management of the rice supply chain under a partnership that seeks to produce, mill and pack the highest quality processed rice for export and local trade.

“With a combined capacity of 920 tons per hour from its two mills in Kano and Bauchi states, Tiamin Rice is one of the largest rice producers in Nigeria.”

According to Aliyu, the company also has a 10,000-hectare rice farm in Udubo, Bauchi state, adding that dry-season agriculture is carried out on the farm with state-of-the-art agricultural machinery.

“The company has benefited from six different interventions from the development office of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN.”

He said that the intervention was to the tune of more than N20 billion, adding that the company had successfully repaid four of the intervention funds.

Aliyu said Tiamin Rice Company was the first corporate entity to access funds from CBN‘s Private Sector-Led Accelerated Agricultural Development Program.

Atiku Vows To Restructure Nigeria; To Set In Motion Agenda From Day One

Editorial staff

November 16, 2022

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has vowed to ensure that necessary constitutional amendments that will cause a transfer of more powers and resources to other tiers of government is activated on his first day in office, if elected president in next year’s election.
Atiku, who spoke today, November 16 in an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lago, said that it is unfortunate that a section of the media chose to misinterpret his comments at a session with the Lagos Business School Alumni Association on Tuesday.
“It is rather unfortunate that a section of the media reported my remarks at an event yesterday in a way that casts doubts on my readiness to implement my restructuring agenda.
“Let me therefore use the opportunity of this gathering today with the gatekeepers of the Nigerian media to say that my restructuring agenda is intact and it will be implemented from my first day in office.
“Already, I have received a report from a team of constitutional law experts which I assembled to look into our constitution and highlight areas where there are items that can be moved to the concurrent and residual lists of the constitution.
“Let me tell you that I will start work on the implementation of that report from my very first day in office if I am elected president next year.”
The former Nigerian Vice President, in his response to questions from editors, said that his administration would work closely with the private sector towards ensuring that the gaps in infrastructure deficits are closed.
“The private sector is pivotal to my agenda to rejuvenate the economy and close our infrastructure deficit gaps. If I am elected president, I will work closely with the private sector by giving them incentives to create more jobs and also grant them tax holidays in order for them to intervene in our infrastructure development.
“It is obvious to all that the government doesn’t have all the money and the debt burden has continued to weigh us down. Therefore, the government has to be creative and engaging the private sector is one way of solving our infrastructure problems in a sustainable way.”

We Won’t Pay ASUU Members For Months They Didn’t Work, Education Minister Insists

Editorial staff

November 16, 2022

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has made it clear that the Federal Government would not pay members of the embattled Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the eight months they did not work while on strike.

Speaking to newsmen today, November 16 at the Presidential villa, Abuja, after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he said: “the lecturers would not be paid for work not done.”

Reacting to protest by ASUU members over what they called the pro-rata October salary payment which they described as amounting to turning them into casual workers, Adamu Adamu said: “nobody can make university lecturers casual workers.”

I Have Never, Won’t Run Govt With Religious Bias, Tinubu Assures CAN

Editorial staff

November 16, 2022

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assured the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that he will not run government on the basis of religion if elected President of Nigeria.

Tinubu who had a meeting with the CAN leadership in Abuja today, November 16 at an interactive session, assured them that the same way his administration did not discriminate against anyone either based on tribe, religion or gender when he was Lagos Governor, he would not start such in office as president.

He was accompanied to the session by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Presidential Running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Deputy Senate Leader Senator Boroffice Ajayi, Senate Chief Whip Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume and many others.

The leadership of CAN under the new president, Daniel Ukoh presented a charter of demands and issues to the APC presidential candidate.

They demanded among others, state police or a decentralized policing system, devolution of power to states, equal rights for all religions and their adherents, right to self-determination by all ethnic groups, right to control natural resources by communities that bear them, no to open grazing, and equitable electoral system that guarantees the right to vote and be voted for by all.

Tinubu said: “My belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organizations to work in unison is not something adopted recently to benefit my campaign.

“As Governor of Lagos, I partnered with the Christian to improve lives and foster education. For instance, I returned mission schools to their owners, most of who are Christians.

“I instituted yearly Christian Denomination Service at the Governor’s residence as we approached the new year. This tradition continues in Lagos.

“More importantly, we fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and inter-faith collaboration. My cabinet was diverse and talented.

