If Only Money Can Buy Life, Tinubu Wonders Aloud, Over Sani Dangote’s Death

November 19, 2021

The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has wondered aloud on the limit to which money can be put to use.

During a condolence visit to Aliko Dangote and family today, November 19 in Kano, over the death of his younger brother, Sani Dangote, Asiwaju said that money cannot buy life and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Tinubu, who said that he and his team are also mourning Alhaji Sani Dangote, asked his immediate family to take heart and continue to pray for the repose of his soul.

“Sani is not yours alone. He was a Lagosian and a great Nigerian and a friend and a brother to all of us here.

“I am not a preacher, but I know what it means to suddenly lose a close relation, especially a brother.

“What we have come to do is to join in prayers for you and the people of Kano state, for Nigeria and the entire family as a whole.

“May God give you the strength to bear the loss. It is a loss to all of us.

“May God grant you longer life, keep you in good health, keep the family in good health, give you peace of mind and the ability to accept the decree of God Almighty.

“He is the giver and the taker and He can do anything at any given time he chooses.

“With your faith and your strong capacity, we believe you will come out of it and continue to do good in his name, in your name, in the family’s name and the entire people of the country.”

Source: Vanguard.

For Removing Nigeria From Religious Violation Watchlist, Biden Has Reset US-Nigeria Relations, By Garba Shehu

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

The removal of Nigeria from the religious violators watchlist by the Biden-led US administration in the run-up to the visit of Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, is a triumph of diplomacy and sagacity over hate-driven foreign policy, itself founded on false propaganda.

President Muhammadu Buhari is truly satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from that unwanted list of countries. Blinken said the decision of the Joe Biden Government on this was “based on facts.”

In expressing the country’s appreciation for this, the President noted that there is freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

Since Nigeria was included in December 2020, in the aftermath of the Donald Trump’s election loss, it has taken only 11 months for this decision to be reversed under the Biden administration.

This sad and uncalled for ban came on the heels of 12 months of lies by some extremist groups and the banned terrorist group the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB’s well-funded international media campaign.

Nigeria should never have been on the list. It was included after paid right-wing American lobbyists were funded millions of dollars by IPOB to spread falsehoods and misinformation about Nigeria. Those who willingly took money from terrorists spread falsehoods against a democratically elected government. They took advantage of well-meaning, God-fearing Americans to whom they spread their lies.

Their aim was to drive a wedge, for political advantage, between the two great religions and by doing so, make true their fake claims that Muslims and Christians cannot live side-by-side in love and peace. They did not care if their maliciousness was the cause of religious tension. In fact, it is possible they sought to encourage it to prove their point. Yet, despite all the funds at their disposal, they only convinced for a brief time those who had been voted out of office by US citizens to add Nigeria to the list.

It is a fallacy to suggest Nigeria lacks religious freedom. A visit to any city will see a surfeit of posters for religious groups, for Muslims and Christians alike. Nigerians wear our faith on our sleeves.

Nigeria is one of the most religious nations in the world – near equally balanced between Muslims and Christians. It is well-known the President counts amongst his personal friends many global Christian leaders, though he himself is Muslim; our Vice President is an Evangelical pastor; our cabinet is equally balanced between Christians and Muslims.

This is not to say there are no tensions. The President and all who serve in his administration know there are. And they are being addressed: for instance, the present administration is the only government since independence to introduce a plan to address farmer-herder clashes. Today that plan is working. Many states are taking the lead in its implementation because they, not the Federal Government control land.

What we said at the time of the listing remains true that the government under President Muhammadu Buhari is run in accordance with our constitution. The losses of life and threats to the lives of our civilian populations from communal and inter-communal violence, banditry and terrorism are of great concern to the administration. It is, therefore, incorrect for anyone to assume the position that the government is doing nothing to address these intertwined threats.

This administration has successfully dispossessed terrorists in the Northeast of all land and territory that they held; forcing them into hiding out amongst remote forests and across boarders and they are being fought in those locations.