“In the exercise of government, I did not give a thought to whether a team member was Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Igbo or Arewa.

“I have never lent myself to baseless prejudice and discrimination. To do so would be a recipe for failure in the governance of a diverse society and I am not a man that is familiar with failing.

“I never chased people out of Lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration Lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today.

“After me, Lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices.

“As such, I see all Nigerians as equals and as brothers and sisters in our national family. This means no one is inherently inferior or superior to anyone else, regardless of faith, place of origin, social status and gender. Anyone who does not hold this fair and equitable view, should not run for president in a country such as ours.”

Tinubu said that the Christian body has a great role as the moral compass of the society which he cherishes and will always support.

“You, as an organization and as individual leaders of CAN, are entrusted as the watch person of the welfare of this society from a Christian perspective. Which means functioning in an atmosphere of charity, understanding, patience and wisdom.

” I understand the tremendous importance of your work and have nothing but the deepest respect for your selfless contributions to our national cause,” he added.

On the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, which generated a lot of controversies, Tinubu assured the Christian body that he made the best available choice at his disposal without recourse to religious sentiments.

“I did not choose Senator Shettima so that we could form a same faith ticket. The ticket was constructed as a same progressive and people- based ideology ticket.

“I offer a confession. I selected Senator Shettima thinking more about who would best help me govern. Picking a Christian running mate would have been politically easier. But the easy way is rarely the right one. The selection of a running mate is at once a very momentous yet very intimate decision.

“Resting such a key decision on religious affiliation as the primary weight did not sit well with me. I am not saying there were not good and adequate potential running mates of the Christian faith.

“What I am saying is that the times we inhabit do not lend themselves to the good or adequate. We have urgent problems that lend themselves not to a Christian or Muslim solution. We need the best solution.

“Every time I thought about it, and I did think a lot; I came to the same conclusion: Kashim Shettima

— His faith was immaterial.

— He is a brilliant man with superior intellectual capacity. He is studious and detailed oriented. Enjoying excellent organization skills, Shettima fully understands the vital difference between governance and politics.

— This exceptionally gifted human being has humility of spirit, courage of his convictions and a strongly progressive world view in harmony with my own perspectives on government and its relationship to the governed.

— I trust the calibre of the man. I know the great lengths he went in fighting Boko Haram in his state. He did his best to protect the Christian community and rebuilt damaged churches.

— This man understands the value of our national diversity in all of its ramifications, including religious. He possesses the courage to stand up to those who would wreck that diversity and freedom.”

He continued, “I know people have reacted harshly to my selection. They have done so without knowing the man or giving him or me a fair chance.

“The rumour that this is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate.

“I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family. You all know my wife is Christian and a pastor. My children are Christians. I can no more disown them and their choice of faith than I can disown myself. As a husband and father to Christian wife and children, hearing such allegations is hurtful.”

He thereafter shared his campaign policies with the Christian leaders, asking for their support.

“We must move the nation forward more quickly so that hatred and pettiness haven’t a chance to imbed themselves and become the main colours of the fabric of our society.

“My team, Senator Shettima and I have crafted our Action Plan for Nigeria titled Renewed Hope. This agenda is based on the progressive notion that our economy must be recalibrated to ensure better jobs and wages for people. That all are entitled to basic health care and education.

“We will combat hunger and poverty by growing more food and better rewarding farmers for their toil.

“We shall revive our industrial capacity to provide work for our growing urban population and to produce more of the things that we need.

“Where the private sector thrives, we will not attempt to fix what is not broken. Where it falters, government shall lend a hand to keep people employed and the economy vibrant. Where there is a gap, we must fill it so that we more fully employ our idle workforce and productive capacity.

“We must better tend to the poor, vulnerable and elderly by strengthening the social safety net.

“We shall end the fuel subsidy because it has become an unproductive policy favouring an elite that needs no favours while giving the people precious little. Funds that were previously used for the subsidy will be invested in public transportation and other infrastructure, education, and health.

“Let us advance to the economy point where no parent is forced to send their children to bed hungry and no one is fearful that tomorrow will bring more lack and poverty.

“Fiscal power and authority shall be recalibrated to give the states more latitude to better fulfil their mandate of grassroots development and empowerment of people and local communities, This includes assessing each state’s best option regarding a more active role in crime prevention and law enforcement.