To address the cases of violence against the civilian population in the face of the harsh odds imposed by the COVID economy, this administration just recently recruited 10,000 new constables. All arms of the Military and paramilitary agencies have been authorised to recruit additional men. The procurement of military hardware has been intensified.

With this egregious listing removed, US-Nigeria relations are now reset, and we can jointly seek resolution to other critical matters – including the fight against terrorists across the Sahel region. This task was complicated by the now reversed decision. To that end, the present administration looks forward to working with the Biden administration on matters, bilateral and multilateral that are important to our friendly states.

President Buhari is satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from a list of countries deemed to lack religious freedom, placed there by a previous US administration no longer in office.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.

Nnamdi Kanu: Chief Mbazulike Storms Aso Rock With Others, Begs Buhari To Quench Fire Burning In East

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

A 93-year old Mbazulike Amaechi, the only surviving First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently standing trial, to him and that everything will be well thereafter.

Chief Mbazulike, who led a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo on a visit to President Buhari today, November 19 at the Presidential villa, Abuja, said: “Mr. President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”

The nonagenarian described the situation in the Southeast as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and there is fear everywhere.

He pleaded for a political, rather than military solution, requesting that if Kanu is released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive, “he would no longer say the things he had been saying.”

He assured Buhari that he could control Nnamdi Kanu: “not because I have anything to do with them (IPOB), but I am highly respected in Igbo land today.”

Chief Amaechi recalled that twice he had interfaced with Nnamdi Kanu in the past, and the latter rescinded orders earlier given on civil disobedience.

He expressed great concerns about the happening in the Southeast, saying: ” I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa.”

This was even as President Buhari considered the request for the release of Kanu having ran contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.

“You have made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. “The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.

“God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”

The President stressed his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, recalling that when Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail, got arrested and brought back to the country: “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”

The President seized the opportunity to condole with Chief Amaechi, who recently buried his wife, praying that her soul would rest in peace.

Other people in the visiting delegation were; Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Chief Barrister Goddy Uwazurike, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, and Mr Tagbo Mbazulike Amaechi.

America Too Has Its Own Police Brutality, Secretary Of State Tells Buhari

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

The American Secretary of States, Mr. Antony Blinken, has made it clear that his country too has its own fair shear of police brutal similar to what allegedly happened in Lekky, Lagos State in the wake of EndSARS protests last year.

Mr. Blinken said that America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but that a common denominator is security, hoping for better partnerships, “so that the bad guys won’t get the good guys.”

The US Secretary of State spoke today, November 18, when he was received in audience by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja.

Mr. Blinken described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action,” but hoped that necessary reforms would be made.

He appreciated the contributions of President Buhari to protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mr. Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian President earlier in the year said jocularly that it was now good to see him “mask to mask, hoping that we will soon see face to face.”

This was even as President Buhari said that the Federal Government will allow the system to exhaust itself, and will, therefore, wait for pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country.

“So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels,” the President added. “We at the Federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”

On the recent removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, which Blinken said was “based on facts,” President Buhari expressed the country’s appreciation, noting that there was freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

The President equally appreciated the United States of America for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country, and for the training given to Nigerian military.

“It’s helping us to stabilize the situation in the Northeast, and we’ve made a lot of progress since 2015,” he said. “We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts.”

15 Million Nigerians Into Hard Drugs, Agency Boss, Marwa Confirms, Says It’s Shame

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has confirmed that 15 million Nigerians are into hard drugs.

In an interactive session in Jos with the Plateau State Local Government Chairmen, Marwa said that one in seven Nigerians indulge in drug abuse.

He described the trend as “shameful,” even as he vowed that the agency is determined to curb the menace.

The chairman said that the surge in drug abuse had destroyed many youths and communities, hence the rationale for the interactive session.

“As I speak to you, 15 million Nigerians use illicit drugs; one out of seven Nigerians take hard substances. There is no community in Nigeria that is exempted from drug abuse and this is why we keep having security challenges here and there.

“Drug propels a lot of negative actions particularly among young people; it is destroying our youths and even the communities. So, we have come to interact with local government chairmen, so that together we can find a lasting solution to this menace.