“On security, we will not relent until terrorists, kidnappers and criminals quit their malign ways or are completely defeated. We shall augment our security forces and use advanced technology to track and defeat these evil groups,” he added.

In their contributions, Vice Presidential Candidate Shettima, House Speaker Gbajabiamila, Governor Ganduje and Senate Chief Whip Kalu attested to Asíwájú Tinubu’s character and integrity.

They said he usually places merit and competence above any other factor in choosing who to work with and he is always moved to act in the best interest of the country.

Kogi Wins World Bank’s Fiscal Transparency, Revenue Mobilisation Awards

Editorial staff

November 16, 2022

Kogi State has won the World Bank’s awards of excellence in three categories: Fiscal Transparency and Accountability, Debt Sustainability and Domestic Revenue Mobilisation.

The awards were conferred on Kogi State at the Federal Government of Nigeria/World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Dinner with Governors/Award Night, held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Monday evening.

The objective of the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program is to promote focus and attention of Nigerian States towards improvement of their PFM systems, processes and institutions, a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said.

The Auditor-General of Kogi State, Yakubu Okala, who spoke to journalists after the award ceremony, attributed the celebrated success of the state in the areas of fiscal transparency and accountability to self-discipline, as well as the institution of a transparent and accountable governance system by Governor Yahaya Bello from the inception of his administration.

“The State is blessed with an incorruptible Governor who also provides leadership from all fronts, a professional to the core that has surrounded himself only with persons that have the capacity to deliver.

“The philosophy of the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is making every single kobo available work for the entity of the State, hence he has instituted self-discipline, as well as transparent and accountable governance system from day one of his administration.

“He does not condone any form of abuse or misuse of the state’s resources at the disposal of every responsible officer.”

The state AuG said that

SFTAS is aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency to help build trust in government, facilitating accountability in public resource management and ensuring sustainability in the participating states.

The National Programme Coordinator, Ali Mohammed, who signed the invitation letter to states, said: “The SFTAS programme has achieved important milestones with remarkable improvement in fiscal transparency and accountability; increased domestic revenue mobilization; increased efficiency in public expenditure; and strengthened debt management.”

The dinner was therefore organized to celebrate the acievements of SFTAS since inception.

Recall that the World Bank, in July 2021, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for refunding $4.63 million surplus funds under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

The commendation was conveyed in a letter of appreciation, signed by its Regional Director, Shubham Chaudhuri, describing the step as a sign of good leadership.

According to the World Bank, the Governor’s action made it possible for the organisation to extend its projects to other states facing deficit funds and to extend the closing date of its projects.

Researcher Warns Against Coca cola, Says It’s Extremely Dangerous To Health

Greenbarge Reporters

November 16, 2022

An unidentified researcher has warned people to stop taking coca cola because it is extremely dangerous to health.
In a video clip that has gone viral, the researcher proved the health hazard of the product which for a long time is the favourite soft drink of millions across the world.

The researcher demonstrated it by pouring two tins of coca cola in a large cup and placing it on a gas cooker to boil.
When the watery content boiled to a point, it gradually swelled out of the large cup, turning into a big, black and hard ball.

Let’s Flush Out Charlatans Posing As Online Newspaper Publishers, GOCOP Boss Pleads At Media Roundtable

Greenbarge Reporters

November 16, 2022

President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Ms. Maureen Chigbo, has pleaded with genuine operators in the media industry to work together to flush out charlatans masquerading as online publishers.

She spoke in Lagos, November 14, at the all-important one-day roundtable attended by chieftains of the media, including members of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

With the theme: “Media Roundtable: Deepening Media Professionalism through Co-regulation,” the event was also professionally piloted by former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, who was also a former managing director of Daily Times.

GOCOP boss called on industry leaders to build synergy among themselves to prevail on banks and other major advertisers to deny the charlatans adverts and channel same to GOCOP member-organisations as a deliberate policy to empower the genuine online publishers and make the business self-sustaining.

She said that GOCOP, mindful of the need to raise the bar in online publishing, has instituted an in-house disciplinary committee and ombudsman mechanism to deepen professionalism and serve as a means for aggrieved members of the public to seek redress.

GOCOP has been in existence for eight years as a peer review body of online publishers who are guided by the code of ethics of journalism.

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