”We want the chairmen to work with and support us to kick this hydra-headed monster called drug abuse out of our society.”

Marwa appealed to the council chairmen to replicate the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) committee recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, in their various domains and communities.

The Chairman of Jos North local government, Shehu Usman, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked General Marwa for organising the interactive session.

He said that such a move would go further to create awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and other vices.

He promised that the chairmen would collaborate and support the NDLEA to curb all forms of drug abuse in society.

Source: NAN.

Nigeria Sacks Super Eagles Chief Coach, Rohor

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

Nigerian football body, Nigeria Footballer Federation (NFF) has sacked the head coach of the country’s senior National team, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.

The decision to sack the Franco-German gaffer was taken after a company associated with the senior National team of Nigeria, agreed to pay the termination clause in the contract of the coach.

The NFF has communicated the decision to the former Niger and Burkina Faso coach, and has started the search for a new coach who will pilot the affairs of the team for the 2022 World Cup Play offs, and also the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year.

Nigeria will face either Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali or DR Congo for a place at Qatar 2022.

Excited Abuja Teachers Call-Off 5-Day Warning Strike As Authorities Promise To Pay Their Arrears In December

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

Leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has called on members to return to duty immediately from the five-day warning strike which began today, November 18.

The Union called off the strike against the background of the assurance by the Minister of the Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello that their promotion Arrears, which is one of the issues in contention, would be paid to them in December.

At a meeting today, November 18, with the leadership of the aggrieved teachers, the Minister said that the Permanent Secretary in the ministry had assured that after the payment of the arrears for 2016 had been effected, the ones for 2017 have been scheduled for payment between November and December of 2021.

This was even as the FCT Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday; State Director of the DSS, Ado Muazu and the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Peter Maigari gave assurance that necessary measures have been taken to improve the security situation in schools.

The teachers embarked on a 5-day warning strike to press home demands for enhanced security in schools and payment of arrears of promotion benefits for teachers.

Meanwhile, after the meeting, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi said that the Union appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and assurances from the FCT Minister that all efforts will be made to protect the lives and properties of teachers and students within the Territory

He expressed the appreciation of the union to the Minister for the pronouncement on the payment of promotion arrears of 2017 and 2018 before the end of the year.

The NUT chairman said: “from this meeting and from all the resolutions, we will go back (to work) without waste of time.”

He appealed to the Minister to intervene in the payment of arrears of LEA teachers under the administration of the Area Councils.

We’ll Soon Sack 152 Top Management Staff To Cut Wage Cost, SEC Boss Hints

Editorial staff

November 17, 2021

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda has given a hint that the Commission will soon retire 152 top management staff as a way of reducing wage cost.

This was coming on the heels of the Senate open anger over the Commission’s spending of a total sum of N8 billion to service its staff out of the N9 billion it generates every year.

Appearing before the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led Committee on Capital Market to defend the budget performance of the agency in 2021 and projections for 2022, Lamido Yuguda said: “In giving room for more financial inflow, we are planning to retire about 152 top management staff with fat salaries in paving way for recruitment of fresh workers with attendant less financial burdensome on the commission.

“There are measures at reducing expenditure and also measures at increasing revenue of the commission.”

During the meeting, the Senate sharply disagreed with SEC over spending of revenues made by the Commission largely on salaries and emoluments of staff.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who lampooned the Commission following the expenses made from its generated revenues, said: “your emolument was almost N6 billion out of the N9 billion and other expenses, so clearly you are spending almost all of the revenue that comes to you on staff emolument and other related things. “You should give us the number of staff that you have in the commission such that we need to look at what is happening. If you generate about N9 billion and almost N8 billion is purely for servicing the staff. You are having a huge deficit of almost N4 billion. When you continuously make this deficit, year in year out, then something is wrong.”

Earlier while the Senate, through its Committee on Capital Market felt it was wrong for SEC to have expended close to 90% of revenues made in the 2021 fiscal year on staff salaries and emoluments, SEC denied being frivolous on spending of revenues made.

Yuguda in his presentation said: ”a total of N11.5 billion was projected as revenue for 2021 out of which N2.689 billion was realised as at June with the hope of making more before the year runs out. Total recurrent expenditure for 2021 was budgeted at N13.53 billion but the actual expenditure was N4.063 by the end of June. Our budgeted deficit was N5.173 billion but the actual deficit as at end of September was N2.834 due to funding of it from our reserve . Though revenue performance is still weak but series of innovations like newly introduced charges for secondary Investors , will boost it up from 2022 fiscal year and beyond

Federal, State, Local Governments Share Over N671 Billion For October

Editorial staff

November 17, 2021

Federal, State and Local Governments, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, have shared a total sum of N671.910 billion as federation allocation for the month of October, 2021.

The sharing was done today, November 17, at the meeting of the

Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) held in Lagos.

This amount is inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), Augmentations, Exchange Gain and Non-Oil Mineral Revenue.

The Federal Government received N284.292 billion, the States received N209.838 billion, the Local Government Councils got N156.282 billion while the oil producing states received N21.498 billion as derivation (13% of Mineral Revenue).

A communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at the end of the meeting, indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for October, 2021 was N166.284 billion as against N170.850 billion distributed in the preceding month of September, 2021, resulting in a decrease of N4.566 billion.

According to a statement by the Acting Director of Information, Oshundun Olajide, the distribution is as follows:

Federal Government got N23.227 billion, the States received N77.422 billion, Local Government Councils got N54.195 billion, Transfers and Refunds received N4.789 and Cost of Collection got N6.651 billion.

The distributed Statutory Revenue of N407.864 billion received for the month was lower than the N692.283 billion received for the previous month by N284.419 billion, from which the Federal government received N180.551 billion, States got N91.578 billion, LGCs got N70.603 billion, Derivation (13% Mineral Revenue) got N21.118 billion, Cost of Collection received N17.940 billion and Transfers and Refunds got N26.075 billion.

The Communiqué also disclosed the Augmentations of N100 billion as the Federal Government received N52.680 billion, State Governments got N26.720 billion, LGCs received N20.600 billion, derivation (13% of Mineral Revenue) got N0.000, Costs of Collection, Transfers and Refunds got N0.000 accordingly. Also the N50 billion from Non-Oil Revenue was shared as follows: Federal Government received N26.340 billion, State Governments got N13.360 billion, LGCs got N10.300 billion, Derivation (13 % of Mineral Revenue) received N0.000 billion, while Costs of Collection, Transfers and Refunds got N0.000 accordingly.

The communique also revealed that Companies Income Tax (CIT), Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), and Oil and Gas Royalties decreased considerably. There was a slight decline in Value Added Tax (VAT), while Import and Excise Duty, increased marginally.

The communique however disclosed that total revenue distributable for the current month inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue of N363.849 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N154.849 billion, and Exchange Gain of N3.217 billion, Augmentations of N100 billion and N50 billion from Non-Oil Mineral Revenue bringing the total distributable revenue to N671.910 billion.

The balance of Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at today stands at $60.860 million.

Plateau Potato Value-Chain Hosts Expo On Modern Farming Nov. 18

Editorial staff

November 16, 2021

The Coordinator of Plateau Potato Value-Chain, Thomas Muopshin, has said that no fewer than 1,500 farmers in potatoes and other root crops will be on Plateau for exposition on modern farming to be held on November 18.

Muopshin said this in an interview in Jos today, November 16, said that the conference would bring international investors into the state.

Muopshin said that the one- day exposition would bring huge benefits for the state and the farmers.

“This conference would create more jobs and increase the state Internally Generated Revenue.”

He said that the exposition would help to establish a potato centre of excellence in the state to stimulate exportation of potatoes from Plateau.

He said that the conference would enlighten the farmers on required standard for exportation and the need for them to key-in.

“There are required technology involved in exportation so that the crops can be accepted by international bodies.”

He said that the conference would also help to expose farmers to windows that are not visible to them and enable them to take advantage of various opportunities.

Source: NAN.

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